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….

Charlotte with a tall dark-haired

you saw. It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is the spit ‘n image of Charlotte, and her husband is

my

shut my

red-hot axles. The Charlotte I

for

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty isn’t

suppose so. Mike certainly thinks so.

burst out laughing.

slide sideways. “I prefer

*****

man enters the lobby. He

heart sinks as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

Am I going to be

This could be embarrassing.

blue-eyed gaze sweeping past me as instead, he heads straight for

turns and looks back at me, brow

to seem rude, but do

met two or three years ago. You

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

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

to this amazing looking man

anyone if you

course, you’re new. No, don’t worry.

said that you’d got

met him

the

he grins. “Was he

yes. He was a

hear it. He’s a good man; one

If you cut him in half, it’d say ‘Dom’ running

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

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

I prefer to get out for a while for a change

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

Charlotte, carrying

“Hi,” she says. “Mind if I join

my chair to make space as she puts her tray down

mind?” she says as she seats herself. “I saw you from across the road and thought we might as well take the

“Sure…. er….”

over her coffee.

over my words. What

I know Ben’s your brother-in-law,

know him? He’s not shut up about

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

think it’s my impression that you need to

comes from

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