“That’s awfully kind of you.” Elizabeth groped for a way to refuse, but her throat closed, preventing any excuses from escaping.
“We’ll have dinner around four. I’m so glad you can join us. From what Vance has told me, it’s rare that Roark is in town, much less around for the holidays. Vance is looking forward to being surrounded by family this year.”
A familiar arm circled her waist. “Mind if I steal my fiancée away? I have someone she must meet.”
“Of course.”
“You looked like you needed rescuing,” Roark murmured. “What was she saying to you?”
“She invited me to Thanksgiving dinner.” Elizabeth kept her expression smooth, but her insides were cramping. “Did you know about this?”
“Vance mentioned something about dinner, but it slipped my mind.”
“I hate this.”
“Hate what?”
Yes, what? The lies? The pretense that she was unaffected by being included in a Thanksgiving dinner with his family? The fact that they weren’t truly engaged and so she couldn’t be the happy future bride with a wedding to plan? What a self-delusional idiot she was to claim that she was okay with never getting married, when it was why she’d always tried so hard in relationships even though it was obvious that the men she’d chosen didn’t want the same things.
Elizabeth bit her lip hard to bring her wayward emotions back under control. The pain helped distract her from the ache in her chest.
“This time of year.” She let out a ragged sigh. “My sister and her family died last Thanksgiving. They were driving down to the city to spend the weekend with me.”
“Elizabeth, I’m so sorry.”
His fingers covered hers. He understood about loss. And guilt.
“They wouldn’t have died if I had taken the days off to drive up to Albany. But I put my career first and booked events all four days. Stephanie was determined I wasn’t going to spend Thanksgiving by myself.” Elizabeth gave a bitter laugh. “And now I’m always alone for the holidays.”
“What about your parents?”
“Their life is in Oregon. They moved there seven years ago and have only been back once, when Trina was born.” Elizabeth stared at the bracelet on her right wrist. “I suppose you think I’m being overly dramatic. From what you’ve said, you’re almost never in New York for the holidays.”
“They’re just another day for me.”
For a second she felt sorry for him. His mother had been his whole life. Growing up without brothers, sisters, cousins or grandparents left him without a support network to rely on. His old nanny was as close to family as he knew. But now there was Vance and Charlotte and her son. Only Roark didn’t want to acknowledge his importance in their lives and theirs in his.
“Are you going to Vance’s for Thanksgiving?”
“Do you want to go?”
He was giving her the choice?
“I know this fake engagement has been difficult for you,” he continued. “If you don’t want to spend the day with Vance and Charlie, I’ll understand.”
“I knew it.” Sabeen came around the corner like a vengeful spirit. Attired in gold from head to toe, dazzling earrings, sparkling sequined dress, metallic sandals, she shimmered as she stalked toward them, her expression intent and malicious. “I was right that you didn’t love her.”
Roark met her halfway and seized her arm. The way Sabeen flinched, his grip must have been punishing. He halted her five feet from Elizabeth.
“You were eavesdropping?”
“I followed you to see if you’d heard anything from Darius.” Her dark eyes flashed with malicious glee. “And I hear that you’re not really engaged.”
Roark gave her a rough shake. “This is for the good of Waverly’s. You will say nothing.”
Sabeen was one of those women who had a pretty pout. “Why didn’t you pretend with me?”
“Because you would have seen it as something more than it is.”