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Bette and Tina decided to take the path that led from the resort’s terrace restaurant down to the beach, stopping to lay down side by side on lounge chairs that had been left on the roped-off beach area of the resort. They finished their drinks, sharing a word or two while they both gazed up at the starry sky. Eventually, by unspoken agreement and an exchange of nods, Bette and Tina stood up and slowly made their way, arms encircled around the other, to their beach-side suite.

They’d agreed not to talk about their work after leaving Gavin and Celine in the restaurant at the end of the early dinner they’d shared (“It’s been a long time since I had a 6:30 pm sitting for dinner,” Gavin had observed drily) during which the two prospective investors turned their “guns” on Bette to see if they could win her over, and she in turn, could talk to Tina favorably about what they’d suggested. As if.

So now that Bette and Tina had left behind all the cares and worries of their work, a shared look and a smile every now and then had been enough to confirm they each wouldn’t bring up anything that could interrupt the luxuriating feeling of getting lost in whatever the night would bring them.

“The night has the feel of that night in the Maldives. Remember that one?” Tina asked, breaking the languid silence when they were a few feet away from the steps that led up to the terrace of their suite, stealing a glance at Bette.

“Mnnhh – mnnhh,” the brunette answered, and then slid a smile at the blonde. “You made a comment about Sonja…”

“And you kissed me to assure me you were done with all that …”

“No, I kissed you because your kiss was so much better than Sonja’s or anyone else’s…”

As they paused at the bottom step of the broad wooden steps that led up to their suite, Tina reached out to stay Bette’s chin and planted a slow, wet one on the pillow-soft lips of her wife, and then drew back, smiling. Bette blew a breath out shakily. “And it still is.”

They ascended to the terrace of their suite, and interlaced their fingers as they held hands.   They parted when they got to the living area, with Tina heading to the kitchenette/bar and Bette to the built-in bookcase where the suite’s sound system.