Choosing Her Lover

Chapter 13

*****

I wake to sunlight streaming over the bed. My view is blocked by Ryan, standing over me, offering me a mug.

“You like coffee on a morning?” he asks.

“I sit up to take the mug from him. “It’s one of the food groups.” I grin.

When was the last time I woke up in a man’s bed?

He sits by me, sipping from his own cup. He doesn’t speak, but repeatedly, his glance strays my way before he looks away again, smiling.

The obvious question finally looms. “What time is it?”

“Ten to eight.”

“Jeez! I’ll be late to work!”

“Hey, calm down. I’ll drive you there.”

“I can’t go like this….”

“The shower’s through there….”

As it is, Ryan delivers me on squealing wheels to Haswell Building at two minutes to nine,

And as I swipe my entry card, James Alexanders is coming in right behind me. He must have seen Ryan drop me off and he wears the kind of half-smile that says he knows exactly why I am wearing yesterday’s blouse and a rapidly painted-on expression of dignity.

“Morning, Kirstie.”

“Morning Mr Alexanders.”

*****

That evening, walking the dogs on the beach, Ben jogs up to me, and Scruffy barges in to meet up with my canine gang again.

“Hi.” he puffs, bending to rest hands on knees for a minute as he catches his breath. “How are you? Great to see you again.”

“I’m fine.” In truth, I am a little uncomfortable. The speed, and for that matter, the direction in which my ‘relationship’ with Ben is progressing is unnerving me. He seems to believe that we are a lot closer than I do, and I am not at all sure that I want to take things with him any further.

What’s a safe topic of conversation?

Oh, yes….

“I was surprised when I met Charlotte at work and realised who she is. You and your brother aren’t much alike, are you?”

He frowns. “Sorry? You’ve met my brother?”

“Yes, I saw him with Charlotte in the lobby a few days ago.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that. He must have been picking her up.”

“Er, no. They were on their way out actually. I would never have taken the pair of you for brothers….”

“I don’t think we’re that unalike, are we? I know he’s a lot blonder than I am….”

Blonder?

“No, the man I saw was dark; much darker-haired than you. “

He shakes his head. “Mike’s blond, very blond. He looks like something from a toothpaste advert. You know, the kind with the sunshine-healthy family, all corn-fed, and eating wheat germ and yoghurt.”

Mike….? Not James then….

Time to tread carefully….

a tall dark-haired guy and assumed that

fingers. “I know who you saw. It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell

Definitely my

to shut my

Charlotte I met was certainly the same girl I saw with

opt for changing

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty isn’t

thinks so. She’s a bit er….

laughing. “You don’t

eyes slide sideways. “I

*****

blond, strikingly good-looking man enters the lobby. He is

as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

Am I going to be seeing them

This could be embarrassing.

at me, his brilliantly blue-eyed gaze sweeping past me as instead,

he abruptly slows, turns and looks back

rude, but do we know

met two or three years ago. You

a moment, then his face clears. With the most charming of smiles, he stabs a finger

in and grins. “Ah, Kirstie.” He laughs.

to this amazing looking man

check with anyone if you

you’re new. No, don’t worry. They know me here. I’m just going to find my

your friend said that you’d

You’ve met him

the

he grins. “Was

He was

grows wider. “Glad to hear it. He’s a good man; one of the best, but sometimes…. um… empathy’s

you cut

wrong there. Gotta go Kirstie. See you around.” He heads back to the lifts, turning back as the doors open,

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

my lunchtime. I could go to the staff canteen; the facilities are very good. But I prefer to get out for a while for a change of air, so I head for the coffee

staring into space and pondering the incandescent joys of fucking with Ryan when a shadow falls over my

Charlotte, carrying

smiles brightly. “Hi,” she says. “Mind if I join

make space as

we might as well take the opportunity to get to know each other, since it looks as

“Sure…. er….”

me over her coffee.

chew over my words. What

I know Ben’s your brother-in-law, but

up about you

couple of dates.

it’s my impression that you

comes from

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