Page 28 of Deceptive Vows
She gasped. “Oh, Thea… what a special ring.”
“I know.”
Her aunt looked up, and I was taken aback by the tears in her eyes. “How I wish Lisbet and Isabella were here.”
Thea was quiet for a moment. Even without knowing her well, I could see howdeeply thinking about the two women affected her. Marriage wasn’t a flippant thing to me, and I suspected it wasn’t for her either.
Finally, she smiled. “I do too. Maybe we should finish getting the meal ready.”
“All right.”
Thea waited until her aunt was out of earshot, and turned to me. “Well, you passed your first test.”
It didn’t escape me that she played off the mention of her mother and friend. I’d leave it too. If anyone understood loss and grief, it was me.
I tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I like her, which made it an easy test.”
“Just so you know, I don’t invite men to my family get-togethers. You’re… the first.”
Why did that fill me with such satisfaction? “Really?”
“These are sacred. Private. These people are my inner sanctum. I would die for them, so normally I wouldn’t expose them to anyone I don’t trust.”
“Why now?” I tilted my head and caught her gaze.
She gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Those girls that Marco took are worth the risk. I couldnever live with myself if I stood by and did nothing.”
I don’t know what came over me, but I pulled her close and pressed my lips to her forehead. “We’ll find them, get them help, and I’ll guard while you take care of that pig, Marco.”
A mischievous grin grew on her lips. “You really know how to sweet talk a woman.”
And she was the only woman I wanted.
Chapter Ten
THEA
HavingNazar at a family meal was an odd experience. Helen’s reaction was expected. I was also right that she found him attractive, which softened the impact. She understood our world and that sacrifices were often made for the family. I will admit, her initial strong reaction took me by surprise. I couldn’t see her reacting the same way to Lucas and Ari.
Beyond Nazar’s presence, this year marked a different kind of change in our family dynamic. While he represented my concession to family duty, Lucas and Ari’s marriages had already begun reshaping our gatherings. New faces, newtraditions, all shifting the rhythms we’d known for so long.
Steam rose from the pot as I stirred the pelmeni dumplings, my apron dusted with flour from the earlier preparation. No, I didn’t have to serve a dish that Nazar would like, but it felt right. For some inexplicable reason, I wanted him to feel like he had a place at my table.
“Have you even decided when you’re having the ceremony?” Claire nibbled on a roll as she leaned her hip against the counter.
With the auction occurring around New Year’s, that made the timetable short. “The week between Christmas and New Years.”
Anna’s mouth dropped open. “Wow. And I thought mine was quick.”
“Me too.” Claire blinked.
“Will the church even be available?” Aunt Helen asked.
I shrugged. “If not, Lucas will just have to make a donation large enough that it’ll become available.”
Anna palmed her cheek as her eyes widened. “Okay. That’s… we need to find a dress and fast.”
“No kidding,” Claire added. “As picky as she is… finding one will be like finding a needle in a haystack.”
