The sharpest ache comes from wanting what you think you cant have
Maybe Dolan has lived independent, free-spirited and unattached since leaving home at sixteen. Whiskey Sharp, Seattles sexy vintage-styled barbershop and whiskey bar, gave her a joband a reason to put down roots. Cutting hair by day, losing herself drumming in a punk rock band by night, shes got it goodbut a longtime crush that turns into a hot, edgy night with brooding and bearded Alexsei Petrov makes it a hell of a lot better.
Maybes blunt attitude and carnal smile hooked Alexsei from the start. Protecting people is part of his nature and Maybe is meant to be hiseven if she doesnt know it. Yet. He cant help himself from wanting to protect and care for her.
But Maybes fiery, independent spirit means pushing back when Alexsei goes too far. Still, hes not afraid to do a little pushing of his own to get what he wantsher in his life, and his bed, for good. Maybes more intoxicating than all the liquor on his shelfand hes not afraid to ride the blades edge to bind her to him.
Available from Lauren Dane and HQN Books
The Best Kind of Trouble
Broken Open
Back to You
Coming soon from Lauren Dane and HQN Books
Whiskey Sharp: Jagged
Whiskey Sharp: Torn
Also available from Lauren Dane and Carina Press
Second Chances
Believe
Diablo Lake series
Diablo Lake: Moonstruck
Diablo Lake: Protected
Cascadia Wolves series
Reluctant Mate
Pack Enforcer
Wolves Triad
Wolf Unbound
Alphas Challenge
Bonded Pair
Twice Bitten
de La Vega Cats series
Trinity
Revelation
Beneath the Skin
Goddess with a Blade series
Goddess with a Blade
Blade to the Keep
Blade on the Hunt
At Blades Edge
Cherchez Wolf Pack series
Wolfs Ascension
Sworn to the Wolf
And from Lauren Dane and Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Harlequin
Cake
Whiskey Sharp: Unraveled
Lauren Dane
www.millsandboon.co.uk
WHISKEY SHARP: UNRAVELED
© 2018 Lauren Dane
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a Licensed Device) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk
Version: 2020-03-02
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Praise for New York Times bestselling author Lauren Dane
A romance that is utterly captivating, seductive and full of the kind of raw emotion and sensuality that has made this series such a winner.
RT Book Reviews on Back to You (Top Pick)
Dane continues to evolve, and this strong, widely appealing, and memorable story will gain new readers while satisfying fans.
Booklist on Broken Open
Most remarkable is the fierce power of Danes uniquely confident heroine, whose strength gives this story power... Danes mastery of her characters and their emotional complexity shines, making it a book fans will savor.
RT Book Reviews on Broken Open (4 stars)
The perfect combination of sexy rock-star fantasy and emotionally tender romance.
Kirkus Reviews on The Best Kind of Trouble
A fabulous start to a sexy new series, the Hurley Brothers series introduces us to rock star brothers who would tempt the most resistant of readers. Ms. Danes new book features a charming hero in hot pursuit, a strong, smart heroine and smokin hot love scenes. The Best Kind of Trouble is the best kind of reading.
Dear Author
The Best Kind of Trouble is a great example of what Lauren Dane is known forstrong family ties and confident characters with an extra touch of sexiness for good measure!
Fresh Fiction
A book that leaves you simmering for more from start to finish.
Books of Love on The Best Kind of Trouble
This one is for my father.
The most important thing I wrote in 2016 was my fathers obituary.
His death came suddenly and unexpectedly, and months later, his absence hits me every day in some new way. I write about family and create family a lot because I truly value it. And I value it because my dad was the best. At every major moment in my entire life, he was there. He told everyone about his daughter and whatever thing Id done that he was proud of. He was an excellent grandfather. My kids are so fortunate to have had him as their poppa.
He was old-school. The oldest son of immigrants. Even into his seventies he called people Sir and Maam. He opened doors for people and gave up his seat. When I was eleven, he gave medical aid to a heatstroke victim in the parking lot of the LA County Fair. He was taciturn and could be gruff, but he was an absolute fool for babies and animals. He was my number one fan and my touchstone. When he paid attention to you, you knew he heard everything you said, though he would steal your food if you turned your back, and you never left your iced tea unmonitored if he was around.
He was old-school. The oldest son of immigrants. Even into his seventies he called people Sir and Maam. He opened doors for people and gave up his seat. When I was eleven, he gave medical aid to a heatstroke victim in the parking lot of the LA County Fair. He was taciturn and could be gruff, but he was an absolute fool for babies and animals. He was my number one fan and my touchstone. When he paid attention to you, you knew he heard everything you said, though he would steal your food if you turned your back, and you never left your iced tea unmonitored if he was around.
Sure, he had flaws, like all humans. But the fact that he wasnt my biological father wasnt one of them. He came into my life when I was just four and he was every bit my dad.
Ill miss him every single day, but damn, Im so grateful I had him.
Contents
Cover
Back Cover Text
Booklist
Title Page
Copyright
Praise
Dedication
AUTHOR NOTE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Extract
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
AUTHOR NOTE
THERE IS NO actual Bootleggers Building. I took the history of the area and took a little literary license to create it for Whiskey Sharp to live in. Pioneer Square, the part of downtown Seattle I set the book in, is real though, as is the Underground Tour.
CHAPTER ONE
Two years ago
THE OLD-FASHIONED RED, white and blue barber pole lazily spun inside a glass case just outside the front door to Whiskey Sharp. Jaunty, she thought. A good sign. Classic and simple.
The bell over the door jingled as she opened it and stepped inside, greeted by the scent of sandalwood and mint. Scissors snipped and clippers hummed and it felt very much like a place shed like to stop and stay awhile.
A broad-shouldered gent with a vest and a crisp white button-down shirt came over. Welcome to Whiskey Sharp. You in for a cut?
Im actually looking for Alexsei Petrov.
Broad Shoulders gave her a slow head-to-toe look. Hes just finishing up. Hes booked today, so if you want him to do your cut, we can get you in tomorrow.
I dont need a cut, thanks. I just need a few minutes of his time. Irena Orlova sent me.
Broad Shoulders relaxed at the mention of Mrs. Orlovas name. Okay. Just hang out here for a bit. Ill let him know youre here.
Maybe thanked him and moved to the small waiting area near the windows, taking in the space as she tried not to be nervous.
Whiskey Sharp was all wood and brass. An old-school barbershop area was off to the right with individual chairs and stations. Guys with tattoos and suspenders worked on men from their early twenties into their fifties.
The floor was hardwood. Oak, by the looks of it, well-worn to a shine near the doorways and points that got a lot of traffic.
And in the back, opposite the barbershop space, there was a long bar with stools fronting it. Shed heard the place had just started serving alcohol in the evenings for several hours. Small tables and a few group seating areas dotted the space in deep forest green velvet and cognac tanned leather.
Old-school. And yet very clean and elegant. The kind of place you could hang out in and relax a little.
Somehow, seeing it like that, with all the beauty in the deliberate choices made in decorating and the feel of the workers in the place, her nervousness seemed to ebb.
She could do this. She knew her way around a haircut and shave. She just had to convince Mrs. Orlovas nephew of the same.
* * *
ALEXSEI TOOK HER IN, silhouetted by the pale afternoon light shafting across the generous lines of her face. A silver hoop rode against the juicy curve of her bottom lip.