Theron rubbed the back of his neck in an effort to relieve the enormous tension that gripped him. Isabella still hadn’t arrived, and he felt equal parts relief and disappointment.

He glanced around the ballroom of the Imperial Park Hotel, taking in the guests milling around, talking and laughing as a jazz band played softly from an elevated platform.

Alannis stood at his side, her hand resting on his arm. Sophia stood on Alannis’s other side, her pride in her daughter evident.

He ducked his head to hear what Alannis was trying to tell him and nodded appropriately though his concentration was shot. When he stood to his full height again, his gaze went to the doorway, and his breath caught in his throat.

She was here.

Isabella stood as she gazed nervously over the room. Theron swallowed when he took in her attire. The term little black dress could have been coined for this occasion.

The material molded to her every curve and settled a few inches above her knees. She wore her hair up, drawing attention to the shape of her neck. Stray tendrils escaped the elegant knot and whispered against her skin.

His fingers itched to let her hair down and watch it fall to her shoulders. He wanted to run his hands through the silken mass, feel it twine around his knuckles.

“Oh, look, there’s Isabella,” Sophia exclaimed.

As if he wouldn’t be aware the moment she stepped into the room.

“Excuse me,” he murmured to Alannis.

She let him go with a 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 out, and the music stopped. Then he turned to face the guests.

“I appreciate you coming for the occasion to welcome Isabella Caplan to our city,” Theron said in a congenial tone.

A waiter approached and handed Isabella a glass of champagne then turned to offer Theron one. He held it at waist level as he continued to address the crowd.

“We’re here to enjoy an evening of entertainment, dancing and conversation. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want, or until the booze runs out,” he added with a smile.

Laughter rang out.

He turned to Isabella and held out his glass. “A toast to Isabella.”

“To Isabella,” the guests echoed.

Theron touched his glass to hers and their gazes locked. For a long moment they simply stared. And then Theron broke away and took a long swallow.

Though she had no desire to wade through the eligible men assembled at Theron’s request—it reminded her of choosing steaks at a butcher shop—she knew she’d have to play the part, particularly if she had any hope of making Theron jealous. It was a long shot, because he’d have to feel more for her than simple lust, but at the moment, it was her only hope.

The toast seemed to have signaled a return to normal activities. The band struck up a song, and people swirled onto the dance floor.

“Come with me, Bella. It’s time to introduce you around.”

“You mean it’s time for me to meet the men you’ve assembled for me,” she said dryly.

He glanced questioningly at her. “Would you prefer not to meet them? There’s nothing to say you have to.”

He sounded almost hopeful, a little too eager, which was strange considering the time he had to have spent putting together his group of bachelors. The background checks alone would have been an enormous undertaking. And he wouldn’t have left a single stone unturned.

She nearly grinned at the thought.

“No, let’s do it. My future awaits and all that,” she said lightly.

She curled her hand around his arm and allowed him to lead her into the crowd. Unsure of what she could expect, and maybe she’d thought there would be a stampede, she was pleasantly surprised by how civilized the whole process was.

Theron took her around from group to group, introducing her to business acquaintances and friends. It was easy to immerse herself in the fantasy that she and Theron were together, and he was acting as her escort and not a man bent on marrying her off. It was also easy to forget that just a few feet away, Alannis and her mother stood, observing the goings-on.

Still, Isabella wasn’t ready to let reality intrude, and she clung to Theron’s arm all the while offering a smile or a laugh as she engaged in conversation. After awhile she found herself relaxing and genuinely enjoying the festive gathering.

She glanced up as an attractive man made his way in her direction, a determined look on his face. She recognized him as Marcus Atwater, the man who’d introduced himself in the restaurant the day before.

“Isabella, my apologies for my late arrival,” he said as he approached. He flashed her a charming smile that she couldn’t help but respond to. “I was unexpectedly tied up with a client.”

He took her hand, and as he’d done in the restaurant, he lifted it to his lips. Then he cast a questioning look in Theron’s direction—Theron who stood there looking as though a black cloud had parked itself right over his head.

“I’d like to borrow Isabella. I promise to keep her safe, and you can return to your own date, who, if you don’t mind me saying, looks very much like she’d like to dance.”

Theron scowled, and Isabella glanced over to see Alannis eyeing the dancing couples with what could only be construed as a wistful glance. Isabella didn’t want to feel pity. She wanted to dislike Alannis. If she was a complete ogre it would be so much simpler, but the fact was that both mother and daughter had been extremely nice to her.

“Are you borrowing me for a dance or for some other purpose?” she asked teasingly as she slipped her hand into Marcus’s.

“How about we dance first and we can discuss other purposes later,” he said with a teasing glint in his eye.

Theron’s expression was glacial. She released his arm to go with Marcus, but he caught her free hand, pulling her between the two men.

She stared at him for a moment, waiting for him to speak, but he seemed to be at a loss for words, or maybe he hadn’t intended to pull her back.

“Was there something you wanted?” she asked.

He released her hand and shook his head even as he glanced in Alannis’s direction. “No. Have fun, pethi mou. This is your night.”

With one last look in his direction, she turned and let Marcus lead her back to the dance floor. He spun her in an expert move, and she landed against his chest. Laughing blue eyes shone down at her, and she smiled in return.

“Are you still husband hunting or have I arrived too late for consideration?” he asked with mock seriousness.

“Aren’t men supposed to run in the other direction when marriage is mentioned?”

“Not if he doesn’t mind being caught by the woman in question.”

“You’re a total flirt,” she said with a laugh. “I can’t possibly take such a charming man seriously.”

He grinned but didn’t refute her claim. They danced among the crowd of couples, and every chance she got, she snuck a peek Theron’s way.

He and Alannis were dancing on the far side. She stared laughing up into his eyes, and it didn’t take a genius to see how starstruck she was by Theron. Isabella knew that feeling well.

“So,” Marcus said casually as he spun her around. “Are you going to let him get away?”

She yanked her gaze guiltily away from Theron to meet Marcus’s amused smile. When she realized she hadn’t a hope of playing ignorant, she sighed.

“Am I that obvious?” she asked in resignation.

“Only to another man who’s scouting the territory for competition.”

Her shoulders slumped downward. “I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to this farce. This was Theron’s idea in case you haven’t guessed. He’s decided that it’s his duty to marry me off with all possible haste.”

Marcus touched her chin and gently tugged upward until she looked him in the eye. “Have you told him how you feel?”

She glanced back over at Theron then shook her head. “It’s complicated.”

“Tell you what. Why don’t we head to that corner over there. I’ll get us a drink and you can tell me all about it.”

Theron’s gaze found Isabella again as he listened politely to Alannis and Sophia and the small group of people who stood in the loosely formed circle to the side of the dance floor. He ground his teeth together as Marcus leaned in close to Isabella, his lips hovering precariously close to her ear as he murmured to her.

She laughed and the seductive sound rose over the clink of glasses and the murmur of conversation. Marcus’s fingers drifted over her bare shoulder, lingering there much longer than Theron thought appropriate.

He had to swallow the sound of anger that bubbled up in his throat when Marcus trailed one finger down her cheek and then seductively down the side of her neck and around to the hollow of her throat.

Isabella leaned toward Marcus as if seeking his touch, and then he angled in and pressed his lips very softly to the expanse of skin just below her ear.

“Theos mou,” Theron growled. “Enough is enough.”

“Theron, is something wrong?” Alannis asked.

She touched his arm and he turned to see concern reflected in her eyes.

“It’s nothing,” he said shortly.

Alannis glanced at Isabella and then back to him. “She seems to be having a good time.”

“Yes.” His gaze drifted back, his annoyance growing as Marcus grew bolder in his advances. “Excuse me a moment, will you, Alannis?”

He nodded to Sophia and walked as calmly as he was able over to where Marcus was standing with Isabella. He all but had her trapped in the corner, his body moving in like a predator closing in on a kill.

Just as Theron started to speak up, Marcus lowered his head to nuzzle Isabella’s neck. Rage exploded over Theron. He closed the remaining distance and grabbed the other man by the shoulder, tearing him away from Isabella.

“What the…” Marcus began but broke off mid sentence. “Theron, is there a problem?”

“Come here, Isabella,” Theron bit out. He held his hand out as Isabella stared at him agape.

“What on earth is wrong?” she asked even as she slid her hand into his.

He pulled until she was against his side then he focused the full force of his glare at Marcus.

“Keep your hands off her,” he snarled. “You aren’t to touch her. You aren’t to so much as think about her. Understand?”

Marcus surprised him by grinning and then backing away, hands up. “Whatever you say.” Then he winked at Isabella. “I guess I’ll go. Something tells me I’ve overstayed my welcome.”

“Oh, no, Marcus, stay.” She glanced back up at Theron with a puzzled expression. “I’m sure Theron has no objections.”

“I have plenty of objections. He was mauling you in plain view of a roomful of people.” Then he turned again to Marcus, as he pulled Isabella even closer. He dropped his voice low enough not to be overheard. “If I find you near her again, I’ll take you apart. Are we clear?”

He ignored Isabella’s stunned gasp. Marcus merely smiled and continued to back away, his expression smug.

“I’ll see you another time, Bella.”

“Goodbye,” she said softly.

“Come on,” Theron said, half dragging her along with him. “You’re not to leave my side for the rest of the night.”

To his surprise, she didn’t offer any argument. Halfway back to where Alannis and her mother still stood, Isabella stumbled, and he turned back quickly to catch her.

“Slow down,” she said. “I can’t walk that fast in these shoes.”

“Sorry,” he said gruffly as he righted her. He held her arms until he was sure she had her footing. “Better?”

She nodded and they started back again.

“Isabella, are you all right?” Sophia asked in concern when they walked up.

Isabella offered a smile. “Yes, Mrs. Gianopolous. I’m fine. Thank you for asking.”

“Please, do call me Sophia.” Sophia reached out and took Isabella’s hand from Theron’s. “Can I get you something to drink? Have you had anything to eat since you arrived?” She turned to Alannis. “Will you excuse us for a minute, dear? You stay here with Theron while I take Isabella over to grab a bite to eat.”

Theron held up his hand to stop the endless stream of chatter. His head was pounding, and what he really wanted was to go pound on Marcus for touching Isabella, for putting his lips on her.

“Just stay here. I’ll have a waiter bring around a tray. I’d prefer that Isabella remain with me for the remainder of the evening,” he said brusquely.

The older woman’s eyes widened in surprise. Alannis moved closer to Isabella and touched her arm. “Are you sure you’re all right, Isabella?” she asked softly.

Isabella’s smile seemed strained when she looked back at Alannis. “I’m absolutely fine. Theron overreacted.” She shot him a challenging look. “I’m not sure how he expects me to find a husband when he flips his lid the moment a man pays attention to me.”

Theron took a deep breath. “I don’t think what he was doing could be classified as paying attention to you. Theos! He was making love to you for all to see.”

She raised her eyebrows and a slow smile formed on her lips. “Is that what they call kissing these days?” she taunted.

His nostrils flared at the reminder of the kisses they’d shared. He was well and truly caught in a trap of his own making.

“His actions were inappropriate,” he gritted out. “You are under my protection. You’ll heed my instructions.”

She turned cheekily to Sophia and Alannis. “I suppose he’ll mark that one off the list of potential husbands now.” Then she sighed dramatically and dropped her hands helplessly to her side. “I didn’t even get to dance again.”

“Theron will dance with you,” Alannis urged. “He’s a marvelous dancer as I’m sure you determined earlier.”

“Yes, do go on,” Sophia said. “I’ll make sure there is food when you return.”

Theron’s mouth went dry. He wouldn’t survive another dance with her lush body molded to his. One torture session was enough for the night.

But then the alternative was letting her dance with the circling pack of men. Men he’d hand-selected.

Over his dead body.

Without another word, he snared Isabella’s hand and dragged her toward the dance floor.

“You’re hell on these shoes,” she murmured as he pulled her into his arms.

For the first time since Marcus had arrived, Theron relaxed as Isabella’s soft body molded so sweetly to his. There was an innate sense of rightness. He loved touching her. It was difficult to keep his hands from roaming up and down her soft curves.

“You feel it, too,” she said softly as she gazed up at him. “You don’t want to. You fight it, but you feel it every bit as much as I do. It’s why you’ve kissed me.” She laughed softly. “You can’t help but kiss me, just as I’m unable to resist. I don’t want to resist.”

He shook his head even as his body hummed agreement.

She smiled and put a finger over his lips as they swayed with the music. Then turning, so that his back was to Alannis, she let her hands run down his chest. Her eyes narrowed to half slits, and she parted her lips in a hungry gesture.

He groaned. “We mustn’t, Bella. You make me so crazy. You have to stop with the teasing.”

“Who says I’m teasing,” she asked as she arched one eyebrow.

He took her hands and pulled them away from his body before turning her around again so that they were sideways to Alannis.

“You see her? Alannis. I’m going to ask her to marry me, Isabella.”

She greeted his announcement with calm. No visible reaction. Had she already known?

“This must stop between us,” he pressed on. “We’re going to marry different people.”

“And yet you keep kissing me,” she said with a slight smile.

“I won’t do so again,” he vowed.

Instead of deterring her, a sparkle lit her eyes. “If I have anything to say about it you will.”

Before he could respond, she pulled away. “I’m starving.” Then suddenly she leaned close and murmured so only he could hear. “You say you don’t want me, yet you don’t want another man to have me. Pretty strange wouldn’t you say?”

She turned and walked away, her hips swaying gently as she navigated her way back to where Sophia waited with a plate of food.