Field of Pleasure Read Online Free Page B

said.
    â€œCan I give you two a ride somewhere?” he asked.
    Chyna’s eyes went wide with what could only be described as panic. “I…um…I think I forgot my cell phone back at the judging table,” she said to Liani. “You go ahead. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    â€œI don’t mind waiting,” Jared offered.
    â€œBut I’m not going home. I told my mom I’d come over today. Just go on without me,” she said, and took off down the hallway back toward the field house.
    Jared pointed to Chyna’s retreating form and turned to Liani. “Did I do that?” he asked.
    Liani’s grin spread from ear to ear. “I think you did. And all I can say is it’s about time somebody got under her skin.”

Chapter 3
    A s the doors closed at the Dekalb Station subway stop, Chyna inched closer to the back of the car. There would be a mass exodus at the Atlantic Avenue/Long Island Rail Road interchange and she had her eye on one of the seats toward the door. As soon as the train pulled to a stop, she shouldered her way to the back so she could get a seat before an incoming passenger could snatch it up.
    She plopped onto the hard plastic and pulled her iPod from her duffel bag. Stuffing the ear buds in her ears, she skipped to Jennifer Lopez’s “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” and mentally rehearsed the routine she and Liani had put together for next season’s opening preseason game. But before J.Lo could sing a note, Chyna pulled the ear buds out and, with an irritated sigh, stuffed the iPod back into her bag.
    She needed to focus. This freelancing job Liani had helped her land with the Saberrettes was a golden opportunity. It was the first chance she’d been given to makesome real money from her dancing. She needed to keep her head in the game. But concentrating on anything other than a certain unbelievably built football player just wasn’t in the cards at the moment.
    Jared Dawson had flirted with her. Twice.
    Granted, he hadn’t done the best job, but who was she to issue style points when it came to flirting? His very nearness had had her so discombobulated she had a hard time remembering either conversation.
    That excuse she’d lobbed about adhering to the Saberrettes’ rule against players and cheerleaders dating had been the most practical evasion tactic. Even though the rule didn’t technically apply to her, witnessing the ramifications of Liani’s encounter with one of the Sabers last year—her friend still refused to tell Chyna which one—had been enough of a deterrent. Chyna had enough things on her plate these days: school, her commitment to the dance studio where she volunteered, paying the bills, checking in on her folks. She certainly didn’t need to add nursing a broken heart to the list.
    Even if heartache wasn’t the outcome of “engaging in some friendly conversation,” as Jared had put it, Chyna simply didn’t have time to get involved with anyone. Especially now that she was the official independent choreography consultant to the New York Saberrettes.
    Her lips curved in a grin.
    Independent choreography consultant. That had such a cool ring to it.
    Despite the fact that the job was only temporary, and Lord knew the salary wouldn’t have her yacht shopping anytime soon, this freelancing gig officially made her a professional dancer. She was earning money through dance. It was a start.
    History had taught her better than to hang her hopeson ever paying the bills with her love of dance, but that’s why she wore uncomfortable high heels and worked hard every day as an administrative assistant. It was why she’d put herself through college, taking classes online for the past six years.
    It was the reason she would eventually get that junior management position that had just been posted on the job board at the hedge fund where she’d worked since a week after high