Half Empty by Catherine Bybee – Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Catherine Bybee as she celebrates today’s release of Half Empty. Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card plus a digital copy of Half Empty.

Trina Petrov’s marriage-by-contract was only meant to be temporary. But when tragedy strikes, Trina is left one of the wealthiest women in the world. To recover from the shock, she takes some time off in Italy, swearing not to fall for any men while there. But that doesn’t mean she can’t fall for anyone on the trip home . . .

Country-music superstar Wade Thomas is lying low in a hotel bar when he gets the cold shoulder from the woman next to him. He’s used to fans fawning at his boots, and Trina is a refreshing change—so is the fact that she has no idea who he is.

As things begin to heat up, Trina discovers that the circumstances of her late husband’s death are not what they seemed. Now she’s in trouble, and Wade isn’t about to let her out of his sight. Getting close to love and danger could get them killed . . . or it could sweep them both off their feet.

Enjoy an Exclusive Excerpt:

Wade opted for sunglasses and a baseball cap in an effort to keep his identity on the down low. He stood in the back of the crowd, waiting outside of baggage claim, where he told Trina he would meet her. When was the last time he’d stood in an airport to pick someone up? He couldn’t remember.

He scanned the crowd, watching for the telltale sign of a cell phone turned his way. There were the kind of fans that noticed him in a crowd and would snap a sly picture, and then there were the people who walked right up, asked if he was Wade Thomas, and then requested a picture or an autograph. Seemed the pictures were the bigger request than his name on a piece of paper. Although he had signed plenty of boobs in his career.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he reached to answer without looking at the name.

“Hello.”

“Wade?” He didn’t recognize the voice.

“Depends on who is askin’.”

“It’s the blonde pit bull.”

He winced. Avery. “Trina did not tell you I said that.”

“She most certainly did.”

“Well, Miss Avery, I meant that out of my deepest respect,” he backpedaled. “Strong women run the earth.”

“Keep kissing up,” she said.

He laughed as he scanned the crowded exiting baggage claim. “What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to make sure you didn’t send some flunky to pick Trina up at the airport.”

“No, ma’am, I did not. I’m standing right here, waiting for her now.”

“Huh.”

“Anything else?” he asked, knowing full well Avery wasn’t done.

“Yeah. Don’t mess with her head.”

He opened his mouth to respond, only to be cut off.

“Don’t lie to her. Don’t tell her she’s the only one if she isn’t. Don’t be an asshole.”

Wade didn’t think The Blonde Pit Bull was a worthy enough title for the woman giving him sass on the phone.

“You’re a good friend, Avery. Trina’s lucky to have you on her side.” He really did mean that. Much as he was the one on the wrong end of the woman’s gun.

“Uh-huh … right.”

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say you really don’t like me, do you?”

“I know your kind, and I’ve warned her. But apparently there isn’t anything else I can do.”

From the crowd he saw a woman of Trina’s height with sleek black hair … his heart did a little two-step of its own.

“I’ll take good care of her. You can count on that.”

Yup, that was her. Those dark eyes caught his, even through his sunglasses, and her lips spread into a smile. The feeling in his belly made his entire body warm.

This was good.

This was very good.

Avery was saying something that he didn’t catch.

“Ah-huh … sure. Thanks for your advice.” And he hung up.

Trina pushed one small, round designer suitcase in front of her as she approached.

He wanted to kiss her. Wanted to throw his arms around her, spin her in a circle, and make her laugh with the silliness of it all.

He hesitated.

“Screw it.” Four giant steps and he gave in to the desire. He lifted her surprised frame off the ground, pulled her body flush with his, and dropped his lips to her ear. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Wade!”

He kissed the side of her head, opting for something less personal, considering he had yet to savor her lips.

Yet, God willing, be the right word.

Damn, she smelled good. Something exotic with a hint of floral. He pulled in a deep breath of her scent and savored it to memory.

“Put me down,” she laughed.

His sunglasses had twisted on his face and fell to the ground when he let her go. Her spice colored eyes peered into his. “You came.”

“I told you I would.” He couldn’t stop smiling.

“Okay … ohhh kaaay! This is good.”

Her chest shook with her laugh. “You’re blushing.”

“I’m a happy man,” he admitted freely.

She looked to the side and back again. “Do you think we should get out of the way?”

Wade followed her lead, found his glasses on the ground, and reached for her bag.

“I can—”

“But I’m going to,” he interrupted and placed the suitcase out of her reach. With his free hand, he reached for hers. Their first date was starting now, and he didn’t want anyone who might be watching to think for even a second that Trina wasn’t with him.

About the Author: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee has written twenty-eight books that have collectively sold more than 4.5 million copies and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope 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, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series.