The expression on Lucia’s face was priceless. The redhead couldn’t stop her lips from spreading into a grin, which prompted the Latina to chide her, “Oh, stop teasing and just spill it.”

“Why don’t you ask her?”

“I would, but she hates to be interrupted at work,” the curator admitted, “So, for now, I’ll get the dish from you. What did you do after you left the gallery?”

“We went to Carmen’s for coffee and talked.”

“Just talked?” Lucia inquired. The sly smile she received from Jodi wasn’t an answer that satisfied her.  “Come on! Don’t be like that!”

“Like what?”

“Coy… not like you ever had a problem with over sharing before.”

“Fine!” The redhead threw her arms up dramatically. The truth was she was glad Lucia had brought the subject. “And yes, we just talked… and we shared a kiss that was… well… nice is an understatement.”

Lucia was unusually blunt when she asked, “You didn’t sleep together, right?”

“Nope,” se replied with a shake of the head. She couldn’t help but add, “Thanks to you.”

“I do what I can,” Lucia replied with a big smile.

“You know? You take an inordinate amount of perverse pleasure in messing with ‘my game’ for a woman who claims not to be in love with me.”

“Did you just say ‘my game’?” It was the curator’s turn to shake her head. “You are such a horny frat boy sometimes.”

“I just happen to enjoy sex… lots and lots of it. So sue me.” She punctuated the statement with a little wink before returning her attention back to her delicious seafood.

“Jodi…” Lucia called. The fact that she rested her own utensils on the table didn’t bode well for the artist. “Do you remember when we first met?”

The redhead nodded enthusiastically, swallowing before adding. “The Rata Blanca… ten months ago. Right?”

That night I saw you jam your tongue into at least eight different mouths.”

Jodi couldn’t help but smile; it had been indeed a prolific night. “You might be right. You see? There was $100 price for the Greatest Kisser of the Night. I needed that money; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to afford getting drunk off my ass.”

“I distinctively remember seeing you leave the club with – not one – but two girls in tow. Do you remember that?”