He just stared at her. “Aunt Truth?”

“You know. Aunt Truth? The big syndicated advice columnist? I follow her. She’s always helping everyone with their problems.”

“What about you? Ever written in to ask for advice?”

“Nah. I usually have my family to tell me what to do,” she said with no small amount of sarcasm.

“That I can believe.” He snorted. “Man. Your family dinner was tough.” He sipped his coffee. “Sorry. That sounded pretty judgmental. I’m sure they only mean well.”

She lifted a brow.

He grinned. “Or not. But they’re your family. And though overwhelming, your parents clearly love you.”

“Do you think?” Sometimes she wondered if they only approved when she did what they wanted, not sure unconditional love was a thing in her family.

“Yeah. I do think so. Now when you end up meeting my mom, you’ll see she’s different but the same. She’s sweet and open and shows her affection freely. But she also has a way of trying to manipulate her children into doing what she wants. I think it’s a mother thing.” After a pause, he added, “I’d actually love for you to meet my mom. She’s great with all my friends.”

Friends. Not girlfriends. Justine had to refrain from jumping in with a heck, yes, I’d love to go. It wouldn’t do to appear so eager to meet his mom. That was a total couple move, introducing each other to the parents. She’d only done so under pretense.

Now she was second-guessing Xavier’s part in her mess with the wedding.

“Are you sure meeting my folks was okay? I didn’t want you uncomfortable. I mean, we’re only pretend dating.”

“We sure as hell aren’t pretend fucking,” he said bluntly.

She blushed. “Xavier.”

“Sorry.” He didn’t look sorry. He looked a little peeved, to her surprise. “I mean, well, we’re friends, Justine. More than friends, obviously.” He looked her over, lingering on her breasts clearly unbound beneath her overshirt. “I’m trying not to make anything weird. But hey, I met your folks. It’s not a big deal unless you wanted to hide me.”

She matched his slow smile with one of her own. “Hide you? Why would I want to do that?” She looked him over, in lust with his strong frame.

“Now that’s better.” He flexed for her, making her laugh. “And just think. We might get to the point I’ll need you to get my mom off my back. She’s been suspiciously quiet about me getting married, and it’s because she assumes I’m going to start dating again. So save a date for me if I need a fake girlfriend. Deal?”

“Deal.” Justine felt better about last night’s dinner. If she ever did need to meet his mom to help him out of a jam, doing it as a favor was a lot easier to digest than wanting to cozy up to the man she wanted to claim as her own.

“I’d be happy to help you. Together, we can Mitch-slap anyone who gets in our way,” Justine teased.