“You’ll be spending every day with Neil after Saturday, but I’m going back to Seattle. Come out with Libby and me tonight. We’ll make it a bachelorette party.”
“I thought you didn’t want me to marry Neil,” Blair said in a haughty tone.
“Blair, you’re a grown woman. We’ve stated our opinion, but it’s ultimately your decision. Now let’s have a girls’ night out.” She paused. “If Neil will let you, that is.”
Her back stiffened. “Neil doesn’t own me, Megan. We don’t have that kind of relationship.”
“Then it’s a plan?”
Neil would likely be upset. At lunch, he had taken the blame for their broken relationship and had suggested they spend more time together to rekindle the connection they’d shared in the beginning, although Blair could admit to herself that it had never been even close to what she’d shared with Garrett. He gave her back the ring and said he wanted to start tonight with a special dinner. But Megan was right. They had the rest of their lives to spend together. She had no idea when she would see Megan again. Besides, she couldn’t think of the last time the three of them had all just hung out and talked. “Yes, but I have some work to do before I take off.”
“Good.” Megan sounded smug. “Then meet us for dinner. You pick when and where. We can meet close to your office to make it easier for you.”
“Okay. Seven o’clock at O’Malley’s.”
“At least try to sound excited about it.”
“I’m excited.” And she was. She just needed to tell Neil first. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“A wedding will do that to you. See you at seven.”
Blair was caught by surprise when Neil’s phone didn’t go to voice mail.
“Blair? Miss me already?” he asked in a teasing tone.
His response was so unlike him, she was shocked into silence. “Uh…”
“I can’t wait until our dinner tonight. I’ve come up with the perfect restaurant. I was just about to text you the location.”
“Actually, that’s why I’m calling…” Why was she so nervous? She’d never had trouble telling him what she wanted before. “I need to cancel our plans tonight.”
He paused. “Blair. I thought we agreed to focus more on us. Starting tonight.”
“I know, but Megan and Libby want me to go out with them. I can’t even think of the last time all three of us went out to dinner.”
“Darling, they want to convince you to break off the wedding.” He sounded worried.
Her temper flared. “You think I’m incapable of making up my own mind?”
“No. Of course not.” He sounded taken aback. “But—”
“Then there’s no discussion. I’m going out with my friends.”
“I’ll miss you.”
Now she was really suspicious. “Don’t lay it on too thick, Neil.”
“Due to my own stupidity, I almost lost you last night. It’s made me realize that I’ve taken you for granted.” His voice lowered. “I love you, Blair. I know I rarely say it, maybe because you never do, but I do love you.”
He was right. She rarely said it, but she hated lying. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Melissa came in about an hour later, set a file on Blair’s desk, and then spun around to leave. She wasn’t acting like herself, and Blair was worried. It occurred to her that she’d piled a lot of her own personal tasks onto her assistant, especially since she’d asked her to take care of canceling tonight’s party.
“Did you have any problems with the cancellation?”
Melissa turned to face her, crossing her arms. “None at all.”
“Melissa, is everything okay?”
Her eyes were guarded. “And why wouldn’t it be?”
Blair knew a deflection when she saw one. She stood and walked around her desk. “I know I’ve asked you to do a lot of personal errands for me lately.”
Melissa sucked in a breath and stared her down. “I’m your assistant. It’s my job.”
“No, it’s not. Not really.” She moved closer. “I don’t tell you often enough how much I appreciate everything you do.”
Her assistant looked down and then back up, still on guard. “I know you do, Blair. Thank you.” And with that, she left the room.
Blair considered going after her, but she had enough on her hands. She’d deal with whatever was bothering Melissa later.
Megan and Libby were waiting for her in the restaurant when she arrived several minutes after seven. She prepared herself to be berated for being late, but they just smiled and held up their drinks.
“We started without you,” Libby said.
Blair cracked a smile. “So it would seem.”
“We’re still waiting for our table,” Megan added. “Let’s get you something.”
“Just water. I have a busy day tomorrow and a meeting with a potential new client in the morning.”
They both knew she wasn’t supposed to be in the office on Friday, but neither woman commented on it.
Libby took a sip of her wine. “I guess you don’t have to worry about your job now, huh?”
She thought about defending herself, but she doubted Libby meant it as a jab. She was just being sensitive. That thought almost made her snort out loud—when had Blair Myers Hansen become sensitive?
The hostess approached them a few minutes later and led them to their seats. They spent the next hour and a half talking about their jobs, their mutual friends, Megan and Josh’s life in Seattle, and a new photography project of Libby’s. The conversation steered clear of all topics even peripherally related to Neil, Garrett, and the wedding. Which left Blair with very little to discuss.
“I’ve heard this place has amazing cheesecake,” Libby said, taking a sip of her wine. “Want a slice?”
Blair laughed. “No way. I have to fit into my dress on Saturday.”
“One piece of cheesecake won’t hurt,” Megan teased.
Blair stuck to her guns. “Nope. I have enough things to worry about without adding the fear of being unable to zip up my dress.”
“Well, in that case,” Libby said, flagging down the waitress. “Let’s pay the bill and head over to the bar down the street and get a drink.”
Blair shook her head. “I can’t. It’s a work night.”
“Come on, Blair.” Megan tilted her head and gave her a pouty face. “It’s too early to call it a night. Who knows when we’ll be able to hang out again.”
She only had one meeting scheduled, so she could afford a later start than usual. Especially since it was officially her day off. “Okay.”
They left the bar and were heading down the street when a woman emerged from a doorstep and grabbed Blair’s arm.
She stared up at Blair with intense brown eyes. “Your fortune for five dollars.”
Blair tried to pull free, but the woman’s grip was like a vise. Her first thought was that the panhandlers in this part of town had gotten significantly more aggressive, but the woman didn’t look homeless. In fact, she was clean and fairly well dressed in a long flowing skirt and shirt. Tight black ringlets framed her face.
“I don’t think so.”
“I’ll pay,” Libby said, rummaging through her purse and pulling out a bill. “Come on. You have to admit you of all people need your fortune read.”
Blair’s body tensed. “You know I don’t believe in that crap.”
“Humor us.” Libby handed the money to the woman. “I’m paying for it. Consider it my bridesmaid’s gift.
“Fine.” She held out her hand to the woman, palm up. “Read it.”
The woman took it and shook her head. “I don’t read palms. I read souls.”
Blair didn’t hide her amusement. “By all means. Read my soul.” Her grin widened. “If you can find it.”
The woman’s eyes held Blair’s for several uncomfortable seconds before she spoke. “You are at a crossroads both professionally and in love.”
Blair’s smile fell.
“You’ve bee
n cursed.”
Blair tried to jerk her hand free, but the woman’s fingers dug into her flesh. “Now this is just bullshit,” Blair said.
“It’s up to you to break the curse. Everything depends on making the right choice,” the woman said, releasing her hold. “You don’t have much time.” Then she smiled. “For twenty-nine dollars, I can give you a tarot reading. If you’ll just come into my office…” She motioned to the door behind her, and Blair realized they were standing in the awning of her psychic shop.
Blair turned to give Libby a scathing glare. “You set this up.”
Libby lifted her hands in defense. “No. I swear.”
Megan flashed the psychic a smile. “Thank you, but we’re going to pass.” She grabbed Blair’s arm and tugged her away.
“That was bullshit, Libby.” Blair felt her cheeks grow hot, which only made her angrier.
“How could I set this up, Blair?” her friend asked. “You picked the restaurant. I never come down to Brookside. I didn’t even know this place was here.”
“Come on,” Megan said. “Let it go.”
Blair dug her heels into the sidewalk. “I think I should just go home.” Though she’d die before admitting it out loud, the fortune teller had scared her. Blair reminded herself that the psychic had thrown out general terms in a fishing expedition, looking for a topic to narrow in on based on her reaction. But while her head knew this, the unreasonable part of her considered going back for some answers.
She had finally lost her mind. What if she was making the wrong choice? “Fine.”
“Great!” Megan exclaimed, ignoring her short response.
The bar was a short walk away, and as soon as Blair got through the door, she ordered a whiskey.
“Don’t you want to find a table first?” Megan asked.
“No.”
Libby ordered a glass of wine and Megan a beer, and once they had their drinks, they found an empty table in the back of the bar.
They’d barely gotten settled when Libby looked at Blair’s left hand and asked, “So you’re wearing the same ring?”
The panic rose out of nowhere, and she wasn’t even sure why. “Yeah,” she forced out. “It’s practical.” She took a sip, trying to hide her shaking hand.
“Yes,” Libby murmured. “It is practical.”
Blair took another sip. “Just say it, Libby. Say what you’ve been dying to say all night.”
She shook her head. “Blair, we really do just want you to be happy. You don’t look happy.”
“How could I be happy when you two won’t accept my choices?”
“Enough, Libby,” Megan said, taking a big gulp of her beer. “Change the topic.”
The three women sat in silence until Megan finally said, “Blair, we stand by you no matter what. Right, Libby?”
Libby nodded. “My lips are sealed.”
Still, their mood—already dampened from the encounter on the street—was grim.
“Maybe we should just call it a night,” Blair said.
“No,” Megan protested, anger darting into her eyes. “Not yet. We used to have fun together, and we’re going to have fun, dammit! We’ll stay here all night if we have to!”
The two women looked at her and burst out laughing. Megan joined them and ended up laughing the hardest of all of them.
“I’ve missed this,” Blair confessed.
Libby grinned. “Me too.”
“See?” Megan countered. “We all miss this, and it’s wonderful that we’re here together. Let’s make the most of it.”
They ordered another round of drinks, and Blair felt her panic retreat. Maybe this was what she needed—a night of fun with her friends.
They’d finished their second drinks, and Megan ordered another round. Blair knew she probably shouldn’t drink any more, but she picked up the drink and took a sip as soon as it was placed in front of her.
“Oh, crap.” Megan’s eyes widened.
“What?” Libby and Blair asked in unison.
“I think we should go.” Megan turned to her, her forehead wrinkled with worry. “We didn’t do this, Blair. I swear.”
“Do what?” Then she glanced at the front door, and her face instantly flushed when she saw who’d just walked into the bar.
Garrett.
Not just Garrett. The McMillan brothers were behind them. The way Josh and Noah had taken to Garrett, Blair wouldn’t be surprised if they sent out an adoption announcement officially changing Garrett’s last name to theirs.
Blair narrowed her eyes. “Are you kidding me?”
“We didn’t plan this,” Libby said, looking worried. “Josh and Noah were supposed to meet Garrett in his hotel bar, which is right around the corner. There was no way they knew we’d be here.”
Garrett looked around, and his eyes found Blair. Though she could hardly believe this was a coincidence—particularly after all of the other coincidences that had been piled into her lap lately—the shock in his eyes was undeniable. And like a moth to a flame, he came right to her. Her eyes were so laser-focused on him, she barely registered that the McMillan brothers were following him.
He stopped in front of her table. “Blair.”
She couldn’t believe he had the nerve to come over to her after admitting he’d gone to Neil’s office. “Go away, Garrett.”
He swallowed, looking nervous. “Give me one dance.”
She looked around the bar, incredulous. “No one’s dancing, Garrett.”
“I don’t care. Dance with me.”
She lifted her chin and held up her left hand. “I’m engaged.”
“So I heard. I rented a tux today. Black with a red tie. Classic. Good choice. I think I’m standing on the end of the line.”
She jumped off her stool and stumbled around Libby to stand in front of him. “You’ve got to be kidding me! You’re still in the wedding?”
He smiled, but his eyes were sad. “Nope. Nana Ruby still insists.”
She poked her finger into his chest. “Then grow a pair of balls and tell her no!”
“No. I won’t. But Neil can.” His eyebrow rose. “Did you know that? He could tell her no, but he hasn’t. Why not?”
She knew, but she wouldn’t admit it to him.
“You obviously don’t want me to be in your wedding. Have your fiancé kick me out.”
“How about you do the right thing?”
His face spread into a slow lazy grin. “I am doing the right thing.”
“Then quit.”
“Dance with me.”
She tried to sort it through in her head, but her mind was fuzzy from the alcohol. One dance and he’d quit the wedding. It seemed safe enough, even if the thought of dancing with him spread a pool of heat between her legs. She reached across the table and took a big gulp of her drink before turning back toward him. “Okay.”
He looked surprised by her easy acceptance. Maybe she should have negotiated for more.
He took her hand and interlaced their fingers as he pulled her away from the table. A distant part of her mind realized Libby and Megan and the brothers McMillan were gaping at them in surprise. Her hand tingled from Garrett’s touch, and she wondered what else he could make her feel. If it would be even half as good as it had been in the past. Based on her current reaction, she was sure it would be a thousand times better.
He tugged her around a booth and led her into a dark corner with two empty tables, giving them privacy from the rest of the patrons. He stopped and looked down into her eyes, making no move to touch her other than their still-linked hands.
“I thought we were going to dance,” she murmured, her gaze drifting to his lips.
He grinned. “We are, but not yet.”
“Why not?”
“It’s the middle of a song. I want my full dance.”
“So we’re just going to stand here and wait, looking like idiots?”
“No one can see us, Blair. I’m the only one who can see you right now, and I definit
ely don’t see an idiot.”
“Why are you doing this, Garrett?” Her voice hitched as she said it, and she just wanted to slap herself silly.
The song ended and a new one started, a nineties ballad with cheesy lyrics. Blair barely heard it. He took a step toward her, making her hyper-aware of how close they were.
His hand reached for her waist, slowly skimming her dress before coming to rest on the small of her back, his eyes holding hers. He stepped even closer, leaving barely an inch between them. Her skin tingled, and she automatically lifted her hand and rested it on his shirt. His chest rose and fell under her hand.
“Just a dance,” she whispered, his eyes captivating hers.
He smiled and pulled his other hand free from hers so he could rest it on the rise of her hip.
“Were you really scared to ask me out?”
His grin spread, and he leaned down toward her ear. “More than you could ever know,” he whispered. “You still scare me.”
“How do I scare you?”
Rather than answering, he lowered his face to the nape of her neck, his breath hot against her sensitive skin. Shivers shot down to her toes. She cupped the back of his neck, her breath coming in short pants.
“Do you have any idea how sexy you are in a deposition?” he asked, moving his mouth to her jaw, her breath fanning her cheek.
“No.” She could barely think, barely breathe—all she knew was that she needed him.
“You’re like a panther, slowly circling its prey, looking for any sign of weakness. And then when you strike…” His teeth skimmed her jaw, lightly nipping. “It’s so damn sexy.”
Her toes curled, and she pressed against him, trying to get closer.
“I want you.” He pulled her tighter to him, leaving her with no doubt of how much he meant the words. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone.” His mouth hovered over hers.
She could smell beer on his breath, and she was sure he could smell the whiskey on hers, yet he didn’t kiss her…and it was driving her crazy.
“I’ve tried so hard to forget you, but you’re burned into my brain, imprinted on my heart.” He placed kisses at the corners of her mouth, and her body felt more alive than ever before, each nerve ending pinging and begging for release. “Give me another chance, Blair. We’ll get it right this time.”
Modern Fairy Tale: Twelve Books of Breathtaking Romance Page 152