The Tycoon's Rebel Bride - Maya Banks Page 0,42

stay put, and she complied. He got out and walked around to her side and opened the door.

To her surprise, he reached in, drew his coat together so that not an inch of her flesh was displayed and then he simply plucked her out of the seat.

“Theron, I can walk,” she protested.

“Silence,” he ordered as he strode in the doors, ignoring the curious stares of passersby.

She frowned but settled wearily against his chest. He got into the elevator and stabbed at the button for her floor. Okay, she got that he was mad. Furious even. But he seemed to be taking it personally. Why wasn’t he off somewhere with his new fiancée?

A fresh stab of pain soared through, taking her breath with it. She closed her eyes against the single truth that prevented her from having the man she loved. He belonged to someone else.

“Bella?”

His voice had changed, softened, and it reflected uncertainty. She pried open her eyes to see him regarding her with concern.

“Are you all right? Did something happen?” he demanded. “Did someone hurt you or threaten you?”

She shook her head, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. For a moment she could immerse herself in the fantasy that she did belong to him, that he cared about her in a deeper capacity than as a guardian, someone tasked to see to her welfare.

But it was a lie. It was all a lie.

“Then why?” he muttered.

The elevator opened, and with a shake of his head, he strode off and down to her room. Neither of them had a key, but then he didn’t waste time trying to find one. He simply kicked loudly, instead of putting her down to knock. But who would open it? No one was there.

To her eternal surprise, and there had been many tonight, the door opened and a man who had security detail written all over him opened the door to admit Theron.

The surprises didn’t end there. As soon as Theron walked in, a cry sounded from across the room.

“Bella! Are you all right?”

Isabella yanked her head left to see Sadie running across the room. Finally Theron let her down, and Sadie threw her arms around her.

“What are you doing here?” Isabella whispered. “Your party, Sadie. You weren’t supposed to miss your party.”

Sadie flushed guiltily. “The party doesn’t matter. I should have never let you do this for me, Bella.”

“In this we agree,” Theron said stiffly. “It was irresponsible and dangerous. It’s not a place that either of you should ever go into.”

“But you missed your chance,” Isabella said softly, ignoring Theron’s outburst.

Sadie smiled sadly. “There’ll be others. Besides, it wasn’t worth the risk you took. I’m sorry.”

“What happened?” Isabella asked in confusion. “Why are you still here and,” she said, turning to face Theron, “how did he know where to find me?”

“Your security detail phoned me, as they should have,” Theron said darkly.

Isabella turned back to Sadie. “How did they know?”

Sadie looked down and sighed. “When I left your room for the party, one of your guys immediately stopped me. They’d obviously seen you, posing as me, leave earlier and as we planned, never assumed it was you. However, they knew the real me hadn’t entered your room, so they were suspicious. I had to tell them everything,” she said uncomfortably. “They made me remain here while they went to get you.” She glanced angrily at the man who was still standing by the door. “I had to endure a lecture from him the entire time you were gone.”

“It’s good that someone tried to talk sense into you,” Theron bit out. He nodded toward the security man. “See that she gets home safely, and remain on watch to see that she doesn’t go back to that club.”

“But I work there!” Sadie exclaimed.

“Not any longer,” Theron said with a growl. “I won’t have Bella traipsing through some strip club because her friend works there.”

“But—” Sadie sputtered even as she was escorted away by the security detail.

When the door closed behind them, Theron turned to glare at Isabella. He stepped forward, and she stepped back uneasily. His scowl became more ferocious as he reached to detain her.

“Now, Bella, I’ll deal with you,” he said in a soft, dangerous voice.

Theron’s hands curled around her shoulders as he yanked Isabella to him. The coat she’d held so tightly around her fell to the floor, and her breasts thrust obscenely into his chest.

She couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. If she did, he’d know.