5

T heron pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers and cursed long

and hard. His head felt like someone had taken a hammer to it, he was tired, and

he hadn’t slept more than an hour the entire night.

Madeline kept staring at him throughout the morning as though he’d lost his

mind, and maybe he had. He’d forgotten two meetings and had waved off three

phone calls, one of which was from his brother Piers.

All that occupied his thoughts was a dark-haired minx with sultry green eyes.

Theos mou, but he couldn’t forget her kiss, the feel of her mouth on his, her

body molded to his as though she were made for him.

He was her guardian. He was responsible for her well-being, and yet he’d

damn near hauled her into the bedroom of her suite and made love to her. His

body still ached to do just that.

He shook his head for what seemed like the hundredth time since he’d gotten

to his office this morning. No matter what he did, though, he couldn’t rid

himself of her image. Her scent. She was destined to drive him crazy.

Impatient and more than a little agitated, he slapped the intercom. Madeline’s

calm voice filtered through as she asked what he needed.

“Do you have that list drawn up for me yet?”

“Which list would that be?”

“The list of eligible men I asked for. The men I intend to introduce Bella to.”

“Ah, that one. Yes, I have it.”

“Bring it in then,” he demanded.

A few moments later, Madeline walked through his door holding a piece of

paper.

He motioned for her to sit down in front of his desk. “Read them off to me,”

he said as he leaned back in his chair.

“Did you sleep at all last night?” Madeline asked, her eyes narrowing

perceptively.

He grunted and closed his eyes as he waited for her to give up and do as he

asked.

“Reginald Hollister.”

Theron shook his head immediately. “He’s an immature little twerp. Spoiled

endlessly by his parents. Bella needs someone…more independent.”

Madeline made a show of scratching him off. “Okay then, what about Charles

McFadden?”

Theron scowled. “There’s rumor that he abused his first wife.”

“Bradley Covington?”

“He’s an ass,” Theron said.

Madeline sighed and quickly crossed him off.

“Tad Whitley.”

“Not wealthy enough.”

“Garth Moser?”

“I don’t like him.”

“Paul Hedgeworth.”

Theron frowned as he tried to think of a reason why he shouldn’t consider

Paul.

“Aha,” Madeline said when nothing was forthcoming. She drew a large circle

around his name. “Shall I invite him to your cocktail party Thursday night?”

“He’s too handsome and charming,” Theron muttered.

Madeline smiled. “Good, then Isabella should be well pleased.”

She glanced down her list then looked back up at Theron. “I think we should

include Marcus Atwater and Colby Danforth, as well. They’re both single, very

goodlooking and aren’t currently in a relationship.”

Theron waved his hand in a gesture of surrender. This was probably best left

to Madeline anyway. She’d know better what Isabella would like than he

would.

They were interrupted when the door burst open and Isabella hurried in, a

bright smile on her face.

“Sorry to just barge in,” she said in an out-of-breath voice. “I didn’t see

Madeline…oh, there you are,” she said when she caught sight of his secretary.

Madeline rose and smiled in Isabella’s direction. “Quite all right, my dear. I

was just on my way out. I’m sure Mr. Anetakis has time for you. He appears to

have canceled all his morning meetings.”

He scowled at Madeline, not that she seemed particularly intimidated. She

patted Isabella on the arm as she passed and then she turned as she reached the

door. “I’ll hold your calls and take messages.”

“That won’t be”

But Madeline was gone, and he was left with Isabella. His gaze drifted over

her to see that she was wearing shorts. Really short shorts that bared her long,

tan legs.

A dainty ankle bracelet hung loosely at her foot. She wore sandals that showed

off bright pink toenails. As his gaze drifted upward again, he saw that the Tshirt she wore was cut off so as to bare her midriff, and the belly ring she wore,

and it molded to her breasts like she was planning to enter a wet T-shirt

contest.

He wasn’t going to survive this.

He cleared his throat and gestured toward the seat that Madeline had vacated.

“I’m glad you’re here, Bella. We need to talk.”

She turned for a moment, and he caught a glimpse of the tattoo on her back. It

sparkled almost. It was either a fairy or a butterfly. He couldn’t tell and it was

making him nuts. He wanted to go over and shove her shorts down so that he

could see it.

A tattoo. He caught himself just short of shaking his head again. What had she

been thinking? If she was his, she would have never done something so foolish.

There was no reason to take such a risk with her body.

Theos, now he was sitting here considering what he would and wouldn’t allow

her to do if she was his. She wasn’t his. Would never be his. He mustn’t even

entertain such a thought.

She settled into the seat in front of him which put her breasts right in his line

of vision. He certainly couldn’t accuse her of baring too much cleavage. The

shirt covered her very well, but the shirt clung to the globes, outlining every

curve and swell. It was far more enticing than the lowest cut neckline.

“What did you want to talk about?” she asked.

By now he was hanging onto his temper and control by a thread. And yet she

stared calmly at him as though they were about to discuss the weather. He

wanted to beat his head on the desk.

He rubbed his hand tiredly over his face and then focused his attention on the

matter at hand.

“About last night…” he began.

She held up her hand, startling him into silence.

“Don’t ruin it, Theron,” she said huskily.

He blinked in surprise. “Ruin what?”

“The kiss. Don’t ruin it by apologizing.”

“It shouldn’t have happened,” he said tightly.

She sighed. “You’re ruining it. I asked you not to.”

He stared at her open-mouthed. How the hell was he supposed to hand her the

lecture he’d carefully planned when she looked positively disgruntled over the

fact that he’d brought it up?

“If you positively must regret it, I’d appreciate it if you did so quietly,” she

said before he could offer anything further. “You’re allowed to forget it ever

happened, you’re allowed to regret it, you’re allowed to swear on all that’s holy

that it’ll never happen again. Just don’t expect me to do the same, and I’d

appreciate it if you didn’t patronize me by making light of it. As kisses go, I

thought it was damn near perfect. You saying differently doesn’t make it any

less in my mind.”

He was speechless. A first for him. He who always had something to say. He

was the diplomat in the family, always the level-headed one, and yet he’d been

reduced to a mindless, gaping idiot by this infuriating woman.

She crossed one leg over the other and pressed her hands together in her lap.

“Now, if that’s all you had on your mind, I thought we could finalize the

arrangements for the apartment and plan our shopping trip? I arranged for the

papers I need to sign for the apartment to be faxed here since I was sure you’d

want to look over everything first.”

That was it? She could so easily shove what happened the night before out of

her mind when he’d been consumed the entire morning? The memory didn’t

just consume him, it tortured him endlessly.

Even now he looked at her lips and remembered the lush fullness against his

mouth. He could remember her taste and scent. The throb in his groin

intensified as he imagined how she’d look, spread naked on the bed as he

moved over her.

He cursed again and ripped his mind to present matters.

“Check with Madeline and see if she has the agreement. I’ll have my lawyer

look it over if you like. As for shopping, Madeline will know my appointments

for the week.

Stop on your way out and have her schedule a few hours for us to pick out

your furniture.”

She flashed him a smile that warmed parts of his body that didn’t bear

mentioning. With a toss of her long hair, she rose gracefully from the chair. She

gave him a small wave bye then turned and walked to the door.

A fairy. Her tattoo was a fairy with a sprinkling of glittery dust and sparkles

radiating from the design.

It suited her.

But it brought up another very intriguing thought. Did she have any other

tattoos?

Maybe one or two that could only be seen when she wore no clothing? It made

him twitchy as he imagined going on a hunt with her body as the map.

Isabella left Theron’s office, biting her lip to keep from smiling. He’d

certainly been prepared to give her an endless lecture on how they could never

again do what they’d done the night before. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t

expected which was why she’d been prepared to head it off before he ever got

started.

She mentally patted herself on the back at the expert way she’d diffused the

situation. He was probably still off balance and trying to figure out just what

had happened.

She approached Madeline’s desk and politely asked if Madeline had received

a fax for her.

Madeline tapped a stack of papers at the edge of her desk and then smiled up

at

Isabella.

“Did he tell you about the party?” Madeline asked.

Isabella picked up the rental agreement and frowned. “No, he didn’t mention

it.”

Just then Theron stuck his head out the door. “Bella, I forgot to tell you that I

have a cocktail party planned this Thursday that I’d like you to attend. Seven

p.m. at my penthouse. Madeline will arrange for a car to pick you up at the

hotel.”

Before she could respond, he withdrew into his office again and closed the

door.

“Well, there you have it,” Madeline said in amusement. “I don’t suppose he’s

also told you the occasion?”

Isabella turned back to the older woman, her frown deepening. “Why do I get

the idea that I’m being royally set up?”

“Because you are?” Madeline said cheerfully.

Isabella flopped down in the chair beside Madeline’s desk. “Tell me.”

Madeline pulled out a sheet of paper and thrust it toward Isabella. “I wasn’t

told to keep this secret so I’m not violating anyone’s confidence, and I figure if

I was invited to a party where my future husband was in attendance, I’d at least

want the opportunity to buy a gorgeous dress for the occasion.”

Isabella snatched the paper and stared back at Madeline in astonishment.

“Husband?”

Madeline’s eyebrows went up. “He didn’t tell you that he was searching for a

husband for you? I’d have to think that came up in conversation at least once.”

“Well it did, briefly I mean. Just yesterday. He’s already found someone?”

Isabella tried to keep the horror from her voice, but she wasn’t entirely certain

she’d been successful judging by the sympathy she saw in Madeline’s eyes.

She’d gone along with it because she hadn’t really thought that Theron was

serious, and even if he was, she figured she had plenty of time.

“Maybe he’s in a hurry so that he can concentrate on his own upcoming

wedding,” Madeline said in a soothing voice.

“What?” Isabella croaked.

“He didn’t tell you that, either?” Madeline asked cautiously. “Well then, you

didn’t hear that from me.”

Isabella leaned forward. “Tell me,” she said fiercely. “Is he really getting

married? Is he engaged?”

Madeline looked stunned for a moment and then understanding softened her

expression. “Oh dear,” she breathed.

She got up and walked around to where Isabella sat stiffly, her hands gripped

tightly in her lap. “Why don’t we go into the conference room,” Madeline said

quietly.

Isabella let Madeline lead her into the other room where Madeline shut and

locked the door. “Have a seat,” she directed Isabella.

Numbly Isabella complied and Madeline took the seat next to her.

“Now, how long have you had this crush on Theron?”

“Crush?” Isabella asked in a mixture of amusement and devastation. “A crush

is a passing fancy. I’ve been in love with Theron ever since I was a young girl.

Back then it might have been considered a crush, but now?”

Madeline shook her head and patted Isabella’s hand. “He has the right idea to

introduce you to potential husbands then. He has an arrangement with the

Gianopolous family to marry their daughter Alannis. She and her mother arrive

in New York in less than a week’s time. I’d hate to see you…hurt. Perhaps the

best thing to do would be to focus on the men Theron has in mind for you. This

fascination with Theron can only end in disappointment.”

Isabella knew that Madeline was nothing but well-intentioned, but she also

had no idea of the depth of Isabella’s feelings and her determination.

Still, the thought of Theron already being engaged, of having a commitment to

another woman…She closed her eyes against the sudden stab of pain. No

wonder he was so put off by the kiss they’d shared the night before.

“When do they marry?” she asked in a soft voice.

“Well, he has to propose first, but from what I understand that’s a mere

formality. He didn’t want a long engagement, so I imagine it will be this fall

sometime.”

“So he hasn’t even proposed yet?”

Relief filled Isabella. If he hadn’t asked, then there was time to make sure he

didn’t.

Madeline frowned. “I don’t like the look you’re giving me.”

Isabella leaned forward and grabbed Madeline’s hands. “You have to help me,

Madeline. He’s making a huge mistake. I need to make him see that.”

Madeline shook her head vehemently. “Oh, no. I’m not getting involved in

this. Theron has made his choice, and I make it a point never to get involved in

my employer’s personal life. You’re on your own.”

Isabella dropped Madeline’s hands with a sigh. “You’ll thank me for this

when he’s a much happier man.”

Madeline stood and regarded Isabella with reservation. “Don’t make a fool of

yourself, Isabella. No man is worth losing your self-respect over. If your mother

was alive, she’d probably tell you the same thing.”

“My mother loved my father very much,” Isabella said softly. “He loved her,

too.

They’d both want me to be happy. They’d want me to marry the man I loved.”

“Then I’ll wish you luck.”

Isabella smiled, though it was completely forced. “Thank you, Madeline.”

They left the conference room, and Isabella quickly signed the rental

agreement before handing it over to Madeline. “Let him read over it and if he

has no objections, fax it back for me, please.”

“And your shopping trip? When would you like to schedule that?”

Isabella shook her head. “I’ll go by myself. When is the cocktail party again?”

“Thursday night. Seven.”

Isabella slowly nodded. “Okay, I’ll be there.”

She turned to walk out of the office, her mind reeling from the unexpected

shock of Theron’s upcoming proposal. She flipped open her cell phone and

dialed Sadie’s number.

“Sadie? It’s me, Isabella,” she said when Sadie answered the phone. “Are you

busy? I need to come over. It’s urgent.”