Read Online Pretend It's Love by Stefanie London - Free Book Online Page B

filtered in through the open blinds in her office, causing rainbows to dance in the antique crystal perfume bottles that decorated her bookshelf. She hefted a box of custom stationery that had arrived in the mail that morning. Pink envelopes, matching “with compliments” slips, and swing tags that would never see the light of day if she didn’t convince Des to take on her product.
    She’d stopped by the restaurant once this week to have coffee with Nina, hoping to catch either Paul or Des. But they’d been out, apparently organizing something for the wedding.
    Libby set the box down next to the bookshelf and pulled her phone out of her pocket. No missed calls, no texts. No communication whatsoever from Paul.
    It would be okay to call him, wouldn’t it? The kiss wasn’t real and therefore the rules of dating didn’t apply…did they? She shoved the phone back into the pocket of her white sundress.
    It was just a kiss, get out of your own head! It didn’t mean anything to him, and it shouldn’t mean anything to you.
    A knock at the front door broke Libby out of her thoughts. She slipped on a pair of beige heels—she was raised never to greet a guest barefoot—and made her way to the front door.
    “Hello?” She opened the door with a smile that died on her lips. “Dad.”
    “Hello, Libby.”
    Her father towered over her, his physical height nothing compared to the intimidation wrought by his sharp hazel eyes and stern mouth. He wore a sports coat over a white shirt and chinos and, despite the fact that it was sweltering outside, not a drop of perspiration glistened on his skin.
    Kirk Harris was ever the cool cucumber, totally in control…even of his sweat glands.
    “Please, come in,” she said, her stiff lips struggling to get the words out.
    “You haven’t been taking my calls.” He walked past her, looking around the room as though surveying enemy territory.
    “I’ve been busy,” she said, letting the door close behind her. “It’s nothing personal.”
    “You don’t do anything without purpose, my dear.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “Why are you avoiding me?”
    “Like I said, I’ve been busy.” She forced herself to appear relaxed. Undaunted.
    Shoulders down. No fidgeting. Move slowly as though you have all the time in the world.
    Her father sensed fear, so the best thing she could do would be act like everything was peachy. No mean feat, but she’d fooled Paul’s parents with her perfect girlfriend act. A flicker of guilt swept through her, but she shoved it aside.
    “How is the…” He swallowed. “Business?”
    “Don’t say business like it’s a dirty word, Dad.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m making cocktails, not porn.”
    “I heard you’ve got a competitor.”
    “All businesses have competitors.” She stood her ground, kept the emotion out of her voice, and maintained eye contact as he’d taught her to do when she needed to deal with a difficult patient.
    His gaze swept over the room as if searching for clues that she was failing. “So it hasn’t affected you?”
    “I’ve had a few setbacks but nothing I can’t handle.” She folded her arms across her chest.
    “When are you going to give up this charade and go back to your studies? You were so close to finishing.” He shrugged out of his jacket and slung it over one arm, picking at some imaginary imperfection in the fabric.
    “I’m giving this a shot, Dad. One setback doesn’t mean I’ve failed. I’m not going to run back to med school with my tail between my legs.”
    “Don’t be so stubborn. You had everything laid out before you. I could have gotten you into any hospital in the country.”
    She turned away from him, trying to control the anger swirling like red mist in front of her eyes. “I’m not going back.”
    “How can you throw away everything I’ve done for you? All that expensive schooling, the strings I pulled to get you into the best university in the country.”
    Libby glared at