Disclaimer:Monk belongs to the USA Network
Author's Note: Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews! I really appreciate the feedback!
"Hi, Adrian," Sharona said, smiling innocently.
"Sharona…you're wet. You're dripping all over my welcome mat," Monk said, taking in the sight of the woman who he had been yearning to see for what seemed like an eternity.
Sharona rolled her eyes. "I haven't seen you for three years, and what's the first thing you say to me? I'm getting your welcome mat wet," she said with a chuckle. Then in a soft voice she said, "I'm glad to see that you're still the same old Adrian."
Monk smiled and nodded his head, still staring intently at the woman in front of him. He subtly breathed in her scent. The mixture of strawberry shampoo and vanilla perfume made his heart beat increase in an instant. God, how he missed that smell!
"Adrian? Can I come in for a minute? I really have to talk to you."
"Um…I'd—I'd love for you to come in, but…you're soaking wet. I can't have you dripping all over the floor," Monk said matter-of-factly.
"Mr. Monk, just give her some towels and she'll dry off," Natalie said.
"But then my towels will be ruined."
"Mr. Monk! Go get Ms. Fleming some towels!"
Monk stared at Natalie for a moment, then went to the bathroom closet and brought Sharona some towels. Sharona dried off the best she could, and Monk finally let her in the room. Sharona went to sit down on the right end of the leather couch, but before she sat Monk said, "Wait!" He placed a dry towel on the couch and told Sharona, "Okay, now you can sit." Sharona rolled her eyes once again and sat down, motioning for Monk to sit down next to her. Natalie followed Monk and sat down on the left end of the couch. Both Monk and Sharona looked at her as if she was crazy.
"What?" she asked.
"Weren't you leaving?" Monk asked.
"Well, I was, but this is just too good to miss," Natalie replied with a smile.
Sharona laughed. She liked this girl already. "So Monk, aren't you going to introduce me to your new assistant?"
Monk was noticeably nervous, he kept rubbing his legs and wouldn't look at either woman. He sighed and said, "Sharona, this is Natalie Teeger. She's been my assistant ever since three months after you left. She's a single mother of a fourteen-year-old daughter."
"Oh, wow! I have a fifteen-year-old son. I bet they'll end up going to the same school together," Sharona said, leaning over Monk so that she could talk directly to Natalie.
"Oh, that'd be great. Julie could show him around the high school."
"Yeah. Wouldn't it be cute if they ended up liking each other? Does she have a boyfriend?"
"Okay! Okay!" Monk shouted. He stood up, grabbed Natalie's coat and purse and said, "That's it. Natalie, please, go home. Me and Sharona need to talk."
Sharona's mouth fell open. She had never seen Monk so assertive before, and usually when she wants to have a talk with him, he does everything to try and avoid actually having that talk. Maybe he's not the same old Adrian after all.
Natalie smirked, stood up, grabbed her things from Monk, and headed out the door. "See you tomorrow, Mr. Monk. You know you're going to have to tell me all the juicy details in the morning."
"Goodbye, Natalie," Monk said. He walked back over to the couch and sat down. He saw the surprised look on Sharona's face and asked, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I—I just—um…what's happened in these last three years?"
"Well, I went camping, I went to Vegas and won Disher's life savings back for him, and…I found Trudy's killer."
"What!" Sharona shouted. "Boy, you're just full of surprises tonight!"
"Yeah," Monk said with a chuckle. He looked into Sharona's blue eyes and said "A lot of things can happen in three years… two months, five days, and seven hours."
Sharona laughed to herself. "Yeah, but some things never change," she said as she reached over and grabbed Monk's hand, "and I'm thankful for that."
Monk smiled. He never even flinched when she took his hand. He was content to finally feel her touch again. He never wanted to let go.
"So tell me, how'd you find the creep who killed Trudy?"
