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….

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

It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is the spit ‘n image

my

to shut

on whirring red-hot axles. The Charlotte

for changing

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty

so. She’s

burst out laughing. “You don’t

eyes slide sideways.

*****

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

heart sinks as I

Oh, God. It’s him….

Club. Am I going to be seeing them

This could be embarrassing.

gaze sweeping past me as

abruptly slows, turns and looks back

pauses. “Sorry to seem rude, but do

yes. We met two or three years ago. You were with

the most charming of smiles, he stabs a finger at

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

something to say that is not related to this amazing looking man fucking my brains out in a threesome with his friend at

do I need to check with anyone if you have an appointment or

new. No, don’t worry. They know me here. I’m just going to find my

friend said that you’d

You’ve met him

just the

he grins. “Was

He

to hear it. He’s a good man; one of the best, but

cut him in

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

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

a

and I’m halfway through my lunch, staring into space and pondering the incandescent joys of fucking with Ryan when a shadow falls over my

look up. It’s Charlotte, carrying a

“Hi,” she says. “Mind if I join

my chair to make space as she puts her tray

as she seats herself. “I saw you from across the road and thought we might as well take the opportunity to get to know

“Sure…. er….”

over her coffee.

chew over my words. What

know Ben’s

shut up about

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

pensive. “I don’t think it’s my impression that you need to

from

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