marry Alannis for business reasons?
Theron’s hand found hers just a moment before the plane touched down. She was
content to let her fingers remain entwined with his as they taxied. A few minutes later,
they were disembarking the plane, and Theron was urging her toward a waiting
helicopter.
“If I had thought, I would have arranged for us to stay on the mainland overnight
so that you could see the beauty of the island from the air in daytime,” Theron said as
they boarded.
“I’ll see it on the way back, right?” she said with a smile as Theron settled beside
her.
He nodded as the engines whirred too loudly for conversation any longer.
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THE TYCOON’S REBEL BRIDE
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MAYA BANKS
SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1944
THE ANETAKIS TYCOONS
The ride across the inky darkness was a little disconcerting, and then Theron
pointed to a flash of light in the distance. She strained forward, leaning over him as they
drew closer to the source of the light.
A few moments later, the helicopter lowered onto the well-lit helipad, and the
pilot gestured to Theron when it was safe to get out.
Theron opened the door and ducked out, then reached back to help Isabella from
the seat. His hand over her back, urging her low, he hurried across the concrete landing
area toward the lighted gardens leading to the house.
As they approached the entryway, a man stepped from the door. Even from a
distance, Isabella recognized him as Chrysander. He smiled, and she relaxed, even
managing a smile in return.
“Isabella, how you’ve grown, even since your graduation,” he said as he enfolded
her in a hug.
“Thanks for making me feel like a girl who just shed braces and training bras,”
she said dryly as she pulled away.
Chrysander stared at her in obvious surprise and then burst into laughter. “My
apologies. You’re far from that as Theron has no doubt found out.”
She couldn’t prevent the flush that worked its way up her cheeks.
“Why don’t you stop trying to find things to say and let us through,” Theron said
balefully. “Before we have to extricate both feet from your mouth.”
Chrysander chuckled and gestured for them to pass. “Marley is waiting in the
living room. She’s anxious to meet you, Isabella.”
He moved past her and Theron to call out in Greek to the man collecting her and
Theron’s luggage from the helicopter.
Theron took her arm and they walked inside. The house was absolutely beautiful,
and she couldn’t wait to see it in full light. And the beach. She could smell the salt air and
even hear the waves crashing in the distance, but she wanted to see it and dig her toes
into the sand.
A small, dark-haired woman who was bouncing a blanket-wrapped bundle in her
arms was standing in the living room next to the couch. Isabella offered a tentative smile
when she looked up.
“Theron!” she exclaimed as she walked in their direction.
Theron smiled broadly and caught her and the baby up in his arms. “How are my
favorite sister and my nephew?”
“I’m your only sister,” she said.
“Marley, I’d like you to meet Isabella, my fiancée,” he said as he turned to
Isabella.
Marley smiled, her blue eyes flashing in welcome. “I’m very happy to meet you,
Isabella.”
“Please, call me Bella,” she offered. “And I’m very glad to meet you, as well.”
“Has Piers arrived?” Theron asked with a frown as he surveyed the room.
“He’s coming,” Marley said. “He left to go change when we heard the helicopter.
We’ve held a late dinner for you and Isabella.”
Just then a tall, dark-haired man entered the room. He was easily the tallest of the
three brothers, a little slighter than Chrysander but a bit more broad in the shoulders than
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THE TYCOON’S REBEL BRIDE
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MAYA BANKS
SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1944
THE ANETAKIS TYCOONS
Theron. Where Theron and Chrysander had golden-brown eyes, Piers’s were dark, nearly
black. His skin tone was darker as well, as though he spent a great deal of time in the sun.
His expression was bland as he looked at Theron. “There you are.” He glanced
over at Isabella. “And this must be the bride-to-be?”
“One of the many it would appear,” Isabella said, refusing to dodge the inevitable
awkwardness of the situation.
Piers’s eyebrows drew together at her bluntness then he cocked one and offered
what Isabella suspected was as close to a smile as he got. “I like her, Theron. She has