The Tycoon's Rebel Bride - Maya Banks Page 0,28

smile, and he made his way to where Isabella stood.

There wasn’t an easy way to address the awareness between them, so he chose to ignore it—and the fact that he’d kissed her just hours before.

“Bella,” he greeted as he stopped in front of her.

She gazed up at him with wide green eyes, her mouth curving into a smile of welcome.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said in a breathy voice. “I don’t suppose you saved me a dance?”

He nearly groaned. The thought of having her pressed that close to his body was torture.

“The dancing hasn’t begun yet,” he said as he turned to look at the band. “Perhaps we can kick it off together, and then I’ll introduce you around.”

He motioned to the pianist who nodded in return. A slow, sultry melody started, and Theron offered his hand to Isabella. Her fingers trembled slightly in his grip, and he squeezed to reassure her.

When they reached the middle of the area that was the designated dance floor, he turned, and she went willingly into his arms. The moment she melted against him, he went completely rigid.

Her scent surrounded him as the warmth from her touch invaded his body. There wasn’t a single inch that wasn’t aware of her feminine form. He glanced down as they made a slow turn and swallowed hard. She wasn’t wearing a bra and the lush mounds were pressed tightly against his chest, thrusting upward, straining against the neckline of her dress.

It was all he could do not to haul her out of the room so that no one else could see her.

He blew out his breath as inconspicuously as possible and reminded himself that she wasn’t his, and he had no right to be possessive.

It still didn’t help the rise of irritation when he saw how many men were staring avidly at Isabella. No, she wouldn’t have any shortage of suitors after tonight. He should have been relieved, but he was anything but.

It was all he could do to keep the scowl from his face.

“The party is lovely,” Isabella said with a smile as she gazed over his shoulder. “Thank you for putting it on.”

“You’re quite welcome, pethi mou. I want you to enjoy yourself.”

“How are your guests settling in?” she asked innocently.

His eyes narrowed. Did she know of his plans for Alannis? It wasn’t as if she wouldn’t know in a short time, but for some reason he was reluctant to tell her of his impending engagement. Or maybe he was a first-class slimeball who’d kissed another woman within days of asking another woman to marry him.

“They’re settling in quite well,” he muttered as he swung her around so that she wasn’t facing Alannis and her mother.

Guilt filled him. What kind of a man took advantage of a young woman when he had an agreement with another? Even Piers, who was never without a woman, would frown on seducing his ward when he had a soon-to-be fiancée waiting in the wings.

Chrysander wouldn’t hesitate to kick his ass all the way back to Greece for pulling this kind of stunt with Isabella.

“So which ones are my potential husbands?” she asked as she craned to see around him.

She wore a mischievous smile that only made her sparkle all the brighter.

“I’ll introduce you as soon as our dance is over,” he said.

For this moment, she was his, in his arms, and he wasn’t in any hurry to relinquish her to her waiting suitors. They’d gathered around the perimeter of the dance area like a bunch of vultures.

For the first time, he regretted his hasty decision to assist Isabella in her search for a husband. She was too young to think of marriage. She should be out having fun, not thinking of making a lifelong commitment.

And yet he was poised to do just that. Panic scuttled up his spine. Then he firmly tamped it down. Before Isabella came bursting into his life, he was more than content over the idea of marrying Alannis and settling down to have children. Isabella was a temporary distraction, nothing more. As soon as things were settled between him and Alannis, and he had Isabella on her path to security and stability, he was confident that he’d embrace his future without hesitation.

When the song died, Theron dropped his hands and then enfolded Isabella’s in his. “Come, pethi mou. Your party awaits.”

Isabella donned her best smile and allowed Theron to lead her through the assembled guests to where the band was set up. Theron held a hand