“Speaking of Kenna, where is she? I still haven’t gotten my hug,” I said, looking around for the toddler. I was surprised Alistair had let her out of his sight with how busy it was, but the newly single dad also deserved a break.
“She went off with Agnes at the promise of many sweets. I didn’t have the heart to say no to her, though I’d prefer she wasn’t high on sugar all afternoon.”
“As long as she doesn’t find her way into the gin tasting,” I teased.
“How’re the wind farm plans shaping up?” Alistair asked, changing the subject. I supposed he’d taken as much of an interrogation as he could handle, and it was now my turn.
“They’d be better if I didn’t currently have Jasper’s solicitors sniffing around,” I admitted dryly, nodding to some of the townsfolk who waved as I passed.
“Can’t say I’m surprised,” Locke said, smiling at a woman selling beeswax candles. “Not after what you overheard at the funeral.”
I nodded. “Lena did manage to get the architect’s initial sketches sent over, which look very promising, and I finally had the surveyors out to start looking at the property.”
“Is everything else on hold?” Alistair asked.
“Not on hold,” I said, my own impatience tugging at me. “Though Iamproceeding with caution in case that letter turns out to be more than hot air. I don’t want to give Jasper unnecessary ammunition.”
“Oh Christ,” Locke complained, scrubbing a hand through his hair and looking around like he was searching for a post to hide behind. “Speak of the devil.”
I turned around in time to see Jasper shoving through the crowd gathered in front of the cheesemonger’s booth. His beady eyes were narrowed even more than usual as he made a beeline for us.
I sucked in a sharp breath, grumbling as a storm cloud settled over me. The guy had some nerve even showing up today.
“Well, if it isn’t everyone’s favorite cousin,” Locke said, putting on his show smile. The one he used to wine and dine potential clients or seal deals on multimillion-dollar properties. The sudden shift in personality was dramatic and impressive. “How’ve you been, Jazzy?”
Jasper shot him a withering look, and I was pleased to note that the old nickname still irritated him enough to make the muscle in his cheek twitch.
“And how’s the wife?” Locke continued.
“Amanda,” I added helpfully.
“That’s it. It would be lovely to see her again. We seemed to miss each other at the funeral.” If Jasper had picked up on Locke’s insinuation, he didn’t rise to the provocation.
“Enjoying the festival?” I asked him.
He smirked, his beady eyes flicking over me. “Grandad would be so proud, wouldn’t he?” The sarcasm was heavy. “Weston sweeps in to save the hokey little tourist bait. God forbid we miss out on a parade of half-drunk lads in kilts.”
His words irked me more than I wanted to admit. Grandad might not be around to hear them, but I wasn’t going to let Jasper disrespect the memory of what the festival meant to him and to Braeburn.
“Why don’t you run off and look miserable somewhere else,” I said.
“Oh, no.” Jasper took a step closer to me. “I’m not going anywhere. In fact, I’ll be hanging around until you get up on that stage and tell everyone you committed fraud to inherit the estate.”
“Quit your moaning,” Alistair said, shaking his head.
“I hardly think you’re one with any authority to speak where fraud’s concerned,” Jasper bit back.
My cheek twitched. Hell if Jasper was going to shit on Grandadandmy friends. “I don’t know what you think you’re going to get out of all of this,” I growled, nostrils flaring as I rose to my full height, staring him down, “but it sure as hell isn’t the estate.”
“What do you even know about the place?” Jasper sneered. “You’ve barely even been here these past years.” My hands curled into fists. “Why don’t you start with that when you give your speech?”
“Jealousy isn’t a good look on you, Jazzy,” Locke cut in, stepping between us.
“Don’t call me that!” Jasper snarled at him before his eyes found mine again. “You don’t deserve the estate, Weston.”
I crossed my arms to keep from doing something stupid. “And you think you do?”
“Grandad wanted the estate to go to someone settled, with a proper family,” Jasper said. “That’s why he put that clause in his will. But what you have is a sham relationship with a fake wife who’s probably only with you because you paid her off.”
