The man was extending his hand, “I’m sorry I seemed a little forward there earlier…I’m Bernd.”   Tina eyed him, then looked back at Bette.  Bette was surprised that the blonde didn’t accept the outstretched hand, and figured he must have ticked her wife off, for some reason.  She kept her hand wrapped around her wine glass, smiling neutrally at him also.

“Okay..okay…I was a jerk,” Bernd said apologetically.  “I’d hate for that to color the rest of your stay here.”

“Why?,” Bette asked coolly.

“Umm…well I partly own the chain this resort belongs to…”he said, unconsciously combing the back of his head down with one hand.

“Which part?,” Bette pressed.  She was going to make this guy squirm a bit more.

“Ah…a big enough part to care whether or not you and …your wife?,” he paused, then resumed as Bette nodded, “enjoy your stay…really, really sorry. Please do accept my apologies,” he was stammering.  He was palming the back of his head repeatedly, as the women kept their silence a few minutes longer.

Bette figured he had squirmed enough.  She pursed her lips in a half-smile, half-frown.  She glanced back at Tina, who nodded.

She extended her hand, “Bette.”

He took it gratefully, then motioned to ask if he could pull a chair up next to them.  She nodded.

“Tina,” the blonde said, offering her hand as well.

“Thanks,” Bernd said, accepting her hand to shake it.  A waiter had approached them.  He turned to the women, “Have you tried the Wagyu-beef sliders?”

They shook their heads.

He motioned to the waiter to bring two orders of those.

“I’m really sorry, again, Tina.  And I had to come over just now, after watching you and Bette dance over there. To..um..apologize. The chemistry between you both is just…striking, really,” he was still stumbling over his words.

“Such a sexy couple,” he continued.

“Careful, Bernd,” Bette cut in drily.  “You were apologizing, remember?”

He laughed, recovering some of his composure, “Yeah, yeah.  But…really, can you blame me?  And..I guess I’m just not used to a couple like you…two striking, beautiful, women…together.”

Tina smirked, “This is you apologizing?”

He shook his head, scratching the top of it, “Look…I’m clearly out of my depth, here…and should quit blabbering about your looks while I’m ahead?”