Free Magnetic (New Adult Contemporary Romance) by Ayr Bray Page A

return.
    The past month had been agony without her. Never had he been so distracted, thinking of her. His roommates chided him to get over her. There were so ma ny other women to moon over, but he couldn’t. They weren’t Samantha. They weren’t perfection.
    He could tell she was agitated. Upset from her date, nervous that he was there, worried about her father, plus a thousand other things and usually go on in a woma n’s mind that he would never understand.
    “ Samantha, why don’t you come over and sit down?” he gently called to her.
    She stopped what she was doing, set the clothing articles on the top of her dresser, then walked over and sat near him on the couch. They didn ’t touch, but she was there and that was all that mattered.
    “ There isn’t that better?” he asked.
    “ Yeah, the only thing that could make it better is a hot relaxing shower, some comfortable clothes, and a large steaming mug of caramel hot-chocolate. That’s my weakness, you know.”
    “ Good to know. Why don’t you go shower and change and I’ll rummage through your cupboards for the hot-chocolate. By the time you’re finished, I’ll have one steaming cup of caramel hot-chocolate at your disposal.”
    “ That isn’t possible. I don’t have any hot-chocolate, or caramel sauce. I guess I’ll have to settle for the hot shower and comfy clothes.” She offered a sigh of resignation as she leaned her head back against the couch and smiled towards him. Her smile melted his heart.
    “ Oh no, on a day such as this, one must never settle. You take a shower and change while I go to Starbucks and get us some drinks. Sound good?”
    “ Sounds heavenly.”
    “ I’ll be right back.” Darren leaned over and brushed her lips with a light kiss. As the door closed behind him she jumped up and grabbed her yoga pants, and a t-shirt then raced to the shower.
    Samantha was already dressed, in the bathroom combing out her damp hair when she heard a knock at the door. Laying down her hairbrush, she went to the door. She thought it was Darren returned with their drinks. The knock sounded a second time, this time louder. Samantha opened the door, but as soon as she did, she wished she hadn’t.
    There stood Mark.
    Seeing who it was, she slammed the door in his face. Mark was too fast for her though, he blocked the door with his shoe.
    “ Samantha, don’t be that way. Look, I’m just here to apologize.” Mark held up a small bunch of flowers in front of him, offering them to her through the door.
    “ Apology accepted, thank you for stopping by,” she said dismissing him and again trying to close the door, but he continued to block it.
    “ Don’t you want the flowers?” he called.
    “ No, that’s alright if I want flowers I’ll go buy some.”
    “ Whatever Samantha, just take the damn flowers.” His voice was rising, and she could tell he was beginning to get upset again.
    “ Fine, just leave them on the porch, and I’ll pick them up when you leave.” She was still trying to close the door, but it was getting harder to hold as he increasingly put more pressure against it.
    “ No, take them now.” Mark pressed his body against the door; she was helpless to hold it when he put his full weight against it. Her door swung open wide and he stepped into her apartment uninvited. She was terrified, and didn’t know what to do. Her mind screamed at her for being so silly and wishing for caramel hot-chocolate. What was a man as perfect as Darren to do, but rush right out and fulfill her every whim? He was supposed to be there to protect her that was the plan after all.
    Now Mark was standing in her kitchen, all menacing, scaring the hell out of her.
    Samantha reached to receive the flowers, intent on doing whatever it took to convince him that she was sincere and then make him leave. Mark handed them to her and smiled. He was glad she accepted them, that was why he had come after all. She didn’t say a word, just stood there holding the