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….

with a tall dark-haired

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

Definitely my

shut my

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

for changing the

“She seems nice.”

“I suppose.” Ben shrugs.

Doesn’t he like her?

very pretty

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

out laughing.

sideways. “I prefer

*****

enters the lobby. He

sinks as I recognise

Oh, God. It’s him….

Club. Am I going to be seeing them

This could be embarrassing.

gaze sweeping

abruptly slows, turns

“Sorry to seem rude, but

years

face clears. With the most charming of smiles, he stabs a

rises 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.” He taps his nose. “Kirstie. I’ll

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

anyone

rolls his eyes. “Sorry, of course, you’re new. No, don’t worry. They know me here. I’m just going to find

said that you’d got

met

just the other

he grins. “Was he

yes. He

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

laugh. “He’s a Dom, isn’t he. If you cut him in half, it’d say ‘Dom’ running right through the

back to the lifts, turning back as the doors open, and waving. “I’m Michael by the way. Nice to meet you

What a great guy….

Shame he got married….

*****

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

a window seat and I’m halfway through my lunch, staring into space and pondering the incandescent joys of fucking with Ryan when a shadow falls over

look up. It’s Charlotte, carrying

she says. “Mind if I

make space as

“I saw you from across the road and thought we might as well take the opportunity to get to

“Sure…. er….”

me over her

my words.

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

barely know him? He’s not shut up about

a dozen times and had a couple of dates. Please don’t get the wrong impression

it’s my impression that you need to worry

voice comes from above

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