Tina wasnt trying to change her life when she walked into the Bette Porter Gallery. But thats what happened. And it only took as long as a heartbeat. Bette turned, looked into Tinas eyes, and smiled. It was that fast. The charge of attraction so powerful and so overwhelming that Tina almost pulled away as they were shaking hands. But she didnt. She held on.

Tina worked in the entertainment industry. She spent every day with women whose job it was to be traffic-stopping gorgeous. But Bette wasnt merely attractive. She was confident. And fiercely intelligent. And then there was that smile.

Bettes smile and those sparkling brown eyes lingered in Tinas memory for days. And the thought of seeing Bette again was so irresistible, that when Eric received the invitation to the artist dinner at the Bette Porter Gallery, Tina insisted that they attend. She wasnt sure what she was feeling, or why. Only that she wanted to have more time with Bette.

The perfect hostess, Bette greeted all of her guests warmly. But when Bette welcomed her at the door, Tina swore that she was even more attentive. More engaged. Her stance, the set of her shoulders, her expression”everything wasopen.

Tina swallowed hard, remembering Bettes bemused expression as she untangled the earring from her hair. Tina had looked everywhere for that earring when shed gotten home last night but she couldnt find it. Because someone else did.

“I have something of yours,” Bette purred into the phone the next day, her voice full of promises.

Guess I should consider clip ons, huh? Tina replied, closing her eyes and conjuring that face, those lips.

“Would you like to come by for it? Or shall I have it couriered?” Bette was smiling. Tina could hear it in her voice. Apparently, the exotic beauty already knew what the answer would be.

Tina wasnt nervous until she walked through the door. Excited and energized, yes. But not nervous. Not until she saw Bette coming toward her.

“Hey,” Tina said, not trusting her voice to say anything more.

Bettes gaze left no part of Tinas face or body untouched, and Tina had never felt that exposed. Or appreciated.

“Come back to my office.”

Tina exhaled as Bette turned her back to lead the way”she was relieved to escape the intensity of those eyes. There was something about the way Bette looked at her that made Tina want to tell her things. Her ambitions, her disappointments, her deepest desires.

“I could have sworn I watched you put this back on,” Bette said, removing the single earring from a plain white envelope and holding it in her palm for Tina to take.

They were standing so close that Tina could smell Bettes perfume, could feel the heat from her body without even touching her. Close enough to see the invitation in those brown eyes. It was an invitation Tina wanted to accept. She reached for the earring, not at all surprised when Bettes fingers captured her hand. Tina didnt even have time to sigh before their lips met. She could feel the blush rising at her throat and was helpless to prevent it. And then Bette leaned back and let go.

Tina pressed the earring into her palm, feeling the pinch of the metal against her skin, trying to wake herself up from what was surely a dream. But Bette was still there, standing in front of her. Smiling.

“Thanks,” Tina said softly, feeling dizzy and disoriented and completely at ease, all at once.

“If this is how you thank me, I hope you lose both next time,” Bette said.