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 tall dark-haired guy and assumed that it was

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

my mistake

to shut

Charlotte I met was certainly

for changing

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty

thinks so. She’s a bit er….

burst out laughing.

sideways. “I

*****

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

heart sinks as I

Oh, God. It’s him….

Alexanders’ friend from the Club. Am I

This could be embarrassing.

brilliantly blue-eyed gaze sweeping past me as

slows, turns and looks back at me,

pauses. “Sorry to seem rude, but do we

three years ago. You were with your friend,

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

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 meet you Kirstie.”

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

check with anyone if you have an appointment

his eyes. “Sorry, of course, you’re new. No, don’t worry. They know

said that

met

the

grins. “Was he

He was

it. He’s a good man; one of the best, but sometimes…. um… empathy’s not his

isn’t he. If you cut him in half,

to the 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….

*****

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 bar over the road, ordering myself

halfway through my lunch, staring into space and pondering the incandescent joys of fucking with Ryan when a shadow falls

Charlotte, carrying a

“Hi,” she says. “Mind if I

chair to make space as she

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

“Sure…. er….”

over her coffee. “Something

chew over my words. What can I

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

He’s not shut up about you whenever I’ve

couple of dates. Please don’t

think it’s my impression that

comes from above us.

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