Let's Pretend (Romantic Comedy, Contemporary, Second Chance, Sensual) Read Online Free PDF

his course toward the kitchen.
    Aggravated beyond wisdom, Belle fell into step beside him. “Can I slap you now as a delayed reaction?”
    Chuckling, he tossed her a sparring glance. “And risk upsetting your gran ? If she’s ill, wouldn’t it be preferable for her to believe we’re happy than to have to worry about us?”  
    Belle hated to admit that Luc had a point. After all, her initial plan was to let her family believe her marriage to Luc was as strong as it had been at the beginning. Then she’d come against a complication. Realising how much she still loved and wanted Luc had derailed her plot and forced her to face the renewed pain of losing him when this weekend was over.
    Nevertheless, Belle knew complications needed prompt and accurate diagnosis, as well as effective treatment. Years as a trauma surgeon had taught her you’re only a true surgeon from the moment you’re able to deal with your surgical hitches. As such, she understood the need to act on the added problem to her weekend, created by her feelings toward Luc and his obvious delight in making things more difficult.
    “Okay, I suppose you’re right. But don’t even think of overdoing the touchy-feely stuff.” She narrowed her gaze on him. “ Got it ?”

5

    “H ey you two, we’re in here.” Mia’s voice caught them as they passed the open door to the lounge.
    Belle started as though she’d been caught up to no good.
    Luc hid a smile. Belle couldn’t act to save her life. Why did she think she would be able to pull off this pretence?
    “You took your time,” Mia continued. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to join us after all.”
    To offer a show of unity, Luc slid his arm around Belle’s small waist, surprised by the nervous quiver he felt tremble through her. He steered her to the lounge. Leaning close to her ear, he kept his voice low. “Honey, you need to relax. Nobody is going to buy the image of our perfect marriage if you’re so nervy.”  
    “This is harder than I thought it’d be,” she whispered, showing her teeth in what he supposed she meant to be a smile, but came off more as a grimace.
    If he didn’t do something soon, Belle was going to blow her plan, and her grandmother would be the first to start asking questions. He caressed her waist.
    “Remember our third date?”
    Call him wicked for enjoying the way her cheeks immediately grew pink, but he really did like to see that little blush. If he could remind her how it used to be between them, he was pretty sure she’d loosen up enough to act normal.
    “You kidnapped me at dawn, and we—”
    “I see you remember,” he cut in because they were within earshot of a roomful of Belle’s family members.
    The low conversation between the five people in the room petered to a hush when Luc and Belle entered the large room. As much as he wanted to help her relax, he also wanted to keep the hottest early morning date he’d ever had private between the two of them.  
    “Hello, Gran.” He released Belle and closed in on the eighty-seven-year-old who reminded him so much of her granddaughter. He could picture Belle at that age, the same long white hair pulled into a fancy knot at the back of her head. Although, knowing Belle, hers would certainly be messy.
    Belle would have the same intelligence sparkling from aged blue eyes, the soft skin and slim build. And he could definitely picture the no-nonsense set to lips he’d never grow tired of kissing. But would he even be part of her life after this weekend? Pulling himself out of the dark pit his life threatened to become, he widened his smile as he got to Belle’s grandmother.
    “How’s my girl?”
    She clasped his hands in a tight grip. “Better now you’re here, son.” A mischievous twinkle sparked in her faded eyes. “I see you and my Belle are still as fresh as newlyweds.” Her girlish giggle told Luc he hadn’t mistaken her emphasis on the word fresh . He got the feeling Gran was