on between you two right now, but this isn’t the place to have it out.” He glared at both of them. “This is why Lizzie won’t come and live with me. She doesn’t want Roman having to deal with all this crap every day.”
“Also bullshit.” Kaiden stood and tossed his napkin on the table. “Lizzie won’t come live up here because she’s scared of losing her independence, any fool can see that.”
Adam opened his mouth and then closed it again as Kaiden grabbed his plate and left the table. He knew that at some point he’d have to make his peace with his big brother, but right now, after the day he’d just had, he wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone.
He went into his bedroom and locked the door, glad for once that Ben wasn’t there to barge in on him, but also kind of wishing that he was. They were very different, but Ben had always had a way of cutting through the crap and bringing Kaiden back down to earth.
He managed to force down his food and set the empty plate beside his bed. There were no messages on his phone or texts so it looked like no one needed him. He checked his thread of texts from Julia one more time, but there was nothing new. He glanced over at his pillow. God, he wished she were there right now, smiling back at him, begging him to make love to her. . . .
The door to the bathroom banged open and Kaiden glared at his dad.
“What do you want?”
“I’ve thought things over, and with Evan stepping up, I don’t need you to work for me on the ranch, okay?”
For a weird second, Kaiden felt like someone had just pushed him off a cliff.
“Fine, then.”
“Good.”
His father turned around and made his way back out into the hallway shouting at Leanne for more coffee. Kaiden sank down onto the side of the bed and stared at the open door. He hadn’t thought his day could get much worse, but somehow he’d managed it. He’d said good-bye to Julia, pissed off his father, and lost his job at the ranch.
For the first time in ages he felt like all the tethers that bound him to Morgan Valley had been broken. He could leave now, he could move to the Bay Area, set up as a carpenter, and see Julia whenever the hell he wanted. So, why did he feel like his whole world had crashed around him and he was suffocating?
* * *
Julia’s father smiled at her as she came into the family room. She’d been so busy answering his questions about what had happened up at the cabins and catching up on housework that she’d managed not to think that much about Kaiden for hours.
“There you are, Julia. I asked Beth Baker to come and see me this evening to talk about the job. You’ll probably have some good questions for her, and you can talk about her salary and hours. She seemed really keen on the idea.”
Julia shoved all her muddled thoughts to the back of her mind. Sometimes it was better to suggest something to her father, let him raise his objections, and then leave him to make up his own mind.
“That’s great! I think you’re going to like her a lot.”
Juan nodded. “I can’t see why I wouldn’t. The Bakers are good people.”
“What time is she coming?” Julia asked.
“Around seven. Ted’s bringing her. Veronica is minding all the kids.”
“Cool, I’ll text him and ask if he can bring a new tire for the truck so I can return Kaiden Miller’s to him.” She turned to the door. “I’d better make a start on dinner if Beth’s coming over.”
“No need. Bernie left us a casserole from his wife,” Juan said. “It’s in the oven right now.”
“That’s so kind of him.” Julia grimaced. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here all day.”
“I told you to go to Bridgeport,” Juan reminded her. “I’m more than happy to see you spending time with Kaiden. He’s a good boy.”
“He’s . . .” Julia sighed. “Definitely that.”
“You two an item now?” Juan asked hopefully.
“With me going back to San Francisco and him living here?” Julia forced a laugh. “So not happening.”
“Maybe it’s a sign that you should stay here, Daughter,” her father suggested. “I’ve seen the way that boy looks at you. One word, and he’d be all yours.”
“Maybe he’ll still be around when I retire,” Julia joked. She’d already decided there