Brogan said. He shifted awkwardly in his chair and the sheaf of papers on his lap tumbled to the floor.
“Oh, let me,” Kira said, dropping her bag of food on the table and crouching to help. When her forehead hit Brogan’s with a resounding thump, she sat back on her bum for a moment.
“Oh my god. I’m so sorry. Are you all right then?” Brogan’s hands came to her face and he held her there, studying her forehead. His touch instantly electrified her, and despite her forehead smarting with pain, Kira licked her lips. When Brogan’s gaze dropped to her mouth, the moment drew out.
“Is everyone all right? Are you needing some ice there, Kira?” Ann hurried over, worrying a dishtowel with her hands.
“No, I’ll be fine. I’ve taken worse bumps on the head scrambling around these hills.” Kira smiled and eased shakily back from a shocked-looking Brogan.
“Sir, are you well?” Ann asked, as Brogan had yet to move or speak.
“Oh, right. I’m just fine.” Brogan shook his head, as if coming out of a fog, and hurriedly picked up his papers.
“It wasn’t too hard of a hit. Just clumsy of me, is all.” Kira stood and brushed off her leggings. “But I’m glad I put my coffee down first.”
“Oh, that would’ve stung, wouldn’t it?” Ann nodded.
“I’ll be on my way then.” Kira didn’t think it was best to linger with a clearly embarrassed Brogan. If she knew anything about the male ego, it was that they didn’t like looking foolish. “It was nice to run into you, Brogan.”
“Literally,” he murmured.
Kira threw her head back and laughed.
“Yes, quite literally. Hopefully, next time will be equally as impactful.” Leaving that to sit with him as it would, Kira picked up her food and strolled out of the café humming to herself. If she wasn’t wrong, Brogan was not unaffected by her presence. Which meant her stay here might just get a little more interesting.
Humming the whole way back to the shop, Kira smiled at everyone she passed, and was grateful that there was no rain to be had on this cool morning. She pushed the back door to the gallery open and looked to where Morgan was wrapping a painting.
Beautiful in a way that made people stop in their tracks, Morgan was one of the rare people who was unaffected by her looks. It was almost as if she didn’t have a mirror, Kira thought, but loved her the more for being such an open-hearted soul. Morgan often kept people at arm’s length, but those she let in she loved with a fierceness that would have made her warrior ancestors proud.
“You look cheerful this morning.”
“I am. And I brought you a muffin.” Kira put the bag down and pulled out two lemon poppyseed muffins. Though she’d wanted a proper fry-up for breakfast, she’d changed her mind when the delicious scent of Ann’s baking had tantalized her.
“Have I mentioned how much I love having you here?” Morgan finished wrapping the painting and crossed the room to plop down on a chair.
“You have, but I’m always open to flattery.”
“I’ll keep it up if you promise to stay longer,” Morgan said, flashing her a grin before taking a bite of her muffin. She gave a little hum of pleasure at the taste.
“Seems to be the theme lately. I didn’t realize how short of help you were here,” Kira said, leaning against the counter. She took a sip of coffee and studied the gallery. It had a nice flow, she thought, the racks of smaller prints funneled people through to a bigger space where larger works of art were displayed on textured wood walls. Kira particularly enjoyed the local artists’ corner, where they carried an ever-changing display of different mediums of art. The space was homey, yet chic, and it was rare for someone to visit without buying something. With a wide range of price points, the gallery had something for everyone.
“We aren’t short of help. We just miss you,” Morgan said.
“Well, that’s very sweet. But I’m sure there are other people who can do this job just fine.”
“There are, but you’re an artist as well. And you bring a fresh eye to things. Look what you did with that display yesterday.” Morgan gestured to where Kira had rearranged several paintings and a display of earrings to meld together. “You’ve brought sort of a funky edge to it. I like it.”
“I’m glad. I was just fussing about.”
“You’re welcome to keep fussing. It’s good to change