Thank you so much for your kindness for the first chapter! Here's the next one. As always, I welcome your feedback.
I do not own Major Crimes or any of the fabulous characters.
Chapter Two
The day passed easily enough. With no new cases on their plate, the squad was able to catch up on paperwork and head home early. Sharon needed to work on evaluations and other administrative tasks, so she left long after her team. She stopped and picked up dinner on her way home, and she and Andy enjoyed comfortable small talk as they ate.
After dinner, they finally made their way to that outdoor fireplace they had both been wanting to try out. It was a cool evening, and the warmth from the fire created an inviting atmosphere. Still, Sharon snuggled into Andy's side, allowing his body heat to warm her fully. They sat together underneath a shared blanket while the fire quietly crackled, its orange embers lighting the dark blue night sky. Andy placed a soft kiss to the top of her head, his arm wrapped tightly around her slender frame.
"I'm really sorry about this morning, Sharon," he said quietly.
"It's no big deal. I would have preferred to have been dressed, but Kurt seemed really nice. And you're a good friend," she said with a smile.
"But... something is bothering you," he observed. She was quiet for a moment.
"I guess... I'm just wondering why Kurt was surprised to see me," she asked carefully.
"It's complicated," he replied, and she sat up so she could face him. Andy saw a flash of something that looked a lot like hurt cross her features before she schooled them.
"You didn't want him to know about us," she said, the words more of a statement than a question as realization dawned on her. He shook his head.
"It isn't that. Kurt and I have history with women, and the guy's still not over his divorce even though it was like twenty years ago," Andy explained. "I was going to tell him about us, but he was going on about some relationship that had just ended and how he wanted me to help him get over her. And then he was too far gone to discuss anything with, so I didn't exactly get the chance," he said apologetically.
"Okay," she stated simply.
"I mean, obviously honey, I wanted him to meet you, so I wanted him to know. If I'd set my alarm correctly, I would have been able to this morning before you got down there," He added. She nodded. "If it were up to me, I'd shout it from he rooftops, you know that," he said with a smile. She brought her hand up and gently caressed his cheek for a few beats before ghosting her lips over his.
"I get it," she whispered, and he pulled her closer into an embrace.
"I love you," he said as he nuzzled into her ear. She hummed at the feel of his breath on her skin and his lips on her ear.
"And I love you," she breathed out. He began placing light kisses down her neck and she was so tempted to give into the sensation and allow it to carry them both away for the rest of the evening, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her. "What do you mean by 'history' with women?" She asked quietly. He paused his ministrations on her neck and met her gaze.
"As in history with pursuing the same women," he explained. "It's all water under the bridge now," he assured her before returning his lips to her neck. She nodded. Whatever had happened between Andy and Kurt was in the past, and she decided, really none of her business anyway. They spent the next hour outside together kissing and caressing as the fire died down and finally burned out. Once the colder air had chilled them both, they moved inside and collapsed into their bed, sleep claiming them both quickly.
Friday night rolled around after another quiet day at work. Sharon and Andy had made plans to meet Kurt for dinner at some trendy little place the latter had been dying to try. Sharon had managed to wrap things up in time to get home and grab a quick shower before changing into her evening outfit of fitted jeans, a deep purple silk camisole, 3/4 length-sleeved black cardigan, and her favorite ankle boots.
While she was applying the last of her makeup, Andy entered the bathroom still wearing the t-shirt and shorts he had changed into when they got home. Sharon glanced at him through the mirror, and noticed that he was just standing there watching her instead of getting ready.
"We're supposed to meet Kurt in thirty minutes," she said glancing at her watch. Andy looked a bit sheepish.
"Yeah, I know, but I've got some bad news," he replied. "I just got a call from one of the newer members at AA, and the guy's in bad shape," he added while rubbing the back of his neck. Sharon stilled her motion and turned to face him. She placed her hands on his chest and lightly caressed him.
"Ok, no problem," she assured him. Andy had recently started advising some of the new members at AA, and Sharon was happy that he had decided to take this important step. "We'll just reschedule our evening," she added.
"Just because I can't go doesn't mean you and Kurt shouldn't go and have a nice time," he said. "The guy's going to be on his own if we cancel. And besides, I can always join you when I finish," he added. She nodded.
"If you're sure," she asked. He gave her a smile.
"Absolutely. Go. Have fun. You can also keep him in line. He'll be on his best behavior with you around. You have that effect on people," he said with a flirty smile before leaning down and capturing her lips. They shared a lingering, heated kiss. "I'm sorry I can't be there".
"Don't be. I'm proud of you," she beamed and they shared another, shorter kiss before each went back to getting ready for their, now, separate evenings.
Things were going well at dinner with Kurt. He was easy to talk to and very friendly. The food was pretty good, and Kurt seemed to be enjoying his various selections from the bar. If he was disappointed Andy couldn't come, he certainly wasn't acting that way. In fact, he seemed to be really enjoying himself.
"Andy ever tell you about the time he walloped a ball right into a neighbor's windshield," he asked in between sips of his drink. Sharon could feel the amusement in his voice.
"No, he didn't," she replied before taking a sip of her single glass of wine. She had been nursing it for quite some time because there was no way she was going to have another one. She had to drive, and she didn't want to come home even the slightest bit tipsy considering how Andy was spending his evening.
"Bunch of us were all playing baseball after school one day when Andy hits a hell of a shot. Probably would have been a home run had we been in an actual ballpark, but unfortunately, we weren't. Ball goes flying through the air and lands right in Mr. Sawyer's windshield," he recounted as Sharon listened, captivated by this insight into Andy's childhood. "We all took off running because Mr. Sawyer was about the meanest old man you have ever met. But Andy, he stood there shellshocked until he got the courage to go apologize".
"He went and admitted what he had done?" She asked surprised. Not that she didn't think Andy would do the right thing, but rather, she knew how kids were when these sorts of things happened. Kurt took a few more sips of his drink before finishing his story.
"Not exactly. He walked up to the door, legs shaking, and started to turn around to leave. He was chickening out, but then the door opened, and the old man's granddaughter was on the other side. She was a looker, too. Wound up with a date," he laughed.
"What about the windshield?" Sharon asked.
"Well, the old man loved his granddaughter more than life itself, so he let Andy off easy. Made him work off the cost of the repair by doing odd jobs around his house. Andy didn't mind, though, since it gave him plenty of time with the granddaughter," Kurt explained. She smiled.
"Hmm, I bet," Sharon hummed. Kurt was quiet. The effects of the alcohol settling in his system and making him a bit bolder than he would normally be. He allowed his eyes to rake over Sharon's face and neck before spending an extended time on her cleavage. Why did Andy always get all of the beautiful women? This one was even more beautiful because she was also smart, sophisticated, and fun to be around. He was smitten, and he needed to find a way to bury it before she caught on. He decided to down the rest of his drink to give himself something else to focus on. The minute the alcohol settled in his stomach, his head began to spin and he knew it was a mistake.
Sharon suddenly felt slightly uncomfortable under his intense gaze, and she was growing more and more uncomfortable with the amount of alcohol he was consuming. She decided that it would be best to end their evening. After all, dinner was long gone and they were just sitting and enjoying their drinks at this point.
"I should probably get going. It's been a long week and I'm exhausted," she said leaning over to get her purse. Kurt felt a small pang of disappointment at the thought of her leaving, but the rational side of him (at least what was left of it) knew it was for the best.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. Maybe we can get together tomorrow night with Andy," he suggested. She nodded.
"That sounds good. Thank you for a nice evening," she said as she stood up. He did the same and soon he was walking her to the exit with his arm hovering right over the small of her back. She felt it brush her lightly through her shirt a couple of times as they made their way through the crowded restaurant. Once they were outside, she turned to walk towards her car and he grabbed her arm and tugged her toward him so they were standing close and facing each other.
"You're a very beautiful woman, Sharon. And Andy is a very lucky man," he whispered while his eyes scanned her cleavage once again before settling on her lips.
Panic coursed though Sharon. This man was blatantly hitting on her and now he was staring at her mouth. Maybe it was the alcohol, she couldn't be sure, but she needed to de-escalate the situation and get out of there. What was it Andy said about the history between him and Kurt with women?
"I am actually the lucky one, so I'm going to go ahead and get home to Andy," she said firmly. He took the hint and instantly backed up, releasing her arm in the process. Sharon turned around and walked to her car without looking back.
What was she going to tell Andy? Should she tell Andy? And what about tomorrow night? It was all jumbled in her head, the entire evening replaying over and over as she tried to decide if she had said or done something that had encouraged his best friend. She drove the rest of the way home contemplating what she should do next.
TBC
