Chapter Seventeen They didn’t make excuses, they simply slipped away. Rachel kept expecting nerves to rush to the surface, but they didn’t. Jason directed the elevator down two floors and walked her to a room. The corner suite offered a similar view as the party going on upstairs. The room itself was composed of a separate bedroom, a sitting area that included a dining table, and a complete minibar. A bottle of champagne was chilling on a coffee table, along with a snack tray with cheese, nuts, and fruit. “Someone has been planning this,” she said. “Since the night we met,” he confessed. “The hotel was a last-minute choice.” “Last minute?” She set her coat down and turned to smile at him. “Okay, last week.” She gathered her purse. “I’m going to use the restroom.” Taking a moment to herself, Rachel offered herself an out. Pros and cons of sleeping with the boss. Pros . . . those were obvious. The sighworthy man treated her well. She assumed the sex would be worth every breath she took.
Chapter Eighteen Owen thought it was an epic adventure, Jason was on the phone even at thirty thousand feet, and Rachel scrambled to write press releases and statements to reflect every scenario they might come across, all while flying in Jason’s personal jet. Nathan acted as copilot. Three hours into their five-and-a-half-hour flight, Jason stepped away from his computer and to her side. Owen sat in a leather reclined seat, watching a Marvel action flick while continually looking out the window and making comments about the landscape below. “This is not how I pictured you in this plane for the first time.” “I can beat that. I never pictured me here.” He snuggled her neck. “Well, get used to it.” Her heart kicked hard against her rib cage. Before she could say a word, he kissed her cheek and moved behind Owen. “What are you watching?” The two of them spoke over the movie, and Rachel looked around the cabin. This wasn’t just a jet. It was a private jet of an owner of a massive company t
Chapter Nineteen Returning to the cold was like a slap in the face. To make it harder, there were three inches of snow on the ground. “You sure I can’t stay the night?” Jason asked one last time as he said good-bye at her door. “We agreed to weekends,” she told him again. “You suggested weekends . . . I said every day that ends in y.” “I will see you every day that ends in y and sleep over on the weekends.” It was a compromise Rachel knew he didn’t want but agreed to anyway. Besides, what he was suggesting sounded a whole lot like moving in together. And that was moving at warp speed and not something she’d ever done in her life. There was Owen to consider first. And the two of them hadn’t had a private conversation since before the new year. “Am I picking you up in the morning?” he asked. “Are you taking the train?” “I’m thinking I’ll fly in.” She shook her head. “I’ll take the train.” “Why? Everyone knows you and I were together in Central America.” “Fine, but I’m not ready to rub it
Chapter Twenty This was a first. Jason’s experience with the legal system was only on the level of corporate paper pushing and covering one’s ass. As his attorneys quickly informed him, they weren’t proficient at criminal representation but had a handful of high profile attorneys who would jump. Clive Redshaw walked alongside Jason’s attorney up the steps of the police station. After introductions were out of the way, Clive jumped right into his questions. “I have no idea what they could possibly be holding her on. We went to Costa Rica following the downing of one of my planes. She took Owen since I needed her with me.” “Owen is the child she has legal guardianship over.” “He is fifteen, but yes.” “That’s all you know?” Jason hesitated. “I know Owen’s grandparents have been rattling on about Owen staying with them.” “Where are the parents?” “Mom is dead. Dad hasn’t been in the picture.” Clive looked him straight in the eye. “Anything else?” “I have nothing.” “All right, then. I need t
Chapter Twenty-One Owen wasn’t in a shelter, but the accommodations were uncomfortably close. The room he was given had four beds, two of which were taken, outside of his. And that was for the boys . . . another room housed three beds, with one girl curled up and talking to herself. “Dude, you gonna eat that?” The kid asking was named Chris. The sixteen-year-old had made it clear he was in charge the second Owen was shown his bed. Owen glanced at the cold burrito and decided it wasn’t worth fighting for . . . even if he thought he’d probably eat it later. The “family” he’d been placed with ate at five thirty whether you were hungry or not. The woman, Mrs. Sims, hadn’t missed a meal since birth, her husband was the polar opposite. They both smiled at him when the social worker dropped Owen off. While they didn’t completely drop the act when the door shut, it was apparent the couple who took in temporary foster children didn’t do it for the love of kids. “Have it.” Owen pushed his plate
Chapter Twenty-Two “I’m not going back there.” Owen pocketed his cell phone after he finished talking with Nathan. Ford and Lionel sat with him in the high school gym, offering teenage advice. “You can stay with one of us,” Ford said. “My mom would be okay with you staying the night.” “They’ll just come get me from your place, Lionel. No, I need to disappear.” They both looked at him like he was crazy. “And go where?” Owen had been thinking about that all day long. In his mind, he had a couple of options. Both were places no one would ever think they’d find him. “The police will question you both, and I don’t need you ratting me out.” “We’d never do that.” “The cops always get to the truth. And if you don’t know it, you can’t tell it.” “What are you going to do about school?” Ford asked. Owen shrugged. “School will be there when all this goes away.” Lionel and Ford exchanged glances. “And what if it doesn’t? What if the court sides with your grandparents?” “Then school won’t matter, be
Chapter Twenty-Three Rachel ran her hand through her hair for the thousandth time. It was past lunch, and the court was just about to be called back in session. There was only one case in front of them. She leaned against Jason on a bench outside the courtroom. “It just dawned on me that I haven’t called in to work for two days.” Jason’s shoulders shook with mirth. “I’ve got ya covered.” “But you’re not my immediate supervisor. I should have spoken with Gerald.” He kissed the side of her head. “I told him he can expect to see you when he sees me.” She laced her fingers through his. The thought of going through all of this alone made her physically ill. Did he feel obligated? Every move he’d made felt sincere, but how could she really know? He’d fallen into her drama the moment she was taken away in his office building. She’d leaned on him like a crutch, a life preserver in a tsunami. “I’m keeping you from your life,” she said aloud. “Whoa . . . hey.” He pulled away far enough to look a
Chapter Twenty-Four Jason noticed the moment when Rachel put a rod through her spine to face cross-examination. So far, he thought they were doing really well. He couldn’t read the judge, but it didn’t seem as if the Colemans had any real evidence against Rachel. “Good afternoon,” Mr. Yanez addressed Rachel. “Good afternoon.” The pleasantries were making Jason ill. “I’ll be brief, Miss Price.” She glanced at Jason, tried to smile. “You testified that you took a job in Manhattan.” “Yes.” “What is your position?” “I’m in marketing at Fairchild Charters.” “Marketing. How did marketing play into your need to go to Costa Rica? Wouldn’t risk management or public relations be better suited for damage control?” Rachel looked at Jason again. “Yes. But—” “Let me guess, you volunteered to jump on a plane and leave the country.” “Jason asked me to go with him.” “Jason? That would be Jason Fairchild, the CEO and co-owner of the company?” Jason lifted his chin as the attention in the courtroom cente
Chapter Twenty-Five “Nice of you to join us, Mr. Moreau.” Judge Sherman held humor in her voice. Rachel stood beside Owen, both of them properly dressed for a day in court. Jason had sent Owen to his tailor. The suit he wore made him look five years older than he was. “Hi,” Owen said sheepishly. Rachel nudged him and whispered, “Your Honor.” “Your Honor,” he said after the fact. The people in the courtroom laughed. Rachel glanced behind them to find Jason
and his family sitting there in support. “You gave Miss Price quite the scare. What do you have to say for yourself?” “Well, Judge . . . I mean, Your Honor. At the time I didn’t feel I had any other choice.” She seemed surprised by his answer. “And now?” “I realized that if I had used a few more of the skills Mr. Collet was teaching me—he’s my English teacher—I might have learned that I could have stayed with one of my buddies instead of a foster home until we had a court date.” “Mr. Collet sounds like a wise man.” “His tests are hard
Epilogue Light bounced off the lake and caught Owen’s fishing pole as he tossed a line off the side of the boat. Nathan sat on the opposite side, directing him. Summer was quickly fading into fall, signifying the year since she’d moved. Rachel felt the weight of the ring Jason had placed on her finger that day in Peru, and the band he’d added to it the afternoon six weeks later when he made her Mrs. Jason Fairchild. The memory of Jason flying her and Owen back to California to place flowers on Emily’s grave on the anniversary of her death wasn’t something Rachel would ever forget. Their marriage was saluted by most and doubted by others. Neither one of them listened to what anyone else had to say. Even when her promotion to the head of the marketing department was talked about under hushed tones around the water cooler, Rachel kept her head high and her ego in check. It helped that Julie reminded employees that it was Rachel who brought Fairchild Charters one of the largest accounts th
Acknowledgments It has been an absolute joy to write this series. If it wasn’t for the short time I worked the graveyard shift at Denny’s when I was eighteen, I would never have thought of the opening scene between Jack and Jessie in Not Quite Dating. Now look where I ended up. It’s nothing short of spectacular. Here are a few shout-outs to the people who helped make this final chapter in the series complete. Thank you, Kayce Harding, for jumping on a plane with me to visit New York in the dead of winter. I still dream about that duck we had in that little French restaurant. Love you, Cousin. For Denise Placencio, my kick-ass female attorney who is a joy to watch in the courtroom, thanks. A special thanks to Jane Dystel and Miriam Goderich, who encouraged me to use the Manhattan subway after my three-hour Uber drive from hell. I feel so very grown-up now. Back to Kelli Martin. You’ve been my editor since Jack and Jessie and have taken every step alongside me for five years. Publishing
About the Author Photo © 2015 Julianne Gentry When Catherine Bybee fell in love with the first romance novel she ever read, she promised herself she would one day become a published author. Now she’s written twenty-seven books that have collectively sold more than four million copies and have been translated into more than eighteen languages. Along with her popular Not Quite series, she has also penned the Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. Catherine now writes full-time. Fans can learn more at www.CatherineBybee.com.
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 . . . Keep 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
“Catherine Bybee brings readers a fun and flirty contemporary romance with a touch of mystery. I enjoy her fast-paced stories with humor, emotion, heat, and heart (her Weekday Brides series is one of my favorites and the first book in her new Most Likely To series has me salivating for more). The twists and turns the characters encounter on their way to a happy ending add an extra dimension to their story and I always enjoy a bit of intrigue in my romance. Another layer Bybee adds to her stories are the secondary relationships which help guide the story and give readers greater insight into the main characters.”
—The Romance Dish (4 stars)
“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.”
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