Gus smiled, and, although it was friendly, there seemed to be something going on behind his eyes. “Has Bernard talked to you, then? That man can make anyone feel unwelcome.”
Tess sighed in relief. If Gus thought Bernard was the reason for her nervousness, then they were in the clear. “Uh, yeah, I’ve spoken to him. He seemed…nice.”
“Not the word I would use, but I appreciate the tact.” Gus picked up a mini hors-d’oeuvre and placed it neatly in his mouth. “I hope you don’t mind if I’m honest, Tess?”
“No, not at all.”
“You’re the least ‘business minded’ of all the people Colette has ever dated. I don’t mean that as an insult, mind you—it’s just that it’s clear you’re not used to these settings, where business life is merged with social life.”
“Oh.” Tess frowned. She thought she’d been do
