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

Haswells. Beth Haswell is the spit ‘n image of Charlotte, and

my mistake

to shut my

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

opt for changing the

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty

I suppose so. Mike certainly thinks so. She’s a bit er….

laughing. “You

eyes slide sideways. “I prefer

*****

swish open and a blond, strikingly good-looking man enters the

heart sinks as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

Am I

This could be embarrassing.

brilliantly blue-eyed gaze sweeping past

doors, he abruptly slows, turns and looks back at

pauses. “Sorry to seem rude, but do we

years ago. You were with your

With the most charming of smiles, he stabs a finger

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

that is not related to this amazing looking man fucking my brains out in

with anyone if you have

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

said that you’d got

You’ve met him

the

grins. “Was he

yes. He

“Glad to hear it. He’s a good man; one of the

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

to the lifts, turning back as the doors open, and waving. “I’m Michael by the

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

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

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

It’s Charlotte, carrying a tray loaded with

“Hi,” she says. “Mind

make space as she puts her

and thought we might as well

“Sure…. er….”

eyes me over her coffee. “Something

my words. What can I politely

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

him? He’s not shut up about you

a couple of dates. Please don’t get the wrong impression about where we

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

comes from

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