Sam walked out into the hall towards the source of the melodic voice, stopping just outside the bathroom door where she placed her ear against it to listen more intently. After listening for a few moments, the blonde smiled approvingly of the catchy tune, then walked back into the bedroom.

Out of nowhere, Sam felt a yawn escape out of her mouth. “Oh, great. Tell me we’ll spend the night sleeping again just like last week.” Sam eyed the huge bed and made up her mind. Reaching down, she threw off the comforter and crawled into the bed. “Maybe if I can just catch a little nap…” she marveled at the feel of the satin sheets under her as the melody of Brooke’s voice surrounded her.

God, I know that I’ve heard that voice before, but where? Huh…maybe she does background work for her studio…I mean, she is the CEO. The small woman made herself comfortable, scrunching up the pillow to her liking. She’s got the talent…I wonder why she never pursued it? Sam allowed questions with no answers to float through her mind as she began to doze off, lulled off to sleep by the sound of Brooke’s singing.

Suddenly, there was silence and it startled Sam into opening her eyes, taking in the vision before her. Brooke was standing at the foot of the bed dressed in a pair of shorts and an old t-shirt, cut off to reveal her stomach.

“Hi, Darlin,” Brooke purred as Sam admired the view.

“So…you found me, huh?” The sleepy voice croaked out.

Brooke nodded her head. “Yep. So is this room…” the older woman looked around it, “Your choice?”

“Sure, if it’s alright with you…I mean. That window…ah…door should be great for the morning with the sunrise. Don’t you think?”

“Oh yeah. The bed’s really comfortable and the view in the morning is gorgeous.”

“You’ve slept in here on occasion then?” Sam raised up on her elbow.

“You could say that,” Brooke answered with a sly grin.

Sam nodded her head in confirmation of her choice and smiled at Brooke in return. “Then I guess I’ve made the right choice.”

“You could say that, too.” Brooke pointed to the wall opposite French doors, “And if you need it, there’s a TV in the cabinet over there.”

“Is there?” Sam asked with a yawn. “Sorry…I must be tired from the week.”

“Wanna take a nap?”

“I dunno…it might be a good idea. I guess that pizza didn’t help either,” Sam patted her belly. “Guess I got that full belly syndrome again. Hey, I’m sorry, Brooke”

“Sorry? About what?”

“About being such a bad date,” Sam answered as she cast her eyes down to her chest.

“Baby, you could never be a bad date. I want you to be comfortable when you’re here.” Brooke came around the bed to reach out and push some stray hairs behind Sam’s ear, then leaned in and kissed the blonde’s head. “Just knowing you’re here is perfect.”

The younger woman offered up a weak smile, “Well, now that you mention it…this bed is very comfortable…you were right.”

Brooke couldn’t hold back the chuckle that bubbled up in her chest. “I know. I sleep in it every night.”

“WHAT?” Sam asked as she bolted upright in the bed, eyes wide open.

“Hey…I told you, you could have your pick of any room.”

“Yeah…but I…I…”

Leaning back in, Brooke kissed Sam on the forehead. “Honey, don’t worry. It’s fine, really. I just want you to be comfortable.”

“Worry, about what?” Sam sat up, reaching for her bag, “That I threw you out of your own bed?”

“I’ll find another room,” Brooke chuckled. It’s not like this is the only bed here.” The dark-haired woman took the bag from Sam’s hand. “Honey, lay back down. Come on, it’s fine. Stay right where you’re at.”

“And where are you going to…” Sam hesitated not quite sure of how to approach the subject. “…go?”

“Right now?” Brooke questioned her but didn’t wait for an answer. “Out on the balcony. It’s nice out.”

“Hmm…” Sam stifled another yawn and lay down. “Maybe just a little nap.”

Placing a hand on the small shoulder of the blonde, Brooke leaned in and whispered, “Just rest, Baby.” She brushed back golden hair and kissed Sam’s forehead. “I love you.” Brooke watched as the blonde head slightly nodded and the woman’s lips mumbled out a return of the sentiments. Within seconds, the sound of soft snores could be heard.

Brooke stood there and watched for a few moments, then grabbed the tablet and pen on the nightstand and went out to sit on the balcony. There was much that she knew she needed to think about.

The dusk colored sky had now given way to the darkening shades of the night. Brooke had sat there on the balcony thinking about the small blonde and how fast everything was happening in her life since Sam had come into it. The stoic woman found it downright amazing that the three words, which had eluded her speech, were so easy to say now, and without even thinking about them. I love you. Never thinking that she’d ever say them, it just amazed her to no end where her life seemed headed.

Maybe it’s time that I stopped running from love…Brooke wondered, then smirked at herself. Hell, you’ve been running from any kind of relationship except the ones that conclude a business deal, with a handshake and a fake smile. “And I have you to thank for that, don’t I, Loran,” she mumbled, then let out a disgusted breath.

The sullen woman picked up the tablet that she had brought out with her and began doodling on it, drawing crude stick figures and then putting their heads in a noose and hanging them from makeshift gallows. If only I would have killed you long ago. She started to draw another figure but stopped after only a few lines were on the paper.

Brooke stood up and walked over to the railing, bracing her arms on it. Blue eyes looked up to the first glimmers of the evening stars as the woman took a good, long look at her life. “Damn it. It’s not my nature to be getting so involved with anyone this fast…” she whispered on the night wind, knowing that she was powerless to stop it. What do I tell her about Loran? She closed her eyes and thought, How do I even start to tell her? Better yet, will Sam still be there if I tell her about Loran? Brooke hung her head thinking of what Sam might construe the revelation as. She’s going to think that I lied to her the whole time by not telling her sooner. She’ll leave…I know that I would. The woman fought back the anguish that was overtaking her heart and soul, the thought of being left without Sam by her side. Damn, how did I let it get this far, this soon?

Sam stood at the French doors, watching the woman on the balcony. “Penny for your thoughts, Brooke,” the words were soft and friendly. The blonde watched the startled look on the woman’s face as she turned around in response to the question. “I…I just woke up and saw you out here,” Sam offered.

The dark-haired woman relaxed seeing Sam in the doorway and she started to smile, “Hi. Did you have a nice nap?”

“Yeah, I guess I really needed that. Thanks, by the way.” Sam stepped out onto the balcony. “Have you been out here the whole time?”

“You’re welcome,” Brooke tipped her head toward Sam. “And yeah, it’s too nice not to be. Come on, sit down here with me and you’ll see what I mean.”

The small woman took a few steps around the balcony then turned to Brooke, “Yeah, it is nice out here.” She found herself next to Brooke and leaned in, kissing the woman.

“Mmmm…I’m glad that you’re awake though.” Brooke said as she came out of the kiss.

“Me, too.” Sam noticed the tablet in Brooke’s hand. “What’s that you were doing…playing hangman with yourself?”

The tall woman shrugged, then mumbled, “Just doodling.”

“Hey, you didn’t finish that game. How about you let me try?” Sam took a seat and waited for Brooke to do the same.

Seeing the eager look on Sam’s face, Brooke couldn’t refuse her. Then an idea came to her head. “Uh…Okay.” This is how I tell her. Hastily drawing five lines on the paper with an ‘L’ on the first line, the tall woman sat down, offering the tablet to her friend.

Sam studied the five spaces intently before asking for a letter, “Got any O’s?”

Brooke gulped out a “Yep,” and made the mark above the second line.

“Hmmm…” the blonde studied the spaces once more. “T?” she asked.

The holder of the pen sighed in relief, “Nope.” The pen went to the paper, adding the stick of a body to the already drawn head of the figure.

“Ah…D?”

“Nope,” the word became stronger sounding each time it was said. Brooke now added one dangling leg to her whimsical stick man.

Sam fired back with a hurried, “K?”

“Uhm…No,” Brooke had to laugh at Sam’s determination. The one legged man now had two to stand on and so went the drawing as Brooke took her time adding each arm and the feet until only the noose was left to end the game.

The blonde sat back in her chair, really concentrating on what the word could be. “Hmm…” she turned to Brooke and asked shyly, “Could you give me a clue?”

The older woman thought for a moment, then nodded her head; “Yeah, it’s…” Brooke took in a breath and held it before continuing, “it’s my middle name.”

Green eyes looked up from the paper and studied Brooke for the longest time. A smile came to Sam’s face as she coyly asked, “Is there an R?”

“Yes, there’s an R,” Brooke held her breath for fear of being found out.

“Lover,” Sam cried out. “I knew it.” She winked and kissed the stunned woman.

“That’s…that’s right.” Brooke looked up to her lucky star and uttered a silent prayer of thanksgiving. “Lover,” she reiterated as she pulled Sam into her lap, kissing her again.

The blonde was so excited that before the second their lip-lock was finished, she started talking, “Five letters, L-O and R, what else could it be?” Sam kissed Brooke back and their lips slowly came apart.