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find out. When exactly did I fail you? I have come to you every time you let me for twelve years. When your parents died, I was there. I call you. I e-mail. I send you birthday presents, in spite of the fact that you send me annoying little thank-you notes, like I’m your aunt or some distant cousin. I’ve never given up on you, on us. What do I have to do to convince you, Beauty? For Christ’s sake, you think of me when strangers tie you up and fuck you to orgasm. My name was your safe word. But every time I get too close to you, you send me packing. Or you head for the hills. Why won’t you stay and see what happens, Bonita?”
    “You scare me,” Bonita said, gathering her courage. “I’m afraid I’ll fall in love with you. Then we’ll really be in trouble.”
    “Is that it?” Kat grinned. “You’re such an idiot.”
    Bonita slammed her wineglass down on the coffee table. “What do you mean is that it ? Don’t you dare laugh. I swear to God, I’ll catch the next plane out of here, and you’ll never see me again.”
    “Yeah, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? Then you could really hole up and lick your wounds. You could push me away forever and pretend like it was my fault. Nice try, Beauty, but I have news for you.” Kat put her glass next to Bonita’s then embraced her, holding her tight. Bonita struggled, but Kat just laughed and held her closer. “You’re already in love with me. Just like I’m in love with you.”
    Kat stretched out on the couch and pulled Bonita’s resisting form down beside her. She pulled an afghan over both of them then dropped a kiss on Bonita’s forehead. “It’s always been love with us. We were just too young to understand. Once a year isn’t going to cut it for me, Beauty. I’m warning you—I want more.”
    Bonita wasn’t ready to give up yet, although she molded her body against Kat’s curves, sighing at the warm scent of jasmine. “What if you get tired of me? Or someone finds out and it ruins your career? You’ll hate me.”
    “I could never hate you.”
    “You say that now. At least this way, I can still have you, once in a while. We haven’t burned any bridges.”
    “Beauty, we haven’t made any bridges, either.”
    “I don’t know where you get off being so philosophical. You aren’t exactly going on The Jenna Parker Show and declaring your love for me. Your precious career is still safe. You don’t have anything on the line.”
    “I’d call Jenna right now if I thought it would make you listen to me.”
    “You don’t have her number.”
    “Try me.”
    Bonita didn’t dare. Kat was impulsive, and Bonita didn’t doubt she would do it. And probably regret it like hell later. Bonita couldn’t do that to her. Kat’s career was paramount. It had always been paramount. For both of them.
    “We were kids, Bonita. We didn’t know what we were doing. How long are you going to punish me for leaving?”
    Bonita shook her head. “No more punishment. But I’m only staying for a week. I refuse to jeopardize your image.”
    “I am so goddamn sick of my image—isn’t it mine? Why can’t I do what I want?”
    “I’m not going to dignify that with a response.” Bonita snuggled closer.
    After a long moment, Kat sighed. “Fine, a week, but we do it my way. That means if I want to go out to dinner, we go. If I want to party, we party. If I want you to come to the Pics and Pans awards with me, you come.”
    Bonita shook her head. “Not a good idea.”
    “Who cares? My fans don’t expect me to have good ideas. They want me to be entertaining, to look beautiful and show them a good time. I can do that with you,” Kat wheedled. “C’mon, don’t you want to go?”
    “Of course I want to go. I just don’t think now is a good time for you to show up with a woman on your arm. Your manager is right. People are going to see that picture in the paper. For once in your life, lay low.”
    “Not my style.” Kat reared up on one elbow. “Do we have an