*****

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….

my mistake. I saw Charlotte with a tall dark-haired guy and assumed

Haswells. Beth Haswell is

Definitely my mistake

shut my

on whirring red-hot axles. The Charlotte I met was

for changing

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty

suppose so. Mike certainly thinks so. She’s

burst out laughing. “You don’t like

sideways. “I

*****

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

heart sinks as I

Oh, God. It’s him….

from the Club. Am I going to be seeing them

This could be embarrassing.

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

slows, turns and looks back at me, brow

to seem rude, but do we know each

years ago. You

most charming of smiles, he stabs a finger at me.

and grins. “Ah, Kirstie.” He laughs. “I see. Nice to meet you Kirstie.” He taps his nose. “Kirstie. I’ll remember

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

I need to check with anyone if you have

you’re new. No, don’t worry. They know me

said that you’d got

You’ve met him

the other

he grins. “Was

He

grows wider. “Glad to hear it. He’s a good man; one of the best, but sometimes….

now I laugh. “He’s a Dom, isn’t he. If you cut him in half, it’d say ‘Dom’ running right through

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

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

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 latte and a

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

carrying a tray

brightly. “Hi,” she says. “Mind if

shuffle up my chair to make space as she puts

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

“Sure…. er….”

me over her

my words. What can I

Ben’s your brother-in-law,

shut up about you

dates. Please don’t get the wrong impression

think it’s my impression

voice comes from

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