All she had to do to earn the lifestyle of the rich and famous was be on her back when they decided to give her the time of day, when they could sneak away from their families. Their wives and children.

She couldn't be bought all those years ago when the offer was terribly tempting. She sure as f.u.c.k wouldn't be bought now, when she wasn't stripping to earn a G.o.dd.a.m.n dollar.

Mayson took a quick drink, then draped her forearms over her knees, her gaze straight ahead.

Paige could feel her anger. She mentally responded to it. Why, she didn't know. Nor did she like the sudden urge to apologize. She didn't like hurting people. But Mayson seemed to be an exception to that rule. She hadn't thought twice about hurting Paige. So why did Paige feel the need to console her?

Dammit. What was Mayson doing to her? What was she trying achieve with this night of patrolling the sands?

"In a week's time you've called me superficial, lazy, uneducated, and shallow," Mayson said, staring out over the ocean. "Seems pretty callous coming from a woman who doesn't know a d.a.m.n thing about me."

Paige turned up the beer again to strangle the need to say she was sorry, the urge to lean forward and press her lips against Mayson's tight arm. She had no reason to feel bad. So why did she?

The reason was, Mayson was right. Paige didn't know her. Not the woman she'd become, anyway.

"Tell me a secret, Mayson. Make me not think so callously about you."

Mayson turned her gaze on Paige. Her sights flicked over Paige's face for several intense seconds. "Will it change your opinion of me?"

Paige should tell her more than likely, it wouldn't, but she was suddenly curious to hear what Mayson would say. "Give it a whirl."

"Let's walk." Mayson stood and extended her hand for Paige, and suddenly, Paige was back in time, facing her masked butch at the edge of a bed. Then, and now, her insides tightened.

Without taking the hand, for fear the touch would make her do something incredibly stupid, like kiss her, Paige turned up the beer and downed the contents, welcoming the heat settling low in her belly.

Only then did she feel brave enough to touch Mayson. She reached for her hand and allowed Mayson to pull her from the blanket.

They stood close to each other for what felt like eternity.

Finally, Mayson released her hand and led them toward the edge of the water. The soft waves were cool around her feet, and Paige welcomed the relaxation. There was nothing like long walks on the beach, sand between her toes, and the tranquility the oceanic view offered, especially in the moonlight. She was a lucky girl to have a career she adored and the beach surrounding her with time to help those in need. What more could a girl ask for?

She couldn't remember the last time she'd taken a late-night stroll. Or drank a beer. Or relaxed. This was kind of nice. Despite the tension between herself and Mayson.

"I worked at a dairy farm shoveling s.h.i.t in college," Mayson said.

Paige looked up at her. "You're lying."

"Why would I lie about walking through cow dung when there are so many more appealing jobs I could have made up?"

Paige stared in disbelief. "But you...you were raunchy rich."

Mayson chuckled. Paige was beginning to like that sound. It was far better than the dead silence after her confession. "Raunchy rich? Never heard that one before. Has a s.e.xy ring to it." She stared down at Paige until Paige looked away. "However, I wasn't rich. My parents were. If I wanted something, I had to work for it. Hence the need to shovel s.h.i.t to pay for my extra cla.s.ses."

Dammit. Why was Mayson telling her these things? She didn't want to be impressed with her childhood, her need to actually work her way through college, as Paige had had to do. She visualized a shovel and the aroma of cow s.h.i.t and was happy to admit she would have rather been stripping for some old pervert.

"Your turn now," Mayson said.

Without hesitation, Paige answered. "I don't like you."

Mayson turned up the beer. "No fair. I already knew that one. Try again."

"I grew up wearing Salvation Army hand-me-downs. I was thirteen before I ever saw the inside of a mall." Paige had no clue why those words flowed so easily. She had never felt the need to share her life history, let alone to a woman she didn't even want to be near right now.

"The mall is overrated. And I used to shop the Salvation Army for parachute pants. My mom refused to buy them for me, said they were a disgrace to the fashion world."

Paige c.o.c.ked a brow at her. "Your mom was correct."

"Hey. I rocked the parachute pants."

Paige took a long swallow of her beer, enjoying the mellow effects. "If you say so. Your turn."

"I went back to the park. The day I pushed you in the fountain."

Paige slowed her steps. She no longer wanted to talk about the park. Or the fountain. Or her embarra.s.sment. Sam was right. Mayson had only been a punk kid doing what punk kids do. Why was it so important for her to hold that d.a.m.n grudge?

Would Mayson's apology make her feel better? Would it erase the years of hatred she'd sheltered?

She didn't believe so. But she had an idea what would make her feel better. It was time to get it completely off her chest. What better time than now? After tonight, she had no intentions of ever seeing Mayson Montgomery again.

With her chin lifted in confidence, Paige turned to face her. "I have never been so humiliated in my entire life." She barely paused for breath Mayson took a step back. "That was a mean and rotten thing to do."

"Yes, it was." Mayson took another step back, indecision clear in her gaze.

Paige prompted forward, willing Mayson to argue her point, to defend her actions. She didn't want this woman to bow to her outburst. She wanted her to fight back, to tell her she was wrong. "I have hated you every day since."

Mayson took a step back. The water gathered around their calves. "I see."

"I have waited a long time for this very second."

The realization flashed in Mayson's eyes, but it was too late. Paige pushed her hands against Mayson's chest and shoved with every ounce of strength she had in her. Mayson's arms flailed and her feet kicked in the air as she cut through the wave like the Nestea Plunge.

The sight of her submerging was the biggest adrenaline rush Paige had ever felt. G.o.d, it felt great.

Mayson shot out of the water, shaking droplets from her face and hair.

Paige busted out laughing. She couldn't help it. It was the best feeling in the world. Far better than any apologetic words Mayson might have offered her. "That's for shoving me in the d.a.m.n fountain!"

Mayson stared at her for several seconds, chuckles slowly bubbling into laughter. "Do you feel better now?"

"I do. G.o.d, I feel f.u.c.king amazing." And she did. A little too good. Had she known that little act of revenge would feel that great, she would have gone back to that park every day and waited for Mayson. But would it have felt as good as it did now? Paige couldn't imagine that it would have.

Mayson stuck her hand out to Paige. "Can you help me out of here?"

She'd never seen Paige more beautiful than she looked right now with the moonlight displaying her satisfied expression.

Paige took a step back, still choking with giggles. "Do I look like an idiot?"

Mayson wanted to kiss her. So bad it hurt. But first, she wanted her wet.

"Yes! You do!" Mayson lunged.

Paige shrieked as Mayson grabbed her ankles and jerked her off her feet and into an oncoming wave. The water spilled over her body and head, soaking her completely.

Mayson expected her to come up swinging and cursing like a sailor.

Instead, Paige burst through the water laughing and slinging water over Mayson. "You witch! This was supposed to be my moment of revenge."

Mayson had to swallow back a moan. Paige's dress was slicked to her body like a second skin. Her nipples hardened against the fabric, begging Mayson to come closer, to touch and tease.

Those pert nipples had been against her tongue. She'd tasted their flavor. Paige's cries had thrashed against her mouth. Her fingers had been deep inside Paige. She'd drunk the sounds of her release.

She took several timid steps toward Paige, afraid of what she might do when she reached her, terrified of the images seeking shelter in her mind once again of all the things she'd already done.

G.o.d, how was this possible? How had fate guided her to the park so many years ago to make her do something insanely stupid? How had fate led them together at a masked party where both had experienced blinding s.e.x that neither could shake from their consciousness? How had the stars drawn them together yet again through a blog and finally to Visions?

Mayson stepped closer. She couldn't ignore the signs any longer. She couldn't ignore what the stars or whatever the h.e.l.l was up there were trying to tell her.

The smile on Paige's face faltered as Mayson stopped in front of her. All seriousness vanished from her expression. She, too, felt what Mayson felt.

Mayson reached out and pushed a wet strand from her face. "You're beautiful."

Paige looked down.

Mayson tucked her finger under Paige's chin and tilted her head back. "I went back to the park, Paige. I went back to tell you how sorry I was. I went back to tell you why."

Paige's gaze dropped to Mayson's lips and she whispered. "Why?"

"I couldn't let them know my secret."

Paige's gaze never left the sight of Mayson's lips. She wanted them against her own. She wanted to feel Mayson's tongue snake inside her mouth. G.o.d, what the f.u.c.k was wrong with her? This feeling wasn't s.e.xual deprivation. Vinden had taken care of that itch. So what the h.e.l.l was this fluttering along her nerves like sensors? "What secret?"

Mayson dropped her hand on Paige's hip and pulled her forward. "That I wanted to kiss the cute girl with her dingy old diary."

Shocked, Paige dragged her sights back to Mayson's eyes. Had she just heard that correctly? Mayson Montgomery had liked her? Wanted to kiss her?

The answer was in her eyes. The pa.s.sion was written there for Paige to read.

Mayson moved closer.

Paige gathered her courage while it was hanging by a thread. "Don't," she breathed.

"I have to, Paige." Mayson ducked, stalled long enough for Paige to reject, and then pushed their lips together. She pressed harder and encouraged Paige to open for her.

Paige closed her eyes against the electric heat whipping along her chilled skin and expelled a sigh.

Mayson tugged Paige against her chest and eased her tongue inside Paige's mouth.

Lights burst behind Paige's lids and her stomach knotted.

Startled by the reaction, one she hadn't felt in so f.u.c.king long, she pushed Mayson back and swiped the back of her hand against her lips. That wasn't supposed to happen. At all. Ever. She hadn't been kissed like that since New Orleans. She hadn't reacted that way since she walked out of that motel room.

On shaky legs, Paige took a step back, struggling with her emotions.

Mayson only stared at her. She was a step away. All Paige had to do was reach out, grab her, and pull her right back into that sensational kiss.

No matter. This was Mayson Montgomery, the woman who could buy anything or anyone she wanted. Paige could not, would not, be bought. Not since she walked away from that strip club with all pride intact. Not since she bought her own future. She and Mayson had nothing in common. Nothing to share. Their paths could never lead in the same direction.

Mayson only watched, disappointment clear in her expression.

Once again, Paige found herself reacting to her mood. Why did she care if Mayson was upset, or if she felt rejected?

Without thinking, Paige pushed herself against Mayson and clamped their lips together.

Mayson groaned as Paige slipped her tongue inside. Once again, heat overcame Paige and her skin tingled. The emotions crowding through her were incredible. The scorching fever was amazing. Too bad they were reacting to a woman she could never want. Should never want.

The grip tightened around Paige's waist and Mayson deepened the kiss.

Paige fisted her fingers into Mayson's hair and gave a quick tug. Mayson was whipped back in time, to Paige, behind her mask, tugging her head back in the dim lit room.

She felt just as good then as she did now soaked in sea water.

The heat spiked into an inferno. Mayson scooped her hands around Paige's a.s.s, lifted her up around her hips, and then slowly laid her down in the shallow water. She ground into her as the rippling waves drifted around them.

Paige arched upward, meeting every thrust, lifting her lean hips into Mayson. She wanted to tear Mayson apart, wanted her fingernails dragging f.u.c.k scars into her back, wanted Mayson driving into her.

f.u.c.k! No, she didn't. Yes, she did. Oh G.o.d, what was happening to her and why couldn't she stop?

Mayson suddenly pulled back and rolled away from Paige. "I'm sorry. That was too fast." She turned back to look at Paige as if seeking confirmation. "Wasn't it?"

Disappointed with Mayson's departure, and disappointed that she was disappointed with Mayson's departure, Paige sat up as well. Yes, it was. Then again, it wasn't fast enough. Two more minutes and she could have jerked into spasms around some vital part of Mayson Montgomery.

Paige nodded. "We'll blame it on the beer." She heard the disappointment in her voice and hated that Mayson could hear it as well.

She pushed off the sand and attempted to smooth down her dress.

Mayson rose as well. "Can we keep talking?"

"Sure." Paige pushed her hair back from her face and talked herself down from the rushed high as they walked back to the blanket.

Mayson lay back and put her hands behind her head.

Paige considered doing the same, then realized what a crazy move that would be with her p.u.s.s.y soaked and her desire on edge. Where was Vinden when she needed her? Had she sent a message while Paige frolicked in the ocean with her archenemy? Loving every second of it?

She allowed herself a quick glance down Mayson's tight tummy and along muscled thighs. Seriously, how many times a day did this woman work out?

Then to muscle her gaze away from Mayson, she reached into her bag, pulled out the new phone, and sighed when there were no new messages. Where the h.e.l.l was Vinden? Why hadn't she sent Paige her next set of instructions? Would she? Or was the game over?

Why did it turn her stomach to think that?