his way around the pond. He looked confident here, she realized, in a way that he hadn’t in the store. He wore a red coat and a faded grey knit cap, the ends of his hair curling out from beneath. He looked rugged and handsome, and like someone Kira definitely wanted to get to know better.
Without thinking, she held her camera up and took a few photos of him before he realized what she was doing and stopped walking to smile foolishly at her.
“Sorry, it’s habit,” Kira said.
“Would you like me to pose?” Brogan cocked an arm at his waist and lifted a hand in the air like a model.
“That works.” Kira laughed and took a few shots, and Brogan immediately dropped his arm, an embarrassed look on his handsome face.
“I didn’t think you’d actually take the photos.”
“Well, I’m a photographer. It’s second nature.” Kira shrugged and stood, stretching her legs, then hopped up on a boulder. As Brogan approached her, she kept an eye on Fergal, who was watching them from the pond.
“Is that your art form then? You did mention you were an artist the other day,” Brogan said as he stopped in front of her.
So he remembered their conversation. Kira smiled to herself.
“Yes, I’m a photographer.”
“Nature then? I saw you taking photos of the otter. He’s quite cute. I haven’t seen any others, though.”
“Nature, among other things. I’m a bit scattered in my work. I’ve never liked being boxed into one genre. I’ve taken photos of dignitaries, musicians, and animals in the African wilds. It really just depends what opportunity I’m presented with, and what strikes my fancy.”
“And today, it’s otters.”
“Today, it’s otters.” Kira grinned at Brogan and patted the boulder next to her. “Come sit with me. We can have a chat with the otter and learn more about him. I’ve called him Fergal.”
“That’s a strong name.” Brogan hoisted himself onto the boulder. They were close enough that she could feel his heat, but not quite touching.
“I thought so. He seems to like it.”
“How do you know that?”
“He told me,” Kira said, knowing immediately that Brogan would dismiss her. Most people did when she told them she could commune with animals.
“Is that right? What else did he have to say?” Brogan’s eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled at her, and Kira couldn’t help but smile back.
“He’s worried for his home. There’s developers nearby that are hurting the stream of water that comes through.”
“I… um.” Brogan took a moment to look around and then back to her. Kira just gave him a pleasant smile and looked away, letting him come to his own conclusions. She didn’t mind if people thought she was weird – though she suspected she might have just killed her chance for a quick shag with Brogan while he was in town.
The silence between them drew out. Kira kept taking photos of Fergal, who had grown more comfortable with Brogan’s presence and returned to the side of the pond to eat the rest of his snack.
“What brings you up here, Brogan?” Kira shifted the conversation to a safe topic. “It’s a long ways out for someone just passing through the town.”
“Oh, well, I like being in nature. I’m probably more comfortable here than anywhere else.”
“Not a big city guy?”
“I mean, they certainly have their uses. But I like the quiet. Though nature is hardly quiet, is it? Just listen – the bird calls on the wind, the waves hitting the cliffs down below, the splash of the water as Fergal dives under. It has its own song, nature does.” Brogan snapped his mouth shut and a faint flush crossed his cheeks.
“You’re a romantic, are you then?” Kira smiled as the flush deepened on his cheeks. “Well, I happen to agree with you there. I do love exploring – big cities or rambling fields – but I tend to gravitate toward nature as well.”
“That surprises me, I’ll admit. I wouldn’t have… I mean… I certainly wasn’t expecting… well…” Brogan ran a hand over his face.
“You didn’t think a woman who wears patent leather thigh-high boots would also don a pair of hiking boots and tromp through the mud?”
“Precisely,” Brogan sighed. “And I do realize that sounds rude.”
“It’s okay. I like when people underestimate me.”
“That I certainly haven’t done, I can promise you that,” Brogan said.
“Well, I like when people don’t know what to expect from me, how about that? It’s good to keep people on their toes.” Kira turned and took a few