THE TYCOON'S REBEL BRIDE(32)

her a charming smile that she couldn’t help but respond to. “I was unexpectedly tied up

with a client.”

He took her hand, and as he’d done in the restaurant, he lifted it to his lips. Then

he cast a questioning look in Theron’s direction—Theron who stood there looking as

though a black cloud had parked itself right over his head.

“I’d like to borrow Isabella. I promise to keep her safe, and you can return to your

own date, who, if you don’t mind me saying, looks very much like she’d like to dance.”

Theron scowled, and Isabella glanced over to see Alannis eyeing the dancing

couples with what could only be construed as a wistful glance. Isabella didn’t want to feel

pity. She wanted to dislike Alannis. If she was a complete ogre it would be so much

simpler, but the fact was that both mother and daughter had been extremely nice to her.

“Are you borrowing me for a dance or for some other purpose?” she asked

teasingly as she slipped her hand into Marcus’s.

“How about we dance first and we can discuss other purposes later,” he said with

a teasing glint in his eye.

Theron’s expression was glacial. She released his arm to go with Marcus, but he

caught her free hand, pulling her between the two men.

She stared at him for a moment, waiting for him to speak, but he seemed to be at a

loss for words, or maybe he hadn’t intended to pull her back.

“Was there something you wanted?” she asked.

He released her hand and shook his head even as he glanced in Alannis’s

direction. “No. Have fun, pethi mou. This is your night.”

With one last look in his direction, she turned and let Marcus lead her back to the

dance floor. He spun her in an expert move, and she landed against his chest. Laughing

blue eyes shone down at her, and she smiled in return.

“Are you still husband hunting or have I arrived too late for consideration?” he

asked with mock seriousness.

“Aren’t men supposed to run in the other direction when marriage is mentioned?”

“Not if he doesn’t mind being caught by the woman in question.”

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THE TYCOON’S REBEL BRIDE

45

MAYA BANKS

SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1944

THE ANETAKIS TYCOONS

“You’re a total flirt,” she said with a laugh. “I can’t possibly take such a charming

man seriously.”

He grinned but didn’t refute her claim. They danced among the crowd of couples,

and every chance she got, she snuck a peek Theron’s way.

He and Alannis were dancing on the far side. She stared laughing up into his eyes,

and it didn’t take a genius to see how starstruck she was by Theron. Isabella knew that

feeling well.

“So,” Marcus said casually as he spun her around. “Are you going to let him get

away?”

She yanked her gaze guiltily away from Theron to meet Marcus’s amused smile.

When she realized she hadn’t a hope of playing ignorant, she sighed.

“Am I that obvious?” she asked in resignation.

“Only to another man who’s scouting the territory for competition.”

Her shoulders slumped downward. “I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to this farce.

This was Theron’s idea in case you haven’t guessed. He’s decided that it’s his duty to

marry me off with all possible haste.”

Marcus touched her chin and gently tugged upward until she looked him in the

eye. “Have you told him how you feel?”

She glanced back over at Theron then shook her head. “It’s complicated.”

“Tell you what. Why don’t we head to that corner over there. I’ll get us a drink

and you can tell me all about it.”



Theron’s gaze found Isabella again as he listened politely to Alannis and Sophia

and the small group of people who stood in the loosely formed circle to the side of the

dance floor. He ground his teeth together as Marcus leaned in close to Isabella, his lips

hovering precariously close to her ear as he murmured to her.

She laughed and the seductive sound rose over the clink of glasses and the

murmur of conversation. Marcus’s fingers drifted over her bare shoulder, lingering there

much longer than Theron thought appropriate.

He had to swallow the sound of anger that bubbled up in his throat when Marcus

trailed one finger down her cheek and then seductively down the side of her neck and

around to the hollow of her throat.

Isabella leaned toward Marcus as if seeking his touch, and then he angled in and

pressed his lips very softly to the expanse of skin just below her ear.

“Theos mou,” Theron growled. “Enough is enough.”