I'd never joined a gym before; I'm really not the sporty type, but Judy said it's full of a load of fit blokes, and maybe I could meet someone there. So, on a cold and rainy Monday evening I dug out my shortest, whitest tennis skirt, grabbed my racquet and sports bottle, and off I went.
Judy was right. Standing by the juice bar I noticed a variety of good looking men in all shapes and sizes, but the one that caught my eye was the best of the lot. Tall and dark, he had that smouldering look, bit like Mad Men's Don Draper. I wondered if he worked in advertising. "Waiting for a court?" He smiled, eyeing the racquet handle poking out my bag.
"They're all taken," I replied, in the sexy voice I've been practicing since my divorce. "And as it's my first time here, I didn't know you have to pre-book."
"Tell you what, come play with me." He had a certain gleam in his eye, but I had already clocked the wedding ring on his left hand. Still, it was only a game of tennis, no harm in that.
The individual courts are set out at the back of the sports club, overlooking lovely grounds on a sunny day. But tonight the moonlit glass wall provided a reflection, so whichever way I faced I could see his muscular, tanned legs and broad shoulders. We started off chatting while we played, but as we picked up speed I became breathless. His ace shots had me running all over the court, and I made sure as I picked up the ball he had a good view of my white lace thong. But it had been a long time since I'd exercised and I was starting to regret playing with someone as hot as 'Don Draper.'
I stepped aside to swig some water, offering him the bottle and feeling a bit surprised when he accepted. There's something quite intimate about sharing a bottle with a stranger. I smiled at him as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "It's so hot in here, shall we get a breath of fresh air?"
As we stepped through the glass doors the chill hit us and, if I'd been alone, I'd have gone straight back inside. But I braved the biting wind and rested my hands against a wrought iron chair.