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
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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.”