The Wedding Pact Box Set - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,207

both angry last night, and things got out of hand. But we’re getting married in two days. All I ask is that you think things through before you make any hasty decisions you’ll regret.”

She didn’t respond. Perhaps he had a point.

“I know you have a lot on your mind. The last thing you needed was for my cousin to turn up and try to humiliate you. And then there’s Nana Ruby.” Her name rolled off his tongue as though it imparted a bitter taste. Then he looked into Blair’s face. “But there’s something I didn’t tell you.” He lowered his eyes. “The reason I’m putting up with her shit.”

She gave him a look of irritated disbelief. This sounded a lot like a con job. “Go on.”

“Her inheritance.” He licked his lower lip. “She has thousands of acres right outside the Springfield city limit. Her land is probably worth millions, though she hardly acts like a woman of wealth and class. If I piss her off, she’ll cut me out of the will.”

Blair’s eyes narrowed. “That seems unlikely.”

“You don’t know her like I do. You didn’t spend every summer watching the two of them huddled together over horses and literal shit in the barn, while they pretended I didn’t exist.”

She backed up and put her hands on her hips. “And thus your need to best him.”

His face softened. “No, Blair. It’s not like that.” He was quiet for a moment. “Garrett’s a player, through and through. He assesses a situation and tries to figure out the best way to milk it to his advantage. He’s only close to Nana Ruby because he wants the land all to himself. And the best way to do that is not only to get into her good graces, but to alienate her from me.”

She shook her head. “That seems like a stretch.”

“You knew him before, right? He was the boyfriend who broke your heart in law school. He tried to rekindle your relationship last night in the kitchen.”

Guilt swam in her head, making her dizzy. The kiss. “How did you—?”

“He told me, Blair. He came to my office yesterday before the shower and laughed about how he was going to get you to cancel the wedding to get back at me. It’s all a game to him.”

“So you admit to there being some weird competition between you two?”

“On his side, not mine.” When she didn’t answer, he cocked his head. “But Blair, let me ask you this. If he wants you so badly—” a sympathetic smile spread across his face, “—why did he wait until now to try to win you back? Why didn’t he resurface in your life before we met? Why is he only showing up now, the week of our wedding?”

He was asking questions she’d been asking herself all night long while she tried—and failed—to sleep.

“Garrett’s always been competitive. I’m sure you saw that side of him during the year you were together.”

It was true. He hated to lose, just like she did, but it had always been a healthy trait. Not destructive. The man Neil was describing to her was not the man she knew. She glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Neil. I have to get to my deposition.”

“It’s with him, isn’t it?” Hatred filled his eyes.

“Yes.” There was no reason to deny it. “But it’s work. It’s my job.”

“I know. I know.” He pressed the heel of his palm to his forehead. “I just hate that you’re going in there with him before I’ve had the chance to convince you how sorry I am. Please at least give me that opportunity, Blair.”

She groaned. “I don’t know what to believe, Neil, and I don’t have time to sort it out right now. I have a client who is depending on me to go in there and do my job.” Irritation laced her words.

“I know. I’m sorry.” He sounded desperate. “Have you called anything off yet?”

“No.” The word came out harsher than intended. Before he could read too much into it, she added, “Nothing is open yet.”

He pushed out a sigh of relief. “Then don’t. Please, Blair. Just wait and let’s talk this through before you do anything hasty. Let me take you out to lunch. Then, if you still want to call it off, we will.”

Did she really want to take the time to meet with him? Canceling a wedding this size was going to be a logistical nightmare. She and Melissa needed to get on it right