Tina felt a flush rise in her cheeks.

All her life, Tina had cherished her crushes on women as a sweet little stirring secret, a form of idol worship reserved for cool babysitters, pretty school teachers, the bossy, popular sorority sisters.

But the feelings didn’t usually come on this fast or this strong.

Thinking of Bette, the familiar, innocuous two-dimensional feelings of a girl crush were taking on depth and form, filling up Tina’s chest, squeezing organs into new quarters, leaving her breathless.

She knew Bette was a lesbian. Eric had joked about his own failed attempts at hitting on her.

Tina wondered if maybe Bette thought she was pretty.

She caught her own eye in the rearview mirror and had no idea what she was thinking.

“I just need to get my earring,” Tina muttered to herself, feeling silly.

Tina flung her car door open and marched herself up to the gallery and pressed the buzzer.

At her desk, Bette was surprised to hear the door. Her clients weren’t due for hours. Her intern James was coming in to pack up some of the newly purchased pieces, but he knew the code.

Whoever it was, Bette was relieved to have a distraction from these disquieting thoughts about Tina. She moved quickly toward the door and opened it.

“Hi…Bette. I think. I think I left something…”

The words came out in a rush and too loud. But Bette barely heard a thing.

Tina was wearing a sheer white button down shirt and jeans, looking impossibly more gorgeous than she had last night in a cocktail dress. The sight of her made up Bette’s mind. There would be other clients. But there was only one chance with Tina. Right now.

Bette meant to say something witty and charming. All that came out was a quiet “Hello.”

Tina watched Bette’s lips move and had no idea what she said. She couldn’t believe it. Before noon on a Sunday morning and still the only word to describe this woman was ravishing. Tina felt awkward in her casual clothes and wished she had thought to wear a dress, or put on lipstick.

Bette noticed Tina’s eyes lingering on her lips and found her voice.

“Come in.”

Tina stepped into the gallery, heard Bette shut the door behind her.

“My earring…”Tina turned and found Bette closer than she expected.

“I know.” Bette smiled. “I found it.”

Tina had never realized there was such a thin line between being terrified and being thrilled.

Trying to calm herself, Tina moved toward the art. Putting some distance between Bette’s body and her own might make it easier to breathe.

Tina slowly passed the photos, pretending to notice them. She felt Bette’s eyes on her as she crossed the room. She stopped front of the same print she had admired last night, her back to Bette. Tina heard steps echo in the empty space as Bette came toward her.

Tina felt a need to fill the stillness of the large gallery with talk.

“Its even more powerful now. With no one else here. It feels so much more intimate.”

Bette was beside her now, gazing down at Tina from her imposing height. At Tina’s words, she raised an eyebrow, and shot Tina a small wicked grin.

A furious blush rose in Tina’s cheeks. She lowered her eyes to the floor. “The art, I mean.”

Bette’s expression softened. “That’s one of my favorite things about the gallery actually. Sometimes I come early, or stay late just to be alone with the work.”

“Is that why you came early today?”

“Today? No. Today I came to work. I have clients coming…” Bette stopped. “How did you know I’d be here anyway?”

Tina raised her head, her clear, honest gaze met Bette’s questioning look. “I didn’t. I just took a chance.”

Bette was the one finding it hard to breathe now. She immediately moved to regain control.

“Come with me,” and she moved toward her office, knowing Tina would follow.