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….

Charlotte with a tall dark-haired guy and assumed that it

know who you saw. It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is the spit ‘n image of Charlotte,

my

shut my

running on whirring red-hot axles. The Charlotte I

for changing the

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty isn’t

I suppose so. Mike certainly thinks so. She’s a bit er…. ginger for

out laughing.

eyes slide sideways. “I prefer

*****

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

sinks as

Oh, God. It’s him….

from the Club. Am I going to

This could be embarrassing.

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

at the doors, he abruptly slows, turns

pauses. “Sorry to seem rude, but do

or three years ago. You

for a moment, then his face clears. With the most charming of smiles, he stabs a finger at me. “Debbie. That was it,

damn blush rises up my face again. I tap my lapel badge. Moving closer, he peers in and grins. “Ah, Kirstie.” He laughs. “I see. Nice to

scrambles for something to say that is not related to this amazing looking man fucking my brains out in a threesome with

anyone if

No, don’t worry. They know

your friend said that you’d got

met

the other

he grins.

yes. He

man; one of the best, but sometimes…. um… empathy’s

cut him in half, it’d say ‘Dom’ running

Kirstie. See you around.” He heads back to the lifts, turning back as the doors open, and waving. “I’m Michael by the

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

are very good. But I prefer to get out for a while for a change of air, so I head for the coffee bar over the road,

into space and pondering

carrying a tray loaded with

she says. “Mind if I join

up my chair to make space as she

might as well take the opportunity to

“Sure…. er….”

over her

words.

know Ben’s your brother-in-law, but I barely know him

not shut up about

I’ve met him half a dozen times and had a couple of dates. Please don’t get the

pensive. “I don’t think it’s my impression

voice comes from

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