A Run to Remember

There was a faint knock on Rob Kosar's door.

"Come in."

Jennifer Long of Human Resources led the way in, followed by an unfamiliar, but very attractive woman in a summer dress that showed her long tanned legs to great advantage. The top was not so much revealing as it was intriguing as to what it suggested was covered up. There was no mistaking the fact that Rob noticed.

"Mr. Kosar, I want to introduce you to Toni Verano, a new hire who will be working with both IT and Sales. Toni, Mr. Kosar is C.O.O. and oversees a number of corporate functions, including IT. You will be seeing a lot of Toni over the next six months, probably not so much after that. In the Fall she will be relocating to be with her fiancee in Massachusetts."

Toni extended her hand for a handshake, which Rob found to be firm and warm. Toni blushed and smiled, which Rob thought was charming but not in any way remarkable.

"So, Toni, you will be a temp?"

Jennifer answered, "Not really, We are working out a new arrangement. She will be working in a new employment model. Here physically for the present, but working remotely in the future. This is something new for all of us."

"I guess I missed that detail. I knew Toni would be starting today, but did not realize that she would be working remotely in the future. In any event, Toni, welcome!"

"Thank you, Mr. Kosar. I am happy to have this opportunity."

"Not Mr. Kosar. That was my Dad. Almost calls me Rob, maybe except Jennifer."

Jennifer blushed again. "Rob, I thought you would be interested to know that you and Toni were both distance runners in college. I wouldn't be surprised if you run into each other running the loop up at the Nature Center sometime."

"Is that where you work out Rob? I usually just go the high school and run around the track. Boring, but reasonably safe. Do you still run competitively?"

"My running is mostly about fitness. I will occassionally run a 10k, but just as a spike to staying fit. The one nice thing about the Nature Center trail is that it is never boring. In addition to the change of seasons and the natural beauty of the place, there are all kinds of wildlife."

"Really? Like what?"

"Well in the area around the lake there are herons and other wading birds and occasionally even eagles. In the wooded area there are deer, wild turkeys, raccoons and, occasionally, even an adventurous couple on a blanket."

Both women laughed. "That is wildlife! I definitely will have to try running there sometime. I run a 10k sometimes as well, but I am not a threat at the finish line. I guess we have that in common."

*****

The next day as Rob pulled into the parking lot of the Nature Center he noticed an unfamiliar blue BMW convertible. Not that he had memorized all the cars of the regular runners, but this BMW was extra sharp. The kind of car that he would have noticed almost anywhere.

Rob started in with his regular routine: stretching, then two laps around the mile and a half trail. Towards the end of the second loop he found himself gaining ground on a female runner who had come into view. As he got closer he realized that the runner was Toni. And if she looked hot in the office it was nothing compared to the running shorts and t-shirt she was in now. He maintained pace about ten yards back, unabashedly admiring the view. At the end of the trail he allowed himself to catch up just as they entered the parking lot, greeting Toni as he did. "Hi, I thought that was you. How was your run?"

Toni was red-faced but smiling broadly. "I loved it. The trail is beautiful - so much better than running the high school track. I heard someone come up behind me...I was hoping it was you and not somebody creepy. Why didn't you pass me sooner?"

Rob laughed. "I was checking your form".

"And what's your conclusion?"

"Your form is excellent!"

"Thank you. How do you normally cool down?"

There is a secondary path that goes to the end of the pond — I normally walk it to cool down."

"Would you mind showing me and cooling down together?"

"My pleasure."

"So Toni, did you see any wildlife?"

"I saw herons and egrets on the pond. Not so much in the woods. No deer or turkeys. And no couples on blankets."

"The wind has a lot to do with whether you see wildlife in the woods, your scent and sounds get carried by the wind, so if it's behind you they are going to be out of your sight before you arrive. The couples on blankets is a little different...you have to know where to look."

"What do you mean?"

"I think over the years couples have found certain places that are discreetly off the trail, in places where they normally would not be seen by a hiker or jogger. The first time I saw a couple like that I would have missed it completely except that the woman was unmistakably vocalizing. Once I knew where to look and could see hat everything was cool and consensual, I just kept on running, but you have to know where to look."

"Some day when you catch up to me on the trail in the right place you will have to show me."

"I would be happy to."

Once reaching the waters edge Rob was able to point out two different wading species and a red-tailed hawk overhead. "It's a different display almost every day. Sometimes eagles, sometimes ospreys, sometimes different migrating birds."

"Thank you for showing me. I love it."

The two runners finished their cool down by walking back to the parking area in silence. Once there, Toni headed straight for the blue BMW. "See you at work tomorrow."

"Toni, is that your car?"

Toni blushed. "Yes. It was my engagement present from my fiancee."

"Wow. It's a beauty. Very impressive."

"He has been very generous with me...and my daughter."

"If that's any example, I would say so. Well, drive home carefully."

"You too!"

*****

Over the next several weeks Rob would see Toni at the Nature Center at least three times a week. They almost never arrived at the same time, Toni tending to leave work a little earlier than Rob did. As a consequence, they never ran together, although on more than one occasion Rob had caught up on the trail, finishing the run a few feet behind. Toni never commented, but was obviously completely aware.

About a month after their first meeting Rob had finished his run and was about to start his cool down when he noticed the blue BMW in the parking area. Apparently, this time Toni was the last to arrive. He had not seen her on the trail. He decided to cool down just walking in the parking lot.

A few minutes later Toni came into sight, a big smile on her face when she saw Rob.

"There you are. I was getting worried about you."

"I am fine. I just had a very late start after a crazy day. But thank you for waiting for me. I really appreciate it."

"May I walk with you while you cool down?"

"Sure, I am not going to do much to cool down...I am late and still have to get home to make supper for my daughter."

"Can I make a suggestion? Be good to yourself. Do you like take out food?"

"Sure, all kinds, but I am not prepared. Even if I called in an order, I am not sure my daughter has enough money at home to pay the delivery man."

"This will be my treat. I will call in an order and charge it to my account. You just go home and take a little stress out of your day. What do you like? Chinese, Mexican, Italian?"

"Well my daughter absolutely loves Mexican. It would be a treat. Will you join us?"

"I would love to but I don't want to create any problems with your fiancee. This is just for you and your daughter."

Toni had tears in her eyes. "I don't know what to say."

"Why don't you try saying the names of the dishes you want to order. Like burritos, refried beans, guacamole, quesadillas, for example."

For a moment Toni was speechless. "Anything even close to that sounds wonderful!"

Rob smiled, then retrieved his phone, punching a number into his speed dial. "Hola! This is Rob Kosar I want to make an order for delivery tonight. This order is for two people. I want beef burritos, refritos, guacamole and chicken quesadillas, all with flour tortillas. I want to charge this to my account. I want you to include a gratuity of 20 %. Now, this is important. The delivery will not be to my apartment. This is a special treat for a very important friend. Muy importante. I am going to give the phone to my friend and she will give you the address. Bueno!"

Rob handed the phone to Toni and she provided her address to the woman on the phone. Rob took the phone back. "Can you tell me how soon you can have the order ready? Okay. Well it is now 6:45, let's try to have the delivery made at 7:45 sharp. Bueno?" Rob looked at Toni who simply nodded.

Rob put the phone back in his pocket a split second later before he was engulfed in a bone-crushing hug. He wrapped his arms around Toni, pulling her even more tightly against him. They stayed in the embrace for several seconds.

"That was so nice! I can't think of anything nicer that anyone ever did for me."

"If I thought I could get a hug as warm and wonderful as that again, I will be ordering take-out for you and your daughter all the time."

"That can't happen. But it doesn't make this time less wonderful. Thank you!"

"Truly my pleasure. Now I suggest you hop in your car and head home so that you can take delivery."

A second hug, only slightly less intense, was followed by Toni jumping into her car and driving off.

Rob walked slowly to his car and simply sat for a moment.

This is so hard.

He felt good about ordering take-out for Toni and her daughter. But it was also a reality check. What was the name of that English movie?

The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner.

He was beginning to relate. Rob decided to go home and shower, then go out to eat. Somewhere, almost anywhere, but definitely, out. It would not be healthy to sit at home alone tonight.

*****

Another month went by, and while the running routine did not change, there were no more late arrivals by Toni, no more take out dinners ordered and no more hugs. To be sure, his relationship with Toni continued to be warm and friendly. She had let him know that her daughter had decided that he was her favorite "friend of mom's that she didn't know" based on the surprise Mexican dinner. Rob would have loved to have a chance to meet Toni's daughter, but recognized that a new family-wide friendship with a male colleague might be problematic with Toni's fiancee.

Rob was catching up with Toni in the last section of the trail. He closed to within twenty feet or so and then held his position until they reached the parking lot.

"Still checking my form?"

"Any chance I get. I do run here because of the scenery."

"That is very naughty and I should be offended."

"But I don't think you are offended. I think you appreciate my discerning eye."

"That's not the point!"

"Anyway, that's my story. Did you see them?"

"Who?'

"The couple being 'splendid in the grass'.

"No! Where?"

"On the trail."

"I missed it. Where were they?"

"Just about half-way. I saw them on the first loop, but not the second. I thought you might have seen them."

"I passed a couple walking on my first loop, a blond girl with a tall dark-haired guy with a back pack."

"That's them. They were getting it on. But you had to know where to look."

"Tomorrow, let's time it so we run together. I want you to show me where to look."

"Okay. Let's plan to meet here tomorrow at 5:30. I will show you the places I know."

"That's a deal."

*****

Toni was already in her BMW in the parking lot when Rob arrived. She bounded out of her car the second he arrived.

"This is going to be so much fun. But at the risk of being considered bossy, I want to set some rules here. You are not going to run behind me in the name of 'checking my form'. I run here for the scenery too. I am running behind you this time. And, yes, I will be 'checking your form'. When we get to the places you want to show me, we will run together. But on this run I am officially 'checking your form'. Got it?"

Rob laughed, "You are bossy. But delightfully so."

After stretching, the couple began to run. Toni staying ten feet behind. Rob adopted a moderate pace, making it easy for Toni to maintain her desired trailing distance. As they reached the halfway point the trail became hilly, with steep drop-offs on the left side. Finally they reached a point where Rob simply stopped and pointed.

"I don't see anything."

"Let me show you." Rob took Toni's hand and led her into the woods. In a few moments they arrived at a grass-covered knoll with a clear view to another section of the running path below.

"Wow! This is a perfect spot. With a blanket I see how it would work. But where can you see the "wildlife" from the trail?"

"From down there", pointing to a spot further down the trail looped, creating a back-view of the knoll... but only if you knew where to look.

"Wow! Are there other spots like this on the trail?"

"I know of one other. There could be others."

"So cool. Thank you. Please show me the other."

"Okay. Let's go!" The runners returned to the trail and continued their run for several hundred yards before Rob stopped and pointed.

"There!" This time Rob pointed back and downhill to a place under the trail but completely out of sight until the runner would have been well past.

"Oh, Wow! I get it. Now I know."

"Shall we get back to running?"

"Okay."

Back at the parking area, the runners went through the usual cool down rituals before returning to the parking area.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"I thought you were checking my form. Do I get a report?"

Toni blushed a deep crimson. "I think your form is excellent." Then, after a pause, "But I may need to do further checking."

"Understood."

"And, thank you for showing me the 'wildlife areas'." Toni's hug was short in duration but very welcome.

*****

Over the balance of the Summer their running quickly returned to the normal routine, Rob frequently 'catching up' to Toni in the last quarter mile of the trail, then 'checking her form' running behind her.

In late September the weather for running was perfect, cooler temperature with the trees just beginning to turn color. As Rob and Toni took the customary cool-down walk to the pond it was apparent that the Fall migration of waterfowl had started with swarms of blue wing teal swooping over the pond like jet planes. A small flock of Canadian geese were noisily expressing their displeasure at being spied upon. Toni took Rob's hand, a tear in her eye.

"This is so wonderful. I am going to miss this so much. I only have two weeks before I relocate to Massachusetts and I am really feeling stress now. And just so you know, I am going to miss you, too! I love our routine. Thank you for being my friend."

"Toni, I will miss you, too. You have no idea how much runner's motivation you have provided me so that I could catch up with you to 'check your form' before the end of the run."

"But I do know. And I love that you do that. You know I am not offended. The opposite. But now that is ending. Can I ask one more huge favor?"

"Of course."

"My daughter, Anne, has been absolutely pestering me about meeting the friend who provided the surprise Mexican dinner. It was the best and she still talks about it. Sometime before we move, would you be willing to let me cook you a homemade Mexican dinner so that she can give you a hug around your neck?"

"Actually, I would love to meet her but I did not want to cause any issues between you and your fiancee."

"I sort of guessed that, too. Can I count that as a 'Yes, I will come to dinner'?"

"How old is Anne?"

"Twelve."

"Okay, if you promise not to be jealous if Anne chooses to hug my neck, it's a deal."

Toni dropped his hand and hugged his neck - another bone crusher.

*****

A few days later, on a Friday, Rob found himself ringing the doorbell of Toni's apartment at 6:30. Toni answered the door with a huge smile on her face. Her dress was flattering, a short skirt and a spaghetti strap bodice that showed off her athletic figure beautifully. "Welcome! So glad you're here. Come in." Clearly there was cooking going on, the fragrances of cumin, garlic and cilantro immediately identifiable. The dining table was set with three place settings and candles.

Rob looked around but did not see any sign of Toni's daughter. "Where is Anne?"

""She spent the afternoon with a friend. She will be here directly. Would you like to pour us both a glass of wine?"

"Sure." Rob proceeded to open a bottle of sangria, pouring two glasses.

"Let me show you around. The bathroom is at the end of the hall", pointing down a long hallway with two bedroom doors quite obvious. Toni walked through a nicely appointed living room, arriving at a sliding glass door leading to a balcony.

"This is my pride and joy and special retreat. What do you think?"

Rob and Toni stepped out on the balcony. The apartment was on the second floor, but the configuration was such that stepping out on the balcony was completely private. Not visible from any other apartment in the complex. And the view from the balcony was very close to a patch of woods. Completely out of sight. A chaise lounge was the only furniture.

"Wow! I would not have guessed. I can see easily that this is a place where a lady could work on her 'all-over' tan in complete privacy."

"I thought you would like it."

"The way the woods comes up almost to the edge reminds me of something,"

"What?"

"The 'wildlife' places at the Nature Center that I showed you. You even have a chaise lounge instead of needing a blanket. You could 'get it on' right here and be completely secure."

"I knew you would see that, too."

Toni was glowing. Rob gathered her into his arms and kissed her mouth. She was absolutely receptive and responsive. After a second hot kiss, she pulled down the spaghetti straps of her dress, exposing her breasts. His mouth was everywhere, kissing, sucking, licking and tasting.

"Come with me. It probably is safe out here, but we will be more comfortable in the bedroom." Toni led Rob back into the apartment, through the living and dining room, down the hallway and into the master bedroom, pausing only to turn off the stove. In the bedroom, candles were already lit and burning. Bedcovers turned down. Rob was completely knocked out.

"But what about Anne?"

"She is spending the night with a girlfriend. This night has never been about her. I deceived you to get you here. This is about me. You are irresistible to me. I knew that this would have to happen the first time I met you. When we shook hands the first time you made me tingle all over, especially down below. That has never, ever, happened to me before. The only problem was that I was afraid that once I let myself go with you, I would never recover. That can't happen. So tonight is my compromise with myself. One stolen night. It has to last to last me."

"This is the beginning of a night I will cherish in my memory for the rest of my life. I will feed you an actual Mexican dinner...but, much, much later. Now I want to experience and receive all your sexual energy...later, I will want even more of your energy. I know that this night has to last me. I want a night like this to happen once before I die!"

Clothes were gone in a flash. Rob's mouth was immediately on Toni's breasts, licking, sucking, teasing and provoking...all with no objection whatsoever from Toni. Then his focus went lower, his lips paying homage to her smooth and firm abdominal muscles. Then lower still. His muscular tongue first probing her labia then confronting her clitoris. Toni protested, "I want you inside me now."