Turning On A Dime Read online

  Turning on a Dime©

  by

  Tey Holden

  Copyright © 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including recording, printouts, information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the author. Copyrights to this publication and the entire Addy and Karen Series are reserved, and registered with the Library of Congress.

  Acknowledgements:

  My deepest appreciation go to my editor, Ani Maudel, the many readers and friends who volunteered their time to beta read the story as it evolved, Agnes, Wally, Gina, Robyn, and Laure, and my very patient graphic designer.

  Part 1

  Come on Adriana you don’t want to be three hundred pounds! Addy said to herself, as she tried to remember the settings for the rowing machine. She joined the gym after the holidays when she noticed that she had gained an extra five pounds. Although the extra weight did not make her look heavier, she claimed that her panties were tighter and she was resolved not to have a fat ass.

  She didn’t want to end up having her mother’s weight problems, which were mainly caused by a sedentary life. Therefore, Addy was a bolt of energy, always busy and on the move. Her five feet, five inch frame, displayed a feminine body filled in all the right places. She was in her thirties, but looked more like in her late twenties. Her toned muscles, and light, shiny, brown, short hair gave her a carefree appearance, especially when the front part of her hair fell loose on her forehead and eyes. Her hair was the type that she could almost get away with a hand comb. Her chocolate brown eyes were big and full of life. One look from Adriana could make anyone smile. But, what was most attractive about Addy was her personality.

  She was one of those people who always had a cheerful disposition and a very contagious smile. Around Addy there was always laughter. Something about her was fascinating. Maybe it was her energy, her liveliness, her confidence, her mannerisms, the way she spoke, or the way she carried herself, but she attracted people like a magnet. Her whole demeanor was of a fun, sexy, vivacious woman.

  When she joined the gym, she signed up with a trainer to help her get started. She met with the trainer once a week for the last four weeks and now was finally ready to start working out on her own. At that point, all she had to do was to remember how to set up the machines. This became a problem when the rowing machine was uncooperative. “Shit! The first time and I’m already having trouble. This is not looking good. I can’t waste my lunch hour wrestling with machines. This thing has got to work and quick.”

  A blonde woman walking by heard Addy’s monologue, and found it amusing. Not even looking at her, and feeling sorry for the woman’s plight, the blonde began to fiddle with the machine to fix it. “It’s all a matter of adjusting a couple of things. It’s just a little tricky.”

  As the helping woman bent down, Addy couldn’t help notice her athletic, yet feminine built. When Karen looked up, Addy was startled to the point of embarrassment. The woman’s emerald green eyes cut through her like blades of steel. It was not just the color of the eyes that was strikingly interesting, but also the intensity of her gaze. Addy, who had recently read the Celestine Prophecy, immediately felt that, for sure, this woman had some sort of message for her.

  The green-eyed blonde was also surprised when she looked up and found the vivacious brown eyes focused on her. Something about Addy’s face was mesmerizing. The green-eyed woman swallowed and felt her heart skip two beats as she desperately scrutinized the face that had made her speechless, and feeling as if she had been hit by lightning.

  “Thank you. Are you okay?” Addy asked.

  Karen managed a smile, almost feeling lightheaded. “Yeah, I’m fine. Here is where you regulate the tension.” She demonstrated trying to break away from the spell of the brown eyes.

  “Do you know what tension you’d like?” Karen asked still looking at Addy, as if in a trance. The green-eyed woman had blondish hair cut shoulder length. She was a few inches taller than Addy, maybe about five feet seven inches. To Addy, she looked like she could have stepped out of a modeling magazine, tall, slim, athletic, and toned, a truly beautiful woman by any standard.

  “In the lowest setting, please,” Addy managed to say. “I’m new at this, so I have to start at the bottom.” The woman smiled, and Addy smiled back.

  The green-eyed woman noticed Addy when she first came into the gym, but she had only seen her from the back. Addy’s cute behind and other curvy features caught her eyes, but she had not seen Addy’s face until now. Now, the whole of Addy appealed to her. Normally, it was she who attracted other women. This time the role was reversed. She felt like a fly caught on a web, and all of a sudden felt an urgent need to find out more about the attractive brunette.

  Unable to resist the urge, the player in her shifted into gear. “I’m Karen, Karen Larsen. I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before.” Karen extended her hand, and Addy took it. Addy didn’t normally like to shake people’s hands. She thought it was a way to acquire unnecessary germs, however this time she actually didn’t even think about it. Karen’s grip was strong and confident. It felt reassuring and warm at the same time. Karen was also surprised by how Addy’s hand felt, soft but with a strong grip. The type of hand that you didn’t want to let go easily. Karen would have held on to that hand forever.

  “Adriana Marcos, but you can call me Addy, and yes, I’m barely starting here. My plan is to come at lunch every time I can, and try to exercise a bit. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get away from the office every day, though, but hopefully I can do it often enough. I guess something is better than nothing.” She pursed her lips. Addy wondered why she was volunteering so much information. It was not like her to just come right out and disclose unnecessary details.

  “Do you work nearby?” Karen asked, not wasting any time.

  “Yes, two blocks away on 16th and K Street, how about you?” Again, Addy was surprised to be revealing so much personal information. Just as much as she didn’t like to volunteer information, Adriana had the policy that if anyone tried to extract information from her, she would do the same but only if she was interested in the person.

  Addy was not the type to beat around the bush to get what she wanted. She was in fact a very direct, almost blunt person. If she was not interested in holding a conversation, people were immediately dead on their tracks because she would reply with only the minimum of words just enough to be polite and as soon as she could, she would cut the cord and stop any further conversation. More importantly, she would never volunteer information unless strictly necessary. On this particular occasion, for unknown reasons, she felt okay about the exchange of information taking place with Karen because she found her interesting.

  “I’m a block away at 17th and L Street.” Karen replied.

  Addy continued to press for information. “What do you do at 17th and L?”

  “I’m an attorney. I work for Sparrow and Finch. I’ve been with them for a few years now. How about you, what keeps you busy at 16th and K?”

  “I’m an attorney also. I work for the government.”

  “You have an accent, where are you from?” Addy asked.

  “Scotland, but I have been in the US for some time now.”

  “You are not from here, either, are you?” Karen asked.

  “No, I was born in Spain, but have been in the US for several years.”

  “So we are both from Europe, what a coincidence.”

  “Yes. I love your Scottish accent.”

  Karen smiled, feeling like an idiot. She was also scrambling for what to say to prolong the conversation. In another scenario, Karen would have given her a business car
d or would have asked her for one, but being at the gym, she had no cards with her. Also, asking her out to lunch without knowing much about her felt awkward. What to do? Sadly, she was going to have to leave this to chance and hope that if there was some sort of destiny that had put them in the same path, it would bring them together again.

  “Well, I’ll let you get to your work out, and I need to finish mine.” As she was ready to walk away, Karen blurted “I usually come at noon on Fridays, so, we might run into each other again.” Oh that was pathetic!

  Addy smiled sweetly, realizing that her newfound friend was hoping to see her again. “Yeah, I might need help with these machines until I figure them out. I will try to make it this coming Friday.”

  Karen smiled thinking that Addy was hinting that she wanted to see her again. “See you then.”

  Addy continued with her workout thinking that Karen had been very nice and friendly. Karen went to the treadmill and also began her work out, but she couldn’t take her eyes from the cute brunette trying to do her best with the rowing machine. Wow! She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so attracted to a woman. Had there been another time like this? This felt so very different. Something about Addy made her feel good, very good.

  As she worked out, Karen continued to think of any possible topic of conversation to walk up to Addy and start talking to her again, but she couldn’t think of anything smart to say. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so frustrated trying to start something.

  It was then that Jean-Paul, better known to her as JP, spotted Karen and approached her with his usual flare. “Hi sweetie. What’s that smile about? If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you’re up to something.”

  Karen chuckled. JP knew her too well. They met in New York several years back when Karen was in law school. Karen was at the top of her game then. She was beautiful, young and smart. She had men and women begging for her attention, but she cared for none in particular. All she wanted was to finish law school, have fun and enjoy life.

  Back in the good old days, Fridays and Saturday nights were the usual clubbing nights for the carefree blonde. Karen was no fool. She didn’t drink or do drugs. She knew how to have plenty of fun and to stay away from potentially dangerous situations. She attracted all sorts of men and women, but was very picky about any woman she left with, if any. She was not a slut, but she liked the game and if she found the right type, she’d have her fun.

  JP was a hoot. What some people would call the ‘life of the party.’ He was tall, thin, athletic, good looking, a tease, gay and a good friend. Although his physical attributes and qualities were plenty, what made him stand out at the clubs was his dancing. He was a dance major at Juilliard, loved to dance, and was very good at it. As he would put it, he danced with gusto, and it showed.

  Karen met him at a club and they became friends immediately. The relationship had the added benefit that if they needed ‘protection’ from men or women, they would introduce each other as her boyfriend or his girlfriend depending on whatever situation they needed to address. Needless to say, it was a very convenient, fun and easygoing friendship.

  When JP graduated from Juilliard, a production company in Hollywood immediately hired him. As soon as he left for California, their dancing and clubbing adventures ended. However, they stayed in touch through the years and would get together as their schedules allowed. Sadly, it was not as often as they wished, but when they did they would share stories about their love conquests and disappointments. With the years, the fun events dwindled, and it seemed that work and professional commitments had overtaken their lives.

  Having graduated at the top of her class, Karen received plenty of offers from several of the most prestigious law firms in the country. She was extremely bright and clever, but because she was so gorgeous and blonde, she was often stereotyped as the ‘ditzy blond’ type. Most of the times, she played the part to her advantage. Especially with the macho lawyers who thought she was an easy target. However, as she found fit, the lamb became a lion and she devoured everyone in her path. She had a killer, merciless drive to win, and she thrived on it.

  JP quickly assessed the situation. “Who is that interesting person over there?” he pointed with his head towards Addy.

  This time, for some unusual reason, Karen chose not share information with him. He had picked up where her eyes had been focused most of the time she had been on the treadmill, and now her uneasiness.

  “Dunno. You got anything going this weekend?” She quickly changed the subject, while still glancing at the sexy brunette in her peripheral vision.

  Addy, embarrassed from her minimal progress with the rowing machine, stopped rowing and walked to the back of the gym where she had spotted the Norditrack machines. After examining the machines for about two seconds, she climbed on one of them, made the necessary adjustments, and began her trek.

  “Oh my! Looks like we have a cross country skier or another fool.” JP spoke looking in the direction of the machines, as he spoke to Karen. Addy was connected to her iPhone and went about her business. The pair remained in awe surprised at how well the woman kept her pace on the machine and how long she was at it. Wow, she’s got stamina! Regulars at the gym knew that hardly anyone used those machines. They were located in the back of the gym waiting to be removed.

  Addy noticed that both JP and Karen had taken an interest in her activity and every now and then she’d smile at them, or raise her eyebrows, or gave them some signal indicating that she knew they were watching her. Karen looked away every time, a fact that did not escape JP. After a while, Addy began to sweat and her hair fell on her forehead. Karen was mesmerized looking at her. God, she’s beautiful!

  Addy was almost done with her workout when, on a totally unexpected move, JP walked towards her. Karen panicked and followed him just in case. In case of what? What the hell is he doing?

  Addy smiled when she saw JP walking towards her. JP’s flamboyant walk would have made anyone smile. His usual and very natural extravagant demeanor always made him noticeable. “Wow, you sure can hold your own on that machine! Hi, I’m Jean-Paul, but my friends call me JP for short.” He extended his hand barely touching Addy’s, who sort of shook it in midair. Karen noticed the different hand shake. “Adriana Marcos, but you can call me Addy.” Karen stood next to JP.

  “Do you do cross country ski? You sure are in good shape. I mean to hang on for so long on that thing!” He pointed to the machine with a loose hand. “You’ve got to be careful with that around here, though. Some people may see all that energy and may think you are as energetic in the sack. I’m sure you already have some mouths watering around here.” He looked at Karen who immediately looked away to hide her blush. JP knew her too well and picked up on the blush. Oh my God, Karen blushed! What is going on here? I’ll have to ask her.

  “Don’t be surprised if you start getting invitations soon.” He said in a teasing tone. While getting an ‘I’m going to kill you’ look from Karen.

  Addy laughed, rather than blush. “Thanks for the compliment, my friend, I already like you.”

  She was using a hand towel to wipe the sweat of her forehead, but Karen couldn’t help notice certain parts of her T-shirt also wet with sweat. “No, I don’t cross country ski, actually, I’ve never skied in my life. I think snow is very pretty when you are next to a cozy fire with a hot cocoa in your hands. I just happen to have one of those machines in my basement, that’s why I can hang in there so long.”

  “We call them the dinosaurs. Nobody ever uses them but us, and only when we really feel like punishing ourselves.” JP added.

  Addy, stepped ahead of the twosome, and turned around to bid then farewell. “Nice meeting you JP. Sorry to part so soon, but I have to go back to work. Bye, Karen. See you Friday.” She winked at Karen, turned around and went into the locker room, leaving the two of them in silence and smiling. Did she wink at me? She remembered my name? Karen felt like a complete idiot.

  JP was speechless. “I
don’t think anyone has ever put me off so suddenly and smoothly, and the worse part is that I don’t feel bad at all. The lady has class. I like her.” He turned to face Karen and found her smiling. She’s got something all right! “Hello? Karen? Are you there? She’ll see you Friday? I can see you haven’t lost your touch.”

  Karen looked at him, and grinned. “Don’t even try to go there. Drop it.” She warned him and took off for the water cooler.

  “Oh my!” Oooh, someone is touchy.

  ***

  Later that night, JP called Karen on the phone. “Honey, you’ve got to be careful. I think that you are headed for trouble.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Oh come on Karen, I know you! I’ve never seen you drooling like you drooled today. Gorgeous, sexy, nice-ass, brunette at the gym, Addy?”

  “What about her?” Karen asked.

  “I’ve made some inquiries, just because I found her so fabulous. She’s married, hon, with a kid and all.”

  Karen was in disbelief. “Are you sure?”