The One Read online

  The

  One

  By

  Holly C. Webb

  Dedicated to those who dared to follow their hearts

  I would like to begin by thanking my husband. As always, your continued belief in me, and encouragement me to follow my dreams means the world to me. You are my best friend and the love of my life. Thank you for all your help, patience, your support and your unconditional love. You are my happy place

  I love you xx

  Special thanks once again to Gem Evans. Gem, you are one of life’s true angels. I honestly don’t know what I would do without you. You keep me focused when I am ready to give up. Thank you for all your help and support, (even if it does involve a whip from time to time lol). I am honoured to consider you my friend and my partner in crime. x

  Thank you to Denise Hammock Carmichael and Vera Fowler for all your help, support and love. For helping me make this book the best it could be and for your continued friendship. You girlies are awesome.

  Thank you to Sally Orchard, from Under The Lilac for editing my books so beautifully.

  Big thank you to all the wonderful ladies in Holly’s Luscious Readers. Thank you all so much for your support and for brightening every single day.

  Finally, a big thank you, to you the readers, for taking a chance on me. I hope you love reading this book as much as I loved writing it. This journey would mean nothing without you all

  Love Holly x

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  The One©

  Holly C. Webb has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

  Cover design by Holly C. Webb

  Book design by Holly C. Webb

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For further information, contact the author at [email protected]

  Chapter 1

  Seth

  “SETH!” I could hear Jolie scream at the top of her voice as it echoed around the arrival’s hall of Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport. I turned just in time to catch her before she knocked me off my feet. After two long haul flights and a five-hour stopover in a busy Amsterdam airport, I was struggling to hold myself up as it was, much less my kid sister. “Oh, I have missed you so much.”

  She wrapped her arms around me and held me like she was afraid I was about to disappear again. Since our dad walked out, it was just our mom and us. Mom started drinking after Dad walked out, so really it was just Jolie and me.

  “Missed you too, kiddo,” I said as I hugged her tightly. I had missed her more than I could have thought possible. So many times, I wanted to jump on a plane and come straight home. Especially when Mom hooked up with some douchebag that thought it was okay to slap my sister around when the humour took. When Jared called to say Jolie was in the hospital, I insisted I was coming home. It was Jared’s mom, Sylvie that talked me into staying. She promised she would look after Jolie for me.

  Jared Walker was my best friend since I could ever remember. The truth was, we were more like brothers than just friends. I spent most of my time at his house when I was growing up, more often than not, Jolie would be with me. She came everywhere with me. She was six years younger than I was and all I wanted to do was make her happy. She wanted to go to Washington State once she’d finished her final year of high school. She was starting her senior year in the fall.

  That’s why I had spent the last six months traveling between Australia and Thailand taking photographs for a book series. It wasn’t my normal line of work, but Jolie’s tuition was expensive. I made more than enough to cover the cost of it and enough for a deposit for Jolie and me to get our own place.

  But I had enjoyed myself while I was working. I loved being behind the lens. I was always happiest with a camera in my hand.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked, not happy that she had made the drive from Pullman on her own

  Before she could answer, I heard a familiar voice from behind me.

  “Hey, Loser!” Jared laughed. I turned around to see my best friend standing there. His smile widened as I put Jolie down and hugged him too.

  “Hey, Asshole,” I replied, which was my usual response to the loser remark. I released him from my embrace, slapping him on the back. “Good to see you, Man.”

  “You too,” he said as he picked up one on my bags, slinging it over his shoulder. Jared was shorter than me, with dark hair but still, at five ten, and arms like tree trunks, he was very intimidating. I was three-inches taller and had dirty blond hair, which was now brighter after spending so much time in the sun of Australia and Thailand. I was not quite as built as Jared, but I could hold my own.

  “So,” Jolie said as she linked my arm. I reached down with my other hand, picking up my remaining bag and my camera case. “Did you bring me anything nice from Australia?”

  “And here’s me thinking you drove all this way because you missed me,” I said, faking heartbreak. She immediately smacked my arm as I just laughed.

  When we reached the parking lot, we threw the bags in the back of Jared’s Jeep next to Jolie, then Jared and I jumped into the front of the car. Ten minutes later, we were on the interstate heading for home.

  “So, you bang any Aussie chicks?” Jared asked as we moved freely along the freeway.

  “Dude,” I said looking at him, then nodding back towards Jolie in the back.

  “Relax,” he laughed. “She has her iPod on. So, spill! Did you sow a crop load of your wild oats?”

  “I’m not talking about this,” I said, keeping my eyes on the road ahead of us.

  “Come on, Seth,” Jared sighed. “Please don’t tell me you are still pining for that fucking skank, Ashley. I hoped you would get over her by getting under a few Aussie babes.”

  “No, I am not still pining after Ashley,” I sighed feeling a little irritated at just the mention of her name.

  Ashley Hobart had been my fiancée and the love of my life until about two weeks before I left for my trip. I loved her more than life itself. Well, I did until I found her fucking some asshole from where she worked.

  When the offer of the job in Australia fell into my lap, I jumped at the chance. On the day that we were supposed to get married, I got wasted and went home with some girl, whose name I still can’t remember. She was the first one I had slept with since Ashley. First of many, as it turned out.

  “So, did you meet someone else?” Jared asked, giving me a sideways glance.

  “Yes, I did, and we are happily married and expecting fucking triplets,” I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes. “I told you before, I’m done with relationships. They are for fucking losers. I’m never tying myself to one girl again. I’m gonna be just like my best mate. Th
e walking man whore.” I gave him a thump in the arm.

  “Actually,” Jared said, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. “Not like your best mate anymore. I’ve met someone.”

  “No fucking way,” I laughed, completely stunned by what he’d said.

  For as long as I had known Jared, I have never seen him with the same girl twice. He was a complete whore. He and Ashley hated each other. She said he was disgusting. He said she was a controlling bitch. Jared was more than a little happy when we broke up, though not too thrilled about how that came about. “So has this girl got three tits, or what? Because she must be something special to calm your horny ass down.”

  Jared just laughed, and I could see he was happy. I never thought I would see the day a girl would settle him down. He was always the wild one.

  “So, what’s her name?” I ask, dying to hear about the girl who captured the whore’s heart.

  “Savannah,” he replied as he beamed with happiness. “Sav is what most people call her. Seth, she is perfect. She’s a music teacher, but she sings in Joe’s on Friday nights.”

  “YOU’RE DATING A TEACHER!” I exclaimed, completely shocked by this detail. “Most of the girls you usually fuck can’t even spell their own name.”

  “Well, Sav is different,” Jared replied. “I think she could be the one.”

  “Is he talking about Sav?” Jolie said suddenly from the back seat. Her head appeared moments later between Jared and me. “Oh my God, I love her. Seth, wait till you meet her. She is perfect, and boy can she sing. Sav is taking me shopping this weekend. She has the best taste in clothes, and her friend Callie owns this awesome shop. She gives us great discounts. You will love her too.”

  “Wow,” I said, surprised by Jolie’s excitement too. She never likes anyone, so this Savannah must be something special.

  “Jared!” Jolie suddenly squealed excitedly. “You should introduce Seth to Callie; she would be perfect for him.”

  “No!” I replied firmly. “No fixing me up with anyone. I’m not interested, so you can get that right out of your head.”

  “But Seth, she is so cute,” Jolie said in her best, ‘I’m gonna whine about this till I get my own way’ voice.

  “So are kittens,” I replied. “But they shit all over your house and grow into cats with sharp claws that rip your shit to shreds. I’m not interested.”

  “Fine,” she said giving me the one answer I hated to get from her as she slumps back into her seat. ‘Fine’ is never really fine.

  “Don’t fine me, Jolie,” I replied, turning to her in the car. “I mean it. I’m not interested in any girl. Cute or otherwise, so drop it.”

  She pinned me with a look that made me feel like a piece of shit, but I couldn’t back down.

  “Okay,” she finally sighed, and I knew she had got the message loud and clear.

  We drove for a while in silence. I knew Jolie was sulking, but I needed her to understand that I was not putting myself back out there. It was that simple.

  “Have you heard from Mom,” I asked after giving her enough time to sulk.

  “She called Sylvie and said she was going to Vegas with the douche bag,” she replied keeping her eyes fixed on the window of the car. “I don’t know if she meant for the weekend or for good, not that I care.”

  I watched her in the rearview mirror, as my heart ached when I saw the sadness on my kid sister’s face. I was looking forward to meeting Mr. Douchebag. Jared told me that the night Jolie ended up in the emergency room, Sylvie called the police and they came to the hospital to talk to Jolie. They picked up the douche bag and took him in for booking, but while Sylvie went home to get some things for Jolie, Mom slipped into the hospital and got to her. When Sylvie got back, she found Jolie talking to the officers once again, but this time she was dropping the charges. She wouldn’t tell anyone what Mom had said, but she was adamant she wasn’t changing her mind.

  “I will go by the house tomorrow and pick up our stuff,” I said as I turned back to look at my sister. “Then you and I can go apartment hunting. I promise you that you will never have to go back there again. No one will ever hurt you like that again. I give you my word.”

  Jolie looked at me and gave me a sad smile.

  “Okay,” she said in a whisper before she turned her attention back to the window.

  When we reached Sylvie’s house, she was out on the porch before we were even out of the car. When I got out, she hurried up to me, hugging me tightly. She smelled just like I always remembered, cinnamon and lavender.

  “It’s so good to have you home, Son,” she said as she hugged me harder. “I missed having you around here. I missed you eating me out of house and home.”

  “Missed you too, Sylvie,” I said, and I truly meant it. Sylvie was more like my mom than my own mother was. She always had been. She loved Jolie too. Having three sons, she liked having a girl around to fuss over. “And thanks for taking care of Jolie for me. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  “Was my pleasure, Seth,” she smiled at me. “You know I think of you and Jolie as part of the family anyway.”

  Sylvie Ross ran her own small bakery in Pullman. She started it just after her husband was killed in Iraq, while she was pregnant with Jared, leaving her with two young boys and a third on the way. She never remarried. She never got over losing the love of her life. Instead, she poured all her energy into her business and her three sons.

  “I have lunch ready for you guys,” Sylvie said as she turned and hurried up the steps into the house. Jared pulled both my bags from the back of the Jeep and hurried up the steps too. I pulled my backpack from the front seat, then slipped my arm around Jolie’s shoulder, as we walked side by side into Sylvie’s house.

  “Are you doing okay?” I asked Jolie as we walked into the house. “I mean, after everything?”

  “I guess so,” she sighed and smiled up at me. “I’m better now you’re home.”

  “Well, I am here to stay,” I replied, giving her a tight squeeze. “I spoke to the editor of The Washington News, and they have an opening for a photographer. I’m going in to talk to them next week. So, no more traveling, I promise.”

  “Sounds, awesome,” she said as her smile widened. “I kinda like having you around.”

  “You two better hurry up before Jared eats everything,” Sylvie called from the kitchen.

  We hurried in and grabbed our plates, quickly tucking into Sylvie’s tasty lasagne.

  “I forgot how much I loved your cooking, Sylvie,” I said as I shoveled another spoonful into my mouth. I hadn’t realised just how famished I was either. The food on the plane was its usual disgusting mess.

  “It’s good to have you home, Seth,” Sylvie said with a big grin on her face.

  “Is there anybody home?” A voice cried out from the hallway before I could reply to Sylvie. I looked up from my plate and saw Jared’s face instantly light up. He was on his feet immediately, before he disappeared out into the hallway.

  “Oh, you haven’t met Sav yet,” Sylvie said, as she too was on her feet. I turned to the door and waited to see this wonderful girl everyone was so clearly taken with.

  The moment she stepped through the door, I felt like I had been hit by a wrecking ball. She was simply breath-taking. She was short, but that just made her so much cuter. She had long golden blonde hair, and the most perfect mouth, that curled up into a shy smile.

  However, it was her stunning grey eyes that got me. They were captivating, like windows into her soul. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

  “Sav,” Jared spoke, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I want you to finally meet my best friend, my brother, Seth.”

  “It’s so lovely to finally meet you,” she said as she came toward me and kissed me softly on the cheek. “I have heard so much about you.”

  “Me too,” I replied. “About you I mean. Good to meet you. I can see what everyone is talking…I mean…eh…don’t mind me. I�
��m normally able to speak in full sentences, but I’m so wrecked from the flight.”

  What the fuck is wrong with you? I thought to myself.

  “It’s good to meet you,” I said once again with a smile. “I promise, after I have had some sleep, I will seem more normal.”

  She laughed as her eyes lit up as they met mine. I felt like she was looking deep inside me and I knew I was in trouble. This was so not me, but the attraction I felt to this girl was instant, and it took my breath away.

  She is Jared’s girl, I reminded myself as I abruptly pulled my eyes from hers. I needed to snap the fuck out of whatever the hell was going on in my mind.

  “Jared,” Sylvie said as we all retook our seats at the table. “Get Sav a plate, she must be famished.”

  Jared jumped up instantly, as Sav took a seat directly across from me. As she sat down, she glanced up, giving me a nervous smile.

  My God, she was simply stunning.

  “How was your flight, Seth?” She asked, my name rolling off her tongue like I had never heard it said before.

  Jesus, Seth, pull it together! I groaned in my head. I stared at her for a moment, almost forgetting she’d asked me a question.

  “Long,” I replied quickly, feeling my face burning with embarrassment. I had no clue what was wrong with me, but suddenly I felt like I needed to make my excuses and leave.

  “I bet,” Sav replied, looking almost as uncomfortable as I was feeling right at that moment.

  “Actually, you know, I am feeling pretty wiped,” I said as I turned to Sylvie. “Would you mind if I crashed upstairs for a bit?”

  “Sure, I prepared Danny’s old room for you,” Sylvie said with a smile. “I thought you might want to stay here with Jolie, until you sort somewhere for you both, not that there’s any rush. I knew you wouldn’t want to go back to…”

  She didn’t finish the sentence. I had been staying in Mom’s since I walked out on Ashley but going back there was definitely not an option.