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 guy and assumed that it was

snaps his fingers. “I know who you saw. It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is the spit ‘n image of Charlotte, and her

my mistake

to shut

whirring red-hot axles. The Charlotte I

for changing the

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty isn’t

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

out laughing. “You

eyes slide sideways.

*****

man enters the lobby. He is tall, although not overly so,

heart sinks as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

Club. Am I going to

This could be embarrassing.

barely looks at me, his brilliantly blue-eyed gaze sweeping past me as instead, he heads straight for

he abruptly slows, turns

“Sorry to seem rude,

two or three years ago. You

then his face clears. With the most charming

peers in and grins.

not related to this amazing looking man fucking

I need to check with anyone

of course, you’re new. No, don’t worry. They know me here. I’m just

friend said that you’d got

You’ve met

just the other

he grins. “Was

yes. He was a

man; one of the

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

there. Gotta go Kirstie. See you around.” He heads back to the lifts, turning back as the doors open, and waving.

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

But I prefer to get out for a while for a change of air, so I head for the

through my lunch, staring into space and pondering

up. It’s Charlotte, carrying

smiles brightly. “Hi,” she says.

make space as she puts her tray

as she seats herself. “I saw you from across the road and thought we might as well take the opportunity to get to know each other, since it

“Sure…. er….”

eyes me over

chew over my words.

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

barely know him? He’s not shut up about you whenever I’ve seen him

and had a couple of dates. Please don’t get

it’s my impression that you

comes from above

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