WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME TODAY'S AUTHOR, BELINDA E EDWARDS, WHO IS SHARING WITH US AN EXCERPT FROM HER NOVEL, 'Designs on WILLIAM' #RWRTeamBlog #ReadWriteRepeat

EXCERPT

The flight had been bumpy, so she was relieved when the plane landed bang on time. Stella didn’t want Will waiting for her too long. Bright overhead lights in the arrival hall cast a glow over the scene in front of her, spiking the excitement she’d felt since she’d booked her ticket.

Despite her shaky legs, everything went smoothly as she came through baggage claim, and when she came to customs, she had a fun chat with a tall customs officer with a twinkle in his eye who wanted to know all about her plans for her trip to Los Angeles. She avoided telling him about working for Will and focused on staying with a family friend.

“Is this friend a girl or a guy?”

“It’s a guy.”

A cough from the man’s supervisor made him blush, but he winked at Stella as he passed her back her passport. Life could be more fun here.

Outside, the warm air hit Stella. It was definitely winter in New York, and she hadn’t realised how much warmer California would be.

Her heart skipped as she frantically searched the faces in the crowd, looking for Will. Her brain whirled with a myriad of questions. Would he have changed? She felt sure she would recognise him with his glasses and mop of hair. No matter how hard she looked, she couldn’t see him. Maybe he’s been held up? I’ll get a drink and call him.

Stella settled down with a coffee to stay awake and tried to call Will. His number went straight to voicemail. Well, if he’s driving, maybe he won’t be able to answer. I guess that means he’s on his way.

Making the most of her wait, she posted on social media to announce her arrival, leaving comments on posts and searching for ideas for local designers and suppliers. She also messaged Jenny, one of her favourite vloggers, to let her know she’d be in Los Angeles for a while.

Two hours and three coffees later, and still no sign of Will. The anticipation she’d arrived with had disappeared, and her confidence was starting to wane. Stella had tried calling him several times, but still, there was no answer. Concern for him sat heavily on her stomach.

Maybe if she just hired a car from the airport, she would be sorted until she flew home. As soon as she entered her age in the online form, the price doubled. She could see the money she’d been saving for her business dripping out of a big hole in the floor. With a sigh, she picked up her bags and made her way over to the shuttle buses.

Stella couldn’t believe just how hot it was on the second bus, considering it was January. The long journey gave her too much time to worry. When another aggressive text bounced in from Jackson Wilde, she blocked his number.

One more bus and a taxi, and finally she stood in front of a large mud-splattered black gate. A tall, dark-haired man with the darkest eyes opened the gate and waited for her to explain that she was looking for Will Thoresby. He watched her suspiciously.

“This is it. I’m Grigori, the works manager.” The man finally smiled at Stella. “Is Mr Thoresby expecting you?”

“Well, yes, I thought he was picking me up from the airport. I hope he isn’t there trying to find me.”

“No, he’s been here all day. If you go through that door and down to the big windows at the end, you should find him.” The warm smile was still there, and Stella picked up on the European accent.

Stella filled her lungs, hoisting her heavy tote bag onto her shoulder, and pulled her case towards the door Grigori had pointed out. The sound of hammers and power tools echoed in the almost empty space.

She left the case just inside the door, making her way tentatively down the corridor and into a large room with just one simple two-seater sofa in it. The rather sad sofa reminded her of the one Will had in London. There was still no sign of William Thoresby.

Stella’s eyes swept the unfinished room, finally settling on the expanse of glass and the breathtaking views of the hills. The whole day had been one of contrasts. She may still be in the States, but it wasn’t just the time zone that had changed.

Eventually, she spotted another worker with his head inside a wall panel. Long jean-clad legs extended out into the room with a pair of enormous feet on the end. She looked away from the stretched tanned torso above the jeans and tried phoning Will again.

A phone buzzed in the pocket of the jeans. The jeans kept working inside the panel. Stella stamped her foot.

“William Thoresby! Is that you? Ignoring my calls!”

“Stella? What the …?”

He scrambled to pull himself out of the panel until his whole body lay on the floor, looking up at her, banging his head in the process.

“What day is it?” A stunned Will rubbed his forehead.

“It’s Tuesday!”

“That’s what I thought, so why are you here? I wasn’t expecting you for two days. Why the change of plans?”

“It’s always been Tuesday, Will.”

“Are you sure?” He stood up, looking at Stella, still with the same confused look on his face.

“Actually, are you sure you are little Stella? I mean, you look a lot bigger. Not taller, I guess, but definitely more rounded.”

His eyes landed on her chest. Stella was annoyed to feel her cheeks heating. She’d come here to work, not flirt with Sarah’s big brother. Nevertheless, she found herself checking out how he’d changed, too. The thick, black-framed glasses were gone, and his body … he was taller and broader, and his hair! It still flopped in his eyes, but there was no doubt it was blond now.

“I guess we’ve both changed.”

Will scratched the back of his head. “Wasn’t I supposed to pick you up at the airport? Shit, Sarah’s going to kill me. Is there any chance you can forget to tell her that bit when you report in?”

“Report in?”

“Come on, Star, my little sister’s going to expect you to report on my life here, isn’t she?”

Star, no one’s called me that since … well, since Will last called me it.

Stella froze, her whole body felt heavy, and that one word triggered something. Whatever had been keeping her going left. William must have noticed the change.

“Are you OK there, little one?”

“I’m just tired. It’s been a long day.”

“Oh, and no one picked you up. I’m sorry.”

Will wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. After a long day travelling from New York, it felt like home. A single tear slipped down her face, which she rubbed away. If Will saw it, she was grateful he didn’t mention it.

With a squeeze, Will pushed her away, stroking the short black hair from her face. “I think this calls for a cup of tea. That will pep you up.”

He walked her into an area that contained a kitchen section. Stella’s eyes swept the room, her brain looking for what still needed doing. It was clearly not finished, and just a few items were focused at one end of the room.

“How do you like your tea? Still two sugars?”

“Milk, no sugar, please, Will.”

“Sit down.”

The only place to sit was three mismatched barstools that stood next to a makeshift breakfast bar. Stella reminded herself that this unit wasn’t finished, and that’s why she was here, to help Will make it look wonderful. The whole place, though vast, was devoid of any character or warmth. The scale of the rooms was staggering compared with the compact spaces she worked on in London or New York.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so quiet. Are you OK?” Her eyes were now back on Will, observing this man who had replaced the boy from her childhood.

“As I said, it’s been a long day.”

“How long did you wait for me?”

“Two hours, then I caught a bus, well, the first bus.”

Will placed a mug of tea in front of her and sat on the stool next to her. Leaning forward on his arms, he studied her again.

“Where are you going after here?”

“Oh, I haven’t really thought about it. It depends on how long it takes us to complete this project. Do you have any idea of time scales?”

“Time scales? For what?”

“Getting this on the market. That’s why I’m here. Sarah said you needed help.”

“Ha.”

“Will?”

“Sarah said you needed a place to stay, something about your old boss.”

“Oh, I see. Well, I guess she’s right, to some extent. I did leave my job.” Stella looked out at the men working outside.

“I’ve been staying at my mum's, doing some bits of interior design in New York, but it’s time to move on.”

“So, you think you’re here to do the interior design on this project?”

“Does that mean you don’t need me?”

The silence that followed her question hung heavy in the room.

Will’s hand rubbed the back of his neck. It was a pose Stella recognised from the past. The weight of Will’s confusion was displayed across his face. When he didn’t speak, she felt compelled to keep talking.

“This is what I do. I understand this isn’t London. I know what’s done out here.” Stella waved an arm at the views out over the rolling landscape and the houses that twinkled on the hillsides.

“Vanessa, my business manager, has been using this designer.”

“This designer,” she looked at Will, “is he someone I’ve heard of?”

Will cleared his throat. “His name is Valentin LaRoche – he’s French. I’m told he is important in L.A.”

“Well, it’s a new name to me.”

“I guess he hasn’t heard of you either,” he smiled. “I do know he seems expensive. Some fittings have been ordered, but I’m not sure the budget can stretch to everything on the list.

“Hmm, so it’s a tight budget.”

“Sadly, yes. But it can’t look like that, quite the opposite, in fact. I’ll be here, for what good I’ll be.” Stella’s heart wanted to melt at the sad look in his eyes, but was this too much for her to take on?

“Why Will? Why is the budget so tight?”

“I had an agreement with the original developer. I would fit the tech package for the show house, and then we would use that to sell the other houses. Somehow, I agreed I would like the show house.”

“And you didn’t want to live here?” Will sighed.

“Oh yes, I did, but in signing the documents to buy that, I undersigned the whole development. And then he just disappeared, and the bank got in touch. I had two choices: take over the entire project or walk away and lose all the money I’d put in.”

Stella covered his hand with hers. Will offered her a half smile.

“Sarah was right. I’m in a mess. I do need help. I’m just not sure if we aren’t both out of our depth here, Star.”

Stella squeezed his hand as that name slipped out again.

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BLURB

He’s not the boy she remembers…

She left her dream job in London with a slap … and retreated to her family in New York. So far from her small-town beginnings.

Catching her boss getting intimate whilst simultaneously discussing her lack of talent, she flashes back to when she was the new assistant. Nursing her pride, interior designer Stella leaves London without a plan for her future, other than never to make the same mistake again.

Until her best friend begs for a favour.

Help her brother, William Thoresby. She remembers him as her friend’s slightly awkward older brother; he’s now the guarded, infuriatingly attractive CEO of a global technology company. He may have grown up, but the awkward boy is still in there.

When a business partner vanishes mid-project, William’s left with ten half-finished luxury homes outside Los Angeles … and no clue how to present them. With all his resources tied up, he could lose his tech business unless he can release some cash soon.

Stella’s excited by the project, but can Will accept that the girl he once knew has what it takes? Or are they both in over their heads, because if they fail, he will lose everything?

They share the half-finished house as they work side by side. The chemistry may be hard to miss, but both are afraid of what people will say back home, not least his sister and her best friend.

It's a recipe of their creative skills and friends who love and encourage them both, contrasting with the lack of funds and jealousy. Throw in viral videos and stupid deadlines, and what chance do they have?

There is no denying the slow burn of a second-chance connection, until money comes into the equation.

A witty, heartfelt billionaire romance perfect for fans of slow-burn, friends-to-lovers tension, and second chances—with plenty of banter, heat, and emotional payoff.

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https://amzn.to/47rmkeI

Author Belinda E Edwards

BIO

Belinda is a Yorkshire based author writing about the stories behind our relationships. Having lived a varied life with a number of different jobs and businesses, she is a natural storyteller who loves to share those stories. There are many more to come.

She writes from the home she shares with her husband and research partner and her pets (and an extensive collection of notebooks and pens).

Her stories explore relationships in all their levels and depths. Her romance is sensual with heat in the moments that matter.

She promises to bring you, strong women, with problems to solve and brave men to join them on their journey, but always a happy ending.

Stay up to date with the behind-the-scenes news and yes, bonus material. Sign up to get this straight to your inbox https://booksbybelinda.com/links/

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COMING SOON: On Monday, 10th November, our beloved team member, author Lorraine Carey, is sharing a chapter of her novel, 'Beloved Sacrifice'.