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….

be my mistake. I saw Charlotte with a tall dark-haired

who you saw. It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is the spit ‘n

Definitely my

to shut my

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

opt for changing the

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty

certainly thinks so.

laughing.

slide sideways.

*****

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

sinks as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

from the Club. Am I going to be seeing them both

This could be embarrassing.

brilliantly blue-eyed gaze sweeping

he abruptly slows, turns and looks back at me,

seem rude, but do we know

two or three years ago. You were with your

a moment, then his face clears. With the most charming

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

looking man fucking my

with anyone if

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

your friend said that

met

the

he grins. “Was

He was a

He’s a good man; one of the best,

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

not wrong there. Gotta go Kirstie. See you around.” He heads back to the lifts,

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

my lunchtime. I could go to 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 a latte

through my lunch, staring into space and pondering the incandescent

It’s Charlotte, carrying a tray loaded

she says. “Mind if I

shuffle up my chair to make space as she

you from across the road and thought we might as well take the opportunity to get to know each other, since it

“Sure…. er….”

over her

over my words. What can

know Ben’s your brother-in-law, but

him? He’s not shut up about

a couple of dates. Please don’t get the wrong

think it’s my impression that you need to

voice comes from above

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255