Part XII

By

As always Aidan felt like the luckiest guy in the world.  That’s because he got to be the guy waiting for the gorgeous woman talking to the maitre d’.  He knew men and woman were wondering ‘who’ the leggy brunette was meeting.  Their eyes were glued to her until she stopped in front of his table. What that woman did for a pair of worn Levi’s was priceless and well worth a commercial. Then again she looked good any article of clothing.  Or with nothing on at all, he thought with a smile. "Hey beautiful…" Aidan said he stood up and leaned in to kiss Leigh.

"Damn it Aidan, I give you a simple assignment and you just go and fuck it up."  Leigh snapped as she abruptly avoided his kiss and sat down at the table.

Okay…  maybe not the luckiest guy in the world…  just an embarrassed one. He looked around and saw a few people snickering in his direction.  "Leigh must you always make a scene." He sat down and snatched up his napkin and placed it in his lap.

A dark brow rose.  "I’m just giving the people what they want…  more than I can say for you."

"What are you talking ‘bout?"

"I’m talking about how I asked you to arrange a nice trip for a certain security guard."

"And I did."

"At the Palm’s Martin Casino?"

"Well yeah.  I even had a few strings pulled…"

Leigh cut him off with a strained smile.  "So that he would win $10,000"

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"The cops told me yesterday…"

"Oh…" Aidan sat back and nodded.  "I fucked up didn’t I?"

"It’s nice to see that we’re finally on the same wavelength."  Leigh opened up her menu.  "I think I’ll have the chicken Caesar salad."  She motioned for the waiter to come over and gave her order.  Once he left she grabbed a breadstick off the table and took a bite. "Aidan how in the hell could you do that?" She pointed the breadstick at Aidan as she spoke. "I mean they are already breathing down my neck about my relationship with Tony because they suspect that his cousin made the fake ruby…"

"But they’re wrong about that…"

"True…  but not that wrong."

"Yeah…" He took a sip of water and hunched.  "So what do we do next?"

A dark brow rose. "We?"

"Fine," He sighed.  "What do you do next?"

"Nothing." Leigh said casually.

"Nothing?"

"That’s right.  I’m just going to sit tight and see what else they come up with  …rather what Kansas comes up with."

"You mean your friend, Erin Bradshaw?"

"Yeah…  Erin Bradshaw." I have really got to stop calling her that in front of everyone.

"So how is that going anyway?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…" Aidan smiled sheepishly,  " are you two still buddies?" Leigh just rolled her eyes at his question.  "I mean, the last time we talked about her, you were keeping her close.  Is that still the case?"

Oh, yeah I’m keeping her close…  Leigh remembered she and Erin lazily laying in each other’s arms as the sunrise peaked through the curtains of her bedroom.  If it had been left up to her, she would have stayed there all day with blond laughing and making love, but unfortunately it was not left up to her…  they had the real world to contend with.  She suppressed a smile at the memory of sneaking Erin out of the house so Mary wouldn’t see her that very morning.  If it hadn’t been for Bernie occupying the housekeeper’s attention, Mary would have caught Leigh stealing one last steamy kiss from the insurance investigator as she left out through the backdoor. 

Aidan clearing his throat brought her attention back from her daydreaming. "Drop it Aidan…"

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

"Okay." Aidan simply shrugged before Leigh noticed his gaze shifting to over her shoulder. The CEO turned around to see what had caught her lunch companion’s attention.  And she couldn’t help but smile when she saw Rory Carmichael walking their way. 

"Well, well…  if it isn’t Aidan Prescott and Ms. Blue Eyes herself." He cooed, "Fancy running into you two here…" 

Leigh thought Rory looked his normal beautiful self, in his crisp khaki pants and pink Ralph Lauren button down shirt.  He took off his Gucci shades and carefully placed them in perfectly sculptured red hair. 

"You’re half owner of the place Rory…" Aidan added.

"True, but I haven’t seen you since my New Year’s bash  …and may I mention, I am still waiting for you to pay for that ultra-ass expensive vase that you broke.  My goodness Aidan sometimes I forget what a jock you can be  …fine crystal is not made to be tossed across a room  …it is to be appreciated and replaced when mishandled." He frowned at Aidan. "And please think about getting a hair cut.  I swear Aidan you’re starting to look like some hippie straight out of the sixties."  He simply shook his head before turning to Leigh. 

"Hey gorgeous. I swear girlie-girl, you probably fall out of bed every morning  …and you’re still sexy as hell."  He leaned down and kissed her on both cheeks.  "To bad all those looks are lost on me."  He laughed. "Nice to see my last party didn’t do too much damage to you…" He smiled. "So how long did it take you to find your house after waking up at the beach?"

"You woke up at the beach…" Aidan started laughing, "Again?"

Leigh smirked.  "Come on we all have our moments."

"How is that adorable blonde friend of yours?"  Rory pulled up a seat and sat down.

"Erin Bradshaw?" Aidan asked before Leigh could answer the question.

"Erin…" Rory tapped his chin thoughtfully.  "Yeah, that was her name, cute  …just like her."

"You know Erin Bradshaw?" Aidan looked at Leigh who was about to speak, but he quickly cut her off.  "How do you know Erin Bradshaw?"

"Well she came to the party with Leigh the other night.  I must say darling," He touched Leigh’s hand,  "she has definitely left a lasting impression. Damion Reynolds is still asking about her."

"Damion Reynolds? Well I can definitely see why he’s interested. But I hear she’s off limits." Aidan interjected.  "Isn’t that right Leigh?"

She sure as hell is… "You’ll have to ask her that…" Leigh said abruptly and cast Aidan one her deadly glares. "I can’t speak for her."  She said, before taking another bite of the breadstick.  "So Rory  …what have you been up to lately?  When is the next party?" She tried to change the subject as she avoided Aidan’s knowing smile.  Leigh could definitely feel Rory’s eyes on her.

"What?" She hunched and watched Rory squinting, as he looked her up and down.

"Yep…" He tapped his chin thoughtfully and began smiling. "I’ll be damned."

"What?"

"You’ve had sex!" Rory exclaimed as he covered his mouth.

"What?" Leigh asked as she dropped her breadstick on the table.

"And not just sex  …good sex and plenty of it!" Without asking Rory pulled a chair from another table and sat down.  He propped his elbows on the table and cradled his face in his hands.  "Details… details… details!  I mean who was it?"

Leigh glanced at Aidan, who was grinning sheepishly and waiting for Leigh to answer their friend’s question. She simply smiled with clenched teeth.  "Rory could you keep it down, please…"

"Right…  I suppose you have grown quite tired of reading about your personal life in the papers." He whispered. "So who was it?"

Leigh looked at her watch, and didn’t even read the time.  "You know what guys, I have a meeting, so…"

"But Leigh the waiter hasn’t even brought our food yet." Aidan pointed out, holding back obvious laughter.

Leigh abruptly got up and threw more than enough money on the table to cover their tab and quite a few other people’s in the restaurant. "This should cover it, and Rory you can eat the salad I have coming."

"But Leigh…" Rory started, but Leigh was already walking bristly towards the exit almost knocking over several waiters on the way.  He turned to Aidan, who at this point was laughing.  "Yep  …it was some good sex."  And he joined his eating companion in loud laughter.

It was obvious that good looks ran in the Morolto family.  Erin had seen enough photos of Tony to recognize some of the same dark handsome features in his cousin Simon, who sitting across from her in the visiting area of the prison.  Despite the bright orange jumpsuit, the man still looked like he was ready to grace the covers of GQ.  He had thick black hair with streaks of gray, and a nearly trimmed beard accented by a dark olive complexion.

"So did you make this ruby?" Erin asked, as she pushed it across the table to Simon Moralto.

"Shit lady…" He chuckled and showed his pearly whites. "The only things I get to make up in here, are license plates."

"Very funny…" McNeil chimed in. "Well someone said that you made it."

"Someone huh?"  Dark eyes squinted at the people sitting across from him. "Hell, I’ve made so much stuff over the years  …who knows, I could have made it." He picked up the ruby and looked at it. "But I think I would remember making a big ass red ruby."

Erin and McNeil watched him closely as he looked at the ruby and if Erin wasn’t mistaken she saw a faint smile on his lips before he placed it back on the table.  "I didn’t make that…" He finally declared before crossing his arm.  "Almost wish I did  …it’s a good copy."

"So we’ve been told." Erin said and rolled her eyes. She leaned in closer.  "Would a person need the original to make such a good copy?"

"Probably…" Simon hunched.

"Do you know Leigh Sinclaire?" McNeil asked.

"Of course…" He answered with a smile. "You’d have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to know her."

You can say that again. Erin couldn’t help but smirk at the comment.  "We found this ruby in her home."

"Really?"

"Yes, really…"

"I didn’t know Leigh was into fake shit.  Had I known, I would have contracted out my services to her." He laughed.

"Are you sure you didn’t?" McNeil inquired.

Simon looked offended by the question. "Didn’t I just say I didn’t make that thing  …I mean, am I talking to myself?  You’re not a very good interrogator are you?"

"Look…" McNeil stood up, but Erin put a hand on his arm.

"Calm down…" She said quietly to him.

"Yeah." McNeil ran a hand through his hair.  "I think I need some fresh air." He eyed Simon and then walked off.

Simon looked very please with this.  "Good.  I’d much rather talk to you anyway." He grinned.

Erin didn’t exactly grin back. "Good.  So tell me Simon…" She paused. "I can call you Simon, can’t I?"

"Sure."

"Simon, do you know who made this thing?"

"Look blondie, I know you’re not a cop…  so let’s cut the bullshit." He frowned.  "You guys think Leigh pulled the job at museum, don’t ya?"

"You’ve heard about the Rhine Ruby heist?"

"Of course, I’m in prison  …not another planet  …$50 million is not a bad haul at all.  But Leigh is worth billions."

"I know…" Erin answered casually.

"So why do you think she would pull a crazy stunt like that?"

"I never said that…" Erin knew she couldn’t officially state that Leigh was a suspect in the case.

"No, you just came in here and accused me of making a copy of the Rhine Ruby and telling me you found this ruby in Leigh Sinclaire’s home  …what am I suppose to think?"

"I don’t…" Erin simply rose to her feet and crossed her arms. "Why don’t you tell me what you think Simon."

"Off the record…" He asked.

"I’m beginning to think that’s the only record that exists…" Erin said with a sigh.  "Yes, Simon off the record…"

Simon took a moment before he answered.  "What I think…" He smiled and dimples creased his tan cheeks, "is that you’re going to have a hell of a time catching her."

Leigh came storming into her office and tossed a couple reports on her desk.  "Those guys are complete idiots!" She growled to the empty room, as she sat down in her leather chair.  While coming out of a late afternoon meeting, Leigh had been ambushed by a gang of reporters, which basically led to another round of Leigh displaying her colorful use of the English language.  Of course they questioned her about Brent Landers.  Thank God they don’t know about the ruby …the shit would really be hitting the fan twice as hard.  "Has the world never seen a man get dumped before and then freak out?  Damn!" She snatched up the phone and dialed the security department. "This is Leigh Sinclaire.  Look, if you see anyone that even resembles a reporter  …I want you to tackle them and throw them out on their ass!"  Without even waiting for a response of any kind, she slammed down the phone.

And to think her day had started out so well.  Waking up with Erin Bradshaw wrapped around her body.  True, it had only been two days since she and the insurance investigator had started their sexual escapades but Leigh had already got use to waking up with blonde at her side.  The ringing phone interrupted her thoughts.  With irritation, she picked up the phone. "What?" She barked harshly.

"You are one crazy bastard!" A male voice boomed on the other end of the line.

Leigh smiled. "Bastard?  Don’t you mean bitch?"

"Hey, I’m not stupid  …the last time a guy called you that  …I heard you kicked his ass real good before throwing him out of that bar of yours."

"And that was only two weeks ago." Leigh chuckled.  "Nice to see you are still up to date with things  …even behind bars."

"I’m still a Morolta  …just a jailed one." Simon said back.

Leigh swiveled her chair around and kicked up her legs to rest her cowboy boots on the tip of her desk. "So how many cigarettes did you have to trade to make this phone call?"

"Fuck you Leigh!" Simon shot back irritably but still good-naturedly.

"Still interested huh?" She laughed. "I thought you would be some guy named Bubba’s girlfriend by now."

"I won’t even bother reacting to that comment.  Leigh you know I’m still interested in showing you what a real man has to offer  …but kiddo I’m a little scared these days.  I mean, what the hell did you do to that pretty boy movie star anyway?"

"Please don’t mention it…" Leigh pleaded.

"I know you’re gorgeous and all but babe even I’m getting a little tired of seeing you on TV and in the papers."

"You’re preaching to the choir here Simon."

"But on to another subject…"

"The reason you called me a crazy bastard…" Leigh interrupted.

"Damn straight!" Simon said.  "What the hell were you thinking stealing that $50 million rock?"

"Probably the same thing you were thinking when you took $3 million worth of diamonds…"

"Touché…" Simon couldn’t help but laugh.

"But I’m not admitting anything…" Leigh added quickly. If Simon was calling from prison the last thing Leigh needed was her confession recorded.

Simon laughed again. "Don’t worry kiddo this line isn’t tapped.  I’m in the yard talking on my cell phone…"

"Cell phone..." Leigh smiled.  "I’m impressed Simon…"

"You should be…" Simon said.  "Now back to the subject at hand,  …does my cousin Tony know about this crazy stunt you pulled?"

"Yep."

"Figures…" Simon snapped.  "He was in here last week and didn’t say a thing about it."

"I would hope not.  I mean Simon it’s suppose to be a secret." Leigh whispered playfully before frowning.  If Tony didn’t tell him …then that must mean…

"You sure about that Leigh?  I just got a visit from some cop and a sexy blonde asking about you and some fake ruby I supposedly made."

Leigh sat up and placed her feet back on the floor.  "Sexy blonde?"  Leigh didn’t have to guess to figure out who Simon was referring to.

"Yep." Simon answered. "A Ms…."

"Bradshaw." Leigh finished for him.

"Yep, that’s her name." Simon laughed a little. "So she’s already hot on you, huh?"

You have no idea. "I suppose you can say that." She managed to say with a wicked smile plastered on her face.

"Kiddo,  …please don’t give me a heart attack and tell me you may actually be caught for this little stunt you managed to pull off."

"Come on Simon… what’s my name?" The CEO responded arrogantly.

"Honey …it’s Leigh Sinclaire.  The problem is that the police, and that cute little insurance investigator, seem to have that very name at the top of their list."

"A minor technicality…" Leigh retorted casually.

"Leigh, a minor technicality is what landed my ass in here." Simon said, with a serious tone slowly sneaking into his voice.  "I don’t want to see the same thing happen to you."

Erin walked in her apartment and didn’t even bother hanging up her coat.  Instead she simply let if fall from her arms, along with her briefcase, and let it hit the floor. She was dead tired.  After riding halfway across the state and back from the prison, she had been caught up in an ambush of meetings with McNeil, Minton, and Prenhall and Wineman.  All of which shared the same theme…"So you know she did it  …prove it!" 

Simon Morolta hadn’t been much help that morning.  By the time she’d left, Erin had come away with two theories.  Either Simon didn’t make the ruby …or he did make it and was lying through his teeth about it. Which were the same two conclusions she had gone to the prison with  …so nothing gained there.  But something about the visit had Erin’s instincts on edge.  "There was something in his eyes when he looked at the ruby  …but damn it I don’t know what it meant!" She groaned. "Maybe it was because he knew Leigh was getting away with the heist of the century!"

And on top of that her employers had finally given her a deadline. Erin had exactly two weeks from that day to find and recover the ruby.  Actually Erin had been shocked that they had been so generous with the time allotted, given she had already been working the case already for two weeks. Given the fact that if the ruby wasn’t found they would have to write a $50 million dollar check, Erin was sure they really wanted to give her all the time in the world.  But when you are an insurance company, you don’t have time all the time in the world when have to honor the terms of a policy.

She headed straight to the couch and collapsed on the comfortable cushions. "Why me?" She asked and closed her eyes. Though the new deadline somewhat concerned her, Erin’s thoughts were really focused on something else.  Leigh Sinclaire.   Erin had received a text message on her cell phone from a certain CEO that she received on her way from the prison that morning.

It wasn’t a surprise that Leigh knew about Erin’s visit with Simon, but the message still irritated Erin.  She figured Leigh probably knew before she even left the prison parking lot.  But she had come into this game knowing that Leigh had more steps ahead of her than she would have liked.  She simply had to play catch up.  The text message was the only communication that Erin had with Leigh since she’d snuck out of the dark-haired woman’s backdoor, that very morning -- a little tidbit that had been steadily annoying her all day.

"You are totally obsessed with her…  personally and professionally."  She sighed and hopped off the couch and began unbuttoning her shirt as she headed towards her bedroom.

There was a knock at the door.

Pulling her shirt together, Erin went to the door and opened it to find Leigh standing there.

"I have a doorbell you know." Erin said reaching around the doorframe to demonstrate by pushing the button that caused a chime to ring through out the apartment.

"I know…" Leigh said with a devilish smile before slipping inside the apartment. "Can’t a girl be old fashioned every now and then?" Before Erin had a chance to answer the question, her mouth was already otherwise occupied with the deep kiss Leigh planted on her.

When they broke for air, Erin licked her lips and laughed.  "Old fashioned my ass…" She said with a giggle, before feeling warm fingers moved from her neck down to her exposed navel.  Erin had forgotten to re-button her shirt before she answered the door.

"Already undressing, huh?" Leigh kissed her neck.  "Good  …less work for me to do later." She mumbled with a grin before snagging another steamy kiss from the insurance investigator, which eventually left both women almost breathless.

"So what brings you by this evening?" The truth be told, Erin didn’t really give a damn why Leigh Sinclaire had shown up on her doorstep, she was just glad that she had.  Though she was trying to ignore that her task all day, had been to prove this gorgeous woman of a crime.

"I went shopping today, and I wanted to show you what I bought."

"Really…  something for me?" Erin asked as Leigh walked pass her. She loved the way the heels of Leigh’s boots sounded against the hardwood of the hallway.  She loved the walk that went with them just as much. 

"Yep." Leigh called over her shoulder and she walked down the hallway into the living room.

"I don’t see any bags." Erin noticed that Leigh hands were tucked in the pockets of her trench coat.

"Don’t need ‘em." Leigh drawled as she turned around.  "Come here." She called to the other woman in that sexy and sultry voice that Erin knew all too well  …and could never seem to resist. She walked towards Leigh with a question in her green eyes that the CEO would soon answer. 

Leigh took her hands out of her pockets and slowly untied the belt from around her waist  …the coat fell open and then soundlessly to the floor  …and all Erin could see was Leigh’s unadulterated nakedness accented only by a single sheer scarf wrapped around her neck.

"I brought you a scarf Kansas".  Leigh cooed enjoying the heat caused by Erin’s perusal of her body. 

"That’s umm…" Erin stammered trying to regain her composure, "…some scarf." But her eyes were everywhere on the form before her, except where the scarf was located.

"You like?"

"Oh yeah…" Erin moved closer picking up an end of the scarf in each hand before pulling to move Leigh closer to her. "I most definitely like…"

"That was like something straight out of Pretty Woman." Erin said, as she cuddled up to Leigh.  Both women were still trying to catch their breath from their intense lovemaking.

"Except it was a beautiful silk scarf instead of a tie…"

"And two Julia Roberts  …with no Richard Gere.  Now there’s a new twist if they ever make a sequel." Leigh added, causing Erin to join her in laughter.

"Well if the love scenes are even half of what just happened here…" Erin said already starting to blush, "It will definitely be a hit."

"Oh yeah  …I second that." Leigh said before both women heard her stomach growl. "I skipped dinner." Leigh explained, before lifting up slightly to capture Erin’s mouth in a hungry kiss. "And went straight for dessert." She said with a crooked grin against Erin’s parted lips.

"You’re such a kid…" Erin managed to say as she moved back on top Leigh to sit in her lap. "You don’t plan on staying that way forever do you?"

"Not forever." Leigh’s brow creased as if in deep thought before grinning. "But a little longer won’t hurt." Again her stomach growled. "Say you mind if I go exploring that kitchen of yours?"

"No …not at all …knock yourself out."  Erin, completely exhausted, moved off of Leigh and closed her eyes.  The CEO had certainly worn her out and she half wondered how Leigh’s previously lovers had kept up with the brunette’s appetite.

"Kansas…"

"Huh?" Erin asked almost half asleep.

"Could you do me a favor?"

"What’s that?" Sleepy green eyes opened to see Leigh resting against the headboard with her hands still tied above her head with the scarf she had bought Erin earlier. The two had gotten quite creative in the bedroom. "Oh… sorry about that." Erin said with a smile and slight giggle before she started to untie Leigh. Then she stopped midway. "Maybe I should leave you like this…" She yawned.

"I knew it," Leigh said with a sexy smile. "I always knew you wanted me for your sex slave…"

"In your dreams…"

"And apparently in yours too." Leigh countered quickly as she glanced up at her still tied hands.  "Don’t get me wrong  …I so enjoyed it.  But it wasn’t my idea…."

Leigh had definitely been shocked when she felt Erin push her arms above her head before tying them to the headboard. Even if Leigh had wanted to protest the sexy and erotic gesture, her mind, body, and mouth were otherwise occupied with Erin who was lying on top of her at the time engaged in a searing kiss.  It was as if the blonde was getting bolder and bolder each time they made love and Leigh absolutely loved it.  Before you know it, she’ll be teaching me a few tricks  …even though I’m making it up as I go along.

Erin merely smiled before fully climbing back on top of Leigh. She slowly seduced Leigh’s mouth into a wet and hungry kiss as she proceeded to use her hands to let her captive lover go free. Once free, Leigh hands snaked down Erin’s back to finally rest on the insurance investigator’s round behind.

"Hmmm." Leigh said as she licked her lips. "You think the next time I’m arrested, the cop will be as nice as you when they take off the handcuffs?"

"They better not!" Erin said with mock jealousy seeping into her green eyes and voice and both women laughed.

"Well Kansas, as much as I would love to stay here, my stomach is calling…"

Erin rolled off again.  "I can’t believe I’m getting passed over for food." She watched the naked CEO get up off the bed.

"I gotta keep up my strength." She winked. "Which reminds me, where did you get all yours?" she asked, before sashaying out of the room.

Erin didn’t know how long she had been sleep when she woke up.  It was still dark outside and when she looked over at her alarm clock, she came to the conclusion that she had barely been asleep an hour.

She was alone in the bedroom and wondered where Leigh had wandered off to.  She couldn’t possibly still be in the kitchen eating. 

With a quick yawn, Erin got up and grabbed a robe as she went walking out of the bedroom.  A faint flicker of light caught her attention as she made her way down the hallway.  Erin walked in her office and saw that her laptop was on.  She frowned because she could have sworn she hadn’t touched her computer since she had come home that evening and she normally shut her laptop off after using it. Curiosity getting the better of her, she tapped on the keyboard and noticed that the screen was still locked.  After typing in her password, she saw the last document opened up had been her case notes. Her body tensed and her mind began to race with possibilities that she wished she could ignore. With a bit of hesitation, she locked the machine back up and went in search of the missing CEO.

In the living room, she found what she what she had been looking for  …Leigh sprawled out on the couch watching Sponge Bob Square Pants and eating a bowl of ice cream.  She must have taken a shower while Erin was sleep, her hair was wet and she was wrapped only in a dark blue towel.

"Hey sleepy head." Leigh said with a smile as she made room for Erin on the couch. "I took a shower  …hope you don’t mind."

"No of course not.  Leigh…" She hesitated, but she knew it was a question that had to be asked. "Did you turn on my computer?"

"No." Leigh answered turning her full attention to the insurance investigator.  "Why?"

"Well it’s on and I don’t remember turning it on tonight when I walked in the house."

"Maybe you left it on before you left earlier." Leigh rationalized.

"Yeah," Erin said slowly, her eyes still glued to Leigh,  "…maybe." Then without another word, she sat down on the couch beside Leigh.  For the next few minutes, the two watched the television in silence and suddenly Leigh didn’t feel much like eating her ice cream.

"You think I was screwing around with your computer don’t you?" She asked a bit harshly as she placed the bowl on the coffee table.

"Of course not." Erin answered quickly. 

"Come clean Kansas…" Leigh stood up.  "You think I did it  …don’t you?"

"Well…"

"I don’t believe this. You still don’t trust me?"

"Am I supposed to?" Erin watched her words make blue eyes turn to slits of ice and immediately she wished she could have expressed herself better just then.

"Of course not!" Leigh said sarcastically.  "What in the hell was I thinking?" Leigh stormed out of the room to return moments later wearing the jacket she had discarded earlier. The CEO was obviously lividly and walked right pass Erin towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Erin walked after her.

"If I told you…" Leigh stopped and turned around.  "Would you trust that I was telling you the truth?"

"I don’t get it Leigh  …why are you so upset?" Erin asked.

"Good question." Leigh said before walking out and slamming the apartment door behind her.

When Erin got to the police station, the first place she headed was to the break room to pour a nice strong cup of coffee.  And before she even had a chance to sit down and take a sip, McNeil was standing in front of her.

"Glamour girl has been busy." McNeil said with a sly grin as she handed Erin a folder.

"How do you mean?" Erin asked walking towards a chair to sit down.  The insurance investigator hadn’t heard from Leigh in two days and Erin was determined that she wasn’t going to be the one to call her.  She had obviously upset Leigh with her suspicions about her laptop. But Leigh was a grown woman, therefore she should have understood Erin’s position and why she’d to question her about the laptop. Was it so unnatural to think that Leigh was capable of such an act  …after all Leigh had stolen a $50 million ruby, a measly laptop wouldn’t have been a challenge at all.  However instead, the CEO had abruptly left the insurance investigator’s apartment  …and Erin felt lousy.  But was it possible that Leigh could have done such a thing?  Erin didn’t think it was likely after the way the dark haired woman and reacted. She genuinely looked hurt…

"Let’s just say she’s been keeping company lately…"

"Really?" Erin managed to say without showing any signs of how interested she was in the CEO’s recent activities.  She sat down and opened up the folder to see black and white photos of Leigh that seemed to be surveillance shots.  Erin recognized the guy in the photos as Aidan Prescott.  He had been Leigh’s date at the auction  …when the two women had first met.

"They look quite cozy don’t they?" McNeil said.

"Yes, they do." Erin commented as she continued to flip through pictures of the ‘couple’, causing a sinking feeling to get worse as she did.

Then her cell phone rang.  As if on automatic pilot, she answered it  …her eyes still on the photos in front of her.  "Erin Bradshaw."

"Hey…"

Erin closed her eyes.  It was Leigh on the phone and for a few seconds the insurance investigator couldn’t speak.

"Kansas…  you still with me?" Leigh asked.

I don’t know Leigh, am I?  Erin mused.  "I’m here…" She covered the mouthpiece to the phone.  "McNeil  …um this is kind of a private call.  Do you mind?" She nodded towards the door. The gruffy detective rolled his eyes before leaving the room.

"All alone?" The CEO chuckled.

"Yep." So alone…

"I’ve missed you…"

Despite Erin’s down spiral of emotions just then, the dark-haired woman’s sexy voice caressed her through the phone.  "Really?  That’s what you’ve been doing missing me?"  Erin held a photo up and stared at it.  It was of Leigh staring adoringly at Aidan Prescott.

"Yes. I want to see you. Tonight."

"You walked out on me the other night…" Erin crumpled the picture up.  And have been very busy every since…

"I know…" There was a pause. "I wasn’t on my best behavior. The limo will pick you up at 6:00 pm."

Erin discarded the crumpled mass in a nearby trashcan and wiped at the tears that were falling down her cheek. "I’ll be there."

"Am I not good company this evening?" Leigh asked a very silent Erin Bradshaw sitting next to her in the limo.  As a matter of fact, Erin had barely said a word to the CEO all evening.

"Thank you…" Erin said coolly and simply continued to stare out the window.

"For what?."

"For letting me know that it doesn’t matter if you’re screwing a man or a woman  …bullshit is still bullshit."

Leigh laughed.  "I’m sensing a little hostility here."

"Stop the limo..." Erin said quietly.

"Excuse me?"

"I said stop the fucking limo!" Erin screamed and reached for the door.  Seeing that the blonde was serious, Leigh motioned for the driver to stop the limo. Not a second later, Erin jumped out of the car into the pouring rain.

"Kansas  …come on.  It’s raining!" Leigh called after her. But she was already talking to Erin’s back as she began walking away. "Wait here." She called to the driver as she herself got out of the limo and was soaked almost immediately.  She figured home was where Erin was going since her building was only a block or two away.

"Wait up!" Leigh jogged and caught her with Erin.  "Is all this drama really necessary?"

The insurance investigator abruptly stopped. "I was thinking the same thing  …its just not worth it."

"What’s not worth it?"

"This!" Erin screamed. "Did you think I wouldn’t find out Leigh?  I’m working with the cops for Christ’s sake."  Erin stepped closer.  "Did you think I wouldn’t see the fucking pictures of you and your latest boy toy?"

"So that’s what all this is about." Leigh said casually before reaching for Erin’s arm.  "Let’s go somewhere drier to talk about this."

Erin pulled away from Leigh. "I must have been a complete fool to think I could trust you" Erin snapped.

"Trust me  …I thought that wasn’t part of the deal." Leigh said continuing in her casual tone. "Isn’t that what you said the other night?"

"And I was right. Why Leigh?  Why the hell would you do this to me?" She yelled. "Why the hell would you convince me to explore what’s between us  …if you’re just going to screw around anyway?  And to think; you got so damn self righteous the other day when I brought up your past relationship track record…"

"Kansas calm down and let me explain…"

"Explain what  …a picture’s worth a thousand words Leigh  …and I’m not stupid. What I don’t understand is why were you so sloppy with it.  You had to know those pictures would eventually cross my desk  …is this your way of calling it quits with me.  Well if it is then it sure as hell worked!"

Frustrated that the blond wouldn’t let your talk, Leigh abruptly grabbed her and pulled her hard against her chest. "Damn it let me explain!"

"Explain then…"

"I needed to know!"

"Know what?"

"I needed to know that all this wasn’t about that damn ruby!"

There was a silence then, only interrupted by the downpour of rain against the pavement.  Green eyes locked with blue. Still reeling from Erin’s accusation just a few days before, Leigh began to question the other woman’s feelings towards her.  In Leigh’s mind, if Erin really cared about her and understood her, she would never have even thought that Leigh would break into her computer.  Yet and still, the blonde had accused her. So Leigh had come up with an idea to test how Erin felt.  She had arranged for she and Aidan to be photographed together  …knowing how it would look when it got back to Erin.  If Erin really cared about her, she would be livid and not want to have anything to do with her.  If Erin didn’t care about her, she would ignore what was supposedly obvious in the photographs. 

Erin had reacted as Leigh had hoped  …totally jealous!

Erin spoke first and pulled away from Leigh.  "You set me up?"

"Yeah, I guess you can say that." She admitted.

"I don’t believe this!" Erin screamed.

"Look, Kansas after the other day  …when you accused me of breaking into your laptop."

"So this is because you wanted to get back at me…"

"No."

"No?" Erin laughed dryly. "You had me running in circles all day because I thought you didn’t give a damn about me.  Because I thought you were playing this whole time, while you were running around behind my back!" Erin ran her hands threw her wet hair. "Leigh that’s a pretty shitty thing to do."

"As opposed to you straight out accusing me of betraying your trust…" Leigh countered.

"Trust?  How the hell am I suppose to trust you after this?"

"You’re making this too hard!"

"And you’re not taking this serious enough -- as always.  Damn it Leigh, everything isn’t a game."

"Please stop saying that to me!" Leigh groaned. "I’m not playing games here with you Kansas.  I know how I feel  …I just needed to know how you feel.  And now I know…"

"And now you know?" Erin asked.

"Yeah  …you obviously care about me, or else you wouldn’t have been ready to shoot me when you saw those pictures."

"Doesn’t matter.  It’s over!" Erin declared.  "I can’t keep going through these games with you." 

"Don’t do this…" Leigh pleaded and rubbed her temples as if a headache was setting in.  "Please do not think of yet another reason why we shouldn’t be lovers."

"I think I have legitimate case this time. This…" She pointed to Leigh and then to herself,  "is never going to work.  Don’t you see that?  We’re never going to be just two women getting to know each other." Erin rationalized.  "We’re never going to be able to trust each other completely.  Leigh we met because of a fucking lie  …we can’t ignore that!  I can’t ignore that.  And I think we should stop trying!"

"That’s bullshit!"

"Is it? Think about it Leigh, why did you have to test me?" Erin asked.  "Why would you think my feelings for you weren’t real?" Leigh didn’t answer, Erin continued. "It’s because somewhere in the back of your mind, you’re always wondering where the case plays in all this."

"I’m only human."

"True, yet and still you found it necessary to arrange all this because I was honest with you about my doubts  …that’s a bit hypocritical don’t you think." Erin sighed. "Leigh you could have just asked me how I felt about you."

"I suppose so  …but."

"But what? Perhaps you didn’t trust me enough to do so…  See Leigh…  we don’t trust each other." Again she started the trek towards her apartment in the pouring rain.

"Ok, I admit it wasn’t the best idea I ever had." Leigh conceded, now feeling she had definitely caused more harm that good with her little stunt.  Yes, she has wanted Erin to be upset  …but now the blonde was threatening to end things  …yet again, Leigh wasn’t going to let that happen, especially now that knew how Erin truly felt. "I’m never going to be able to tell you what you want to hear." Leigh called after her with frustration ringing in her voice.

"What I want to hear?" Erin asked and turned around.  "And exactly what is that…"

"That everything is going to be OK!"

"What?"

"Kansas…  you want me to be able to tell you that the world isn’t going to end because we’re sleeping together.  You want me to tell you that life will go on as it always has."  Leigh sighed.  "You want me to tell you that you’re the same Erin Bradshaw you were before you met me, before you kissed me, before you made love to me. And now  …shit Kansas, I don’t know what you want me to say!" Leigh took a step forward. "I admit I hold a lot of power in this town, and maybe even a little more than I should in this world. But Kansas I can’t tell you what you want to hear. I won’t lie to you about something like that, because I can’t tell you what I don’t know.  All I can say is that right NOW, I want to see you, be with you, talk to you, laugh with you, make love to you, and  …I will try not to break your heart.  I want to live in the moment with you, fuck the past and fuck the future because right NOW they don’t mean a hell of a lot to me."

"Well they mean something to me  …Leigh, you should be motivational speaker" She remarked sarcastically about the CEO’s passionate speech. As always Leigh had used just the right words to get to her  …but Erin wasn’t going to let it blind her. "Go home Leigh."

"No."

"No?"

"That’s right." Leigh moved quickly until she was in front of Erin and folded her arms. "You’re not going to go anywhere."

"It’s pouring rain."

"I know that." Leigh frowned.  "If memory serves me correctly, we were in a perfectly dry limo  …before you decided to have yet another of your temper tantrums."

"Temper tantrums? You didn’t have to come after me…"

"I guess I didn’t." Then she hoisted the protesting blonde up over her shoulder and started towards the limo. "But a girl’s gotta do, what a girl has to do."

"Put me down!" Erin screamed.

"Nope!" With her free hand she opened the limo door and carefully threw Erin inside.  Before Erin could sit up, Leigh was inside the limo as well and slamming the door behind her. "Drive!" She called to the driver in front. The sleek vehicle pulled out into traffic.

"Stop the damn car!" Erin said.

"No." Leigh pushed wet heavy locks of dark hair out of her face and groaned. "Look Kansas, I know you’re trying to prove a point  …but it’s raining like hell out there.  Sit back and let me take you home  …okay?"  Thank God these seats are leather.  …She tried to sit comfortably in her soaking wet jeans, which now felt like they fit ten times tighter and weighed ten times more. 

The CEO had a point.  As much as Erin wanted nothing to do with the woman right then, she would indeed be a fool to turn down a ride home.  Running out into the rain hadn’t been her best idea to date and sitting there in her soggy clothes, really made her regret her actions. "Fine" She snapped and moved to the far end of the seat  …away from Leigh.  "You know I’m not the only one that has temper tantrums." She muttered after a few minutes of silence.

"Is that your sly way of saying that I throw hissy fits?" Leigh drawled.

"Every chance you get  …every time you don’t get your way."

"Bullshit."

"Whatever  …JR Ewing!"

"Don’t start that again  ...please!" Leigh rolled her eyes.  Both women felt the car come to a complete stop. "Looks like we’re at your building."

"Thank goodness." Erin didn’t even hesitate before opening her door.

"We need to talk Kansas."

"I think we’ve done enough of that." She got out the car and slammed the door.

Leigh leaned her back and closed her eyes.  "What in the hell have I gotten myself into?" She asked the now empty car.  "Stealing that damn ruby got me way more than I was expecting  …maybe more than I was ready for." She rationalized as she turned to glance at the window and frowned at what she saw.

"You’ve got to be kidding me." Erin growled when she saw that her building didn’t have any power.

"Want me to walk you up?" She turned around and saw Leigh standing behind her. There was a crack of thunder and a luminous flash of lightening.  And in that brief second of light, Erin saw Leigh’s face clearly  …wet from the rain, dark hair slicked back, and blue eyes, shining with apprehension and concern.  There was a part of her that wanted Leigh to accompany her upstairs.

"No."

"Don’t be as an ass Kansas.  Let me walk you to your apartment to make sure everything is OK."

"I can take care of myself." Erin hissed over her shoulder as she went walking in her building. Leigh motioned for her driver to wait a few minutes and she quickly ran to catch up with the blonde.

Since the elevator was not working, Erin and Leigh had to take ten flights of stares in the dark stairway barely lit by the emergency lights  …in silence.

"I’m sorry!" Leigh finally said not able to take the silence anymore once they finally reached Erin’s apartment door.  They had reached Erin’s floor.

Erin turned. "Is that supposed to make everything okay?"

"Give me a break here  …I’m not known for making apologies but here I am offering one.  I was wrong Kansas.  I was wrong for playing with your head, so that I could see where you stood as far as your feelings for me."

"Leigh I’ve told you that I cared about you  …I told you, that was the one thing that I wasn’t confused about."

"But you accused me of tampering with that damn computer."

"Yes  …I did." Erin acknowledged.  "Was the idea really that far fetched?  Just two weeks ago, I broke into your home. "

"But that was before…" Leigh reached out and gently touched Erin’s cheek, "Before us."

"Yes, it was." Erin said softly.  "But there’s the case Leigh  ...its still there."

Leigh pulled her hand away. "Yeah, it is." She walked over and leaned against the wall.  "Are we ever going to get past it?" The CEO asked, and was grateful there wasn’t enough light to see the desperation that was probably shining in her blue eyes.  Leigh had truly wandered into uncharted territory.  She was literally chasing after someone, in the pouring rain, after years of being chased.  "Kansas, I really want us to." I think of part me really needs us to. Leigh wanted to be completely honest, at least as far as she was willing to go.  She waited on pins and needles for the other woman to say something, but Erin simply looked at her before opening her apartment and walking inside.

She didn’t close the door behind her, so Leigh took that as a sign for her to follow. With a bit of the hesitation the taller woman walked into the dark apartment.  "You got any flashlights?"

"In the kitchen drawer…" Erin shouted from what sounded like her bedroom.

"Gotcha." Leigh entered in the kitchen and easily located the flashlight. She proceeded to do a quick once over of the apartment to make sure everything was okay.  She explored every room to check windows except for Erin’s bedroom. The door was closed and Leigh definitely wasn’t going to intrude on the blonde. "Well everything looks okay  …here." Leigh said as she continued to look around the dark apartment.  "So I guess I’ll…" Her sentence was cut short when she saw the dim flicker of light coming from Erin’s bedroom.

"It’s nice to know you have some candles…" Leigh’s statement was cut short when the bedroom door opened and Erin walked out in her robe. The blonde was caring a single lit candle in her hand.

"You’re going to catch a cold in those wet clothes." She said. 

Leigh looked down at her soaked attire.  "I’ll just strip when I get in the limo."

Erin cocked her head to the side. "What about your driver?"

"Oh…  he’s seen me naked tons of times..." Leigh smiled slightly,  "Why do you think he’s been with me for five years?"

Erin couldn’t help but smile herself. "That’s definitely some job perk…" For a few seconds the women just stared at each other in an uncomfortable silence that was louder than the storm brewing outside.

I suppose one of us should put us out of our misery. Leigh thought and moved towards the front door. "Well Kansas  …I guess this is where I say goodnight…." 

"Leigh wait…" Erin stepped closer.

"Yeah?"

"Can I see your phone for a second?"

The CEO’s dark brow rose in question. "Umm Sure…" She fumbled around in her wet jacket pocket.  "Mind if I ask why?"

"I need to make a phone call." Erin said casually and walked closer to retrieve the small silver object from Leigh’s hand.  Leigh watched as the insurance investigator dialed a number and held the phone up to her ear.   "Hi, this is Erin Bradshaw.  Ms. Sinclaire wanted me to tell you that you can take the limo and go home for the evening." Green eyes locked into surprised blue ones. "She and I have some business to attend to, and it could take all night.  Ms. Sinclaire will be calling you in the morning  …thanks." Erin flipped the phone shut and handed it back to Leigh.

"Two questions…" Leigh said, and Erin nodded, "How did you know the number to my limo?"

"I think you know the answer to that." Erin said with a sly grin.  "Second question?"

"Why Kansas?  A little while ago  …you didn’t even want to talk to me  …so why now?"

"Because you need to know something…" She said quietly as she took Leigh by the hand.  "And I want you to know…"