Maybe its a good thing that the weather is cooling down, cause this warm feeling is going to make me combust. You do know how to put these kinds of fires out, don’t you? I mean…just in case we’re together when it happens.

Excuse me while I go suck on some ice chips. Sam

Brooke smiled when she read this latest e-mail. Glancing at the clock, she realized that there was just enough time to type up a short reply before leaving to pick up the vibrant blonde.

Subj: Re: Waiting to see you

Date: September 16, 4:59:48 AM Eastern Daylight Time

From: Brooke Loran

To: Sam Moleson

Can someone die and go to heaven…and still be alive? Because I think I just did. Okay, I must still be alive cause I’m breathing and the tingles are still going through my body with just the thought of you.

***Well, if it’s possible then I have several times since you kissed me. I’ll be honest with you; I can’t stop thinking about you.

Brooke, I hate to say this, but I think we’re playing with some major kind of fire here. Don’t you dare think about putting it out. Well, unless we both agree on it. LOL ;)

***I wouldn’t dream of it. Well, actually I HAVE dreamed about it. At least during what little bit of sleep I’ve been able to catch all week.

Excuse me while I go suck on some ice chips.

***Do you even WANT to know what kind of images my warped mind has conjured up at the thought of you doing just that?

Leaving to pick you up now. See you soon! Brooke

Brooke hit the ‘Send’ button and waited for the confirmation that her message had gone through. She shut down the computer, then took off, practically running down the stairs. After seeing Mario out the backdoor, she attended to some last minute preparations before her trip. Once done, she went to the kitchen door and whistled for the dog to come inside.

Giving the obedient Husky a treat and a quick pet before grabbing her keys off of the countertop, Brooke was on her way to the campus.

The 300Z pulled into a parking space a few minutes before five at the backdoor of her sister’s dorm. Her stomach still nervous about the date, she took a seat on the hood of her car and patiently waited Sam’s exit out of the back door.

At exactly five the rear security door opened, its squeaky hinge sounded a warning that caused Brooke’s hair on her arms to tingle. Lowering her head to peer over the top of her sunglasses, she saw Sam’s small blonde head peeking out from around the door. Within seconds, Sam stood directly in front of the dark haired woman who was perched on the hood of the car.

“Hey there,” Brooke said, enthusiastically.

Sam smiled warmly as she looked up into blue eyes which were revealed from behind the sunglasses that Brooke now slowly raised to the top of her head. “Hi, I see you found the back door without any problem.”

“Yes, I did,” Brooke answered as she slid off the car and took a small step closer to Sam. She tilted her head to the side and leaned in close to whisper, “Didn’t you say that you had a kiss for ‘Auntie’?”

Fighting back the temptation to do just that, Sam cautiously looked around. The appearance of a small group of people turning the corner of the building that was next to the dorm made her reconsider. “Maybe later, ‘Auntie’. Let’s get out of here.” Sam held up the bag in her hand and asked, “Where do you want me to put this?”

“Here,” Brooke unlocked the door. “You can just throw it in the back seat.” The taller woman opened the door and held it for Sam.

The small blonde tossed the bag into the back seat and stood straight up to look Brooke in the eyes. Rising onto her tiptoes, she gave Brooke a quick kiss on the cheek, then with a shrug of her shoulders she explained simply, “It’s later.” Sam laughed as she got into the passenger seat, fastening her seat belt as Brooke blushed, frozen in position holding the door.

“You going to just stand there?” Sam asked as she looked up at a dumfounded Brooke.

The woman shook her head as if to clear it. What is it with her and opening car doors? I wonder if she does that to anybody else? “Uh…yeah, right,” Brooke tried to sound in total control. Maybe she was hypnotized to…Nah, that would be crazy. She shook her head, laughing at herself, then shut the door. The tall woman then made her way to the driver’s side as her hand self-consciously touched the cheek that had been kissed. Sensing Sam watching her as she crossed the front of the car, Brooke covered her actions by lowering her sunglasses back down over her eyes. Before the numbed woman had the opportunity to embarrass herself any further, Brooke got behind the steering wheel, then with the turn of a key, they left the campus.

“So, are you going to let me in on this little secret of yours?” Brooke asked, making an attempt at small talk as they drove along.

“Maybe. That depends.”

Brooke looked over briefly at Sam and then turned her eyes back to the road. “Depends…on what?”

“On you and how this date goes.” The blonde laughed looking out the window then back over at the driver. “You know, I don’t just tell my secrets to every date.”

“Oh, I’ll keep that in mind,” Brooke responded as she winked at Sam.

“I’m sure that you will.” The younger woman smiled and turned her head to look out the side window.

They drove on in silence for a few minutes as Brooke stole glances at her passenger. When she thought that Sam wasn’t looking, the momentary glance turned longer as she watched the young woman gazing so thoughtfully out the window.

“Sam?” Brooke waited for the green eyes to look in her direction. “Can I uh…tell you something without you jumping out the car door?”

Sam looked at the driver, trying to determine just how serious Brooke’s question really was. “What…are you an axe murderer? A psycho killer?” she laughed while watching Brooke shake her head.

“No, nothing like that. I just wanted you to know that…I…um…”

“Yes, Brooke?”

The dark-haired woman looked over at her passenger and reached out to gently run the back of her fingers down Sam’s cheek. “I missed you,” she admitted softly before turning her gaze back to the road ahead of her.

Sam reached up, catching Brooke’s hand in her own and placed it against her lips. “I missed you, too.”

“Really?”

“Really. I hardly slept at all after our conversation last week. C.C. must have thought I was crazy, tossing and turning all night.”

Brooke smiled; she knew all too well just how grumpy her younger sister was known to be whenever her sleep was interrupted. “I know, me too. I kept watching the clock. Finally I just got up and paced around the house.” Brooke chuckled, “I even got to Mario and he showed his face sometime after three this morning. He must’ve thought I was nuts.”

“Mario?” Sam asked, curiously.

“Yeah. Mario…” she paused watching the question written all over Sam’s face, then added, “my dog.”

Sam shook her head back and forth as she grinned. “There’s a lot I have to learn about you, isn’t there?”

Brooke grinned at Sam like the cat that ate the canary. And when she winked, Sam was sure that her heart would melt on the spot.

“You’ll see,” Brooke answered with another wink.

“I’m betting on that one. Trust me.”

“Sam, he’s really a great dog. You’ll fall in love with him as soon as you see him.”

“As much as I am with you?” Sam mumbled to herself as she sighed and glanced out the window again.

“I’m sorry, what was that? I didn’t hear you.”

“Oh, nothing. I was…just thinking about the food I’ll need to pick up.” Sam hoped that her quick cover would work.

“Oh, okay. Well, we’ll be near the store soon.”

“Good.” Sam rolled her eyes and looked out the window, trying to hide her nearly uttered thought.

Brooke stole a glance, wondering what her younger passenger had on her mind. “Hey, why are you so quiet over there? Are you bored? There’s some CDs in the glove compartment,” Brooke offered as Sam turned around to look at her.

“Bored? No, just thinking.” She opened the glove compartment and searched through the music selection until she found a disc that caught her eye. “Do you mind?” Sam asked Brooke as she held the CD up for Brooke’s approval.

“Sure. That’s fine,” Brooke answered, turning her eyes back to the road.

As Sam put the disc into the CD player and closed her eyes to the mood of the music, Brooke stopped the 300Z at a light and looked over at Sam.

The younger woman could feel those blue eyes watching her, as the heat came to her face, her cheeks turning slightly pink by all the attention.

“So, thinking about anything in particular?” Brooke’s question came out in hushed tones.

Knowing that Brooke was watching her, she opened her eyes and looked over at the ocean of blue staring back at her. “What’s to think about when the weather is so nice, the music fills the air and I have you sitting next to me?”

Brooke couldn’t help but smile. She grabbed Sam’s hand and brought it up to her lips, kissing the smooth skin. “Almost there,” she informed the blonde at her side as the light turned green.

Sam smiled, wondering what the Fates had in store for the two of them that night. “You know, Brooke…I think we’re going to have a great time tonight.”

“Me too,” Brooke replied as she briefly glanced over the top of her sunglasses, tilting her head in Sam’s direction.

“Hey, isn’t that the store there?” Sam pointed up ahead.

“Yep.” Brooke pulled into the parking lot and selected a space to park.

Unfastening her seatbelt as soon as the car stopped, Sam turned quickly toward the driver. “I’ll run in and get the food while you stay here.” Sam saw the hurt in Brooke’s eyes and quickly added, “Ah…it’s part of that surprise. You wouldn’t want to ruin it would you?”