The Player (12 page)

But she had to admit even to herself that Neil’s mother was almost enough to make her take off running. The woman seemed to get worse every time she met her. The only reason Blair had lasted past their first meeting was Neil’s insistence that he was nothing like his parents and found his mother’s small-minded attitude embarrassing. Thankfully, she’d only needed to deal with her future in-laws on a small scattering of occasions in the two years she and Neil had been together. As long as she could keep future contact to a minimum, she could handle it. All the more reason to seriously consider not having kids.

Blair grabbed her laptop and set it on her dining room table that was covered with papers and files. This was the real reason she didn’t sit around in overstuffed chairs. There was always too much work to do. While she might not be working at Sisco, Sisco and Reece after this week, Rowena Norfolk was counting on her to prove her soon-to-be ex was a lying, thieving, cheating bastard.

She pulled out files for the two depositions scheduled for the next day. They were deposing another mistress in the morning—a more important witness than the first, which meant Blair had to be prepared. Rowena was certain her husband had promised to divorce her and marry the mistress . . . and then reneged on that promise to be with mistress number three. Apparently, Mr. Norfolk had been a busy man. Blair was fairly certain mistress number two, Amanda Beasley, was privy to Brian Norfolk’s master plan to bilk his wife out of a shitload of money. She was certain he had more money than he’d disclosed in discovery, and Blair was hoping Ms. Beasley would have some knowledge of where all that loot was hidden. It helped that Amanda Beasley was just one more scorned lover. Hopefully, she’d walk in seeking revenge.

But the pièce-de-resistance was Brian Norfolk’s own deposition. Blair was hoping he’d take his oath to tell the truth to heart. But scum like him rarely did. She wasn’t worried. She’d get him in the end. She always did. He’d thought it was so smart of him to move away to California before filing for divorce, but his fancy San Diego law firm wouldn’t save him from her.

It helped knowing that Garrett was his counsel. She had to admit that she’d loved serving him his ass earlier today. But he’d fared a hell of a lot better than his colleague. In fact, he’d fared a lot better than most attorneys she’d gone up against. If he was telling the truth and the case had only been transferred to him the previous day, she had to grudgingly admit she was impressed . . . and remind herself that he’d probably prepare more for the coming depositions, especially now that he knew she was opposing counsel.

She had no reason to doubt his truthfulness. He may have broken up with her, then played the field multiple times over, but he’d never lied. If anything, she had to applaud the fact that he’d owned what—and whom—he’d done. Which made her feelings for him even more pathetic, especially the way her heart had taken off like an Olympic sprinter when he gave her that look in the car ride home—that familiar look that said he was hungry and she was a filet mignon dinner.

Her body betrayed her mind when she was with him, and she found herself longing for more than the vanilla, missionary-style sex she and Neil had every Saturday night. But chemistry had never been an issue with Garrett, so it should come as no surprise she still felt this way. It was physiological. Which was a good thing. God help her if her heart got involved. She wasn’t sure she could survive him hurting her a second time.

Still, she couldn’t let him see she was affected by him, or he’d take full advantage of her weakness, both in the conference room and out. Yet she knew it was too late for that. She’d sat in his car, practically waiting for a goodnight kiss like a teenager coming home from a first date. Garrett wasn’t stupid, and he’d always been able to read her like a book. Based on his questions and observations tonight, it was pretty obvious he still could.

But something bothered her . . . she still couldn’t figure out why he’d been so adamant about taking her to lunch. And while it was obvious he’d like another roll in her sheets, he hadn’t made a move on her. Far from it—he’d claimed he just wanted her to be happy. Had he meant it? It seemed hard to believe after his attempt to claim the ring.

She stared down at the objection of contention—the gold band with a round center diamond and several smaller diamonds clustered on each side. She felt no emotional attachment to the ring. Now she wondered if that was a bad sign. Megan loved the family heirloom ring on her left hand only slightly less than she loved her new husband. But Blair reminded herself that she wasn’t like her closest friends. The two of them shared a romantic streak that she’d never possessed. The only person who had ever understood that about her was Garrett. Even Neil had found her lack of sentimentality strange in the beginning.

Maybe she was the type of woman who shouldn’t get married at all. While she and Neil were compatible, what if it wasn’t enough? She had no desire to be like the women who walked into her office with broken lives and shattered hearts. But she’d never be like those women even if she and Neil ultimately divorced. Because she would have to give Neil her heart to let him destroy it . . . and she hadn’t. She wouldn’t. She’d done that once. Never again.

There was no denying she’d become jaded over the years. Megan attributed her harshness to her chosen field, but that was only partially true. Her breakup with Garrett had left deep scars, and now she wasn’t sure she was capable of loving anyone the way a wife was supposed to love her husband. She couldn’t help feeling guilty and had actually confessed her thoughts to Neil after Megan’s wedding. Logical Neil had assured her that their relationship was perfect . . . for them.

“That’s why we work, Blair,” he had said. “Neither of us expects undying love and adoration from the other. We’re content with what we have.”

She’d agreed at the time, so why was she so uncertain now?

But it was all a moot point anyway. Her entire career hinged on her wedding, so even if she wanted to back out, she was stuck—at least if she wanted to stay at her firm. Idealistic Blair wanted to quit. How could she work for a chauvinistic firm, even if they were closet chauvinists? But pragmatic Blair said to stay the course. She was getting married on Saturday, despite her frigid feet. She’d go through with the wedding, then take it from there.

But the question remained: why was she still hung up on Garrett Lowry? Her reaction to him last night and today shook her to her core. The fact that she had such passionate feelings for a womanizer was sickening. No matter what, there had always been one person she could count on: herself. But now—when she needed to count on herself more than ever—she wasn’t sure she could . . . at least not around him. And that shook the very bedrock of her soul.

There was only one solution: she needed to stay as far away from the man as possible, which meant no contact outside the conference room.

That wouldn’t be hard to achieve on her end, but would he accept her avoidance? They had no unfinished business from the past. Their break had been clean. Yet he’d been pretty intent on getting some one-on-one time with her.

Then it hit her. Maybe Garrett was only showing interest in her because Neil was her fiancé. The animosity between the two cousins and Garrett’s sudden interest in her ring made it abundantly clear that the two men were competitive.

Damn Nana Ruby for throwing her life into chaos. She might not have ever met the woman, but she wanted to snatch her bald the moment she did.

The next morning Blair felt surprisingly energized when she walked into the office. Five hours of sleep had given her a much better outlook. She’d had extra time to prepare for the depositions while the car service took her to work. She and Melissa had the wedding under control. She and Neil had a relationship that ideally suited them and their career goals. The partners would be wowed by her wedding, and she’d be offered a partnership. And Garrett . . . if he wanted the stupid ring so bad, he could have it. She chose to ignore the fact that the ring wasn’t his real goal, as she still couldn’t possibly fathom what he wanted—beyond annoying Neil, of course. And as for her feelings for him . . . they were a moot point. He’d made his decision five years ago, and if he was interested again, it wouldn’t be for anything permanent. She had neither the time nor the inclination for the type of relationship a man like Garrett Lowry had to offer. Sure, he still made her pulse race, but she’d get over it. She was a grown woman, not some hormonal teenager.

“Good morning, Melissa,” she said as she stopped at her assistant’s desk, sounding more cheerful than usual. “Did you get the text about my car?”

“Yes.” Melissa looked at her as though she’d walked in naked. “What happened to
you?
”

“Can’t a person be in a good mood?”

“If that person is you, no.”

Blair was taken aback. “Am I that much of a bitch?”

“No, of course not. But you’re not one of those perpetually happy people either. What’s going on?”

She smiled. “I’m feeling optimistic today.”

Melissa’s eyebrows rose. “So dinner went well last night?”

“No . . . dinner was a disaster, but I’ve decided to let that go. Is everything set for the party tomorrow night?”

Melissa stared at her for a few moments. “I confirmed the reservation for the tasting room at the brewery on Monday, but I’ll call again to verify. And back to your original question, yes, I received your text. I’ve called the car service, and they’ve towed your car to the shop. They’ll return it to the parking garage, but if it’s not ready in time, we’ll arrange to get you a rental.”

“Perfect,” Blair said in a happy tone as she walked into her office.

“I’m calling a doctor. You’re having some sort of breakdown.”

“Very funny.” She shut the door and sat down at her desk to go through her emails.

Several minutes later her door opened, and Melissa walked in with a cup of coffee. “The deposition of Amanda Beasley is still set up for ten, and Mr. Norfolk’s for two. And Rowena Norfolk still doesn’t want to sit in on either one.”

“Okay. Thank you.” Blair took the cup from her. “Let me know when Mr. Lowry shows up.”

Melissa continued to watch her. “I know you went to law school together.”

Blair’s gaze narrowed as anger burned to life in her chest. “You’re
spying
on me?”

“
No.
I was checking up on
him
.” When Blair didn’t respond, Melissa added, “I had to know his connection to you so I could protect you.”

Blair clenched her teeth. “I don’t need protecting, Melissa. You’re overstepping your bounds.”

Melissa held her ground. “No. I’m not. You wouldn’t tell me, so I had to find out myself. I’m the gatekeeper, Blair. You’re depending on me to keep him away from you, and I need to know what I’m facing. That meant finding out how he knew you.”

Blair didn’t answer.

Melissa sat in the chair in front of her desk. “I’m sorry.”

Blair sighed and lightly rubbed her temple. “No, it’s fine. I overreacted.”

“You two used to date, didn’t you?”

Blair shook her head. “It was more than casual dating.” She groaned. “We were together for a year, then he dropped me to date every other woman in law school.”

“So he’s a player,” Melissa said in disgust. “Do you think he’s trying to go for round two?”

“There’s more to it than that. He’s Neil’s cousin. The groomsman his mother called you about. And I only just found out yesterday.”

Melissa gasped. “What?”

“And there’s more.” Blair found herself spilling out the whole story about the animosity between the two men and the engagement ring, but she left out the part about him taking her home. There was only so much humiliation she could take in one day.

Melissa leaned forward to get a better look at Blair’s left hand. “He actually claimed the ring?”

“Neil and his mother just about flipped their shit, and I could tell that Garrett loved every minute of it.”

“So he’s here to stir up trouble.”

Blair nodded slowly. “Looks like it.”

“Thanks for trusting me enough to tell me.”

“I should have told you yesterday, but I was embarrassed.”

“Why?”

“Because I fell for his charm and let him dump me.” Although that wasn’t quite true. She’d never felt like he was using her or pretending to have feelings he didn’t. But that had only made it worse in the end.

“You’re not the first person to fall for a smooth-talking, good-looking man, and our very line of work depends on you not being the last. But the fool-you-once adage seems apropos here.”

“Agreed,” Blair said absently, then she shuddered and looked her assistant in the eye. “Thanks for having my back.”

Melissa stood. “What are good assistants for?”

“You’re coming tomorrow night, aren’t you?”

Melissa looked surprised. “Sure, I can come and make sure everything goes okay if you want.”

“No. Not for work. As my friend.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widened as she stared at Blair.

Blair shook her head. What had she been thinking? A few moments of sharing her emotions and she’d presumed their relationship was more than professional. What if Melissa asked for a transfer now? Especially knowing she might be out of a job next week. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to—”

A wide smile spread across Melissa’s face. “I’d love to come. Thank you for asking.”

Blair’s face started to heat up. “Well, I’d give you the details, but it turns out that you know them.”

She laughed. “Sure enough.” She walked to the door and started to open it before turning around, her hand on the knob. “Thanks, Blair.”

Blair’s eyes met hers. “Thank
you.
” Then she remembered something else. “Oh, can you get me a stack of dollar bills by the end of the day? At least twenty . . . no, better make it forty.”

Melissa’s eyebrows rose in amusement. “Planning a racy bachelorette party?”

“Hardly,” she grumbled. “A tight-ass wedding shower.”

As Melissa walked out of the office, Blair wondered if there were enough bills in circulation to help get her through this weekend.