Sheridan decided to walk Keefer to her house, since it was so close, and then she'd walk back to the park to retrieve her car and drive the dogs home. Keefer fell behind as Sheridan and her dogs led the way up the street.

The blonde's neck was itching and she was unable to let go of the dogs to scratch it. Besides, she knew it would burn if she actually did scratch it, so she kept twisting it around in an attempt to stop the itch. She jumped suddenly as cool fingers gently scratched the back of her neck, then gulped in panic realizing that Keefer had to know what the marks were and how she got them. Sheridan shivered at the sensation of Keefer's fingers touching the back of her neck. Since when is she so touchy-feely? She must have touched me ten times so far...

"Better?" the tall brunette asked.

"Much, thanks." I always wanted to walk down your block with my nipples a mile in front of me. "Um, about those marks..."

Keefer was suddenly in front of her. "I know what they are, Sheridan. I'm naive, not stupid. I just hope they were worth it," she smiled a little bitterly.

"Yeah, well..." That was certainly interesting. "She was good." Why did I feel the need to explain them to her anyway? It's not like she's my girlfriend... I shudder at the thought... that's just what I need, she thought sarcastically.

Keefer nodded and resumed walking towards her house. Why should I be so twisted over this? I know what she does and I know it's who she is. Just cut it out, you don't own the woman, for god's sake.

Sheridan continued to think. So, maybe not as a girlfriend, but I need to have her around. Just look at that ass in tight shorts -- I'd swear there's a little more shake to that walk than yesterday. What's going on with you, Keefer?

Keefer stopped at her front walk and waited for Sheridan to catch up. I wonder what she's thinking about. I wish I could get into her head.

"Thanks for meeting me today, it was really fun," Sheridan smiled at the tall woman and then reached down to pet Fifi's head.

Keefer smiled back and touched Sheridan on the shoulder, noticing that the green eyes darted to her hand as she did. "I enjoyed myself immensely," she said a little teasingly.

Sheridan furrowed her brows at her tall friend. I think she's hitting on me! "Maybe I'll catch you later?" she asked.

Keefer laughed quietly as she walked up her front walk with the dog. "Who are you kidding, Sher, it's Saturday night," she turned around and winked knowingly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sheridan asked in confusion.

"You can't pass up a Saturday night at the club. There are probably twenty women waiting on your arrival tonight." Keefer put the key in her door and opened it.

Sheridan couldn't make sense out of it and frowned, "So? What are you getting at?"

"Go get laid, Sheridan, I'll see you some other time." The trap set, Keefer disappeared into her house leaving the blonde bewildered and slightly angry.

Sheridan began walking back towards the park, her face in a permanent scowl. "What the hell was that all about, guys? It's like she fucking turned on me or something. So? I like to get laid, since when has this been a problem? What do I care what she thinks anyway?" A man stepped out of her way, a nervous look on his face. "What are you looking at?" she asked him, anger seeping through her pores. "Jeez, some people... they think they own you cuz they're your friend. What does she think? I need to get laid or I'll die? I don't need anything..." Sheridan fumed all the way home.

*****************

Keefer sat restlessly on the couch, wondering what Sheridan was thinking. She knew what she said could possibly piss the blonde off and turn her away, but she also knew Sheridan was stubborn and would probably want to prove her wrong, should she get over her initial anger. It was risky, but she had to try. Keefer hadn't watched all that late-night television without learning something. Talk shows ran rampant in the middle of the night and the tall woman loved them, often comparing her life to some of the guests. She hoped that this would work, forcing Sheridan to look at Keefer in a different light and question her own actions.

If Sheridan should choose to stay pissed and walk away, then Keefer wouldn't lose anything, but if she chose to stay and prove her wrong, then Keefer gained something. Both scenarios scared the pants off of the brunette. She had grown really attracted to Sheridan and would probably be very hurt should she go away, but she'd survive. If Sheridan decided to stay and possibly pursue Keefer, then the tall woman would be petrified. She had no real experience dealing with any one even remotely like Sheridan. Relationships? Danni was hardly a role model and Sheridan probably didn't know the meaning of the word. Keefer wasn't prepared to be Sheridan's sex object, but she really wanted more from the blonde than she had right now.

Keefer paced her house, looking at the clock. She's probably just getting to the club now. I wonder what she does there. Does she know how to dance? How does she pick up the women? Do they come to her or does she use that totally disarming grin of hers to call to them? What does she want with them... from them... once she has them? I saw on that Sally repeat that some women only like to give pleasure... is she like that? Does she let them touch her, too?

Keefer stopped moving long enough to capture an image of Sheridan in the throes of passion, some mysterious woman touching her between the legs. She felt a twinge of jealousy and held her belly with both hands. Oh, that's just great. Now you're jealous? How are you going to learn anything about her if you can't even stomach the thought?

The tall woman's plan initially involved her going to the club to spy discretely on the blonde, watching her interact with the women, her friends and possibly find out secrets. Now, she wasn't too sure she could. The rush of confidence she felt all day was running out on her, leaving her a little defeated and a lot insecure. I just know I screwed everything up.

******************

Sheridan was in rare form when she entered the club. She went straight out to the patio and flung herself in a chair.

Dawn followed her out and sat across from her, a concerned look on her face. "What's wrong Sher?" she asked, leaning forward towards her obviously angry friend.

Sheridan flew out of the chair, forcing Dawn to teeter in her own chair momentarily as she tipped backwards. "Fucking shit! Who does she think she is?"

"Who?" Dawn stood up to follow her friend as she paced in agitation.

"Keefer, that's who!"

"Keefer?" Dawn wracked her brain. "OH! Danni's ex!" she said excitedly and then she frowned. This was the chick that Sheridan was having some sort of trouble with, the one that pissed her off last night. "What did she do?"

Sheridan blew out a loud breath. "Nothing... forget it," the blonde held up her hand and waved the whole conversation away.

"You sure? You're pretty steamed over something. Maybe I can help?" Dawn ventured forth.

"She thinks she's my girlfriend or something! Well, she's not!" Sheridan blurted once again tossing herself angrily into a chair and lighting a new cigarette off of the old one.

"Hey, I don't know what's going on here, so start at the beginning, okay? Why would you get the impression that she thinks she's your girlfriend?"

The waiter came over and handed Sheridan a bottle of water, she gave him money and sulked. "It's not that. We were fine as friends. Don't get me wrong, I'd do her in a heartbeat if she weren't so fucked up, but I like her, ya know? So, we're friends," she glanced up at Dawn who nodded for her to continue. "She's got problems and she's way too shy about stuff -- not my type and all that. Well, anyway, we hang out and stuff, she cooks me dinner and today we went with our dogs to the park."

"Cool, she has dogs?"

"One, Fifi, she's a mess and a half. She looks like she got burned or something. I think Keefer rescued her."

"That's real nice, Sher, she's got a love for animals, just like you. Good heart," Dawn smiled, noticing that Sheridan was calming down. "So, what happened?"

"Well, all the while since we met, every time I got the least bit flirty with her, she freaked out and blushed her ass off. I played with it a little, but not as much as I could of; I didn't want to make her too uncomfortable."

Dawn raised her eyebrow. Really now? What's this I see? Sheridan cares for this woman? Wait 'til I tell the girls! "That's awfully sweet of you, Sher," Dawn teased.

"Yeah, well... so, all of a sudden today, it's like she can't keep her hands off of me and she's shaking her ass and stuff. I swear she was on my shit the whole time."

"What's wrong with that?" Dawn asked, totally confused.

"She knows I ain't gonna go for it! I don't need that shit right now! I'm happy with my life just the way it is. I don't need someone else's crap fucking up my life." She paused and drank from her bottle. "She gets all pissy with me about going out tonight and getting laid... she knows what I do, I don't hide it from her. She doesn't need someone like me as much as I don't need someone like her."

Dawn's eyebrows got higher and higher as her friend rambled on.

"The thing that gets me is, I like her, she's fun to be with and she cooks great, too. She's gorgeous and smells good... aw, fuck me. I'm so hot for her and she knows it, but she hasn't played me until today."

"Maybe she wants you, Sher. Maybe she just realized it."

"Oh, no, she wanted me from the get go... I can tell. I tell you it's so damned hard to keep my hands to myself when she touches me..."

She touches her? Sheridan controls herself? Quick, call the tabloids...

"I can't fuck her, cuz then I'd have to move on. She doesn't deserve that and I really don't want to go away." Sheridan paced again, flicking her cigarette across the patio.

Dawn was dumbfounded. Did she just hear what she said? Sheridan doesn't want to fuck this woman because she wants to keep her around. She cares about her more than she knows. How stupid can you get? "Sher, sit down, you're making me dizzy. I still don't see where she thinks she's your girlfriend."

"Maybe I read into it wrong, maybe she was just being cute... I don't know. Maybe I overreacted. Do you think I need sex?"

"What kind of question is that? We all need sex," Dawn laughed.

"Never mind." Sheridan lit another cigarette and left Dawn sitting on the patio, shaking her head.

********************

The blonde was a hellcat at work the next day and the guys stayed away from her for their own safety. Sheridan was cranky, nasty and mean and they banded together to try and figure out what to do about it. It was so bad by mid-week that they actually thought about contacting the tall OSHA inspector and begging her to talk to Sheridan. Then they thought about their own health should that backfire and hunkered down for the long haul.

Sheridan had spent most of Sunday at home doing laundry and working out. The only time she left was to walk the dogs. She didn't even take them to the dog run; she didn't feel like having fun. She tried to analyze her feelings, but came up empty. She felt as if she had lost her best friend, but she couldn't understand how that could be when she'd only known Keefer for a short time. She already missed her terribly and cursed her weakness repeatedly. She saw Sara on Monday, but the sex didn't cheer her up. In fact, she felt a little guilty afterwards, like she was doing something wrong, and she cursed Keefer for planting that seed in her head. She wound up prowling the club on Tuesday, reveling and gloating after she fucked two women at the same time. She neenered at Keefer in her head afterwards, strutting around like she owned the place. Wednesday went much of the same way. By the time she got home from work on Thursday, she realized what she was doing, and felt awful about proving Keefer right. The tall woman knew her all too well and it made her angry. She vowed to stay away from the club this night and prove her wrong. She didn't need sex.

When Keefer didn't hear from Sheridan for almost a week, she resigned herself to the fact that the blonde didn't really want her and that she had lost her friendship, too. The tall woman sulked all day at work and puttered around her house, beating herself up for acting the way she had. It's all my stupid fault. That'll teach me to think I'm worth her while. I should have known. What the hell would she want from me anyway? I'm a prude and she lives for sex. What a team we'd make.

Keefer trudged home on Thursday evening and kicked her shoes off as she flopped dejectedly on the couch. She looked over to her answering machine and found no new messages blinking. "What did I expect? Did I really think she'd drop everything and run to me? I must be stupider than I thought," she sighed out loud and laid her head on her dog's belly. "I'm sorry, Feefs, I know how much you liked Sheridan," she mumbled, frowning as the dog's tail wagged at the mention of the blonde's name.

Keefer decided to change into baggy sweats before she walked the dog; she felt miserable. As she was hooking the leash on the dog, a thought occurred to her and she brightened up. "Hey, girl, its a nice enough night, what do you say we go down to the dog run?" Fifi wagged her tail and jumped up on Keefer's leg. The tall woman smiled deviously, "Just let me change my clothes first, girl." I can't let her go like this.

*****************

Still not sure she could stay sane without going out, Sheridan drove the dogs over to her father's house to spend time with him and Steven.

"Hiya, Sher! To what do we owe this honor?" her dad teased, enveloping her in a big hug.

"Hi, Pop, just thought I'd see what eats you got in the fridge," she replied with a guilty grin.

"I was just going to call Steven to the table, I made a pot roast."

Sheridan's mouth watered. "Sounds good to me!" she said running to the kitchen sink to wash her hands.

"SHER!" Steven yelled, sliding across the kitchen linoleum in his socks. As soon as he came to a complete stop, the blonde jumped up and wrapped herself around him, messing up his hair and giving him a wedgie all at the same time. "Sher... you suck so bad!" he shrieked like a kid.

"Sheridan, why do you insist on fucking with your brother?" her dad slapped her in the back of the head lightly, but with enough gusto for her to wince.

"Sorry," she gave her best sad face and smiled when her father rolled his eyes. "Come on, Stevie boy, dinner's ready," she laughed as her brother dug deep to retrieve his underwear.

"Cool!" Steven said excitedly. He loved when his sister came over.

"Oh, the dog's are in the back yard, we'll toss around a ball after dinner, okay?" She knew this would make her brother very happy and smiled warmly when he nodded almost violently, his mouth full of food.

*****************

The conversation revolved around work and related subjects. Steven sat patiently as his father and sister talked, dying to go out and play with the dogs. At the first lull in the conversation, he jumped up out of his seat. "Are we done? Can I go play with the dogs? Can we go to the park? Please, Pop?"

The eldest Landers laughed at his son's enthusiasm. "Go get some shoes on and we'll leave that decision to Sheridan. She's gotta put up with you."

Sheridan pursed her lips to the side, pretending to think really hard, knowing it would drive her brother nuts. Finally, she nodded. "Okay, grab a few balls. We got some toys in the car."

"YESSS! I love you, Sher!" Steven yelled as he ran to his room.

"I love you, too, ass hole." "I love you back, moron," he yelled through the house.

"I love you more, Jolly Green Giant!" Sheridan snickered.

"Me more, Pee Wee Herman!" he said as he ran to the back door.

"Me even mo...OW! Pop!" She rubbed the back of her head and frowned.

"Enough already."

********************

Keefer scanned the dog run for Sheridan, knowing the chances were slim of the blonde actually being there, but she had to try. She had to see her, maybe talk to her and, if she were lucky, touch her. There was no sign of the construction worker so she sat on a bench and let Fifi off of her leash to play. Keeping an eye on her dog, she wondered what she would say to Sheridan, should she show up... how she would start a conversation after she acted so badly the last time. Thinking about it made her feel disgusted with herself. What was I trying to prove? I'm not that tough, I shouldn't have played with fire. Just when she felt at her worst, she heard it, the piercing whistle that she'd only heard once before. She stood up quickly and then sat back down, trying to look inconspicuous as she looked for the source of the sound. She squinted as she tried to see far of at the other end of the park. It looked like Sheridan, but who was the big guy with her? She couldn't talk to her about last weekend with someone else around. Oh, no! Feefs! She watched with a pained expression as her dog took off at lightening speed towards Sheridan. Keefer got up and started to run after her.

"Hey, Sher, there's a dog gonna attack you!" Steven said in a panic turning his sister around.

Sheridan furrowed her brows at the dog headed her way. "Hey... Fifi?"

"Who's Fifi?" Steven snickered.

The small dog ran into Sheridan and practically climbed up her body. The blonde reached down and lifted her up, letting her lick her face frantically.

"This..." she patted the dog on the back, "is Fifi."

"Damn, she's ugly," Steven observed, petting her on the head anyway.

"She's different, is all, Stevie," Sheridan said before returning the dog to the ground. She scanned the area with a deep frown on her face. "Where's your mommy?" she asked the panting dog.

"Right behind you."

Sheridan spun around and blinked repeatedly. Goddamn, she's hotter than last week!

"Wow... you are gorgeous!" Steven blurted out.

Keefer blushed, never taking her eyes off of Sheridan who seemed to be taking inventory of every body part Keefer had.

"I'm Steven, Sheridan's brother," he held his hand out politely.

Keefer tore her eyes away from the blonde to shake his hand. "I'm Keefer, Sheridan's... friend?"

"Uh, yeah, my friend," Sheridan agreed, swallowing the drool that developed while drinking in the tall woman's legs.

Keefer almost laughed with relief. She smiled so brightly that Sheridan had to return the gesture.

Steven watched the two women stare at each other and realized this must be one of his sister's "lady friends". He remembered that she told him to play with the dogs, should she run into a good-looking woman. "I'm going to play with the dogs now, okay Sheridan?" he winked conspiratorially at his sister.

"You do that, Steven," she winked back, making him feel like he did something good, when in reality he just embarrassed her.

The two women stood there silently until it became uncomfortable.

"You look good, Keef," Sheridan broke the silence.

"You too. Look, about Saturday..."

"Forget it. It's done," Sheridan waved it off.

"I'm still sorry. I was way out of line. It's none of my business what you do or who you do it with." The tall woman tried not to blush at that thought.

Sheridan grinned. "You're beautiful when you blush," she teased.

"Yeah, well, I do it so often..." Keefer looked down.

"I think it's cute, really," the blonde grinned at Keefer's embarrassment.

"Well, I must be downright adorable right now," Keefer laughed then made eye contact again. "I think you make me blush on purpose."

"Guilty as charged," Sheridan snickered.

"Anyway, I felt awful all week about what I said to you. I really thought you'd never want to talk to me again," Keefer said while looking everywhere but at the blonde.

"I was pissed at you at first, but you're right about me -- I lived up to your expectations very well," Sheridan said with regret.

"I don't have any expectations of you, Sher."

"Then you're the first," the construction worker glanced sideways at her tall friend. "I have a reputation... you may get caught up in it."

"I really don't care about your reputation; I think I know a different Sheridan, anyway. I like the one I know."

"Thanks, Keefer. I like you, too," Sheridan reached out impulsively for Keefer's hand.

The tall woman started and stared down at their linked hands. Well, that was unexpected! She smiled at the feeling of the warm rough hand in her own. "What did you do all week... and leave out the blush factor, please," Keefer joked, feeling much more comfortable with Sheridan than she expected.

They began to walk towards Steven and their dogs. "Nothing unusual. I went out, I did my laundry... nothing special. What about you?"

Okay, Keefer, honesty is the best policy. "I missed you," she whispered.

Sheridan nodded. "Me too," she agreed.

"You did?" Keefer asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, I did. Why does that surprise you?"

"For starters, I have far less to offer you than any of your other women..."

"Hold it right there," Sheridan held up her hand and stopped walking. "Have I ever asked for anything from you?" she asked with annoyance.

"No, but..."

"But nothing. I did a lot of thinking these last couple of days and I came to the conclusion that I like having you as my friend."

Keefer was happy and sad at the same time. Just a friend, huh? I guess I could live with that.

"Why the weird face? Don't you want to be my friend?" the blonde asked nervously. She had to have Keefer in her life one way or another.

"Yes, of course!" Keefer smiled.

Sheridan began walking again and Keefer followed. "Have I told you how good you look in shorts?" the blonde asked without turning to look at the tall woman.

"I do believe you have," Keefer smiled triumphantly to herself.

"Just checking."

The brunette looked down at her legs. Buy more skirts.

Steven came over to them slowly. "Is it okay to come over?" he asked his sister nervously.

Both woman laughed and let go of each other's hand.

"Yeah, it's safe, Steven." Sheridan looked at Keefer who was, as she figured, slightly pink. "There you go again," she teased.

"Well, you know what he's thinking," Keefer pointed to Steven.

"Keefer's my friend, Stevie boy, you don't have to worry about interrupting anything," she explained.

"Oh, are you sure, Sher? She's so pretty... I'd marry her," he said innocently.

Keefer's eyes went wide and Sheridan laughed nervously. "You'll have to excuse him, he speaks his mind," she glared at Steven.

"I can't help it... I'm a retard!" he whined, hating that he got his sister mad.

Sheridan rolled her eyes, but wrapped an arm around him anyway, rubbing his back. "Hey, don't you say that. I'm not mad at you, I promise. You just embarrassed me and my friend," she soothed.

Keefer watched in fascination. Oh... well that makes sense. Blue eyes softened. Look at her; she doesn't care who's watching now, so many facets...

"Are we leaving now?" he asked.

"Are we?" Sheridan asked Keefer.

Keefer leaned over to the small woman's ear. "Don't you have to get ready for tonight?" she asked. "It's ladies night."

Sheridan shivered involuntarily at the breath in her ear. I wasn't, but after that... "Yeah, you're right, we should go."

*******************

Keefer watched her friend close the car door behind her. She gave mentally herself two thumbs up, one for the shorts and another for the shiver. Things were working out just fine.

To be continued...in Part 14