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….

with a tall dark-haired guy and assumed that it

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

Definitely my

to shut

Charlotte I met

opt for changing the

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty isn’t

certainly thinks so.

laughing. “You

slide sideways. “I

*****

and a blond, strikingly good-looking man enters the lobby. He is tall, although not overly so, broad-shouldered

as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

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

This could be embarrassing.

sweeping past me as instead, he heads straight for

slows, turns and looks back at me, brow

pauses. “Sorry to seem rude, but do

years ago. You were with your

the most charming of

in and grins. “Ah, Kirstie.” He laughs. “I see.

is not related to this amazing looking man fucking my brains out

check with anyone if

course, you’re new. No, don’t worry. They know me here.

said that you’d

met

just the other

grins. “Was

He was a

a good man; one

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

go Kirstie. See you around.” He heads back to the lifts, turning

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

very good. But I prefer to get out for a while for a change of air,

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

up. It’s Charlotte, carrying a tray loaded

says. “Mind if

all.” I shuffle up my chair to make space as she puts her tray down on the

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

“Sure…. er….”

over her coffee.

chew over my words.

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

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

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

think it’s my impression that

comes from above us.

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