Free Compulsion: Magnetic Desires by Misti Murphy

kitchen when I closed the bathroom door. It didn’t take long to get ready and I went to wait for my mystery date, leaving the two girls to watch chick flicks.
    ***
    H ow the hell had I let Birdie talk me into this? I was twenty-three years old for fuck’s sake. Old enough to pick my own dates, and definitely old enough that my little sister shouldn’t have had any say in who I dated.
    My hands shoved in my pockets, I scanned both ends of the street. What did this mysterious Bella look like, and would we be able to get along for the evening? I shoved my hand through my hair. Birdie hadn’t given me any details, and I couldn’t rely on Mellie to rescue me if things weren’t going well. At least Mike would have my back, wouldn’t he? Tugging at my tie with a finger, I tried to pull deep breaths through the constriction in my throat.
    A tall brunette made her way toward me, and I stepped forward, taking note of her effortless beauty and doe eyes. She stopped in front of me clutching at a small black bag. "Excuse me, but are you Orion?"
    "You must be Bella." Extending my hand, I ran my gaze over her.
    As far as blind dates went I'd hit the jackpot. She looked amazing sheathed in a silver, strapless dress that flared at her waist and didn't make it to her knees. Black skyscraper heels made her tanned legs go on forever.
    Her hand in mine we walked into the restaurant and approached the maître d’s station. "I have a reservation."
    "Yes sir, name please."
    "Lance."
    The maître d’ scanned his list. "There you are, sir. Right this way."
    Why on earth had Birdie picked this restaurant? The issue wasn’t whether I could afford it. Going into business with Mike had definitely given me a financial edge I hadn’t dreamed of as a teenager, but I preferred to stay away from pretentious places like this when given the choice. If Birdie had chosen it because Bella was the kind of girl who expected to be wined and dined in style, she’d be disappointed in me.
    The waiter showed us to a table, and I held the seat out for Bella before seating myself and perusing the menu, or rather, studying her over the top of it.
    "Would you like to order drinks, sir?" the waiter asked.
    From behind her menu she giggled, and I wondered what had amused her.
    "Can we have a moment?" I glanced up at him, and he nodded stiffly and moved on.
    "I'm sorry, but the snobby accent was too hilarious." Her eyes danced as I held her gaze.
    "It is a little stuffy in here." I grinned. "Do you want to get out of here?"
    "Oh, could we?" The smile she answered with was a dazzling display of straight, white teeth that would make Tinsel Town nervous.
    "Let’s go." Clasping her hand, I led her out of the restaurant.
    "Where should we go now?"
    "There's a waffle house around the corner." She pointed behind her.
    Every word from this girl’s mouth made me like her more. Maybe Birdie had been right to trap me into this date. "Breakfast for dinner? Let's go."
    The night was turning out better than I’d expected. I'd have to remember to thank Birdie, instead of kicking her out of my house.
    Still holding Bella’s hand, we strolled toward our new destination. "So, tell me about yourself."

Chapter Sixteen
    "I ’d been dating Bella for six months, and I’d managed to avoid Clo most of that time. She would call or text me, or I’d run into her in the street, and I’d realize how much I missed her, but I knew there was no point holding on to her. I’d moved on. I’d already had the key cut. I was going to ask Bella to move in with me over dinner that night."
    October 2010
    I waved to the last of the crew as the sun drifted toward the horizon and the overcast sky threatened rain. I’d meant to be home early to get ready to meet Bella, but hadn’t been able to get away. Squatting on the cold concrete slab, I packed up my toolbox, unable to keep the grin off my face. Bella would say yes when I asked her to move in with me tonight. She’d been hinting at it for a