“Here you go.” He set a glass with ice along with a pitcher of water in front of her. “Hope filtered water is okay. Auggie gets all over me when I drink straight from the tap.” He sighed. “Girl’s a health nut.”

She smiled as she poured a glass and drank to sate her thirst. “Oh man. That hit the spot.”

“Good.” He smiled at her, and she felt herself drowning in the richness of his warm brown eyes.

An awkward pause settled, and she flushed, hoping she didn’t look like she’d been mooning over the man. She hurriedly dropped her gaze and focused on her water glass. “Sorry if I’m spacey. It’s been a long day.”

“Oh?”

Thankfully, he turned to the stove and moved pots and pans around as he started cooking.

“Well, my boss is a huge jerk. But that’s just one more thing I’m working through.”

“Right. We were supposed to talk about your Sunday night dinner.” He cracked some eggs and boiled water for rice. Then he took out some veggies and started chopping.

“Do you need any help? I feel guilty for sitting and watching while you work.”

He laughed and glanced at her. “I was just doing the same to Top in the courtyard. So I guess it’s only fair I be the one working while someone watches me.” He winked at her, and her face felt hot. “Just relax. Talk to me about your family night.”

“Oh man. I don’t know if I want to ruin your appetite.”

“Trust me. Unless your dinner involves vomit, I’ll be okay.” He paused. “It doesn’t involve throw-up, does it?” He looked a little green.

“What? Oh, no. Not at all. My dinner was a meal in frustration, actually. But the food was incredible.”

He turned back to the stove with a relieved sigh. “Good. I mean, not good. Talk to me.”

So Justine gave him her recollection of events, including her perceptions of intent, including Angela’s bitchiness. “I mean, I had thought that maybe I was overthinking things. It’s my parents’ house, not mine. They can invite any guests they want. The guys, Cal and Nick, were actually pretty nice. No one hit on me or anything.” She still felt foolish. “It’s pretty presumptive to think my parents invited my dad’s colleagues over just to set me up on a date.”

“Which they did, though, right?” He was working magic on the stove, and she hoped he didn’t hear her stomach grumbling.

“Well, it felt like it to me. I’d made it all through dinner before stupid Angela brought up that both guys are single and rich.” She grimaced. “Who cares what they make? I don’t want a guy for his money. I want to be independent. I mean, I lived with Mitch, my ex, and look what happened. We broke up and I had to move out. Well, technically it was his apartment. But you know what I mean.”

“Ouch, that hurts.” Xavier shot her a sympathetic glance.