They laughed, even Justine. She squeezed his knee under the table and started eating once more.

Fortunately, the conversation turned to Jeanine’s latest home project for a friend. Apparently, she didn’t get paid to design but played around with home design for fun. Talk then eventually centered around everyone’s significant other.

Lyle summed it up, a succinct kind of guy. “So we have Scott, who’s a financial investor. Ted, who invests as well, though he’s more an advisor for our smaller clients. And you, Xavier. Justine hasn’t said much about you other than that she has a new boyfriend. What is it exactly that you do?”

Xavier had been surprised they hadn’t given him the inquisition after he’d stepped through the front door. But perhaps Lyle had been softening him up before going in for the kill.

From the intense scrutiny her father was giving him, he thought he might not be too far off the mark. “I’m an LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist.”

Lyle brightened. “Oh, so then, Doctor Xavier Hanover?”

“Nope.” Xavier smiled, having been asked that question more times than he could remember. “I was eager to get into the work and didn’t want more years of schooling. Or debt.”

Lyle clearly approved. “Smart. You know, our firm is big into the psychology behind investing and how companies decide their futures. Investing is so much more than numbers and percentages.”

“Oh?”

The conversation turned even more stimulating as Lyle, Angela, and Xavier discussed leadership and values within corporations, and how that led to increased productivity and sales. Justine, her mother, and Mallory talked about Aunt Rosie’s apartment, comparing Rosie’s eclectic sense of style to Jeanine’s.

Xavier engaged but kept half his attention on Justine, aware he’d defended her though he hadn’t been asked to do so.

He could only hope he hadn’t stepped too far.

Or that she’d be angry with him because of it.

CHAPTER 22

The moment they sat in Justine’s car, Xavier turned to her and apologized.

He spoke in a rush. “I’m so sorry for overstepping. Then I dominated the conversation until we left. I don’t know what happened. I only meant to defend you when they all jumped down your throat. And then I found myself explaining about my schooling and my practice with your father.” He paused. “He’s a little scary.”

Justine had been relieved Xavier had been there to take the heat off her. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. My dad has a tendency to run right over you before you know it. You held your own. I appreciate you standing up for me.”

He flushed. “I feel like I talked for you. And I hate that.”

She clutched his hand in hers. “You defended me. No one does that. Well, Mallory will sometimes. But usually they just steamroll over me. It’s easier to let them. I still do what I want in the end; I just have to suffer a whole lot of unasked for advice before I do.”