The opening

Tina walked into the gallery a few minutes after seven. There were already a lot of people and she recognized some of them. She quickly spotted Bette in a corner, talking to a dark haired-woman. She was stunning in a long black dress that left her back bare to the waist and she had straighten her long curly hair.

Tina was struck by her beauty. Before she had met Bette at the CAC, she had seen a few pictures of her, but they hadn’t done her justice. She’d even been intimidated by her when she had opened her office door that day. Tina didn’t think of herself as being beautiful, merely pretty and sometimes, she felt out of place whenever she was in a same room with gorgeous women.

«So, which one is she?», Pete asked Tina, scanning the room. Tina leaned closer to him and pointed discreetly at Bette. «She’s the one with the black dress over there».

Pete’s eyes widened and a wide grin appeared on his face. «Wow, what a babe! Do you think I have a chance with her?»

«Not a chance in the world, she’s gay», Tina replied, quite amused by Pete’s reaction.

«Get out! That gorgeous creature sleeps with women?». Tina could tell he was pretty sceptical. «Yep, she does. It was in the article I wrote. Don’t you read your own paper sometimes?». Tina gave him a playful tug on the shoulder.

«Nah, I just look at the pictures. You better be careful around her Tina, maybe she has a thing for hot babes…»

Tina turned to him. «Shut up Pete ! And I don’t have anything to worry about since I’m not exactly a «hot babe», as you put it»

«Are you kidding me ? Hello? Have you seen yourself in the mirror before you left? You look absolutely beautiful in that red dress, Tina. Hey, maybe if you wrap things up quickly here we could go out for drink. What do you say?»

But before Tina had a chance to answer, Bette turned around and spotted her. Her warm brown eyes locked on Tina’s and Bette smiled warmly at her. Bette excused herself to her guest and then walked toward Tina.

«Holy shit, she’s so hot.. Are you sure about her being into women ?», Pete whispered in Tina’s ear.

«Stop drooling will you and for the last time, yes, she’s gay so back off. And please, don’t embarrass me or I swear I’ll never take you anywhere with me»

Bette extended her hand to Tina. «Hi, it’s so nice to see you again», she said.

«I’m glad to be here. This is Pete Connelly, my photographer», Tina said, turning to the man standing next to her.

Bette smiled to him. «Nice to meet you», she said politely, but her eyes quickly came back on Tina. If it was possible, Bette thought she looked even more gorgeous than the day she’d met her. Her dress clung perfectly to her well shaped body, dipping low to show a bit of cleavage. Bette’s heart skipped a beat and her mouth went dry, but on the outside, she looked cool and collected.

Pete was in total awe of Bette and Tina gave him a push. «Nice to meet you too, Miss Porter. Do you mind if I take the pictures right now ?», he asked.

«Not at all. Just tell me what you want…»

Tina knew that Pete wanted to sleep with her and she silently thanked God when he told her instead he wanted to take the pictures next to some of the pieces in her gallery…