Chasing Shadows (First Wives Book 3)
Page 1
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, 4½ Stars
“A great story that I hope is the start of a new series.”
—The Romance Studio, 4½ 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, 4½ 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, 4½ 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, 4½ 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, 4½ 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, 4½ 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, 4½ 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, 4½ 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
Not Quite Perfect
“This novel flows extremely well and readers will find themselves consuming the witty dialogue and strong imagery in one sitting.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Don’t let the title fool you. Not Quite Perfect was actually the perfect story to sweep you away and take you on a pleasant adventure. So sit back, relax, maybe pour a glass of wine, and let Catherine Bybee entertain you with Glen and Mary’s playful East Coast–West Coast romance. You won’t regret it for a moment.”
—Harlequin Junkie, 4½ Stars
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, 4½ Stars
Staying For Good
“Bybee’s skillfully crafted second Most Likely To contemporary (after Doing It Over) brings together former sweethearts who have not forgotten each other in the 11 years since high school. A cast of multidimensional characters brings the story to life and promises enticing future installments.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Romance fans will be sure to cheer on former high school sweethearts Zoe and Luke right away in Staying For Good. Just wait until you see what passion, laughter, reconciliations, and mischief (can you say Vegas?) awaits readers this time around. Highly recommended.”
—Harlequin Junkie, 4½ Stars
Making It
Right
“Intense suspense heightens the scorching romance at the heart of Bybee’s outstanding third Most Likely To contemporary (after Staying For Good). Sizzling sensual scenes are coupled with scary suspense in this winning novel.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Fool Me Once
“A marvelous portrait of friendship among women who have been bonded by fire.”
—Library Journal, Best of the Year 2017
“Bybee still delivers a story that her die-hard readers will enjoy.”
—Publishers Weekly
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
Not Quite Crazy
Most Likely To Series
Doing It Over
Staying For Good
Making It Right
First Wives Series
Fool Me Once
Half Empty
Chasing Shadows
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, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Text copyright © 2018 by 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: 9781503903432
ISBN-10: 1503903435
Cover design by Letitia Hasser
Cover photography by Regina Wamba of MaeIDesign.com
For Tanya.
Strong women are the cornerstone of my life.
You, my dear, are one of them.
Contents
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
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter One
Left, right, cross . . .
Avery met each punch with a counter and waited until the fourth strike to move in.
Two hits in, Avery shoved her assailant’s nose into her knee and then fell to the left when a second attacker swooped in from nowhere.
Next thing Avery knew, she was on her back.
She froze.
Her head flew to the right.
The left.
“Stop.”
Her breath came in short, quick pants.
A boot to the face.
The pain . . .
She shot up to a sitting position. “I’m good.”
Brenda pushed in and knelt down on the mat. “Your hands were down. Your legs were free . . . you froze.”
“I didn’t.” The denial was quick on her lips.
“The sooner you realize you’re wrong, the faster you’re going to end this fear.” Brenda’s German accent cut through Avery’s muddy brain.
She pushed Brenda out of the way, pulled her headgear off, and threw it onto the mat.
Leslie, her opponent, had been studying krav maga for three years. Avery had a measly ten months under her belt.
The fact that Brenda was correct in her observation of Avery’s freeze only added to her anger.
At herself.
At the world.
At the dead asshole who made her freeze.
Emotion welled up inside and forced her feet to move. She pushed past her instructor and beelined to the locker room.
“Is she okay?” Avery heard Leslie ask.
“She’s fine.”
Avery let the door slam behind her.
Alone, she moved to the sink and turned the water on cold. She splashed her face, attempting to cool the hot anger swimming inside, and looked in the mirror.
Her flushed features were evidence that she’d exerted herself. The bloodshot eyes were a combination of lack of sleep and frustration. “Get a grip,” she cautioned herself.
A sharp knock on the door spiked her blood pressure.
“Are we doing this or not?” Brenda yelled from the other side.
Avery glared at herself in the mirror and shoved away.
“Yeah.”
An hour later she stood under the hot stream of the shower, nursing a stinging shoulder and a bruised ego.
Leslie had efficiently handed Avery her ass. Brenda had obviously coached Leslie to get her on the mat repeatedly. Twice Avery had started to freeze, and twice Brenda had yelled something in German that Avery knew was both offensive and condescending. And when their session ended, Brenda’s praise was nothing but a half-baked smile that lasted all of a second. If Avery had blinked, she would have missed it.
“You were slow, and your legs should be used for more than screwing.”
It was as close to a compliment as Avery could expect. Most of the time Brenda had a never-ending diatribe of faults that Avery needed to work on. To only have two roll off Brenda’s tongue was a rarity.
Leslie turned off the water in a neighboring shower, reminding Avery that she’d been standing in the hot water for ten minutes. She quickly rinsed the soap from her hair, turned the water off, and grabbed a towel from the peg outside the stall.
She padded into the locker room and kept herself from looking at the naked woman running a hand through her wet hair.
“Thanks for the workout.”
“I’m not sure how much of a sweat you managed, knocking my ass into the ground every five minutes.”
“Every opponent brings a new challenge.” Leslie reached for her underwear. “How come you don’t come to the group classes?”
“And let several people witness my humiliation?”
Leslie cocked her head to the side, her short hair falling in her face. “Brenda told me that you didn’t think you were any good.”
“Did she?” Avery tossed her towel to the side and turned her back. “What else did Brenda say?”
“That you were good.”
A
very glanced over her shoulder. “That’s a lie. Brenda never hands out praise.”
Leslie winked. “Yeah, I made that up. But you are. Good, that is. You should join us sometime.”
“I’ll think about it.” And then dismiss the idea. This was a thing she did under the radar. The fewer people that knew she was studying krav, the better.
Leslie pulled a light sweatshirt over her head and hid the tattoo that covered the entire right side of her body. She didn’t put on a bra. Dressed in black, with her dyed red hair spiked, she looked a lot more badass than when covered in protective gear.
“Wanna grab a beer?”
Avery thought about what waited for her at home. Nothing.
“Sure.”
“Cool. Meet you outside.”
It was early fall in Southern California, which meant hot, dry, and windy. Most of the time that meant fires in the foothills and poor air quality in the city. Tonight the sky was clear and electricity seemed to snap in the atmosphere.
Leslie leaned against the brick building, her cell phone in hand, when Avery walked outside the studio. “We can walk. It’s not far.”
Pug’s Pub was a dark lit bar with three men for every woman. The jukebox played old rock and roll from the seventies, and the bartender appeared to have made a lifetime career out of pouring drinks. Overweight and out of shape, the guy blended in and wasn’t dressed to earn tips from his customers. From the limited selection behind the counter, Avery assumed the man’s talents were limited to Jack and Coke and whiskey, straight up.
“I wouldn’t suggest the beer on tap. Safer to ask for a bottle,” Leslie suggested.
“Good call.”
A handful of men sitting on beaten up barstools watched while they found a high table with a couple of empty seats.
“Hey, Keith.” Leslie waved to the man behind the counter, put two fingers up in the air.
“You come here a lot?”
“After a class, some of us come here to decompress. Hard to go home and go to sleep with all that adrenaline swimming inside.”
Avery could attest to that.
She sat at the table and winced at the pain in her side. As much protective gear as they used, there was still some pain involved when practicing the fine art of kicking the shit out of someone.
Keith made his way to their table and put two longneck Stellas in front of them. “New friend?” he asked.
“Avery, this is Keith.”
“Nice to meet you.”