The Wedding Pact Box Set - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,216

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.”

She turned her head, trying to capture his mouth, but he lifted it millimeters from hers. “Garrett,” she pleaded, and he groaned, drawing her lower lip between his teeth and nipping lightly. She tugged on his neck, trying to pull him closer, but he resisted.

“You are the sexiest woman I have ever met, and I want you, Blair. I need you.”

She rose on her tiptoes and captured his mouth, and he released a deep groan, his kiss devouring her. He pressed her back against the wall, one hand skimming up her waist and to her breast. His thumb brushed her nipple, sending a jolt of electricity through her, and she wrapped her leg around his and pulled his erection tighter against her.

“Blair. Wait. Stop.” He pulled back, his chest rising and falling, his eyes hooded with desire.

Her back was still against the wall, her hands on his chest, as the horror of what she’d just done washed over her. She tried to break loose, but he held her still.

“I’m sorry. Just listen to me.”

Everything had a weakness. With enough pressure, even the hardest metal bent and twisted. Garrett Lowry was hers. She’d been drawn to him, coaxed to the edge of surrender. She had completely lost control. And Blair could not afford to lose control.

Panic raged through her like wildfire. “I have to go.”

His hands held her waist. “It’s okay, Blazer. We’ll figure this out together.”

The song ended, and her eyes flew open. “One dance. You said one dance and you’d quit the wedding.”

“Blair, I love you, and I think you love me too. But I’m damn sure he doesn’t love you.”

She shook her head. “You don’t know that.”

“Do you love him? Tell me that you love him.”

Tears stung her eyes. “Garrett.”

“How can you marry him if you don’t love him?”

She shoved against him. “I have to leave.”

He held on tighter, his eyes begging her to listen. “How can you deny this thing between us?”

She wanted him so much it hurt, but she couldn’t do this. She couldn’t take such a risk. “It’s not real, Garrett. If it were real, we would have lasted the first time.”

He shook his head. “No, that’s not true.”

“It is. You do what I do, so you see the same parade of people. They flow into your office too. They all loved each other once—most of them were head over heels when they married. Hate is the opposite of love, Garrett, and only a fine line separates them. One minute you’re in love and the next . . .” Her voice broke. “We love each other too much. We would destroy each other.”

“You don’t know that! We don’t know that we’ll break up.”

Sadness filled her with an ache that made it difficult to breathe. “But we don’t know that we won’t.”

His eyes hardened. “The Blair Myers I knew never ran from anything.”

“You already told me this morning that I do. Why should it come as such a surprise now?” She jerked free from his hold and took a step to the side. “I can’t risk it. I’m marrying Neil.”

“You’re really going to throw us away?” he demanded in disbelief.

“There is no us! We were done five years ago!”

He shook his head, anger burning in his eyes.

“I gave you a dance. Now call your grandmother and tell her you’re not in the wedding.”

His jaw tensed. “No. There was no deal.”

Her mouth dropped. “What are you talking about?”

“I only asked you to dance with me. I never agreed to bow out of the wedding in exchange. You concocted that one. I just didn’t correct you.”

Rage rushed through her. She shoved at his shoulders, but he barely budged. “You bastard! Why are you doing this to me?”

His eyes were wild. “Because I love you, Blair. I love you, and I can’t let you marry him.”

“You can’t?” she shouted, her voice drowned out by the music overhead. “When did you get the power to allow me anything?”

“Dammit! That’s not what I meant!”

His hold loosened, and she gave him another shove. He stumbled back several steps, and she bolted for her friends, panic making her clumsy.

Megan spotted her first, and she slid off her stool and rushed toward her. Libby’s eyes widened in concern and she followed.

“Blair?”

“I have to go.” She grabbed her purse