by Len Webster
Say You Love Me by Jessie Ware
Pieces by Jessie Ware
Tattoo by Hilary Duff
Listen on Spotify
Book four in the Thirty-Eight series.
Sydney. The ‘it’ capital of Australia.
Yet, Allison O’Connor wants nothing more than to escape from its grasps. The infamous Kings Cross bores her. And in order to stay clear of the lifestyle that slowly chokes her, she decides it’s times to finally become an adult and move to Melbourne. It also means going after the one man that she can’t quite forget. But in doing so, Ally soon discovers that moving to Melbourne could spark the biggest fight she’s ever faced: The fight for Robert Moors’ reluctant heart.
Robert Moors has one thing on his mind: making the Australian National Rowing Team and with that, The Olympic Team. All he’s done is train and ensure no distractions get in the way of achieving his dream. However, Fate has other plans. And her name, Allison O’Connor. The young socialite’s all sorts of trouble that Rob and his image doesn’t need. But staying away from her is a lot harder than he’s ever imagined. She’s everything he never knew he needed. And she’s everything that could obliterate his career and his chance at The Olympics.
They both have choices to make.
But with all choices comes consequences. And some consequences will destroy everything they worked hard to create and call theirs.
COMING SOON
JANUARY, 2016
Read on for an excerpt of Rob and Ally’s upcoming novel.
Seven months ago
“What if she marries him, Rob? What do I do then? How do I—”
“Stop,” Robert Moors interrupted as he glared at his nervous best friend. “Noel, seriously. You gotta stop. Clara won’t marry him.”
Noel had sighed before he glanced up at the main table. His eyes trained on Clara Lawrence. The beautiful, young brunette Noel had fallen in love with almost a year ago. “I don’t want to go back to Boston without her. I don’t even want a life without her. He can give her everything. I can’t even give her security or reassurance. I can’t buy her a future.”
Rob picked up his beer and paused. “See,” he said and took a long pull of the cold beverage.
“See what?”
“You can’t buy her a future.”
His best friend raised his brow sceptically at him. “I said that.”
“Sure, the bastard is a millionaire, but he can’t buy Clara’s happiness or her future. No amount of money will ever make her happy. You know that. She said it herself. Liam can’t give her everything. He’s not you. He’ll never be you. She loves you. Shit, she went behind her brother’s back to fall in love with you. Soul mates. That’s what you are. All that love crap my old man goes on about is you and Clara. You gotta be patient with her.”
“I know.” Noel stared at the cutlery in front of him as the chatter of the practice dinner continued around them. “But every day that she hasn’t left him tears at my hope for us. Rob, I don’t want anyone but her. I don’t think I could look at another woman. Clara’s ruined me. I took it. I wanted it. I wanted her… Hell, I need her.”
Rob set a hand on Noel’s shoulder. “I know, mate. I know. She’ll leave him.”
“I hope it’s soon,” Noel uttered and forced his lips to spread into a smile.
The sounds of a chair scraping against the wooden floors had Rob tilting his head to see one of his other best friends, Alex Lawrence, taking the seat in front of them and muttered, “This is fucking bullshit!”
“You ‘right there?” Rob asked.
Alex shook his head and then quickly cringed. Since his car accident several months back, Alex had been getting headaches and a stiff neck. “What do you think?” Then he pointed at Noel. “And what the hell are you doing? If you’re trying to win my sister back, then you’re doing a shithouse job. If you missed the notice, this is her rehearsal dinner, Noel.”
“You don’t think I’ve tried, Alex?” Noel growled.
Rob sat back in his chair, prepared to play peacekeeper between his two best friends. “Let’s not make a scene, boys. The girl you both love will not be happy.” From the corner of his eye, he noticed Max Sheridan about to pass their table. Quickly, Rob grasped Max by the arm to stop him. “You, sit. Might need your help with these two.”
Max glanced at Noel and Alex. “Only if you promise the next round of drinks at PJ’s is your shout.”
“Fine.”
“Boys,” Max announced and took the seat to Rob’s left. “Let’s not get one of us arrested tonight. I don’t feel like calling in any favours.”
“No one’s getting arrested,” Alex assured. “We just gotta work out this mess.”
“No kidding,” Max said.
When Rob felt the tension had somewhat lightened within their group of friends, he exhaled heavily and folded his arms over his chest. The discussion of how to stop Clara’s wedding continued around him. His friends would hush when people walked past them only to pick up their conversation seconds later.
“I don’t want to be like him,” Rob heard someone say to his right.
“Allison, we are not discussing this right now,” a man with an Irish accent said strongly.
“He got to move here. Why can’t I?” the girl from before asked.
“Because the company needs you to continue to do this.”
The unknown girl let out a huff. “What? Whore myself around? I can’t do this anymore.”
Rob’s interest in the conversation piqued, tuning out his friends and focusing on the soft voice of the girl.
“You are not whoring yourself around, Allison. Don’t be ridiculous!”
“It feels like it. I feel like one. Let me go to school. Let me do something that doesn’t involve the company. Please, Dad,” she begged.
“Allison, I’m not going to discuss this with you. Not here and definitely not now. Your brother doesn’t need this from you. Now, you sit with him and don’t mention any of this to him. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, loud and clear.” The girl conceded defeat, and Rob was disappointed for her and in her. In her voice, he heard her fight. The fire. But it wasn’t quite there.
Curious, Rob craned his neck to see a young woman hugging herself. Her long, ash-blonde hair was curled and past her shoulders, resting on her pale, blue dress. She was tall but still shorter than he was. Her skin was on the creamier side of tan. He could only see the side of her face, her hair like a veil. Rob squinted, hoping to see more of her. Then she turned her face, scanning the room. The moment her hazel eyes discovered his, Rob clenched his fists. His heart didn’t burst or became frantic like in the movies. It slowed. Like it told him to be aware of this woman, of her stare, and of this moment. His breathing was just the same. Shallow and uneven. She held his gaze. The softness in the colour of her eyes was beautiful. Her lips were plump and her cheekbones defined. She was beautiful. Not in the way he had expected. She was beautiful in the way that it seemed as if she didn’t know that she was.
Allison.
That was what her father had called her. Allison was stunning. Allison was reserved. Allison had a fire in her that needed to burn. And Rob found himself intrigued by the way she looked at him. Her lips tugged slightly upwards before she tore away their shared gazes and passed him.
“That’s Ally,” Max whispered next to him. “That’s the enemy’s little sister. I met her at Clara’s dinner last week. She’s hot, right?”
Enemy… fuck.
Rob shifted his focus to Max and glared at him. “She’s like twelve.”
A smirk plastered Max’s face. “You wish she was.”
“Ally O’Connor spotted exiting club with a new man.”
“Sydney socialite and millionaire rumoured to be on party binge.”
“Sydney’s party princess high at exclusive event.”
“Ally O’Connor is a whore and here’s why…”
Allison O’Connor continued to swipe at the countless online articles abou
t herself on her iPhone. Report after report. Lie after lie. Her reputation—all but in tatters or none at all. It had reached the point of suffocation. She hated it. Pictures and videos of her all over the internet. Some parents would be disappointed, embarrassed really. But for Ally, her parents encouraged her promiscuous façade. It was all for the family business. O’Connor Investments. The moment she took her first breaths, her life had already been chosen. She was an O’Connor. An heiress from conception and a socialite the moment she had turned sixteen. All the things she had been entitled to her father had once said.
But Ally didn’t want any of it. She didn’t want the inheritance or the social title. Her brother had grown up just the same. However, Liam managed to sneak away; he had taken up a deal with their father. And that was the first thing you were taught as a child: An O’Connor never backs out of a deal. Unfortunately for Ally, her father had refused every freedom proposition she had thrown his way. It seemed her party lifestyle was too much of an asset. Truth be told, she was a whore. Of course, minus the sex. Her father and the company had abused her image to benefit rewards: investment opportunities.
“You’re frowning,” Clara Lawrence, her soon-to-be-sister-in-law, stated.
Ally tucked her phone into her clutch and smiled. “Oh, you know, Dustin messaged me.” Dustin Fletcher was Australia’s latest hot actor. Home and Away’s latest eye candy. Sure, she had thought he was an absolute god in the looks department, but personality wise, the guy couldn’t hold a conversation with a brick wall. However, Dustin seemed so average and forgettable the moment Ally had locked eyes with one of the rehearsal dinner guests. His light blue eyes captured her attention. Held it tightly under his questioning gaze. Remarkable, that was the impression he had left. Absolutely remarkable.
“You’re a liar. I know that’s just for the magazines. You can’t stand Dustin, Ally.”
“I can’t get anything past you.”
Clara shook her head. “Nope. You seriously need to stand up to your father.”
“I’ve tired.” She sighed. “But he isn’t having any of it. My obscene public image is worth more than my brother’s investment know-how. There’s no escape. I’m stuck being O’Connor Investments’ public slut.”
“Stop that!” Clara scolded as she brushed her curly brunette hair over her shoulder. “You’re far from that. Last time I checked you’re a…”
Ally groaned. “A virgin, Clara?”
She nodded.
“Which just makes the whole persona a total lie. And what’s worse is that none of the men I’ve been rumoured to have had anything sexual with has even touched me. So, it makes being a whore even more fitting. I’m a pretend whore.”
“Sweetheart,” Liam, Ally’s older brother, interrupted.
Clara turned around and smiled at her fiancé. But Ally saw right past it. It wasn’t quite complete. Not as loving as it should be. Her brother’s fiancée was also a pretender. For selfish reasons, Ally had hopes that Clara would marry Liam—she’d never had a sister before. But ever since Clara had tried on wedding dresses, Ally knew she had loved someone else. She had overheard Stevie and Clara talking about someone named Noel.
“Dessert’s being served,” Liam said.
“Okay. We’re going to talk about this in detail, Ally. We’re going to make a plan,” Clara promised.
Ally gave a shrug. “Sure, sure. Let’s get me some alcohol and cake, shall we?”
“Alcohol?” Liam raised his brow. For the past year, she’d refused alcohol and there had been a reason. She’d been telling her family it was to detox, but that was also a lie. It was a better reason than the truth. There was no point in worrying them; her feelings came second to the concerns of the family company.
“Detox is over. Plus we’re celebrating! So lead the way,” Ally urged as she tried to push the guilt that had recoiled to settle back into the pit of her stomach.
I’m a liar and a pretender.
Frankly, there’s a special place in hell for someone like me.
COMING SOON.
JANUARY, 2016.
Read other books by Len Webster
What You Left Behind took me a long time to write. It took almost a year and half, maybe closer to the two year mark. Instead of writing it, I published and wrote books before it. But I’m glad it took me as long as it did. I became a better author and it gave me the chance to rewrite the novel. It gave me the chance to give Stevie and Julian a deserving book. Most of my readers had fallen in love with Julian before they even met him. They had put it together that Stevie and Julian were meant to be. Truth be told, I had planned on never writing their story.
Why? Well, because I hadn’t planned on becoming an author, that my author career would end after I had finished Noel and Clara’s books. It was just something I added. Little did I know how much my readers wanted this book. Begged, pleaded, and sent me messages needing What You Left Behind. If you were one of those readers, thank you. Your love and want helped write this book. My life went through so many emotional ups and downs while I wrote this book. And I’m so glad Stevie and Julian were with me through it. They have been one of my favourite couples I have written to date. Because they were real to me. Their story was as real as it comes. There was nothing grand in what they did except for fall in love with each other. Right, I’ve lost track of my acknowledgements… this always happens. So here goes…
Thank you to my family. Mum, Dad, Dennis, Leslie and Emily. Thank you for supporting me and for understanding my need of supplies (chips, soft drinks and chocolate) when I write and for bringing it to me. I have been absolutely blessed with such an amazing family.
Leslie, here is your acknowledgement. And no, you are not my favourite. You’re one of three of my favourites. xo
Jaycee Ford and Alex Rosa, I’d be lost without you both. You’ve both talked me off the ledge countless of times. The first half of this year was so rough but you were both there, making sure I didn’t do something ridiculous. I love you both. I am a better person and author with you both in my life.
Danielle Woodside, you are always there for me when I need you. You’ve been mon soleil rayonnant throughout my career. Thank you for being my friend and confidant. Thank you for loving me the way you do.
Najla Qamber, for always making the covers always so beautiful. You bring so much justice to my covers that I have no idea how to thank you enough <3
Jenny Sims, I dedicated this book to you because you were there for me when I lost my direction as an author. I lost my drive and you came to my rescue. No words could ever really express how much I am grateful to you. Thank you for editing this book. Thank you for pointing out that Julian and Stevie made you laugh. Thank you for everything you do.
Between the Sheets PR, you ladies have been absolutely wonderful in promoting What We’ll Leave Behind and now What You Left Behind. Thank you for squeezing these books in and for hosting their releases.
Emily and her talented team at, E.M. Tippetts Book Designs, you always make the interior beautiful. Thank you for being there when I need you. For making all my books and journal as beautiful as they are.
Kristen Gehrman, my French translator. Thank you for agreeing to translate the French parts of this book. I have learnt so much from you. I have loved working with you and can’t wait to work with you again. Merci beaucoup!
Erin Spencer, for ALWAYS being more than I deserve. Thank you for your friendship and for believing in me. For thinking of me and for all that your amazing blog has done for me. Cannot wait to see you again. Love you!
Big thank yous to Tash Drake from Book Lit Love for being my donut bestie. Thank you for being there whether it be to talk to or to promote my books. You are what this industry needs. Your sweet heart and loving nature. Stay true to you, Tash. <3
Also, to the lovely authors I have met and am so honoured to be able to be in the same industry in, Penny Rudge, M.R. Field, Carmen Jenner, Lauren McKellar, Jennifer Ryder (who will fight men to get me a taxi
), Rachel Brookes, Simone Nicole, Tina Gephart and Natasha Preston <3
To the countless blogs that have supported me and my books. Thank you. I am nothing without my bloggers and their love. Special thank yous to some of my favourite bloggers out there, Southern Belle Book Blog, Book Lit Love, Glass Paper Ink Book Blog and Love Between the Sheets <3
Jaymes Young, your music inspires me and spoke of my characters inner demons and struggles. Thank you for all the music that you write. ‘I’ll be good’ will always be Stevie’s song.
My readers. My lovely, devoted and loyal readers. I always say that I am nothing without you but it is so true. I love you all. You’ve all been so patient and waited forever for Stevie and Julian’s books. Thank you for being the best readers an author can have.
To my Lenatics and The OhmyJulian Fan Club, you are all remarkable. Thank you for your support in not only me and my books but also my characters. Love you all ridiculously. And special mentions to Carine and Fanny for all their help with the prequel and the novel!
It took a long time but finally we got there.
I hope I got it right.
Love,
Len
PS. Never say never. More Julian could be just around the corner ;)
Len Webster is a romance-loving Melburnian with dreams of finding her version of ‘The One.’ But until that moment happens, she writes. Having just graduated with her BBusCom from Monash University, Len is now busy writing her next romance about how a boy met a girl, and how they fell completely and hopelessly in love.
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What You Left Behind
Copyright © 2015 Len Webster