Page 90 of Pretend Girlfriend

“Because I blackmailed you?”

“Because you blackmailed me,” I agreed. “Don’t worry. I’ve forgiven you.”

“Only because of the DefTec job.”

“Actually, it has nothing to do with the job,” I said while the photographer snapped away. “I can see why you insisted I come to the rehearsal dinner. Your mom is kind of crazy.”

“Right? Now imagine how insane she’d be if she was spending this entire trip trying to hook me up with every single woman at the resort.”

“Now kiss,” the photographer instructed.

We turned to face each other. Landon’s eyes shone in the sunlight, and he smiled softly. “Guess we have to.”

“I guess so.”

Our faces came together in a gentle, respectable kiss.

“Come on!” Bradyn shouted. “You look like you’re kissing your sister!”

“Hey, leave me out of it,” Carol said with a laugh.

Danicka was nodding emphatically. “Your brother is right. Kiss her like you mean it!”

“Kiss her!” Clark added.

Soon everyone nearby was shouting at us to kiss.

So we did.

The first two times we’d kissed in front of his family, it was real. Both of us felt something, even if it was just a moment of chemistry from two people who otherwise didn’t really like one another. But it was still just that: a kiss designed to deceive.

This kiss was different.

From the way he cocked his head and crushed his lips against mine, to the hand on my lower back pulling me in. I tilted my head back and closed my eyes, and for a few seconds it was just the two of us on the beach. No photographer, no family.

Just me and my fake boyfriend, and the very real kiss that was sending very real vibrations through my lady-parts.

Oh, Landon…

“Get a room!” Marisa yelled, knocking me out of my kiss-induced daze.

Landon blinked, seemingly also recovering from the kiss. He gazed down into my eyes, and I stared back up at him. Something passed between us. An idea. An understanding.

What is he thinking right now?

“Great!” the photographer said. “Who’s next?”

We stood around awkwardly while some other couples took photos. Then Marisa clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention.

“I’m the bride, which means you all have to do what I want!” she announced. “And I want to do some honeymoon Olympics!”

“Olympics?” Landon asked.

“We’ll have a bunch of activities to compete in,” she explained. “A mile run on the beach, a swimming game in the pool…”

“Beer pong after dinner,” Bradyn suggested.

“Yes! It will be so much fun!”

---