Breaking the Routine

by Taylor Lowe

  The day went along surprisingly smoothly; in fact she didn’t speak or even see David hardly at all. When it was time for lunch Sam couldn’t believe how normal things had seemed to return. Maybe in the end, things wouldn’t be so bad she thought getting up and grabbing her purse. With a smile on her face she walked out of the office building that fell when she saw David was leaning against her car.

  “What are you doing?” Sam asked with her hand on her hips and a frown on her lips.

  “Waiting for you Linda,” he replied and she looked at him confused. He just called her Linda?

  “My name isn’t Linda,” she told him pointedly.

  “I know but yesterday I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between you and Linda Blair,” he told her with a chuckle. Sam’s face tinted red from embarrassment and anger.

  “Funny,” she shot back getting in her car and wanted to scream when he got in the passenger seat. “What do you think you are doing,” she demanded and he smiled at her.

  “Going to lunch, or do you prefer to go someone where,” he asked and Sam looked at him confused. What the hell did that mean exactly? She asked mutely. She took a deep breath in attempt to calm herself.

  “Don’t you have your own car,” she shot back.

  “Not yet, it will be here by Friday besides why use two cars to go to the same place. Carpooling is good for the environment you know,” he replied back his smile growing.

  “Are you sure you want to be seen at the diner with someone comparable to Linda Blair or could go off in bitch crazy again? Might not be a good way to start your stay in town,” she told him trying desperately to get him to leave her car.

  “I doubt it, from the way people kept looking at you today, I am willing to bet you don’t go off in bitch crazy very often,” he said with a teasing tone. “Besides it wasn’t that bad anyways. I have met some women that act like that on a daily basis,” he added but that didn’t make her feel any better. “You know if we keep arguing about this, we won’t have any time to actually eat lunch,” David stated. She huffed but didn’t say anything as she started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.

  She didn’t say anything either as they arrived but just silently got out of the car and walked towards the diner. Once more David rushed to get to the door and open it for her and Sam clenched her jaw tightly as Dottie smiled brightly at them clearly misinterpreting the gesture. She could feel the patrons watch her sit down in her booth and whisper as David sat down in front of her. “What are you doing?” She asked for the second time that afternoon and he gave her an impish look of confusion. “Why are you sitting here, at my booth,” Sam demanded.

  “You’re booth, I don’t see your name on it,” he teased and she wanted to scream at him. “Now Samantha you’re going to make me think you don’t like my company,” he teased again and Sam almost said she didn’t like his company but that would be rude and hurtful to say, even if it was true, and her father raised her better than that.

  “Don’t call me Samantha,” she snapped.

  “So you prefer Wildcat,” he asked with an evil smile and Sam glared at him with anger.

  “Be quiet, someone might hear you,” she hissed and David kept his evil smile on his face.

  “People call me Sam, just Sam. Only my father calls me Samantha,” she told him grabbing the menu violently. Once more Dottie walked up to them with a large smile on her face.

  “So what can I get you two today,” she asked excitedly which cause Sam’s insides to lurch. Sam ordered the first thing that caught her eye with a frown. Once Dottie had taken down their orders the older woman began waving herself as if she was really hot behind David’s back and gave Sam two thumbs up.

  A few people started chuckling, especially the mayor’s wife and the town’s biggest gossip. Sam gasped covering her flaming face and David simply gave her a smile that made Sam suspect even though he didn’t see what had happened he had a pretty good idea. She wondered if he knew everyone was thinking there was something going on between them and if he knew why he wasn’t putting a stop to it! Was this all part of some game of his?

  It only got worse as the week continued and David always had some reason to carpool with her to the dinner. Sam was almost sure that dinner even had more people come to lunch just to watch David open the dinner door for her, and sit in front of her! When the weekend came, Sam only left the house once to do her grocery shopping and even in the supermarket she noticed people giving her sly smiles then whispering noisily behind her back.

  Unfortunately for Sam, the weekend flew by and before she knew it, it was Monday again. She smiled weakly to Mrs. Simpson and gave her the usual "Good morning" greeting as she entered to office building. She set her purse down and started preparing for the day. Her father called to her office and she quickly gathered all the documents that needed his attention like she did every morning. “Good morning Mr. Peters,” she started but her father held up his hand as he spoke on the telephone.

  “Take all of the documents to David; he will be over seeing the office for today, while I meet with a potential client,” he explained after he had hung up the phone. Sam felt the familiar pit in her stomach swallow her. No, no, no, there is no way she could work with him the whole day, she thought desperately and tried to think of anything that could get her out of working with that man. Her father raised his eyebrow seeing she hadn’t moved.

  “Yes sir,” she said with a small sigh feeling defeated in that she couldn’t think of anything that would be acceptable for her father. She left the office and towards the smaller office to her left as a condemned man would towards the noose. She knocked on the door softly, hoping he wouldn’t hear it but cringed when she heard him tell her to enter. How in the hell was she supposed to be able to do this, she thought as she opened the door. She held up her head determined to professional but felt herself deflate as she saw that evil glint in his eyes and the playful smile on his face.

  “Good morning Sam,” he said with amusement dripping from his voice. Even though she kept a friendly and profession expression on her face, Sam was grumpily complaining inwardly. She stood before his desk and offered him the papers that she would normally offer to her father but David shook his head and patted a chair next to his.

  “Sit here, I really don’t want to work with you standing there,” David said with a sly smirk of his face and she felt the urge to slap that smirk off of his face but she reminded herself that she wasn’t a violent person. Violence never solved anything, she told herself.

  “I am quiet fine here thank you,” she replied determined to not let whatever this sick twisted game he was playing get to her and offered him the papers again but he refused. Damn irritating man, she thought heatedly.

  “I am not fine with you standing there so please sit,” he said as his smile turned pure evil. “Or should I tell Mr. Peters you’re refusing to work with me?” David added with a questioning tone. Maybe violence does solve some things, she thought with a frown. She supposed jail wouldn’t be so bad. She would have free room and board, they had a gym, and she was sure they had their own library too but the best would never have to deal with David Andrews again!

  She let out a breath quickly through her teeth as she moved to sit in the chair. She cursed herself as she felt her pulse quicken by his closeness. It had been a week and her body still went crazy whenever she got near him.

  Sam handed the papers to him and he placed his hand over hers catching her by surprise, she managed to keep from gasping from the shock. Her hand started to grow warm quickly at his touch and tried to pull hers away from his but he held hers tightly. She looked at him, knowing her surprise showed on her face and he gave a large grin that made her want to melt into a puddle on the floor. Sam gave herself a mental slap, and looked at him with an icy glare and he slowly let her hand go the grin still on his face. This is going to be impossible she thought grumpily.

  How was she going to be professional when he obviously wasn’t goin
g to be? She lifted her chin once more determined to come out being the better person in this cramped office. She began to explain with seriousness and professionalism the details of the documents she just handed to him.

  “I am sorry but where did you say was the last quarterly sum at for the Brown Account,” he asked interrupting her. Sam clenched her jaw with irritation and explained where he could find the information. “I am just not seeing it,” he said with a confused look on his face. She growled inwardly leaning forward and pointing to the paper.

  “It’s right here,” she hissed with irritation.

  “Ah now I see it, thank you,” he said with amusement dripping from his voice and Sam realized that she was leaning against him. She snapped back into her chair feeling a blush rise to her cheeks. Her anger started to rise realizing he knew exactly what he was doing to her. Sam took a few deep breaths trying to keep herself calm. Once she felt in control again she continued to explain the documents till she felt his leg brush against hers making her shiver.

  Deciding just to ignore his immature games, she moved her leg so they were no longer touching and continued to relate the information. She felt his leg brush again against hers and she lost her concentration. She moved again making sure there was no way he wouldn’t accidently be able to touch her trying to ignore the sly grin that remained on his face.

  Once more his leg brushed against hers but this time she simply decided to ignore him and the warmth his touch was causing. However it was easier said than done as she desperately tried to keep her concentration on what she was doing. Thankfully she very little to say till she was finished and as soon as she was finished she stood up quickly putting distance between them smoothing her brown skirt nervously.

  “Thank you Sam,” he said still with that impish smile.

  “Of course Mr. Andrews and if you need anything else please let me know,” she answered with a professional tone feeling happy with herself for at least being the responsible adult in the room.

  “Call me David, I believe we should be on a first name basis after everything don’t you think” he told her and Sam’s face started to heat up once more. “And don’t worry I will gladly call if I need anything,” he added with an evil tone that made Sam quickly regret she ever said those words.

  She turned on her heel walking out of the office and straight to the bathroom. She splashed cool water on her face trying to cool her overheated face. She wondered what he was trying to achieve with these games of his, did he want her to do something stupid so he could get her fired, or did he just want to embarrass her for the rest of her life?

  Lunch time finally came and Sam saw that the little office door was closed and so were the blinds on the windows; he wouldn’t see her leave. She got up quickly and enjoyed a victory smile as she left the office for once without David. She drove home deciding that the best way to avoid him was eating there. She tossed her keys into the small bowl and kicking off her shoes, she started to relax for the first time that morning but a knock on her door made her tense up once more. She walked over and opened it slowly only to see her worst fear. How the hell did he figure out where she lived?

  “What are you doing here?” She gasped with surprise and David just gave her that evil and very sexy grin.

  “Aren’t you going to invite me in,” he asked mischievously. She wanted to say hell no, she really did but before she realized it she stepped aside and let him in. Damn him, why is he here. “Nice house,” he said after taking a quick look around.

  “Thank you, it was my grandmother’s she left it to me when she passed a few years ago,” she replied politely and scolded herself for not saying what she really should be saying. “Get the hell out of my house and never come back!”

  She closed the door and glared at him. “What are you doing here,” she asked him for a second time.

  “We always have lunch together,” he said as if he was stating the obvious and walked over to a collection of photographs she had over her chimney. “But I admit I also came for curiosity,” he added not taking his eyes of the pictures. She pressed her lips against each other with irritation.

  “Curiosity about what,” she snapped, not even in her own home was she safe from him.

  “You what else,” he replied turning his attention back to her with one of his half smiles that made her want to kiss him just as much as she wanted to slap him. She took a deep breath trying to keep her strangely raging hormones under control.

  “There is nothing to be curious about. What you see is what you get, nothing more,” she told him honestly with impatience. His eyes ran over her body and she felt suddenly very self-conscious so she crossed her arms over herself.

  “No I don’t think you’re that simple,” he started. “When I first saw you I thought you to be a good person,” he told her.

  “I am a good person!” Sam snapped feeling insulted that he hinted otherwise. In fact she would happily go so far as to say he was the only ass in the room.

  “Then why did you sneak away in New York,” he asked her the playful look on his face gone. She gasped and blushed fiercely with embarrassment. He would have to mention that horrible night! Sam looked at her feet not wanting to admit she left because she couldn’t take his rejection in the morning and how embarrassed she was by the way she had behaved that night.

  “Right, that’s what I thought,” he said coldly and Sam looked back up glaring at him. Her anger returned as he dared justify himself using that night as an excuse when she positive he was happy when he woke up that morning alone.

  “But,” he stated the amusement returning to his face. “You’re not exactly a bitch either,” he added and Sam’s eyes opened wide with shock, no one had ever called her that in her life! He walked towards her till he stood in front of her.

  “I am not sure who you are Sam,” he said plainly. She looked up at him confused not sure exactly what he was getting at or how to reply.

  Before she had much time to think about it he suddenly placed his hand on her hips and kissed her. She gasped shocked and squirmed against him for a second holding on to the last scrap of clarity she could muster. What the hell did he think he was doing, she wondered as she pushed against his chest, this really couldn’t be happening.

  David’s hands slide along her hips to rest against her back pulling her against him and Sam felt her resistance slip from her as the confusing feeling of lust took over her. She kissed him back hungrily moving her hands up along his chest and shoulders before she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  He seemed just as breathless as her when the kiss finished, she looked up at him not sure what to say or do. She wasn’t even sure what was happening. “God Sam how you can do this to me,” he said hoarsely and bent down brushing his lips across her jaw line causing a shiver to run down her back. Sam bit her bottom lip softly and leaning into his caress as it moved along her jaw towards her neck.

  “What are you talking about? I am not doing anything,” she replied roughly removing her arms around his neck and let her hands slid down his should to rest on his chest. “If anyone is to blame for anything then it would be you Mr. Andrews,” she told him pointedly and slowly as her ability to form words seems to have diminished greatly since he kissed her.

  David laughed against her neck sending tingling waves of excited pleasure through her body. “I can’t be blamed for this. If you weren’t so damn sexy I’d be able to control myself,” he replied as he pulled her tucked shirt free from her skirt. Sam felt her breath caught in her throat and her heart crashed against her rib cage doubting if she really heard him correctly.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she told him breathlessly as his hands slipped under her shirt as he kissed her neck softly.

  “Don’t pretend you don’t know how badly you turn me on,” he told her and Sam gasped in shock and looked at him in disbelief. He couldn’t be serious, it was impossible for her to turn anyone on. This another part of his game that he was playing w
ith her, she thought and she tried to push him away from her but he pressed her against him and gave her another passionate kiss.

  Once more the anger and indignation disappeared with his hot kiss and the incredible feeling of his hands that moved slowly up the skin of her back. She leaned into him returning his kiss unable to fight the lust he provoked her into.

  Chapter 5 Maybe Change Isn’t So Bad

  Sam gathered her clothes from the living room floor quickly keeping her back to David who was staring at her…again. “Why do you do that?” She asked putting on her shirt feeling frustrated with herself. She couldn’t believe what she had just done. What was wrong with her? Was she a masochist or something? Why did she allow herself to do this when she knew this was all part of the game he was playing.

  “Do what,” David asked the corners of his mouth turned up with a hint of a smile.

  “You know very well, staring at me like that!” She snapped giving into her frustration as she grabbed her skirt and David pulled his mouth in a full blown smile. He crossed his arms across his muscular chest and leaned back against the couch.

  “I find it entertaining to see just how nervous you can get by someone looking at you,” he mused and Sam felt her insides twist seeing how easily she fell into his stupid game.

  “Well I am glad to see you’re enjoying yourself,” she shot bitterly standing and slipping on her skirt. She wanted so bad to tell that man to get out of her house so she could get back to the way things were, and most of all get rid of the parts deep down inside her that were actually enjoying his company. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back to the couch wrapping his arms around her and kissed her neck softly. She felt herself shiver and mentally swore at herself again. Why couldn’t she stop reacting that way towards him?