The Tycoon's Rebel Bride - Maya Banks Page 0,36

a vulgar career.”

Theron raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t have thought such talent could be considered vulgar.”

“Oh, he thinks any career that lands you on stage is inappropriate for a young girl. He’d much prefer that I marry well and give him grandbabies.”

Something flashed in her eyes before it quickly vanished into blandness.

“And what do you want?” Theron asked curiously.

“I like children,” she said simply before turning to her mother.

Theron ushered them into the car and settled in himself as they started for the hotel. His hands were clammy, and he shook his head in disgust over his apparent nervousness. He prided himself on his control and his calm. Nothing about this situation should cause him any anxiety. He had his future mapped out, and everything was proceeding exactly as planned.

After that reminder, he relaxed in his seat. He felt in his pocket for the ring then let his hand fall when he reassured himself that it was there.

Traffic moved quickly, and a half hour later, they arrived at the hotel. Alannis yawned as Theron helped her out of the car.

He smiled and took her hand. “I hope you aren’t too tired for the party.”

“What party?” she asked in surprise.

Sophia smiled and tucked her arm in Alannis’s. “He’s planned a party in your honor, dear. It’s a very special night.” She winked at Theron behind Alannis’s back, and Theron felt his unease increase.

“A party for me? It sounds so exciting,” Alannis said, her eyes sparkling in delight.

She really was quite lovely, in a quiet, understated way. For some reason, however, he couldn’t chase the image of another woman from his mind when he looked at her.

He glanced away, his jaw tight as they walked through the lobby toward the ballroom. When they entered, the band struck up and confetti fell from the ceiling.

Alannis looked up, her eyes rapt. She held her fingers up to catch the flurries as they spiraled down like crazy, neon snow.

“Oh, it’s wonderful, Theron,” she breathed.

He nudged her forward again, his heart pounding with each step they took. His hand drifted into his pocket as they neared the center of the room. The edges of the box scraped against his fingers, and he fumbled with it, coaxing the velvet box inside free.

Would she be as excited when he asked her to be his wife? Would he? Or was he about to make the biggest mistake of his life?

“Alannis…” he began, cursing the fact that his voice was so shaky.

She turned and looked up at him, eyes shining and a smile curving her lips. Lips that he had no desire to kiss. “Yes, Theron?”

Isabella sat forward in her seat, straining to see out the front window. “What’s the hold up?” she asked desperately. “Why aren’t we moving?”

Marcus took hold of her shoulder. “It’s a wreck, Bella. Calm down, sit back. We’ll get there. He won’t propose as soon as the party starts.”

She stared out the window at the sea of cars all at a dead stop. They’d never get out of this in time.

In a burst of frustration, she reached for the door handle and yanked the door open.

“Bella, what are you doing? Get back in the car. You can’t go running through the streets of New York City,” Marcus exclaimed as she clambered out.

She turned and bent to stare back into the car where he sat. “I have to go, Marcus. We’ll never make it in time and you know it. I have to get there before he proposes. I can’t…” She swallowed and looked away for a moment. When she looked back, tears clouded her vision. “I have to go. Thank you for everything.”

She closed the door, picked up the long skirt of her dress in her hands and ran through the traffic, ignoring the honks as she cut in front of cars trying to inch forward. She heard the shouts of Reynolds and glanced back to see that he was hotfooting it down the street after her. Turning, she kept on running. She didn’t have time to stop and explain.

Unsure of where she was going, she kept to the sidewalk, paralleling the traffic. When she saw an unoccupied taxi, she ran to the window and tapped.

The cabbie gave her a disgruntled look and rolled down his window. “Look lady, no one’s going anywhere in this mess.”

She held up a hand. “Please, can you tell me how to get to Imperial Park Hotel? How far am I?”

His eyes narrowed as he stared back at her. “As