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Casey's Valentine

By: Rushette



This is my submission to the Valentine's Day contest, and the first piece of writing I've ever completed since college. There are hockey elements to it, and some parts that may be considered corny, but it's romance, right? Sometimes it's cheesy. Enjoy! 

* 

Casey removed her hat and shook the snowflakes from her strawberry blonde curls as she stepped into the dimly lit bar. 

"Fuck, it's freezing!" she yelled out as she went about unfurling her scarf and stripping off her coat to reveal her Avalanche jersey. She smiled and waved to the regulars that were littering the bar as they cheered her apparel.

"Then move back South!" her boss Mac jokingly called out from the storeroom.

Casey laughed in response. It was a familiar exchange, one they had daily for the last three winters since she started working at the Wunderbar. "Fuck that, it's too hot!"

The Wunderbar was in the middle of LoDo and near the Pepsi Center, but it was such a hole-in-the-wall that they rarely got new patrons. Casey worked there nearly every night. She was so far away from her real family that Mac and the regulars made the little bar feel like home.

Mac's hearty laugh reached Casey's ears above the others. She scuttled around the bar and stuffed her coat in the back office. A resounding crash immediately followed, and Casey's heart jumped as she ran the short distance to the storeroom.

Casey struggled not to laugh as she found her boss on the floor, covered in heaps of red, pink, and white decorations with a look of utter shock on his face. She somehow managed to pull him to his feet before the giggles started.

"Oh shut up and help," Mac muttered as Casey's laughs continued. She could only manage a nod in response, but did assist him in getting the lurid decorations back in their box.

"Tell me we're not decorating for Valentine's Day again this year, Mac," Casey pleaded.

"I would, but I hate lying to you," he said as his eyes twinkled.

"Dammit Mac, the customers hate that shit! I hate that shit!" came Casey's irritated response. She heard a few of the regulars murmuring in agreement from their stools, though none of them spoke up. "This is a sports bar for God's sake!"

Mac just laughed and shrugged. "The old lady likes them. Put 'em up, Case."

Casey growled and begrudgingly took the overflowing box from her boss' hands before he retreated to the office. After refilling a few beers and turning on the pre-game show for the Canucks-Wild game, she started hanging garlands and spreading confetti. She rushed through her work, anxious for the game to start. Playoffs were still a couple of months away, but every point the Wild could keep the Canucks from amassing was nothing but good for her beloved Avs. The Avalanche and the Canucks had been switching places for top spot in their division for weeks.

She was so preoccupied in quickly getting the decorations up that she didn't even hear the door open. It was only when she heard voices and felt a rush of cold air that she realized they had more customers.

"Are you sure this is a sports bar?" one voice queried above the rest.

Casey laughed, unable to help herself as she continued working on one particularly irritating string of pink lights. "Did you hear that, Mac?" she yelled.

"Fuck off, Casey!" his voice echoed through the office door in response, setting off another round of laughter.

"I'll be with you guys in a sec!" she called to the still unseen customers. "Fuck!" she cried to no one in particular as one corner was just beyond her reach, even standing on a chair. Casey abandoned the lights and threw her hands in the air in frustration before jumping down to the floor. 

"What can I get you guys?" she called as she turned around and looked toward the front door. Casey briefly registered a few familiar faces before she promptly fainted.

-----

When Jason first stepped into the Wunderbar with his teammates, he wondered if they had the right place. It looked like Cupid had exploded, covering every available surface with pink and white.

"Are you sure this is a sports bar?" he asked Kellan as they all huddled into the entry. He was the one who suggested going out to watch the game in the first place.

"Did you hear that, Mac?" a woman yelled out. That was when he registered a strawberry blonde hanging up decorations in the corner, her cute little ass just peeking out from underneath an Avs jersey. It took him a moment to realize it was his old one, before he had given up his number to Stratton so he could honor his father. Jason smiled, feeling a little flattered. He was a defensemen, and a damn good one too, but rarely got the same amount of press and fans as Stratton and other forwards.

He couldn't help but watch her continue to try to reach the corner furthest from her, mesmerized by her movements. Jason wasn't paying attention to the rest of the talk or laughter surrounding him; he was content just watching the woman continue to try to extend her arm out far enough to hang the ugly decorations.

He was about to offer her help when she threw up her arms in apparent frustration and hopped down from the chair in one swift movement. Jason saw her lips move but didn't hear a thing she said as he was struck speechless by her face. Holy shit she was beautiful.

He had just taken in her sparkling hazel eyes and pouty lips when Jason saw her collapse.

Thank God for his quick reflexes, because he barely cradled her head before it hit the floor. Jason heard somebody yell out for Mac, but he was more preoccupied with propping up the girl's dead weight against his chest so she wouldn't have to lay on the dirty ground.

An older man approached them with washcloth in hand. "What happened?" he asked, his forehead creased with concern. The man started gingerly pressing the towel to the woman's face and she started to stir.

"She just fainted," was Jason's response.

The man nodded and continued his work with the washcloth as the woman stayed cradled against Jason's chest. Jason watched in fascination as her eyelids fluttered open, revealing her beautiful eyes again.

"Good morning sunshine," the man with the towel teased.

"What the fuck happened, Mac?" she groaned.

"You fainted, genius," came his response as he stood up, satisfied that she was okay for now. "You alright? Do you want to go home?" he offered. The woman immediately shook her head no. "Then thank your knight in shining armor with some free drinks, huh?"

They both watched as Mac threw the towel on the bar and went back into the office.

Jason turned his gaze back to the woman as she started to realize that she wasn't lying on the floor, but rather in his arms.

"Oh, God," she mumbled as she immediately flushed with embarrassment.

"Jason will do," he responded as he grinned at her. The woman scrambled up and out of his arms.

"You're Jason LeBlanc," she almost accused as she stood up. She looked over to his teammates and flushed. "And you're Kellan Quaid and Rory O'Brian!" Jason watched his teammates smile and wave at her. "Pinch me?" she squeaked and the bar swelled with laughter.

"I would, but I don't think you'd appreciate where," Jason teased in an undertone as he raised an eyebrow. He watched the woman blush again and felt some blood rushing to his groin. Holy shit.

"What can I get you guys?" she offered as she scrambled behind the bar, seeming desperate to create some space between the two of them.

Jason and the other guys ordered their drinks and sat in a booth along the wall. He couldn't help but watch her move as she poured their drinks, mesmerized. Only a few minutes later she was handing them full glasses. But right as Jason was going to start talking to her again, she scurried back to the bar, flushed. Jason smiled to himself. She couldn't dodge him all night.

-----

Casey was beyond mortified. Why did she have to faint in front of three of her favorite defensemen? She felt Jason LeBlanc's eyes following her as she continued putting up lights, probably waiting to see if she would faint again. Any other day, she may have sat to talk with the players, discussed their playoff chances, rehashed their last game, or complimented their brutal hits. But no, she had to go and fucking faint. Casey would have buried her face in her hands if they weren't full of those stupid Valentine's Day decorations.

And so she busied herself around the little bar, trying to avoid any eye contact or eavesdropping on their conversation. Finally the box of red and pink was empty, and Casey could retreat back to the safety of her bar to watch the game.

She knocked on the office door to alert Mac that the puck was about to drop and silently replaced the hockey players' empty drinks with full glasses, avoiding their eyes as she did. Still she felt the weight of LeBlanc's stare as she settled in behind the bar for the first period.

The Wild won the initial face-off and Casey felt herself relax a little. This was familiar territory. Everything faded to the background as she immersed herself in the game, screaming at the refs for bad calls, loudly berating the players for fumbled passes and missed power play opportunities. It was quickly becoming a defensive game with few shots on goal; as a result, the score was 0-0 going into the first intermission.

Reality returned and Casey made her rounds at the bar, pouring beer and mixing drinks for her regulars before eyeing the Avs in the booth. She sighed at their near empty glasses and went over to serve them another round.

"If you're that hard on the Wild, I'd hate to hear you when we play," Kellan Quaid teased as she set their drinks on the table. Casey laughed, unable to help herself.

"Well, it hasn't been that bad lately," came her retort before she could process what she was saying. The guys all laughed along with her as Casey's cheeks turned pink. She avoided LeBlanc's stare but couldn't help but register him reaching back for his wallet. "On the house, boys," she threw over her shoulder as she returned to the bar.

Casey heard Jason say 'boys?' and laughed all the way back to her stool.

-----

Jason was smitten, there was no other word for it. He had tried to focus on the game, but he kept having his attention diverted by the woman's yells at the TV. Jason would have been irritated if she wasn't so sharp. Every exclamation was spot on and more often than not echoed his own thoughts.

As the game wore on, he found himself focusing less on the TV and more on the girl. He loved the way her cheeks flushed when she egged on a fight, how she would let out a little 'oof' every time someone was slammed into the boards. And when the Wild scored and she jumped up and raised her arms in celebration, he even caught a peek of her pale stomach. She gave off an aura of a tomboy, just one of the guys. And she was all the sexier for it. The fact that she was wearing his jersey was just the cherry on top.

"You going to actually watch the game, LeBlanc?" O'Brian snickered as he elbowed Jason's side. Jason responded with an unapologetic grin and a shrug.

"You guys doing okay?" the girl's voice lilted as she came over during a commercial in the third period.

Jason inspected his drink before he nodded. Her eyes met his for the first time since she had fainted and Jason responded with a lopsided grin, enjoying the flush it brought to her cheeks before turning away. Too soon, she was scurrying back to the bar again.

He had to stop himself from following her, and then spent the rest of the evening wondering why he was stopping himself in the first place. The game ended with the Wild pulling out a double overtime victory with some truly spectacular shots, complete with hilarious commentary from the beautiful bartender. How had he been here for four hours without yet learning her name?

"You coming, LeBlanc?" Kellan asked. Jason was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't even realize that his teammates already had their coats on and their keys out.

"Nah, gonna stick around for a while," he responded, reluctant to leave without finding out something about the girl.

"I wonder why?" O'Brian asked loudly as he rolled his eyes.

"Fuck off, Rory. I'll see you guys at practice," he finished as he waved them off. The guys were gone barely two minutes before the girl approached his table.

"Another round?" she offered, still having trouble meeting his eyes.

"No, I'm good," he replied with a smile, silently willing her to just look at him.

She stood there for a few moments, saying nothing, her eyes on the post-game wrap up. The woman seemed to be deliberating something when she blurted out, "Can I have an autograph?" with a blush.

Jason chuckled. Her eyes finally met his again, and her cheeks turned a deep red.

"Of course," he responded with a smile. She made her way behind the bar, presumably for a pen. "You know, if you weren't so shy before, you could have gotten theirs too," Jason offered as he nodded towards the door.

"I know," was her simple reply.

"Can I ask you something?" he queried, unable to help himself.

"Well, you already did, but go ahead," she responded, a smile playing on her sinful lips.

"What's your name?"

"Casey Taylor."

Jason nodded in reply before applying pen to paper. "Here you go," he finished as he handed her notebook back to her.

"Thank you," she nearly whispered, refusing to meet his eyes again as she scurried back to the bar.

Jason smiled to himself as he pulled on his coat and hat before making his way into the cold, a plan already forming in his head. "Fuck it's freezing," he murmured to himself as the door closed behind him, and he made his way down the street to hail a cab.

-----

Casey stepped into the bar from the cold, shaking the snow out of her hair as she always did. She was about to make her usual complaint about the weather when an explosion of red sitting on the bar made her stop in her tracks.

"Oh fuck no, Mac, I draw the Valentine line at red fucking roses," she called out.

Mac stuck his head out of the office, a smirk on his face. "I didn't order them, Case."

"Well then what the hell are they doing here?"

Casey watched as his smile widened. "Maybe you should read the card and find out," Mac finished before retreating to the office.

Her shoulders heaved into an irritated sigh, almost dreading the discovery of who might send her flowers for a holiday she hated. Casey dragged her feet to stuff her coat into the office before finally facing the offensive roses on the bar. A few of the regulars watched with interest as she lifted the card from its holder.

Casey Taylor, it read. Why haven't you called me yet? A phone number followed with a little #4 as a signature.

Casey knew who she wanted the flowers to be from, but she also knew her regular customers far too well. Every year, one of them thought it would be hilarious to send her flowers, knowing how much she hated Valentine's Day. Usually it was just chrysanthemums though. She stared at each of the guys in turn, waiting for one of them to reveal themselves as the mystery sender. They had all been in the bar the other night when she had embarrassed herself so thoroughly in front of the Avalanche players.

"It wasn't any of us," one of the regulars piped up from the corner, a grin on his face. "I saw LeBlanc while he was here. He couldn't take his eyes off of you."

Casey shrugged and turned away from the guys, unwilling to let them see how much she was shaken. Could they really be from him? No, it was impossible. She shoved the card into her pocket and grabbed the roses from the bar. They fell into the trash can, the shattering of the glass vase audible even over the pre-game that was blaring from the television.

Casey wasn't always such a cynic. She busied herself by pouring drinks, but still she was unable to stop herself from remembering how much she had once loved the holiday, years ago. That was before her boyfriend broke things off with her over a romantic candlelight dinner on Valentine's Day, completely blindsiding her. Casey had been expecting an engagement ring that night, not a broken heart. Ever since, she got slightly nauseous every time February came around. She compensated with anger and sarcasm, her two favorite defense mechanisms. No one in Denver knew the story; it was part of the reason why she moved here in the first place.

The sound of a whistle pulled her out of her reverie as LeBlanc was escorted to the penalty box for tripping. She had been so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't even realize that the game had started. Casey frowned; her beloved #4 wasn't usually one to rack up a lot of penalty minutes. She watched as the camera zoomed in on his face, mouthing obscenities. The replay followed, showing that the ref made the right call.

"What the fuck are you doing, LeBlanc?" she found herself asking out loud. None of the others commented, apparently too afraid to draw Casey's wrath.

-----

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, LeBlanc?" his coach yelled at him during second intermission. Jason held his head in his hands, nearly pulling his blonde curls out in frustration. As angry as coach was with him, it wasn't half as angry as he was with himself. "If you're going to play dirty, don't do it right in front of the fucking ref!"

"Sorry, coach," was all he could mumble out.

Jason lifted his head to watch the imposing man move onto the forwards to discuss strategy. They were behind 2-0, and Jason almost felt like his shoulders were drooping from the weight of it. It wasn't completely his fault that they were losing, but he couldn't help but feel that he was a major reason for it.

"What is up with you lately, man?" Kellan asked as he nudged him.

Jason didn't trust himself to answer. It had been nearly a week since he had sent Casey the roses and still his phone hadn't rung. He had nearly given up, but still he just couldn't shake her hold on him. Jason smiled to himself, wondering if Casey was yelling at him from behind her bar. He would go to the Wunderbar after the game to ask her himself if they weren't on the road.

"Snap out of it, asshole!" O'Brian goaded as he punched Jason lightly in the shoulder.

Jason took a few deep breaths to steady himself, trying to turn his focus back to the game. An idea came to him and another plan started to form. As fruitless as the last one turned out to be, this one had to work. His heart felt lighter as he skated back onto the ice with the rest of his teammates to start the third period. He just prayed that she had kept the card.

Miraculously, they managed to get their shit together, tying the Thrashers with less than a minute left on the clock. Jason skated out to take his final shift, lining up with the others for what would likely be the last face-off in regulation. He gripped his stick in fierce determination, feeling more ready than he had in days.

Stratton won the puck for them, and they skated their way down the ice for a final assault on Atlanta's goal. His teammates passed the puck to each other smoothly before one of the Thrashers broke up the play and knocked a pass right in front of Jason. He briefly registered the goalie's stance as a golden opportunity presented itself, his path to the goal clear. Without thinking, he took a fast shot on the goal, aiming for the upper right corner. Jason watched as the goalie quickly raised his arms to block but missed. A 'ping' resounded around the rink as the puck hit the post before rebounding into the back of the net right as the final buzzer sounded.

Everything seemed to go in slow motion as his teammates surrounded him, their arms raised in victory. Boos started to echo around the arena and gained momentum as the Thrasher fans realized what just hit them.


Casey's Valentine



"Holy shit, LeBlanc!" Kellan's voice screamed into his ear as he knocked his helmet in celebration.

Jason wanted to collapse onto the ice in relief; it was the first goal he had scored in weeks. His heart soared as he thought back to Casey and the dingy bar, knowing he just gave her something to scream about.

After the ice emptied and the game stars were named, the Avs made their way back to the locker room, yelping in celebration. LeBlanc stopped when he felt light pressure on the crook of his elbow and looked up into a reporter's face.

"Jason, do you have a minute?" the stout man asked as a camera flashed in front of him. LeBlanc merely nodded, still trying to calm his heart from the excitement of his game-winning goal.

"You just scored your first goal in thirteen games and the game-winner to boot. How does it feel?"

Jason smiled into the camera, praying that his plan would work. "Like a relief!" he all but laughed.

"You led the team in points for defensemen last year. Do you think you'll be able to accomplish that again this season?"

"As long as I can stay out of the penalty box, I certainly am going to make a go at it."

The reporter nodded, satisfied with his response. "Speaking of the penalty box, you seem to be spending a lot more time in there lately. Any reason why?"

Jason smiled and his eyes lit up as the question he was waiting for came up. "Yes." He swallowed hard and looked directly into the camera, though all he saw were sparkling hazel eyes. "Because Casey Taylor still hasn't called me."

Jason offered the camera one more brilliant smile before walking back into the locker room laughing.

-----

Casey's jaw fell open as she dropped the glass she was holding. It shattered as it hit the floor, but still she didn't move.

"What the fuck did he just say?"

She looked around at the guys at the bar. They looked just as shocked as she felt.

Mac was the first to respond. "That he's been playing like shit because you haven't called him."

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," she muttered as she went to the storeroom to grab a broom and dustpan.

"Tell me you kept the card, Case!" Mac's voice yelled at her. She took a minute to steady herself against the wall and forced herself to take a few deep breaths. "You're going to single-handedly fuck up our chance at the playoffs!"

She was sure that the regulars were laughing, but all she could hear was a faint buzzing in her ears.

She emerged a minute later to clean up her mess, though she was sure that her cheeks were still flushed in embarrassment. Casey swept up the broken glass and went about wiping down all the tables and empty chairs, though they didn't need it. She was finding anything to do to keep from talking about it.

"Go home, Casey," Mac commanded her not even an hour later. He had been watching her do laps around the bar for a while.

"But the guys are still here," she responded as she waved her arm at the regulars. It was a lame excuse, but she would do almost anything at this point to be away from her phone. Soon she would be out of reasons why she shouldn't call her favorite player.

"For the love of all that is holy, go home, take pity on him and call the man."

Casey looked up and into her boss's face. He looked more earnest than when he had admitted that she was like the daughter he never had. She bit her lip and nodded.

"But it's late," she offered meekly.

"After a goal like that, I'd be surprised if he sleeps at all tonight." Casey nodded at her boss's words and went to grab her coat from the office.

"Good night, guys," she called out as she walked into the cold, bracing herself against the wind. "Fucking freezing," she muttered to herself as she wrapped her arms around her body and waited for the bus.

Casey spent the twenty-minute bus ride home contemplating what she would even say to Jason LeBlanc when she called. What do you say to a professional hockey player after you've already fainted into his arms and asked for an autograph? What do you say after you've thrown away his roses, after he's mentioned you by name on national fucking television?

She let herself into her apartment, nearly dragging her feet as she did. After carefully removing and hanging up her jacket, taking a long shower, and eating her frozen dinner, Casey just couldn't put it off any longer.

"Oh fuck it," she whispered as she dug for the card.

-----

Jason had already fielded curious calls from both his mother and sister when an unfamiliar Denver number popped up on his caller ID. His heart pounded as he answered.

"If this isn't Casey Taylor, then I'm hanging up right now." He heard her laugh and immediately relaxed.

"You've got some balls, you know that?" was her response.

"Darling, you have no idea." He threw himself onto the hotel bed, almost giddy with relief. Finally, mercifully, he was talking to her. Jason's voice unintentionally dropped as he asked, "So did I make you scream tonight?"

Casey's responding laugh had him shifting uncomfortably in his jeans. 

"When you were dumb enough to high stick a guy right in front of the ref, yes. You made the poor boy bleed, LeBlanc."

"Well his face shouldn't have run into my stick," Jason chuckled despite himself, his mind reeling over his name leaving her lips. He hadn't been too thrilled with his actions at the time, but everything felt right now that he was talking to Casey. "What about after that goal?"

His question was met with a few moments of silence. He could almost picture her lips pursed in a feeble attempt not to smile.

"Maybe," was all she offered.

"Don't worry, darling, I'll make you scream for all the right reasons soon enough," he muttered before he could stop himself. Jason paused to gauge her response. When she stayed quiet, he decided to press on. "So what are you wearing?" he nearly growled into the phone.

"Oh, wouldn't you like to know," she replied, her voice low.

Jason's body immediately reacted to her tone and found that he was glad that Kellan was out of the room and down at the bar. He swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

"God yes."

Casey let out a little hum and Jason could have sworn that her breathing got heavier. He couldn't help but picture her lying in his bed wearing nothing; her hair sprawled out on a pillow while he made her writhe and pant under him. Well that certainly wasn't helping the situation in his pants. He reached a hand into his jeans and palmed his erection as even more explicit images flew through his mind.

The sound of Casey clearing her throat snapped Jason out of his reverie. 

"So when do you guys get back in town?" she asked.

Jason took a minute to consult his schedule before responding. "Friday evening."

Casey seemed to hesitate before quietly asking, "You going to come see me?"

The laugh escaped his mouth before he could stop it.

"Darling, I just announced to the world that you're under my skin enough to throw off my game. You think you can keep me away from you now?"

"I'm under your skin?" she whispered.

Jason could just picture the blush coloring her cheeks and had to bite his bottom lip to keep from groaning.

"More than you know."

"But you barely know me!" she squeaked.

"I know enough."

A comfortable silence passed between the two of them, neither wanting to break the spell. The door to Jason's room flew open and hit the doorjamb with a loud thunk, causing him to jump. Kellan came into the room laughing loudly, a few teammates in tow.

"LeBlanc, get your ass off the phone and come celebrate, you dickhead!" O'Brian's voice roared.

Casey's laugh resonated through the phone.

"Not exactly subtle, is he?"

"No, not really."

"Do you need to go?" Casey asked. He could hear the hesitancy in her voice.

"It would probably be for the best," Jason conceded. "Can I call you tomorrow?"

"You can, and maybe I'll answer," she teased. He could hear the smile in Casey's voice. "Good night, Mr. LeBlanc."

"Good night," he finished before hanging up and turning to his smiling teammates, ready for the ribbing he was about to endure. But Jason was in far too good of a mood to let it bother him. "You guys are assholes, you know that?"

-----

Casey spent the rest of her week working and fielding nightly calls from Jason. He was surprisingly easy to talk to, but there were still so many new things to get used to. She called him 'LeBlanc' for years; Casey was finding it hard to call him Jason. And the fact that he was calling her in the first place, pursuing her, was just so strange, not to mention that he desired her. Jason made no secret of that.

It happened nearly every night as their conversation wound down. Inevitably, Jason's voice would drop and growl hoarsely into Casey's ear, hinting and promising at what was to come. Her pulse raced, and she had to press her thighs together to fight off the feelings he was causing. Casey never spoke, but she was sure that Jason could hear her breathing become labored. She was almost scared of seeing him again. His deep voice alone was nearly enough to send her over the edge. The idea of what he could do to her in person was almost too much to think about.

Friday came and Casey found herself nearly skipping into the Wunderbar with happiness and anticipation. Jason had promised to drop in tonight when he got back into town. The thought preoccupied her so much that she didn't catch what her boss said the first time around.

"What was that?" she asked.

Mac laughed before repeating himself.

"I said, my dearest Casey, that you must be in a good mood because you haven't complained about the weather all week."

Casey found herself laughing along with him, feeling lighter than air. She just shrugged as she pulled her scarf and jacket off and went to stuff it back into the office as usual. The sight of gerbera daisies sitting on the desk caught her by surprise.

"Gift for the wife, Mac?" she yelled out.

"Nope. Check the card. And for the love of God, don't throw them away this time."

Casey took a deep breath and approached them slowly. A week ago, the sight of those roses nearly made her sick. But this time, she didn't feel the stirrings of nausea that flowers usually brought her. There was no question about what, or more accurately who, had caused the change, and it scared her a little. It had been three years since Casey had felt so enamored with someone. She felt a little sick come up her throat as bad memories of Valentine's Day flooded through her. And then she realized that it was February 10th and swallowed hard.

"It's not a bomb, Case." She jumped a little as Mac's voice jolted her out of her thoughts. He had apparently come to peek in on her when she still hadn't reappeared from the office. "Just open the damn card so you can get to work."

She nodded and grabbed the card from its holder. Casey, it read. Since the roses didn't seem to work the first time, I figured I'd try again. I can't wait to see you. It was signed with a little #4. Casey couldn't help but smile, though her stomach still hadn't settled from before. Quite the opposite; it now felt like it was filled with butterflies.

For the rest of the afternoon and into the evening, Casey felt her heart jump every time the door to the bar opened. It was inevitably followed by a sinking feeling as she realized it wasn't LeBlanc coming in, but regulars pouring in for the Wild-Blackhawks game. As much as it pained her to root for someone in the same division as her beloved Avs, Casey just couldn't find it in her to support the Blackhawks. It's not like the Wild had been much of a threat this season anyways, and there was just something about the nearly toothless Blaine Bricker that made it impossible for her to root for Chicago.

The game started and Casey lost herself in the sounds and sights of the ice, all of her anxiety and anticipation forgotten. The first period came and went, the Wild up by two. She watched in horror as the second period started, and Bricker almost immediately pushed the Wild's team captain Kanto into the boards head first. The poor man didn't even have enough time to get his arms up to soften the impact. The hit was so hard that she could see the player's back buckle upwards as he came in contact with the wall. Casey was so involved with screaming at Bricker for being an asshole and the refs for not calling him for boarding, that she didn't even notice the door open.

-----

Jason stood in front of the Wunderbar for a few minutes before he gathered enough courage to go in. He pulled open the door and was immediately greeted by Casey's raised voice.

"What a fucking asshole!" she yelled.

Jason couldn't help but grin. Hearing her screaming at the TV was the best greeting she possibly could have given him that didn't involve public nudity.

"What happened?" he piped up as he took a seat in front of her at the bar.

Casey didn't even turn to him at first.

"Fucking Bricker!" she spit out before she finally shifted her body to face him.

Whatever words were going to follow seemed to get caught in her throat as she realized that he was sitting in front of her. Jason couldn't help but chuckle at the flush in her cheeks. God, she was sexy when she got riled up over hockey.

"He is quite the asshole," Jason agreed with a smile. It took him a few moments to register the silence that seemed to have settled over the bar as the other patrons recognized him. "So what did he do this time?"

In stark contrast to the last time he was in the bar, Casey seemed to be too worked up to be shy around him.

"He fucking boarded Kanto and didn't even get called on it!" Jason's eyes shot up to the screen and saw the Wild trainers still surrounding the player. Kanto was on all fours on the ice, trying to get up on his own. "And Bricker is just sitting on the bench with that giant shit-eating toothless grin on his face!"

Jason reached over and rested his hand on top of Casey's without even realizing it. All he knew is that she seemed to be genuinely upset by Kanto's injury, and he wanted nothing more than to make her feel better. Sure, cuts and bruises were expected in his line of work, but it was always hard to watch anyone get seriously hurt. He was surprised when her eyes met his to see a tear threatening to spill over. The rest of the bar patrons seemed to realize that the time was over to listen to Jason and Casey's exchange and quickly started their own muttered conversations.

"Kanto's tough, Case. He'll be okay," Jason said, his voice low but reassuring.

"I know he is, but still," she replied, fuming with anger. They both watched as Kanto got up and slowly made his way back to his team and off the ice. Casey seemed to breathe a little easier when she saw that he was all right and went about pouring Jason a drink. She slid it over to him, and he smiled as Jason recognized it as the same cocktail that he drank two weeks ago when he first met her. He felt flattered that she remembered what he liked.

"Just do me a favor, LeBlanc. Tell Colby McIntire to beat Bricker's ass next week before he has a chance to injure one of my Avs, okay?"

Jason laughed. McIntire didn't get much play time, but he was a mean bastard and their resident enforcer. If anyone could take Bricker down a peg or two, it would be Colby. "You can tell him so yourself tomorrow night."

Casey was busy pouring one of the other men a beer and didn't seem to register what he said at first.

"What, are you going to have him send me flowers with his phone number next?" she teased.

Jason couldn't help but grin as he got sidetracked.

"No, because you don't seem to respond to roses. Or daisies," he finished, enjoying the flush that it brought to Casey's cheeks. Jason wondered if he would ever tire of the sight.

"Thank you for those, by the way," Casey offered as she gave him a small smile.

Jason felt his stomach flip as her eyes lit up when they found his.

"You can thank me properly later," Jason joked with a wink, watching her blush as she caught the double entendre. "Anyway, you can tell McIntire to beat Bricker down yourself tomorrow night."

"Mmm," Casey replied almost absentmindedly. "And how is that?"

"Because you're coming with me to the Mile High benefit tomorrow night."

"Oh I am, am I?" she replied. Her tone was light, but her eyes betrayed her surprise. "And if I have to work?"

Jason laughed. "Hey Mac!" he yelled, loud enough to carry through to the office behind the bar. Mac peeked his head out a minute later, recognized Jason and smiled. "Can Casey have the weekend off?" 

She gaped at him but said nothing.

"Sure. She works too much anyway." Mac saw the look on Casey's face and laughed before retreating into the office.

"You were saying?" Jason asked, wearing a smug grin. Casey just sat there, continuing to look stunned. Her mouth was moving, trying to form words, but she was failing. "Great! I'll pick you up at seven." He flashed a smile and stood to leave.

That seemed to snap Casey out of her flabbergasted silence. 

"Wait, you're going already?" she asked, her beautiful hazel eyes wide.

"Our morning skate is early because of the benefit," he explained.

"Wait a sec," she instructed, holding a finger up to him. Casey jogged to the office door and disappeared for a minute. When she came out, she was wearing a heavy winter coat and a smile. What was she up to? Mac made his way out of the office behind her and sat on Casey's usual stool. "Come on," she nearly whispered as she led their way to the door.

-----

Casey didn't know what had possessed her to walk Jason to his car. All she knew is that now that he was here, after a week of talking on the phone nightly, she wasn't ready for him to leave just yet. Even with the promise of a date the next day, she was still scared that he might disappear.

She pulled open the bar door and felt her breath leave her as she was hit with the frigid cold. Casey braced herself against the wind and followed Jason as he led the way down the street. A nearly inaudible grumble left her lips as the chill made its way through her clothes and she shivered. She must be crazy to endure this for just a few more minutes with Jason. The thought unsettled her.

Casey was jolted when she literally ran into Jason's broad chest and open arms. He immediately enveloped her before she had a chance to step back from his embrace. She had been so involved with her own thoughts that she didn't realize that Jason had stopped and faced her.

He leaned his head down to Casey's ear and all the cold left her body, only to be replaced with scorching heat as Jason pressed her into him. "Hi," he murmured, his breath warm on her skin. Another shiver ran through Casey's body, but for a very different reason than before.

"H-h-hi," she managed to sputter. 

Casey could feel Jason's responding chuckle through her entire body. He pulled back and raised a hand to brush her hair away from her face. The look in his eyes was nearly indescribable, some combination of intensity, warmth, and longing. He was close, so close to her. Casey trembled.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asked, a playful grin on his face. Well that one caught her by surprise. Casey's face must have betrayed her confusion because he laughed. "Feeling steady? Not lightheaded or dizzy?"

"No, why?" she barely managed to whisper back. Casey was having a lot of trouble focusing when Jason was touching her.

"Because I don't want you to faint again when I do this," he murmured before taking her face into his hands and kissing her.

Casey gasped into Jason's mouth and promptly melted into him. She felt rather than heard Jason's responding groan vibrate through his chest and into hers. Her head swam as his lips started to move. It felt like electricity was moving over every inch of her skin, and Casey actually had to remind herself to breathe.




Casey's Valentine



Jason touched his tongue to her bottom lip and Casey's mouth opened to him with a sigh. Their tongues touched for a tentative moment, but before the kiss could deepen she felt Jason's stance shift suddenly and he tore his lips from hers.

"What?" he growled behind him.

Casey peeked around Jason's body and spotted Rory O'Brian.

"Did you forget about me, LeBlanc?" Rory caught Casey's eye and grinned, unashamed at his interruption. "Hi, Casey."

"I try to forget about you every day, O'Brian." Jason leaned down to speak to Casey, his voice rough. "I'm sorry, he was supposed to wait for me in the book store." He turned back to his teammate. "Though I don't know how I thought that could occupy you for more than two minutes."

Casey laughed, still dizzy from Jason's touch. He leaned over and pressed his lips to hers gently. "I'll see you tomorrow, beautiful."

She closed her eyes and nodded into his chest. Casey couldn't help but register his scent, a combination of musk and ice. Her teeth cut into her bottom lip as she bit back a groan. No man had ever smelled so appealing.

A few deep breaths later and she was turning away, reluctant to return to work. Somehow over the wind, the men's voices carried back to her.

"I ever tell you you're an asshole, O'Brian?"

"Everyday, LeBlanc."

Casey laughed as she snuggled into her coat against the sudden return of the cold. She was walking, but it felt like she was floating.

-----

Saturday dawned, clear and bright. Casey found herself standing in front of her open closet, almost angry at her lack of choices. She had one shapeless black dress for funerals, then nothing but jeans and sweaters, T-shirts and hockey jerseys. 

"Well I'm fucked," she murmured to herself. One of the drawbacks to being a tomboy, she mused. It may have been a black tie hockey benefit, but she doubted Jason would appreciate her wearing a jersey as a dress.

Casey pulled her phone out and dialed Jason's now familiar number.

"Morning beautiful," he mumbled, his voice muddled with sleep.

"I'm fucked," Casey repeated her earlier thought.

"Not yet, you're not," he growled.

Casey had to stop a shudder of desire from ripping through her. "You're not helping," she groaned.

"Am I supposed to be?" Jason teased.

"Why else would I call you at ten in the morning?"

"If you want me to help, then I definitely shouldn't answer that." 

Casey swallowed hard, trying to tamp down her desire. How did he do this to her every time they spoke?

"I thought you had practice?" she asked tentatively.

"We did, and I came back to nap. So what's wrong, darling?" Jason prompted when she didn't speak for a minute.

"The only dress I own is for funerals. So unless you plan on killing someone tonight, then I'm fucked."

"Well, O'Brian does get annoying ..." he trailed off.

Casey tried not to laugh, but failed. 

"Again, not helping. Not to mention you need him for when you get to the playoffs."

"Good point." She heard shuffling and a telltale strain in his voice as Jason stretched. "Why not go shopping?"

"Because I hate it?" Casey replied.

"Darling, unless you want to show up naked, I'm not sure you have much of a choice. Not that I would mind," he seemed to add as an afterthought.

"Ugh, shopping," Casey mumbled, more to herself than Jason.

"I could come and make it much more interesting," he suggested.

Casey heard the promise behind his words and immediately dismissed the invitation. The last thing she needed was to extend her time at the mall. She shuddered as their kiss last night ran through her head for what felt like the millionth time. "No, I'll suck it up and go."

"You sure, Casey?" Jason replied. She could almost hear him pouting.

She let out something between a sigh and a laugh before answering, "Yes."

"I'll see you at seven, then," he finished before hanging up.

Casey stared at her phone for a moment before pocketing it. God, he had better make this worth it.

-----

Jason double checked the address one more time before hopping out of the car to enter Casey's building, his heart racing. He shook his head, trying to clear it. Jason faced down hulking men armed with sticks and sharp ice skates for a living. Yet he felt more anxious now than he did before any game.

He looked up and was startled to be facing apartment number two. How long had he been standing in front of her door? Jason ran his fingers through his hair and took a few deep breaths before lifting his fist to knock lightly on Casey's door.

The door flew open. Jason barely had time to register Casey's flushed cheeks and upswept hair before she ran back into the apartment.

"I'm late, I'm so sorry!" she yelled. Jason bit back a laugh as she tried hopping into her heels as she moved down the hall.

"I'm such a pushover! Do you know how much useless shit I was talked into buying today?" 

Jason couldn't help but smile as he leaned against Casey's doorframe, watching her scramble around in a mad dash to get ready. She was in a simple black strapless gown that hugged her ass and showed off her sculpted shoulders.

"I'm clueless about make-up and hair, so I had to go to a damn salon. And do you have any idea how complicated garters are?" she yelled from a back room. 

Jason gripped the doorframe as his head swam with vivid images of Casey in nothing but lingerie.

"I could help you with those, you know," he all but groaned.

"Too late," Casey breathed as she walked back into the front room. "Hi," she finished as she approached him, apparently ready to go. Her smile was dazzling; Jason felt his breath catch in his throat. God she was gorgeous.

"Wow," was the only coherent word he found he could say. All thought left him when she blushed in response.

"Ditto," Casey whispered as she exhaled, brushing a hair from the shoulder of his tux before leaning over and giving him a light kiss on the cheek. He caught her fingers and swiftly kissed the back of her knuckles, enjoying the deeper flush it brought to her cheeks. It took every ounce of self-control Jason had not to haul her against his body and take her right then and there.

"Ready?" he asked, offering her his arm.

"Not really, but let's go," Casey replied as she tucked her arm into the crook of Jason's elbow. He led her downstairs and to his Jeep, where he opened the door for her. "Since when are you a gentleman?" she joked.

"Since always. You just seem to bring out a different side of me." Jason raised an eyebrow before closing the door and jogging around to hop into the driver's seat.

"Swing?" Casey asked with a smile as the car started and the music switched on. "How does a hockey player get into Benny Goodman?"

"You recognize Benny?"

"Yes, but that doesn't answer my question."

"My mom used to listen to swing when she cooked. It reminds me of home," Jason answered as he pulled away from the curb. "And how do you know Mr. Goodman?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Jason saw Casey turn and look out the window. 

"An ex of mine," was all she said. He could hear the strain in her voice and didn't press further.

They drove through the city in silence, listening to the tinny music coming from the stereo. 

"I'm sorry if I brought up bad memories," Jason offered when Casey said nothing else for a few minutes.

"No, it's fine," she said as she flashed him a smile. "Just nervous."

"What do you have to be nervous about?" Jason asked.

Casey barked out a laugh. 

"Well, let's see," she started. "I'm going on a first date, which is stressful enough as it is. It happens to be with my favorite hockey player to a charity event where there will likely be press and fans throwing themselves at him. And I'll be meeting his entire team. In a dress."

"I'm your favorite player?" he clarified. Casey said nothing, but he could feel her smile without seeing it. "So that's all that you're nervous about?" Jason asked, a teasing tone in his voice.

"Oh, and I can't fucking walk in heels!" 

Jason laughed and pulled the vehicle over to park for a moment. 

"What are you doing?" Casey demanded.

Jason reached over and grabbed one of Casey's hands, planting a soft kiss on her palm. Their eyes met, and he smiled. 

"You're beautiful, Casey." She blushed and looked away. Jason reached out and turned her face towards his again, unable to stop himself from brushing his fingers along her cheek. "You'll be fine."

He held her hand to his face and watched as some of the fear left her eyes as they softened beneath his stare.

He truly felt for her in that moment. Jason had been in the league for seven years now, plenty of time to get used to the public side of his job. Press conferences, team charity events, fans pressing for autographs or more. He didn't exactly enjoy it, but it came with the territory of professional sports. He knew it would be a big adjustment for her, to say the least. Jason fell for Casey a little more just then, for being brave enough to face it with him, for him.

"I won't leave your side tonight," he promised. 

Casey gave him a little smile and looked straight into his eyes. Jason briefly recalled how much trouble she had doing that when they first met. But he saw the warmth there and felt his heart drop into his stomach. Dear God, he was in trouble.

"Thanks," she whispered, still not looking away.

For once, Jason was the first to break their gaze. 

"We're going to be late," he murmured hoarsely. He had to drop her hand and close his eyes for a few moments before he felt in control enough to drive again.

-----

Casey couldn't help but smile as Jason's Jeep made its way back to her apartment. The entire night felt like a whirlwind, one high after another. Jason kept his word, staying with her all night. His hand was always on her waist, or back, or simply holding hers. Every one of his touches raised goose bumps, usually followed by a warm flush.

She couldn't pick a best part of the night as memories flashed through her head. Kellan Quaid had greeted her with a laugh and a hug. Jason taught her how to play craps. Team captain Alan Forte thanked her for taking pity on LeBlanc, and Colby McIntire promised to beat the shit out of Bricker.

Then there was the glint in Jason's eyes every time he looked at her. And how he had managed to keep her from tripping over her stupid heels all night. The way he howled with laughter when she kicked O'Brian's ass in poker. And then there was the occasional hungry look she caught in Jason's eyes; it would send sparks all over her skin before settling in between her thighs.

"Did you have fun tonight?" Jason asked, interrupting her thoughts.

Casey giggled, unable to help herself.

"God yes!" she all but yelled. She felt drunk with happiness. Then again, the last glass of champagne probably helped. She giggled again at the thought. "Did you?"

Jason hummed in agreement before reaching over and taking her hand, drawing circles on her palm with his thumb. Casey felt like every nerve in her body was shifting in time with Jason's movements. Her head swam and her thoughts muddled as they pulled up to her apartment building. Was she going to invite him in? Was she ready for that?

Thoughts of her ex unexpectedly popped into her head and Casey sighed. It had been years now, and she knew that she was better off without him. But occasionally she felt broken by the absence of him in her life. Jason had started to mend her. Still, she felt damaged, and it didn't feel right for him to not know what he was getting into before anything else happened.

She was able to put off the decision to invite him in for a few minutes as Jason seemed intent on walking her to her door. They made their way silently up to her apartment, hand-in-hand. Casey fiddled with her keys while she continued her internal debate, avoiding Jason's eyes. She knew that the second she looked into them, she would be lost.

"Thank you, for tonight," she muttered to the floor.

Casey should have known better than to think that Jason would let her get away with that. He felt his fingers gently pressing against her chin, forcing her to look up and into his devastating grey-blue eyes. Her heart jumped.

"Thank you, for coming."

She nodded and found that she just couldn't break their stare. Something about Jason's eyes just pulled her in.

"I, um," Casey started before clearing her throat. "Do you want to come in for a little while?"

Jason exhaled audibly and then nodded. He rested his hand on her lower back as she unlocked and then opened her door, walking in and stepping aside to let him in behind her.

"It's not much, but it's home."

Casey went about her usual ritual of flipping on light switches and then gratefully slipped out of her heels.

"God, that's so much better," she moaned as her feet hit her carpet. Jason chuckled. Casey made her way into the kitchen and bent to stare into her fridge for a moment. "Do you want something to drink? I've got coffee, water, and some white zinfandel."

She jumped as she felt Jason's hands suddenly on her waist. Before she knew what was happening, he spun her around and pressed her back into the kitchen counter. Her brain fogged, unable to think when he was bearing down on her with that hungry look on his face.

"No, I'm good," Jason murmured before running his hands up her bare arms and cupping her neck.

The intent on his face was plain, but Casey had to stop him. He had to understand, before. She knew that as soon as he kissed her, she would be so far gone that she'd never be able to explain and would never forgive herself if she didn't first.

"Wait," she whispered as he started to lean in. "We, we," Casey stammered. She took a few deep breaths to steady herself and gather her resolve. Jason moved half a step back, giving her a little room. "We have to talk."

Casey watched as his eyes glazed with worry.

"No, it's not bad per se. Just something you need to know before anything ..." she stopped there, trailing off.

Jason's forehead wrinkled a little with concern. She found herself smoothing it with a finger without even consciously making the decision to do so. He made a little noise of contentment, and she found her courage in that one sound.

"You just need to know that I'm not ..." she took a moment to pause and gather her thoughts again. It was difficult with Jason just inches away. "It's been a while."

"How long?" he prodded gently.

"Years," Casey muttered and blushed furiously. She looked down at the floor again, unable to meet Jason's eyes. "My ex, he really ... he really fucked me up. He broke up with me on Valentine's Day and was dating my roommate less than a week later."   

"Idiot," Jason murmured.

"So I have trust issues, to say the least. Just please, please don't break me," she whispered, staring into Jason's eyes as he did. "I know we haven't known each other that long, but I don't know if I could take it if you hurt me."

Before she knew what was happening, Jason had pulled her into his chest into a tight hug.

"I could never live with myself if I did," he breathed. Casey had to shut her eyes to keep the moisture from spilling over. "You have no idea what you do to me, Casey Taylor."

She sighed and felt herself relaxing into Jason's embrace, scared to trust him but willing to try.

Jason held her there for what felt like an hour, just rubbing small circles over her back. Casey pulled back eventually to look up and into his eyes.

"Thank you, for understanding," she whispered.

She was caught off-guard by her sudden need to be closer to him. Casey worked her hands under his tuxedo jacket and sighed in pleasure at the hard muscle she felt through his shirt. Jason froze; she could sense his reluctance to press her for more.

"Kiss me," she demanded.

Casey melted in his arms as Jason obeyed, touching his lips to hers gently at first. She moaned at the contact and threaded her fingers into his hair, pulling his head closer to hers. Casey wanted more, needed more of him.

The pressure of the kiss increased, and Casey's mouth fell open at the insistence of Jason's tongue. Where they had been interrupted the day before, there was no distraction now. Their tongues slid over each other, tangling together and sending sparks all over Casey's skin. Jason's hands moved to her hair and paused, seemingly unsure of what to do with the complicated up-do he found there.

Casey laughed into his mouth and broke the kiss. Jason made an impatient noise. "Wait," she demanded with a touch of her finger on his lips.

She dug and found the pins that had been holding her hair together and quickly pulled them out, wincing a little as a few hairs followed. Casey ran her fingers through her hair a bit and felt it fall around her shoulders.

Jason ran his fingers through her now flowing locks as she closed her eyes and leaned her head into his hands, enjoying the simple feel of having her hair played with. His hands turned into fists, and Jason pulled her firmly back into another kiss.

His lips crushed hers, and Casey moaned into his mouth, his tongue exploring and running along hers. She could feel the heat in her face and was sure she was flushed; for once, she didn't care. Casey briefly wondered if it was possible for her entire body to blush; but then Jason nibbled on her bottom lip, and all thoughts flew out of her head except one. More, she needed more of him.

Casey snaked her fingers into Jason's jacket again and moved to push it over his shoulders and off. Her breath caught when Jason caught her hands in his and broke their kiss.

"Wait," he murmured, resting his forehead against hers for a moment and closing his eyes. "Are you sure, Case? I don't ..." he paused again, gathering his thoughts. "I want you, more than anything, but I don't want to push you if you're not ready."   

His eyes opened and met hers. The look there stole Casey's breath away and washed away any lingering doubts she had. Something came loose in her in that moment. She pulled her hand free from Jason's and moved it to just below his waist, squeezing his cock. Jason inhaled sharply and nearly growled.

There was no gentleness to their kiss this time as Jason brought their bodies together, only urgency and desperate desire as their lips and tongues met again. Casey felt like she might spontaneously combust as pricks of heat radiated from between her thighs. She heard rather than felt her zipper being pulled down and suddenly she was standing in her underwear, her dress pooled at her feet.

Casey chuckled, unable to help herself. "I don't think I could have found that so easily," she commented.

"I've been scoping that out all night," he growled before tugging Casey's earlobe between his teeth.

Jason's hands found her bare waist, and she gasped as heat grew and spread from his touch. Casey whimpered as his lips explored her neck and throat, Jason's breath doing interesting things to the moisture he was leaving behind.

"Bed," Casey murmured and then squealed as Jason cradled her in his arms. His eyes met hers and she gasped at the look she found there. It was the same hungry look she had seen earlier that night, except a hundred times more intense.

Jason effortlessly walked them down the hall, leaning down to kiss her every so often as he tested a few doors before finding the right one. He gently tossed her onto the bed, and Casey couldn't help but dissolve into a fit of giggles as she fell.

She propped herself up on her elbows and surveyed Jason. He was standing over her, clearly enjoying the sight of her in nothing but her underwear. Casey blushed under his appraising stare.

"You're still dressed, Mr. LeBlanc. That hardly seems fair."

Jason's lips pulled into a grin as he finally removed his coat, tie, and shirt. Casey couldn't help but gasp at what he had been hiding. "It should be illegal for you to wear a shirt," Casey murmured as she sat up and ran her hands over his sculpted chest and abs. She watched as Jason's head fell back at her touch. Casey couldn't help but feel pleased that she seemed to be affecting him just as much as he was affecting her.




Casey's Valentine



Casey moved her hands to Jason's waist, but, before she could reach the button of his pants, he was grasping her fingers in his and pulling her to her feet. He gathered them in one hand and held them behind her back while his other deftly unhooked her bra. It fell to the floor silently.

"God, you're fucking sexy," he murmured before crushing her lips against hers.

Casey's head spun as he released her hands and tickled his fingers up her side before cupping one breast in his palm. He gently pushed her back onto the bed and went to work at the garters and hose she still wore.

Casey couldn't help but giggle when it took Jason a minute to figure out the complex clip system. "I told you they were complicated."

She relished his touch as his hands moved each silky stocking down her legs and off, setting tingles off everywhere. The man had only touched and caressed her, kissed her, and still Casey felt she was liable to explode. Moisture pooled in her underwear, which came off at last.

Casey lay on the bed naked, feeling exposed but giddy with excitement. The bed dipped next to her, and Jason's hands finally were able to move unhindered over her exposed flesh. She squirmed as he avoided all of her most sensitive areas, focusing instead on her sides, throat, and inner thighs.

"Please, Jason," she moaned before opening her eyes and meeting his.

His grin turned absolutely wicked. "Please what?"

"Touch me, please," Casey whined. "I need more."

Jason captured her lips with his, all but devouring her as his fingers finally found a nipple and traced light circles around it, but he stopped before he reached its hard tip. Casey squirmed as he continued to kiss her, silently pleading with him for more. Of course he didn't acknowledge it, opting instead to continue to tease each breast and nipple, always avoiding the hard peaks that begged for his touch.

Casey's head spun as their tongues tangled, dizzy with desire and longing. She felt like she was about to burst, just teetering along the edge as she craved more and more of him. Jason was maddeningly slow, teasing her further along in her passion.

She broke the kiss, determined to beg if she needed to.

"Please Jason, please."

"Please what?" he repeated again, that same wicked smile playing on his lips.

"Please, I need you," Casey whispered. Jason's lips found hers again as he slipped a finger into her pussy and groaned when he felt the wetness there. "Oh God," she moaned as she instantly came apart under his touch, stars exploding behind her closed eyelids.

He coaxed her with his finger as she bucked against his hand, drawing out wave after wave of her sweet release. Casey tried to hold his hand as she came down, tried to stop him as each wave grew in intensity, but he resisted. Instead, he reached a thumb out and stroked her sensitive clit, causing her to cry out in some combination of intense pain or pleasure as Casey came on his hand again.

Some guttural sound escaped from her as it felt like she positively exploded under Jason's touch. He dipped his head down to take a nipple into his mouth, rolling it around with his tongue and nipping it gently, his hands still working steadily between her thighs. Casey threw her head back against the bed, arching and writhing as another orgasm hit her. Dear God, how was he doing this to her?

Casey had to fight to stay conscious as every wave grew in strength and threatened to pull her under. Her head was a haze of lust and desire. All she could think about was her desperate need to feel Jason's cock inside of her.

She thread her fingers through his golden locks and pulled hard to bring his lips back up to hers, thrusting her tongue into his mouth.

"Please," Casey begged as their kiss broke. "I want to feel you inside of me. I need to."

Jason moved off the bed and finally undressed himself completely before moving his body back over Casey's. She spread her legs to accommodate him, bending her knees as his thighs pressed against the back of hers. A gasp escaped her lips as she felt the head of his cock teasing her clit, moving up and down against it.

"Please," she nearly cried. There was nothing in the world to her in that moment but Jason and her urgent need for more of him, all of him.

Finally, mercifully, he slipped his cock inside of her. That same guttural sound came from Casey's throat at the sheer pleasure and feel of Jason within her. Casey again grabbed Jason's head to crush their lips together. Still, he didn't move, just held himself inside of her. Casey lifted her hips off the bed, quietly pleading for more of him. She barely registered Jason's breath coming harder.

Jason pulled out and sank back into her again, drawing a moan out of both of them. They wrapped their arms around each other, and Casey still wanted more. He started to slowly thrust into her again and again, starting to find a rhythm. Still they kissed, a messy blur of tongues and lips and teeth.

Jason snaked a hand between them and found Casey's clit again as his pace picked up.

"Oh, God," she groaned, still on fire from her previous orgasms.

Whatever release was building this time was different and she was almost scared of what was to come.

Still, his touch continued, insistent, almost demanding her to come. Casey clutched at Jason's arms and shoulders, searching for some purchase, something to grab onto. She tightened her pussy around him as the feeling low in her stomach grew, almost trying to hold back her orgasm.

"Don't," Jason murmured into her shoulder, his voice strained. "Don't fight it, Casey. I have you. Come for me."

That was all she needed to hear. Every nerve in Casey's body was electricity and fire as she exploded underneath him with a cry. She clawed at his back, bit down on his shoulder as she came, truly having to put all the focus she could into staying conscious. Casey barely registered Jason's groan as she felt his cock pulsing into her, unloading himself into her pussy. Still he pressed on her clit, drawing out every agonizingly pleasurable wave of her orgasm before she exploded with him again with a cry and promptly passed out.

-----

Jason woke the next morning and felt his body immediately react to Casey's warm flesh pressed against him. She stirred a little, and he froze, not wanting to wake her.

Last night had been incredible, there was no other word for it. Except maybe amazing, explosive, primal, carnal, special. Definitely special.

Casey stirred again and turned to snuggle into his side with a sigh. Jason took the opportunity to study her, her long eyelashes, full lips, her flowing hair. Even sleeping she seemed to glow, although that may have something to do with the previous nights activities. Jason couldn't help but smile to himself at the memory.

She had come so easily for him and made it so obvious that she yearned for him, needed him. Jason's cock jumped a little at the thought of that one orgasm, the one that had pushed him over the edge and sent her unconscious.

He sighed and gently tugged her closer into his arms. Jason couldn't help but wonder how Casey had become such a big part of him in such a short time. Had it really been only two weeks?

There was a strength and independence to Casey that made her so fucking sexy. And then there was that vulnerability that he had first seen the previous night when she had begged him not to break her. Just the thought of him doing that to her was enough to make it feel like his chest was collapsing. He had been telling the truth; he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he were to hurt her like that idiot did.

Jason passed the time until she woke by lightly fingering Casey's hair, remembering with a smile the noises she made in her sleep when he did the same thing last night.

Casey stirred again, nuzzling her head against his shoulder before inhaling deeply. "Mmm, good morning," she murmured hoarsely before turning in place to face him.

Jason craned his neck and pressed a kiss to Casey's forehead. "Morning, beautiful," he replied. Casey propped herself up slightly to plant a kiss on his lips.

"Morning," she said again with a smile before kissing him again and again. One kiss turned into another and in no time their tongues were tangled and Casey was straddling Jason's thighs.

"You're insatiable," Jason growled before pulling Casey close and devouring her lips. He wondered if he would ever get enough of the taste of her when Casey ground her hips into him and all thoughts left him.

"You have no idea, Mr. LeBlanc," Casey whispered into his ear as she guided his cock into her. Jason heard her breath catch before a moan escaped her lips. "Oh God, you feel good," she all but purred.

So did she, her wet, tight pussy enveloping him. Where last night they were almost playful and there was the urgent need for each other, this morning's encounter was slow, patient, exploratory.

Jason gently pushed Casey upright as she ground her hips against his almost lazily. There was no hurry to her movements; Jason could have watched her moving back and forth on top of him all day as the pressure built in his balls.

He moved his hands up her sides, watching Casey's eyes close and head loll in pleasure. Her pace stayed steady, but Jason could feel her gradually tightening around his cock as she drove herself closer. Every moan and whimper that escaped her seemed to cut straight through him. Still, Jason held back, wanting to watch Casey get there at her own pace.

Jason spread his right hand over her hip and pressed his thumb against that one sensitive nub, moving on it in time with her hips. When he took a nipple between his fingers with his other hand, Casey cried out and whined as he felt her pulse and contract around him. He watched in fascination as she came apart over him; he drew it out by starting to meet her hips with his own slow thrusts.

Casey collapsed onto his chest, her long hair tickling his skin.

"Jesus, Jason," she moaned before drawing him in for a passionate kiss.

Jason grabbed her shoulders and easily rolled them over so that his weight pressed his cock into her further. God she felt so good.

Jason pulled himself out and sank back into her again with a groan. Just the feel and sight of her underneath him was enough to drive him over the edge. Still, he held back from driving into her, determined to make her come again.

He nipped her neck while Casey writhed under him, matching the rhythm of his thrusts with her earlier slow pace. The longer she moaned, the more she raised her hips up to meet his, the harder it became to hold back.

Casey tugged his hair, silently begging him to kiss her again. Still he continued the almost maddening slow pace, wanting to draw it out and have her fall apart beneath him. When her nails started to rake his sides and back, Jason knew that she was close again.

He wedged his arm between them, stroking her clit again until she cried out. Jason felt her pussy pulsing around him again, watched as her eyes glazed in pure pleasure and release. This time he followed her orgasm with his own, emptying himself into her with a growl into Casey's shoulder.

They stayed there for a minute or an hour, arms wrapped around each other, sharing an occasional lazy kiss. Jason eventually rolled over but kept himself pressed against Casey's side, planting kisses on her neck and shoulders as he moved.

"Good morning," she almost giggled.

"It is now," Jason replied with a smirk. Casey made a little hum of contentment and rocked back and forth, trying to snuggle into him even further. "So what are we doing today?" he asked casually.

"You don't have practice?"

"Not until tomorrow morning," he qualified.

Casey rolled over to face him, a playful smile on her lips. "Really?"

"Really."

"You're mine all day?" she asked.

Jason chuckled and flashed her a wicked smile. "All night too."

"Well in that case ..." she started before tugging at Jason's hair and pulling him into a long kiss. He nearly jumped when he felt her hand wrapping around his rapidly growing cock.

"You really are insatiable," he groaned before pulling Casey on top of him again.

-----

Casey hummed to herself while she worked her brush through her damp, tangled hair. The clock on the wall showed that it was five o'clock. How was it so late in the afternoon already?

They had spent all morning in bed, tangled in her sheets until both of them were slick with sweat and their stomachs were growling with hunger. Jason had ducked out to grab some clothes and groceries for stir-fry, so Casey had taken the opportunity to shower.

She considered the last day as she got dressed, opting for comfort rather than style with a tank top and comfy pants. The last twenty-four hours were like something out of a dream. Jason made her laugh, made her writhe in pleasure, made her feel safe. She wondered what would happen when reality would inevitably invade again, when he would be traveling for away games and she would be back at the Wunderbar. Could they work?

Casey shook her head, willing her doubts away. Jason was not her ex-boyfriend. She would trust him until he gave her a reason not to. Wait, until?

The knock on the door jolted her out of her thoughts. Casey smiled and had to stop herself from running to answer it. Still, when she pulled the door open, it was almost a relief to see Jason on her doorstep. Casey could see his damp blonde hair peeking out of his white winter hat. Somehow it made his eyes look even bluer. He was so sexy that it almost hurt to look at him.

"Hi," Casey breathed, still wearing her grin, which he returned. Jason dropped the groceries and his gym bag to pull her into a heart-stopping kiss.

"Hi," he murmured into her neck, nibbling a little until Casey shuddered in pleasure. "Still hungry?"

"Famished."

Jason sat her down in one of the dining room chairs with another grin. "Good, now stay."

"Wait, let me help," Casey protested as she moved to accompany him into her little kitchen.

"No ma'am," he replied while pulling out an iPod and a little set of speakers from his bag. "Tonight, this is my kitchen."

Billie Holliday started crooning from his stereo set-up. Jason did a little twirl and started locating a knife and cutting board to chop vegetables.

Casey let out a little laugh as he started doing a little cha-cha to the music. Jason responded with a wink. Really, could he be any cuter?

Minutes later, Casey's kitchen was filled with the smells and sounds of cooking food. She was wary at first, but the stir-fry turned out delicious.

"You look surprised," Jason commented with a smile.

"Because I am," Casey laughed back. "Really, it's fantastic, thank you."

"You're more than welcome."

They chatted easily through the rest of the meal as Jason went back for seconds and thirds. Casey insisted on doing the dishes without his help; he had cooked for them, after all.

They opened a bottle of wine and moved to the couch, just lounging against each other and still talking about everything and nothing when Jason brought it up.

"So Valentine's Day is Tuesday."

Casey froze mid-sip, then compensated by downing the rest of her wine. "Would you like some more?" she asked lightly before jumping up to refill her glass.

"No, I'm good," Jason responded, the look on his face matching the confusion that she was sure he felt. "Let me take you out for Valentine's Day."

Casey ignored his request and made her way back into the kitchen. She took a few deep breaths to steady herself. Wasn't she just thinking earlier that Jason was not her ex-boyfriend? Surely with the events of this weekend, he wouldn't want to break things off. Right?

She jumped when she felt Jason's hands on her waist and his lips at the back of her neck.

"Let me take you out for Valentine's Day," he whispered into her hair.

Casey turned to face him, appraising the sincere glint in his eyes. She raised a hand and took his face into her palm before squeezing her own eyes shut to stop the tears from spilling.

"Oh Casey," he murmured as he pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry, I didn't know that the day it happened was such a big deal." Jason paused for a moment and Casey steeled herself for it. "Do you miss him?"

And there it was. The question shocked Casey into opening her eyes. She stared at Jason, appraising him and the intent behind his question. The same furrow on his brow had returned from the night before, the same concern in his eyes.

Casey sighed, smoothing his forehead with a finger.

"No, not really. It's more like ... I sometimes wonder what might have been. We had picked out baby names, toured houses together, talked about wedding plans. I know I'm better off without him, and I'm happier without him. He was kind of an asshole, really," she admitted with a little laugh.

"No shit," Jason murmured with a guilty smile. "He must have been to do that to you."

He ran his hands through her hair, and Casey closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling. "Do you regret last night?"

Casey didn't even have to think to answer him. "No."

"Good," he muttered before pulling Casey into a slow, bone-melting kiss. "So let me take you out for Valentine's Day."

Casey laughed. Well, she had to give him points for persistence.

"I have to work," she said as she waved him off and went to refill her wine.

"I'll ask Mac to give you the night off."

"You have a game," Casey reasoned again.

"I'll take you out after."

"Nothing will be open but the bars!"

Jason laughed. "I'll figure something out."

"Have you always been so infuriating?" Casey asked, though the smile on her face gave her away.

"Only when I really want something. Or someone." The look on his face was nothing but sincerity.

"Fine, you can take me out, but on two conditions." Jason made a motion with his hand, plainly telling her to continue. "One, there will be no mention of the V-word."

"Vagina?" Jason said with a smile.

Casey slapped him playfully on the arm. "You know the word! And two, you win the game that night."

Jason's eyes widened a fraction. The Avalanche were playing against the Canucks Tuesday night, the same team they had been battling for top spot in the division all season. It was going to be a tough game, and they both knew it.

"You have a deal. But why the second condition?" he asked.

"You really think either of us are going to be in a good mood if you guys lose?" Casey asked with an eye roll as she turned to the counter and poured her wine. She thought that much should be obvious.

She jumped a little when Jason pressed his hips into hers from behind. "No, but maybe I could use someone to lick my wounds," he murmured into her hair as his hands found her shoulders, running his fingers along them lightly until goose bumps formed.

"I'm sure O'Brian will be available," Casey replied with a smirk as she turned to face him. "You can lick each others wounds."

"That sounds so dirty when you say it that way," Jason nearly growled before taking her face into his hands. "I don't want anyone licking me but you."

He pulled her closer and ran his tongue along her bottom lip, sending shivers up and down her spine before finally bringing their mouths together into a kiss.

"Ditto," she mumbled before Jason scooped her up and nearly ran with her back to the bedroom.

-----

It was Monday after the team meeting, and Jason was still trying to figure out exactly what he was going to do with Casey the next day. What do you do for a girl that hates Valentine's Day? Kellan and Rory sat next to him on the bench in front of their lockers as they started to suit up for practice.

"So kitty likes to scratch, eh?" O'Brian asked with a smile once he spotted Jason's back.

"Yeah, tell your mom to trim her damn fingernails," Jason replied with a laugh as Kellan howled next to him.




Casey's Valentine



"Thank God Casey gave you a pity fuck, LeBlanc, maybe now you'll start putting up some points again," Rory replied as he pulled on his practice jersey and stood to inspect his beard in the mirror.

"If we get you laid, will you start doing the same? Maybe we can get you a few hookers tonight?" came Jason's retort as he gave O'Brian a little punch in the arm.

"It couldn't hurt to try," Kellan roared. "You could probably write it off as a business expense, LeBlanc."

"Oh fuck off," Rory replied with a smirk as he made his way out of the locker room onto the ice. "See you out there."

Quaid was already dressed but patiently waited for Jason to finish lacing up his skates.

"It's good to see you out of your funk, LeBlanc," he commented casually, but Jason could hear the sincerity in his tone. "We can't afford for you to be sitting in the sin bin anymore."

"Thanks, Kellan," Jason offered with a nod. He sat quietly for a moment and figured there was no harm in asking him the next question. "So what would you do for a girl that hates Valentine's Day?"

"Casey hates the big V-Day?" Kellan asked for clarification.

"No, Rory's mom does," Jason replied with an eye roll. "Yes, Casey hates it. I nearly had to beg her to let me do something for her tomorrow."

They both stood up and started clomping their way out of the locker room and down to the ice. "Well, you can't go wrong with flowers," Kellan mused.

Jason rolled his eyes again. "Yeah, because the roses worked so well the first time I sent them to her."

"Well, fuck if I know, LeBlanc. I've been single for the last four years. I'm hardly the guy you want to ask. Ask Rory."

"Because I'm sure that his advice would be very helpful," Jason murmured in a low tone as they gathered around the equipment and picked up their sticks. They both watched a few of the guys doing laps around the rink to warm-up. Jason was almost hesitant to tell Kellan the final piece of his Valentine's Day puzzle. "I told her we'd win tomorrow."

"Well then, let's get our asses on the ice," Kellan replied as he knocked Jason's helmet and hopped over the wall and into the rink.

Practice went well, raising their confidence about going up against such a strong team the next evening. It didn't do much about raising Jason's confidence about what he was going to do for Casey the next day. He had been dwelling on their upcoming night together since he had left her apartment that morning and was nowhere near any kind of plan. Whatever it was, it had to be special. Something to try to erase her painful memory of Valentine's past.

Casey was working that night, so Jason was on his own for the first time in days. For lack of anything better to do, he just drove his Jeep around the city, praying that some idea would come to him. Nothing did.

So he just kept driving, listening to Django Reinhardt as he went. Jason passed restaurant after restaurant and almost immediately dismissed each for one reason or another. Too crowded, too hoity toity, not enough privacy. Movie theaters, bowling, mini-golf, nothing seemed to fit. He gave up and headed towards downtown to surprise Casey before he went home. She had insisted on not seeing him again until after the game, not wanting to distract him. Jason didn't think she would protest a quick hello, though.

Jason was stopped at a red light about a mile from his destination when he saw it. A slow smile spread across his face as a plan started to form. He pulled out his cell phone and started making calls as he turned around and made his way back to his apartment. Maybe he would listen to Kellan's advice after all. Now they just had to win.

-----

Casey walked into the Wunderbar at five, ready to relieve Mac so he could take his wife out for Valentine's Day. Every time she thought about the word, butterflies would inevitably settle in her stomach.

"Damn Jason," she thought. Casey was loathe to admit it, but she found herself almost looking forward to their night together, wondering what he was up to. Still, she was scared.

When he called that morning after the team's morning skate, Jason refused to give her any hint or indication of what was to come. He only asked what her work schedule was and made plans to meet her at the bar after the game, nothing else. She was barely able to blurt out a "good luck tonight" before he hung up.

Casey stripped off her coat and scarf as always and let out a low whistle when she saw Mac standing behind the bar in a suit. "Looking good, boss," she said with a smile.

Mac's cheeks flushed at her complement. "Thanks, Case. Happy Valen..."

"Don't you fucking dare!" Casey warned. She tried to keep a stern look on her face but failed. "Treat the old lady nice tonight, okay?"

"I wouldn't dream of doing anything else," Mac replied with a smile. "The spare key is on the desk for you to lock up." Casey watched as he pulled on his wool coat and hat and then stopped to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Take care of her, okay?"

Casey rolled her eyes at Mac's concern. He loved his bar and hated to be away from it often. "You know the bar's in good hands, boss. Go enjoy yourself." Mac gave her one more nod before walking out the door.

She barely had time to stuff her coat in the office and double check for the key when the door to the bar opened. Tips should be good tonight, Casey mused. They would be busy with such a big game being played.

Casey stepped out of the office, ready to start serving the first of the regulars that she was sure had turned up. She was completely unprepared for the sight that greeted her instead. No one was in the bar. There was only a vase of tulips, sitting unattended on the bar. Casey swallowed hard, waiting for the inevitable sick to make its way up her throat. It didn't.

The card was peeking out, begging her to take and read it. She hesitated a moment before snatching it out of the holder and reading it. Third time's the charm? it read. For your dazzling smile, it continued and then was followed by a little #4.

Casey smiled to herself and then hurried to stow the flowers in the office. She would never hear the end of it if the guys caught wind of her being excited by flowers. The door opened again, and this time Casey was greeted with a couple of her regular customers.

She had just started getting into her usual groove of serving drinks and chatting with the guys when the door opened to reveal another stranger.

"Casey?" the delivery man asked. She merely nodded in response and he deposited the vase at the end of the bar, then left. It was a single delicate orchid, complete with another card.

For being so insatiable, it read, ending with another little #4. Casey blushed at the memories of their last weekend, setting off a round of laughter from the guys.

"Oh shut up," she said with a glare before depositing the lone flower in the office again.

A few more of the regulars poured in, and Casey turned on the pre-game. She couldn't stop her pulse from quickening when the camera zoomed in on Jason warming up on the ice, her favorite wicked grin on his face as he talked to O'Brian who was stretching next to him.

"Casey?" a female voice piped up from the door. This time the delivery woman held a vase full of lilies.

"Right here!" one of the guys answered for her, taking the vase from the woman's arms and passing it over to Casey behind the bar.

"Oh dear God," she murmured as she took the flowers back into the office. Of course, there was a card. For your loving embrace, followed by the #4 again.

Casey joined the guys back at the bar, hoping that everything would be back to normal now that the game was about to start. No such luck.

Every fifteen or twenty minutes, a new delivery man or woman would show up with another floral arrangement, complete with card after card. Mac's office was overflowing with flowers by the end of the first period. They started to spill over into the booths that lined the walls. And they just kept coming.

For your beautiful eyes, for your quick wit, for your love of the game, for your dirty fucking mouth, for your heart-stopping kisses. Every card made Casey's heart drop into her stomach, made her fall for Jason a little more. Every new delivery brought whistles and smartass comments from the guys, but Casey didn't care. And every time the camera panned on Jason, skating around the ice, a little cheer would resound through the bar at 'Casey's man.'

"He's got it bad, Case," one of the regulars piped up near the end of the game as a dozen red roses showed up. Casey nodded absently, focusing instead on the final card she held in her hand. Because I'm in love with you.

Her throat went dry and her pulse pounded. She started to shake and there was a faint hum in her ears. How was all of this possible? How had Jason managed to so thoroughly break through her walls, her trust issues, in all of two weeks? She felt like she barely knew him, but Jason also made her feel whole again. There was no fear left in her, and the realization seemed to take the breath out of her.

She was in love. The truth of the statement flooded through her, a warm flush that seemed to radiate straight from her heart.

Casey's head shot up as the horn signaling the end of the game cut through her thoughts. The Avs had won, 3-1. Jason was named second star of the game with two assists. Casey couldn't help the smile on her face as the camera zoomed in on him as he waved to the cheering crowd, his cheeks still flushed from the exertion of the game.

The regulars finished their drinks and filed out one-by-one until the bar was completely empty. Casey washed the dirty glasses, wiped down the surfaces that weren't blocked by flowers. What was she going to do with all of them? What was Mac going to say tomorrow? The thought made her laugh as the phone in the corner rang.

"Wunderbar, this is Casey," she almost sang into the receiver.

"What's the place looking like?" Mac's voice came through.

"Empty, boss, everyone left after the game. What are you doing calling here when you're supposed to be wining and dining your wife?"

Mac chuckled. "I am, she's just in the bathroom. Close up, Case, no sense in you being stuck there on Valen ..." he cut himself off lest he suffer Casey's wrath. He cleared his throat. "No sense in you being stuck there with no customers."

"You got it, Mac. See you tomorrow," Casey finished as she hung up.

She would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't excited by the prospect of being able to leave with Jason earlier than they had discussed. He was supposed to come to the bar after the game, but if she was closing early she needed to let him know. Casey picked the phone back up to give him a ring, but it just went to voice mail.

"Um, Jason, it's me," she almost stuttered out. Why was she so nervous? "Mac asked me to close up early, so I am. I'm heading home in a little bit, so I guess call my cell when you're done over there to figure out where I am?" Casey had to bite her tongue to keep from saying 'And I love you too'. "Congrats on the game," she finished lamely and hung up.

Casey went about her usual business to close the bar, crunching numbers from the register, re-stocking the bar, mopping the floor. Half an hour passed, and still her phone didn't ring. Certainly the coach's post-mortem was done by now? She knew the interviews were over.

Despite her realizations from earlier, Casey started to worry. Maybe she wasn't going to see Jason tonight after all. She stalled closing as long as she could, but still her phone didn't ring. A disappointed sigh escaped her lips as she put on her coat and picked up the spare key to lock up.

When she first turned away from the bar after locking the door, she didn't see the man in a suit standing in front of her. Casey was too worried about not seeing Jason to notice.

"Casey Taylor?" the man asked.

She looked up and finally saw the man, half expecting him to hold another bouquet of flowers after hearing her name asked like that so often that evening. The man's arms were empty, but he was standing in front of a limo.

"Uh, yeah, that's me," she somehow managed to croak out in surprise.

"Mr. LeBlanc would like me to take you to him." He must have sensed Casey's hesitation, because his face broke out into a smile. "Mr. LeBlanc said that if you seemed unsure, to tell you to trust him, and that it's worth it."

Casey flushed. Maybe Jason knew her better than she thought.

"Okay, uh, thank you," she stuttered out when the man opened the door to the limo for her.

The smell hit her before the sight did. Casey's jaw dropped. The entire back of the limo was filled with more roses. She actually had to pause for a moment to find a place to sit. Did Jason own a flower shop that she didn't know about?

Casey was grateful that the driver left the partition down, suddenly nervous. They chatted a bit; his name was Dave and was an Avalanche fan as well. He was at the game that evening, part of his payment for picking Casey up so late. Talking to him about the game calmed her a bit, but he refused to tell her where they were going.

The drive was mercifully short, and Dave opened the door for her. Casey's jaw dropped again. It seemed to be doing that a lot today. They were at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

"Mr. LeBlanc is waiting for you in Marnie's Pavilion. Do you know where that is?" Casey could only nod her head mutely. "Then this is where I leave you. It was nice to meet you, Ms. Taylor."

Casey's heart seemed to be making a concerted effort to leap out of her chest. She had dressed in only a sweater and jeans, not having expected Jason to do anything like this for her. Her heart pounded harder, suddenly feeling underdressed.

The gardens were lit up beautifully as she made her way through them, pausing occasionally to inspect an interesting flower or plant. Casey always loved coming here. She tried to recall all the late-night conversations she and Jason had shared, wondering if she had ever talked about the gardens. If she didn't, then Jason was a genius.

Casey made her way to the pavilion and stopped breathing for a moment when she stepped inside. The waterfall and orchids were there as always. But then every available surface was covered in candle after candle and Frank Sinatra was crooning from hidden speakers somewhere. Jason was nowhere to be seen, so Casey walked slowly around the courtyard, taking it all in. It was just surreal.

"Hi, beautiful."

Casey jumped and spun around, tensing for a moment. Then she saw Jason's easy smile and felt her body relax a little, though her heart raced even faster than she thought possible. She wanted to run and jump into his arms but held back for some reason.

"Did you like the flowers?" Jason asked with an innocent look.

Casey nearly snorted with laughter. "I don't know if there were enough."

He chuckled along with her, shaking his head. "I'll remember that next year."

Jason crossed the divide between them in just a few steps, taking Casey into his arms as she sighed.

"Next year?" she nearly squeaked as Casey found her face so close to his.

"Mmhmm," Jason hummed before pulling her in for a gentle, slow kiss. Everything else faded into the background for Casey; by the time he pulled away, the room was spinning. "You hungry, Case?"

"Um, what?" Casey was still off kilter from the kiss.

Jason chuckled. "Come on," he coaxed, pulling her by her arm around a bend in the pavilion to a little corner, tucked away from the rest of the room.

Really, she should stop being stunned at this point, but Casey found her mouth open in surprise again. There was a little table, lit by more candles. That wasn't the shocker.

Somehow, Jason had managed to set up a crawfish boil, the one thing she missed the most about home. Ruby red crawfish were piled on the newspaper lined table, complete with sausage, corn-on-the-cob, and potatoes. She could still see the steam coming off the food. Casey wracked her brain again. Had they talked about this before?

"Jason, this is too much," she nearly whispered, wiping her eyes as the tears came. "How did you know?"

Jason pulled her into his arms again, stroking her hair as she cried. "Forte's wife is from Louisiana. I called her, and she told me it was the best way to surprise a Southern girl."

Casey clung to him, the lump in her throat dissolving as she nearly sobbed. "I love you, I love you, I love you." She pulled his head down to hers and shoved her tongue into his mouth; the kiss was salty from her tears. "Are we alone?" she asked throatily.

"Um, yes?"

Casey nearly clawed the shirt off of Jason's body, desperate for all of him.

"The food will get cold, Case," he reasoned before Casey's hands found his belt and he groaned.

"Fuck it," she whispered, pulling him down onto the stone floor with her in less than a second.

-----

It was a year later, and they were sitting back in Marnie's Pavilion. Casey was finally showing Jason the real way to eat a crawfish.

"I am not sucking the head," Jason qualified.

Casey laughed as she put down the head and went to work breaking apart the tail. "That's what she said." Jason gave her an easy smile, which she returned. "Fine, but you don't know what you're missing."

The last year had been a rollercoaster, filled with the ups and downs of any couple's lives. They dealt with the pressure of Jason's job and away games. They had bitter fights and fantastic make-up sex. Casey moved into Jason's apartment in July and the two talked easily about their future together. They somehow managed to visit both of their families in the three days Jason had off for Christmas. All of Casey's old trust issues never resurfaced; Jason never gave her a reason to doubt him. Each wondered how they got so lucky to have the other.

"Paper towels?" she asked once her fingers were coated in the innards of the crawfish.

"Shit, I didn't think of that," Jason replied with an apologetic smile. "Maybe check the bathrooms?"

Casey rolled her eyes and went to grab a handful for the both of them, returning to the table a minute later. She immediately spotted the little box on the suddenly cleared table and sucked in a breath. "What is that?"

Jason gave her a sly smile. "Don't worry, Case, it's not a ring."

She sat down and tentatively reached over, a little disappointed by his words. She opened the box to find a delicate silver necklace, complete with a small diamond in the shape of a teardrop at the end. Casey reached a finger out to touch it, unable to help herself.

"Oh Jason, thank you. It's beautiful, but you know me, I have nothing to wear that goes with diamonds." She looked up to meet his eyes across the table but he wasn't there.

He was on the floor next to her on one knee. She immediately started to cry.

"Casey Taylor, you are everything to me, and I love you." Jason paused to take a deep breath before pulling another jewelry box from his pocket. "Marry me," he breathed as he opened the box to reveal a ring.

Casey sobbed as Jason slid the teardrop ring onto her finger before pulling her into his arms. "Yes, yes, yes," she purred, punctuating each word with a kiss before pulling back to look into Jason's always devastating blue eyes.

"I guess you have something to match the necklace then," Jason commented casually with a big smile on his face.

"I guess so, Mr. LeBlanc," she replied, returning his easy grin.

Jason pulled her off the chair and on top of him on the floor, drawing her into his to play with her hair. Casey let out a contented sigh. "Happy Valentine's Day," he murmured into her shoulder, waiting for the inevitable.

Casey barked out a short laugh and sat upright, playfully smacking him in the shoulder while she straddled Jason's thighs.




Casey's Valentine



"You're going to regret that," she growled before pulling her shirt over her head and leaning over to kiss him, ready to celebrate their engagement.

-----

Naturally, they were married in Marnie's Pavilion, surrounded by Jason's teammates and friends from around the league, and family flown in from Indiana and Mississippi. Even Mac and his wife and a few of the regulars from the bar came for the wedding.

It was a small, beautiful ceremony, followed by a naturally raucous reception as the booze flowed freely. Casey wore her wedding dress without complaint, though it was long enough to conceal the tennis shoes she wore beneath it.

The evening wound down. The Avs created a tunnel out of hockey sticks as the couple made their way out of the pavilion and to the waiting limo. Everyone laughed as they saw the pucks, skates, and gloves trailing from the trunk.

The couple waved to everyone as the limo pulled away, weaving them through traffic to a swanky downtown hotel. Their honeymoon would have to wait until after the hockey season was over, but neither Casey nor Jason minded much, as long as they were near each other.

The date was February 14th.