"Ah, I see you’ve found the Mapplethorpe." Tina startled and turned at the sound of Bette’s voice. She had been so engrossed that she hadn’t heard her approach.

"Yeah…" Tina trailed off. She didn’t really know how to discuss art. She appreciated it, but she found it hard to articulate her feelings.

"This is one of my favourites of his. I studied him in college, he was one of my professor’s favourites."

Tina turned to look at Bette, who was now standing next to her. She was wearing what could only be described as a "little black dress." It perfectly hugged every one of her curves, and its lack of sleeves showed off her perfectly toned biceps. Tina’s eyes strayed down, and she felt a tingle as her eyes grazed over Bette’s smooth brown legs and tight calf muscles. Her heels were insanely high, and she towered over Tina.

She caught Tina looking at her, and she smiled. Tina blushed and said, "You look nice." Suddenly self-conscious about her casual attire.

"You do too… I’m jealous that you’re wearing something so comfortable though. I’ve been waiting all day to get out of these heels." She spoke as she reached down to pull off her shoes. "Louboutin’s are fashionable, but not very practical." She sighed as she hung the heels across one of her fingers.

"Come, I have some wine in my office." Bette led the way to her doorway, her bare feet padding across the floor.

Tina shyly followed her. She was so breathtaking, even at the end of a work day, she looked beautiful. She self-consciously picked lint off of her shirt.

"Do you like reds? I have a Chteau Margaux that I have been dying to try." She pulled a bottle from a shelf and showed it to Tina.

"Oh, yeah. Red is fine." Tina tried to hide her lack of wine knowledge with what she hoped was a nonchalant attitude.

Bette pulled two glasses from a cabinet near her desk and uncorked the wine, pouring Tina’s glass first and handing it to her. Tina waited while Bette poured herself a glass.

"Sometimes I just need a glass of wine after work to unwind, you know? There just aren’t enough hours in the day." Bette swilled her wine, gave it a sniff, sighed with delight, and then took a sip. 

"So, what would you like to see first?"

Tina sipped her wine. It was divine. "Oh, I’m not sure. How about you start with your favourites."

Bette smirked and gestured for Tina to follow. She led the way back into the gallery and over the the farthest room. 

"Well, here is a Shirin Neshat. I actually almost didn’t get this one–MOCA was in line for it, but I managed to snatch it up first." Tina listened to Bette talk about all of the social, cultural, and religious ideas that Neshat’s work focused on, but Tina didn’t really pay attention to the details. She was entranced by the artwork and Bette’s accompanying commentary. Her voice was soothing and her passion was palpable. Tina couldn’t help but smile over the excitement and knowledge that Bette exuded when she talked about art.

Before she knew it, they had made their way around the whole gallery.

"Here’s the Catherine Opie. It’s not necessarily my favourite piece, but I’m happy to display any of her work." Tina examined the photograph, and was jolted out of her trance when Bette spoke.

"You know… I actually have some really special pieces that I keep all to myself in my personal collection. Do you like Kiki Smith?" Bette had turned to Tina and was holding her now-empty wine glass.

"I love Kiki Smith!" Tina exclaimed, "Her prints are some of my favourites!"

Bette smiled widely, "Well, then you have to see my personal collection."

There was a brief pause.

"Come on, I don’t live far… We can drive there now and I can show you!" Her enthusiasm was catching, and Tina couldn’t say no.