Dr. Neil Fredrick was about to become a viral sensation of his own.
Nana stepped out of the way, and Neil hurried down the aisle and out the back doors.
The minister, who had stood behind the altar with an admirable poker face throughout all the commotion, finally spoke. “Well . . . in all my twenty years of officiating weddings, I’ve never had anyone object, let alone half the church.” He turned to Blair and gave her a sympathetic smile. “Looks like you dodged a bullet, young lady.”
Blair’s gaze turned to Garrett. “I guess I did.” Then she took a deep breath and started to say something before stopping.
Garrett took a step toward her. “Blair. I’m sorry.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Why?”
“For not telling you about Layla.”
Shock covered her face and she choked out, “She . . . you slept with . . .”
“No!” Horror filled his words. “God. No. I meant I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about her and Neil. When I went to the hospital a few days ago to ask him if he loved you, and the two of them were together in his office, Neil admitted he was sleeping with her and intended to keep her as his mistress after your wedding.”
“But why didn’t you tell me that?”
He grimaced. “Because I knew how much it would hurt you. I hoped I could get you to end it another way, so you’d never have to know.”
“You were trying to protect me?” she asked, incredulous.
“Yeah.”
She smacked his arm with Megan’s nearly destroyed bouquet, and the last few remaining flowers flew out. At this point, it was little more than a collection of pointed green spikes. “Well, don’t do that. I don’t need protecting. I can handle it.”
“Yeah, Nana Ruby pointed that out this afternoon.” A sheepish grin spread across his face. “But you have to understand—I love you. Wanting to protect you seems to go hand in hand with that.”
“You still love me?” she whispered.
His smile spread. “Yeah, I do.”
“Even after the horrible, hurtful things I said?”
“You were shocked and hurt, Blair. I would hope you’d be that upset if I were actually screwing around on you. Of course I still love you. I’ve loved you for years.”
She reached out to him, and he pulled her into his arms, lowering his lips to hers for a soft lingering kiss. “I’m starving. Know of any place we can get something to eat?”
She grinned and glanced back at her assistant. “As a matter of fact, I do.” Then she turned her attention to the guests, most of who were now standing and filling the room with the roar of their voices.
“If I could have your attention!” she shouted.
When the ruckus continued, Nana Ruby stuck her fingers in her mouth and released a whistle so loud it shocked everyone into silence. When they realized the bride was about to address them, they gave her their enraptured attention.
Blair took a deep breath. “First of all, I’d like to apologize for the spectacle you just witnessed, although from the looks of some of you,” her gaze landed on Kelsey, who bounced a baby on her shoulder and wore a wide smile, “you enjoyed every minute of it. In that spirit of celebration, and if it’s not too awkward for you, there’s a reception with food and music that’s already been paid for . . . so I invite you to come on over and join us.”
Garrett took her hand and led her down the aisle to a chorus of cheers and whistles. A loud cheer rose above the rest, which was when Garrett realized the couple who had given him a ride to the church were sitting in the back pew. The woman was furiously typing on her phone, and the man gave him a thumbs-up.
“Say, Garrett,” he said with a huge grin. “Where exactly is that reception?”
Garrett squeezed Blair’s hand and gave her a sheepish look. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
Her eyebrows rose. “And that is?”
He cringed. “We may have become a social media sensation.”
“What?”
“Blair,” a man called out from behind them. They turned to see an older, distinguished-looking man approaching them. Blair’s back stiffened, and Garrett instinctively put his arm around her.
“Mr. Sisco.”
He grimaced. “On behalf of the firm, I would like to extend my apologies for Mr. Stuart’s behavior. We do not condone what he’s done, and the partners will meet next week to discuss an appropriate punishment.”
“Thank you,” she said briskly.
He leaned closer. “But I can tell you that there was a nugget of truth to what he told you. We are considering you for partnership.”
Garrett expected her boss’s statement to make her relax, but she only seemed to get more tense. “I see. Are you sure I’m partner material? Are you sure I’m not too much of a bitch?”
“What?” he asked, his face turning red.
“You were right, there was some truth to what Ben said. Several truths. I made a few phone calls this afternoon, and it turns out I’ve been considered for partner before, but one of the senior married partners refused to vote for me because I wouldn’t sleep with him.”
Her boss’s face grew even redder. “I assure you that’s not true.” He paused. “And even if it was, you don’t have proof.”
She gave him a cold smile. “And that right there is proof enough.”