Pretty Smart Girls: Lace Up Synopsis:

Team RyanRyan Rose and her fellow Spartans are finalists in a high-profile entrepreneurial competition. They're competing for life-changing money and for their futures. They have a solid plan to win. All they need to do is trounce the competition: rich frat boys from an archrival university. Easy, right?Team Jett

The limo circles the exit ramp and my shoulder presses into his arm. I return the clearly interested smile he’s blazing down at me. I would never sit this close to someone who is a virtual stranger...even a virtually perfect stranger, but I remind myself: I’m Rose, the escort service girl, not Ryan Rose, MSU senior graduating at the top of her class in approximately eight weeks. For fifteen more minutes, I will set the slut free and bask in my alter ego. Too bad I’ve sworn off dating frat boys. Forever.

I wonder how he’s going to take the news that I’ve been sitting next to him, carrying on a charade at his expense. My knuckles fold into tight fists and I bring them to rest against my mouth. I ignore the first tendrils of regret forming in my stomach. “Do you know anything about the team you’ll be competing against?” I ask, steering the conversation in a direction that will naturally lead to our reveal.

“Some guys from Michigan State.”

Guys? He must have read our gender-neutral names and mistaken us for guys. Laughable. Of course, it wouldn’t occur to him that the other winning team could possibly be composed of women. I let him ramble on.

“Farm kids from a state college...shouldn’t be too hard to crush them. You know, we’ll be respectful and let them down easy.”

Seriously? Is he trying to impress me, or is he really this cocky?

“Michigan State’s not known for producing genius material,” he says, looking out the window. Jade, Devi, and I exchange eyebrow-raised glances. In a voice laced with casual arrogance, he continues his endearing tribute. “Everyone knows the only thing Michigan State has on U of M is beautiful women.”

“Beautiful, easy women,” Ben says, and I see the corner of Jett’s mouth rise.

Devi and Jade turn to me with stunned expressions. Of all the things they could have said, this is the worst. I have just spent the last three months of my life clearing the web of derogatory, self-centered, trophy-like treatment Phil had spun around me. Heat floods up my neck. With Samurai-like discipline, I melt my strained features into a smile worthy of an auto-show model and reply. “You forgot to say dumb.”

“Sounds like you’ve met them then,” Jett responds, laughing.

“Oh yes, I’ve met them.” I narrow my eyes until my gaze appears wicked and hold his expression just long enough to see a flash of discomfort disrupt his more-perfect-than- perfect features. Asshole. Any remorse that was starting to seep into my mind has been washed away by the tidal wave of stupidity he’s barfed all over us.

Shae Ross Bio:

Shae Ross was born and grew up in Ferndale, Michigan. After graduating high school, Ms. Ross attended Michigan State University and continued her education at Detroit College of Law. Prior to 2014, she spent the majority of her career practicing corporate law, running a successful business and engaged in entrepreneurial ventures.

After having one too many stressful days at the office, Ms. Ross began to consider pursuing her lifelong dream of writing.

 Armed with an English degree, an interest in historical settings and a huge collection of romance novels, Ms. Ross put pen to paper and began converting the characters in her head to ink. She soon found herself happily immersed in a new working world that included heroes and heroines, agents and editors, and a multitude of secondary characters.

 Ms. Ross’ debut novel, PRETTY SMART GIRLS: LACE UP was acquired by Entangled Publishing and is expected to release January of 2015. She currently writes in the new adult and historical romance genres and lives with her husband and three children in Michigan.

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