PRETENDING HE'S MINE by Lauren Blakely
Release date: March 2, 2013
Once upon a time in New York City, there was a down-on-his-luck actor
named Reeve, who was talented and gorgeous in that dreamy, broody sort
of way that makes all the women swoon. But show biz is a rough biz –
he lost out on a part in a big film, and now his day job hours have
been cut too. What’s a handsome young thing in need of a role to do?
Enter Sutton Brenner. She’s sexy and shrewd and the most top-notch
casting director there is. She’s this close to landing a coveted gig
casting a film based on a best-selling mega-romance novel, but there’s
a catch. After one too many transgressions with lovely single ladies,
the film’s philandering producer has been put on a short leash by his
wife, who’s forbidden him from working with anyone unattached.
So the happily single Sutton strikes a pact with Reeve – play the role
of her fiancee until she closes the deal, and he’s guaranteed to get
an audition for the starring role in the film.
But as the two play pretend, the lines between make-believe and
matters of the heart start to blur. Especially after that hot night in
the balcony of the Broadway theater. And that scorching afternoon in
the stacks of the New York Public Library. Who’s playing who? Or is
someone else really the director in the secret affair of their lives?
PRETENDING HE’S MINE is a 30,000 word companion novella in the New
York Times and USA Today bestselling CAUGHT UP IN US series.
(It’s not necessary to have read CAUGHT UP IN US to enjoy PRETENDING HE’S MINE.
This is not a sequel. However, CAUGHT UP IN US fans should be pleased
to know that Jill has several scenes and that both Kat and Bryan
appear in a key scene in this novella! There will also be a bonus
scene from CAUGHT UP IN US never seen before included in the novella!)
EXCERPT:
“You were all weird and awkward when I kissed you at your office,” he added.
“I’m sorry. I was just surprised.”
“I know. But we need to make sure you don’t jump the next time I kiss you.”
“We do?”
“Well that would give it away, wouldn’t it? You need to get used to
being kissed by me.”
“Okay,” she said with a business-like nod.
“That means we need to practice.”
“Practice kiss,” she said slowly, then nodded quickly. “Right. Of
course. Like a stage kiss. Like actors. So of course we’ll stage
kiss.”
She sounded chipper and cheery, as if she were trying to convince
herself. She seemed to need the convincing, so he went along with it.
“Think of this as a dress rehearsal. We’re prepping for the big kiss
scene that makes the audience swoon and totally believe we’re in love.
Got it?”
She nodded.
“Ready?”
“Right here in the dressing room?”
“What better place to rehearse a kiss than a dressing room?”
“Totally. Absolutely. Definitely.”
Reeve wondered how many more adverbs she’d need to utter before he
kissed her. Perhaps they were a sort of liquid courage. Either way, he
knew he had to lead. He suspected he had more experience with stage
kisses than she’d had.
So he looked at her, as if she were the woman he’d been dying to kiss
for years. She was his leading lady, she was the only woman he wanted.
She returned her gaze, and then it was as if a flame burst. Reeve
pictured her ravenous and greedy, wanting to be consumed with kisses,
and hands, and so much more. Her lips were parted slightly, and her
breathing had become…lustful. Maybe she was acting too. In that
moment, he didn’t care. He wanted to taste her lips, he wanted to feel
more of her beautiful body. There was something about her, maybe it
was the age difference, maybe it was the power play. But there was no
time for analysis because his head was turning cloudy with a need he
hadn’t had before. He wanted to do things to this woman. He wanted to
make her feel the way a good boyfriend would make her feel – desired,
wanted, craved. She deserved all that. He could give it to her now. He
could give it to her for a week.
