"Well, there they are," Sue smiled brightly, as she finished putting lunch on the table. "I saw the three of you coming off the slopes, so I went ahead and got lunch all ready."
"If you were watching, then I am sure you saw me fall down that whole mountain there," Rusty pointed to indicate the slopes.
Andy chuckled, patting Rusty on the back, "Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. You did well out there. It's not an easy thing to pick up. It's like learning to drive the car. You've been working on that for a few months now with Sharon. Imagine if I'd asked you to just drive on the freeway the first time you drove. It wouldn't have been an easy feat, yet, yesterday, you handled it well. You'll get it."
Rusty stopped to think of Andy's example, and he just replied with a, "Huh."
"Mom, thank you for getting lunch ready. We could have managed on our own," Sharon said putting her arm around her mom. "You don't have to do all the cooking here."
"That's right," Andy piped up, as he and Rusty sat. "Rusty and I were talking upstairs this morning. We agreed that we are cooking breakfast tomorrow, right Rusty?"
Rusty looked up, agreeing, "Yeah, the lieutenant swears he cooks better than you, Sharon. I told him that wouldn't be hard," he grinned.
Sharon scowled at both of them, "Ha ha," she said deliberately, as her mom laughed.
"Where's Dad?" Sharon asked.
Sue waved her hand, "Oh, he's already taking a nap. I'm not far behind him. We ate already, but dig in. Sandwich stuff is on the table. Rusty, I hear you can eat quite a bit."
Rusty just shrugged, "I am a growing boy," he smirked to Sharon.
"So, are we all going back out there after lunch?" Andy inquired.
Sharon gave Rusty a look, and he resigned, "Fine," he sighed. "I'll give it another shot."
"Good," Sharon grinned, winking at Andy.
Lunch passed easily, and after sandwiches and hot chocolate, the trio returned to the slopes. The bright sunshine made for perfect skiing conditions, and Rusty found that he had improved quite a bit from the morning.
"Sharon, this is actually kind of fun," he admitted.
Andy grabbed onto Sharon's arm, in exaggeration, "Captain, did young Rusty just admit to something new being fun, enjoyable? That doesn't sound like our Rusty."
"So funny, Lieutenant," Rusty rolled his eyes. "Okay, yeah, it's not so bad."
"I'm glad you are enjoying it, Rusty. I'm sure it would be more fun if Ricky and Emily were here, and you weren't stuck on the slopes with old people like us."
He shrugged, "You guys have been pretty cool. At least you haven't laughed at me all afternoon. Plus, I have to stick to these really easy trails, which it sounds like your kids wouldn't enjoy."
Sharon smiled, "Rusty, they would enjoy skiing with you, no matter what. How about a couple more runs and then go in for the day?" she suggested.
"Ahh, I think I'm done. My toes are frozen. Can I go in?" he asked.
Sharon pursed her lips, looking to Andy, and he replied, "I'm good for another couple runs. Rusty, it's fine if you head in. Tell Sue and Bob we'll be in soon."
"Sharon?" Rusty asked.
Sharon nodded, "Thank you for trying, Rusty. We'll be in shortly," and with that, Rusty started back to the condo, and Sharon looked to Andy, "You just wanted to get me alone on the ski lift again."
"You're a perceptive one, Captain," Andy winked, as he started toward the lift. "Best part of skiing," he yelled to her as he began skiing. Sharon laughed and followed to catch up.
"I hope this thing breaks down," Andy muttered, as he scooted closer to Sharon as soon as they got onto the lift. Sharon burst out laughing, but she turned to catch Andy in a kiss right away.
"Wow, you aren't wasting any time," she grinned.
"Of course, I'm not!" he exclaimed. "This lift doesn't take very long. I'd be perfectly happy, for once, if it broke down, and we had to just sit here and make out," he grinned.
She rolled her eyes, "The little kids ahead of us and behind us would certainly be shocked."
"Don't care," he said between kisses. "If there were high school guys ahead or behind us, they'd be cheering me on," he said as he kissed her again. Sharon wasn't fighting the kisses either. Andy moved back to gauge her reaction, and she quickly planted her lips on him, as he chuckled, "Ahhh, can't stay away, Captain," he grinned, as he kissed her again.
"You know," she said as he kissed the side of her neck, "I hope no one can see us from this lift-I should clarify, I hope no one from the condo. It is the closest lift to the condo."
He waved it off, "Thousands of skiers on the mountain, and you'd have to be able to peg us. We're fine, Sharon," he said again, as he continued to kiss her. Sharon giggled.
"Andy," she sighed, "We have to get off the lift now," she nudged him. He groaned, but pulled back, grinning. Sharon rolled her eyes at him, and she used her glove to wipe the smudge of lipstick off his face. "Dare I ask if you'd like to do another run with another ride on the lift?" she teased. Andy just winked at her.
When the two finally arrived back at the condo, they learned that Rusty was in the shower, getting ready to head to the steakhouse with Sharon's parents. Both her parents were ready to go, just waiting on Rusty.
"Ahh, Shar Bear," her dad smiled, "sorry I missed you at lunch. Where are you eating tonight?"
"Hi Dad," she hugged him, "I think we are going to find Italian. We both love Italian, so that's the plan," she said as Andy nodded.
"Good. Enjoy your night out. Here's some money to take my girl out, Andy," Bob said as he stuffed money in Andy's hand.
"Oh, no!" Andy said, "You don't need to do that. I can manage just fine," he chuckled.
"Nonsense!" Bob told him. "Enjoy your evening out, both of you."
Rusty came down the stairs, ready for the evening. Both Sharon and Andy turned to him, "Rusty, you probably feel like a new person after getting a shower."
"Like a sore person," he grumbled. "I am so sore from falling all day."
Andy nodded, "Trust me; I understand," he chuckled.
"Well, we are going to head to dinner. You two have a nice evening," Sue smiled at them, "and if you aren't home when we go to bed, we'll see you in the morning."
"Don't forget-Rusty and I are making breakfast," Andy added, and the group nodded as they left.
Andy walked up behind Sharon, wrapping his arms around her and putting his head on her shoulder, "So, Italian tonight?"
"Mmmm," Sharon nodded, "sounds good. Italian is always good."
Andy kissed the side of her head, as he stood up, "I know, but Captain, that sounded awfully forward of you-Italian is always good," he winked. "Glad I'm Italian," he grinned as he ran for the stairs. Sharon chased him and stopped at the bottom step.
"Fine, go ahead. Get your shower first. You'll still have to wait for me to finish before we go eat," she said sweetly.
He looked over the railing from the upstairs, "I'm only just warming up the shower for you. You can go first," he grinned. Sharon rolled her eyes at him; he always had the best comeback lines.
Between kissing, taking their individual showers, and more kissing, the two didn't leave for dinner for almost an hour and a half. They only left then after Sharon stopped Andy from his kissing quest down her neck, "Andy, if we don't leave now, my parents and Rusty will be home, and there will be no question what we've been up to," she smiled brightly at him.
"I'm more than happy to explain that I like making out with their hot daughter, and Rusty-making out with his hot foster mom," he grinned.
Sharon started laughing, "Stop it!" as she shoved him to get up and get ready. "You are terrible. We need to go now before everyone gets home. Move it," she pushed him out of the room, down the stairs, and into the car. He tried kissing her again there. "Andy! Focus," she continued to laugh. "Are you capable of driving to the restaurant?"
"Well," he threw his hands up, "we could always get Rusty to drive us. You-me-kissing-backseat-we could have Rusty drive us around while we make out," he grinned at her.
Sharon schooled herself for her answer, "No, that would be illegal," she nodded. "Rusty has to have a licensed driver in the front seat." Andy just shook his head in a silent laugh, not wanting to indicate Sharon had won that round.
It took just a few minutes to drive to the Italian restaurant Sharon liked. She hadn't been there in years, well before bringing Andy to Park City. The two were seated quickly, and then were silent as they looked over the menu.
"One of the first times we've had a somewhat romantic meal," Andy smiled at her.
Sharon put her menu down, thinking, "It is," she agreed. "I am glad my parents took Rusty to dinner."
"Me too," he said as he reached across and clasped her hands. "So," he said as he drew lazy circles around her hand, "What are you going to eat?"
"Hmm, that's a tough call," she admitted. "I'm torn."
"Between?" Andy asked.
"The eggplant and the lasagna tonight. Both sound delightful," Sharon explained.
Andy grinned, "Those were my choices too. You get one; I'll get one, and we can share."
She smiled brightly, "Deal. We do seem to have the same tastes."
"In that case, pick your dessert because I'm making sure the lady with a secret sweet tooth gets her dessert," he winked.
Dinner passed with easy conversation and a lot of laughs. Both realized just how much they enjoyed each other's company, and dessert was an easy decision too. The cheesecake was the winner, a favorite dessert to both. As they were finishing up, Andy started up the conversation again.
"So, what are the plans for tomorrow?" he asked.
"Well," Sharon said as she was stirring her cup of tea," as much as I would love to ski tomorrow, I think we all need a recovery day."
Andy nodded in agreement, "Rusty will thank you," he grinned.
"Rusty does need a few things, so I was thinking the three of us could do some shopping. I'm actually suggesting it because I could use your help," she stated.
"What's that?" he asked, reaching again for her hand.
"Rusty needs a couple of suits. He doesn't have any yet, and the DA's office has been saying they plan to pick up with the case after the holidays. So, I was wondering if the best dressed lieutenant in the LAPD might help?" she bit her lip.
"Of course!" Andy smiled happily. "That's easy. We can get Rusty a couple of suits. You're right-thinking about it, the kid doesn't have a lot in the way of dress clothes. Between his school uniform and what I'd call teenager loungewear, yeah, he will need some dress clothes."
"Good," she smiled. "I had thought about taking him myself, but well, he really needs a guy there for guidance, not that I couldn't deal with this. I took Ricky for everything he ever needed. I remember buying him his first suits, but I didn't have anyone else around who could help. With Rusty, it's different. You are here, and he trusts you."
"Say no more, Sharon. I'm glad to help. Shopping it is," he smiled. "Now, are you ready to go?"
"I am. Would you like to see a movie?" she asked. "I looked up a few, and there are a couple playing that look decent."
"Sure," he agreed, "but it's not like a date," he winked.
"Of course not; I'm married," she winked.
"I'm not sure if it mattered what movie we saw, Sharon," Andy chuckled as the two left the movie theater.
"The first 20 minutes were good," she said sheepishly, blushing.
"I'm sure the last hour or so was good too," he grinned. "Kissing you was way more fun, though."
"Andy, we were like high school teenagers in there," she said putting her hands in her face. "I'm almost embarrassed."
He grinned at her, "I'm not. I can't tell you the last time I spent a movie making out with a hot girl," he winked at her, and she swatted at him. "I was probably 15 or so."
"Exactly my point!" she hissed. "We're acting like we are teenagers."
"You have a teenager," he grinned, and he dropped that quickly when Sharon glared at him. "Sorry, Sharon."
She sighed, as she looked at him, "I enjoyed it; we just need to get a grip on ourselves, please," she pleaded.
He nodded, "Yeah, I'm sorry. Maybe we need a chaperon at the movies," he smiled.
She closed her eyes and began to chuckle, "Well, not to worry. Once we leave here, we have a built in one," she gave him a small smile, "Andy, please don't think that I didn't enjoy it."
He patted her arm, "I know," he nodded, "I know."
"Let's head home," she suggested, and he agreed. The car was silent for a few moments as each thought back to their enjoyable evening.
"Can I still cuddle up with you and Parks?" he said a few moments later, knowing the answer by the silly grin that appeared on Sharon's face.