*****

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….

it must be my mistake. I saw Charlotte with a tall dark-haired guy and assumed that it

his fingers. “I know who you saw. It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is

Definitely my mistake

shut my

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

opt for changing the

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty

certainly thinks so. She’s a bit er…. ginger

out laughing. “You don’t

eyes slide sideways. “I prefer

*****

and a blond, strikingly good-looking man enters the

as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

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

This could be embarrassing.

looks at me, his brilliantly blue-eyed gaze sweeping

at the doors, he abruptly slows, turns and looks back at me,

rude, but do we know each

yes. We met two or three years

moment, then his face clears. With the most

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

is not related to this amazing looking man fucking my brains out in

need to check with anyone if you have

of course, you’re new. No, don’t worry. They know me

friend said

met

the

he grins. “Was

He was a

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

I laugh. “He’s a Dom, isn’t he. If you cut him in half, it’d say ‘Dom’ running right through

the lifts, turning back as the doors open, and waving. “I’m Michael

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 latte and a

take a window seat and I’m halfway through my lunch, staring into space and pondering the incandescent

Charlotte, carrying a tray loaded with

“Hi,” she says. “Mind if I

to make space as she puts her tray

the road and thought we might as well take the opportunity

“Sure…. er….”

eyes me over

over my words.

way. I know Ben’s your

up about you

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

pensive. “I don’t think it’s my impression that you need to worry

comes from above us.

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