The Wedding Pact Box Set - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,174

my client today.”

“I really hope that was a metaphor, or I’ll be forced to call the authorities, brother or not.”

“Kelsey.” He took a breath. “I’ve been pining for her since our breakup, and the last year has been even worse. Everyone around me is starting to settle down, which has made me realize that I want to share my life with someone too. So I’ve been serial dating—not screwing—women for the last year to try and find a partner who comes close to matching what I had with Blair, and it’s just not happening. I fucked up when I let her go, Kels, and I’m going to pay for it the rest of my life. I deserve it, but I want her anyway, and as long as she isn’t one hundred percent content with Neil, I’m going to try to get her back. Tell me what to do.”

“Did you actually use the word pining?”

He groaned. “Forget it.” His ego was bruised enough by the mere fact that he was asking his sister for help.

“Garrett, I’m sorry. I think you caught me off guard. That’s probably the most real thing I’ve heard you say in a long time.”

He paused, then said quietly, “I love her, Kels.”

“Then I’ll help you. But you have to do what I say.”

“Why do I think I’m going to regret this?”

“Because it’s going to be painful, but you want the girl, right?”

“More than anything.”

“Okay,” she sighed. “You two had fun when you were together, right? The weekend I spent with you in Columbia, you both laughed and joked around. Remind her of how much you enjoy each other’s company.”

He nodded. “Yeah, that’s good.”

“Prove that you’re trustworthy now. You screwed her over, so you have to show her that you won’t hurt her again. That one’s going to be tricky since you’re running out of time.”

His chest tightened as he realized just how little time he had left. “Anything else?”

“Show her how much you love her. You two were in love once. Maybe you weren’t the typical romantic couple, but it was obvious that you were crazy about her. There’s no way Neil can give her that. He’s too uptight.”

He swallowed a lump of fear. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to do all of this before Saturday.

“Good luck, Garrett,” she said with uncharacteristic seriousness. “I hope you can pull this off.”

“Thanks.” He needed all the help he could get.

Thirty minutes later, Garrett pulled into the parking lot of St. Luke’s Hospital. He’d already called his boss, who’d told him to go through with the new deposition. Later on, they would have a partner meeting to decide whether to keep Brian Norfolk on as a client. At the moment, he was ready to take his sister’s advice.

He’d decided it was time to take a different tactic with Neil and discuss the situation with his cousin like adults. And the sooner the better. If he was convinced Neil really loved Blair—and vice versa—he’d give up his impulsive claim to the ring, beg Nana Ruby to let him out of the wedding, and leave Blair alone. But so far his limited observance suggested otherwise. God help him for hoping he was right.

Garrett had no idea how to find his cousin, so he went to the information desk and asked for directions to his office. The woman looked up Neil’s office number and gave him instructions on how to find it. He took the elevator to the correct floor and found the office without having to go through a receptionist. He raised his hand to knock on the closed door but lowered it when he heard arguing inside.

“You have to choose!” a woman shouted.

“Keep your voice down, Layla,” Neil snarled. “Someone’s going to hear you.”

“We can’t keep doing this! You’re getting married, Neil!”

“Layla.” Neil’s voice was soft and soothing now. “It’s only for a little while, and then we can be together.”

“But you’re getting married,” she said, quieter this time.

“We’ll work it out, baby. I promise. Meet me at my apartment later tonight. I’ll text you when I leave the hospital.”

Fury ran through Garrett’s veins, followed fast by horror. Neil was cheating on Blair. It was her worst nightmare come true. Before Garrett could decide whether to bust the door down and punch his cousin out or duck away to reconsider the situation, the door opened.

A young woman with red, swollen eyes gasped as she nearly walked into him. Her hair was tangled, and she reached down to tug on the