The Tycoon's Kiss by Jane Porter

Author:Jane Porter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Novella
ISBN: 9781940296180
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2016-01-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

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Troy was glad that the uncomfortable ninety-minute dinner with Judge McCorkle at the Graff was over and he was now free to sit at the bar at Grey’s and just relax.

Ninety minutes wasn’t long when you were dining with friends or a beautiful woman, but ninety minutes was endless when you were being solicited for a loan.

Judge Joe McCorkle found himself on the wrong side of a business deal and was in financial trouble. Of course he didn’t want anyone in the community to know he’d made some mistakes with his investments, and that he’d already taken out a second mortgage on his house to sort things out only to have just dug himself deeper into debt. He’d already approached both local banks and Big Sky Credit Union, and all three had turned him down. Judge McCorkle was a risk. He was also nearing retirement. How could he ever pay the loan back?

For that matter, how could he save his house? His wife had no idea that they could soon lose their home, and everything they’d worked for.

Troy had listened to all this over a dinner of steak and whiskey. He paid for the dinner. The judge had no money.

The judge knew Troy had money.

What was a two hundred and fifty thousand dollar loan between friends? Hadn’t Troy gone to school with his daughter Susie? (And no, Troy hadn’t. Brock had.)

Troy hadn’t told the judge yes. But he hadn’t told him no. He had to think about it. Had to figure out where the money would come from, and be realistic about McCorkle’s ability to pay him back.

The judge might not ever be able to pay him back.

This wasn’t the first time Troy was approached by a Marietta individual needing assistance. It wouldn’t be the last.

As Troy entered Grey’s, he spotted a half dozen different people he knew. Callan Carrigan was in the far back, shooting pool, with a couple of Brock’s young hired hands. Dawson O’Dell and a young off duty sheriff were eating burgers at a table on one side, while McKenna and Taylor were having drinks on the other side.

Interesting, seeing McKenna and Taylor together. He knew from last night that they were going dress shopping together but he hadn’t expected to see them.

They were talking, quite seriously, from the looks of things. He hoped they’d had a good evening. McKenna would be a good friend for Taylor. McKenna didn’t bullshit and she wasn’t superficial, and she was the first to stand up for the underdog.

Even more interesting was seeing McKenna head his way now.

“Hey,” McKenna said, coming to the bar counter to greet him.

“Hey, yourself,” he said, sliding off the stool. “Hello, Taylor,” he added, nodding at the librarian who was hanging back, as if to give them space. Troy turned his attention to McKenna. “You okay?”

She tucked a long dark red strand of hair behind her ear. “Sorry about last night.”

“It’s fine.”

“I wanted to talk to you, but it’s… weird.”

“I get it.”

She shook her head, jaw set, frustration evident.

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