Two miles in nineteen twenty. Not bad. Not bad for a thirty five year old guy who just went back to running a year ago. I was a hot shot five kilometer runner in high school, got a track scholarship to Ohio State, got into beer and broads in my junior year and well, the rest is history.
Then, in a routine checkup three years ago, there was an irregularity in the heart beat. Nothing to panic about, but the cardiologist made it pretty clear that high living with no exercise was out from here on in. Listen, I travel. My job is with a high level HR agency.
That exam jerked me into reality. I joined a fitness club, started on the treadmill, then took to the roads and within one year I was back in shape. Stay that way out of pure fear. Now I run regularly - on the roads when I can, at school tracks when I don't know the roads in a city.
So, here I am at my old Alma Mater, Ohio State. It is September, the weather has cooled, the sun is out and I just did a later in life PR for a two mile run! I'm an easy five foot eleven dripping wet (which I am right now) and my weight is down to one seventy five. Doctor says stay there, so I do.
I was trotting around the track to warm down, when I felt footsteps behind me. I was on the inside so it was easy to pass me. The footsteps got closer and suddenly there was a figure beside me. A woman. Almost my height. She blew by me and I got a look at a rather sensational ass and a pair of great long legs as she pounded around the turn. I was walking by now, admiring the view, no more. I really did not have enough gas in the tank to catch her and I didn't want to look like a schmuck and pull alongside too winded to talk.
I trotted over to the stands where my gym bag was parked when I heard the footsteps behind me, but slowing down. I glanced back and it was her. She pulled to a stop and smiled at me. Blonde hair in a ponytail. Really nice build. Breasts large enough to display some cleavage in the front of her jersey. Long tan legs, nice molded arms. Chick works out.
I looked at her face and I was frankly, startled. This was no kid. She was older than me, but I couldn't tell by how much. Face was still taut - and still gorgeous. I could see lines on the cheeks and even a few wrinkles in the neck. But the eyes. Man! I cannot even describe them. They were deep and gray - no blue - no green!
And when I say deep, I mean looking into them I felt like they were pulling me in, or maybe I was fantasizing diving right into a pair of eyes! Weird? You would have to have been there.
"Andy Finesilver, right?" The voice was deep and well- modulated. Again, not a young voice but not really like old either.
"Umm...yes...do I know you - please say yes!"
She threw back her head and laughed. A full
throated roar, well beyond what I expected. She shook her head and the pony tail whipped around her neck. "No, Andy - not yet - but I know you."
I was staring at this incredible older woman, well, older than me - I thought. And she knew me?
"Don't look so startled. Graduated from OSU but not on the track team when you did right?"
I nodded my head. "But..."
She came right up to me and put one cool hand on my shoulder. "Don't sweat it Andy - it's really pretty simple. You going to be in Columbus long?"
"Well, no - I mean I have to leave tomorrow afternoon, matter of fact."
"Then," she said stepping back a bit and putting hands on those great hips, "why not have dinner with me tonight?"
I had to sit down on the first row of the stands. "Look," I said shaking my head, "You say you know me but I don't understand..."
"You're staying at the Westin on High Street, right?
"Well, yes, but..."
"No buts - be in the lobby at seven. Dress nice. I want to show you off."
*****
This could be the weirdest thing that ever happened to me. She took off and I watched those long strides around the track one more time and without slowing down she went out the ramp to the parking lot.
I jumped up, slung my gym bag over my shoulder and bolted for the ramp. I could not have been more than thirty seconds behind her - but when I came up the ramp - gone! Man! What was all this about?
So, I went back to the hotel, did some e-mails, checked my office and took a nap. Why not? I woke up as the sun was setting about six fifteen. I took a really long shower wondering about my mystery woman.Who the hell was she? Why does she seem to know so much about me - down to my hotel! And she even knew something about my past. Could she have been a detective? But for what? I am not that big a deal - honest!
Finally I decided, well tonight will tell. I put on a long sleeved light blue sports shirt - with collar. I added a light sweater, some dark blue pants and I was as ready as I would ever be for what was ahead - I thought.
I went down to the lobby and stood outside the front entrance chatting with the doorman. Suddenly a light blue BMW convertible with the top down roared around the corner and pulled to a stop right in front of us.
She was dressed in something pale pink with a long pale pink scarf wrapped around her neck and shoulders. The blonde hair was long and fell around her shoulders in waves. I have no idea how it stayed in place in an open convertible.
Blue eyes looked over at me.
"C'mon Finesilver!" The deep voice called. "I'm famished." I jumped in the passenger side and without another word we took off. We were flying down a road alongside the Olentangy River headed north out of town. Not a word. Not that it would have been easy at that speed and the air whipping by. I glanced over. She was driving with two hands relaxed on the steering wheel. A thin gold bracelet on her left wrist. No rings.
Her profile was distinct. Solid jaw, clearly outlined. Lips parted - really thick and voluptuous. It was hard to tell what she was wearing - the scarf covered almost all of her upper body. Dress only went to slightly below the knees and was pulled up enough for me to see no stockings and legs that looked as good as they did on the track.
We pulled into a restaurant parking lot along the river. She pulled up to the door and the valet was there before I could get out of the car. When we got through the door she suddenly turned to me. The eyes! Those freaking eyes! And a smile to go with them. "The patio on the river is gorgeous. Outside okay?"