Georgia Moon (It's All in the Whiskey Book 2) Read online

  Georgia Moon

  It’s all about Whiskey

  Jen Talty

  Contents

  Georgia Moon

  Book Description

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Also by Jen Talty

  About the Author

  Praise for Jen Talty

  "I positively loved In Two Weeks, and highly recommend it. The writing is wonderful, the story is fantastic, and the characters will keep you coming back for more. I can't wait to get my hands on future installments of the NYS Troopers series." Long and Short Reviews

  "In Two Weeks hooks the reader from page one. This is a fast paced story where the development of the romance grabs you emotionally and the suspense keeps you sitting on the edge of your chair. Great characters, great writing, and a believable plot that can be a warning to all of us." Desiree Holt, USA Today Bestseller

  "Dark Water delivers an engaging portrait of wounded hearts as the memorable characters take you on a healing journey of love. A mysterious death brings danger and intrigue into the drama, while sultry passions brew into a believable plot that melts the reader's heart. Jen Talty pens an entertaining romance that grips the heart as the colorful and dangerous story unfolds into a chilling ending." Night Owl Reviews

  "This is not the typical love story, nor is it the typical mystery. The characters are well rounded and interesting." You Gotta Read Reviews

  "Deadly Secrets is the best of romance and suspense in one hot read!" NYT Bestselling Author Jennifer Probst

  "A charming setting and a steamy couple heat up the pages in an suspenseful story I couldn't put down!" NY Times and USA today Bestselling Author Donna Grant

  "Murder in Paradise Bay is a fast-paced romantic thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. You won't want to miss this one..." USA Today bestselling author Janice Maynard

  Georgia Moon

  It’s all about Whiskey

  book 2

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  JEN TALTY

  To Michelle Olson. Thanks for having my back.

  To Jackie Ziegler. Thanks for everything! You rock!

  Book Description

  Georgia Moon Whiskey has been in love with Luke Hannah for as long as she can remember, but he’s never given her a second look. It doesn’t matter anymore. He betrayed her brother and left town with his tail between his legs. Having bought Luke’s property to expand the family business, Georgia Moon turns Luke’s home into a residence for their bull riding students and moves herself into the master bedroom, all in the name of therapy to get over the man who never knew he held the power to break her heart.

  Luke Hannah has made a mess of his life and has only one person to blame for it: himself. After spending a year in Florida, he comes back to his hometown for the wedding of the man who used to be his best friend, the brother of the woman he never had the nerve to ask out on a date. All Luke wants is a second chance, but there is still one secret from his past that looms over his head, threatening to destroy everything.

  Prologue

  Two years ago…

  Luke Hannah paused midstep as he left the barn. “Hey, Georgia Moon,” he said with a big sour ball swirling around in his gut. Normally, seeing the dark-haired beauty would fill his heart with hope and draw a huge smile on his face, but not anymore.

  No way in hell would he even consider pursuing her now.

  “How’s my brother’s training going?” she asked, popping a straw between her pearly whites. “He wandered into the house moaning and groaning.”

  Luke couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “He’s feeling old, and he took a nasty fall and blamed me.”

  “I think I heard him mumble something to the effect that you’re a fucking prick and trying to hurt him.” She took slow strides as she headed toward her four-wheeler parked on the access road between his property and Whiskey Ranch.

  “That sounds about right.” He stuffed his hands deep into his jeans so he wouldn’t be tempted to touch Georgia Moon. It had taken him a long time to realize everything he wanted in a woman had been right in front of him his entire adult life. Now, thanks to a cruel twist of fate, he’d never be able to sweep her off her feet. Nope. He’d have to sit back and watch some other cowboy waltz in and spin her around on the dance floor. “But the reality is he’s pushing himself too hard.”

  “And Bella is up his ass,” Georgia Moon said, rolling her eyes. “I can’t believe she’s been secretly dating my brother for months. I’m baffled by what he sees in her.”

  “Perhaps she gives good head.”

  She laughed. “You’re a pig.”

  Their friendship came easy, and even though he thought her to be one sexy woman, he hadn’t thought about her in a sexual way until a few months ago. It had bothered him at first, so he fought his desires. Then, when he decided to cave, the shit hit the fan.

  “You’re the one who is always encouraging me to say exactly what I’m thinking,” he said.

  “Well, some topics when tossed around with my brothers are off-limits.” She adjusted her dark Stetson and pushed her long wavy hair from her face.

  “Got it. No talking about blow jobs and the Whiskey boys.”

  “You will never change,” she said with a laugh.

  “Nope. I will never grow up either. Now tell me what brings you out here, because I know it’s not to give me shit about my training techniques with JW.”

  “I’m worried about him and where his head is at. I don’t trust Bella.”

  “You just don’t like her.”

  “That’s true. And I dislike her father even more. He treats me like all I’m good for is to get him a cup of coffee.” She’d been fighting her way to the top in the ranching industry. While there were many women in the field, they still weren’t given the same amount of respect as their male counterpart, something that always made Georgia Moon go a little crazy. But if he could steal her away from JW so that she could run his business, he’d do it in a heartbeat. There was no one better than Georgia Moon.

  “He’s old-fashioned.”

  “No. My brother is old-fashioned, but Robert is a misogynistic bastard with an agenda, and I can’t believe for one second he’s happy about his little girl hanging out with the likes of my brother.”

  “I’m not about to argue that, but Robert knows the industry, and he’s one of the best. He can help JW and Whiskey Ranch.”

  “And that’s what I’m afraid of,” Georgia Moon said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “We both know that Robert is ruthless, and Bella is shallow. I wouldn’t be surprised if Robert put his daughter up to slumming it to get something from us. I’m just not sure exactly what Robert really wants, and it scares me that JW is so willing to do business with him.”

  “We all have to do business with Robert. There is no way to avoid that,” he said.

  A slight breeze kicked up, blowing Georgia Moon’s hair across her shoulders.

  He rubbed his forefinger and thumb together, wishing he could rake them through her thick locks.

  “But JW seems to be ignoring his own words of caution when it comes to Robert. He’s bringing him in too close for my comfort.”

  Luke swallowed the bile his thoughts created. “Whether we like it or not, JW is in love with Bella, and if he marries her, Robert will be his father-in-law.”

  “Gross,” Georgia Moon said with a shiver. “I migh
t have to run away if that happens.”

  “Listen. Your brother is one of the smartest people I know, so don’t worry about him. Maybe Bella’s changed. It happens.”

  “I’m shocked your taking their side.”

  “Georgia Moon, there aren’t sides in this.” He yanked his hands from his pockets and rested them on her shoulders. “JW’s focus is razor-sharp, and he’s riding better than I’ve seen him in years, so if anything, she’s good for him.”

  “You didn’t say that when he first told everyone. You were actually more vocal about him making a huge mistake by going to bed with that witch.”

  Luke shrugged, hoping he came across like this wasn’t slowly killing him inside. Lying to Georgia Moon created a crushing pain in the center of his chest. “I don’t like Bella, or her father, but it’s not my place to judge, and if she makes JW happy, who am I to stand in their way.”

  “Well, this was a waste of my time.”

  He arched a brow. “You came all the way out here to have this discussion?”

  “I was hoping you’d be able to talk JW into dumping the little princess, but it’s obvious you’re not going to do that.”

  No. He was just going to ruin JW. He knew it would cost him their friendship, but he was all his sister and new baby had.

  “I will promise you that if I think he’s distracted and she’s affecting his training, I’ll have a stern talking with all of them.”

  “I guess that will have to do,” Georgia Moon said. “Will I see you tonight over at JW’s place?”

  “I’ll be there,” he said.

  The sound of tires rolling across hard dirt and gravel caught his attention. In the distance, he could see a big white fancy pickup truck turn off the main road and down his long windy driveway.

  Robert and Bella Brothers.

  Time to tell them his decision.

  “What the hell are they doing here?” Georgia kicked her leg over the ATV machine and grabbed the handlebars.

  “Robert’s here to pick up Lightning.”

  “Please tell me he overpaid.” Georgia Moon twisted the key and revved the engine.

  Luke chuckled. “I got a fair price, thank you.”

  He stood in the middle of the access road with his hands on his hips, watching the woman of his dreams drive out of his life.

  With a heavy heart he headed toward the main house. Bella and Robert waited for him by the back patio.

  “I need to make a phone call before we have this meeting,” Luke said, not bothering with the normal pleasantries. “You can wait in the kitchen and help yourself to a drink.” Luke raced past Robert and Bella.

  “Son, I wouldn’t fuck with us,” Robert said.

  “I’m not. But I have some business that can’t wait. Ten minutes, tops.” He closed his office doors and let out a long breath. “Hey, Siri, call Annette.” He tossed his phone on his desk and slumped back into his oversized leather chair. Before he sold his soul to the devil, he needed to let his sister know. He owed her that.

  “Hey, Luke,” Annette said. “I take it you’ve made a decision.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m going to do whatever Robert asks.”

  No response.

  “Did you hear me?”

  “Yes,” Annette said softly. “You don’t have to do this for me.”

  “I’m doing it for your baby.” Luke sat behind his desk and stared at the picture of his sister and her family. Everything he’d done in his adult life had been for Annette and her family. He picked up the frame and sighed.

  “I’m so sorry.” Annette’s voice echoed in his ear through his AirPods. “I thought he loved me. I had no idea he would use my true identity to try to take my farm away from me. And if Dad ever finds out where we are, or that I had a baby? Luke, he’d kill us.”

  “Dad is going to be executed in a year, I hope. When that happens, he can’t touch us. We won’t have to live in fear anymore. Now, tell that asshole soon-to-be ex-husband of yours that if he ever comes near you or your son, the money train ends, and I personally will ruin him.”

  “I might not remember much of that time of our lives, but I remember the finger-pointing. I don’t want that to happen with my kid. I’m sorry, Luke. I shouldn’t have told Mark.”

  “What’s done is done.” Luke tried to push the past from his mind, but it became impossible. His father had included him and his sister by occasionally taking them with him when he went on some of his killing sprees. He even brought one of his victims home and had Luke help him clean up, all while giving him tips on how to get away with murder. That had been the straw that broke the camel’s back, and that very night, Luke snuck out and turned his father in. “And, you didn’t want to start your marriage on a lie. I totally supported that. We had no idea what kind of man Mark was.” But Luke should have.

  “What exactly does Robert Brothers want you to do?”

  “Ruin JW.” The acid swirling in Luke’s gut spiraled up to his throat. “In any way I can, but preferably in a way that forces JW to sell everything to Robert.”

  “The man who basically saved your life? That’s who this is about?”

  “The one and only,” Luke muttered.

  “Don’t do it,” Annette said behind sobs. “JW has been a good friend to you. I don’t want to be the reason that gets ruined.”

  “And I don’t want you to end up six feet under. Mark is dangerous; you know that now.”

  “I’m so sorry,” she said through a sob.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got your back.”

  Knock! Knock!

  “One second,” Luke yelled. “I’ve got to go, sis. I’ll talk to you later.” He tapped the screen on his cell and set it down on the desk. He sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Might as well get this over with. “Come in.”

  Robert Brothers pushed open the double wood doors and let his undeniably gorgeous daughter step across the threshold. She might be a total knockout in the looks department, but she had an ugly personality.

  “What’s it going to be, boy?” Robert looped his fingers into his big silver belt buckle.

  Bella planted her butt on the side of his desk and leaned in, showing off her cleavage. “I truly hope you’re going to make the right decision.”

  “Nothing is right about any of this, but I will do what you ask.” Luke held up his finger. “But I want your word that you will make sure that bastard stays away from my sister.” If Annette knew he’d sold his soul to make sure Mark kept his distance, she’d kill Luke with her own two hands.

  “Consider it done.” Robert tapped his knuckles on the wood desk. “I knew I could count on you, but if you try to double-cross me, not only will I take your ranch and leave you penniless, but I will make sure you look like a criminal.”

  Luke swallowed. “Don’t worry. This time next year, JW, his ranch, and his family will be utterly destroyed.” Luke gagged on his own words. He might not be a killer, but signing on to Robert’s plan, Luke wasn’t any better than his father.

  Chapter 1

  A year later…

  Georgia Moon stepped from the kitchen out to the back patio and stared at the sun hovering over the mountain range. When she had decided to make Luke Hannah’s old home a residence for the Whiskey Bull Riding School, she hadn’t planned on moving in permanently, much less making herself comfortable in the master bedroom, which she should have remodeled like the rest of the house.

  However, part of her heart couldn’t let Luke go.

  Not yet anyway.

  Maybe after JW’s wedding.

  Right. Because seeing Luke again would make her love for him go away.

  She blew into the coffee mug and took a hefty sip of the hot, bitter liquid. JW’s wedding was a month away. She had four weeks to mentally prepare herself for Luke Hannah’s return.

  That was if he decided to accept the invitation.

  “Georgia Moon, where are you?” JB called from somewhere in the house.
>
  “Back patio,” she yelled, not bothering to turn around. “There’s a fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen.”

  “You make the best coffee, next to Kitty.” JB slipped outside.

  “Do you have a secret crush on our brother’s bride?” Georgia Moon asked with a teasing tone. Everyone on the ranch loved Kitty. She was a breath of fresh air. While she knew almost nothing about ranching, she was a quick study, but more importantly, she added an element to the educational program for the school that JW had created for all the ranch workers.

  JB laughed. “I’m more interested in the hot little filly she’s got running the summer programs.”

  Georgia Moon punched her brother’s shoulder. “You can bang any one you want, except for the hired help or anyone we do business with.”

  “That narrows the playing field to almost no one.”

  “That’s the point. You and your womanizing ways are going to catch up to you some day.” She loved her brother but wouldn’t fix him up on a date. Not because he was a bad guy, far from it. But he had a horrible habit of breaking girls’ hearts.

  JB narrowed his eyes. “Don’t call me that. Every woman I’ve ever dated I’ve cared about, and I always tell them that I’m not a long-haul kind of guy. So, they know the score before I bring them home.”

  She shook her head. No way would her little brother ever change. “What are you going to do when your wingman falls in love?”

  “JD’s been in love, and it pretty much messed him up in that department.”