“Thanks.” He took it from her and casually slung an arm around her shoulders. “Your dad was showing me the house. It’s amazing.”
“Told you.”
“Almost as nice as your current digs,” he teased.
Her dad watched them and sipped at a new Scotch his wife handed him. “You’ve been to Justine’stemporaryapartment?”
“I have. I live right below her. I was surprised to hear Rosie was going to be gone for so long.”
“That’s Jeanine’s sister for you. Rosie’s still wild and unpredictable,” Lyle said with a fondness Xavier wouldn’t have expected. Lyle seemed very cut and dried, yet he had a sense of humor Xavier often heard mirrored in his daughter. Sly and smart, Justine’s father had thoroughly entertained Xavier on the simple house tour.
“I miss Aunt Rosie.” Justine frowned. “I haven’t heard from her since she left. I think she’s ducking my texts.”
Xavier chuckled. “I doubt that. She’s probably so busy juggling admirers she hasn’t had time to talk.”
“You’re probably right.”
Jeanine interrupted. “Dinner, everyone. Please join us in the dining room.”
Xavier found the table covered. Dishes and plates of food had been placed neatly on a table runner the length of the table. Each place setting had been set with a pretty set of matching plates and cups.
“Bone china from Tiffany & Co.,” Jeanine said with a smile. “Only the best for company.”
“No kidding. You never set this out when I come alone,” Justine said.
Mallory snickered while Angela and Lyle smirked and whispered something to each other that made them laugh.
Xavier’s mom would love this set up, like something out of a home magazine.
The mahogany wood table and chairs leant to a more formal feel, as did the chandelier sparkling overhead and candelabras on the table. All the platters and bowls matched the place settings fitted out with differently sized silverware.
He hoped he wouldn’t embarrass himself by using a dessert fork with his salad.
Justine nudged him under the table, and he glanced up to see Angela staring at him. “I’m sorry, I missed that.”
Across the table from him, Angela took the platter of meat from her father, speared a few pieces of filet, and passed it on. “I said I’m sorry my husband isn’t here to meet you. He wanted to come but something came up at work.”
“Scott’s a hard worker. A good man.” Lyle nodded from the head of the table.
Next to him, his wife sighed. “We don’t want our son-in-law to be a carbon copy of you, do we? Working too much. Not when we’re due for a few grandbabies.”
Angela smiled. “We’re working on that, Mom.”
“Oh good.” Jeanine turned to Mallory. “And once you and Ted tie the knot, I’m hoping for a few from you too. Then we just have our lost little duckling left.” Jeanine winked at Justine.
“Ugh,” Justine said under her breath before putting on a big smile. “For once, I’m following Dad’s path. I’m focused on work, not babies.”
Xavier felt it prudent not to comment on procreating and put some veggies on his plate. The casserole dish smelled divine, and he noted a cauliflower medley covered in a light sauce that made him salivate. Perhaps an extra helping of that…
“Tell us about work, Justine,” Lyle said with a smile, but his words came out like a directive. “Did you get that raise you expected?”
Xavier could feel her tension, though Justine didn’t show it.
After a pause, she said, “I did not.”
Her dad frowned, and he looked just like Justine when she was irked about something. “Why not?”
“I’ll tell you why not. Because my boss is a jerk.” She recounted her conversation with Frank the Ass in detail, and Xavier felt for her.
