Free Temptation to Submit by Jennifer Leeland Page B

was Reena’s hands that fascinated Tori. Something about the strength in them, the way they gracefully took charge of a telephone receiver or a memo, made Tori’s stomach flop. There was power in the woman’s gaze, and she exuded authority without being bossy or strident.
    None of that seemed to work on Gina. “I’m not on the clock. You can wait until I get back.”
    That was rude by anyone’s standard, Mistress, boss, or human being. Tori stared at Gina, so she missed the moment that Reena, the always cool never flustered Reena Barrett, lost her mind.
    Reena gripped Gina’s arm and yanked her toward the front door. “I said now. If you want to be angry with me, fine. But this is about Nell, so I thought you might want to know.” As suddenly as she’d grabbed Gina, she dropped her hold. “Really, though, I suppose whatever bullshit you resent me for is far more important than your friendship with Nell. Pardon me all over the place.”
    Tori stared at Reena. In the years she’d known the woman, Reena had been cool, collected, and serenely untouchable. Tori knew the relationship between Reena and Gina was fraught with conflict, and not just because their names paired together seemed to be part of a bad limerick.
    As Gina lowered her voice and listened, Tori stayed out of earshot. If this was something she was supposed to know, Gina would tell her. The two women spoke in low tones, and suddenly, Gina raised her voice. “I don’t believe you.”
    Without another word, Gina stormed out of the restaurant. Before Reena could give chase, Tori stepped in front of her. “Leave it alone, Reena.”
    The woman turned that stony stare directly at Tori.
    She couldn’t help it. She dropped her gaze to the floor.
    “You know what I am,” Reena snapped.
    “Yes.” Tori almost added Mistress , but it seemed to be unspoken, hanging in the air between them.
    For a moment, Tori thought Reena was going to verbally blast her. Instead, after a tense moment, the woman sighed. “Nell is going to need a friend, Tori. Can you do that?”
    “I already do. Why?” She asked the question but kept her attention on the floor, so when Reena gripped her chin and made her look up, she was startled.
    “Because I think shit is going to hit the fan. Soon.” Reena dropped her hand and strode out the door.
    Tori blinked and headed for her car.
    She was back from lunch late, and even with everything that happened at Rita’s, she anticipated another spanking from Finch. As she hurried through the lobby of the office building, she cursed herself for not keeping track of the time.
    Riding up the elevator, she thought about Nell. Her friend was clearly happy with her boss, Mark Conners. But the warning Reena had given her and Gina’s reaction to whatever the woman had told her seemed to mean something bad was going to happen.
    Tori checked the wall clock as she practically sprinted to her desk. Only three minutes late. Three wasn’t so bad.
    But Finch didn’t seem to want to spank her for the infraction. His face was tight, bleak, as if he’d been severely disappointed.
    She stopped short and stared at him. “What’s wrong?”
    “Come in here.”
    Mystified, Tori followed him into his office. He wasn’t stern like he often was when he disciplined her for her lateness. He was cool and professional.
    “What do you know about Pete Dawson?” Finch’s voice was cold.
    “The reporter from the L.A. Times? Not much. Reena contacts him for publicity and interviews. Why?” Bewildered, Tori tried to figure out what Finch’s expression meant.
    “I have meetings this afternoon. Hold my calls.” Without another word, the man picked up his briefcase and walked past her.
    What the fuck was going on?
    She went down the hall to Nell’s office. Somehow, this had to be about why Nell was going to need a friend. Tori was sure of it. As Tori came down the hall, she heard a door slam and the door to the stairwell open and close. As she rounded the