“Tina Kennard,” Tina picked up the phone and answered with her usual response.

“I can’t stop thinking about you,” Bette said confidently into her cell phone.

Tina leaned back into her chair, pausing before replying.

“Do you have any idea how tired I am today?” Tina asked with a smile.

“Can I take you out for dinner tonight?” Bette ignored Tina’s question. They’d been up most of the night together – they both knew they had every reason to be exhausted.

“I thought our next date was going to be the symphony on Saturday?” Tina said. She had absent-mindedly started drawing on the pad of paper that she kept by her phone – doodles really, but they looked suspiciously like hearts.

“I love the way you kiss,” Bette said, as she flipped off the driver behind her when he honked for her to go through the now green light. She always was given to multi-tasking.

“I loved the way you kissed all night long,” Tina blushed at the recollection, but also at the sensations it was arousing in her. “Do you think we’ll actually get to dinner tonight?”

“I promise we will,” Bette said solemnly. “I think we have to be out in public to keep me from wanting you.”

“I am at work you know,” Tina was starting to get flustered.

“I called you there, I know,” Bette smiled. “Are you scolding me?”

“It’s just that you’re going to distract me from getting any work done,” Tina said. “And then I’ll have to stay here late, and we won’t be able to go out for dinner and I won’t be able to kiss you good night at the end of it all…”

“An argument well made,” Bette replied. “I’ll let you go for now and pick you up around seven, alright?”

“Okay,” Tina agreed. “I’ll be ready to go as soon as you get there. We won’t have any distractions.”

They hung up their respective phones, neither woman unable to keep from grinning at the prospect of the evening that lay ahead.

****************

Tina opened the door just as Bette approached.

“Hey, I just have to put on my boots and I’m ready to go,” Tina said as she stepped back allowing Bette’s entrance.

“I thought you said there wouldn’t be any distractions?” Bette’s eyes wandered shamelessly over Tina’s body, barely concealed with a low cut, clinging, black dress. She closed the door behind her and watched Tina seat herself to put on knee high black boots.

Tina stood eye to eye with Bette, assisted by the height of her heels.

“I lied,” Tina replied, assured by the fact that Bette was visually undressing her. “Besides, you’re appearance is somewhat distracting as well.”

“All the more reason for us to make our way to the restaurant before we’re rolling around half naked, testing my will to keep from moving my hand to new and unexplored destinations.”

“What if I wanted you to do a little exploring?” Tina ran her fingertips down the side of Bette’s face, and over her full lips.

Bette caught Tina’s wrist in her hand and held her fingertips by her mouth, kissing them gently before licking the tips, one by one.

“We have all kinds of time to get to know each other physically,” Bette stated quietly. “But only 20 minutes before we lose this reservation.”

“A woman of some fortitude,” Tina smiled. “Hard not to admire that.”

“I aspire to meet and exceed your expectations,” Bette replied with a slight forward bow. She leaned in to Tina. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone before. And for that very reason, I think we should be on our way.”

“I’m ready when you are,” Tina said mischievously, picking up her purse and taking the keys from the hook by the door. “In addition to your eloquent explanation of why we should leave, we should both get some sleep tonight. And we already have Saturday night to look forward to.”

“And I am certainly looking forward to it,” Bette said as they exited the apartment.

Bette opened the passenger car door and waited for Tina to get inside before closing it behind her and making her way to the driver’s side. Once inside, she leaned across the console.

“Safe for a kiss hello now?” Bette asked as she caught Tina’s gaze in her own.

“Safer than we would have been inside,” Tina replied, once again bringing her hand up to the side of Bette’s face as their lips met.

The kiss they shared was soft and gentle. Tina shifted her body slightly to face Bette. They pulled apart after only a few seconds, each one’s increased rate of breathing quite obvious to the other.

“Thanks for forgetting your earring,” Bette said.

“I think we both know I didn’t actually forget it,” Tina said slyly. Her thumb ran over Bette’s lips as she contemplated another kiss. “I didn’t know what it was about you, but I knew I had to find a way to see you again. It was a pretty clumsy move wasn’t it?”

“It was charming,” Bette said, grinning at the recollection of finding the errant piece of jewellery. “You are charming.”

The decision of whether or not to kiss again was taken from Tina as Bette sat back and fastened her seat belt. Tina did the same before Bette pulled away from the curb.

They flirted the entire way to the restaurant, but managed to be seated only 10 minutes after the time of their reservation.

Tina placed her hand flat on the table in invitation to be touched.

Bette ran her index finger down the back of Tina’s hand.

“I assume you don’t mind?” Bette asked.

The electric touch of her contact brought a visible flush to Tina’s cheeks.

“Not at all,” she replied as she shook her head.

“Would you like to do something before the symphony on Saturday?” Bette asked, as she continued to stroke the soft skin of Tina’s hand.

“We could spend the afternoon together,” Tina replied as she turned her hand over to grasp Bette’s. “And then see how the day unfolds. Play it by ear.”

“Sounds perfect,” Bette replied.

Tina started to say something but then stopped herself.

“What?” Bette asked.

“No, it’s none of my business,” Tina said laughing nervously.

“You can ask me anything,” Bette assured her. “Anything.”

“When did you realize you were gay?”

“First year of college,” Bette replied, almost immediately. “I had the biggest crush on my art history prof.”

“You slept with your prof?” Tina replied, unable to hide her shock.

“No!” Bette replied. “But my crush opened me up to the possibility that I wasn’t…completely straight.”

“Are you…partially straight?”

“Haven’t experimented with the dark side since college,” Bette smiled. “Not likely I ever will again.”

“Not likely?” Tina questioned.