Fool Me Once (First Wives Series Book 1) Read online

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  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 thrillin

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  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 Staying For Good Making It Right 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

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  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 © 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: 9781612185071 ISBN-10: 161218507X Cover design by Shasti O’Leary Soudant

  This one is for Tracy Brogan For obvious reasons

  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 Chapter Thirty-Three Chapter Thirty-Four Chapter Thirty-Five Chapter Thirty-Six Epilogue Acknowledgments About the Author

  Chapter One Divorce cake was so much sweeter than wedding cake, and when that cake was served to a room full of women celebrating the freedom of a newly single, incredibly wealthy thirty-year-old, it tasted even better. Lori lifted her tumbler in the air and caught the gaze of Samantha Harrison from across the room. Another successful Alliance contract executed. Another payday for the both of them. Avery Grant, the divorcée of the hour, laughed over the volume of the music pumping through the expansive speaker system in the high-rise condominium. The unit sat several floors above Lori’s in the same Los Angeles complex. The lofty space had been stripped of most of its walls before Avery moved in. She wanted it open, with massive views of the city twinkling below after sunset. Her husband of sixteen months liked his living space to resemble a Civil War–era colonial home, complete with cubicle-style rooms and drafty halls. It wasn’t surprising to see Avery make a completely opposite choic

  Chapter Two By the time Lori and Sam landed in the Hamptons, every newscaster, rag, and wannabe paparazzo had beat them there. Cameras blinded them as the car passed through the gate of the Petrov estate. Thankfully, the media had no idea who Lori was, so she rushed in first. But when Sam stepped out of the car, cameras renewed their frenzy. Sam had already established herself as Trina’s friend, so her presence wouldn’t be questioned. Lori found Trina sitting on a chaise in her bedroom with an empty bottle of wine at her side. The dark skinned, ebony haired woman looked up when Lori entered the room. She’d been crying. A broken shell of the woman Lori had last seen just six months before. One look in Lori’s direction and Trina’s tears flowed again. Lori folded Trina into her arms and listened as she sobbed. Through hiccups, Trina spoke. “I didn’t sign”—Lori patted Trina’s back—“up for this.” “It’s okay . . . you’re going to be okay.” Trina buried her face in Lori’s shoulder. Lori looke

  Chapter Three There were reasons why Lori’s caseload was lighter than that of the average divorce attorney to the rich and famous. She spent very little time in front of judges hashing anything out. Her practice was built on prenuptial agreements and premeditated divorces. These took up over half of her calendar and added to her retirement plan faster than any divorce lawyer could have dreamed. When cases like Trina Mendez-Petrov’s took a significant turn for the worse, she had ample time to deal with them and enough professional clout to obtain the required court delays with her current inbox of clients. Lori stood poised, with massive sunglasses covering her eyes, a wide-brimmed hat covering her head, and her chin held high in the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona. The hotel dripped opulence and sophistication. It screamed money, and lots of it. Attendants stood everywhere, their uniforms crisp, their smiles painted on. Fresh flower arrangements featured exotic plants

  Chapter Four Sugar daddy. Reed couldn’t help but wonder if Miss Single had one of those, past or present. He enjoyed the view as she sashayed away. Honey blonde hair, a sparkle in her blue eyes that wasn’t flighty like her overly animated friend’s. There had been a smirk behind her serious expression, and when she had started on the pole dancing line. She had curves, and that ass . . . yeah, a week on the open sea pursuing that one was a challenge he happily accepted. His eyes landed on the bill, which had her room number on it. One of the penthouse suites. He wasn’t surprised. This woman, and those she surrounded herself with, dripped with sophistication and money. He took a pull on his longneck beer and opened the daily itinerary the ship provided. He reached for the pen left behind by Miss Single and circled a singles mixer dance party for later that night. None of the women Miss Single was with wore wedding rings, so it was safe to say he’d find them among the unattached on the shi

  Chapter Five If Reed stood in the window to the yoga room much longer, someone was going to tell his voyeur ass to move along. He wasn’t surprised to see Lori bending and stretching in ways the body didn’t normally move, but the sight of her butt held tight by a pair of black yoga pants . . . that’s what snagged his attention and wouldn’t let go. He was half-willing to join a yoga class just so he wouldn’t be so obvious. His eyes kept level with her ass as he walked by the glass doors. He snapped out of his trance and quickly looked around the gym. He decided to burn through a few miles of frustration with the free weights until the yoga class was over. Reed worked through his daily routine in half his normal time, his eyes tracking on the yoga door. A tall blonde wearing a purple sports bra and shorts that should be illegal anywhere other than by a swimming pool stopped in front of him. “Ar det tungt?” “Excuse me?” He didn’t recognize the language, and with over forty different nation

  Chapter Six “Antonio!” Reed greeted the man he’d met the night before. They shook hands. Around them swam a sea of bikini-wearing women sporting suntan lotion and consuming c
opious amounts of liquor. The DJ pumped music loud enough to bust eardrums, and a walkway was set up in the middle of the deck. “What’s going on?” Reed asked the Italian. “Male exploitation.” “Male what?” “Male fashion show without clothes.” Naked? That didn’t sound right. Antonio pointed to the lineup of men wearing Speedos and shorts. Reed noticed Trina and Avery spreading oil all over two of the men that were part of the previous evening’s party. “Looks like someone is having fun.” “That Avery is a party.” “Looks like it’s rubbing off on her friend.” Reed looked around to see if Lori was nearby. Sensing what he was searching for, Antonio pointed toward the massive swimming pool. “The others are over there.” “Should we drag them over here?” Reed asked. “I’m not walking on that stage.” Yeah, neither was Reed. “I’v

  Chapter Seven Lori slipped into a midcalf-length sundress and jeweled sandals. The sun had given her face more color than she normally had, so makeup consisted of mascara and lip gloss. Strange how living in Southern California didn’t add a glow to her face, yet less than three days on the Mediterranean had. She glanced at the time when someone knocked on her door. “You’re early,” she called out. “It’s Trina.” Lori hustled to the door to let her in. “You look nice,” Trina said, closing the door behind her. “It’s just dinner.” And she was more nervous than she cared to admit. “If my opinion is wanted, I think Reed is a decent guy.” “We’ve known him less than forty-eight hours.” “And I’m sure there is a lot to know, but if this is a weeklong affair, what does it matter?” Lori had been asking herself that question since she met the man. “You’re right.” She shook her head. “I’m overthinking this.” “I’m glad you said that. It isn’t like you just buried your husband, or just divorced your hu

  Chapter Eight By the time the ship pulled into position for the day, Reed was up, showered, and logged in. He started with Shannon Redding-Wentworth. From mainstream media to gossip magazines, Shannon was everywhere. She came from a wealthy family, married Paul Wentworth while he was campaigning for the governor’s office in California. He had brought himself up to speed on her story before he arrived on the ship. His client knew about the cruise but didn’t have knowledge of who she was sailing with. Reed knew his client was looking for something scandalous by way of a romantic interlude with the former first lady and would be disappointed that wasn’t the case. Reed backtracked through her life by looking up the private details of the governor. He found a wedding photo of the couple, and then another few sprinkled in at the reception. He clipped them into a file and moved forward to the announcements of the divorce. Public records determined irreconcilable differences caused the divorce

  Chapter Nine Reed watched her from across the crowded deck. Lori pulled Trina aside and they put their heads together. Trina swayed, and Lori caught her arm and guided her to a chair. Lori looked around the two of them and ducked her head close again. Reed swept the deck with his eyes, wondered if anyone else noticed the tension between the two women. From his periphery, he saw someone watching them. A woman, her back was to him. But her eyes followed Trina and Lori just as closely as Reed’s. When she looked toward an upper balcony, Reed followed her gaze, saw the back of a man turning away. Miguel? He waited to see if Miguel was going to take the stairs and approach Lori and Trina, only he didn’t. It was as if he was observing, just like Reed. Just like Reed and the unknown woman. Lori kept one eye on Trina, the other on the show. “Is everything okay?” Avery leaned over and asked Lori. Lori shook her head. Trina was understandably upset. Finally Trina gave up on the show, stood withou

  Chapter Ten The ship was like Vegas and New York City all rolled into one. Between the different nationalities and the party atmosphere, the cruise ship never slept. Reed had to remind himself he was working more than once. Reed read Lori’s text about going to the dance club they’d played in the first night and responded by showing up half an hour later. His eyes took some time to adjust to the scene because of the flashing lights on the dance floor. He considered his plan to arrive late a win until he reached the table she occupied with her friends to find Miguel and Rogelio whispering Spanish sweet bullshit into Avery’s and Trina’s ears. Lori waved him over. Her honey blonde hair was down. Something he wasn’t used to seeing. So far their time in the Italian sun had her pulling her long strands away from her face in a clip or a band. But this, this soft look around her high cheekbones, he liked. Her blue eyes sparkled in the lights, the color of her skin from the Mediterranean sun off

  Chapter Eleven Lori, Shannon, and Avery opened the doors between their adjoining rooms and tag teamed sleep during the night. The ship’s physician deemed Trina intoxicated with the chance of drugs in her system. Since that particular combination wasn’t unheard of on the ship, and since with some effort he could wake her and her vital signs were stable, there wasn’t a need to take her down to the infirmary. He did leave a cup for her urine sample so they could test her for drugs. “I don’t need that. I just had too much to drink,” Trina protested the pee cup the next morning. “But you didn’t.” Avery sat cross-legged on the bed where Trina sat holding her head. “I feel like I did.” “What do you remember about last night?” Shannon had joined them shortly after the doctor left. Lori left a message in her room for her via Datu, and she camped out with the rest of them. “We had dinner.” “We were at the club. Do you remember dancing?” “Yes.” She shook her head. “Kinda.” Lori thrust the cup tow

  Chapter Twelve She couldn’t remember the last time she went to the movies on a date. Dates for her had been dinner, talking, and deciding if the man was breakfast worthy. Reed offered a nice change. She liked the man. He seemed genuinely interested in Trina’s health, and concerned the night before when they couldn’t find her. His chivalry came in the form of opening doors, listening without interruption, and remembering a blanket from the room. The fact that he was easy to look at was a bonus. Lori wondered what he thought about her. She questioned what he saw in her that kept him coming back. It wasn’t like he was pushing to get her into bed. Maybe he was turned on by intelligent conversation. Although Lori had never considered herself in that pool, she was starting to change her mind. Then again, she’d done most of the talking, clearly attracting him, while he was doing the manly things that shot her pulse on high. “I hope you like popcorn.” Reed walked up from behind her, a giant bu

  Chapter Thirteen Lori was drunk on orgasms, Reed could see it in her face, could feel it in the lazy touch of her hands. If he were being honest with himself, he’d admit he was as loose as a doll made of string. With her head tucked into the crook of his arm, Lori traced imaginary circles on his chest, which managed to arouse him more than once already, and it was only one in the morning. “Have you always been in California?” Lori’s pillow talk was a bit of a minefield. Reed had learned early on to give as many facts as he could without telling everything about himself. “Mostly. Spent a little time in my twenties traveling around. How about you?” “Born and raised. Did my undergrad in Chicago, froze my butt off for four years, then law school at Columbia.” Her leg was tucked up beside his, his hand rested on her naked thigh. He gave her butt a tiny slap. “Where you froze more of this off.” She laughed and wiggled her rear end. “I couldn’t wait to get back to the sunshine.” “And traffic.

  Chapter Fourteen It was formal night on the ship, and Lori and the others decided fancy dresses and high heels were in order to accompany their dinner reservations at one of the fancier restaurants on the ship. That was until Trina pounded on her door and pulled her into Avery’s room. “Her jewelry is gone,” Trina exclaimed once they were both hovering over Avery, who knelt by the open safe. “What do you mean, gone?” Avery looked up at Lori as if she were the ripe old age of three. “Ripped off. Someone stole my shit.” Lori knelt down in the slim-fitting formal dress and looked at the empty boxes inside Avery’s in-suite safe. “For crying out loud.” She stood. “Don’t touch anything.” Minutes later, Lori stood outside of Avery’s stateroom while security and so
me of the Italian brass on board asked Avery questions. They were drawing a crowd. Datu stood to the side, his face sheen white, his hands visibly shaking as his boss questioned him. “Does she know how much the jewelry was worth?” Sha

  Chapter Fifteen Jet lag was a combination of the hangover of a lifetime and receiving an injectable dose of caffeine at two in the morning. Lori looked at her bedside clock as two in the morning turned into two thirty. She’d punched her pillow, turned it a few times to see if cooling her face would lure her to sleep. Nothing worked. She had an early morning meeting followed by lunch with Sam to go over all the details of her trip, and at this point Lori was fairly certain she’d be dozing off in her soup. Giving up, she switched on the dim bedroom lamp and grabbed her cell phone. Was he thinking about her? Did Reed toss and turn in his bed, close his eyes, and sense her beside him? On the ship, she’d been inundated with responsibility and still managed a little romance. Now that she was home in bed . . . without the swaying of a ship reminding her that she had a job to do, her mind kept flashing back to Reed and his smile, the way he held her, kissed her. The problem with the thoughts m

  Chapter Sixteen Lori counted the hours until her date with Reed. Okay, maybe it wasn’t a date so much as a prescheduled booty call. But hey, she bought a few things to go with the wine he was bringing, so it could double as an actual dinner date. With her hands loaded with bags from the store, Lori exited the elevator to her condo and fished her keys out of her purse. She fiddled with the door twice before managing to unlock the thing. Two steps inside she heard someone in her kitchen. Her first thought was Reed . . . not that he could have gotten in or that they’d gotten to the point where he would just appear without invitation. Lori hesitated when she saw Avery ducking into her wine fridge. “You don’t have chardonnay.” She dropped her bags on the counter. “Ah, hello, Avery.” “You don’t like white? I can do red, if that’s all you have.” Lori dropped her purse, looked at the clock on the wall. “There are a few pinot grigios in there.” Avery ducked back in, pulled out a white. She move