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

Beth Haswell is the spit ‘n image

Definitely my

shut

overtime, running on whirring red-hot axles. The Charlotte I met was certainly the

opt for changing the

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty isn’t

Mike certainly thinks so.

laughing.

eyes slide sideways.

*****

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

heart sinks as I

Oh, God. It’s him….

from the Club. Am I going to be

This could be embarrassing.

gaze sweeping past me

turns and looks back at me, brow

“Sorry to seem rude, but do we know

or three years ago. You were

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

closer, he peers in and grins. “Ah, Kirstie.” He laughs. “I see. Nice to meet you Kirstie.” He taps his nose. “Kirstie. I’ll

looking man fucking

to check with anyone if

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

your friend said that

You’ve met him

just the

grins. “Was he

He was a

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

laugh. “He’s a Dom, isn’t he. If you cut him in half,

lifts, turning back as the doors open, and waving. “I’m Michael by the way. Nice to meet

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

lunchtime. I could go to the staff canteen; the facilities are very good. But I prefer to get out for a while for

seat and I’m halfway through my lunch, staring into space and pondering the incandescent joys of fucking with Ryan when a

up. It’s Charlotte, carrying a tray loaded

says. “Mind if I join

shuffle up my chair to make space as she puts her tray down on

you don’t mind?” she says as she seats herself. “I saw you from across the road and thought we might as well take the opportunity to get

“Sure…. er….”

eyes me over her coffee. “Something

chew over my words. What can I

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

know him? He’s not shut up about you

a dozen times and had a couple of dates. Please don’t get the wrong impression about where we

think it’s my impression that you need to

from

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