*****

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….

saw Charlotte with a tall dark-haired

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

my mistake

shut

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

opt for

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty

so. She’s

out laughing. “You

sideways.

*****

strikingly good-looking man enters the lobby. He is tall,

heart sinks as I

Oh, God. It’s him….

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

This could be embarrassing.

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

slows, turns and looks back at me, brow

rude, but do we know each

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

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

rises up my face again. I tap my lapel badge. Moving closer, he peers in and grins. “Ah, Kirstie.” He laughs. “I see. Nice to meet you

not related to this amazing looking man fucking my brains out in a threesome with

with anyone if you

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

said

met

the

he grins.

yes. He was

man;

cut him

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

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

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

through my lunch, staring into space and pondering the incandescent joys of fucking

It’s Charlotte, carrying a tray loaded with

says. “Mind if I

shuffle up my chair to make

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

“Sure…. er….”

me over her coffee. “Something

chew over my words.

the right way. I know Ben’s

not shut up about you

a dozen times and had a couple of dates. Please

my impression

from

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