Title: All We Have (Thirty-Eight #4)
Author: Len Webster
Release Date: Jan 26, 2016
Synopsis:
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.
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Excerpt:
“Can I get a Guinness?” Rob asked, interrupting them.
Ally knew all too well that the smile on her face had
vanished.
Five words.
Those were the first five words he had said to her since
Friday. Since the night he had kissed her
and walked out on her. Ally turned and looked at him. All serious in his facial
expression and his body language. Her heart had decided that it was a good time
to remind her of the attraction she didn’t want.
Not like it matters.
I’m sure he hates me.
The thought caused her stomach to dip. She couldn’t get over the stupid kiss. The moment he pulled away
and stalked out the front door, he hadn’t said another word to her. Her eyes
fixated on the tight line of his lips. He had no idea how much he had hurt her.
But she refused to let it show. She refused to let him affect her ever again.
“Rob, it would be so lovely to be asked nicely,” Mitch said
with a teasing tone to his voice.
Rob grunted and stared at her, his light blue eyes boring
into hers.
Oh.
There goes my resolve.
Traitor!
“Allison, could I please
get a Guinness?” Rob asked. He appeared pained,
like he was being forced.
Twelve words.
If she hadn’t seen the disgusted, regretful expression on
his face after their kiss, she’d gladly get him a beer from the tap. But the humiliation and rejection stung so deep that
she couldn’t forget it. Ally reached behind her and removed the black apron she
wore.
“I’m actually off the clock. Mitch will get your drink,”
Ally said and dropped her apron on the counter.
“I’ll sign you out. Thanks for today, Ally,” Mitch said.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Mitch.” She bent down and retrieved
her phone and a small bag from the
cupboard under the counter. Then she walked from behind the bar and towards the
entrance, ignoring Rob’s questioning gaze.
She could wait for Stevie and Julian to pick her up, but she
wouldn’t. She couldn’t continue to be in the same room with Rob. It hurt. The
humiliation still lingered, and it made her lightheaded. Ally had never taken
the tram before, and yesterday, she had crossed off number three off her list. Buy a Myki card for public transportation.
She had gone to the newsagent a few streets away and bought herself a card. She
would put her newfound freedom to use.
The moment she stepped out of the pub, she sighed in relief.
The cool air was salvation for her warming face. Ally would have to walk a
short way to the tram stop to get back to the apartment. But as much as she
wanted to take the tram, she didn’t want to go home just yet. She wanted to
walk off the different emotions that bubbled inside her.
“Allison, wait!”
As much as she didn’t want to, she stopped at his command.
Then she turned around to find him waiting outside the pub’s doors. The
conflict in his eyes confused her more.
Fifteen words since
our last kiss.
Look at that, enough
to make a sentence.
“What?” she asked, annoyed at him and infuriated with
herself for submitting to his damn commands.
“I don’t know how these things works. Do I … Do you … Need
someone to …” he trailed off, looking down at his hands and giving up on his
struggle with his sentence.
Twenty-nine words.
Barely a paragraph.
Ally took a deep breath. “Give it up, Rob. This whole ‘you
have to be nice to me’ trick you’ve got going needs to stop. Whatever. I get
it. I’m on that massive regrets list of yours. I would rather you ignore me
than speak to me. It’s so much easier to live with the humiliation. Okay?”
She didn’t give him a second to speak. Instead, she turned
back around and made her way through the car park and towards the street. She
heard the pub doors close, and she knew he wouldn’t follow her. The sickly
feeling of being a man’s biggest regret was new to her. She had only ever known
a man’s interest in her, never his pity. Ally gripped her phone and slung her
bag onto her shoulder as she trekked towards the tram stop. All she wanted to
do was free her hair from its ponytail, remove her bra, and put on some pjs. And more than likely watch Tangled on Netflix until she fell
asleep.
Her sulking was ridiculous. She didn’t want Rob’s affection
when it hurt her so much. He was too closed off and guarded. She thought he
felt the same as she did. That their long distance friendship was something he
wanted, but it hadn’t been. Ally let out a huff and continued walking when a
car drove past her, did a U-turn at the end of the street, and then stopped in
front of her.
“Oh, great. This perve
must think I’m a prostitute,” she muttered. She hugged herself as she walked
past the car and ignored the window winding down. Ally knew how to handle
perverts. The Cross had taught her well.
“Allison, please get in the car. I’ll take you home,” Rob
said behind her.
Her heart warmed at his voice, but her brain caused her feet
to continue to create distance between them, not answering him. She heard the
car door open and close and then he caught up with
her. Ally kept her eyes focused on the footpath as the sound of his car locking
filled the night air.
“Then I’ll walk you home,” Rob mumbled.
That had her stopping immediately. Ally stared out at the
streetlights in the distance. Then she untangled her arms and balled her fists.
“What happens when we get to my apartment? How are you going
to get home if you leave your car here?” she asked, pointing out the stupidity
in his plans. Ally peeked up at him to find him staring at her with a frown on
his face.
“I’ll walk back to my car.” His answer was short and to the
point.
She groaned and mumbled, “Idiot.”
His lips curved into a teasing smile. “I’m sorry, I missed
that. Speak up, Allison.”
Ally took a sharp inhale and turned her body to face him
properly. “I said ‘idiot,’ as in, you’re an idiot if you think I’m going to let
you walk back here alone.” She pivoted on the balls of her feet and then
stalked towards his car. When she reached the passenger side, she yanked on the
handle.
“It’s locked, Allison,” he reminded.
She grumbled as he pulled his keys out of his jeans pocket
and pressed the button to unlock his car. “Thank you. Now, will you please take
me home? You almost spoke enough words tonight to have a conversation with me.
The sooner I’m away from you, the better.”
Author Info:
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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