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….

I saw Charlotte with a tall dark-haired guy

saw. It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is the spit

my mistake

shut

axles. The Charlotte I met was certainly the same girl I saw with

for changing the

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty

certainly thinks so. She’s a bit

burst out laughing. “You don’t

sideways.

*****

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….

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

This could be embarrassing.

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

at the doors, he abruptly slows, turns and

“Sorry to seem rude, but do we know each

or three years ago. You

me for a moment, then his face clears. With the most charming of smiles,

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

say that is not related to this amazing looking man fucking my brains

I need to check with anyone if you

his eyes. “Sorry, of course, you’re new. No, don’t worry. They know me here. I’m just going to find my

your friend said that

met

the other

he grins. “Was

yes. He

to hear it. He’s a good man; one

Dom, isn’t he. If you cut him in half, it’d say ‘Dom’ running

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

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

to get out for a while for a change of air, so I head for the coffee bar over the

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

up. It’s Charlotte, carrying

“Hi,” she says. “Mind

I shuffle up my chair to make space as she puts her

road and thought we might as well

“Sure…. er….”

me over her coffee.

my words. What can I

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

up about

a couple of dates. Please

my impression that you

comes from above us.

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