The Wedding Pact Box Set - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,222

I’m gonna love her.”

“She’s lowlife trash, and I’m gonna put a stop to this.”

While Garrett appreciated her goal, he was livid over her assessment of Blair’s character. And he wasn’t the only one.

“Excuse me?” Libby demanded, stalking down the aisle toward the woman. “Did you just call Blair lowlife trash?” Her eyes were wild, and her hands had fisted at her side.

Megan rushed after her and put her hand on her shoulder. “Libs, she’s not worth it. Let’s go.”

Libby shook her off and gave Debra her full attention. “You have no idea what Blair’s been through. Her family had money until her father divorced her mother to marry one of his mistresses and left his family destitute.”

“I wasn’t even talking about her money. I was talking about her filthy mouth.” The older woman lifted her chin. “But if her father was a cheater, then all the more reason for Neil not to marry her. Cheating runs in her family’s blood.”

Megan gasped, and Libby’s eyes filled with rage.

“Are you kidding me?” Libby raged.

“Libby.” Garrett’s firm voice cut her off. “Go find Blair.”

She sucked in several short breaths as she continued to stare his aunt down.

“Come on, Libs. Don’t do this to Blair,” Megan said, grabbing Libby’s arm and tugging. “Garrett’s right. Let’s go find her.”

Mitch looked baffled as he watched the scene, but Noah knew exactly what to do. When Libby continued to refuse to let Megan drag her out of the church, he walked over to them and stared her down. Finally she let Megan turn her toward the door, and Noah murmured comforting words to her, coaxing her down the aisle. He looked back at Neil’s mother. “If Blair’s smart, she’ll run far and fast to get away from you.”

She gasped. “Well, I never . . .”

“Do you think she will?” Kelsey asked Garrett.

“Not a chance. Blair loves a good fight. She’ll marry him for the sake of pissing her off.”

Aunt Debra had probably made his mission ten times harder.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Blair paced back and forth in the parking lot, stomping her feet so hard her soles hurt. “I can not believe her.”

Neil leaned against the trunk of his car as he watched her. “Blair, I’m sorry.”

“Who the hell does she think she is?”

He stood and moved in front of her, grabbing her shoulders. “You have to know I don’t approve of what my mother said.”

She studied his face, where she saw undeniable frustration.

“Blair.” He lowered his voice. “I’ll tell her she can’t come to the wedding.”

Her brow rose as some of her anger faded. “You would do that?”

“For you? Yes.”

He wasn’t acting like himself again, which only caused her anxiety to rise. He’d been trying so hard to prove himself to her, but while that should relieve her fears, it was sending her into a near panic attack.

“I love you, Blair.” He sounded desperate. “You have to know that.” She gave him a tight smile, but she let him pull her into his arms. He stroked the back of her head. “I don’t want to lose you.”

If the situation were reversed, she knew she wouldn’t have pled with him like he was doing with her. Was that another sign she didn’t really love him, or was it just a character flaw?

“I know things with my family have been unbearable. I’m sure Garrett throwing himself at you hasn’t helped.”

She couldn’t handle discussing Garrett, but she had no trouble discussing Debra. She pulled loose. “How long have you known that she hates me?”

“She doesn’t hate you.”

“Okay, strongly dislikes me.”

He sighed.

“Lying serves no purpose, Neil. She made her feelings perfectly clear. I can only presume she’s felt this way all along. I only need you to confirm it.”

He leaned his ass against the trunk of the car. “She’s old-fashioned. I have no control over her behavior. Just like you had no control over your father’s.”

Anger burned in her chest. “Don’t you bring him into this.”

“Why not? Isn’t he part of the reason we’re standing here in the parking lot arguing instead of inside with our family and friends?”

She shot him a glare. “We’re out here arguing because of your mother’s bitter tongue.”

“And that’s our only problem? At least we only have to visit my mother from time to time. Your father is haunting us from his grave. Isn’t he part of the reason you’re so cold and unfeeling?”

She gasped.

“Deny it.”

She couldn’t. Everything he’d said was true.

“I know your faults, yet I’m still here.” He stood and moved closer to her. “Why can’t