Ryan's Return
Delivery estimate
Please enter a valid 4-digit Australian postcode.
to ·
Delivery estimate
Please enter a valid 4-digit Australian postcode.
to ·
Ryan's Return
Description
Now a ROMANTIC BOOK OF THE YEAR (RUBY) finalist *
A secret billionaire. A sister rescuing her brother's Outback bar. History they can't forget and chemistry they can't deny.
Stranded in the Outback tending her brother's bar after he disappears, Aurora Conroy is battling to keep the business afloat, and her hands off the man who knows her secrets. Her teenage crush has secrets of his own, including why he's back in town.
Billionaire Ryan Harrington knows a lot about success and more about covering his tracks. When the only family he's ever loved needs him, he's prepared to risk discovery. But working as an undercover boss gets complicated when he falls hard for the one woman he swore he'd never touch: his best friend's sister.
*Ryan's Return is a finalist in Romance Writers of Australia's 2021 RUBY awards, novella category.
Excerpt:
Chapter One
"Damn you, Davey. Why aren't you answering your phone?"
Aurora's head pounded. When her brother showed up, she was going to strangle him. This was no way to run a business. Thirsty's Bar & Grill was his business, but still. Her money was in it too.
She called out the office door to the bar, "Any sign of the 1:30 appointment yet, Gwen?"
"Sorry, boss. Do you want me to send them in if they turn up?"
Aurora sighed, then yelled again, wincing. "I guess so. Thanks, Gwen." She reached for the ibuprofen packet, popped two tablets, and swallowed them with a swig from her near-empty water bottle. Dehydration was a constant battle.
The deep-throated roar of a motorbike in the street grated on her last nerve. Why the hell did some people think making a racket like that was necessary? Fuming, she rolled her tight shoulders and stood to stretch her back, then walked to the office window, peeking through the blind's dusty timber slats. The source of the rumble was angling back into the curb-a big matte-black motorbike, its rider also in black, both covered in a fine layer of red Outback dust. Aurora's breath caught in her throat.
Broad shoulders, long limbs, and thick chest. Her personal catnip.
Damn, that's fine.
If she was still in Sydney she might have gone outside and tried a little chatting up. The thought made her smile, momentarily. But in Granite Ridge, the gossip that she'd been flirting it up with a bad boy biker would have done two laps of town and been phoned in to her mother before sunset. Her mum didn't need more stress after the horror year she'd had; she needed a holiday.
The engine noise cut to blessed silence. The man kicked down the stand, stepped off the bike, and turned his back to her window as he removed his gloves and full-face helmet, running a hand through his hair.
A shiver ran up Aurora's spine. She'd known only one person with that shade of hair, so dark it was nearly black, and the way it curled at the base of his neck ... but no. Ryan Harrington left town without a backward glance ten years ago, two weeks after he'd found her sixteen-year-old self naked in his bed. He'd taken that secret with him, thank God. As far as she knew, he hadn't been back.
As if he felt her gaze burning his neck, the man turned and looked straight at her window.
Aurora released the slats and jumped back before she could see his eyes and be certain.
"I brought you a coffee."
Aurora jumped at Gwen's voice behind her.
"Are you okay, love? You look like you've seen a ghost." ...
Shipping & Processing
This item is in stock with our supplier and usually ships within 3–5 business days.
Processing times
- In stock: Items marked “In Stock” are on our shelves. We pick, pack and ship them within 1–2 business days.
- In stock with our supplier: Items not marked “In Stock” are held by one of our Australian or overseas suppliers. We order them in for you and they usually dispatch within 2–5 business days (3–5 for some suppliers). The estimate next to the price is for this item.
- Special orders: Some supplier items, such as specialist and imported items, titles awaiting reprint and print-on-demand titles, take longer to arrive. If your order includes one, we’ll update you as soon as we hear from our supplier.
- Supplier delays: Occasionally a supplier is delayed, or their stock information turns out to be inaccurate. We’ll keep your order open for up to 60 days. If an item hasn’t shipped or isn’t on its way to us by then, we’ll cancel that item and refund it.
How accurate is availability?
Availability is based on the stock levels our suppliers tell us they hold, and we update it regularly. If a supplier issue affects your order, we’ll let you know with an updated estimate.
Delivery
- As soon as your order ships you’ll get an email with tracking.
- Australia Post usually delivers within 2–10 business days of shipping (around 4 in metro areas and around 6 in regional areas).
- If your order has more than one item, we hold the in-stock items until everything is ready, so we can ship your whole order together in one parcel.
- Shipping cost: Free on orders over $100 within Australia, otherwise $9.95 flat rate per order however many items you buy. Free shipping applies to Australian addresses only; delivery to New Zealand is $14.95 per order.
- Check your address: If an order goes to an incorrect address you gave us, or isn’t collected and Australia Post returns it to us, you’ll need to pay the postage to send it again.
Cancellations
Need to change or cancel an order? Contact us as soon as possible at contact@bookloop.com.au or through our contact page.
- Within 30 minutes: You can change or cancel your order for a full refund within 30 minutes of placing it.
- After 30 minutes: Your order is already being processed, so it can no longer be changed or cancelled. If we can accept a late cancellation, we may offer store credit instead of a refund.
- Items in transit: Once an item is on its way, either from our supplier to us or from us to you, it can’t be cancelled. If you no longer want it once it arrives, you can return it as a change of mind, with return postage at your cost. See Returns.
- Separate orders can’t be combined once they’ve been placed, and adding or swapping items can change the delivery estimate.
- Supplier delays: Occasionally a supplier is delayed, or their stock information turns out to be inaccurate. We’ll keep your order open for up to 60 days. If an item hasn’t shipped or isn’t on its way to us by then, we’ll cancel that item and refund it.
Faulty or damaged items are always covered. See Returns.
Returns
Damaged or incorrect items (within 30 days)
If an item arrives damaged or isn’t what you ordered, contact us within 30 days of delivery. We may ask for a photo, and if we need the item back we’ll send a prepaid return label, so it costs you nothing. You’ll receive a replacement or refund, as guaranteed under the Australian Consumer Law.
Change of mind (within 30 days)
We offer a refund or store credit for change of mind within 30 days of purchase when:
- you have your proof of purchase;
- the item is unused and in its original condition and packaging;
- it isn’t a sale item, special order, custom item or gift voucher.
You pay the postage to return change-of-mind items. Change-of-mind returns aren’t available for print-on-demand titles or bulk orders with special pricing.
Returned to sender
If an order is sent to an incorrect address you gave us, or isn’t collected and Australia Post returns it to us, you’ll need to pay the postage to send it again.