Hunter Derby: (Show Circuit Series -- Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

she’d seen the Orioles at Camden Yards and another time she’d seen a game at Wrigley. Both those times she had horrible seats. She tried to shake the nagging feeling that she’d chosen the wrong clothes. Morgan hadn’t said anything so maybe it didn’t matter. He’d told her she looked hot.
    “Julia, Bennett, and Nate are meeting us,” Morgan said as they emerged onto the level of all the private boxes. Many of the boxes had gold plated signs with the names of the companies that owned them.
    Zoe wasn’t altogether surprised that they were meeting them. Morgan usually hung out with his pack. He’d been with them the first of the two nights he and Zoe had slept together. In a way, she was relieved it wouldn’t just be her and Morgan. She wouldn’t have to sit through the game alone with him, figuring out what to talk about.
    They arrived at the box with the sign that read Rutherford Wallace, Inc. Morgan pushed open the door revealing a living room with leather couches, several big-screen TVs, and a full kitchen where chefs dressed in uniform stood at the ready. Zoe walked to the back of the room, which opened onto the stadium. The pitcher was warming up as the batter took practice swings on the on-deck circle.
    Zoe looked out over the field, nearly transfixed. The energy in the air felt a little like before a big class.
    Morgan came up behind her and put his arms around her. He nuzzled her neck and she leaned back into him. She couldn’t believe how good it felt to have Morgan Cleary this into her. Why was she so lucky? Why was he even interested in her? He wasn’t just asking her to his apartment so he could have sex with her. This felt like more. They were at a ball game—his friends were all coming.
    “Pretty sweet,” she said.
    “Perks of the job,” he replied.
    At the sound of people entering the box, Morgan let go of her. She missed his arms around her.

 
    CHAPTER FIVE
    “Hey, man,” Morgan called out, walking over to Nate to give him a handshake that was part high-five.
    Nate was a friend of Morgan’s who hung out a lot at the shows but didn’t ride. He had the wrong body type for riding anyway—chubby, bordering on overweight. Zoe wasn’t exactly sure how they had met but Nate was on the fringes of the wealthy, horse show posse now.
    That posse also included Julia and Bennett. Julia was getting her PhD at NYU in comparative biology, whatever that meant. She still had jumpers that she kept with a trainer in New Jersey but she only showed every so often.
    Bennett was her best friend and showed all the time in the jumpers. She didn’t have a job. “I’m taking a break after finishing college,” Zoe had heard her say once.
    They were both pretty and moneyed—a different class altogether than Zoe. They had gone to exclusive private schools and Ivy League colleges, they drove expensive cars, attended Fashion Week, traveled internationally, spoke other languages, and ate at the best restaurants. Their families belonged to country clubs and owned houses in multiple locations, including usually some remote tropical island.
    Zoe fit in with them to an extent, simply because she was an amazing rider. The show world was crazy in the way that your talent could make you somebody even if you’d come from nothing.
    But that was where the similarities in their lives ended. Neither of them would ever have to work a day in their lives if they didn’t want to. Julia would earn her Ph.D., go by Dr., and probably only use her degree as a board member of the Museum of Natural History.
    She and Bennett would either make horse showing their lives, competing on their family money, or they’d ride for a while and then meet some hedge fund guy, get married, have kids, and become a Real Housewife of New York.
    “Zoe, so good to see you.” Bennett leaned close and kissed her cheek. Julia followed up with a kiss too.
    They made her feel welcome, even if it was all for show.
    “Great to see you too,” Zoe