Chapter 38

"I have a surprise," Tanner casually stated while driving down Broadway Avenue.

"Oh really?" Casey inquired. As she watched Tanner nod, she added, "So what is it?"

"You'll see," Tanner answered excitedly. They pulled into an alleyway, parking behind a two-story brick building. She lead the shorter woman to the unmarked door which she began to unlock. Once inside, she entered a numeric code on the key pad affixed to the wall to deactivate the alarm.

"Where are we?" Casey asked softly.

Tanner gave her a lopsided grin and then turned on the main light. Sea green eyes lit up at seeing the room full of so many different flowers and plants. "It's my friend, Kenny's, flower shop. He's allowing me to use the surroundings tonight."

"For what?" Casey asked curiously.

"For this," she stated as she took the blonde's hand in her own and lead her further into the room towards the small table containing a plate of chocolate covered fruit and champagne.

Grinning from ear to ear, Casey said, "This is so beautiful and romantic." She sat down on the chair that was held out for her and watched as Tanner opened the bottle. "How did you manage this?"

"Kenny and I go way back. We used to live next door to each other all through high school and we even went to prom together because both of us were still in the closet to everyone but ourselves."

As they enjoyed dessert and conversation, Casey could not deny any more that she was beginning to fall for this woman. She found Tanner charming, strong, thoughtful, romantic and definitely very sexy. Suddenly Casey grew fearful as all of these revelations came to a head. The last thing she wanted was a repeat of her last relationship.

"Casey, are you okay?" Tanner asked upon noticing Casey's body language growing pensive.

"I'm fine." She got up, walking towards the cash register counter, as she tried to reign in her emotions and thoughts.

Curious, Tanner joined her, leaning against the counter. "Thank you for the pleasure of coming out with me tonight." The tall woman announced softly while the backs of fingers tenderly caressed Casey's cheek.

Casey was becoming lost in those beautiful blue eyes. When a pair of soft lips made contact with her own, she gave up the fight with her heart. Tongues danced and caressed without skipping a beat. A slight moan escaped her throat when it came to an end.

"There's one more thing," Tanner softly began as she pulled out a small red envelope from her jacket pocket and handed it to the young woman.

"What's this?" Casey asked while opening the heart-shaped card. Will you be my Valentine? I definitely would like to be yours. Happy Valentine's Day. Ever hopeful, Tanner. Sea green eyes couldn't believe what she read. Did I lose that much track of time? Is it already that horrible day?

"It's after midnight now," Tanner whispered. "Happy Valentines Day, Casey."

She looked up to the woman speaking, and eyebrows furrowed in anger. "I hate this holiday," she briskly announced.

"Oh?" Tanner was confused.

"Please take me home," she plainly requested.

"I don't understand..."

"Don't," Casey firmly stated. "I don't want to talk. I just want to go home. In fact, don't bother, I'll call Mouse to come."

"I'll take you," Tanner interjected, not understanding what the hell just happened.

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Tanner was dumbfounded, wondering what she may have said or done to cause such a reaction in Casey tonight. With head hanging low, she walked up to her bedroom and began undressing. Looking out the balcony doors with the hope of seeing Casey, she let out a sigh when all she saw were the closed curtains staring back at her.

Tanner didn't sleep much. She kept milling in her mind the events of their evening, trying to figure out just what had occurred to change Casey's demeanor. The next day she was still left without answers as she went about her work and studies.

By Wednesday, Tanner walked over with a single white rose and knocked on the door. She knew she heard footsteps approach, and someone must have looked through the peephole, but the door was left unanswered. Disappointed, she left the flower on the door mat.

Saturday afternoon finally came around again and Tanner caught sight of Mouse starting up the grill. She had hoped maybe Mouse could give her some insight into what's happened. "Hey Mouse, grilling again?"

"Hey neighbor. Sure am. Got a couple of black angus steaks on sale today and a few ears of corn. Wanna join me?"

"That'd be great. Thanks." Tanner commented.

"Sure thing. Help yourself to a beer in the fridge."

As they watched and waited for the coals to be ready, Tanner decided to ask what's been pressing on her mind. "Where's Casey?"

"Oh she's gone for a couple of days. Went up to Hannibal to stay at the little cottage grandma left us. Said she needed time alone to do some thinking. In fact, she took off the morning after her date with you."

"So you heard about that huh?"

"Yeah, I heard her side of it. You want to tell me your side?" Mouse went about getting the corn on the grill as she listened to Tanner's story. Mouse took a swig of beer, and then said, "Alright, let me tell you something I believe you don't know. A couple of years ago, Casey met this woman down at the SoCos nightclub. They hit it off great right from the start. Within a few weeks, Casey was in love. This was her first."

Tanner's eyebrow went up. "Her first, first?"

"It was her first real relationship." Mouse responded as she took another swig. "Once they started having sex is when I noticed a change in Kayla ---- that was her name. It seemed like she lost interest, ya know? Like she just didn't care one way or another. Kayla worked as the doorperson at the bar, and had to do so on Valentine's Day. Well Casey got it in her romantic head to surprise her with a Valentine's Day dinner she cooked and a little visit. When Casey arrived, she saw and heard Kay overtly flirting with another woman and then the bitch starts kissing up on her. Well my sister confronted them, and with tears already spilling down her cheeks starts confessing her love and all that. What Kay told her just broke her heart. Kay loudly announced to everyone within earshot that Casey was nothing but a good fuck, and interested parties should come talk to her. Can you believe that whore? She advertised my sister like a hog on the market, stating that folks should come prepared to give Casey a few lessons. Unfortunately, it didn't end there because for days Casey kept getting phone calls from women who Kay gave her number to. It was a mess, and I had to take things into my own hands because I wasn't going to just sit idly by to let my sis get trampled on. All in all, Casey has been crushed ever since."

Tanner could hardly believe what she just heard. It angered her to no end that someone would treat another person in that manner. She looked right at her neighbor, and said, "I love her Mouse. I really do. I've been thinking about it all week wondering why her absence and silence has hurt me. In the past couple of months of getting to know her and then this past weekend, I've grown to love her more. She's witty and feisty and funny, incredibly sexy and she's a joy to be around. I've missed all of that this week."

Mouse clapped a hand upon Tanner's shoulder, and said, "That is what she needs to hear bud -----that's what she needs to hear."

Casey came home the next day to find three dozen roses --- red, white and pink ---- sitting on the breakfast bar. Reading the card addressed to her, she couldn't stop the tear that spilled over her cheek.

Mouse came down the steps, watching her sister re-read the note. When Casey put the card down and wiped at her nose to smell the roses, she noticed Mouse. They stood there just staring at one another.

"Did you tell her?" Casey harshly asked. Mouse looked away, the nonverbal action giving away the answer. "How could you tell her? It's not your place." She demanded loudly.

"I know that, and I'm sorry for overstepping but she was worried Sis. Really genuinely concerned. She needed to know. Casey, she's for real." Mouse brushed a hand through her shoulder length hair as she blew out an exasperated sigh. "Come on Green Bean, give her a chance." She circled her arms around the younger sibling and held her close.

Casey cried, allowing the comfort of Mouse's presence. Regardless of how much they argued and didn't see eye to eye, she always knew they had each other's love and loyalty.

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A gentle rapping brought Tanner out of the half asleep state she had fallen in while on the couch. Ocean blue eyes looked around, recalling that she was supposed to be studying from the looks of the notes and books scattered about. She heard the rapping once more, and turned her head to see a welcomed sight standing outside the sliding glass doors. Getting up, she opened it. "Hey," Tanner softly greeted. Small hands tenderly touched her face, pulling her down quickly for a soul-searing kiss. Instinctively, Tanner's hands grasped Casey's backside, bringing her forward against her body. Tongues swirled around, exploring one another's mouths. Fingers threaded through midnight black hair gripping the locks firmly with a passion that left both of them wanting more.