“Why are you still wearing the ring, Blair? Why not just take it off and give it to me?”
“I can’t.”
He grabbed her hand and held tight. “Because you really do love me, even if you can’t admit it. You still want to marry me.”
“Garrett says the ring is his.”
“And yet you’re still wearing it.” His tone was harsh.
She took a deep breath, her voice wavering. “I’m sorry.”
“He asked you to marry him and you said yes? After one night?”
She cringed. “Yes.”
His face reddened, his hand holding hers tighter. “You made me wait months to propose—you said you weren’t ready. Yet you accept his proposal after one night?”
“Neil.” Her voice broke. She might not love him, but it still killed her to hurt him like this. “I’m sorry.”
He released her hand and sat back in his chair, staring out the window for several seconds before pulling out his phone and glancing at the screen. He stuffed the phone back into his pocket and gave her a soft smile. “All I want is for you to be happy. If this is what you want, you have my blessing. You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Then I wish you the very best. Both of you.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Don’t look so surprised. I care about you . . . and despite everything, Garrett is my cousin. He’s family.”
There was no way he could be handling this so well. What was he up to?
“Why don’t you let me walk you back to his room, and we can sort this all out.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Was that why he was taking it so well? Did he want to go over to confront Garrett?
He grimaced. “Blair, this entire situation is incredibly awkward. Not only are we canceling a wedding, you’re planning to marry my cousin. The least you can do is help come up with some kind of story that will allow me to save face with my family.” When she didn’t answer, he added, “This affects Garrett too. If you really don’t care about how this is going to affect me, at least consider him.”
“I really think this is a terrible idea, Neil.”
“I’m trying to be the bigger person here, and I’m willing to let bygones be bygones. Are you really going to refuse me?”
He was right. This would be awkward. If they could come up with some kind of understanding now, it would go a long way toward keeping their family from being torn apart. Over her.
“Okay.” She looked into his face. “Thank you.” She still wasn’t certain it was the right decision, but she had to admit he was being reasonable. Still, she hated springing this on Garrett. She now wished she had brought his phone so she could warn him by calling the hotel room phone.
Neil stood and looked impatient as he waited for her, ushering her toward the door. “Thanks for being reasonable, Blair. I’m sure you’ll appreciate it later.”
She only hoped Garrett saw it that way.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Garrett had never been so nervous in his life. He knew Neil wouldn’t let Blair go without a fight, and Blair had gone to meet him without knowing everything. How stupid could he be? Now Neil could spin an elaborate web of lies, especially since Garrett had fed her that vague line about Neil’s secret. But Garrett just hadn’t been able to bring himself to tell her something that would hurt her . . . even though he wasn’t the perpetrator.
What bothered him even more was that Neil hadn’t returned his text. He’d been purposely vague in an attempt to pique his interest. Maybe Garrett had underestimated Neil’s intentions. But Blair was breaking up with Neil, which made it a moot point. So why didn’t that reassure him?
He’d turned on the TV to try and take his mind off his nerves, but he couldn’t quell his anxiety. Something told him that things were about to go very, very bad.
Dammit.
He walked over to the window and looked down at the street, eager for a glimpse of her.
She had only been gone for twenty minutes when a knock sounded at the door. He wondered why she was knocking if she had the room key. But she didn’t have a purse, so there was the possibility that things had gotten tense and she’d left it at the coffee shop.
When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Layla, the woman he’d found in Neil’s office.
“Garrett?” she asked, looking nervous.
“Uh . . . yeah . . .” He blinked.
“Can I come in?”
He blocked the entrance, still in shock. “What are you doing here? How’d you know how to find me?”
“Neil got your message.”
“So why are you here instead of Neil?”
“Can I come in?” Tears filled her eyes. “Please.”
He swung the door open, and she walked past him into the room, looking around and taking in the sight of the mussed bed.
Garrett stood at the still-open door. He didn’t feel comfortable with her in the room, and he definitely didn’t trust her or her motives. “Did Neil send you?”
“No.”
Why was she here? When he thought about it, Layla most likely had the same goal Garrett had—prevent the wedding. He still didn’t understand why it wasn’t Neil at his door instead of his girlfriend.
“Can you shut the door?”
He heaved out a breath and looked into the hall. “I think I’ll leave it open. Why don’t you just get to the point?”
She sat down on the bed and grasped her shaking hands.
“Look, if you’re upset about Neil marrying Blair, you don’t have to worry. She’s breaking up with him as we speak.”
She shook her head, a tear sliding down her cheek. “There’s something you have to know.”
“What?” She didn’t respond, and he wondered why she was there. The only reason he could come up with was that she wanted Neil to ditch Blair so she could have him. “Neil’s free now. Or he will be in a few minutes. You can run off and be together.”
“There’s more to it. Please. I think you’re the only one who can help me.” Tears streaked down her face. Garrett’s room was at the end of the hall, giving them a complete view all the way to the end. A door opened several rooms down, and a couple emerged into the hall. They looked down at the woman crying on his bed and gave him a dirty look.
With a groan, he shut the door. “Okay, you’re here. I’m listening. What do I need to know?”
“Neil’s not who you think he is.”
He released an annoyed grunt. “I’ve known the man for nearly thirty years, and I’m not a fan, so I’m not sure there’s anything you can tell me that will surprise me right now.”
She stood and moved toward him. “You seem like a nice man.”
“Layla, spit it out already. What do you want?”
She stopped in front of him. “I’ve met Blair before, you know.”
The very thought made him livid. “You mean at the hospital?”
“No. Before that. When she and Neil first started dating.”
His fists clenched. “Were you and Neil already having sex then?”