The atmosphere shifted in an instant.

Kaia smiled sweetly. "Aunt, what were you two talking about?"

Julian's brow arched slightly.

In the Hale family, he was second-born — and here was a woman who hadn't even married in yet, calling him her cousin with the ease of someone who already owned the place. It rubed him the wrong way, though he kept his face neutral and didn't take the bait.

Mrs. Hale was a warm, guileless woman by nature, but ...