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

referring to more than the newness of a relationship.
    Chuckling, he kissed her soft, wrinkled cheek. “Tell me now, gorgeous, are you sick?” His words may have been jocular, but he kept his tone resolute.
    She laughed, patting his hand, then tapped his cheek as she looked deep into his eyes. “Son, I plan to outlive all of you.”
    Belle hunkered down beside her grandmother’s chair. “You didn’t answer the question, Gran. Are you sick?” Though she tried hard to hide her panic, Luc heard the slight inflection in Belle’s voice.
    Gran turned her gaze on her. “What would make you think that?”
    “You said—”
    “I’m not ill,” Gran cut in. “My heart started to break a little, but now the two of you are here, its fine again.”
      The crafty, little old lady...Luc shook his head with a smile of admiration. It seemed Belle’s gran had outfoxed them. She’d obviously orchestrated a family gathering to force her children and grandchildren to visit her.
    Tommy snorted and left the room. Luc ignored him, not surprised when Belle did likewise. He was unsure why, but Tommy had hated him soon after their first meeting ten years ago—when Luc was on an exchange program with Tom’s fire department—and didn’t bother to hide it.
    For Luc’s part, he had to admit meeting Tommy had turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him. It was through her cousin that he’d met Belle. How could he regret that? To Luc, Belle was an adrenaline rush. An exhilarating sensation—a feeling in his gut that reminded him he was alive. He’d never been more aware of that than right this second as she tried to make sure her gran was indeed fit and healthy.
    That same caring nature had attracted him. Her gentle touch seemed to erase every grievance. Had transcended the anger he’d carried when he’d driven Tom to the nearest hospital, after breaking the other man’s nose for insulting his heritage. Belle had been the resident on duty.
    “Are you telling me the truth, Gran? You’re really okay?” Belle glanced at him, and he shrugged, reading the question in her worried eyes. What did they do now? Continue pretending or come clean?
    He was all for the continued pretence, but ultimately, it was Belle’s decision. She must have read his message, because she bit her lip and drew her brows together in a pensive frown.   
    Luc almost held his breath. Now her grandmother had reassured them all was well, would Belle choose to disclose the truth about their relationship? He found himself silently praying for her to continue the pretence.
    Gran cupped Belle’s face between her worn hands. “Is something wrong, child?”
    She took so long to answer that the other occupants in the room began to murmur.
    Luc waited.
    In the end, Belle took a deep breath, then let it out. “No, Gran. Nothing except you scared me half to death with your ambiguous statement that you’ll tell us your reasons for bringing us all here this weekend in your own time.”
    Luc released his arrested breath. Belle was going to continue their pretend marriage.
    “And I will, but not everyone is here.”
    “It’s pointless asking how many more you expect to arrive, isn’t it?”
    Gran nodded, gave Belle the same tap on the cheek she’d given him a short while ago. “Now sit and tell me all about what’s been going on between you and Lucas.”
    ~*~
    BELLE’S HEART flipped. She jumped to her feet, unsure of how to proceed with her grandmother’s request. Did Gran know about her and Luc’s divorce?
    The innocent smile on the elderly woman’s face persuaded Belle that she did not. If Gran knew, she would’ve been straightforward about her knowledge.
    Nevertheless, Belle gulped. “Um...going on? What do you mean?” Drat, her voice actually squeaked.
    Luc must have noticed she was close to losing it, because he snagged her hand and pulled her onto the sofa beside him. His hard bicep flexed against her back as he wrapped his arm around her