Page 19 of A Submissive's Touch

They saw her eyes light as she smiled. “There are my darling boys,” Helen said, rushing around the girls. The two friends turned to see who entered the room. It was Garrett, a smile on his face that showed his genuine pleasure. Elizabeth realized that Helen was being embraced by another man, who kissed her cheek and then released her, straightening to his full height.

Elizabeth’s entire world tilted. She was unaware of her gasp, which had caused Nancy not only to turn toward her but to quickly grab the glass that was slipping out of her hand.

Nancy saw the color draining from her friend’s face. “Liz, what’s wrong?” Nancy said, as Jason began moving to them. Elizabeth didn’t answer, her eyes glued to the foyer.

“Liz… Elizabeth—look at me,” Jason said, moving in front of her and taking her hands in his.

The contact seemed to free her, and her eyes rose to meet his. “I’m fine,” she managed, her entire body flushing as their host seemed to understand that something was not right with his guests. Benjamin began to walk toward the fireplace, his face showing his concern. “Oh, God,” Elizabeth said, and closed her eyes for a moment. She forced herself to collect her emotions before she embarrassed herself.

“Miss Adams, are you okay?” Benjamin asked, as he reached them.

She nodded and forced a smile. Realizing that Jason was still holding her arms, she could only give a light shrug. “I guess I should have eaten lunch before drinking,” she said. Nancy was looking at her like she was an idiot; the two had eaten lunch together, however, her friend said nothing to contradict Elizabeth for which she was grateful.

“I’m fine, I promise. Please, forgive me,” Elizabeth said. Jason slowly released her, as if uncertain she could stand on her own. Benjamin looked skeptical but finally nodded. However, when Elizabeth attempted to retrieve her glass from Nancy, he plucked it from her.

“Forgive me for insisting,” he said, as he put the glass on a table by the fireplace, “I think you should eat something first, my dear.”

She felt like a fool but nodded. “Yes, sir, I think that’s a good idea,” she said. He nodded in return and left them, returning to his wife’s side to tell her that dinner should be served immediately.

As Helen listened, she looked toward Elizabeth, her own concern on her face. “Certainly,” she said. “I’ll ask Joan to begin service.”

As Benjamin spoke with the two men who had entered, Nancy turned back. “Jason, the man with Garrett, isn’t he the—” Nancy started, only to be interrupted.

“Not now, Nancy,” Jason said sternly. Nancy gaped at him, her eyes flashing.

“What do you mean, not now,” she hissed. “Look at Liz, she turned pale as a ghost and looks like she is going to pass out. And that whole not eating thing? That’s a lie. She ate like a pig at lunch. I want to know why seeing him—”

“Nan–” Elizabeth began.

“Enough,” Jason interrupted both of them as he placed a hand on his wife’s arm. “Nancy, calm down,” he said. She rolled her eyes at him, about to speak again. “I’m not asking,” he warned. “Now, take a breath and let me handle this, before I need to ask directions to the nearest bathroom so I can blister your butt.”

“Jason, that’s not—” Elizabeth started to protest, but when he shot her a look that brooked no nonsense, she clamped her lips shut.

Nancy took a deep breath and nodded, saying, “Yes, Sir.”

Elizabeth wished she could rewind time to before the door had opened. If upsetting her best friends and their prospective clients wasn’t enough, she saw Garrett walking toward them. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm.

Jason kept his arm around his wife’s waist as Garrett approached.

“While we aren’t exactly strangers, I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced. I’m Garrett Foster.”

“Jason Spellman,” Jason said, shaking the man’s hand. “I’ve heard a great deal about you. Both my wife and Elizabeth speak very highly of you.”

“I return the compliment,” Garrett said before turning to the women. “Good evening, Nancy, Miss Adams. Excuse me if I’m intruding, but is everything all right?”

Elizabeth was tremendously embarrassed by being the cause of all this drama. Nancy seemed about to explode, and even Jason was acting a bit strange. She plastered a smile on her face and nodded. “Everything is just fine,” she said. Nancy nodded as well, though she was still sneaking glances at Elizabeth and her husband. Garrett was about to speak again when Helen reappeared and announced that dinner was being served.

When Jason stepped forward, guiding Nancy with his open palm on her lower back, Garrett turned to Elizabeth and smiled. “May I escort you, Miss Adams?” he asked, and she blushed but nodded, placing her arm through his.

Elizabeth tried not to react when she was guided past the other man who was holding a chair out for Helen. Garrett led Elizabeth around the table and released her arm, to pull out her own chair. She sank gratefully into it, not noticing when he slid into the chair beside her. She watched as Helen lifted her hand to pat the cheek of the man who smiled and then straightened.

“Oh, forgive me,” Helen said. “I’ve forgotten my manners. Logan, this is Miss Adams and Mrs. Spellman, the women who helped design the house. Jason and Nancy are newlyweds.” Logan nodded and walked around the table to shake Jason’s hand. “Logan is our son,” Helen continued. “Of course, we consider Garrett our son as well. He and Logan have been friends since they were just little boys.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Spellman, and it’s a pleasure to see you again, Miss Adams,” Logan said, causing Garrett’s eyebrow to rise. “I hope our encounter didn’t keep you from enjoying your celebratory dinner the other night.”

The moment Logan said the words, Elizabeth heard Nancy gasp and understood without asking that she understood Elizabeth’s reaction to his appearance.

Logan Dietrich was the Limo Man.

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