Tara met her sister’s inquisitive stare in the mirror. “I don’t wanna talk about it. It’s done.”
“But you were so into him. You practically glowed.” She flicked her wrist at Tara. “And look at you now.”
Tara pivoted and walked into the bedroom. “You don’t like my outfit?” She glanced down at herself. She’d changed into a short, figure-hugging red dress suitable for the cocktail party that was about to start. The Willamotts had invited half of Shelter Island.
“Your dress is fine, though a little more risqué than I’m used to from you.” Her sister rose and walked toward her. “But I’m worried about you.”
“There’s nothing to worry about. I’m fine.” How many times she’d said that last word in the last week, she couldn’t recall. But in every single case it had been a lie. She wasn’t fine. She was hurt. Hurt that Jay had lied to her.
“Maybe you can fool Mom and Dad, but you can’t fool me.”
“Why can’t you just let it go?”
Veronica took Tara’s hands in hers. “Because you’re my little sister, and I don’t want to see you unhappy.”
Tara pressed her lips together, ashamed. “Oh, Veronica, I’m so sorry. I never really gave you credit for what a good person you are. I always thought you were like Mom, just interested in the superficial things in life. I judged you wrongly.”
“That’s not important right now. Tell me what happened with this guy, with Jay.”
Tara sniffled. “He wasn’t at all who he said he was.”
“Oh Tara, most men aren’t. That’s part of the deal. They show you one side and then you discover another, and yeah, sometimes you might not like it. But that’s life.”
“It wasn’t like that at all. He was nothing like he pretended to be. Nothing at all. He was a fake. A big fake. And I fell for it. I believed everything he said.”
Veronica stroked her fingers over Tara’s cheek. “Oh, kiddo, I’m so sorry.”
Tara shrugged, trying to brush the sadness off, but it was a futile attempt.
“So what are you doing here, huh? Why didn’t you stay in New York and at least pursue those job opportunities you mentioned?”
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she didn’t have the strength to push them back any longer. “I didn’t get…get the job.” Because she’d called her potential employer a liar and a jerk.
Veronica pulled her into an embrace. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Tara. But there’ll be others, I promise you. You just have to keep trying.”
Tara shook her head, sobbing. “It’s no use. I should just do what Mom wants me to do. Because whenever I try to rebel, look how it turns out!”
“But Tara. Brad Willamott?”
The name alone made her break out in goose bumps. She’d never liked the spoiled son of one of the richest families in the Hamptons. By accepting the invitation this weekend, she’d practically indicated that she would be willing to go out with Brad and consider him a marriage candidate. Oh God, she felt like she’d time-traveled and landed in a regency romance where she was being coerced into a marriage of convenience. This was crazy.
“At least I know going into it that he’s a douchebag. There won’t be any surprises.” And she wouldn’t develop any feelings for somebody like that. Hence her heart could not be broken. Wasn’t that the perfect solution? Crap, not even she believed that. What the hell was she doing here?
“Tara, you’re not thinking clearly. You’re upset, and you shouldn’t make any decisions when upset. Tomorrow, you’ll leave with Adam and me, and you’ll spend some time with us until you feel better.”
“But Mom is never—”
“Leave Mom up to me.”
“But I don’t want to intrude on you and Adam. I mean you don’t need a fifth wheel.”
“Don’t worry about that. Adam will survive it. Besides, he likes you.”
Through her tears she smiled at her sister. “Are you sure?”
Veronica nodded.
“You’re the best sister ever.”
“Of course I am,” Veronica replied. “Now, fix your make-up and then we’ll go down there and mingle with the crowd. There isn’t much a few drinks can’t fix.”
“Thank you.” Her heart filled with gratitude.
At least she had one person she could rely on to get her through this mess, because coming to the Willamotts had been a stupid idea. It wouldn’t solve her problems or mend her broken heart.