Hunky Heartbreaker: A Whiskey Kisses Novella Read online

  Hunky Heartbreaker

  A Whiskey Kisses Novella

  By Kendall Ryan

  1001 Dark Nights

  Hunky Heartbreaker

  A Whiskey Kisses Novella

  By Kendall Ryan

  1001 Dark Nights

  Copyright 2018 Kendall Ryan

  ISBN: 978-1-948050-36-4

  Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose

  Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Book Description

  Hunky Heartbreakers: A Whiskey Kisses Novella

  By Kendall Ryan

  From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kendall Ryan comes a new story in her Whiskey Kisses series…

  Everything’s bigger in Texas.

  And that includes Duke Wilder’s sexual appetite.

  Together with his twin brother, he runs a whiskey distillery, and when their business takes off—suddenly he’s got it all. Success. Money. Family. But he doesn’t have a woman to share it with.

  When Valentina storms into his life, her presence is only supposed to be temporary. She’s a feisty attorney hired to help clean up his company’s recent legal mess. He never counted on her being the one to turn his whole world upside down.

  After spending most of his life living in the shadow of his brother, Duke has something to prove, and he’s not about to let this distraction get in the way of his plans, no matter how hot things get.

  **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

  About Kendall Ryan

  A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over two million books, and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller list more than three dozen times. Kendall has been featured in publications such as USA TODAY, Newsweek, and In Touch Magazine. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.

  Website: www.kendallryanbooks.com

  Facebook: Kendall Ryan Books

  Twitter: @kendallryan1

  Instagram: www.instagram.com/kendallryan1

  Newsletter: www.kendallryanbooks.com/newsletter/

  Get an alert when I release a book or put a title on sale. Sign up here: www.bookbub.com/authors/kendall-ryan

  Also from Kendall Ryan

  Click to purchase

  Unravel Me

  Make Me Yours

  When I Break Series

  Filthy Beautiful Lies Series

  The Gentleman Mentor

  Sinfully Mine

  Bait & Switch

  Slow & Steady

  The Room Mate

  The Play Mate

  The House Mate

  The Soul Mate

  Hard to Love

  Resisting Her

  Screwed

  Monster Prick

  The Fix Up

  Dirty Little Secret

  Dirty Little Promise

  Baby Daddy

  Love Machine

  Flirting with Forever

  Dear Jane

  For a complete list of Kendall’s books, visit:

  www.kendallryanbooks.com/all-books/

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  A huge thank you to my entire dream team. I’m especially grateful to MJ Rose and Liz Berry. You are both such professionals and so lovely in everything you do. I’m in awe of all you have accomplished.

  A huge bear hug to all of the book bloggers and readers for your excitement about Duke and Valentina’s story. I am so appreciative of each and every review you left.

  I'm blessed to have so many amazing people in my life rooting me on, especially my sweet husband. Finally, I'm so incredibly blessed to have YOU as a reader. Thank you!

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection One

  Click here to explore

  FOREVER WICKED by Shayla Black

  CRIMSON TWILIGHT by Heather Graham

  CAPTURED IN SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING by Tina Folsom

  DUNGEON GAMES by Lexi Blake

  AZAGOTH by Larissa Ione

  NEED YOU NOW by Lisa Renee Jones

  SHOW ME, BABY by Cherise Sinclair

  ROPED IN by Lorelei James

  TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

  THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

  CARESS OF DARKNESS by Julie Kenner

  Also from 1001 Dark Nights

  TAME ME by J. Kenner

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Two

  Click here to explore

  WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan

  WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham

  EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby

  MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair

  CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner

  ADORED by Lexi Blake

  HADES by Larissa Ione

  RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton

  DREAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James

  RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  DRAGON KING by Donna Grant

  PURE WICKED by Shayla Black

  HARD AS STEEL by Laura Kaye

  STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

  ALL HALLOWS EVE by Heather Graham

  KISS THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

  DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster

  TEASED by Rebecca Zanetti

  THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  Also from 1001 Dark Nights

  THE SURRENDER GATE By Christopher Rice

  SERVICING THE TARGET By Cherise Sinclair

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Three

  Click here to explore

  HIDDEN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham

  SEARCHING FOR MINE by Jennifer Probst

  DANCE OF DESIRE by Christopher Rice

  ROUGH RHYTHM by Tessa Bailey

  DEVOTED by Lexi Blake

  Z by Larissa Ione

  FALLING UNDER YOU by Laurelin Paige

  EASY FOR KEEPS by Kristen Proby

  UNCHAINED by Elisabeth Naughton

  HARD TO SERVE by Laura Kaye

  DRAGON FEVER by Donna Grant

  KAYDEN/SIMON by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  STRUNG UP by Lorelei James

  MIDNIGHT UNTAMED by Lara Adrian

  TRICKED by Rebecca Zanetti

  DIRTY WICKED by Shayla Black

  THE ONLY ONE by Lauren Blakely

  SWEET SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Four

  Click here to explore

  ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING by Kristen Ashley

  ADORING INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  SWEET RIVALRY by K. Bromberg

  SHADE'S LADY by Joanna Wylde

  RAZR by Larissa Ione

  ARRANGED by Lexi Blake

  TANGLED by Rebecca Zanetti

  HOLD ME by J. Kenner

&n
bsp; SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst

  TOO CLOSE TO CALL by Tessa Bailey

  HUNTED by Elisabeth Naughton

  EYES ON YOU by Laura Kaye

  BLADE by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  DRAGON BURN by Donna Grant

  TRIPPED OUT by Lorelei James

  STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely

  MIDNIGHT UNLEASHED by Lara Adrian

  HALLOW BE THE HAUNT by Heather Graham

  DIRTY FILTHY FIX by Laurelin Paige

  THE BED MATE by Kendall Ryan

  PRINCE ROMAN by CD Reiss

  NO RESERVATIONS by Kristen Proby

  DAWN OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  Also from 1001 Dark Nights

  Tempt Me by J. Kenner

  Sign up for the 1001 Dark Nights Newsletter

  and be entered to win a Tiffany Key necklace.

  There's a contest every month!

  Click here to subscribe.

  As a bonus, all subscribers will receive a free copy of

  Discovery Bundle Three

  Featuring stories by

  Sidney Bristol, Darcy Burke, T. Gephart

  Stacey Kennedy, Adriana Locke

  JB Salsbury, and Erika Wilde

  Table of Contents

  Book Description

  About Kendall Ryan

  Also from Kendall Ryan

  Acknowledgements from the Author

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection One

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Two

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Three

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Four

  Foreword

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Epilogue

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Five

  Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights

  Sexy Stranger by Kendall Ryan

  Discover More Kendall Ryan

  Special Thanks

  One Thousand and One Dark Nights

  Once upon a time, in the future…

  I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.

  I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and

  the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast

  library at my father’s home and collected thousands

  of volumes of fantastic tales.

  I learned all about ancient races and bygone

  times. About myths and legends and dreams of all

  people through the millennium. And the more I read

  the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered

  that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually

  become part of them.

  I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher

  and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I

  would not be telling you this tale now.

  But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off

  with bravery.

  One afternoon, curious about the myth of the

  Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to

  see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar

  (Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then

  sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written

  and I had read, that by the time he met Scheherazade,

  the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand

  women.

  Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived

  in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged

  places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had

  never occurred before and that still to this day, I

  cannot explain.

  Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have

  taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can

  protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to

  protect herself and stay alive.

  Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.

  And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a

  point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.

  And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that

  he might hear the rest of my dark tale.

  As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new

  one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before

  you now.

  Chapter One

  Duke

  “I’d like to thank each and every one of you for joining us this evening,” my twin brother Luke said, smiling as he looked out on the crowd gathered in our bar.

  “Ten years ago, my brother and I decided to take this distillery and turn it into something we could be proud of. It’s been a long and difficult road, but tonight, I’m proud to announce not only that our whiskey will now be sold in stores all across Texas, but also that our brand-spanking-new tasting rooms are open for business.”

  The crowd cheered, and Luke turned to me with a look on his face like I needed to say something too. I stared back at him for a split second, my mind a hair fuzzier than I wanted it to be in that moment. That’s what I got for pre-gaming the grand opening of my own distillery, I supposed.

  But I’d be damned if I was about to let Luke steal my reputation as the fun-loving, charming-as-hell Wilder brother.

  “Here’s to turning this run-down, piece of shit piss-stillery into an honest-to-goodness, respectable establishment. To Wilder Whiskey!”

  “To Wilder Whiskey!” the crowd roared back.

  We drank, the familiar burn hitting the back of my throat before spreading warmth throughout my entire body. Luke and I rolled the heavy wood and iron barn door open, ushering our guests into the brand-new tasting room for the very first time.

  If our old tasting room was pretty good, our new one was fucking badass. Luke’s wife, Charlotte, had given us some big-city decorating tips, and for as much as I liked to tease her for having a stick up her ass, she had good taste. We’d swapped out the brown velvet armchairs and rustic table for a wraparound oak bar with iron stools and four custom-made tables for extra seating. We kept the wall opposite the bar full of windows, which at that moment perfectly framed the blood-orange sun setting in the wide-open Texas sky.

  Luke clapped a hand on my shoulder as we stood in the doorway watching the crowd fill the room.

  “Proud of us, brother. We really pulled it off.”

  “Turns out Dad didn’t totally fuck us over after all.”

  Luke grimaced at the mention of our alcoholic father, who ran this place into the ground before passing away and leaving it to us. I threw my arm around his shoulders and shook him.

  “Hey, I’m not trying to bring the mood down. But just look at this place. We did this. And we did good, no matter what little he left us with.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

  “Hell yeah, I’m right! Now come on, it’s time to drink and be merry and do whatever else you do when you make a decade-long dream come true.”

  We parted ways, Luke joining Charlotte at a table by the windows, leaving me to my own devices. Across the room, I spotted two beautiful, familiar faces, and suddenly I knew exactly how I wanted to spend my evening.

  Walking over to the bar, I ordered two of our signature cocktails and had them sent over to the women. Within ten minutes, my plan had been perfectly executed, and they’d both joined me at my corner of the bar, each sitting on one of my knees, giggling and fawning over my every word.

  “Well, who’d have ever thought that the three of us would reunite one day? And in my very own distillery? How long has it been since this threesome spent one of our wild nights together?” I drawled, my hands wandering over their backs.

  The two women exchanged a knowing look, the
one on my right tossing her strawberry blond locks over her shoulder.

  “I’d say it’s been at least three years. What do you think, Kelly?”

  “I don’t know, Kaylie, I think it’s more like four or five,” the brunette responded, trailing a red-tipped fingernail along my jaw.

  “Well, I remember it like it was yesterday.”

  Kelly and Kaylie giggled, each of them leaning in closer to put their impossibly pushed-up breasts on full display. I’d known them both since high school, their reputations for flirting and playing the field rivaling my own. But it wasn’t until they both came home for winter break in college that the three of us got together for one of the more memorable flings of my career.

  “Rumor has it you moved out of the Wilder compound after Luke got married,” Kelly said, dragging her fingertips along my bicep.

  “We’d love to see your new place sometime soon,” Kaylie added, her free hand settling on my upper thigh.

  Before I could respond, Luke appeared out of nowhere, the look on his face grim.

  “Hate to break this party up, ladies, but I’m afraid I need to talk to my brother alone.”

  “Awww,” Kaylie whined, pushing her lower lip out in a fake pout.

  “If you beauties will excuse me, it seems there’s some unwanted business I have to attend to,” I said, kissing them both on the cheek before following Luke into the back room.

  “All right, man, what could possibly be so pressing that we had to leave our own party?”

  Luke narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.

  “We’ve got a problem. Apparently our logo is too similar to a trademarked image.”