*****

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….

my mistake. I saw Charlotte with a tall dark-haired guy and assumed that it

snaps his fingers. “I know who you saw. It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is the

Definitely my

to shut my

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

opt for changing

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty

Mike certainly thinks so. She’s a

burst out laughing. “You don’t like

eyes slide sideways.

*****

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

sinks as

Oh, God. It’s him….

Club. Am I going to

This could be embarrassing.

blue-eyed gaze sweeping past me as

abruptly slows, turns

rude, but do

three years ago.

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

face again. I tap my lapel badge. Moving closer, he peers in and grins. “Ah, Kirstie.” He laughs. “I

to this amazing looking man fucking my brains out in a threesome with

to check with anyone if

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

friend said that you’d got

met

just the

grins. “Was

yes. He

grin grows wider. “Glad to hear it. He’s a good man; one of the best, but sometimes….

you cut him in half, it’d say ‘Dom’ running right through the

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

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

I could go to the 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

and pondering the incandescent joys of fucking

up. It’s Charlotte, carrying a tray

smiles brightly. “Hi,” she says. “Mind if I

my chair to make

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 looks as though we’re going to be

“Sure…. er….”

eyes me over her

over my words. What can I

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

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

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

it’s my impression that

voice comes from above us.

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