The Proposition 4: The Ferro Family Read online

  Suddenly, I’m out of my seat and making a beeline toward Mystery Man. He’s concentrating on his drawing and doesn’t look up. I’m so nervous, I want to die. What if he shoots me down? What if he just laughs? I don’t think I could bear that. Stop thinking! Just say it. Just say it. Don’t wait for him to look up. Don’t wait for him to have a chance to say anything. Just spit it out.

  As soon as I’m by his table, I say, “Listen, I’m not looking for a relationship and you look a little bit lonely over here. Maybe we could go someplace and fix that?” My voice is confident. It flows like warm honey and I’m so proud that I actually manage a sexy smile and slip into the booth opposite him.

  When he looks up, I literally choke. “It’s you!” Before I can recover, I sputter some ungodly sound and gape at him.

  “Hey, Bathroom Girl.” The corners of his lips twitch like he’s trying not to laugh at my shock. Those sapphire eyes seem amused. He taps his pencil on the table and looks me over. “So, is that what you were doing in the men’s room this morning? The school really frowns on soliciting. Although when they put up the signs, I doubt they had that kind in mind.”

  My jaw hits the table, and I’m still frozen in place. Holy fuck, he’s hot and that teasing tone doesn’t help. My mind is screaming at me to run, but I can’t move. Something about the moment has the gentle sway of headlights and I’m sitting like a deer, waiting to be struck between the eyes.

  Pull it together, Carrie. I shake off my shock and stand to leave, but he reaches out and takes my wrist. I glance down at him, waiting to see what he’s going to say.

  “I didn’t say no. I’m just glad that I don’t have a hooker stalking me.”

  Pressing my hand to my chest, I say sweetly, “How flattering, but no, thanks.” Tearing my wrist from his grip, I turn to storm away, but he jumps up from his booth and follows me.

  “Wait a second. Don’t be like that. I was just kidding. Really.” I stop and turn back to face him. Mistake. Those eyes are so blue and so sincere that I can’t blow him off. A nervous tick appears in the corner of his mouth, making it twitch. “Can I show you something?”

  “I’ve already seen it, thanks.”

  He laughs once, loudly, and takes my hand, pulling me back to his table. “You’ve got a sharp tongue when it’s not tangled. Seriously, Hot Girl, come here, I want to show you what I was sketching.” He stops in front of the table and picks up the pad, flipping backwards through the pages.

  I glance side to side and see Beth waving at me from across the room. It’s such a dorky thing to do, but it makes me laugh. I swat at her and turn back to see what this guy is doing. “My friend thought the whole artsy thing was a ploy to pick up girls. We actually made a bet.”

  He looks intrigued. “Really? What were the terms?”

  “If she wins, and you’re a loser with an empty sketch pad, she gets cake.”

  “You bet that I wasn’t a fake?” I smile and slide my eyes more to the side, nodding. “Interesting. So what do you get if you win?”

  My face feels hot, but I say it anyway. “You.” Tonight, I’m not me. Tonight, I’m confidant, sexual, and everything that I’m totally lacking in real life.

  Smiling shyly, he looks down and hands me the pad before sitting in the booth. “I’m afraid your friend lost her cake.”

  The smile slips off my lips as I see what he’s drawn.

  It’s me.

  THE ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION FOR

  THE PROPOSITION

  I never told anyone about Bryan Ferro. Years have passed and on the night of my father’s death I find myself lost in the past. It allows me an escape from the reality that threatens to destroy me. I remember Bryan's dark hair, bright eyes, and cocky grin. Most of all, however, I remember his beautiful body, the way his hands moved over me, and the sinful things he did to my body. The words come out, pouring onto the pages in an unending wave. In an attempt at catharsis, I upload my story online, letting it sink to the bottom of a massive number of other stories and try to get on with my life. I hit rock bottom, loosing my family home and moving in with my boyfriend.

  Then, everything changes. My story goes viral and I find myself being offered more money than I ever thought possible. But one person stands between me and the money—Bryan. He does the unthinkable and blackmails me. If I don't agree to sleep with him, he'll expose my secrets and ruin everything.

  MORE FERRO FAMILY BOOKS

  THE WEDDING CONTRACT

  Coming Spring 2014

  *****

  BRYAN FERRO

  ~THE PROPOSITION~

  *****

  SEAN FERRO

  ~THE ARRANGEMENT~

  ******

  PETER FERRO GRANZ

  ~DAMAGED~

  ******

  JONATHAN FERRO

  ~STRIPPED~

  MORE ROMANCE BOOKS BY

  H.M. WARD

  DAMAGED

  DAMAGED 2

  STRIPPED

  SCANDALOUS

  SCANDALOUS 2

  SECRETS

  THE SECRET LIFE OF

  TRYSTAN SCOTT

  And more.

  To see a full book list, please visit:

  www.SexyAwesomeBooks.com/books.htm

  CAN’T WAIT FOR H.M WARD’S NEXT STEAMY BOOK?

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  THE PROPOSITION VOL. 4

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