Botanical Garden
Page 7
Weeks go by and Anna still hasn't seen Conrad, but he was on her mind everyday since they met. “Who is this massive man? How did he do the things he did? He's obviously carrying a heavy burden, but what could it be?” She thought to herself.
She's gone to the gym every night after work hoping he would walk in with no luck. She lived in the apartment above the gym, so at least it was easy to get there. She had started to give up hope until he walked through the doors, perfect smile and all.
Anna froze mid-squat, the bar on her shoulders, as she watched the familiar figure walk through the gym doors. For a moment, she wondered if she was imagining things, if her mind, having replayed that night so many times, had finally conjured him. But there's no mistake. That perfect smile, those tattooed arms, that impossible height and width. Conrad-Atlas was back.
She racked the bar with more force than necessary, the metal clanging loudly in the otherwise quiet gym. "Well, well, well," she said, walking over to him, a mix of relief and excitement in her voice. "I was starting to think you were a figment of my imagination. Or that maybe you were just a ghost who haunts this gym when I'm not looking for you."
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She stopped in front of him, her own imposing figure matching his in its own way. "You're back. I'm glad. I've got questions.”
“Well, hello to you too?” He chuckled, his imposing voice booming from his chest. “What questions?” He asked as he set his things down and started stretching, with an amused glow in his eyes.
Anna's lips twitched into a smile at his greeting. "You know exactly what questions, Conrad Atlas. You disappear for weeks, then just waltz back in like you own the place. I'm a detective, not a mind reader. I like answers. I like to know when people are going to show up, when they're not, and why they're lifting weights that are almost illegal in some states." Anna was feeling particularly feisty today. It was a hard day so her tone was sharper than usual.
She watched him stretch, her eyes following the play of muscles under his tight t-shirt.
"So, spill. You said you'd be back. You were right. Now, I'm waiting. What's your story? What's so important that you have to live on a mountain with 500 acres of your own? What's the burden? And don't you dare tell me it's nothing. I don't buy it."
These questions were burning inside of her for weeks and she didn’t know if she was ever going to see him again so she wanted answers now. Her tone is teasing, but there's an underlying seriousness to it, a genuine curiosity that's been building for weeks.
“Hahaha!” He laughed, and the floor seemed to vibrate. He stood next to her and towered over her, not in a dominating way, but in a playful way as to show his might. “You're very curious aren't you? I seem to have left an impression.” He said as he flashed that perfect smile and winked. “It's ok, you left an impression on me too.” He tried to hide his blush but Anna caught it as he turned and started doing hand stand push ups with ease.
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"That's what happens when you walk into a room and make steel bend with ease and then disappear," Anna said, a slight teasing edge to her voice as she watched him perform the handstand push-ups. "It's hard to not notice that. And it's hard to forget."
She walked around him as he worked, her eyes tracking his movements with professional interest. "You're something else, you know that? Most people can't even do one of those. You're doing them like they're... well, like they're easy for you. Which, for you, they probably are."
She stopped in front of him as he finished his set, her expression softening slightly. "You said I left an impression on you too. What impression was that? And don't give me that stupid line about my physique. I've heard it all before. I want the real answer. The one you're actually thinking about.”
He landed back on his feet with a grace that didn’t match his size. “Why do you care so much? Who cares if I can lift more weight than anyone you've ever met? What does it matter?”
Pausing for a moment to look Anna up and down he said “I can't lie, your physique is a big part of what left an impression on me. And I don’t think that’s a stupid line. It’s just the truth. I've been wondering how strong you are. I'm honestly impressed. I've never seen a woman as strong as you, yet still stunning in beauty.” He said with a genuine tone in his voice.
Anna watched him land, appreciating the grace and control. She considered his words for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "I care because I don't like mysteries. Especially mysterious men who can lift more than a small car and disappear for weeks at a time. It's a cop thing. We like to know who we're dealing with. And as for your compliment..." She gave a small, self-deprecating laugh. "It's nice to hear. People usually see one or the other, the cop or the muscles. Not both. It's... refreshing to be seen as a whole person."
She stepped closer, her voice dropping slightly. "You're not so bad yourself. In the beauty department, that is. And the strength department. And the mystery department.” She chuckled. “I'm not just impressed, Conrad Atlas. I'm fascinated. And I don't get fascinated by many things. So, what's your story? What's the big secret?”
“Well as for the disappearing part, I just went back home. I told you I was just out here visiting my parents. Remember? That was my last night in town. I flew back to Big Bear the next morning. I just got back in town tonight though and I'll be here for a few days, so I won't disappear like that again.”
Anna's lips curved into a genuine smile, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "You did tell me that.” She crossed her arms, her impressive biceps flexing slightly. "So, you're back for a few days. That's good. That means we can actually get to know each other, beyond the gym and the mysterious disappearances. What do you have planned while you're here? Besides working out and impressing the local police officers with your superhuman abilities, I mean.”
Conrad looked at Anna with a puzzled, yet appreciative look in his eyes, as if he was trying to figure out if she was real. As if he was just as intrigued by her as she was with him.
“Instead of talking, how about we work out? We are in a gym after all, and besides, I didn't get to see you lift last time I was here. I want to see what you can do. That looked like a lot of weight on that squat rack. How about we start there?” He asked with that playful perfect smile on his face.
A genuine, confident smile spread across Anna's face. "Now you're talking. I like that. Actions speak louder than words, right? Fine. Let's do it. But don't be surprised if I can keep up."
She walked over to the squat rack, grabbing a barbell and loaded it with impressive weight. "So, how much are we talking about here, Atlas? I want to see what you've got. Or should I say, what you think you've got. I don't go easy on anyone. Especially not mysterious men with perfect smiles and impossible strength." She stood under the bar, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Ready when you are. Let's see if that mountain air gives you an advantage or not.”
Conrad walked up to her squat rack and looked at how much weight was on it. His eyes slightly bulged for an instant as he realized how much she had loaded. “You're going to lift that?” He said with a genuinely impressed tone in his voice. “I gotta see this. I'll go after you. Let me see what you got.”
Anna adjusts her grip on the bar, her massive biceps and back muscles bunching with the movement. "That's the plan, big guy. Watch and learn. Or don't, if you're not ready for what you're about to see. Ready to be impressed?" she asked, her voice carrying that same calm, confident tone.
She took a deep breath, nodded once, and began her squat. The movement was powerful and controlled, the bar moving with purpose as she descended and then exploded upward with a controlled grunt. She didn’t just lift the weight, she mastered it, her form perfect, her breathing steady. After three perfect reps, she carefully racked the bar and turned to face Conrad, a small smile of satisfaction on her face.
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"Your turn. Don't disappoint me now.” She said, her voice oozed with confidence.
Conrad's jaw dropped and he covered his mouth to try and mask the look of shock on his face. Regaining himself he said. “That was truly impressive. I've never seen a woman squat even close to that much weight let alone three perfect reps. My turn, huh?”
Anna could see the genuine shock in his eyes, and it made her smile widen. She appreciated the reaction, it wasn’t often she got to truly impress someone in the gym. "I told you I could keep up. Now it's your turn to put your money where your mouth is. Let's see what that mountain air and 500 acres of personal space can really do for you. Don't be shy. That bar's not going to lift itself.”
Atlas' mouth slowly turned into a mischievous smile. “I said I was impressed, I didn't say you could keep up.” He chuckled as he stepped under the bar un-racking it with ease. Looking Anna right in the eye with that perfect smile on his face, he did ten reps standing on one leg and re-racked the weight. “How was that?”
Anna stared, absolutely stunned. Her jaw actually dropped slightly in disbelief. "Did I just see that right?" she asked, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Ten reps. One leg. That's... that's not possible. That's not even human."
She walked around him, circling like a predator, her eyes wide with disbelief and fascination. "Okay, what's the trick? What's the catch? Because I've seen a lot of things in my life, but I have never, ever seen anything like that. Are you sure you're not some kind of cyborg? Or alien? Because that's the only explanation that makes any sense right now."
Her tone was a mix of awe and disbelief, her professional demeanor completely shattered by what she just witnessed. "I need answers, Atlas. Right now. Before my brain explodes.”
“I am human, I can assure you of that much. Just as human as you actually. I guess you can just say that I've unlocked my true potential.” He said with a sheepish smile on his face.
“I actually have something I want to show you. I know you want answers, and I really am sorry that I can't tell you everything. Let's get out of this gym and just go somewhere we can talk. I want to get to know you better. I promise to answer some of your questions, if you promise to answer mine too.”
Anna studied him intently, her cop instincts warring with her curiosity and the inexplicable attraction she felt. "Unlocked your potential? That's one way to put it.” She said sarcastically. “I have to be honest, I'm torn between dragging you to the nearest lab for testing and being thoroughly intrigued by you. But I'm a woman of my word. If you want to talk, I'm listening. And maybe, just maybe, you can give me a hint about what you're really so good at besides bending steel and making women's jaws drop."
She grabbed her water bottle and towel, taking a moment to compose herself. "Alright, Atlas. Let's go. Where are we heading? Somewhere private, I'm assuming. I don't think we'd get much done in a public place with you looking like that and me wearing my 'can't be bothered' face.” She said flatly. She was a little frustrated that he was dodging her questions.
“Do you have something a little warmer than a tank top you can put on? It's pretty cold outside.” He said as he zipped up his hoodie.
Anna looked down at her tank top, then at the chill that's started to seep into the gym through the windows. "You're right. I'm so used to the heat from the workout that I forget about the weather." She walked over to her gym bag and pulled out a hoodie, pulling it on over her tank top. "Better? Though I have to say, I like the look on you too. That hoodie does nothing to hide that frame of yours." She giggled.
She zipped up her own hoodie, her eyes never leaving his. "So, where to? Your parents' place? A coffee shop? A secret government facility where you were experimented on? The possibilities are endless with you, Atlas.”
Atlas watched her zip up her hoodie, his eyes never leaving her, with a look of amazement on his face, as if he was just as surprised by her as she was by him. He led the way out the door and said it's not far, we'll just walk. And don't worry, no one is going to experiment on us.” Conrad chuckled with a deep, husky, thunderous voice.
Anna followed him out of the gym, her senses heightened as she took in the crisp evening air. She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the cold seeping into her bones despite the hoodie. "Good to hear,” she said, “because I'm not sure my gun could handle a fight against whoever's got you locked up in a lab. Though, I have to admit, I'm curious now. What do you want to show me?”
Seeing how cold she was he wrapped his massive arms around her shoulders and said. “Do you mind if I help keep you warm?” Walking down the sidewalk, arm around Anna he said. “It's this little hidden gem of a place my parents told me about and it's not far from here.”
Anna's eyes widen slightly at the sudden warmth enveloping her, but she didn't protest. In fact, she leaned into him, feeling the comfort of his massive frame and the gentle pressure of his arm around her shoulders. "No, I don't mind at all," she said, her voice a little softer than usual. "In fact, I'm grateful. It's freezing out here.”
