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

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

Definitely my

shut

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

opt for

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty isn’t

so. Mike certainly thinks so. She’s a bit

laughing. “You don’t

eyes slide sideways. “I

*****

the lobby.

as I

Oh, God. It’s him….

the Club. Am I going to be seeing them both

This could be embarrassing.

sweeping past me as instead, he heads straight

slows, turns and looks

pauses. “Sorry to seem rude,

two or three years ago. You were with your friend,

face clears. With the most charming of smiles, he

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

this amazing looking man fucking my brains out in a threesome with his friend at

check with anyone if

rolls his eyes. “Sorry, of course, you’re new. No, don’t worry.

said that

met

just the other

grins.

He was

He’s a good man; one of the best,

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

not wrong there. 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.

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

get out for a while for a change of air, so I head

and pondering the incandescent joys of

look up. It’s Charlotte, carrying a

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

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

as she 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 seeing each other

“Sure…. er….”

me over

my words. What can I politely

take this the right way. I know Ben’s your brother-in-law, but I

him? He’s not shut up about you

half a dozen times and had a couple of dates. Please

looks pensive. “I don’t think it’s my

comes from above us.

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