She hurried into the bathroom and locked the door. Her hands were shaking, her cheeks flushed. This was madness. She and Tony were over.

And yet... tonight she'd been powerless to resist him. Totally powerless. Her career, her family - meant nothing compared to her lust for Tony.

'Pull over,' Cat ordered.

'We're in the middle of nowhere,' Nick pointed out.

'You're such a wuss.'

'What didja call me?'

'You heard.'

They were way down the Pacific Coast Highway with tall cliffs one side, and rocks and surf the other. It was pitch black and the roar of the ocean was fierce.

'Pull over,' Cat repeated.

'Jesus!' he complained. But he did as she asked, pulling the Maserati on to the hard shoulder of the road and cutting the engine.

'Out!' Cat commanded.

'What we gonna do? Take a walk?'

'You're not very adventurous, are you?' she teased. 'We're going to climb down to the beach and... who knows?'

'Shit, Cat. It's dark and it's dangerous.'

'Oh, my God! Nick Logan, big stud, is really a great big scaredy boy!'

'Shut the fuck up,' he said, laughing - because this girl was nuts, and he liked it.

'Make me,' she said, jumping out of the car, hiking up her skirt, scrambling over the rocks, then climbing down towards the small strip of sand.

'I'll make you, all right,' he yelled, coming after her.

'Yeah? Catch me if you can!' she shouted, feeling free and exhilarated and totally alive. This was a lot more exciting than lounging around in a Jacuzzi in some rich guy's fancy mansion.

Lola could hear loud voices, then there was silence. Was Tony coming back to tell her it was all clear, or was she supposed to wait?

She glanced at her watch and decided to stay in the bathroom - which, incidentally, was sumptuous. Black marble with touches of gold. A huge tub surrounded with gold cherub fixtures. Ornate gilded mirrors and a lounging area covered in some kind of animal fur with a TV suspended above it.

She waited five more minutes, then slowly emerged.

On her knees in the master bedroom, Raja Mestres was going down on Maria - Tony's innocent little eighteen-year-old fiancee - who lolled casually on the edge of the bed.

'Oh!' Lola exclaimed.

Raja raised her head, unperturbed, while Maria lay there like a playful kitten, skirt around her waist, legs spread, exhibiting a small mound of silky pubic hair.

'Excuse me,' Lola muttered. 'I was using the bathroom. I didn't realize-'

'Iss bueno,' Raja interrupted in her man-size voice. 'You like join us?'

Maria didn't move.

'Uh, no, thank you,' Lola said, shocked as she edged her way to the door, which was once again locked.

Raja rose from her knees and quietly let her out, locking the door behind her.

What a surreal scene that was. Lola couldn't wait to tell Tony.

The waiters were discussing the guests, normal observations.

'Didja see the rack on Petra Flynn?'

'Who's that fat stoner with the attitude?'

'One more bossy order from that skinny bitch with the diamond rock an' I'm pissin' in her drink.'

'How about the ass on Lola Sanchez? I'd like to move in an' stay a week!'

Matt blended in. They'd forgotten he was there as he sat in front of the TV tossing peanuts into his mouth. He took the comment about his wife as a compliment. She did have a gorgeous ass, nothing insulting about that.

Now that they were back together he had to work on making sure that she didn't throw him out again. To be safe, he'd consulted a lawyer and made sure that next time it would not be so easy for her to dump him.

One of the waiters came running into the kitchen and slammed his tray on the counter. 'Nobody's gonna believe this one,' he announced. 'Tony Alvarez locks himself in the master bedroom with that hot Lola Sanchez piece, then Security figures out somebody's in there so they tell Jorge. He gets pissed, an' sends Security to throw them out. Well, Security starts hammering on the door, and two minutes later out comes Tony Alvarez and no Lola. So, I'm keeping an eye on the situation, and suddenly I notice Raja Mestres go in there with Tony Alvarez's girlfriend. Now the three of them are in there together. Then Lola Sanchez waltzes out looking mighty pleased with herself. Guess she had a good thing going with the two women.'

'What're you gettin' at?' one of the other waiters asked.

'What do you think I'm gettin' at?' the first waiter said triumphantly. 'They're a bunch of lesbos.'

'Isn't Lola Sanchez married?'

'Yeah. Poor guy. She's cut his balls off an' she's wearing them as earrings.'

All the waiters roared with laughter.

Matt wanted the floor to open up so that he could sink into it and vanish from sight. The only good thing was that nobody had a clue who he was. He blended in, just another basketball fanatic who couldn't miss a game.

Jesus! he thought. I married the biggest bitch of all time.

Nick caught up with Cat, grabbed her, and they collapsed on the damp sand, laughing hysterically. Pinning her hands behind her head, he kissed her, his tongue exploring her mouth.

'Isn't this more exciting than that movie set you wanted us to do it in?' she gasped, escaping from his insistent lips. 'We never made it to the bedroom, but I bet there were satin sheets on the bed. How cliche is that?'

'I'm freezing my ass off, can't see a fuckin' thing, and I left my smokes in the car,' Nick complained. 'Apart from that, this is great!'

'Glad you're enjoying it.'

'What if the tide comes in an' we're trapped? You thought of that?'

'You're such a downer.'

'And you're such a wild one.'

'Should be. I wrote the movie.'

'Oh yeah, so you did.'

'Hey - I've been on best behaviour the last couple of months. I've directed a big-time movie, played grown-up, been totally responsible. I'm only nineteen, y'know. I can have some fun, can't I?'

'We'll have fun, all right,' he said, rolling on top of her and kissing her again.

It suddenly occurred to her that Nick Logan was a sensational kisser. There was a technique to really good kissing, and Nick had it down. Of course, she was no slouch herself. Jump had never mastered the art of a great kiss.

The wind was whipping up, they were getting sprayed by the surf, and Cat knew she was ruining her outfit, but she didn't care.

Nick's hands began exploring. She retaliated, unzipping his pants and investigating the possibilities. 'No underwear?' she questioned.

'Never had any use for it.'

'Bingo.' She laughed. 'Me too!'

Now he was kissing her in earnest, his talented tongue stirring her juices. The sand was everywhere, but neither of them cared as they hastily divested themselves of their clothes.

It was as good as they had both expected it to be. Better, in fact. Sexy and hot and exciting - with the added element of a dangerous location, the surf pounding right next to their bodies, and the darkness enveloping them.

When they were finished, they couldn't find their clothes.

'Oh... my... God. We'll have to drive home totally nude,' Cat joked. 'How's that for an excellent story on ET?'

'Got an idea,' Nick said, scrambling for his pants.

'What? Wrap seaweed around your dick and play merman?'

'I want you around my dick,' he said playfully. 'I want you around it all the time.'

'Hmm... sounds good to me.'

Giggling, they crawled around the gritty sand, searching for their clothes.

Cat retrieved her skirt and top just as a huge wave came in, drenching them both.

'We'd better get outta here,' Nick said, taking her hand and pulling her up. By this time the surf was lapping around their ankles.

'If we don't drown first,' Cat yelled. Spotting her sandals she snatched them up. Then they began the precarious climb back up the rocks.

'I can see the headline now.' Cat laughed. '"Girl director and boy star washed out to sea."'

'How come you get top billing?'

'Typical actor! Let's negotiate.'

'Move it, smartass,' he said, pushing her from behind.

'Yes, sir!'

Still laughing, they finally made it to the top of the rocks.

'That was insane!' Cat exclaimed, attempting to struggle into her wet clothes.

''You're insane.'

'So you keep on telling me.'

'I always dreamed of meeting a girl like you,' he said, pulling on his trousers.

'You did?'

'Or maybe it was a nightmare.'

'Screw you.'

'Anytime, ma'am, anytime at all.'

'Are you awake?'

Shelby cradled the phone. 'Yes, I'm awake.'

'This is Pete.'

'I know,' she said, decidedly pleased to hear from him.

'I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed tonight. I hope you did too.'

'Yes... I did.'

'And, Shelby-'

'What?'

'Whatever happens, I'm always here for you.'

'I think I'm beginning to understand that, Pete.'

'I wish you'd come back to my house.'

'I'm English,' she said, letting him down gently. 'I prefer to wait until I'm divorced.'