March 1999   Los Angeles, California

Tina instinctively backed away from Bette.

  Just in case the heat she was feeling inside of her body was palpable to outside forces, she thought it best to keep her distance.  The last thing she wanted to show was how this brunette had ignitied an inferno within her being.   However, Bette’s flirtatious glances suggested she had caught the train about a mile back. 

Bette was totally on to Tina, able to read her reactions like an open book.

Tina forced herself to speak.  The silence was becoming too dangerous.

"Uh…this is a lovely gallery you have…really beautiful…" Tina managed to spit out. 

Bette smiled casually, both at Tina’s retreat and her forced dialogue.

"Thank you…I’ts always been a dream of mine to be a gallery owner."  Bette began, glancing eminently around her space.  "Are you in the art collecting business, Tina?"  Bette asked sweetly, returning her eyes to the blonde.

"Me?  Uh, no.  That’s Eric’s department…I’m actually in the movie business…"  Tina stammered through a tight giggle. 

"Are you an actress?"  Bette asked seriously.

Tina laughed whole-heartedly this time, shaking her head no.  Bette eyed Tina’s blonde hair as it delicately swept across her breast bone.  Bette tried to keep her head in the game, but this woman was astoundingly sexy.  She couldn’t help but feel a little thrilled to see Tina responding to her in such an obvious way. 

"Not exactly.  I’m in production and development…you know, the business side of the business…"  Tina finally answered.

Bette nodded her head, allowing one corner of her mouth to rise as she made her best effort to concentrate on the conversation at hand. 

"Oh, well…you could be, you know…" Bette began, her intonation growing almost tender.  "You are very beautiful". 

Tina blushed instantly from head to toe.  She quickly looked at the floor, unable to hide how flattered she felt.  Suddenly, Eric entered Tina’s mind and she immediately felt guilt wash over her. 

"I’m…I’m straight…" Tina stuttered abruptly, surprising herself even.

She felt Bette’s presence tighten and withdraw almost instantly.  Tina promptly faced Bette, her eyes wide with regret.

"I’m so sorry…I…I don’t know what came over me, I don’t know why I said…" Tina’s flowing apology stopped short as Bette protested with a raised palm.

"It’s fine…really…" Bette began, beginning to feel ashamed herself.  "I know that you are straight, Tina.  I have known Eric for years…in fact, I’ve heard about you often.  Please don’t think I was hitting on…"  Bette was the one to be interrupted this time.

"Please, no, I’m so sorry.  I sounded so presumptuous just then…"  Tina was so flooded with embarrassment, she wanted to sequester herself in the darkest corner possible. 

Tina watched as Bette’s look softened compasionately.  Tina felt a different reaction rising up inside her.  She wanted to reach out and hold this woman, this woman who had made her run the gamut of emotions in under an hour. 

"It’s okay, Tina…I’m sure you get hit on quite a bit…all the time, a woman like you, there’s really no need to think you’re being presumptious.  You’re magnetic…I’m sure you’re beating them away with sticks…"  Bette paused, unsure of how to further ease the tension and aware that she was bordering on whimsicality.

This time, it was Tina who inched a centimeter closer to Bette, her head tilted, eyes searching for answers from the brunette. 

"You really think so?" She asked lightly, re-engaging the dance they had started the minute their hands touched upon introduction. 

Bette’s expression spoke the words Tina longed to hear.  For a moment the two stood inches apart, inhaling the exhales of the other, creating a new language with their eyes. 

Suddenly, the spikey haired girl returned to poke on Bette’s shoulder once again. 

As Bette began to walk away with the girl, Tina followed her every step.  Bette turned around, flashing a quick, meaningful look her way.  Tina’s chest began to rise and fall observably. 

She never took her eyes off Bette as she reached towards a waiter’s tray filled with bubbling champagne glasses.  She turned the flute to her lips, draining the contents slowly and steadily. 

That’s no woman…  Tina thought to herself. 

That’s a goddess.

TBC