Love's Dance Read Free Page B

shoot. Everyone was gone. Except for the security guard, of course. Jaina nodded to him as she passed.
    There were three cars in the "car park". Jaina silently giggled at the term. Her battered red Honda was one of them, and the other two were the guard's truck, and a sleek, silver car that Jaina took a moment to drool over.
    She hefted her case and set it on the roof of the car so she could fit the key in the door. it was still strange to her that she was getting in on the right side.
    She put the makeup supplies on the back seat, then climbed in. She put the key in the ignition and turned it.
    The engine whirred and died.
    She tried again.
    Jaina groaned and threw the car door open. She stood for a moment by the car, feeling quite a bit helpless. She could go to the guard for help, maybe...
    Growling, she kicked the door shut. "I don't need this, you stupid piece of crap!"
    "Was that directed at the car or me?"
    For the second time that day, she jumped. Whirling around, she stared at Colin, feeling vaguely like kicking him, too.
    "The car," she snapped. Then she wearily passed a hand over her face. "Sorry. It just... hasn't been a good year."
    "That bad, huh?"
    "Well, that was a bit of an exaggeration." She glared at the car. "But not by much."
    Colin idly tossed and caught his keys. The second time he did it, though, he missed and the keys hit the ground with a clank. He bent and picked them up. "You need a lift?" he asked.
    "I, uh... I wouldn't be able to get to work in the morning," she said, stalling.
    A voice in her head was telling her to refuse, not to get close to him. Everyone had said that he was "that way", and that could only lead to more heartache for her. After Jack, she didn't want to risk going through it again.
    "I could pick you up in the morning," he offered.
    Jaina hesitated. Dang, why did he have to be so attractive? If only he'd grow his hair a little longer- "Uh... Sure, why not?"
    He smiled, and her heart plummeted to her toes. Hate him, the voice in her head said. Let him drive you home, but hate him.
    She retrieved her makeup and followed him to his car, but she wasn't sure she could obey the voice.
    She let out a sudden laugh. She was upset because she wasn't listening to the voice in her head?
    Colin looked at her curiously. "Something amuse you?"
    "It's nothing. Never mind."
    This was going to be one heck of a season.
     

Chapter Three
     
     
    "Thanks again for the ride," she said, leaning one arm against the roof of the car, sticking her head in the open window. She held her makeup bag in one arm, her purse over her shoulder, and the paper bag from their quick stop at a fast food place in her other hand.
    "No problem. I'll pick you up tomorrow, then?" Colin asked.
    She nodded, feeling very Alice. "'Night."
    Jaina stood on the sidewalk for several moments after he drove away. Slowly shaking her head, she turned and walked into the house.
    Jason and Teniel were in the living room when she entered. The first thing Jason asked was, "Did you get a ride? Where's your car?"
    "My car is currently stalled in the studio parking lot. Yes, I got a ride. It was fortunate he was still there, though I'm really not sure why he was there, since I was pretty much the last to leave," she said. "I couldn't resist wandering through the set, and then when I went to leave, my car wouldn't start."
    Teniel was looking at her with interest. "You're babbling. Who was it that gave you a ride home?"
    "A guy," Jaina said. "I said 'he'."
    "What guy?" Jason was instantly on guard.
    His sister rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't worry about this guy, Jase. There's not chance. He's, well... Colin Pierce."
    Sudden understand filled Teniel's grey eyes. "Ah. Right."
    "What?" Jason asked, feeling very much in the dark.
    Jaina pivoted on one foot and went upstairs. Behind her, she could hear Jason exclaim, "He's what ?!"
    Sleep didn't come easily.
     
    ♥♥♥
     
    The next morning, Jaina forced herself out of bed at quarter to six,