*****

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

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

my mistake

shut my

is spinning overtime, running on whirring red-hot axles. The Charlotte I met was certainly the same girl I saw with

opt for

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty isn’t

thinks so. She’s a

laughing. “You

sideways. “I prefer

*****

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

as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

the Club. Am I going to be

This could be embarrassing.

gaze sweeping past me as

doors, he abruptly slows, turns and looks back at me, brow

to seem rude, but do we

three years ago.

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

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

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

check with anyone if you

worry. They know me here. I’m just

said

You’ve met

the

he grins.

He was

wider. “Glad to hear it. He’s a good man; one of the best, but sometimes…. um… empathy’s not his strong

now I laugh. “He’s a Dom, isn’t he. If you cut

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

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

for a while for

my lunch, staring into space and pondering the incandescent

up. It’s Charlotte, carrying

brightly. “Hi,” she says. “Mind if I join

chair to make

and thought we might as well take the opportunity to get to know each other, since it looks as though we’re going

“Sure…. er….”

over her coffee. “Something

words.

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

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

I’ve met him half a dozen times and had a couple of dates. Please don’t get the

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

voice comes from

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