Leigh had never thought a walk along the beach could be so lonely.  She walked slowly in the sand and watched Erin who was walking a few yards in front of her. The moonlight caste a beautiful silhouette across the blonde's back.  Leigh had been hoping that Erin would slow her pace, but she hadn't.  It was obvious that she had no intention of walking back with Leigh.  The tall CEO could have easily caught up with Erin with long graceful steps, but instead she chose to slow her own natural gait down. She wasn't going to force her company where it wasn't wanted.  And right now it was obvious that Erin Bradshaw didn't want her.

Damn it Leigh could you have screwed things up any worse. She thought to herself and caused her own blues eyes to roll with disbelief.  "For once couldn't you do something that wasn't potentially devastating..." She muttered.

Nothing had gone according to plan since she had stolen that damn ruby.  She was never suppose to be suspected of the crime.  She was never suppose to like the insurance investigator that knew of her "thieving ways".  And the kicker, she was never suppose to kiss that same woman on the beach in Puerto Rico.  Then Leigh hunched and smirked slightly to herself.  Shit happens...  She thought but then she looked at the woman walking alone before her. Well I didn't want that shit to happen...

For an instance Leigh could see her arrest warrant being signed.  But in that moment it didn't seem to matter because the paper work on her first broken heart was just getting started. The dark-haired woman simply shook her head and glanced up to see if Erin had decided to run away from her instead of walking.  To her surprise she saw Erin standing and staring at her.

"Well I didn't think it would look good for us to walk back in to the party separately.  People..." Erin offered quietly.

"Might ask questions." Leigh finished for her and whatever hope she had been feeling was washed away with the other woman's words. "Yeah ...I see".  Erin hadn't missed the change in Leigh's features, but she couldn't talk about what had happened just yet. And Leigh was getting the message loud and clear.

Then Erin reached up and was about to touch Leigh's lips but drew her hand back as if she'd touched fire.  "I smeared your lipstick." She said with a bit of embarrassment. "And your hair..."

She won't even touch me now... Leigh realized with more than a little hurt seeping through her body. "Oh." She managed to say with a crooked smile.  "Well I don't exactly have a mirror so..." Leigh reached up and pulled the pins out of her hair, and raven locks fell to her shoulders. She ran her fingers through it a couple of times hoping to give it some semblance of order.

"How's that?" She asked.

Absolutely beautiful... Erin said in her head but aloud, "Better."

"Good." Next Leigh reached for her own lips and rubbed around them with her thumb. "Did I fix it?"

Erin smirked a little and reached up to touch the corner of Leigh's mouth. "Let me ...since you don't have a mirror." She said rather shyly.

And Leigh thought she was going to absolutely explode when Erin's fingertip grazed across her upper lip. And due to no effort of her own, Leigh's lips parted slightly and let out a soft sigh. Leigh could have shot herself for making the almost inaudible noise.  She half-expected for Erin to walk away again. But Instead she saw a flicker in green eyes that lead her to believe that Erin was reeling from the feeling too. Blues eyes connected with green and held steadily. Both women were instantly pulled back to what had just happened on the beach. Soon Erin's fingers slipped up Leigh's cheek to tuck a lock of dark hair behind the other woman's ear.

"Erin..." Leigh breathed has she moved closer to the other woman and soon their foreheads were resting against each other and their eyes closed. How long they stayed like that neither knew until three words broke the silence.

"Call me Kansas." Erin said softly as if pleading once again with clouded green eyes and a shaky voice. She pulled back and looked at Leigh.  "Call me Kansas please."

Leigh cocked her head to the side and watched the other woman move back.  With understanding Leigh nodded and offered a meek smile. Well at least she didn't say call me Ms. Bradshaw.

"So..." Leigh started.  "Umm what do you think your birthday wish will be?" She asked wanting to lighten the mood that was already too heavy with how both women were feeling.

Erin thought for a moment.  "Answers." She finally said as she turned back towards the party. "I would wish for answers".

Leigh contemplated the other woman's words and for a second she wished it were her own birthday because she would wish for the same thing. Then knowing that Erin was waiting for her, Leigh stepped forward.  Side by side and in silence the woman returned to the party.

When Erin had cut the cake, it had been awkward as hell. After all Erin Bradshaw had just kissed another woman.  The same woman who was standing beside her.

With Leigh so close, Erin did all she could not to involve any physical contact.  She didn't trust herself any more.  But that didn't last long because Leigh had given an eloquent, yet funny toast to the insurance investigator in both English and Spanish. Anyone listening and watching would have thought that Leigh had known Erin for years.  Erin marveled at how poised the CEO was even after what had happened on the beach.  Its like she's untouchable. Erin thought.  And here I am about to fall to pieces. 

After the toast, Leigh had given Erin a hug.  When the hug ended, Leigh pulled back to gaze into Erin's eyes as if waiting for Erin to say something.  All Erin could muster was a simple "Thank you", before Carlos asked the two women to take a picture.

Without hesitation Leigh draped her arm over Erin's shoulder and held her close. "Smile Kansas ...it's your birthday remember." Leigh said through smiling teeth before playfully tickling the other woman. Despite herself Erin laughed and Carlos snapped several pictures.

"Beautiful." Carlos said as he let the camera hang around his neck. "You look good together." He said before walking off.

Both women stopped laughing and looked at each other. Slowly but deliberately they took a step back from each other.  At the last second Leigh had grabbed Erin's hand.  "We need to talk."

"Later." Erin said softly before nervously looking around them.  Leigh had simply nodded and slowly let Erin's fingers fall from her own before walking off. And so began an even more awkward night.

After the she and Leigh's walk, the party was nowhere near as interesting as it had been before.  Erin came to this conclusion as she now stood at the edge of the dance floor and watched Leigh dance.

The kiss had been burned into her memory.  And why not? On the beach she and Leigh produced enough heat to start a fire.  Erin reached up and touched her lips; then closed her eyes.  Bradshaw I didn't think you had it in ya... She replayed the scene and bit down slightly on her bottom lip. Just thinking about the kiss caused her pulse to race. And looking at the raven-haired woman dance sensually definitely did nothing to lessen the reaction.

Erin had to be honest with her self, she had seen that moment on the beach coming for quite a while. But that did nothing to bring her peace of mind.  Two weeks ago she was simply an insurance investigator being assigned a standard case.  And now she was...

"Beautiful isn't she." She heard a male voice say over her shoulder.  Erin turned around to see Raul standing there.  He nodded towards the dance floor, ...towards Leigh.

"Yes, she is." Erin commented truthfully, as she watched Leigh and her suave dance partner intermingle their bodies in positions that complimented the beat and rhythm of the song perfectly.

"And as always the center of attention." He added as she stepped forward beside her and offered Erin another margarita.

"I suppose so." She accepted the drink and hoped in return she wouldn't have to accept his company as well.

"Have you known her long?" He inquired.

"Only a short while."  But it feels like I've known her for years...

"But she has you under her spell already, no?"

"What do you mean?"  I know exactly what he means... The woman has certainly cast some type of magic my way. She thought whimsically.

"What I mean is to warn you, Leigh is a very dangerous woman."

Any whimsical thoughts ceased upon hearing this comment. "How so?" She asked a bit hesitantly.

"The way she treats people..." He sneered. It was obvious that Raul, harbored a lot of resentment towards Leigh and he was eager to share it. Erin didn't feel much like hearing it.

"You mean the way she treated you." Erin turned around.  "I know all about you two, so perhaps your opinion of her is a little biased."

Raul nodded his head and a smiled a smile that did nothing to lighten his handsome features. "Ah so I see she's told you all about her greatest skill ...breaking hearts. And unfortunately yes, I was one of her lucky victims.  It was... how do you Americans say ...a case of temporary insanity.  After all she is beautiful and I am but a man..."

"I see." Erin said with a disinterested tone.  She sipped her drink and turned her attention back towards the party. She had no interest in continuing the conversation.

"So how long do you think it's going to be until she breaks yours?" Raul whispered in her ear.

"Excuse me?" Once again she turned to meet the eyes of her unwanted conversation partner.

Raul nodded towards Leigh again. "She has a way about her, no? Whether it be a new friend or lover, she pulls you into her life and makes you feel like you're the most important thing to her.  And at times like that being with her is like standing in the rays of a sun that's shining only on you."

"You fell pretty hard huh?" Erin said casually, trying to hide that she knew the truth in Raul's words.  I'm falling pretty hard myself it seems. What he described was exactly how she felt around Leigh.

Raul continued talking as if Erin hadn't spoken.  "And then the sun sets and you're left in a cold darkness, because she's moved on to the next bigger and better thing.  You become nothing more than an after thought.  Tell me this, Erin Bradshaw, is that to be your fate as well?"

"Why would it?"

"Because you look at her, the way I once did." His commented pointedly and waited for her reaction.

And Erin was determined not to give him one. But it was hard as hell. "You're mistaken." Erin said evenly and hoping she had not given herself away.

"Am I?" He moved closer, with his dark eyes moving over Erin's body. He smiled as if detecting something and closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Waking Dreams ...it truly is an aphrodisiac when she wears it and just as wonderful when you wear it." He chuckled.  "I see Leigh has been rubbing off on you ...literally, no?" He added before he walked off.

People deal with situations in different ways.  While Erin Bradshaw decided to stay as far away from Leigh as possible, and hide in the crowd ...Leigh decided to do the opposite.  She'd become the life of her party.  Mainly to due her own nature, endless train of margaritas, and the fact that Erin was avoiding her.

Several times she'd made eye contact with Erin, just to have the blonde look away, or retreat further in the crowd.

Damn it... is this what rejection feels like? Leigh wondered as she leaned against the bar and ordered another drink.  Well if it is, I sure as hell don't like it. I mean she won't even come near me. Was kissing me that bad or that scary ...should I change my technique... but I don't even think I have a technique when it comes to women.  Well maybe I should. Again her eyes searched out Erin in the crowd and it did nothing to lift Leigh's mood when she saw whom the blonde was talking to.

"Great, she's talking to Raul ...my greatest fan." She muttered to herself.  Leigh downed the shot of tequila she just ordered, without ever taking her eyes off Erin.  The strong liquor may have left a fiery trial as it slid down her throat ...but it did nothing for the aching that she was feeling ...that Erin Bradshaw had caused.

The funny thing is that I'm concentrating more on the fact that she won't talk to me, rather than the fact that we kissed.  I mean what the hell does that mean now?.  Am I bi? What if I'm 100% gay? Despite her bad mood, Leigh smirked.  Then I've been doing one hell of a con job for the last half of my life.  Although there was that tricky almost situation with my English professor my sophomore year in college ...but that's another story. You know what ...who the hell knows ...that's what I pay my shrink for... Doc's phone is going to be ringing off the hook really soon.  

Leigh took a deep breath and closed her eyes.  My goodness Leigh pull yourself together...it was just a kiss ...that's all. She told herself as she opened up her eyes again and felt a small sense of relief to see that Raul was no longer talking to Erin.  Instead she was standing alone just then and staring off towards the ocean, oblivious to the party around her.

Seeing this as her chance to talk to Erin, Leigh made her way through the crowd until she was standing right behind Erin.  "Penny for your thoughts..." She whispered in the blonde's ear, and smiled slightly when she saw the other woman jump.

"Jesus..." Erin muttered as she turned around.

"Nope, just me." Leigh offered with a smile that diminished slightly when Erin didn't return it.  "What's the matter?" Leigh asked, although she already knew the answer.

"Leigh..." Erin started and looked around them nervously.

Leigh laughed.  "Don't worry, Kansas I don't think we have We kissed each on the Beach written across our chest or anything ...so its still our little secret."

"Don't be so sure." Erin replied, remembering her conversation with Raul only moments before. She took a step back from Leigh.  It was hard being that close her, without feeling certain sensations that seemed to do nothing but cloud her sense of reasoning.

"Well maybe if you don't want anyone to know about our little indiscretion, perhaps you should stop walking around like someone ran over your cat or something.  Damn it Kansas it was just a kiss, not the end of the world."

"Then why does it feel like my world just exploded before my eyes?" She said back a bit tersely.  She really didn't feel like having the conversation just then.  She should have followed her instincts and went back to the bungalow to think.  But she hadn't ...no instead she had hung around purposely avoiding Leigh, but finding it almost impossible not to seek her out in the crowd with her eyes.  It was if she had to have just a glimpse of the dark-haired woman to get through the next few minutes.  She couldn't have made herself leave the party, even if she had wanted to...

Leigh looked at her for a moment before speaking.  "Well I didn't realize kissing me was that big of a disaster."?

"That's not what I meant."

"Well what did you mean?" Leigh snapped knowing that she was overreacting, but she couldn't help it.  She had never been in this position before ...not knowing ...insecure.

"I'm not talking about this now." Was Erin's reply.

"Well I want to talk about it" Leigh shot back.

"You can't always have your way Leigh..." The blonde folded her arms and looked at the other woman sternly.

"Don't I know it." Leigh replied irritably and grabbed another margarita off a tray as a waiter walked by.  Yeap, if I had my way, we would still be down on that beach ...doing whatever we would have been doing before we got interrupted.  She saw Erin looking at her curiously, and wondered for a brief second if the blonde had been reading her thoughts, because she looked like she was blushing.

"Can we just save this conversation for another time?" Erin almost pleaded. 

"Now is as good a time as any." Leigh wasn't going to let the subject drop.

"Fine then Leigh.  Since you want to talk so damn bad ...let's talk about what's really important here ...the Rhine Ruby."

Leigh chuckled sarcastically with disbelief.  "You've got to be kidding me.  How many times are you going to use that damn rock as an excuse not to talk about what's happening between us?"

"It's not an excuse Leigh." Erin shot back. "It's my job, remember?  Obviously, we've gotten off track." Erin nodded towards the beach.  "So if you want to talk... that's what I'm willing to talk about ...the Rhine Ruby. Take it or leave it." Without much effort Erin's tone had become icy and Leigh felt the breeze it caused.

"You know what Kansas..." Leigh drained the rest of her drink before handing it to Erin.  "You can do whatever the hell you want to do.  But I'm going to party." And then without another word, Leigh sashayed off with her hips moving in perfect harmony with the music.

Erin watched her and blasted herself for not handling the situation better.  She'd run away from Leigh after the kiss.  She'd avoided her since returning to the party.  Then she'd refused to talk about what did or didn't happen between them.  She had shut down and shut Leigh out.

And the livid CEO was ready to react.  Leigh Sinclaire didn't like to be ignored.  And when she was ignored ...she made sure that it didn't continue.  And with the help of a few more margaritas, a crowded party, and band... she was going to get damn creative.  After all she couldn't leave the party to take a cold shower ...there would be questions.  Since the insurance investigator was giving her the cold shoulder, Leigh couldn't do what she wanted to do there, which was have her way with the blonde... that is she could figure out how to.  So she had to think of something else.

Leigh walked over to the bandleader and with a sexy smile motioned for him to come closer.  Of course without hesitation, he did and knelt down.

"Senora?" He asked and found himself drowning in the depths of the CEO's liquid eyes.

Without another moment of hesitation, Leigh leaned over and whispered in the man's ear

Erin heard the sudden silence when the band stopped playing and she like many other people at the party looked around curiously.  Just as abruptly as the slow rhythm that had been playing stopped, it was soon replaced by a faster paced melody.  And despite not wanting to be seen by Leigh, Erin found herself being pulled towards the crowded dance floor by the sultry melody.

Then there was Leigh walking out to the middle of the dance floor.  And Erin couldn't help but let her eyes fall to the sway of Leigh's hips.  Erin you have to make a decision, are you going to be mad at her ...or lust after her... And when she found her eyes moving up from the hips to the tanned well muscled stomach, to the red shirt that barely covered Leigh's cleavage, to the sleek neck, to the face that was half-covered by dark luxurious hair, Erin had her answer.  Yeap ...pretty much lusting at this point... To bring herself back to reality, the insurance investigator cleared her throat and glanced at the people beside her to see if they could tell she was blushing.  Once she was convinced no one knew her inner thoughts, her eyes were once again drawn to the woman in the middle of the dance floor.

Slowly Leigh started to dance with her arms and legs moving in a graceful and melodic manner. With her hands occasionally reaching up to run through flowing dark hair.  To Erin it was one of the most sensual scene's she had ever seen.  So much so that she noticed she hadn't taken a breath in several seconds.  To compensate she took a deep breath and swallowed hard. And then noticed the gradual increase in the beat and also in the speed of Leigh's movements.  The crowd started to cheer and clap with the rhythm.  Erin watched the woman's intricate footwork and she turned around in a circle clapping her own hands.  Is there anything that she can't do...? Erin mused as she found herself clapping as well. She even smiled when she heard Carlos whistle at his dancing friend and other joined in with him.

Leigh smiled and threw back her head perfectly on the dramatic beat that suddenly came next and spread her arms wide and the music stopped.  But the people kept clapping and Leigh's hips still moving.  When Leigh lifted her head she made a slow turn as her eyes scanned the crowd ...to land right on Erin.  Once again Erin swallowed hard and tried to not fall victim to smoldering dark blue tinted gaze that held her steady. She felt her knees go weak when Leigh's seductive smile only widened before the dark-haired woman licked her lips.

Then if that wasn't enough, it looked at if Leigh was starting to walk her way.  What stunt is she going to pull now? Erin questioned with every step that the CEO took towards her. Because if she wanted my attention ...she's definitely got it ...oh... yeah she's got it.  With self-consciousness taking over, Erin looked around again before looking back at Leigh, whose gaze was still narrowed in on her.  Soon Leigh was standing directly in front of her ...and Erin shook her head "No" because she wasn't able to mutter any words being so close to the other woman.

Leigh simply grinned and chuckled.  "Don't worry Kansas I wasn't..." She reached passed Erin to the man standing beside her.  "Bailamos..." She said seductively before the man jumped at the chance to dance with her and lead her to the dance floor.  Before completely turning around Leigh winked at Erin.

Helplessly Erin watched the couple walk to the middle of the dance floor.  Leigh clapped her hands, and leader in the band started playing a guitar with miraculous speed.  The crowd went crazy as Leigh's new dance partner blended right in to Leigh's perfectly choreographed moves.  He dipped her, spun her, and held her closer than Erin could handle, but Leigh seemed to enjoy it.  Especially when the man moved behind her and placed his hands on her hips.  Leigh closed her eyes and leaned her head back against his chest, as their bodies grinded against each other.  Their heated dance continued until it seemed like they had performed every move they could possibly imagine.  When the music ended, the couple was greeted with a thunderous applause and with Leigh and the other man hugging before taking a bow.

Erin was speechless.  There was no doubt in her mind that the little performance Leigh had just put on was for her benefit... to prove something to her.  Well she said she was going to party ...but I had no idea. Erin chewed on her bottom lip and tried to ignore the feeling that was crawling up her skin.  She was jealous ...pure and simple.  She didn't like what she just saw and she didn't like what she was seeing now... Leigh draped all over they guy.  I so don't need this right now ...its not as if I didn't have enough to deal with. 

"Disappointed?" Erin heard a familiar, yet very unwelcome voice ask over her shoulder.

Erin turned around to see Raul standing behind her with a mocking smile on his face and resisted the overwhelming urge to smack him.  "Hardly." She responded.

"Really?  Because..."

"You know it's pretty sad that you don't have anything better to do than to watch me..." Erin snapped not letting the man finish his sentence.

His smile only became broader.  "Do I detect some anger Senorita...? I'm not surprised because Leigh so easily inspires that in a man ...and now apparently women as well..."

Erin didn't even acknowledge his comment. "She hurt you ok... that's pretty clear. But don't you think it's about time you got over it?"

"Doing research? Are you worried that you won't get over it easily?" He asked and chuckled.

Erin ignored him and pushed her way through the crowd until she found Carlos.  She must have looked like she felt because concern washed over his previously happy features.  "Are you alright?"

"No." She answered honestly and rubbed her forehead. "Suddenly, I'm not feeling so well ...can you take me back to the house."

"Of course ...we should probably tell Leigh..."

"No!" She said abruptly.  "I don't want to interrupt her good time." She glanced at the bar to see Leigh draped all over her dance partner.

Carlos followed her gaze and rolled his eyes knowingly.  "I'm sure she would want to know if you were not feeling well..." He started to walk towards the bar, only to have Erin desperately grab his arm.

"Please don't bother her ...I'll be fine, I just need to lay down." 

Carlos looked at her for a moment before agreeing.  "I'll go bring the car in front of the lobby."

"Thanks." Erin said with a strained smile as he walked off and then again looked at Leigh laughing against the man's chest.  "Yeap, I don't even think she'll notice that I'm gone."

"Where the hell is she?" Erin said to the empty beach as she walked and peeked out the window.  It had been several hours, since Erin had left the party early.  And still there had been no sign of Leigh.  "What are you doing Erin? Leigh is a grown woman..." An image of Leigh dancing formed before her eyes.  "A very full grown woman ...so why the hell are you waiting up for her." She fell back on the couch and groaned.  "She's probably putting her clothes back on and saying good-bye to Mr. Don Juan..." Erin remembered the way Leigh's body had been molded to the man's body as they danced.  And all the places he his hands had wondered during their little show.  She closed her eyes and sighed.  "Either that or going for another round of..." She screamed.  "Damn it ...stop this Erin! This is getting totally and utterly out of control." She jumped to feet and started to pace.

"I mean it was just a dance." She tried to rationalize.  "Hell who am I kidding ...it was sex with their clothes on and standing up!"  She laughed with just a twinge of insanity in it.  "This is ridiculous ...I'm going to sleep." She stalked off toward the bedroom and immediately started stripping off her clothes.  Realizing she hadn't bought anything earlier to sleep in, she picked up a discarded T-shirt that Leigh had chosen not to wear earlier that day and pulled it over her head.  She turned towards the bed, and suddenly wondered about the sleeping arrangements.  The two women had agreed to share a bed ...but that had been before the KISS ...before their strained conversation ...before Leigh's performance...

"That was certainly was one hell of a night." Leigh half moaned and yawned the next day when she came walking out onto the balcony.  Erin, who had been up for a couple hours and was already eating a late breakfast that Carlos had brought up from the hotel.  Leigh rubbed her neck and winced a little, the couch had not been the most comfortable place to sleep the night before.  Although she hadn't come back until right before dawn, the few hours on the couch had done its damage.  But either it was a crook in her neck, or not getting any sleep at all.  If she and Erin would have somehow wound up sleeping in the same bed ...Leigh figured that it would be very uncomfortable between them ...given the recent events. Even still Leigh had half-hoped the blonde would have been awake when she had peeked in on her ...but instead she had been sleeping peacefully.

Leigh hadn't been too shocked when she realized that Erin had left the party.  No doubt it was because of what she had done.  But the insurance investigator had left her no choice.  She had shut her out and Leigh had needed to let off a little steam.  That was all a little harmless fun.  However, Erin green eyes staring her down... she could tell that Erin hadn't had as fun as she had the night before. Though it did make her feel better knowing that the blonde had been bothered by seeing her so closely with another person.

Like Erin, Leigh was dressed in a robe. Though unlike the blonde's red robe, Leigh had neglected to tie hers.  So the lavender silk garment flapped easily with the mid-morning breeze and gave the other woman sneak peaks at Leigh's scantily clad body.

Erin averted her eyes and suddenly found her breakfast really interesting.  Damn it even in the morning, the woman is a walking Victoria Secret ad ...I never stood a chance ...I could have been a wallflower wife to a Lutheran minister with 12 kids... and would have still wound up with her on that beach last night.

Erin wondered when she had actually come back. She had been surprised to see Leigh sprawled out on the couch asleep when she had woken up.  There had been a trail of the CEO clothes leading from the bedroom to the sofa.  Did she come in the bedroom last night ...this morning? 

Ungraciously, Leigh plopped down in the chair across from Erin and reached for a cup of coffee before pushing massive locks of dark hair out of her face.

"Finally joining the dark side." Erin commented with a slight smile despite her dower mood.

Normally Leigh tried to stay away from the coffee but she had to admit it did have some hangover remedy power. "Might as well ...I'm starting to think I'm getting a little too old for this shit." Leigh smirked and held up her cup to Erin as if doing a toast, before taking a sip of the coffee. But her eyes stayed glued to the woman in front of her. 

After last night, I wasn't expecting her to even want to look at me.  Leigh thought she looked absolutely beautiful that morning. Her peach colored tan skin looked dewy and she smelled like floral scented soap ...lilac maybe. Leigh resisted like hell, the urge to reach out and run her fingers through the blonde's newly shampooed hair. 

As if reading Leigh's thoughts, Erin picked that moment to almost self-consciously tuck a strain of damp hair behind her ear. Their eyes connected but only for a split second, before Erin looked away. A moment later she spoke." I see why you love this place so much.  It truly is wonderful." Erin looked out across the expanse of greenery, the sugary beach, and the sparkling ocean.

"I'm glad I could share it with you." Leigh responded easily as she reached for a croissant and a bit of butter.

"Me too."

Again there was silence ...just the roar of the ocean ...the breeze through the trees ...and their thoughts.

Leigh toyed with the idea of letting the silence last, but she wasn't going to let either of them off the hook that easily. "You know Kansas ...we could make pleasantries for hours, but it won't make last night go away." Leigh said.

"I know." Erin answered honestly while still looking at the ocean.

"So..." Leigh started and opted to take another sip of her coffee before continuing. "About last night..." Finally Erin turned her full attention back to Leigh. And suddenly Leigh felt a little nervous. Damn Leigh get a grip. She watched the blonde tilt her head slightly to the side and look at her thoughtfully.  Well Leigh you wanted to talk so damn bad about this thing ...well start talking.

Here goes nothing. "Well Kansas I want you to know..." Leigh was going to reach across the table to touch Erin's hand, when her eyes caught a glimpse of something that caused her to stop dead in her tracks. Is that a hickey?????? Instead of moving closer, Leigh sat back and folded her arms across her chest.

"What is it?" Erin asked when she saw the sudden shift in the other woman's mood.

"I was just thinking..." Yeah thinking about where the hell did you get that hickey..  "Is that a hickey?" Leigh asked hoping she was wrong because all sorts of scenarios were running through her head and she didn't like any of them.

Hickey??? Erin's hand immediately reached up and touched her neck. Despite her embarrassment, Erin smiled slightly. "Well I..."

"I see." Leigh said evenly, though she was trying to remain casual.  We'll I'll be damned ...she's even smiling about it.  "Well I guess there is no need to talk about last night after all ...I mean you seem to have put it behind you already. Must have been some guy you met after you left the party early last night."

"Wait..." Some guy??? Erin quickly cut her sentence short when she realized what Leigh was accusing her of.  "Must be a mosquito bite." Erin finally offered, knowing it was a lame excuse. The truth perhaps... but it still sounded lame.  As a matter of fact when she looked in the mirror earlier that morning, the red sensitive area did resemble a hickey. But she wasn't about to tell Leigh... she was offended by Leigh's accusation. So why not turn around and bruise Leigh's ego in the process. Also Erin was grown, she didn't owe the woman an explanation ...so she would let Leigh run with whatever whacked out theory she had come up with...

Blue eyes narrowed and turned to slits of ice. "You're a writer Kansas, you can't do better than that."

"Does it matter?" Erin asked with her eyes turning cool as well.  Does she think I would really go out and meet someone else after what we shared... To hell with her!

"Apparently not.  If I would have known a good make out session with one of the locals was all you needed to brighten your mood last night, I wouldn't have wasted my time trying to talk to you."

"Now wait just a minute... I don't like what you're insinuating..."

"I don't have to insinuate, your neck tells the story."

Erin pointed her finger at Leigh. "Look I'm not the one who practically screwed the local Ricky Martin on the dance floor ...and whatever else after I left." Erin spat out...  "What's the saying Leigh... those in glass houses..."

Leigh let her fork fall to the table and laughed dryly.  "Oh you wanna do quotes huh?  Well how does the one go about the woman who kisses another woman and then runs out to find a guy that can draw Texas on her neck with his tongue."

"Sounds like you're jealous." Erin said with a strained smile.

Jealous as hell ...but you'll never know. "Why? Of that ...please.  I do more interesting things with my tongue than hickeys." Leigh added smoothly. "And I think you know a little about that."

More than you know. "Whatever. That's a really smooth thing to say Leigh, what are you going to do next, pass my underwear around the locker room?" Was Erin's sarcastic response.

Leigh smirked.  "As I recall we didn't get that far. We were interrupted." Their eyes locked and each could tell the other was replaying their kiss on the beach. And for an instant each of their eyes softened.  But it didn't last when Leigh looked at the "hickey" again.

"Sure didn't take you long to find someone here in good ole paradise.  So what did you do hunt down the first man you saw to convince yourself that you weren't gay." Leigh asked as she stood up.  She wanted to let the subject just drop, to pretend that the thought of Erin with someone else didn't bother her ...but she couldn't.  The mere image of her with someone else right then, irked the hell out of her ...so her temper tantrum continued its present course.

"I could ask the same thing." Erin rose to her feet as well.  "Everyone had to smoke a cigarette after your heated mating dance last night.  Seems that you may be having second thoughts about your sexuality ...huh?"

"Nope." Leigh lied, but hell she was good at bluffing. She had made a career out of that talent.  "The only thing I'm having second thoughts about is kissing you on that damn beach.  It was like you said..."

"A mistake." Erin finished for her.  "Last night was definitely a mistake."

"Exactly." Leigh deadpanned. "Some weird concoction of alcohol and whatever the hell else was floating around last night." She said casually, but anger still seethed in her voice.  "A mistake..."

"I glad to see that we finally agree."

"Oh yeah, we're in total agreement." Leigh stepped around the table until she was standing right in front of Erin. "So rest easy Kansas because if its one thing that I don't do... its making the same mistake twice."

"Is that a promise?" Erin said with as much conviction as she could muster.

"Do you want it to be?"

Erin cocked her head to side slightly and looked up into azure eyes.  She hadn't realized until then that she and Leigh were standing so close.  She practically had the other woman pinned against the table and both their chests rose and fell harshly as a representation of the anger that radiated from their bodies. Even if at that moment she hadn't started drowning in the light blue of Leigh's eyes, the other woman's perfume reeled her completely in. For less than an instant, her eyes dropped to take in what was under the open robe. Trying to fight the feeling that was taking hold of her, she brought her gaze back up to Leigh's face. Her anger at Leigh quickly started to melt into something else. Without warning, Erin reached up and pulled Leigh's head down.  And then her mouth took the other woman's in a wild urgent caress.

Shock only rendered Leigh motionless for an instant.  Soon she had her arms laced around Erin and she was returning the kiss with a desire that matched that of the blonde's. As abruptly as the kiss began it ended with Erin pulling back.  "Damn you Leigh Sinclaire." She murmured against the other woman's lips and her hand intertwined into silky dark locks. Their breaths intermingled with their mouths barely touching. "Some promise..." She had barely uttered the last word of her sentence out before she again brought her lips crashing against Leigh's and driving the other woman crazy with desire. This time the kiss was deepened and Leigh accepted the blonde's tongue with wild abandonment.  A moan of wonder sounded deep in Erin's throat as Leigh's hand moved down to rest on her hips before pulling her closer. Together they became lost in the fathomless rapture of a kiss that burned with pure fire.

"No..." Erin groaned as she pulled away from Leigh and took several steps back.

"What?" Leigh asked out of breathe and suddenly missing the warmth Erin's body had brought just seconds before being pressed so closely to her own ...not to mention her lips.

"I can't do this." Erin said shaking her head.

Leigh licked her lips and chuckled nervously.  "Seems like you were doing just fine to me."

"Don't make a joke out of this Leigh." Erin snapped a bit nervously before running her fingers through her own blonde hair.  Think, Think ...Think!!!!

"Calm down Kansas."

"I am calm!" She hissed as she slumped down to sit back in her chair.

"I don't think so." Leigh pushed herself off the edge of the table and walked over to kneel in front of Erin, who now had her face buried in the palms of her hands. Leigh felt a bit dizzy not knowing if it was from hangover or the hell of kiss that Erin had just planted on her ...maybe a combination of the two.  Though Leigh suspected the latter was the reason. She closed her eyes for a moment to regain her composure, only to open them again when she heard Erin sigh loudly. Leigh smiled.  "So how long are you going to beat yourself up over this one?" Leigh asked as she touched Erin's chin and tipped it up towards her so she could look into confused green eyes.

Erin stared at Leigh for a few seconds before she spoke. "Is this some type of distraction?" Erin asked feeling the weight of what was happening between she and Leigh.  And now she was desperately searching for a reason for it all...

"What do you mean?"

"This." She pointed to Leigh and then to herself.  "Is it suppose to be a distraction?"

"From what?" Leigh asked before it dawned on her what the insurance investigator was really asking.  Leigh stood up straight and blue eyes narrowed. "You think I'm trying to distract you from the investigation."

"Well aren't you?" Erin retorted.

"You think I'm trying to keep my ass out of jail by tempting you with some kind of lesbian tryst?   That's kind of taking it to the extreme don't you think considering the fact that I'm straight and I thought you were as well."  At least I've been totally straight up until I laid eyes on you.

"I am straight!" At least I think I am... Erin said rather abruptly and rose to her feet as well. Her defenses were back up. "And the idea might not be too far stretched... not when you're facing a couple of years in prison." Erin rationalized, but hoping everything she was saying wasn't true. Though she wondered about the possibility of it being true.  After all as much as she wanted to at times, she couldn't dismiss the fact that Leigh after all was jewel thief that she was investigating. And Erin was attracted to Leigh, and finally she could admit to herself. And especially after their shared kisses, Erin knew Leigh was more than aware of this fact.  Could Leigh really be using this knowledge against her to throw her off her trail?  Remember Erin this is her game... start figuring out the damn rules...

"I see." Leigh said with anger again seeping into her voice. "You think I'm playing mind games..."

"Isn't this whole thing between us a game?"

"Not that kind of game Kansas..."

"Are you sure?"

"I don't believe this." Leigh turned around to walk off but quickly turned back to face Erin.  "You know I could be asking the same thing of you ...but I'm not am I?" She shook her head wearily and took a deep breath. And before Erin could say anything she continued.  "If I took that ruby Erin Bradshaw, I think I would be a hell of a lot more creative than this to get away with it.  For me sexual temptation is for pleasure ...pure and simple, not a get out of jail free card. So I wouldn't use it that way. I wouldn't use you that way. When I kissed you it was because I wanted to, not to somehow throw you off my trail..."

And Erin suddenly felt a little ashamed at her own accusation. "Look Leigh, maybe I was wrong..."

"Yeah Kansas maybe we both were." Leigh declared before walking off.

"Leigh, wait we need to talk about this..."

Leigh stopped.  "So now you want to talk huh?" And not too long ago she accused me of having everything on my terms.  She looked over her shoulder.  "Too bad because I don't."

"You can't blame me for thinking this way can you?  Leigh Its my..."

Leigh turned around and raised her hand.  "I know, I know ...it's your job.  Maybe that's the distraction ...not this." She pointed between them.  Ok, let's just lay this thing on the table and see how long she'll look away from it.

Erin pondered Leigh's words and found truth in them, but right then she couldn't admit that to the other woman. "The investigation is not a distraction Leigh, don't try to turn things around on me."

"Don't you see... I'm not trying to do anything to you at all" Leigh stepped close.  "Kansas I just..." Leigh quickly closed her mouth and moved away. She wasn't going to continue the conversation anymore.  By doing so she would be exposing too much of herself and how she felt.  Leigh had never been on the edge of doing that before. The woman in front of her was surely affecting her in more ways than she wanted.  "Forget it ...this is a waste of time." With frustration she began to walk off.

"Where are you going?" Erin asked.

"Maybe to have a good time with someone who doesn't think I'm trying to take advantage of them." She snorted.  "Oh by the way I told you why I kissed you on the beach... maybe you should wonder why you kissed me just a few minutes ago."

All that could be heard was the steady humming of the airplane engine and Leigh's tapping on her laptop.  And other than Leigh's occasional business phone call, there had not been any other words uttered in the cabin.

The two women hadn't said anything to each other since their blowup at breakfast.  Although there had been a moment at the airport, when Erin was tempted to break the silence and speak to Leigh.  But at the time, the CEO had been wearing shades and casually leaning against the Jeep as they waited for their plane to be prepared for take off. Erin had noted that not being able to see those familiar blue eyes, Erin couldn't assess Leigh's true mood, other than obviously still being very pissed...

Which had irritated Erin to no end. After all Leigh was the thief here ...the deceiver.  Why should she be offended because Erin had casually accused her of using her "more than friendship like" feelings towards to her to her advantage as far as the investigation was concerned.  Ok, to be honest with herself, she had more than casually accused her and hadn't picked the right moment to voice her concern. After all she had just kissed Leigh like she was the last woman or man on earth just seconds before.  And it had been absolutely ...but even still, did that give the other woman the right to become self-righteous all of a sudden?  Not to mention, she was still pissed because she thought Erin had run off into the night with some guy ...A little tidbit that Erin had yet to clear up and deny. 

Now on the plane, Erin came to the conclusion that a person could act like they were reading a magazine for only so long.  She flipped through the pages, but they could have been blank for all the attention that Erin was paying to them. The silence between she and Leigh was ringing louder than she could handle. She closed her magazine, and smirked when she saw that Leigh was on the cover. It figures... Erin tossed her magazine aside and looked over at Leigh.

The CEO had her cowboy hat on and Erin wondered what she was thinking about.  Business ...or me? Their breakfast fiasco had been replaying itself in Erin's mind ever since Leigh had stormed off. It could have been handled different, but it hadn't. It had been handled badly. 

Leigh could feel the blonde's eyes on her, and she refused to acknowledge her.  Was she acting childish? Perhaps ...but she didn't care.  Well it isn't every day that I kiss a woman and find out that she made out with some other guy that night.  Hell it's not everyday that I kiss a woman ...but damn it, that is beside the point. I need to lick my wounds and regroup.  She rationalized before making a mistake and deleting the email she was writing. And on top of that she thinks I'm using her in some way... "Shit..." She hissed as she slapped the cover down on her laptop and shoved it out of her lap. She reached up and tossed her hat across the room.

"Through thinking?" Erin asked softly with a trace of sarcasm that Leigh couldn't miss.

She speaks... Leigh looked over at her and sighed.  "I guess so."

"Leigh I don't like this." Erin commented thoughtfully and leaned back on the couch to look at the ceiling.

"Well Kansas, it hasn't exactly been all roses for me either." Leigh said wearily knowing exactly what the other woman was referring to.  To think it had only been a matter of hours, and Leigh was already missing the easy relationship she had developed with Erin.  She was already missing the smiles, the playful combativeness, conversation, and oh yes the flirtatious touching.  Its funny how one kiss can change so many things... Had I known it was going to catapult us here, I may never have kissed her on the beach.  But Leigh looked at Erin and quickly changed her mind.  Who am I kidding, that kiss was inevitable.  Leigh unbuckled her seat belt and walked across the cabin to retrieve her hat.

"I didn't leave the party with some guy Leigh." Erin confessed gently.

Leigh was kneeling when she heard these words.  Slowly she stood up and turned around. "No?  So what did you do leave the party with a girl instead?" Leigh laughed sarcastically. "Is that suppose to make me feel better?"

Erin sighed.  "I'm simply saying that I didn't leave the party with anyone else OK."  And I didn't want to.  All I could think about was you ...but I can't exactly say that now can I?  Leigh picked up her hat and looked a bit confused as blue eyes drifted to Erin's neck.

"I know it may look that way ...but Leigh I'm asking you to believe me on this.  It really is a mosquito bite gone bad.  I mean it itches like hell right about now." Erin grimaced to emphasize that fact as she scratched her neck. She couldn't let the woman go on thinking that she had simply cast aside their beach encounter for another one with some stranger.  It wasn't fair to Erin and it wasn't exactly fair to Leigh as well.

"But this morning you..."

"Let you think whatever you wanted to think." Erin finished for her.  "Leigh you practically accused me of being some hot to trot harlot. "

Leigh smirked a little.  "A little loose maybe ...but never a harlot.  But some people are so sensitive." She said and received a slight smile from Erin.   Leigh contemplated the blonde's words and heard honesty in them.  Was it the complete truth, after all she did have a hickey the size of Texas on her neck. Leigh had simply drawn her conclusions from the evidence she had. And things like that don't miraculously appear you know.  Then again this island did have some mean ass mosquitoes. Leigh believed what she was saying.  "Kansas you don't owe me an explanation."

"No, I don't I suppose I do ...but still I wanted you to know."

Leigh nodded and walked back over to sit down next to her. She reached out and touched Erin's neck with her finger and felt the small bump under the bruising. "We're going to have to find you some cream for that when we land.  Try not to scratch too much." She said with a crooked smile as she removed her hand.

"I'll try but it won't be easy." Erin said returning the other woman's smile.

"Well if its of any interest to you at all, I didn't do whatever with the local Ricky Martin after you walked out on my little mating dance."

"You don't owe me an explanation either you know."

"Yeah... but still I just want you to know." Leigh said with a slight smile and replaced the hat on her head.

"So you didn't do anything?" Erin asked with raised eyebrows.

"Well..." Leigh rolled her eyes and groaned.  "At least I don't think I did.  I mean I did give him a kiss... that's the least I could since I got him all hot and bothered on the dance floor.  Besides its who you're thinking about that makes a kiss special."

"And who were you thinking about?"

"Let's just say it wasn't him..." Leigh answered.

Then there was silence again as both women read into what the other woman had really said with their confessions.

"It stung a little bit didn't it?" Erin asked.

"What did?" Leigh asked back a bit confused. "You're the one with an insect bite not me."

Erin rolled her eyes and smirked.  "No, I'm taking about when you thought I had been with someone else.  It hurt just a bit didn't it."

Leigh nodded and shrugged.  "Let's just say that I didn't like the idea."

"And I didn't care for the idea of thinking you were with someone else when I left the party either." Erin confessed remembering all the scenarios that had raced through her head when she had left the party and Leigh in the handsome man's arms.

"Now that wasn't so hard ...now was it?" Leigh asked.

"What?"

"Admitting that you like me ...just a little bit more than you should." Leigh nudged Erin playfully in the side.

"I thought I already admitted that ...little tidbit."

"Yeah... but you hadn't punctuated the confession with a kiss until recently."

Erin blushed and Leigh thought she looked absolutely adorable and found the urge to reach out and pull her close.

After a few seconds, Erin spoke. "I know we haven't known each other long by any means Leigh, but I do know this.  I don't like fighting with you.  I don't like being mad at you and I don't like the idea too much of you being mad at me."

Leigh offered a crooked smile.  "Me neither."

"Good.   So we can forget about what happened this morning and put it behind us."

"I agree, but umm what about what happened last night."

"I think we should forget about that as well.

"What if I say I disagree about that?" Leigh asked.

"Well maybe we should simply agree to disagree and leave it at that.  I don't want to talk it about OK.  I don't what to discuss what it means or didn't mean.  What I felt or didn't feel OK."  I'm not ready to admit that to myself let alone another person. "Can we simply end this conversation by saying that we simply like each other."

"I know what happened last night meant something, or we wouldn't have been at each other's throats this morning because when we both thought that it meant nothing to the other."

"Leigh..."

"Please let me finish because Kansas honestly..."

"Oh... you're being honest now."

I guess I deserve that one ...but damn it I am trying to be honest here for once. "Yes I am."

"Well then I won't interrupt ...this should be very good." Erin folded her arms across her chest.

Leigh sighed and closed her eyes.  Ok Leigh make this good, I have the feeling you only have one shot here... "You like to dance don't you?"

"What?" Erin asked bit confused.

"Bare with me here." Leigh offered with a sigh." Ever since we first met, there has been something between us.  Nothing I've ever felt before.  Kansas I've never kissed another woman.  I've never even gave it serious consideration until you..."

"I see..." Erin said softly.

Erin could still feel her fingers intertwined in silky dark locks and she had pulled Leigh's mouth harder against her own. It was as if she couldn't have gotten enough of the other woman. "No you weren't." It was barely audible when she said it ...a mixture of words and a half sigh.

Leigh moved closer until their hips and thighs were touching on the couch. "Then why are we pretending that we don't have these kind of feelings for each other?  When it's staring us both right in the face.  We've been dancing around this thing so long and so hard, that we have the moves memorized by now." Leigh moved closer again. "And I don't know about you ...but to me that kiss proved that we're growing a little tired of our performance."

"Leigh..."

"Shhh." Leigh placed finger against Erin's lips.  She smiled and dragged the tip across them.  "So the question is... are we going to continue that song and dance routine that we have come to do so well?  Or are we going to step off the dance floor and finally take this thing somewhere else?"  And before Erin could comment, Leigh brushed her lips softly against Erin's.  "For the record Kansas, here is my vote."

Unable to control herself any further, Leigh kissed Erin.  And it was anything but chaste and shy ...it was all telling. With this intense kiss, Leigh was sending a message that she was ready for whatever was to come next. All she needed was for a little confirmation of the same thing on Erin's side.

And when she felt Erin's mouth responding and her tongue gliding across her bottom lip ...that was all the confirmation Leigh needed, as she felt herself being pushed back against the cushions of the couch by wondering hands.  Looks like all votes are in.