Not a place where he’d ever feel comfortable enough to relax. And definitely not a place for kids or pets, not that he’d noticed either around the house.

Still, he couldn’t deny the place was a masterpiece of style.

“You have a gorgeous home,” he said to Lyle when he noticed the man watching him.

Lyle smirked. “We only have nice things now because all our kids are grown and gone.”

Xavier had to laugh. “That’s what my mom says about her place.”

“Does she live in Seattle?”

“Yeah. She’s in Queen Anne, in the same house my sister and I grew up in.”

“I loved our old home in Fremont, but we needed the space. We bought this house oh, about fifteen or sixteen years ago. It was a huge step-up for us.”

“How big is this place?”

“A little over four thousand square feet. It’s actually too big for Jeanine and me, but we like it. It’s not far from work, and we finally have it just the way we want it. My wife recently remodeled the front room.” Lyle took Xavier on a tour around the house.

When they returned to the living area, he saw Justine waiting for him with a beer.

She looked relieved when she spotted him. “There you are.”

“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’s temporary apartment?”

“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.