in return.”
“Yeah, right.” Blaine sneered. “No one is that nice.”
“Maybe not in your world.” Kaiden looked down his nose at Blaine. “But some of us are better than that.”
“Not when it comes down to money and inheritance.” Blaine smiled. “I’m a lawyer, I know what happens. Everyone fights dirty.”
“Not always. My dad left his ranch to my big brother. The other five of us are fine with it.”
“Sure you are.” Blaine started off down the hallway. “Which is why you’re currently sniffing around the Garcias.”
Kaiden stared after him, remembered his manners, and followed Blaine out into the yard.
“I hope you have a safe trip home.” Kaiden stood at the open door of the car as Blaine slid into the leather seat. “Take care, now, Blade.”
Blaine set his laptop carefully on the passenger seat and looked up at Kaiden.
“It’s Blaine, and thanks for nothing, cowboy.”
Kaiden might have offered a one-fingered salute as the car drove away, but he doubted Blaine noticed in all the dust he kicked up by driving too fast.
“Good riddance, asshole,” Kaiden muttered as he went to take one last look at the chicken enclosure. “And, don’t ever come back.”
He was still contemplating his repairs when Father Pascal and Julia came out of the side door and headed straight for him.
“It looks great!” Julia admired the chicken coop. “Thanks so much to both of you.”
“Ah, I did very little of it myself, Julia,” Father Pascal said. “The credit should definitely go to Kaiden.”
“I brought some laying hens, a cockerel, and some feed so if you want to do the honors and welcome them home, Julia?” Kaiden looked at her expectantly. “I’ll fetch the crates.”
“Yes, please.”
She looked as excited as a kid. It made Kaiden want to smile despite the awfulness of Blaine. How she dealt with that guy every day he had no idea. He fetched the chickens, set the wooden box in the center of the enclosure, and bowed elaborately to Julia.
“My lady.”
“Thank you.” She crouched down, opened the latch, and half a dozen young hens came out and instantly started surveying their new territory. “They are awesome!”
“Indeed they are.” Father Pascal was watching through the fencing as Kaiden released the cockerel. “Now, don’t forget my eggs, Kaiden, lad, will you now?”
“You’re right up there on my list,” Julia reassured him. “Thank you for your help.”
“I enjoyed it. Now, I’d best be off.” The priest produced his car keys. “I’ve another parishioner to visit before I go home. Tell your father that I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.”
Julia went to rise, but he waved her back. “No need to stand on ceremony. I can see myself out.”
“Bye, Father.” Kaiden held up a hand. “Thanks for the help.”
He smiled as the priest walked over to his modest car, backed it up, and went off down the driveway with a final wave.
“What a nice guy.”
“Dad certainly liked him.” Julia rose and came to stand beside him. “Jeez, what an afternoon.”
He put a hand on her shoulder and gently rocked her back and forth. “How do you work with that dumbass Blaine every day?”
“Because at the moment I don’t have any choice.” She sighed. “Once my yearly review is done, I can contemplate changing jobs, but I’ll need a good reference, and the only way I can get one is if stupid Blaine gives it to me.”
“He sucks.”
“I agree.” She unconsciously leaned against him, and he put his arm around her. “I could really do with a drink right now.”
“On a Sunday?” Kaiden pretended to be shocked.
“Scandalous, I know.” She rubbed her cheek against the fleece he’d put on to protect himself against the wind. “But, as I said, it’s been a bit of a day.”
“I can’t believe Blaine came all the way out here just to bug you.” Kaiden shook his head.
“He’s terrified of looking bad tomorrow at the meeting. He wants to be a senior partner before he’s forty.”
“He’s not exactly a good example of cream rising to the top,” Kaiden said. “Scum comes to mind. Now, do you want to feed the chickens, and see how your dad is doing? He said something about Dr. Tio’s grandmother coming over to play cards with him this evening.”
“Yes, Maria Rosa comes once a month. I’m not quite sure how they communicate because she speaks Portuguese, and my father’s Spanish is pretty lousy, but somehow they manage.”
Kaiden hesitated and decided to risk it. He was already in over his head. “If you really want that drink, do you