Field of Pleasure Read Online Free Page A

to cut to the chase.
    â€œWhat is it about me that you don’t like?” he asked, and even as he said it he realized how arrogant he sounded. As if she had to have a reason for not liking him. Maybe she just didn’t. Reason unnecessary.
    She surprised him when she said, “Nothing.”
    â€œWait, so do you mean there is nothing that you like about me, or there’s nothing you don’t like about me?”
    And now he had confused himself.
    â€œThere’s nothing I don’t like about you,” she answered, that smile becoming a little more genuine. Whythat made him feel so good, he didn’t know, but he liked the fact that he’d put a smile on her face. “I told you earlier not to take it personally. The Saberrettes have a rule against consorting with the ball players. Since I’m working alongside them, I should abide by the same rules they do.”
    â€œYeah, but that no-fraternizing rule is ignored more than the Sabers’ rule on not taking anything from the field house.” Jared held up the roll of Ace bandages he’d snatched from the equipment room to prove his point. “Believe me, there’s definitely some fraternizing going on.”
    Her features softened, her eyes crinkling at the corners as an easy grin pulled at her lips. “Sorry, but I’m a bit of a rule follower.”
    God, that smile of hers was devastating. It stirred things inside him that hadn’t stirred in months.
    â€œWell, it’s the off-season,” Jared said, feeling a little more confident with each second that smile remained on her lips. Maybe his flirting skills weren’t as rusty as he’d first thought. “There’s nothing against some friendly conversation during the off-season, is there?”
    She hesitated for the barest moment, before saying, “That’s…not a good idea.”
    She looked beyond his shoulder and gave a two-finger wave to someone coming up the hallway. A second later, Liani Dixon, one of the few members of the dance squad Jared knew by name, bounded up to them.
    â€œSorry that took so long,” she said to Chyna. Liani looked from him to Chyna, and then back to him. She held out her hand. “I’m Liani,” she greeted. “I don’t think we’ve ever officially met.”
    Jared shook her hand. “No, we haven’t.”
    The only reason he knew her name was because shewas one of those Saberrettes who had ignored the no-fraternizing rule last season when she’d hooked up with Randall the night before one of the Sabers’ away games. Funny thing is his teammate had given up her name only after Jared had pried the information out of him, and Randall had never brought the incident up again. The one time Liani’s name had surfaced in locker-room talk, when one of the rookies mentioned that he’d like to hit that, Randall had nearly taken the guy’s head off.
    â€œI feel bad not knowing more of you by name,” Jared admitted. “I don’t attend many team functions outside of the regular game and practice, so I haven’t had a chance to meet all of the Saberrettes. I appreciate what you all do for the team, though.”
    He looked at Chyna, hoping his compliment would earn him another one of those sexy smiles, but the swift dip in her brow was as far from a smile as you could get. Jared recalled the conversation on fraternizing they’d been engaged in right before Liani joined them, and he understood. “What you all do for the team” had a different connotation when he looked at it that way.
    â€œI meant the cheering,” he clarified, earning a confused look from Liani.
    That’s it. He was done making an ass of himself.
    â€œI think it’s time for me to head home,” he said. “It’s been a rough practice. I need about two hours in my whirlpool.”
    â€œI hear you. We’re on our way out, too,” Liani