Page 12 of Love on the Line

“Okay, pep talk complete, now let’s makesomething great happen today.”

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AJ decided to go for a run, knowing thefresh air and activity would do her good.Other than going back and forth to work, she’dbeen cooped up at home for weeks, barely getting out to grab what meagergroceries she had on hand. After splashing cold water on her face, she changedinto running gear and swept her hair up into a hasty knot. She then tucked herphone and key into a pocket and set out.

The end of August had been beautifullypleasant with clear mornings turning into the best days. Plenty of sunshine andtemps in the eighties. Perfect. Trying not to berate herself for wasting time,she focused on moving forward, which included enjoying the last remnants ofsummer. Heck, even much of autumn in Boise was perfect in her opinion, withcrisp, cool mornings and plenty of blue skies. There definitely was no shortageof activities to take advantage of in the area, and AJ planned to get out ofher funk and do just that.

Living a short distance from Camel’s BackPark, she decided to head there and run the trails. With light traffic at 7:00AM, she didn’t have much to contend with, and once she made it to the park, shewasn’t surprised to see others out as well. An older couple walked hand-in-handwhile a well-mannered dog kept pace at their side. AJ also saw a group of youngmen and women running in a pack, headed in the same direction she’d thought totake. From the looks of their blue and orange outfits, she’d have to guess theywere athletes from the University.

As they got about half a mile ahead ofher, AJ followed, and although her pace was slower, the movement feltwonderful. She settled into a nice rhythm with easy breathing and a welcomedburn in her muscles. It had been nearly a year since she last engaged in thistype of physical activity, and even though it felt liberating, she knew not topush herself and end up paying for it later. After about thirty minutes, shedrew closer to a rise and decided to slow it down to a walk once she crestedthe hill. With plenty of ground still to cover, walking would provide theneeded exercise without the regret of overdoing it. And, with nothing but timeon her hands for the day, she didn’t need to rush. She planned to work on aproject from home today and head into work tomorrow.

AJ carried on with a brisk pace, analyzingher situation and automatically cataloguing her plans. Whether the spark camefrom her own common sense about moving on, or the fact that her spontaneous yetdelightful conversation with Mathias last night lifted her spirits, she knew itwas time. Time to put Brad and the awful experience behind her. Time to regainconfidence in her judgement and abilities. Time to take charge of her happiness.

Her career had always brought herhappiness, and her relationship with her girlfriends was her lifeline, even ifthey were going a bit overboard lately with this whole “get back in the game”business.

But the more AJ thought about it, the moreshe could say she wasn’t upset at them anymore. Her talk with Mathiashadbeen an unexpected surprise thateven now put a smile on her face. She had something to look forward to thisevening, and that feeling hadn’t been a part of her life in a long time. Theirconversation had been easy and never lagged with awkward pauses while eitherone of them thought of something to say. It just seemed to flow naturally andcomfortably.

Now, had they been face-to-face, would ithave been as easy? Hard to say.

AJ had already half made up her mind shewould meet with him at the Balloon Festival Saturday. It was a public eventwith plenty of people around, so what could go wrong? Well, she wasn’t foolingherself into believing something crazy couldn’t occur, but her gut instincttold her this could be something good. At the very least, she’d gain a newfriend. And at the most, a new boyfriend.

Thatsounds so juvenile! And am I ready for that?

She shoved those thoughts aside as herbody began to warm nicely from her exertion. The sun had risen over the hillsand she decided to peel off the top layer of her clothing. Continuing with herstride up the open path, she began to whip the lightweight fleece over her head,only to have the material put up a fight as it snagged her hair. Thinking shewas sure of her steps and would untangle herself with the next pull, AJstruggled for a moment before finally working it free. And practically tumbledover another person on the trail.

“Son of a bi—”

“I am so sorry,” a masculine voice rangout, cutting off AJ’s words. With her lower arms still encased in the sleevesof her fleece, warm hands held her upper arms to steady her. “Are you okay? Damn,I’m sorry. I bent over to remove a rock from my shoe and … and didn’t noticeanyone else...”

His words faltered and grew softer as AJlooked up. And then up some more are she stared into the most gorgeous set ofdeep blue eyes she’d ever seen on a man. His brow crinkled as his full lipsremained parted a few millimeters. Flawless sun-kissed skin covered a handsomeface with prominent cheekbones and the cutest cleft chin. Short, light brownhair fell across his forehead and teased his ears. AJ felt the heat from histouch all the way to her toes. Her mouth suddenly became dry, making her regretshe hadn’t thought to bring a water bottle.

She stood nearly spellbound, unable toconjure a word of reply as the stranger’s eyes held hers. Finally finding hervoice, she said, “I was losing a fight with my fleece.” She grinned beforelooking down at his hands still securing her arms. When he quickly released herand took a step back, she began to pull her arms out of the garment and resumedtalking. “Got caught on my hair, but I got it.”

“Again, I’m sorry. I’ll, uh, I’ll let youget back to your walk,” the man rushed to say.

Just as AJ freed her arms, she didn’t havea chance to reply as he darted past her and took off sprinting down the trail leadingback to the park area. She spun around and watched his very shapely backside shiftas his powerfully muscular legs carried him further and further away.

“Well, okay then,” she mumbled beforedeciding she’d had enough as well. Tying the fleece around her waist, shestarted off in the same direction as the cute jogger. She slipped her hair outof its band to finger-comb it and twist it back up into a knot. Glancing at herwatch, she noticed she’d already been out an hour and figured by the time shegot back home at this pace, another hour would pass. Even with time on herhands, she decided to kick it in gear by jogging down the trails, through thepark, and along the sidewalks that would take her back to her place.

AJ replayed the encounter with thehandsome stranger over in her mind. His beauty had mesmerized her, leaving her speechless.She thought there had been something vaguely familiar about him, but couldn’trecall ever having seen him on the trails before.And someone as good-looking as that, she’ddefinitely remember. His voice replayed in her mind and she immediately thoughtof Mathias. Although they were similar, both with a deep, sexy tone, there wasno way they were one and the same.

Right?What were the odds that I’d talk with a stranger, only to run into him the verynext day? Literally!

AJ reached home, shaking her head atherself as she unlocked her door and stepped inside. She must be going batty ifshe was ready to project Mathias into the first man to catch her eye since …well, in a while. So she’d enjoyed her conversation with him, and felt as ifshe’d known him for much longer than a few hours, and felt comfortable to tellhim things she never even told Brad, a man she’d lived with, thought she loved,and was ready to make a future with…

Gah!

“Stop it, AJ,” she chastised herself. “Yousaid you were moving on, so move on.”

After depositing her keys and phone on thecounter, she chugged two glasses of water before making her way upstairs. Shewouldn’t mind a soak in her claw-foot tub, but opted for a shower instead. Shewanted to get a start on her plans for a productive day. After removing herclothes and throwing them in the basket, she entered her bathroom and startedthe shower. Stepping into the warm spray, she let the soothing water cascadeover her, easing the soreness she had already begun to feel from her run.

Once again, Mathias’s voice echoed in hermind. What was it about him that resonated with her? His seemingly laid-backnature? The ease with which they exchanged stories and laughed with oneanother? She could just imagine his rich voice with its low tone whispering inher ear, sending shivers across her skin like a caress. Was he really as hejokingly described, at six three, washboard abs, and looking like ChrisHemsworth?

AJ shivered as goose bumps dotted her skinin spite of the warm water. She imagined his muscular form pressing into herbackside, warmth surrounding her as his arms circled her torso. Large handseasily palmed her breasts, his fingers teasing her nipples while his growingerection pressed into her lower back.

A whimper involuntarily escaped her mouthas her breasts were suddenly tender, her sex clenching at the mere thought ofthe man she envisioned performing deliciously dirty deeds. AJ caressed onebreast then the other as her hand roamed her own body. She moved down her tonedabdomen to the neatly trimmed curls between her thighs, pressing into her foldsto finger her clit. Moisture easily coated her digits and tentative flicks soongave way to furious rubbing as her movements became faster and harder. Shemoaned at the euphoric feeling starting to sweep through her—something she hadrarely ever felt with Brad.

AJ quickly shut down those thoughts andinstead concentrated on bringing herself to orgasm. It’d been too long sinceher body felt this way. She trembled as her fingers swirled across her flesh,her pussy becoming engorged. What she wouldn’t give for a hot, thick cock fillingher, pounding into her. She couldn’t even mimic that action due to the fact shedidn’t own a vibrator.

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