“Yeah.” She sighed. “That’s what I thought, but I wondered what you would say.”

“Well, I can say I’d never cheat on you like that. I’ve never cheated on anyone. I don’t believe in infidelity. I mean, hey, everyone makes mistakes, and I’m no one to judge. But trust is a big sticking point with me.”

She turned in his arms and kissed his chin, stroking his beard. “Me too.”

“Ted and your sister need to communicate in their marriage. And I’m not even going there with their sex life. Because none of this is my business.”

“Mine either.” She made a face. “On the one hand, I was really impressed Ted turned Sasha down. But now I’m wondering how he knows her. If they work together. What happens the next time they take a trip to Vancouver together?”

“If they take one.”

“If, yeah. But still. I worry for my sister.”

“Which is sweet.” Xavier hugged her tighter and had to kiss her. “But it’s her life. Trust me. I know all about butting in when I’m not invited. I’ve lost a few friends that way, and it’s taken me some time to learn. Not everyone wants good advice. Sometimes they need to live in the muck they make of their lives before they can clean up after themselves.”

“You mean, clean up like we are right now?”

He grinned. “Yeah. Where did I drop that soap?”

It took him a while to find it, but by then, they’d both forgotten why they wanted to be clean in the first place.

Justine groaned the next morning. It turned out Xavier was a cheerful morning person. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but it came close.

Her lovely man didn’t try to wake her though. At—she turned a bleary eye toward the clock by the bed—seven am, he kissed her on the forehead and left the room. Once again ensconced in silence, she went back to sleep.

An hour and a half later, he nudged her. “I’d let you sleep, but you have to show up for family breakfast. Remember?”

She groaned. “My freaking parents. It’s not like Ted and Mallory will be there.”

“Aw. Poor Justine.”

She found herself grinning as she cussed at him. Her shower felt good, and awake, she had no problem sharing the hot water with her sweaty guy. “So you used the hotel gym? Was it nice?”

He lathered up, oblivious to her intent gaze. “It was great. They have updated equipment even my sister would approve of.”

“Nice. How is Auggie by the way?”

“Great, I’m sure. She’s got a new mystery guy she’s trying to hide. But breakfast the other day was more or less the same.” He sighed when Justine kissed her way up his clean abdomen and nibbled on his upper chest. He cupped her cheek and stopped her cold when he said, “Auggie wants to spend more time with you, I think.”