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….

a tall dark-haired guy and assumed that it was

you saw. It was the Haswells. Beth Haswell is the

my mistake

shut my

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

for changing

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty

so. She’s

burst out laughing.

sideways. “I

*****

the lobby. He is tall, although not

sinks as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

friend from the Club. Am I going to be seeing them

This could be embarrassing.

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

turns and looks

to seem rude, but

two or three years ago.

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

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 Kirstie.”

to say that is not related to this amazing looking man fucking my brains out in

to check with anyone if you have an appointment or

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

your friend said that you’d

met him

just the other

grins. “Was he

He was

He’s a good man; one of the best, but sometimes….

If you cut him

the lifts, turning back as

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

canteen; 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, ordering myself

seat and I’m halfway through my lunch, staring into space and pondering the incandescent

It’s Charlotte, carrying

she says. “Mind if I join

I shuffle up my chair to make space as

and thought we might as well take the opportunity to get to know each other, since it

“Sure…. er….”

over her coffee. “Something

words. What can I politely

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

barely know him? He’s not shut up about you

a couple of dates. Please don’t get the

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

voice comes from above

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