Making It Right (A Most Likely To Novel Book 3) Page 3
Epilogue Caroline stayed through Drew’s graduation before packing her belongings and leaving River Bend. The investigation didn’t find her guilty of anything other than infidelity. The town gossip spread like a case of the flu, especially when it came to light that Joseph Ward . . . trusted sheriff of River Bend . . . was just as guilty as Caroline for their transgressions. Standing beside Drew and her deputy, Karl, Gill held Jo’s hand during the graduation ceremonies of River Bend High. They were a strange family, one born of lies and deceit. But Jo was happy for it. Jo had a brother. While she never thought she was missing something in her life, she realized when he became more than just another kid on the field, another attitude-filled teen, she missed a whole lot. Gill insisted on staying with her the week that followed. Mel and Zoe moved into the role of reunion alumni committee without having any connection with the class that had graduated three years after them. The six of them
Acknowledgments So many people to thank . . . where to begin? Let me start with Kari and Brandy, my inspirations for this series. Our friendship grounded me as a kid growing up and inspires me as an adult today. Thank you, Kari, for the information on Quantico that you could share. I hope the places I strayed from reality weren’t completely off the mark. And if they are, well, this is a work of fiction. To Dawna, my second mom . . . while you were nothing like my Miss Gina, you were the one I ran to for advice and safety when I needed an adult. You will always hold a special place in my heart. To Suzie, the cop’s daughter in the neighborhood . . . when I think back on the things you used to do to tick off your dad . . . and how much restraint he displayed by not throttling you. Those guys next door, however, were worth the risk! To all the track and field coaches who have dedicated their knowledge and skills to my boys over the years, thank you! To Jane, my forever agent and friend. To
About the Author Photo © 2015 Julianne Gentry Catherine Bybee is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-five books that have collectively sold more than three million copies and have been translated into twelve languages. 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. She now writes full-time and has penned the Not Quite series, the Weekday Brides series, and the Most Likely To series.
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 . . . 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, 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 w
ill 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
Staying For Good
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 © 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: 9781503943599
ISBN-10: 1503943593
Cover design by Shasti O’Leary Soudant
This one is for Andrea . . .
I miss you every day.
Contents
Prologue
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
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Prologue
The sun shot daggers into Jo’s eyes as she opened the door of Zoe’s home. It was already noon, but she and her best friends couldn’t be bothered to wake up early on the day after their high school graduation. The bottle of tequila they’d managed to put a pretty good dent in twelve hours prior resided in her duffel bag for later use.
“It burns,” Jo said with a laugh as she covered her eyes.
“You dork.” Mel, the third part of their trio, brushed past her and opened the door of her car before tossing her yearbook in the backseat.
Zoe hovered in the doorway of the double-wide.
The three of them had stayed up most the night talking about their futures.
Well, Zoe and Mel had been the ones predicting the next year of their lives while Jo listened and drank Jose Cuervo until her head swam.
Mel had another seven weeks of life in River Bend before she was off to California to fulfill the River Bend High’s class prediction about her future. Being voted most likely to succeed was about the highest praise a gaggle of eighteen-year-olds could manage.
Jo tossed her bag into the back along with Mel’s yearbook and turned to Zoe.
“When are you going to talk to Luke?”
“I don’t know.”
Zoe had told the two of them that she needed to break up with her boyfriend of two years in order to get away from River Bend. From the looks of the broken-down dump of the Brown family home . . . and the graduates’ predictions that Zoe was most likely to never leave River Bend . . . it was no wonder Zoe wanted to flee.
Making matters worse, Zoe’s father was the well-known felon in their small town. He was serving a sentence of fifteen-plus years for armed robbery, but that didn’t stop the kids of River Bend from giving Zoe crap anytime they could. As if it was Zoe’s fault her dad was a complete lowlife.
“Please don’t say anything to him,” Zoe pleaded.
Jo and Mel exchanged glances. “We wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I’m going to miss this place,” Mel said with a sigh.
Jo’s eyes shifted to Zoe.
“That will make one of us,” Zoe said.
Zoe wouldn’t miss the family home where when her father wasn’t in jail, he did a fair amount of drinking and beating up his family. Mel would miss it because she’d only known the Brown home as a place to crash in the last couple of years. And Jo wouldn’t miss it at all because she had no plans to leave.
A higher education would consist of something at the community college level at best, along with a lot more partying while she was still young enough to enjoy it. She considered a move to Waterville, a town only an hour away with a lot more going for it, but she doubted her father would foot the bill.
She had the summer to figure it out. Who knew, maybe she and Zoe could find a place together?
“I’ll be back at eight to pick you up for tonight’s bonfire,” Mel told Zoe.
“You’re coming, right, Jo?” Zoe asked.
Jo slid around the passenger door. “Someone has to bring the booze.”
Zoe closed the front door behind her a little more. “Shh!”
“See ya later.” Jo didn’t bother with a seat belt, even after Mel pulled out of the driveway.
The short drive into town and down the street where Jo lived was met with silence. “You sure you don’t want a ride to Grayson’s farm tonight?”
“I’m going to con my dad into giving me back the keys to the Jeep. I did manage a B average this year.”
“I don’t think it was your grades that worried him.”
No, Jo’s dad was River Bend’s sheriff. Jo hated the label of cop’s daughter from day one. Everyone expected her to be Little Miss Perfect, be a stupid pillar of the community. All she wanted was to be herself, a teenager out to have fun and live life every day. Unfortunately that collided with being the cop’s kid. Most of the
teens in town drank, many of them smoked a little pot, and occasionally someone would bring something stronger into town. Her dad called her on every indiscretion. Made her run cross-country in the summer and had her running sprints every spring for the track team.
But no more. High school was officially over. She planned on tossing her running shoes in the bonfire later that night.
Mel pulled into the driveway of the home Jo had grown up in. Her dad’s squad car wasn’t blocking the garage door. She sighed with relief. Twenty questions about what she and the girls had done the night before wasn’t something she wanted to face. Not with the slight hangover she’d been nursing since she woke up.
“See you tonight,” Jo said as she stepped out of the car, dragging her duffel bag with her.
She peered into the car after closing the door.
Mel gripped the steering wheel as she looked down the street toward where she lived. “My parents suck.”
Jo tried to make her friend feel better. “All parents suck. It’s in their job description.”
“Yeah, but they couldn’t even wait until I was off to college before telling me about the divorce. Now that’s all I’m going to think about all summer.”
“We’re going to party all summer, Mel Bel. You won’t have time to spend on your parents’ screwed-up world.”
Mel pointed a finger in Jo’s direction. “I’m depending on you to distract me.”
“I got ya covered.”
Mel gave her a half-assed smile and pulled out of the drive.
Jo stepped into the empty house, dropped her bag on the kitchen table, and headed toward the bathroom. She pulled her dead cell phone from her back pocket and plugged it in to charge. After digging into the bottom of her personal drawer, the one filled with tampons and pads, she found the birth control pills her father didn’t know she took and popped the tiny orange contraceptive into her mouth.