Stripped (The Ferro Family) by H.M. Ward
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 2, 2013
Buy Links:
Amazon ♥ B & N
Book Description:
The V Card. Virgin. Most of us want to punch that sucker ASAP, and hide the fact until then, but not Cassie Hale.
Three years ago she frickin' covered hers in glitter and laminated the thing, proudly telling me that she's waiting for the perfect guy.
So when I see her half naked, tangled together, rolling around on the floor with another stripper, I'm kind of shocked. Okay, that's an understatement.
I'm enthralled. I have to know what cracked her picture perfect world and landed her here, and I hope it's something horrible-an event that broke her the way she broke me. Because, that's who Cassie Hale is--the woman who stole my heart and crushed it in her hand.
JONATHAN
I weave through the crowd. There are already some strippers posing as wait staff. A woman with a tray and way too much make-up on her face brushes my side and turns toward me.
“Champagne?” Her cleavage is up to her neck and the thin white shirt she’s wearing does nothing to hide the black bra underneath. Fuck, she’s hot. I almost stop and flirt with her—almost—but I keep walking, because I’m not a total dick. This was supposed to be for Pete. I need to fix this before he gets here.
Sean falls in step beside me. “Tell me that I didn’t see Scott at the bar?” Sean hates anyone who wasn’t born with the name Ferro.
“Fuck off, Sean. He’s my friend.”
“He’s using you.” Sean’s jaw is locked tight as he scans the crowd. “You’re too naïve.”
“You’re an asshole.” I’m not defending my friendship with Trystan or with anyone else. Sean acts like he knows everything, and he might be right most of the time, but he’s wrong about Trystan. “The guy has his own millions. He doesn’t need mine.”
“He’s unstable.”
“You’re unstable.” I flick my eyes over to him.
Sean smirks. “Possibly.”
“I can’t chat about your mental health right now. I need to find the guy before all these girls rip their clothes off. Where’s Pete?”
Sean laughs and points across the room. “He just got here.”
“Fuck.” I take off through the crowd, cutting through the guys, shoving some aside.
When I push through the kitchen doors, I see him. “Bruce! My man—change of plans.”
Bruce is a huge guy and doesn’t look pleased to see me. There are half dressed girls everywhere, slipping into their tear off waitressing outfits. Damn, this would have been so cool. Bruce has his thigh-thick arms folded over his chest. He glares at me.
“No refunds.”
“I’m not asking for one.” I stand in front of the guy and feel like a toothpick, even though I’m not. Reaching into my pocket, I feel around for a hundred dollar bill. “I need them to keep their clothes on.”
He gives me a weird look. “They’re not supposed to be waitresses, Mr. Ferro. They’re strippers and are expecting the tips that accompany the occupation.”
Okay, I grab a fist full of bills and slip them into his hand. Bruce takes it and sees how much I’ve given him. I ask, “Maybe they could be waitresses for a couple of hours and then head out?”
“Maybe, but this isn’t going to help the girls you hired for the private room. They’re expecting tips, and if you cancel them out, they’ll have left the club for nothing. You have to make good over there.” The guy’s voice is dangerously deep.
“Done. I’ll go take care of it.” I reach out and shake his hand.
As I turn to leave he clears his throat. “And if you’d like this kept quiet…”
I reach into my pocket and slap more cash into his fist. Bastard. The large man grins. “My lips are sealed, Mr. Ferro. A suggestion?” he asks, and I nod as my gaze cuts across the room to the clock. “Keep at least one girl in that private room for your guests. This is a party that people talk about. You don’t want them to think you’re a pussy. You’ve got a reputation that people know about. They expect a little something extra at one of your parties.”
“And you know this because…?”
“Because I’ve got ears, Mr. Ferro. Every man here is wondering what your big surprise will be this evening. You need to keep something for them, don’t you?”
I don’t answer him, because I know he’s right. “Fine, I’ll go speak to them. You keep the girls out here clothed.”
Bruce laughs and leans back in his chair. “Done.”
When I get back to the private room, I push through the doors without really paying attention until I hear a voice—that voice. It’s like being hit in the face with a wall of cold water. Whatever thought I had in my head is gone.
Wide eyed, I look up and scan the room. Two women are tangled together on the floor, fighting. Well, no they’re not fighting, not really. I’m not sure what they’re doing, and they have no idea I’m watching.
My heart pounds harder as her voice fills my head and I try to see her face. My body responds the way it used to—that hollow spot in the center of my chest aches, along with my cock. I stare in disbelief, watching two strippers wrestling on the floor, and stand in shock because one of them is Cassie Hale.
Author Bio:
H.M. Ward is the #1 bestselling New Adult author in the world, having sold over 2 million books in 2013. This New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon #1 bestselling writer's series include: The Ferro Family: Damaged, The Arrangement, and Stripped; as well as Scandalous, Trystan Scott, and Secrets. Ward was recently featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.
Giveaway:(1) Kindle Fire Prize Pak: The winner will get: A Kindle Fire, Plus 32 of H.M. Ward's hottest ebooks including: Stripped, NYT Bestseller Damaged 1 & 2, NYT Bestseller Scandalous 1 & 2, NYT Bestselling Series Arrangement Vol 1-9, Secrets 1-5, The Secret Life of Trystan Scott 1-5, and Christmas Kisses. Demon Kissed 1-5, Bane 1 & 2 (Value $270US)
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