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….

mistake. I saw Charlotte with a

Beth Haswell is

Definitely my mistake

to shut my

whirring red-hot axles. The Charlotte I met was certainly the same girl I saw

opt for changing

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty

so. Mike certainly thinks so.

burst out laughing. “You

eyes slide sideways. “I prefer

*****

doors swish open and a blond, strikingly good-looking man enters the lobby. He is tall, although not overly so, broad-shouldered

as

Oh, God. It’s him….

James Alexanders’ friend from the Club. Am I going to be

This could be embarrassing.

brilliantly blue-eyed gaze sweeping past me as instead,

he abruptly slows, turns and looks

“Sorry to seem rude, but do

three years ago. You were with your

moment, then his face clears. With the most

my face again. I tap my lapel badge. Moving closer, he peers in and grins.

looking man fucking my brains

check with anyone if you

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

said that

You’ve met him

just the

grins.

He

a good man; one of the best, but sometimes….

you cut him in half, it’d say

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

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

a while for a change of air, so I head for the

lunch, staring into space and pondering the incandescent joys of fucking with Ryan when

look up. It’s Charlotte, carrying a tray loaded

she says. “Mind if I

shuffle up my chair to make space as she puts

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

“Sure…. er….”

over her coffee.

chew over my words. What can I

the right way. I know Ben’s your brother-in-law, but I barely

barely know him? He’s not shut up about you whenever I’ve

had a couple of dates. Please don’t get the wrong

it’s my

comes from above

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