Page 1 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

Chapter One

THE RUMBLE AND roar of Seeley “Doc” Whiskey’s motorcycle was drowned out by the cheering crowd as he and a convoy of the other members of the Dark Knights motorcycle club drove into the parking lot of Hope Valley Hospital. They were on their annual Reindeer Ride, a fundraiser that benefited the hospital. Doc’s grandfather was the original founder of the club, and his father, Tiny Whiskey, had founded the Hope Valley chapter. He and Doc’s mother, Wynnie, a psychologist on their second-chance ranch, were leading the pack on Tiny’s motorcycle, dressed up as Santa and Mrs. Claus, which was fitting since his father was six foot four, with a pendulous belly, long gray hair, and an equally long beard, and his mother, with her blond shag and kind eyes, always had a warm smile at the ready.

Doc waved to the crowd that had gathered to greet them by the front doors, taking in the wide-eyed pediatric patients watching from wheelchairs and the safety of their parents’ arms. Excitement radiated around the kids as they pointed to the decorated motorcycles, festively dressed bikers, and the massive high-sided trailer decked out in holiday colors and overflowing with sacks of presents. Doc’s heart always took a hit at events like these, knowing some of the kids they’d be giving presents to wouldn’t make it to see the holidays.

That was a harsh reality to face on the heels of such an exciting morning for their family. Sasha, one of his two younger sisters, had gotten engaged to Ezra Moore, a single father to five-year-old Gus, a fellow Dark Knight, and a therapist at their ranch.

The convoy circled the lot before parking in the area that had been cordoned off for the club. Doc climbed off his bike and pulled off his helmet, the necklace of colorful lights and bells his youngest sister, Birdie, had made for him jingling with his movements. He pushed a hand through his thick brown hair, watching as the wives, girlfriends, and children of the Dark Knights climbed off the backs of bikes and out of trucks and cars dressed as elves, flocking together as dozens of the toughest and best men Doc knew, wearing Santa hats, colorful shirts beneath black leather cuts, or full-on holiday costumes, headed for the gift trailer.

Doc locked his helmet on the bike and put on a Santa hat, heading over to join them.

His younger brothers, Cowboy and Dare, fell into step beside him, donning their own Santa hats and necklaces. They’d all inherited their father’s height and broad stature, but Cowboy was the largest, with bulbous muscles and sheer breadth few could match, born from working the ranch. With the exception of Birdie, who lived in a neighboring town and co-owned a chocolate shop, they all lived and worked at Redemption Ranch, where they rescued horses and gave troubled souls the therapy and support they needed to find their path in life.

“God, I love making kids smile.” Dare’s dark eyes sparked with excitement. A daredevil to his core, and a hell of a therapist, he had tattoos from his neck to his ankles and wrists and a heart that had only ever loved his childhood best friend and now wife, Billie.

Cowboy arched a wheat-colored brow. “Does that mean you and Billie are going to start a family soon?”

“Lord, help us all,” Doc teased as they joined the other guys and hoisted sacks of presents over their shoulders.

“Don’t worry, Doc. We’re having too much fun practicing to tie ourselves down yet.” Dare eyed their sacks of presents and snickered. “My sack’s bigger than yours.”

“That’s not what she said,” Cowboy said.

“She said mine’s bigger,” Ezra called out as he walked by with Taz and Hyde, two ranch hands dressed as reindeer, who called out in unison, “Mine too!” their laughter trailing behind them.

Doc flashed an arrogant grin to his brothers. “You boys may have big sacks, but I got the massive candy cane that all the ladies want a piece of.”

“Shit. You wish,” Cowboy said as Gus ran up to them, dressed as an adorable elf, his mop of dark hair flopping over his eyes.

“Guys! Did you see me riding in Daddy’s sidecar? Now I’m a biker like you!” Gus spun around and hollered, “Tiny! Wynnie! Did you see me?” and ran toward them.

Doc and his brothers laughed as Ezra chased after him.

“Gotta love that kid,” Cowboy said, his eyes locked on his fiancée, Sully, heading their way with Billie. “I hope we have a dozen exactly like him.”

“You planning on saying I do first?” Doc asked.

“Hell yes,” Cowboy said. “Sully’s been through enough. I told you my girl’s going to live out a picture-perfect fairy tale, and I meant it.” Sully had been kidnapped as a child and brought up in a cult, which she’d managed to escape last year. She’d always been strong. She’d had to be to survive what she’d been through. But with the help of therapy and Cowboy’s love, she’d gone from a willowy and weary girl to a stronger, confident young woman.

Doc clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Well, she’s got Prince Charming to carry her off into the sunset.”

“As opposed to my wife, who’s got a wicked beast who wants to keep her chained up in my love dungeon,” Dare said, and they all laughed.

They were raised to be good, fiercely loyal, protective men, but unlike Doc, Cowboy truly was every bit a Prince Charming and had been his whole life, always trying to do the right thing, and though Dare had gotten lost for a few years, coming together with Billie had healed him, and she adored her wicked beast.

Billie strutted over in black leather shorts and a red-and-white tank top that had Dare’s Naughty Elf across the chest, with Sully trailing behind her in a sweetly sexy festive elf outfit. It wasn’t only Sully who had come a long way. Billie had been every bit the daredevil that Dare was before their other childhood friend, Eddie, was killed during a dare gone wrong. Billie had checked out of the best parts of life, and it had taken Dare years to get her back. Coming together had healed her, too.

Billie tossed her long dark hair over her shoulder and planted a hand on her hip. “What’re you fools laughing at?” She was as brazen as Sully was sweet.

“I was telling them how I’d like to keep you chained to my bed,” Dare said.

“Promises, promises,” Billie said with a hefty dose of sass.

“God, I love my badass bride.” Dare tugged her into a kiss.

“Today is exciting, in a bittersweet kind of way,” Sully said, clutching a drawing pad to her chest, her eyes glittering and her golden-brown hair falling in natural waves just past her shoulders. “My heart breaks for the sick children and their families, but I’m really happy we get to make them smile. I have lots of drawings to give out, and I hope they love the books we sent over.” Sully had found a niche illustrating children’s books, many of which she and Cowboy had donated for the event. “Are you ready, Callahan?”

She was the only person who called Cowboy by his given name, and every time she said it, Cowboy’s serious demeanor softened a tad.