She grasped the cup with a shaking hand. She wished she were more confident, but was that a positive character trait when you dumped your fiancé on your wedding day? “Thank you.”
“I know that about you,” he said in a low voice. “Just like I know you hate wearing socks in the winter, and you like to eat mac and cheese with a spoon instead of a fork.”
She swallowed, fighting back tears. “Neil.”
He leaned forward and grabbed her hand. “We’ve been together for two years now, Blair. That’s more time than you spent with him.”
She looked up at him. “But I don’t love you.”
“You keep telling me that, but I think you’ve confused love with lust.” He shook his head, his eyes pleading with her. “Remember when I had the flu last year? You took off work and stayed at my loft for three days to take care of me. That’s love. And when you pick up those cheese crackers at Trader Joe’s, just because you know I love them—that’s love.”
“Neil.”
He shook his head. “No, Blair, it’s true. What you had with Garrett last night is lust, and lust fades,” he said. “Where will you be when that happens?”
Her cheeks burned with shame.
“Darling, I understand that you got scared last night. Especially after my mother’s tirade and my temper. I don’t blame you for running off, and I’m not surprised Garrett took advantage of your vulnerability.”
She thought about telling him he ran off before she did, but there was no point. Still, there was no way she’d allow him to treat her like she was a biddable and naïve woman incapable of making her own decisions. “Garrett didn’t take advantage of me. I’m a grown woman. I made my own choice.”
“I called you a terrible name. I hurt you, and I’ll never forgive myself for that. But Garrett saw an opportunity and took it. He’s an opportunist.”
She remained silent, telling herself it was pointless to argue with him.
“What about your job, Blair? If we don’t get married, you’re going to be fired.”
“I know.”
His face turned red, and he took several deep breaths before continuing. “So you’re going throw everything away after one night with the man who broke your heart? You’re going to regret this decision when he leaves you for some other woman. And we both know he will.”
He was giving voice to the fears that niggled at the back of her brain. But the night she’d spent with Garrett had only pointed out all the inadequacies of her relationship with Neil. Deep down she’d always known she was settling, and now she had the proof.
“Blair. I still love you,” Neil pleaded, tears in his eyes. “I’m begging you to think this through. I can’t stand back and let him do this to you.” He paused, his eyes searching hers. “I’m willing to overlook your indiscretion. I understand why you did it, and I forgive you. I still want to marry you today.”
She groaned. “How can you say that? I wouldn’t be so understanding if it were the other way around. I’d be handing you your ass on a platter.”
“I know. It only proves how much I love you.”
“I can’t marry you, Neil.”
He took a breath and looked at her with eyes full of understanding. “Darling, don’t make a decision of this magnitude based on one night with a man who is determined to break us up. How can you be sure that this isn’t part of his plan?”
“He wouldn’t do that.” She pushed on. “In fact, Garrett said you’re hiding something from me.”
He paused. “What exactly did he say?”
“He said you were hiding something big.”
Neil paused and then shook his head. “If he’s talking about Layla, that’s his story to tell. I won’t hurt you that way.” When she started to protest, he said, “You’re still wearing my ring.”
She glanced down at her hand. This ring had been nothing but trouble. She’d gladly take it off and give it to Neil, but according to Garrett, it belonged to him, not Neil. Which meant it wasn’t hers to return.
“Why are you still wearing the ring, Blair? Why not just take it off and give it to me?”
“I can’t.”
He grabbed her hand and held tight. “Because you really do love me, even if you can’t admit it. You still want to marry me.”
“Garrett says the ring is his.”
“And yet you’re still wearing it.” His tone was harsh.
She took a deep breath, her voice wavering. “I’m sorry.”
“He asked you to marry him and you said yes? After one night?”
She cringed. “Yes.”
His face reddened, his hand holding hers tighter. “You made me wait months to propose—you said you weren’t ready. Yet you accept his proposal after one night?”
“Neil.” Her voice broke. She might not love him, but it still killed her to hurt him like this. “I’m sorry.”
He released her hand and sat back in his chair, staring out the window for several seconds before pulling out his phone and glancing at the screen. He stuffed the phone back into his pocket and gave her a soft smile. “All I want is for you to be happy. If this is what you want, you have my blessing. You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Then I wish you the very best. Both of you.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Don’t look so surprised. I care about you . . . and despite everything, Garrett is my cousin. He’s family.”
There was no way he could be handling this so well. What was he up to?
“Why don’t you let me walk you back to his room, and we can sort this all out.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Was that why he was taking it so well? Did he want to go over to confront Garrett?
He grimaced. “Blair, this entire situation is incredibly awkward. Not only are we canceling a wedding, you’re planning to marry my cousin. The least you can do is help come up with some kind of story that will allow me to save face with my family.” When she didn’t answer, he added, “This affects Garrett too. If you really don’t care about how this is going to affect me, at least consider him.”
“I really think this is a terrible idea, Neil.”
“I’m trying to be the bigger person here, and I’m willing to let bygones be bygones. Are you really going to refuse me?”
He was right. This would be awkward. If they could come up with some kind of understanding now, it would go a long way toward keeping their family from being torn apart. Over her.
“Okay.” She looked into his face. “Thank you.” She still wasn’t certain it was the right decision, but she had to admit he was being reasonable. Still, she hated springing this on Garrett. She now wished she had brought his phone so she could warn him by calling the hotel room phone.
Neil stood and looked impatient as he waited for her, ushering her toward the door. “Thanks for being reasonable, Blair. I’m sure you’ll appreciate it later.”
She only hoped Garrett saw it that way.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Garrett had never been so nervous in his life. He knew Neil wouldn’t let Blair go without a fight, and Blair had gone to meet him without knowing everything. How stupid could he be? Now Neil could spin an elaborate web of lies, especially since Garrett had fed her that vague line about Neil’s secret. But Garrett just hadn’t been able to bring himself to tell her something that would hurt her . . . even though he wasn’t the perpetrator.
What bothered him even more was that Neil hadn’t returned his text. He’d been purposely vague in an attempt to pique his interest. Maybe Garrett had underestimated Neil’s intentions. But Blair was breaking up with Neil, which made it a moot point. So why didn’t that reassure him?
He’d turned on the TV to try and take his mind off his nerves, but he couldn’t quell his anxiety. Something told him that things were about to go very, very bad.
Dammit.
He walked over to the window and looked down at the street, eager for a glimpse of her.
She had only been gone for twenty minutes when a knock sounded at the door. He wondered why she was knocking if she had the room key. But she didn’t have a purse, so there was the possibility that things had gotten tense and she’d left it at the coffee shop.
When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Layla, the woman he’d found in Neil’s office.
“Garrett?” she asked, looking nervous.
“Uh . . . yeah . . .” He blinked.
“Can I come in?”
He blocked the entrance, still in shock. “What are you doing here? How’d you know how to find me?”
“Neil got your message.”
“So why are you here instead of Neil?”
“Can I come in?” Tears filled her eyes. “Please.”
He swung the door open, and she walked past him into the room, looking around and taking in the sight of the mussed bed.
Garrett stood at the still-open door. He didn’t feel comfortable with her in the room, and he definitely didn’t trust her or her motives. “Did Neil send you?”
“No.”
Why was she here? When he thought about it, Layla most likely had the same goal Garrett had—prevent the wedding. He still didn’t understand why it wasn’t Neil at his door instead of his girlfriend.
“Can you shut the door?”
He heaved out a breath and looked into the hall. “I think I’ll leave it open. Why don’t you just get to the point?”
She sat down on the bed and grasped her shaking hands.
“Look, if you’re upset about Neil marrying Blair, you don’t have to worry. She’s breaking up with him as we speak.”
She shook her head, a tear sliding down her cheek. “There’s something you have to know.”
“What?” She didn’t respond, and he wondered why she was there. The only reason he could come up with was that she wanted Neil to ditch Blair so she could have him. “Neil’s free now. Or he will be in a few minutes. You can run off and be together.”
“There’s more to it. Please. I think you’re the only one who can help me.” Tears streaked down her face. Garrett’s room was at the end of the hall, giving them a complete view all the way to the end. A door opened several rooms down, and a couple emerged into the hall. They looked down at the woman crying on his bed and gave him a dirty look.
With a groan, he shut the door. “Okay, you’re here. I’m listening. What do I need to know?”
“Neil’s not who you think he is.”
He released an annoyed grunt. “I’ve known the man for nearly thirty years, and I’m not a fan, so I’m not sure there’s anything you can tell me that will surprise me right now.”
She stood and moved toward him. “You seem like a nice man.”
“Layla, spit it out already. What do you want?”
She stopped in front of him. “I’ve met Blair before, you know.”
The very thought made him livid. “You mean at the hospital?”
“No. Before that. When she and Neil first started dating.”
His fists clenched. “Were you and Neil already having sex then?”
She looked up at him, defiance in her eyes. “It’s not like that. It’s not that crass.”
“Then what’s it like? Because he was going to marry her and have sex with you. Sounds pretty crass to me.”
“No. He only realized he loved me after he proposed to her.” She shrugged. “But he has to marry her so we can be together. She’s got a huge trust fund. After they’re married for a year, he can divorce her and get half her money.”
“Is that what he told you? You really bought that bullshit?” He shook his head in disgust. Could she really be that gullible? But then again, maybe that was part of her appeal. Neil had said he couldn’t stay with one woman long. So his choices made sense. Marry the respectable woman. Sleep with the not-so-bright ones, feed them a few lines to string them along, and then find a replacement mistress once the relationship had run its course. “There is no trust fund. Blair’s father left her and her mother penniless. He’s lying to you.”
Layla’s eyes widened, and fresh tears filled her eyes. “No. He wouldn’t do that.”
“He’s a doctor, Layla. Why would he need her money to be with you? Why not ditch her and marry you?”
“Why do you even like her?” Layla asked. “She’s such a cold bitch.”
He took a step back, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. “I think you should go.”
“Why would Neil want to be with someone like that unless he wanted her money?”
“Layla, I can’t help you. You need to talk to Neil about this.”
“Do you know how they met?”
Why wasn’t she leaving? He’d given her the information she wanted, so why hadn’t she just left? But then again, she hadn’t actually told him what she wanted. “What does it matter? Layla, what do you want?”
“A guy from Blair’s office set them up. He told Neil that she was a hotshot lawyer on the rise with a multi-million-dollar trust fund. The rest is history.” She reached for the bottom of her shirt and tugged it over her head, revealing a purple bra.
“What the hell are you doing?”
She tossed her shirt onto the floor and moved toward him, unfastening her pants. “You think Neil’s stupid, but he’s actually very, very smart.”
He backed up toward the door. “I need you to leave.”
“Neil is much more calculating than most people give him credit for.” Her pants dropped to the floor next, and she backed him into the door, pressing her nearly naked body against him. All he felt was disgust and revulsion.
He moved away from her, heading into the middle of the room. “You need to go. Now.”
“Not yet.” She moved toward him. “I know you don’t believe it, but I know the trust fund exists. I love him, and we’ll be together soon enough. It’s just not time yet.”
He heard voices outside the door, and he froze in place as panic washed over him.
Layla put her arms around his neck and smiled. “Trust me. You’ll thank me for this later. She’s a bitch.” And then she kissed him, locking her fingers around his neck.
Garrett was trying to pry her off him when the door flung open. Garrett’s heart ripped open when he heard Blair’s gasp.
Layla leaned back and turned toward the door. “Garrett, why are those people in your room?”
Blair’s mouth dropped open, and she stumbled backward.
Garrett tore free of the clinging witch and shoved her aside. “Blair!”
She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “You lying son of a bitch.”
“I didn’t do this, Blair. I swear. This is Neil’s doing.”
She shook her head again and flung her hand toward Layla, who stood in the middle of the room, wearing nothing but her bra and panties. “How can this be Neil’s doing? This looks like it’s all you, Garrett.”
He pointed at Neil, barely keeping his anger in check. “He sent her here! He’ll do anything to keep you.” He turned to Neil’s mistress, his eyes narrowing. “And as Layla just pointed out, he’s much more calculating than any of us had realized.”
“Layla?”
Oh. God. Somehow he had just made it worse. What had Neil told her?
Blair put her hands on her hips and turned her murderous gaze on Neil’s girlfriend. “You want him? You can have him.” She took a step closer. “But right now, you better get the hell out of my sight, or I might not be responsible for what I do.”
Layla’s eyes widened, then she scooped up her clothes off the floor and hurried out the door. She cast a worried glance to Neil on the way out. He gave her a slight nod before she ran down the hall.
But Blair missed their silent interaction because she’d turned her attention back to Garrett. “And you . . . you worthless, disgusting excuse for a man.”
“Blair,” he pleaded. “Please listen to me.”
Blair rushed toward him and shoved his chest. “Ther
e’s not one damn thing I want to hear from you. I’ve heard enough to last a lifetime.”
The pain in her eyes seized his heart, squeezing tight. How was he going to fix this? “It’s not how it looks.”
Contempt washed over her face. “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve heard those exact same words from the couples filing into my office? Do you think I’m an idiot?” She released a harsh laugh. “Oh, wait. I think this proves you do. Screw stupid Blair—then laugh about it with your cheap girlfriend.”
She was killing him. “Blair.”
Neil put an arm around her shoulders, but she shoved it off. Garrett expected him to flinch from the rejection—instead, he grinned. “Blair, don’t listen to him. He screwed you last night, and he didn’t even wait for the hotel staff to change the sheets before he invited his girlfriend back over. I warned you that his room had a revolving door.”
Blair shook her head in disgust.
Garrett took a step toward her. “He’s doing this to get back at me, Blair. Layla’s Neil’s girlfriend. Not mine.”
She put her hands on her hips. “And she just happened to be half-naked in your room?”
“It’s not how it looks. I love you, Blair. You have to believe me. Nothing has changed that.”
She glared at him, her face wrinkling in disgust. “You’re right, Garrett. Nothing has changed. You’re still the lying, cheating bastard I thought you were five years ago. You’re not man enough to be in a relationship. I can’t believe I was stupid enough to fall for your bullshit. Again.”
Neil put his hand on her arm. “Blair, let’s go. You need to rest before the wedding.”
She turned her gaze on him, venom in her eyes. “You think we’re still getting married?”
Neil rolled his eyes. “Of course we’re still getting married. Everything was fine until he showed up. Now that his true colors have shown through, there’s no reason we wouldn’t proceed with the wedding. Just like we planned.”
Blair looked at Garrett, and he watched as the anger on her face faded, replaced with dismay.
“I don’t know that woman, Blair. Neil sent her here to break us up.” Garrett’s voice cracked. “You have to believe me.”
The Wedding Pact Box Set Page 59