THE TYCOON'S REBEL BRIDE(22)

Madeline shook her head in exasperation. “This marriage would be a disaster.

You know it and I know it. Theron has to know it somewhere behind that thick skull of

his.”

“I thought you had a strict policy against interfering in your employer’s personal

life?” Isabella said.

Madeline snorted. “I’m not going to interfere. You are.”

Isabella raised her eyebrows.

“He plans to propose this Friday night after the opera. He has the tickets, the ring,

the entire evening planned. I’ve given you the information. What you do with it is up to

you,” she said with a shrug.

“So soon?” Isabella whispered.

“Yep, which means you have to move fast,” Madeline said cheerfully.

Isabella slowly nodded. Her mind was already racing a mile a minute.

“While you’re pondering, let me introduce you to your security team,” Madeline

said as she herded Isabella back toward the office where the men waited. “They have

strict instructions to accompany you wherever you go.” She turned to Isabella and

grinned. “Should make things interesting for you.”

Isabella only half heard the introductions. She had to crane her neck to look up to

the three really large men. They certainly fit the part of security, though she couldn’t

imagine that subtlety was their strong point. But then subtlety wasn’t one of Theron’s

strong points, either.

As Madeline introduced the last man, Theron’s door opened and he and Alannis

and her mother came out. Alannis’s arm was linked with Theron’s, and his head was bent

low as he listened to something she said.

Isabella stared unhappily at them until Madeline elbowed her in the ribs.

“You’re being far too obvious, my girl,” Madeline whispered. “Smile. You don’t

want mama bear to be suspicious. I get the impression she can be a barracuda when it

comes to her daughter.”

Isabella forced a smile to her lips just as the three approached.

“I trust you found your security team to your liking?” Theron asked politely.

Isabella nodded and smiled more broadly. Then in an even bigger effort to kill

them all with kindness, she turned her attention to Alannis. “How was your trip?

Everything went well, I hope.”

Alannis’s smile lit up her entire face. “It did,” she said in only slightly accented

English. “I’m very happy to be here.” She glanced up at Theron, and Isabella flinched at

the open adoration in her expression.

“We look forward to seeing you again Thursday evening,” Sophia said.

“Thursday?” Isabella parroted. She glanced at Theron in confusion.

“The cocktail party,” Theron said smoothly. “I, of course, extended an invitation

to them, as well.”

“Of course,” Isabella said faintly.

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THE TYCOON’S REBEL BRIDE

31

MAYA BANKS

SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1944

THE ANETAKIS TYCOONS

Though his almost fiancée stood at his side, clinging to his arm like seaweed,

Theron’s gaze was on Isabella, his dark eyes probing. His eyes traveled a path of

awareness over her skin.

Did he love Alannis? Did he feel a certain affection for her? She was older than

Isabella, but not by much. Maybe a few years? There was youthful innocence in

Alannis’s eyes that made Isabella feel older and more jaded.

Isabella swallowed the rising knot in her throat and she turned brightly to Sophia.

“I too look forward to seeing you again. Perhaps you can tell me all about Greece. I’ve

heard it’s such a lovely place to visit. Maybe I can honeymoon there after I marry.”

Sophia beamed at her while Theron’s face darkened.

“We should go now,” Theron said to Sophia. “You and Alannis have had a long

trip. I’ll have your luggage delivered to the hotel at once.”

He nodded in Isabella’s direction as he and the other women walked past. “Let me

know if you have any problems, Bella.”

She nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat that she couldn’t quite

make go away.

Seven

H e couldn’t stop thinking about her. Theron rubbed his face in annoyance as he

focused on what Alannis and Sophia were talking about. He’d taken them to lunch after

they’d settled into their suite, but he was only reminded of having eaten with Isabella at

this same table just before kissing her senseless in the elevator.

Sophia was overjoyed with his plan to propose to Alannis after the opera. He’d

planned the evening meticulously, buying tickets for Alannis’s favorite performance with