Read Playing with Temptation for Free Online

something Raina hadn’t had much experience with even with her own mother, who’d always been too weak to stand up for herself, let alone her daughter. At thirty-nine, Jillian was a little over ten years older than the rest of them, had raised two sons who were grown and in college and the military, and now that she was a part of their group, she didn’t hesitate to use her personal resources to help her friends.
    “I’ll be right back.” Cell phone in hand, Jillian left the table and went outside to call her husband.
    Left alone with her four other friends, Raina gave them an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, I know this isn’t what you all were expecting to hear this morning.”
    Stephanie clasped Raina’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Trust me, we’re way more concerned about you and making sure you’re safe. That’s the only thing that matters to us.”
    “Thanks.” Raina was grateful to have such supportive friends. They were all like sisters to her, and the closest thing to family she had.
    Jillian returned a few minutes later, her high heels tapping on the wooden floor of the restaurant as she approached the table. As soon as she arrived, she looked directly at Raina and said, “Dean wants you at his office immediately, so he can talk to you about what happened, get a description of the guy you were with, and assign one of his security agents to look after you until the threat has been taken care of.”
    It all sounded extreme and like overkill to Raina, and she started to second-guess the entire situation, that maybe she was blowing everything out of proportion. “I’m sure I don’t need a bodyguard. Besides, it’s my morning to open up the shop, and I don’t want to be late.”
    “This isn’t a polite request, Raina,” Jillian said, crossing her arms over her chest in an intimidating manner. “It’s an order . Get your ass over to Noble and Associates now , because if I have to call Dean back to tell him you’re making light of a serious situation, he’s going to be pissed off, and you do not want to deal with a pissed-off Dean.”
    Resigned, Raina scooted out her chair and stood. “What is he going to do, turn me over his knee?” she said with sass.
    “No, but he might make Mac or one of his other guys do it for him,” she said, her mouth twitching with a teasing smile. “They’re all overbearing alpha males and like to assert their dominance whenever the opportunity presents itself.”
    At the mention of hot men, Paige popped up from her seat enthusiastically. “Can I go with Raina? I’m suddenly feeling very, very bad.”
    Raina laughed, grateful for her friend’s bit of humor. “No. You need to open up the shop for me because I have no idea how long this is going to take.”
    Paige feigned a pout. “Spoilsport.”
    Raina rolled her eyes. “Aaron is scheduled to come in at noon,” she said of her store manager. “But hopefully I’ll be back before then.”
    “That’s fine,” her friend said, serious now. “I can handle things until he gets there. Besides, I have a few new corsets I want to take to the shop and put on display, so I’ll do it this morning while I’m there.”
    Jillian walked Raina out to her car, then handed her a business card with Dean’s office address and information on it. “Until Dean figures out what’s going on and who’s responsible for the handcuffs and note, please take this seriously. I don’t want anything happening to you, and I feel partially responsible since I’m the one who gave you the invitation to The Players Club.”
    “None of this is your fault,” she assured the other woman.
    “I know, but since my husband’s business is security, I’m going to make sure you’re safe and protected.” Jillian gave her a warm hug. “Now go.”
    Raina got into her car and drove to the address, which was located in downtown San Diego. Dean’s offices were based in a modern glass and chrome building, and she took the elevator up