Read Where There's a Will (Whiskey River Book 1) Online

Authors: Katherine Garbera,Eve Gaddy

Tags: #Romance, #Fiction

Where There's a Will (Whiskey River Book 1) (7 page)

BOOK: Where There's a Will (Whiskey River Book 1)
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Xander and Nicholas exchanged a long look. Addison looked over at Ryder and only because she knew him so well could see that he was slightly amused to see these men clearly perplexed by the situation. But also concerned.

“Addison, please hand each man a copy of the will,” Ryder said.

She did as he asked and then sat back down, pulling her laptop toward her to take notes as Ryder spoke. He went over the will line by line. Trey Kelly, the eldest son, ran the Kelly ranch and various businesses but his main interest was in Kelly’s Champs—the World Champion cutting horses he bred and sold.

Wyatt Kelly was currently the CEO of Kelly Boots and had expanded the upscale boot company to a global brand. Addison realized this next part was going to be especially difficult for the Kelly brothers.

“Boots has left all of his property and the businesses to the four of you. He has stipulated that you cannot buy each other out for at least one year. He wanted you to work together as brothers in the business and live together on the ranch. He suggests that Trey and Wyatt keep their roles in each of the existing business ventures but make room for Xander and Nicholas within them. Boots left a letter.”

“This is bullshit,” Wyatt said, turning to his half brothers. “Do you two even know anything about running a business?”

Nicholas and Xander were silent, but Addison sensed there was a private, unspoken communication going on between them. “If we agree to this,” Nicholas said, “Xander is an IT trouble-shooter for businesses around the world. I’m sure he’ll be able to work the business side of things.”

“And you’re a PBR champ,” Trey said. “A pro bull rider. Aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I am. Figured I’ll take the ranch side,” Nicholas said.

Wyatt cursed under his breath and leaned back in his chair. “Damned if this isn’t typical of the old man. Where is his letter?”

“I’ll read it to you,” Ryder said.

Sons,
You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to tell y’all about each other. But Lorna forbade it. It chaffed, but I respected her wishes on this. You know how women can be.
Nicholas and Xander, I’m sorry you grew up without a father. I provided an income to your mother to pay for your schooling but she wouldn’t let me do anything else. I realize that putting you in my will and naming you as my sons after my death isn’t going to make up for all those years but know in my heart I always thought of you as my sons.
Trey and Wyatt—this is damned awkward, boys. You know how much I have loved being your father. I couldn’t be prouder of you both.
I know my will is a big shock to all of my boys but I hope that one day in the future you will see yourselves as brothers.
Love,
Dad

As Ryder finished reading the letter she noticed the men were all standing tensely around the table. Addison wasn’t sure what they were going to do when the door to the conference opened and in strode Paloma Kelly.
Just when we thought it couldn’t get much worse
. Boots’ ex-wife was magnificently dressed in a black pants suit, her black hair sleekly pulled back and a pair of large black sunglasses covered her eyes for a moment before she whipped them off.

“Ryder Ford, what the hell is going on here?”

“Aunt Paloma, I thought you’d decided not to come?” Ryder said, standing up to intercept Paloma.

But Trey beat him to it. “Mom, let’s go outside and talk.” Trey took Paloma’s arm and led her out of the room. Wyatt glanced over at Xander and Nicholas, both of whom were still reading the will. Addison knew that one of the stipulations was that all four men live together on the Kelly ranch for the next year. That way Boots made certain they’d have no choice but to get to know each other.

“Well, hell, what a mess,” Nicholas said. “Where can a guy get a beer in this town?”

“Over at Booze’s Place,” Wyatt said. “I’ll join you.”

“Me too,” Xander said. “Ryder, do we need to do anything else?”

“Not today. I’ll send over some paperwork to be signed saying you agree to the terms of the will. Where should I send it?” Ryder asked.

“The ranch,” Wyatt said. “We are all supposed to live there like some big happy family,” he added sarcastically.

Boots Kelly’s heirs all filed out of the conference room and Addison looked over at Ryder.

“That was some meeting,” she said. “I wonder how this is going to work out.”

“We’ll soon find out. Leave it to my uncle to still be stirring things up after he died.”

Ryder walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind and she closed her eyes for a second as a wave of happiness washed over her.

He hugged her close. “How about an elopement?”

“What?”

“I was thinking that maybe instead of a wedding we could just go to Vegas this weekend and get married,” he said.

“What’s the rush?” she asked. But she was thrilled that he couldn’t wait to make her his wife.

“I can’t wait to start our life together. And another day when you’re not Addison Ford seems too long.”

She looked up into his face, this sexy lawyer that she’d pretended not to notice for too long and knew that she didn’t want to wait any longer than she had to either. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“You’re already in my heart and soul,” she admitted.

He lifted her in his arms, carrying her down the hall past their offices to the storm closet.

“What are you doing?”

“Open the door and I’ll show you,” he said.

She reached down and opened the storm closet door and when Ryder stepped inside and closed the door with his foot, she laughed with the sheer joy of being alive and in love.

The End

The Whisky River Series

If you enjoyed
Where There’s a Will
, you’ll love the other Whisky River stories!

Book 1:
Where There’s a Will
by Eve Gaddy and Katherine Garbera
Book 2:
One Night with the Cowboy
by Eve Gaddy
Coming June 2015
Book 3:
One Night with the Tycoon
by Katherine Garbera
Coming June 2015
Book 4:
One Night with the Bad Boy
by Eve Gaddy
Coming Summer 2015
Book 5:
One Night with the Playboy
by Katherine Garbera
Coming Summer 2015

About the Authors

USA Today bestselling author
Katherine Garbera
is a two-time Maggie winner who has written more than 60 books. A Florida native who grew up to travel the globe, Katherine now makes her home in the Midlands of the UK with her husband, two children and a very spoiled miniature dachshund. For more from Katherine, visit
KatherineGarbera.com
.

Eve Gaddy
is the best-selling award-winning author of more than seventeen novels. Her books have won and been nominated for awards from Romantic Times, Golden Quill, Bookseller’s Best, Holt Medallion, Texas Gold, Daphne Du Maurier and more. She was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Innovative Series romance as well as winning the 2008 Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Series Storyteller of the year. Eve’s books have sold over a million copies worldwide and been published in many foreign countries.

Eve lives in East Texas with her husband of many years. You can find her at her web site,
www.Evegaddy.net
, or
Facebook
or Twitter
@Evegaddy
.

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Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Table of Contents

Dear Reader

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

The Whisky River Series

About the Authors

BOOK: Where There's a Will (Whiskey River Book 1)
9.76Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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