*****

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 tall dark-haired guy and assumed

saw. It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is the spit ‘n image of Charlotte, and her husband is tall

my mistake

shut my

running on whirring red-hot axles. The Charlotte I met

for

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty isn’t

I suppose so. Mike certainly thinks so. She’s

out laughing. “You don’t

slide sideways.

*****

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

heart sinks as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

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

This could be embarrassing.

gaze sweeping past me as instead,

turns and looks back at me, brow

rude, but do

yes. We met two or three years ago. You were with

clears. With the most charming of smiles, he stabs a finger at me. “Debbie. That was

tap my lapel badge. Moving closer, he peers in and grins. “Ah, Kirstie.” He laughs. “I see. Nice to meet you Kirstie.” He taps

say that is not related to this amazing looking man fucking my brains out in a threesome with his friend at

to check with anyone

No, don’t worry. They know

said that you’d got

met him

the other

grins.

He

grin grows wider. “Glad to hear it. He’s a good man; one

now I laugh. “He’s a Dom, isn’t he. If you cut

go Kirstie. See you around.” He heads back to the lifts,

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

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 bar over the road, ordering myself

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

look up. It’s Charlotte, carrying a tray

she says. “Mind if

all.” I shuffle up my chair to make space as she puts her tray down

she says as she seats herself. “I saw you from across the road and thought we might as well take the opportunity to get to

“Sure…. er….”

over her coffee. “Something

chew over my words.

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

up about you

dates.

think it’s my impression that

from

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