*****

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….

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

Haswell is

my mistake

to shut my

axles. The Charlotte I met was certainly the same girl I

opt for changing

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty

so. She’s

laughing. “You

eyes slide sideways. “I

*****

strikingly good-looking man enters the

heart sinks as I

Oh, God. It’s him….

the Club. Am I going to be seeing

This could be embarrassing.

sweeping past me as instead, he heads straight

slows, turns

pauses. “Sorry to seem rude,

two or three years ago. You

moment, then his face clears. With the most charming of smiles, he stabs a finger at me. “Debbie.

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

looking man fucking my brains out in a threesome with his friend at a sex

I need to check with anyone if

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

friend said

You’ve met

just the other

he grins. “Was he

He was a

man; one of the best, but sometimes….

“He’s a Dom, isn’t he. If you cut him

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 the

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

the staff canteen; the facilities are very good. But I prefer to get out for a while for

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

look up. It’s Charlotte, carrying a tray loaded

“Hi,” she says. “Mind if I join

chair to make space

don’t mind?” she says as she seats herself. “I saw you from across the road and thought we might as well take

“Sure…. er….”

eyes me over her coffee.

my words. What can I politely

take this the right way. I know Ben’s your brother-in-law, but

He’s not shut up about you whenever I’ve seen him

couple of dates. Please don’t get the

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

comes from above us.

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