The Wedding Pact Box Set - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,227

her, making the decision for him. He slid in, grateful to be close to her, even if it made it a thousand times more difficult for him to keep his promise.

A man sat at the piano playing a Barry Manilow song. Blair looked up at Garrett and laughed. “I want to hear Billy Joel.” She gave his arm a shove. “Go request it.”

“I see some things never change. You’re as bossy as ever.”

“And you used to love it, if I recall.” A teasing glint filled her eyes.

Desire shot straight to his crotch. Damn. He knew what she was talking about and it wasn’t requesting songs in a piano bar.

Her eyelids lowered, and her grin turned sexy, but her voice still held a teasing tone when she said, “Now go request a Billy Joel song.”

He wasn’t going to be able to get up from the table if she kept this up. He forced himself to be playful. “Only if you promise to sing.”

“Ha! My singing hasn’t gotten any better since we were together.”

“Neither has mine. We can sing it together.”

“Then I’m going to need a drink first.”

“Deal.” He got up and wrote his song request on a piece of paper and stuck it in the glass bowl on the piano with a couple dollars.

He stood at the bar and ordered their drinks, watching her while he waited. She looked more relaxed and at peace than she had all week. What had happened between Blair and Neil in the parking lot? According to her, the wedding seemed to really be off this time. He hoped it was true, but he needed to put his insurance policy into place just in case.

He slid his phone out of his pocket and pulled up Neil’s number, and then typed out a text.

We need to talk. Omni Hotel. Room 678. 10:00 a.m. I’ll make it worth giving up Blair.

Neil still hadn’t answered by the time the bartender returned with their drinks, but if Garrett knew him at all, he would come. Still, he wouldn’t rest until this scenario had played out—until he knew there was no chance Blair was actually marrying the guy.

Blair glanced up at him and smiled. He was suddenly overwhelmed by his good fortune. He couldn’t believe he was here with her tonight, that he was possibly getting this second chance with her. Grinning, he carried the drinks back to their table. He handed her a glass as he sat down next to her.

She took a sip and looked amused. “Whiskey?”

“If I’m making you sing, I figure the least I can do is provide liquid courage. Beer didn’t seem to be enough.”

She laughed and glanced at his glass. “But you’re still drinking beer.”

“I’m less inhibited than you.”

Something flickered in her eyes, and he thought he’d lost her, but she grinned and took another sip. “What did you request?”

He waggled his eyebrows. “It’s a surprise.”

“Now I’m scared.”

“You should be. When he starts to play the song I requested, remember that you promised to sing.”

She laughed. “Now I’m really scared.”

He scooted closer to her on the upholstered bench, close enough that their thighs pressed together. He watched her face to see if she was bothered by the contact, but she rested her chin on her hand as she watched the pianist belt out a Britney Spears song.

It was still early, not quite nine o’clock, but the bar was already busy and more people were coming in the door. Blair was finishing her drink when the pianist pulled out a slip of paper and groaned after he read it. “Really?” he asked, looking up and searching the crowd. “‘Piano Man’ by Billy Joel. Who requested this?”

Garrett grabbed Blair’s hand and lifted it into the air. She tried to pull loose, but he held on tight while he shouted, “She did!”

The pianist turned the spotlight on them. “Can’t you come up with something else? It’s such a cliché.”

Garrett put his arm around Blair’s shoulders, pulling her close as he squeezed. “It’s her favorite.”

The musician turned on his bench and played a few notes before stopping. “‘Piano Man’ is your favorite, huh?”

Blair glanced up at Garrett with a look that said he was going to pay for this later. She gave the entertainer a dazzling smile. “You have no idea.”

“Okay . . .” He shook his head, grinning. “I’ll only do this if you sing.”

Garrett held up his beer bottle in salute. “Oh, she plans on singing.”

The crowd broke into applause as the pianist started to play the