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….

must be my mistake. I saw Charlotte with a tall dark-haired guy and assumed that it was

his fingers. “I know who you saw. It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is the spit ‘n image

my

shut

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

for changing

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty isn’t

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

out laughing. “You don’t

sideways.

*****

strikingly good-looking man enters the lobby. He is tall, although

heart sinks as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

the Club. Am I going to be seeing

This could be embarrassing.

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

doors, he abruptly slows, turns

pauses. “Sorry to seem rude, but

years ago. You were with

blankly at me for a moment, then his face clears. With the most charming of smiles, he stabs

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

something to say that is not related to this amazing looking man fucking

anyone if you

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

said that you’d got

met him

the other

he grins. “Was

yes. He was a

grin grows wider. “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

not wrong there. Gotta go Kirstie. See you around.” He heads back to the lifts, turning back

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

get out for a while for a change of air, so I head for the coffee

staring into space and pondering the incandescent joys of fucking with Ryan

It’s Charlotte, carrying a

she says. “Mind if I join

to make space as she puts her tray

herself. “I saw you from across the road and thought we might as well

“Sure…. er….”

over

words. What can

right way. I know Ben’s your brother-in-law,

up about

a couple of dates. Please don’t get the wrong

my impression that you need to

voice comes from above

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