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….

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

was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is

Definitely my

shut

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

opt for changing the

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

pretty

certainly thinks so. She’s a bit er…. ginger

laughing.

slide sideways. “I

*****

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

as I

Oh, God. It’s him….

Am I going to be

This could be embarrassing.

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

abruptly slows, turns and looks back at me,

“Sorry to seem rude, but

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

most charming of smiles, he stabs a finger

up my face again. I tap my lapel badge. Moving closer, he peers in and grins. “Ah, Kirstie.” He laughs. “I see. Nice to meet you

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

anyone if you

you’re new. No, don’t worry. They know me here. I’m just

your friend said that

met him

the other

grins. “Was

yes. He was a

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

he. If you cut him in

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….

*****

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,

staring into space and pondering the incandescent joys of fucking with Ryan when a shadow falls over my

up. It’s Charlotte, carrying a

brightly. “Hi,” she says. “Mind if I

all.” I shuffle up my chair to make

don’t mind?” she says as she seats herself. “I saw you from across the road and thought we might as well take the opportunity to get to know each other, since it looks as though we’re

“Sure…. er….”

over her coffee.

words. What can I politely

I know Ben’s your brother-in-law, but

He’s not shut up about

dozen times and had a couple of dates. Please

pensive. “I don’t think it’s my

voice comes from

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