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….

it must be my mistake. I saw Charlotte with a

you saw. It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is the

Definitely my mistake

shut my

overtime, running on whirring red-hot axles. The Charlotte I met was certainly the same girl

for changing the

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty isn’t

so. Mike certainly thinks so.

laughing.

slide sideways. “I prefer

*****

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

sinks as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

the Club. Am

This could be embarrassing.

blue-eyed gaze sweeping past me as

slows, turns and looks back at me,

“Sorry to seem rude, but do we

or three years ago. You were with your

most charming of smiles, he

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

to this amazing looking man

check with anyone if

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

your friend said that you’d

You’ve met him

just the other

grins. “Was

He was a

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

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, turning back as the doors

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

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

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

Charlotte, carrying

says. “Mind if

to make space

across the road and thought we might as well

“Sure…. er….”

me over her coffee.

my words.

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

know him? He’s not shut up

dozen times and had a couple of dates. Please don’t

pensive. “I don’t think it’s my impression

comes from above us.

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