Andy squatted on the stationary bike, concentrating on the floor as he pedaled as hard and fast as he could. It had been an immensely frustrating week at work with a double homicide and chief up his ass about one too many nights out. It was hot and his heart felt like it was going to pound out of his chest, but something about the exercise felt good. When his brain was tired the physical challenge was always welcome; if he exhausted his body as much as he exhausted his mind he might be able to find a moment of quiet somewhere between the bad guys and the booze.
As his work out came to an end and the bike beeped at him to begin his ten minute cool down, he finally relaxed and sat all the way down on the bike seat. He grabbed his hand towel off the handle bar and wiped the sweat from his brow, looking up at the line of treadmills in front of him for the first time since he got on the bike. Andy couldn't help the smirk that crept across his face as his eyes settled on the back of a lithe frame running on the machine directly in front of him.
She wasn't very tall but she was certainly fit. Her spandex running tights hugged her in all the right places and her curly auburn hair bounced halfway down her back with every step, even though it was tied up in a high ponytail. She had headphones on and seemed oblivious to the world as she ran hard. This was the first time Andy had ever seen her and he liked what he saw. As he watched her he noticed the back of her shirt was darkened with sweat, hugging her midsection even more than it normally would if it were dry. She must have been running in front of him for a while.
The bike came to a stop and a summary of Andy's work out flashed on the screen. He sat and scrutinized it, not wanting to leave for fear of somehow missing her without talking to her. She'd never been here before-he didn't want to miss his chance in case she never came back. He studied his miles biked, calories burned, and hills climbed closely as he watched her run out of the corner of his eye. He really didn't want to do another work out, but if he had to jump on the treadmill next to her, he would.
A few minutes later, admitting defeat, Andy stood and collected his things. He grabbed his water bottle and towel and slid off the bike. As he began to walk away, the little redhead stopped the treadmill and stepped off of it, stretching her arms as she stood next to the machine. Her hairline drenched with sweat and her face glistening, she pulled her t-shirt off over her head and wiped her face with it, revealing a perfect mid section clad in only a sports bra now. Her abs weren't chiseled, but they were there. She seemed to be in her mid thirties, and her face was even more beautiful than her body. She threw the shirt on the belt and bent over to stretch her legs, allowing for Andy to see straight down her sports bra. There wasn't an inch of her that wasn't impressive. Tired and oblivious to the man ogling her, she grabbed her things and headed away from the machine. As she looked down at her sports watch she ran straight in to Andy's chest with full force.
'Shi-sorry. I didn't see you," she apologized quickly, bending to pick up the things she'd dropped. Her voice was pleasant. There was something graceful about it, but she sounded tired. Andy smiled and grabbed her water bottle off the floor, "Its no problem. I was the one in the way. Shouldn't have uh... been stretching in the aisle."
Sharon smiled and grabbed her water bottle, "Yes, you're right..probably not the brightest idea." She reached up and pulled her hair out of the pony tail, allowing the fiery curls to fall over her shoulders and down to the bottom of her rib cage.
"Forgive me. Perhaps I'm not very bright." Andy's tone was mischievous; flirtatious, as he handed her her water bottle.
Sharon smiled at him and rolled her eyes, "I'm Sharon. I'm sorry I ran in to you-and then insulted you. I get a little cranky after running for an hour."
Andy held his hand out and grinned even wider at her. "I'm Andy. You part of the force, or just abusing someone else's gym privileges?"
Sharon began to walk as they talked. She was hot and tired and had two kids to get home to-besides, the baby sitter got upset when she was late. "LAPD, tried and true." Andy nodded, following her out like a puppy. "Nice, nice. I work in homicide."
"Ah, so a detective, then?" Sharon raised her eyebrows, grabbing for the door handle to the women's changing room. "Well-I trust you can figure out which department I'm in on your own, then. Now, unfortunately, I've got to run."
Andy nodded and moved so she could make her way through the changing room door. "Well, it was lovely to meet your Sharon..and the next time I'm looking for a little mystery to solve at work, perhaps I'll find you there."
Sharon smiled. It had been a while since anyone had hit on her, and with her husband three years gone, the attention was nice, but she didn't know what to say. Instead of making an ass of herself, she decided to play it safe. "You do that. Goodnight, detective."
She gave him one last backwards glance and sashayed in to the changing room, her long auburn curls bouncing behind her.
Andy sighed. He already knew he was hooked.