He knocked on the door, hoping she'd answer quickly. He glanced around again to make sure Chief wasn't lurking. He'd already run into her. He turned quickly when he heard the door opening and almost dropped his bag at the view.
"Wow," he stuttered as she stepped aside to let him into the room. He walked inside as she closed the door. "You look, wow," he shook his head.
"It's a robe," she rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, but it's looking like nothing is under that robe," he nodded to her. He gestured with his free hand. The other was holding a bag.
"I can't say the same for you," she gestured at him a look of boredom almost on her face. "Are you going out for a run or something? Actually, you look like you are looking for a basketball court. Shooting hoops tonight? What gives?" Sharon eyed Andy as he stood there in long gym shorts, an old t-shirt, socks, and running shoes. "None of that," she gestured to him up and down with her finger, "is coming into that bed," she nodded to the sad looking double bed in the room. This motel was the worst they'd had on the trip. The rooms were old and dingy. Andy glanced toward the bed, nodding when he saw she had her own blanket on it. The peeling wallpaper didn't scream romance, but he quickly reminded himself this was not a romantic evening, just two people using each other really.
"Umm, yeah," he nodded to his outfit and continued, "I changed into something more comfortable. You are forgetting I didn't bring much with me on the trip, and Provenza and I had to buy a few things at the store. There wasn't a lot in the way of choices. It's probably good I changed. I ran into the Chief outside too, and I told her I was coming to work out," he flashed her a grin and wiggled his eyebrows. "I don't want to lie to the chief," he said as he took a step toward her. She was almost against the wall after letting him into the room, and he leaned in and kissed her. She kissed him quickly back, then broke apart, and stepped around him.
"This isn't some romantic evening," she sighed and walked across the room. His eyes followed, watching her in her black robe. She turned back toward him, and this time, she'd untied her robe. He just stood and watched.
"Well?" she asked, her robe hanging slightly open as she nodded to him.
"Oh, yeah," he nodded to her and held up the bag. "I walked down to the convenience store. I bought a new box of condoms after running out of what I normally carry last night when we finished. Never thought I'd need them on this trip. Can't say I'm not always prepared," he flashed a grin.
She just shrugged, "Great. Let's get started," she told him.
"You don't have to tell me twice," he smiled. She put her hand up toward him as he walked to her.
"The shoes?" she asked as if it was a question and looked at him again. "Lose the socks too."
"Yes, sure," he said as he quickly started to work on his shoes. As he finished he stood and ran his hands up her side. She leaned up and kissed him, and he returned that kiss. He moved his hand to her hair, and they started to back toward the bed, her hands and his moving quickly.
She broke off the kiss quickly, stalled her hands, and stepped back, "Did you bring food? We talked about that."
Andy looked to her, now slightly irritated, "We're starting this, and you're asking about food?"
"You said you'd bring food. We discussed this in the car. I said I wanted to relax and have some time for myself. We talked about eating dinner, and I told you I was craving onion rings. You said you'd find those or whatever you could find, and we'd eat here. I'm starving. We had lunch at 10:30 because Willie Rae and Clay were hungry. That was now 12 hours ago," she frowned at him.
"Fine," he ran his hand through his hair. "I forgot to get food."
"How did you forget? You were just at the convenience store and diner," she nodded to his bag.
"Yeah, but I had other things on my mind, more important things," he flashed a grin and smirked at her.
She shook her head, "Please, I'm hungry. Like I said, this is an agreement. It will happen, but I'm really hungry. We don't need to worry about ruining any mood; this isn't romantic. Could we please eat anything?"
He sighed and dropped his head. He looked up to find her looking at him, her eyes full of wonder. He nodded, "Fine. I'll go see if I can find something. You really want onion rings if they have them?"
"Yes, it's just something about total junk food when I'm with a man," she shrugged. "I'd love that and a greasy burger. I guess it's a little of the thrill of doing something I don't normally do. I don't do this," she nodded between them "with many, actually, hardly at all. I've been very discreet with the last two men. I just like good greasy food."
"I'll go back over there and see what I can find. It's a truck stop, so I'm sure they have all the grease you want," he smirked again. He moved to the bed and sat down to put on his shoes and socks. "One thing," he looked up at her and waited for her to answer. She eyed him, and he continued, "If you eat that junk, especially the onion rings, you have to brush your teeth or use some mouthwash. I'm not asking a lot, but please. That doesn't have anything to do with romance; that's good hygiene."
"She stood there, her robe hanging slightly open, and she pulled it closed when she could feel him staring at her. Her eyes met his, "I'll brush my teeth; you didn't even have to suggest it. I'm aware it's not exactly mood worthy, onion rings. For now, please don't stare."
"Why not? You're hot. I have seen it before now, you know," he told her.
"In the dark, yes. I'm just not interested in being eyed over by you. You'll have this mental picture in your mind, and when we are back at work, I'll se you staring at me there, thinking of this right here," she said. "I just need this to be what it is, a little fun on a business trip. I don't need to think of myself as one of your conquests."
Andy finished lacing up his shoes and stood. He was taller than she was, and he looked down at her, "I will stare. I can tell you that now, but I'll be thinking of the hot nights we had on this trip. I know what this is, but it doesn't mean I have to keep my mouth closed with you right here. You have a great body. Most of the women I've been with lately are younger, and most don't even have what you have. I'm just telling you that, you know, as like an expert," he winked.
She rolled her eyes, "See, that's the junk I need to avoid, you and your mouth. I don't need that. I just need, well," she shook her head and continued, "I just need to eat and get this done for tonight. Then, I need sleep. It's getting late, and we haven't eaten yet."
"I'll be back shortly, as soon as I can find your greasy food," he smirked. "I don't know what the big deal is about it being late. We're going to be back in L.A. tomorrow. The drive isn't long, and I told you I would drive if you are too tired. I didn't harm your rental car today," he flashed a smile.
"I just don't want you in my room all night," she admitted. "We need to wrap this up tonight, so you can go back to Provenza," she told him.
"That's sick," he shook his head. "That sounds sick. I'm not going back to Provenza. I'm rooming with him, that's it."
She let out a low chuckle, "Call it what you want, but I can't run the risk of you being in here most of the night or all night. I don't need wandering eyes to see you coming out of my room."
"Well, you don't have to worry about anyone seeing me earlier. Yeah, I ran into Chief, but I told her I was going on a run. I did," he grinned. "I ran to the store and bought condoms for the night. No one saw me there. I'll be back shortly," he leaned in and kissed her again. She started to push him away, but he ran his hand up her side again. She looked up at him as she pulled away from the kiss. "Besides food, want anything else? Candles?"
"It's not a romantic night. No candles. Please, just get the food," she nodded to him. He walked back to her, looking at her standing there, and he kissed her again. She looked up at him.
"Don't be gone too long," she said as she stood there, now breathless. He winked and left the room.
Andy sighed early the next morning as he tried to get situated in the car. He squinted as he started fumbling around in the car for his seatbelt. Sharon looked over at him.
"The sun isn't even up yet. It's not even 6:00. Why are you squinting?" she asked.
"The light from the car," he nodded to it. "I've got a terrible headache. You know, it wouldn't have killed you to let me sleep in that room. I barely got two hours of sleep back in mine."
"I told you this isn't some romance. You didn't need to stay. I didn't get much more sleep than that. I believe it was you last night who told me it wasn't a big deal if we didn't get sleep because we were going to be back home today," she eyed him, that glare making Andy almost cringe.
"That was before I had this headache," he said through gritted teeth. "I think the late nights are finally catching up with me."
"The playboy isn't as young as he used to be?" she rolled her eyes and pursed her lips as she looked at him.
"I believe you were the one who started all this. Don't start with me," he said. "Sounds to me like someone is in a bad mood because playtime is over."
"Hmm, I think you are just as upset this trip is ending," she scowled at him. "I'm not in a bad mood. All of this ends, here now, since we will be back in L.A. today. Thank you for our agreement. It's been fine," she nodded.
"Fine?" he raised his eyebrows at her, finally opening his eyes as they adjusted to the light. "That's what you have to say after the last few nights?"
"Yes, it was fine," she gave a single nod again. "Thank you. As for me, I'm perfectly content getting on the road this early. I didn't want to admit that to Chief, but it's fine with me if she wants to get back early to get this paperwork started. I can get my report filed and get home."
"Home to what?" he asked. "You said your kids are gone. Are you going to catch a flight or even drive to meet them?"
She glared at him, "Already checked flights. Everything is booked for Christmas Eve and Christmas now. No, I'm going to be in Los Angeles on my own. I'll create memories in my condo, alone. I've resigned myself to the idea. I don't want to drive to meet them. It's too much driving for the time I have. I have to work on the 26th, and I have half a mind to take the shift tomorrow so my lieutenant can enjoy his family. My lieutenant, who has been left in charge in my absence, has a six-month-old. Seems someone should be able to enjoy family, even if I can't. So, I'm fine to get home. It's basically turned into a work week for me."
"You know, I can hear the bitterness in your voice," he told her. "Don't snap at me because you have a crappy holiday coming up now. I'm fully aware our arrangement is over now. It's been okay on my end," he smirked. "I still feel like I smell like onion rings and can't believe you like to eat that junk."
She flipped her hair as the group pulled out of the motel. Brenda had compromised with her parents to pull out early if she went to dinner with them the night before. She'd done that, and now, the group was leaving at 6:00 to get back on the road.
"I don't eat that junk, as you said," she said slowly, "all the time, just sometimes," she shrugged.
He chuckled, "Right, you like to eat it when you have your way with someone."
She rolled her eyes at him, "As I said, we can stop talking about this. It's over. You go back to your life, and I'll go back to mine."
"I get it," he nodded. "You just have another guy on the side in L.A., right? I was your on the road guy."
She scoffed at him and then rolled her eyes, "Let's just get along for the duration of the drive, hmm?"
"Fine by me," he grumbled. "I'm going to take a nap. I was up way too late, and I'm not sure it was even worth it."
The two settled into an uncomfortable silence. Sharon drove, and Andy fell asleep, leaving their agreement to end there, on the road.