Things moved quickly then.
Cops and ambulances made their way closer, and people started shouting. It was a small town, and others came, too, but Dare only had eyes for Kenzie. He had her in his arms in an instant, bringing her in close.
Other members of his family had come, but he couldn’t hear them.
Officers started speaking, and the firefighters took care of the fires quickly. Dare knew there would be questions. Knew there would be cleanup.
But he could only hold Kenzie.
Everything else could wait.
For once.
Chapter 18
“That’s it,” Dare growled into her ear. “Take me.”
Kenzie pushed back, arching into the man she loved as he pumped into her. He knelt behind her, fucking her hard as one hand slid over her clit, the other around her shoulders and neck.
“Show me,” she gasped back. “Show me I’m yours.”
He pounded into her, and she moved for him, meeting him thrust for thrust. When he bit her shoulder, that little growl of his echoing through her body, she came, her inner walls clenching around him.
He shook, filling her up as he came. She could feel the heat of him since they’d finally been able to forego a condom. She felt claimed.
His.
Dare’s.
“Jesus, we need to do that again,” Dare growled into her ear before trailing his lips over her skin. “I knew being bare inside you was going to be amazing, but I’m pretty sure I know why they call it the little death now.”
They fell to their sides as he pulled out of her, and she turned in his arms, needing his touch. “I…I might need a minute before we do that again,” she said with a laugh.
He gave a rough chuckle and pressed his lips to her temple. He couldn’t quit touching her, and she loved it.
“I thought that would be my line.”
She smiled, her eyes closed as she leaned into his touch. “We’ll be ready again. Together. But first? Let’s just cuddle.” She laughed as she said it, and he held her close.
Dare hadn’t been a cuddle guy before the fire, but now, they couldn’t get enough of each other.
When they weren’t working for the past few days, they’d either been talking or making love. She knew once they found their equilibrium they wouldn’t be spending all of their free time—what little they had—in bed, but for now, she’d take all the time she could get with Dare.
“We should probably go downstairs at some point and see how the bar is doing,” Dare said after a moment. He kept trailing his fingers over her skin as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Considering that she couldn’t get enough of him either, she didn’t complain.
“True. Taking the afternoon off was nice, but I want to check in with the front desk and see how things are going.” Since she’d first walked into Whiskey, she’d slowly been working on making the inn run smoother than it had when Barb and Bob ran it. They’d done amazing things, and with Kenzie’s help, they’d been able to add two assistant innkeepers that really ran the place when Kenzie couldn’t be there. The older couple was now able to retire, and Kenzie didn’t have to work herself to the bone if she didn’t want to.
And that was good because in the past three weeks since the fire, she’d been busy with everything else going on. David was still in jail, and she knew he’d be in there for a long time. Arson was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to what her ex had coming to him. She hadn’t heard from her brother in all that time, and while it hurt her a bit that he didn’t care enough to make sure she was okay, she knew it was for the best.
Maybe there would be time to reconcile later, but for now, she’d live her life the way she wanted to and not worry about those who wished her harm.
Her past was finally behind her, and though she felt horrible that her ex had tried to destroy something that was such a part of this town and the family she loved, she didn’t blame herself.
Dare wouldn’t let her.
It had taken almost losing everything important to her to realize that she was finally the Kenzie she was always meant to be.
“What are you thinking about so hard over there?” Dare asked as they were dressing to go downstairs.
“Just everything that’s happened over the past few months.” She met his gaze and saw his glower. “I’m happy, Dare. Things are good. You know?”
He nodded, but she knew he was still pissed off about everything that had happened. He didn’t blame her, but he still told her that sometimes he wanted to kick her ex’s ass again. Since she wanted to, as well, she couldn’t blame him.
Instead of saying anything, he stalked over to her and brought her in for a demanding kiss. “I love you, Kenzie Owens. Fucking love you. Don’t forget that.”
Her toes curled just like they did every time he told her. “I won’t. I love you, too, Dare. Now let’s go downstairs and see what’s going on in your bar. I could use some whiskey.”
Dare grinned. “Yeah, that’s my girl. Whiskey and having you near me? I’m a pretty lucky man.”
She patted his chest before reaching down to slip on her shoes. “And don’t you forget it.”
She’d found her happiness when she hadn’t been looking or actively fighting against it. She had friends, a home to call her own, a job she loved, and a man she would never take for granted.
Her path wasn’t over, far from it. There were still twists and turns coming, she knew that, but she also knew this wasn’t the end. She no longer needed to hide her secrets in order to survive. Her past didn’t hold her down any longer.
Nothing did.
Epilogue
Dare was one lucky man. He’d spent the morning on the phone with his son, talking about what they were going to do next week when they had seven full days together. Then he’d spent the afternoon wrapped around Kenzie. And now, he was hanging out with his family, friends, and the woman he loved in the bar that called to his soul.
Somehow, through all the fuck-ups and mistakes he’d made over the past few years, everything had come full circle.
And hell, he was happy.
He’d just gotten off the phone with Monica before walking back into the bar and couldn’t keep from smiling. The two of them were going to work out a new joint custody agreement because like he’d said all along, Monica was a damn good mother. And now that he could think clearly, he knew he was a damn good father, as well. Figuring out the balance for Nate over the next few months would be tricky, but they were going to make it work. Dare and Monica lived in the same school district and were going to do their best to be open and honest about what was working and what wasn’t. Their lawyers would be involved for paperwork’s sake, but they were going to make things work between them no matter what.
Dare would have his kid in his life more than a few hours a month and he couldn’t be happier.
“You look happy,” his mom said as she walked up to him. “I’m glad to see it.”
He leaned down and hugged her close. “I am happy.”
“Good. Seems to me, hiring that innkeeper was a good idea.”
He rolled his eyes, remembering how much of an asshole he’d been. “You were right.”
“That’s your mother’s favorite thing to hear,” his dad added as he walked up.
Dare just smiled and let them razz him a bit. He deserved it for being such an ass. After they’d finished talking about what they were going to do next weekend with him and Nate, Dare went over to the corner booth where Kenzie, Ainsley, and Jesse were talking and tasting a new whiskey flight Dare had worked up.
“Doing good, ladies?” he asked before dropping a kiss on Kenzie’s temple.
She grinned up at him and saluted with her drink. “Yep. I think this one’s my favorite. It’s the barrel one, right?”
He studied it and nodded. “Yeah, it’s pretty smoky. I like it, too.” He leaned down again and kissed her lips, the taste of whiskey on her tongue making him hard…though that bit was probably just Kenz
ie.
“You guys are disgustingly cute,” Jesse said with a laugh. “I wonder if Rob and I are that cute.”
Jesse had started seeing a new man, an accountant of all things, about a month ago, and Dare couldn’t be happier for her. She was smiling more than she ever had before, and he was glad she was finally healing like he was. It had taken them a while, and he knew they still had a ways to go, but they weren’t the same person they were when Jason died.
And Dare never once ignored her calls. He wasn’t that man anymore.
“Probably cuter,” Kenzie answered.
“Hey,” Dare said, affronted. “I’m right here.”
“Yes, you are. And I love you.”
He just shook his head and leaned against the side of the booth. “Doing okay over there, Ainsley?”
The other woman nodded, a frown on her face as she studied her phone. “Yeah, just trying to catch up on emails while I do this. I think there needs to be more hours in the day.”
“I can’t argue with you there.” Dare frowned and looked around the bar. “I thought Loch would be here?”
Ainsley looked up quickly. “Your parents wanted a night out, so Loch’s home with Misty. I offered to watch her, but he said he was fine.” She shrugged as she said it, but Dare caught something in her tone. He looked over at Kenzie, who shook her head. Maybe there was something going on there, or maybe Dare was just looking too hard into things. He honestly didn’t know anymore.
He turned away from the booth slightly and looked over at the bar, a smile playing on his lips. “Who’s the blonde at the bar with Fox?”
Ainsley looked around him, and Dare ran his hand through Kenzie’s hair, unable to stop touching her. “No clue, but she’s hot.”
“And getting tipsy,” Jesse put in. “Your brother’s pretty tipsy, too, I think.”
Dare frowned. “Should I cut them off?” He shook his head. “I’ll go talk to Rick in a bit and see how much they’ve had.”
“Overprotective,” Ainsley teased.
“Hell yeah, I am. Can’t help it. Oh, that reminds me, Tabby said she was going to call you tomorrow about wedding stuff.” The wedding was coming up soon, and Dare had told his sister that he was bringing Kenzie and Nate along. To say his baby sister was thrilled was an understatement.
“Sounds good to me. I can’t wait to meet her.” Kenzie smiled up at him.
“I can’t wait for you to meet her either.” He leaned down and took her lips in a deep kiss, ignoring the laughs from Ainsley and Jesse.
He’d gone through his life from point to point, barely scraping by emotionally as he tried to find his place in the world, and had almost lost everything more than once. It had taken him finally opening up and thinking about what he wanted for him to take that chance and find exactly what he’d always dreamed of.
A family he grew closer to with each passing year.
A small town that took care of its own.
A son that was the light of his world.
A business that called to him.
And a woman that he wanted in his life until the end of his days.
Kenzie was his future, and damned if he didn’t love the idea of growing old with her. One unveiled secret at a time.
Up Next:
Fox meets Melody in WHISKEY REVEALS
A Note from Carrie Ann
Thank you so much for reading WHISKEY SECRETS. I do hope if you liked this story, that you would please leave a review! Reviews help authors and readers.
I so hope you enjoyed Dare and Kenzie’s story and cannot wait for you to find out more about the other two brothers. I’m loving this world and going back to write about them when I had to put them aside for too long was a true dream.
Next up is Fox and Melody and after that, Loch and Ainsley get their romance! And if you’re new to my books, this series is also part of a bigger world though they are all stand alone, so you have a ton of books to fall in love with!
Don’t miss out on the Montgomery Ink World!
• Montgomery Ink (The Denver Montgomerys)
• Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs (The Colorado Springs Montgomery Cousins)
• Gallagher Brothers (Jake’s Brothers from Ink Enduring)
• Whiskey and Lies (Tabby’s Brothers from Ink Exposed)
If you want to make sure you know what’s coming next from me, you can sign up for my newsletter at www.CarrieAnnRyan.com; follow me on twitter at @CarrieAnnRyan, or like my Facebook page. I also have a Facebook Fan Club where we have trivia, chats, and other goodies. You guys are the reason I get to do what I do and I thank you.
Make sure you’re signed up for my MAILING LIST so you can know when the next releases are available as well as find giveaways and FREE READS.
Happy Reading!
The Whiskey and Lies Series:
A Montgomery Ink Spin Off Series
Book 1: Whiskey Secrets
Book 2: Whiskey Reveals (Coming June 2018)
Book 3: Whiskey Undone (Coming Oct 2018)
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About Carrie Ann
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.
www.CarrieAnnRyan.com
More from Carrie Ann
Montgomery Ink:
Book 0.5: Ink Inspired
Book 0.6: Ink Reunited
Book 1: Delicate Ink
Book 1.5: Forever Ink
Book 2: Tempting Boundaries
Book 3: Harder than Words
Book 4: Written in Ink
Book 4.5: Hidden Ink
Book 5: Ink Enduring
Book 6: Ink Exposed
Book 6.5: Adoring Ink
Book 6.6: Love, Honor, & Ink
Book 7: Inked Expressions
Book 7.3: Dropout
Book 7.5: Executive Ink
Book 8: Inked Memories
Book 8.5: Inked Nights
Book 8.7: Second Chance Ink
Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs
Book 1: Fallen Ink (Coming Apr 2018)
Book 2: Restless Ink (Coming Aug 2018)
The Gallagher Brothers Series:
A Montgomery Ink Spin Off Series
Book 1: Love Restored
Book 2: Passion Restored
Book 3: Hope Restored
The Whiskey and Lies Series:
A Montgomery Ink Spin Off Series
Book 1: Whiskey Secrets
Book 2: Whiskey Reveals (Coming June 2018)
Book 3: Whiskey Undone (Coming Oct 2018)
The Talon Pack:
Book 1: Tattered Loyalties
Book 2: An Alpha’s Choice
Book 3: Mated in Mist
Book 4: Wolf Betrayed
Book 5: Fractured Silence
Book 6: Destiny Disgraced
Book 7: Eternal Mourning (Coming Feb 2018)
Book 8: Strength Enduring (Coming July 2018)
Book 9: Forever Broken (Coming in 2019)
Redwood Pack Series:
Prequel: An Alpha’s Path
Book 1: A Taste for a Mate
Book 2: Trinity Bound
Book 2.5: A Night Away
Book 3: Enforcer’s Redemption
Book 3.5: Blurred Expectations
Book 3.7: Forgiveness
Book 4: Shattered Emotions
Book 5: Hidden Destiny
Book 5.5: A Beta’s Haven<
br />
Book 6: Fighting Fate
Book 6.5: Loving the Omega
Book 6.7: The Hunted Heart
Book 7: Wicked Wolf
The Complete Redwood Pack Box Set (Contains Books 1-7.7)
The Branded Pack Series:
(Written with Alexandra Ivy)
Book 1: Stolen and Forgiven
Book 2: Abandoned and Unseen
Book 3: Buried and Shadowed
Dante’s Circle Series:
Book 1: Dust of My Wings
Book 2: Her Warriors’ Three Wishes
Book 3: An Unlucky Moon
Book 3.5: His Choice
Book 4: Tangled Innocence
Book 5: Fierce Enchantment
Book 6: An Immortal’s Song
Book 7: Prowled Darkness
The Complete Dante’s Circle Series (Contains Books 1-7)
Holiday, Montana Series:
Book 1: Charmed Spirits
Book 2: Santa’s Executive
Book 3: Finding Abigail
Book 4: Her Lucky Love
Book 5: Dreams of Ivory
The Complete Holiday, Montana Box Set (Contains Books 1-5)
Stand Alone Romances:
Finally Found You
Flame and Ink
Ink Ever After
Delicate Ink
From New York Times Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan’s Montgomery Ink series
Delicate Ink
* * *
“If you don’t turn that fucking music down, I’m going to ram this tattoo gun up a place no one on this earth should ever see.”
Austin Montgomery lifted the needle from his client’s arm so he could hold back a rough chuckle. He let his foot slide off the pedal so he could keep his composure. Dear Lord, his sister Maya clearly needed more coffee in her life.
Whiskey Secrets Page 18