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

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

my

shut my

Charlotte I met

opt for

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty isn’t

thinks so. She’s a bit er…. ginger for

burst out laughing. “You

slide sideways.

*****

enters the lobby.

heart sinks as I

Oh, God. It’s him….

Club. Am I going to

This could be embarrassing.

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

doors, he abruptly slows, turns and looks back at me, brow

seem rude,

or three years ago. You were with your friend,

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

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

related to this amazing looking man

I need to check with anyone if you have

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

your friend said that you’d

met

the other

grins.

He was

He’s a good man; one of the best, but sometimes…. um…

cut him in half, it’d

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….

*****

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 coffee bar over the road, ordering myself

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

carrying a tray loaded with

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

to make space as she puts her tray down

across the road and thought we might as well take the opportunity to get to know

“Sure…. er….”

eyes me over her

my words. What can

Ben’s your brother-in-law, but I

not shut up about

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

“I don’t think it’s my impression that you

comes from above

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