The Wedding Pact Box Set - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,237

what’s it like? Because he was going to marry her and have sex with you. Sounds pretty crass to me.”

“No. He only realized he loved me after he proposed to her.” She shrugged. “But he has to marry her so we can be together. She’s got a huge trust fund. After they’re married for a year, he can divorce her and get half her money.”

“Is that what he told you? You really bought that bullshit?” He shook his head in disgust. Could she really be that gullible? But then again, maybe that was part of her appeal. Neil had said he couldn’t stay with one woman long. So his choices made sense. Marry the respectable woman. Sleep with the not-so-bright ones, feed them a few lines to string them along, and then find a replacement mistress once the relationship had run its course. “There is no trust fund. Blair’s father left her and her mother penniless. He’s lying to you.”

Layla’s eyes widened, and fresh tears filled her eyes. “No. He wouldn’t do that.”

“He’s a doctor, Layla. Why would he need her money to be with you? Why not ditch her and marry you?”

“Why do you even like her?” Layla asked. “She’s such a cold bitch.”

He took a step back, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. “I think you should go.”

“Why would Neil want to be with someone like that unless he wanted her money?”

“Layla, I can’t help you. You need to talk to Neil about this.”

“Do you know how they met?”

Why wasn’t she leaving? He’d given her the information she wanted, so why hadn’t she just left? But then again, she hadn’t actually told him what she wanted. “What does it matter? Layla, what do you want?”

“A guy from Blair’s office set them up. He told Neil that she was a hotshot lawyer on the rise with a multi-million-dollar trust fund. The rest is history.” She reached for the bottom of her shirt and tugged it over her head, revealing a purple bra.

“What the hell are you doing?”

She tossed her shirt onto the floor and moved toward him, unfastening her pants. “You think Neil’s stupid, but he’s actually very, very smart.”

He backed up toward the door. “I need you to leave.”

“Neil is much more calculating than most people give him credit for.” Her pants dropped to the floor next, and she backed him into the door, pressing her nearly naked body against him. All he felt was disgust and revulsion.

He moved away from her, heading into the middle of the room. “You need to go. Now.”

“Not yet.” She moved toward him. “I know you don’t believe it, but I know the trust fund exists. I love him, and we’ll be together soon enough. It’s just not time yet.”

He heard voices outside the door, and he froze in place as panic washed over him.

Layla put her arms around his neck and smiled. “Trust me. You’ll thank me for this later. She’s a bitch.” And then she kissed him, locking her fingers around his neck.

Garrett was trying to pry her off him when the door flung open. Garrett’s heart ripped open when he heard Blair’s gasp.

Layla leaned back and turned toward the door. “Garrett, why are those people in your room?”

Blair’s mouth dropped open, and she stumbled backward.

Garrett tore free of the clinging witch and shoved her aside. “Blair!”

She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “You lying son of a bitch.”

“I didn’t do this, Blair. I swear. This is Neil’s doing.”

She shook her head again and flung her hand toward Layla, who stood in the middle of the room, wearing nothing but her bra and panties. “How can this be Neil’s doing? This looks like it’s all you, Garrett.”

He pointed at Neil, barely keeping his anger in check. “He sent her here! He’ll do anything to keep you.” He turned to Neil’s mistress, his eyes narrowing. “And as Layla just pointed out, he’s much more calculating than any of us had realized.”

“Layla?”

Oh. God. Somehow he had just made it worse. What had Neil told her?

Blair put her hands on her hips and turned her murderous gaze on Neil’s girlfriend. “You want him? You can have him.” She took a step closer. “But right now, you better get the hell out of my sight, or I might not be responsible for what I do.”

Layla’s eyes widened, then she scooped up her clothes off the floor and hurried out the door. She cast a worried glance to Neil