Choosing Her Lover

He lets out a long sigh, stares at the ceiling, then waves me to a chair. “Why don’t you sit down? You look as if you’re going to fall down.”

I sit and he pours me a glass of water. “Go on,” he says, but the edge has gone from his voice.

“Then he said that he’d seen the two of you…. you and Charlotte…. he said….”

“Alright, I know what he said there…. Carry on.”

I look him in the eye for just a second, then look away. “Mr Alexanders…. I’d already figured it out, about the three of you. I’ve seen you together and your rings and….”

“Yes, I gathered that last night. So….”

“Ben was furious, incandescent. He said he was going to come here and make sure you didn’t go near his brother’s wife again…. I think was intending to threaten you.”

He snorts, and just for a moment, I hear the humour there at this unlikely possibility.

I don’t see this one being scared by Ben….

He barks a short, humourless laugh. “So, what on earth possessed you to tell him that you met me and Michael at the Club? Why would you tell him something like that? A man like Ben? And under those circumstances?”

I hang my head again. “I’m not sure. I really didn’t mean to. It just sort of came out. By the time we were at your house, I was pretty wound up. I wasn’t thinking straight. I’d been thinking for a while that I should wind things up with him, that I’m not being fair to him but there never seemed to be the right time.”

“I think events may have overtaken you on that, Kirstie. I rather suspect Ben won’t be wanting to see you again.”

I nod gloomily. “I didn’t want to do it like this, though. He’s a decent guy. He just doesn’t….” I fight back the tears that threaten to well up again. “I’m sorry. I really was trying to help.”

sympathetic now. Perhaps the

“Vanilla man?” he asks.

“Mmm, yes.”

you seeing Ben? Michael tells me you’re still going to the clubs. Ben is hardly to sort of man to fit

the beach with my dogs. He…. courted me. It’s years since anyone did

at me. “Very

“Yes, he is sweet.”

is sweet your thing,

Arrogant bastard!

overtakes my guilt

you know.” I snap. “It’s at least partly

anyway, but somehow, he looks

you’re in a situation where it matters that people don’t realise what your.… domestic arrangements are, you could tone it down a

head tilts, his

say

wear for the office….” he comments,

the bit between my teeth now. Recklessly, I plunge on, letting my mouth do my thinking for me. “I spotted it right away, especially when the three of you all have rings. Do you really think other people wouldn’t see it, even if they reach the

at me, saying

given the rope to

it now, you know. You could cool down

that supposed

know, the tall immaculately dressed one that’s utter evil and speaks with a perfect English

bursts out laughing. “I’m