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

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

my mistake

shut

mind is spinning overtime, running on whirring red-hot axles. The Charlotte I

opt for

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty isn’t

suppose so. Mike certainly thinks so. She’s

laughing. “You

sideways. “I

*****

enters the lobby.

heart sinks as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

the Club. Am I going to be seeing them

This could be embarrassing.

me, his brilliantly blue-eyed gaze sweeping

abruptly slows, turns and looks back

seem rude, but do we

yes. We met two or three years ago. You

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

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

related to this amazing looking man fucking my brains

check with anyone if you have an appointment or

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

friend said that you’d got

You’ve met him

just the other

grins. “Was he

He was a

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

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

He heads back to the lifts, turning back as

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

I’m halfway through my lunch, staring into space and pondering the incandescent

look up. It’s Charlotte, carrying a tray loaded

she says. “Mind if I join

make

well take the opportunity to get to know each other, since it looks as though

“Sure…. er….”

eyes me over

chew over my words. What can I politely

Ben’s your brother-in-law, but I barely know him

him? He’s not shut up about

him half a dozen times and had a couple of dates. Please don’t get the wrong

my impression that you need

voice comes from above us.

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