Praise for Catherine Bybee
Wife by Wednesday
“A fun and sizzling romance, great characters that trade verbal spars like fist punches, and the dream of your own royal wedding!”
—Sizzling Hot Book Reviews, 5 Stars
“A good holiday, fireside or bedtime story.”
—Manic Reviews, 4 1/2 Stars
“A great story that I hope is the start of a new series.”
—The Romance Studio, 4 1/2 Hearts
Married by Monday
“If I hadn’t already added Ms. Catherine Bybee to my list of favorite authors, after reading this book I would have been compelled to. This is a book nobody should miss, because the magic it contains is awesome.”
—Booked Up Reviews, 5 Stars
“Ms. Bybee writes authentic situations and expresses the good and the bad in such an equal way . . . Keeps the reader on the edge of her seat . . .”
—Reading Between the Wines, 5 Stars
“Married by Monday was a refreshing read and one I couldn’t possibly put down . . .”
—The Romance Studio, 4 1/2 Hearts
Fiancé by Friday
“Bybee knows exactly how to keep readers happy. . . . A thrilling pursuit and enough passion to stuff in your back pocket to last for the next few lifetimes . . . The hero and heroine come to life with each flip of the page and will linger long after readers cross the finish line.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 Stars, Top Pick, Hot
“A tale full of danger and sexual tension . . . the intriguing characters add emotional depth, ensuring readers will race to the perfectly fitting finish.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Suspense, survival, and chemistry mix in this scintillating read.”
—Booklist
“Hot romance, a mystery assassin, British royalty, and an alpha Marine . . . this story has it all!”
—Harlequin Junkie
Single by Saturday
“Captures readers’ hearts and keeps them glued to the pages until the fascinating finish. . . . romance lovers will feel the sparks fly . . . almost instantaneously.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 Stars, Top Pick
“[A] wonderfully exciting plot, lots of desire, and some sassy attitude thrown in for good measure!”
—Harlequin Junkie
Taken by Tuesday
“[Bybee] knows exactly how to get bookworms sucked into the perfect storyline; then she casts her spell upon them so they don’t escape until they reach the ‘Holy Cow!’ ending.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 Stars, Top Pick
Seduced by Sunday
“You simply can’t miss [this novel]. It contains everything a romance reader loves—clever dialogue, three-dimensional characters, and just the right amount of steam to go with that heartwarming love story.”
—Brenda Novak, New York Times bestselling author
“Bybee hits the mark . . . providing readers with a smart, sophisticated romance between a spirited heroine and a prim hero . . . Passionate and intelligent characters [are] at the heart of this entertaining read.”
—Publishers Weekly
Treasured by Thursday
“The Weekday Brides never disappoint and this final installment is by far Bybee’s best work to date.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 Stars, Top Pick
“An exquisitely written and complex story brimming with pride, passion, and pulse-pounding danger . . . Readers will gladly make time to savor this winning finale to a wonderful series.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Bybee concludes her popular Weekday Brides series in a gratifying way with a passionate, troubled couple who may find a happy future if they can just survive and then learn to trust each other. A compelling and entertaining mix of sexy, complicated romance and menacing suspense.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Not Quite Dating
“It’s refreshing to read about a man who isn’t afraid to fall in love . . . [Jack and Jessie] fit together as a couple and as a family.”
—RT Book Reviews, 3 stars, Hot
“Not Quite Dating offers a sweet and satisfying Cinderella fantasy that will keep you smiling long after you’ve finished reading . . .”
—Kathy Altman, USA Today, “Happy Ever After”
“The perfect rags to riches romance . . . The dialogue is inventive and witty, the characters are well drawn out. The storyline is superb and really shines. . . . I highly recommend this stand out romance! Catherine Bybee is an automatic buy for me.”
—Harlequin Junkie, 4 1/2 Hearts
Not Quite Enough
“Bybee’s gift for creating unforgettable romances cannot be ignored. The third book in the Not Quite series will sweep readers away to a paradise, and they will be intrigued by the thrilling story that accompanies their literary vacation.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 Stars, Top Pick
Not Quite Forever
“Full of classic Bybee humor, steamy romance, and enough plot twists and turns to keep readers entertained all the way to the very last page.”
—Tracy Brogan, bestselling author of the Bell Harbor series
“Magnetic . . . The love scenes are sizzling and the multi-dimensional characters make this a page-turner. Readers will look for earlier installments and eagerly anticipate new ones.”
—Publishers Weekly
Doing It Over
“The romance between fiercely independent Melanie and charming Wyatt heats up even as outsiders threaten to derail their newfound happiness. This novel will hook readers with its warm, inviting characters and the promise for similar future installments.”
—Publishers Weekly
“This brand-new trilogy, Most Likely To, based on yearbook superlatives, kicks off with a novel that will encourage you to root for the incredibly likable Melanie. Her friends are hilarious and readers will swoon over Wyatt, who is charming and strong. Even Melanie’s daughter, Hope, is a hoot! This romance is jam-packed with animated characters, and Bybee displays her creative writing talent wonderfully.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
“With a dialogue full of energy and depth, and a twisting storyline that captured my attention, I would say that Doing It Over was a great way to start off a new series. (And look at that gorgeous book cover!) I can’t wait to visit River Bend again and see who else gets to find their HEA.”
—Harlequin Junkie, 4 1/2 Stars
Also by Catherine Bybee
Contemporary Romance
Weekday Brides Series
Wife by Wednesday
Married by Monday
Fiancé by Friday
Single by Saturday
Taken by Tuesday
Seduced by Sunday
Treasured by Thursday
Not Quite Series
Not Quite Dating
Not Quite Mine
Not Quite Enough
Not Quite Forever
Not Quite Perfect
Most Likely To Series
Doing It Over
Paranormal Romance
MacCoinnich Time Travels
Binding Vows
Silent Vows
Redeeming Vows
Highland Shifter
Highland Protector
The Ritter Werewolves Series
Before the Moon Rises
Embracing the Wolf
Novellas
Soul Mate
Possessive
Erotica
Kilt Worthy
Kilt-A-Licious
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organiza
tions, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Text copyright © 2017 Catherine Bybee
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Published by Montlake Romance, Seattle
www.apub.com
Amazon, the Amazon logo, and Montlake Romance are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.
ISBN-13: 9781503939172
ISBN-10: 1503939170
Cover design by Shasti O’Leary Soudant
This one is for Brandy
Because sometimes friends are the only family you have
Contents
Prelude
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Prelude
The walls of a double-wide were the dividing factor of separation between a trailer and a house. Technically, it was her home, her house . . . but everyone in River Bend who wanted to dig at Zoe’s status made sure they referred to it as a trailer. Her BFFs, Mel and Jo, never said trailer. Even on nights like this . . . when the calendar said it was early summer but the evenings in River Bend, Oregon, didn’t get the memo. Those paper-thin walls that lacked insulation and girth didn’t do a good job of keeping away the cold.
The rain had held out for her high school graduation but had started to dump buckets after her friends arrived to celebrate their freedom.
Zoe glanced over at Mel, who was fast asleep on her half of the pullout sofa bed that did a shitty enough job as a sofa and had no business being a bed. It was, however, off the floor, and if Zoe thought the walls were thin, the floor was worse. Jo curled up on herself in a recliner that should have been taken to the curb a decade before . . . but that was probably when her mom had swiped it off the sidewalk.
Between the three of them, they’d managed to down half a bottle of tequila and polish off an entire pizza. The night swam with emotions. First the reality of finishing high school, then Mel’s bombshell that her parents were getting divorced and she would likely leave River Bend for good.
High school Zoe could say good-bye to, not a problem . . . but not Mel. It was always assumed one-third of the River Bend trio was going off to college. Mel was the smart one, great grades, strong family. When she waved her acceptance letter to USC in front of Jo’s and Zoe’s faces, both of them joined their friend in her excitement. Neither of them thought for a minute Mel’s parents would announce their divorce and move from River Bend when Mel reached for her high school diploma. The divorce was anyone’s guess . . . but the fact Mel’s parents were moving away essentially cut off Mel’s ticket to return to River Bend on holidays and summers.
And that sucked!
Zoe lay there with Jose Cuervo swimming in her head, and the conversation that had stuck with the three of them until they’d passed out.
Their fellow high school seniors had voted their predictions on what the graduating class was going to do with their lives.
Mel managed top honors with most likely to succeed. A USC education would propel her to the top of whatever chain Melanie Bartlett decided to climb.
Jo found herself at the bottom of the honor roll with most likely to end up in jail. Considering JoAnne Ward was always the one to score the liquor and did a bang-up job of pissing off her father, Sheriff Ward . . . and doing just about every delinquent thing a teen could do and not end up in jail . . . yeah, it was only a matter of time. Seemed Jo was always trying to prove she was more than a cop’s daughter. Because Sheriff Ward had the ultimate respect of the citizens of River Bend, everyone looked the other way at Jo’s shenanigans. Eventually always managed to catch up, and one day Sheriff Ward wouldn’t be able to help his little girl.
Then there was Zoe . . . her most likely to was the most disturbing of all.
Zoe Brown: Most likely to never leave River Bend.
Zoe had felt physically ill when she’d read the yearbook with that spelled out in print.
The thin walls of her mother’s home felt thinner, the air thicker, the temperature colder. This was not what Zoe wanted for her life.
She wanted to see the world. Wanted the ability to wear clothes that matched. She wanted furniture that wasn’t cast off from someone else. And a car. She wanted a car. Working for all those things in a town as small as River Bend would mean nothing but long, hard hours at two or three jobs, and then maybe by the time her ten-year class reunion came around, she would have a couple of them. Or maybe she wouldn’t. What happened if her father managed parole? That asshole was doing fifteen to life for armed robbery, and her mother had yet to divorce him. Her younger brother and sister were just entering junior high. Zane had been angry since birth, or so it seemed, and Zanya was syrupy sweet to the point of falling for the wrong guy as soon as she noticed boys existed.
If Zoe didn’t leave River Bend to find a life outside of her family, she would probably be raising her own kids under a roof that made rain sound like hail and with chairs that stank of cigarettes even when no one in the house smoked.
Zoe shook her thoughts from her head and closed her eyes.
That’s where she saw Luke.
Her knight . . . her savior. The only reason she managed to keep her chin high through the halls of River Bend High. Well, Jo and Mel helped with that, but being Luke’s girlfriend for the better part of two years had kept her sane. Outside of her BFFs, she shared everything with Luke. Well, almost everything. Her fear of never leaving River Bend was something she shielded from him. His father owned the auto repair shop in town, and Luke was super talented with everything that required oil and gasoline to run. His family reminded Zoe of what a family should be. His mom taught Zoe the basics of cooking and baking, things she loved to do. Luke’s father’s even temper and kind spirit gave her faith that not all men beat their families.
Luke was a big reason River Bend thought Zoe would never leave town.
High school sweethearts marry young in small towns.
Zoe admitted, if only to herself, that marriage to Luke would grant her so many things her life wouldn’t have without him. A family. Some stability . . . maybe even a house with real walls and thick carpet.
But what happened if Luke fell off his bike, crashed a car? What would happen if five years from now, with two point five kids, and all the bills that came with that life, something happened to the man she married? Her entire life could blow up in the span of one day, one bad accident . . . one bad anything! How would she survive?
Double-wide and smelly sofas . . . that’s how.
Zoe shot up in bed with enough of a gasp that her friends opened their eyes.
“What the hell, Zoe?” Jo squished the tiny pillow she was slobbering all over and shoved her
head back into it.
Mel reached over, started to pat Zoe’s arm, then squeezed. “You’re stone cold. What’s wrong?”
Zoe felt the rise and fall of her chest moving too quickly.
“I have to break up with Luke.”
Her declaration woke both her friends up.
“What?” Jo and Mel both asked at once.
Chapter One
Eleven Years Later
“Cut!”
“It’s a soufflé, Felix. You can’t say cut.” Zoe felt the heat of the open oven flow up her face as the lights from the studio shone down. She held herself in suspended animation while the camera crew scrambled with enough noise for her to know they weren’t filming.
“Zoe, don’t move.” Felix held his hands in the air as if he had a supernatural power that would keep her from shuffling her feet. Truth was, he kinda did. While the five-foot-six, two-hundred-pound balding man might be able to keep her from moving, the chocolate soufflé in her oven-mitted hands was not going to comply.
She couldn’t shove the thing back into the oven to keep it puffed up, and removing it completely would make it deflate quicker. Hence the reason the low heat of the oven was cooking her stage makeup to a glowing 120 degrees. Huddled close to the oven, Zoe felt her brow growing damp.
“Felix!”
“Camera two, zoom in on the soufflé. Someone dust Zoe’s face!” And when that someone didn’t move fast enough, Felix yelled, “Now!”
Zoe’s didn’t let the tractor beam of her eyes leave her creation. The crown of her soufflé was perfect . . . just the right amount of brown on the edges, the perfect smell of mouthwatering calories no one needed but everyone wanted. The countdown for the damn thing falling was ticking like a clock on a bomb, and she was holding still as if said bomb were strapped to her waist and one move would set if off.
Someone shoved a fat-bristled makeup brush on her face, dusting away the glistening moisture so she didn’t shine on camera.
The middle of her dessert started to breathe, and Zoe’s heart rate shot up. “Hurry!”
Felix clapped his hands several times. “Quiet . . . everyone quiet on the set!”
Zoe painted on her smile and awaited her cue.
Yet her baked masterpiece was the one that followed her director’s instructions.
Staying For Good (A Most Likely To Novel Book 2) Page 1