would be slapping us upside the head if we didn’t offer to help her friend’s grandson with such a noble project. Speaking of which,” Gracie said, ignoring Dylan’s warning look, “you said Fiona paid you a visit? Are we speaking of the same Fiona, then?”
“Young, buxom, easy with her wiles?” Brogan asked, cupping his hands in front of his chest.
“I withdraw my earlier statement about liking you,” Gracie said, ice coating her tone.
Brogan threw back his head and laughed, the sound sending little trills of pleasure through Kira’s body.
“If by Fiona you mean the spirit who visited me and gave me a talking to, then yes.”
“That would be the one. She didn’t send you running for the hills, then?”
“Aye, she spooked me. But it was nice to hear that Gran’s faring well.”
“You believed in her then?” Kira looked at him in question. “Just like that?”
“It’s hard to ignore what’s right in front of my eyes, isn’t it?” Heat flashed behind Brogan’s eyes as he studied her, and Kira’s mouth went dry at his words. Did he mean more than what he was saying? She certainly hoped so.
“Well then,” Gracie amended, “I stick by my earlier statement – I like you.”
“I like you, too,” Brogan said.
But his eyes never left Kira’s.
Chapter 17
Kira couldn’t remember when she’d ever been so busy before. Usually, when she was on shoots, there was typically a lot of downtime and prep work followed by a few long days of shooting. But between helping to run the gallery and the nature center, Kira found her days zipping by in a flurry of emails and text messages.
However, everything was coming together.
More than anything, Kira was surprised by how much she was enjoying being involved in the nuts and bolts of building something. While her brain ran toward the creative side of things, she’d found that also meant she had a skill for creative problem solving. More than once, she’d gone head-to-head with Brogan over some seemingly inconsequential detail. She often got her way, but not always. However, it was more than their shared goal that was keeping her mind occupied these days.
Kira was falling for Brogan – big time.
While he could be maddeningly thorough at times, when she wanted to race ahead to an end point, Brogan was slowly teaching her the patience that was needed when it came to building something step-by-step. Even when they argued, he’d logically and calmly build his case, to the point where Kira began escalating her arguments just to see if she could get him to lose his cool. The heat she’d seen flash behind his eyes when he looked at her was still there, yet not once had he lost control of his emotions with her.
Nor had he kissed her again.
That point was driving her particularly crazy. It was like she’d been given a sample taste of a new item at the market, and then it sold out before she could buy more. The more she was around Brogan, the more Kira wanted her hands on him. Or her mouth. She’d taken to accidently brushing against him here and there, just to feel the tingle of electricity that coursed between them. He’d become like a drug, and Kira craved more interaction.
And yet, Brogan plodded on, focused on his nature center, calmly working on the plans as though he hadn’t a care in the world. She was beginning to wonder if he even really saw her anymore, or if she’d been relegated to just a friend and business partner.
It was enough to drive a woman mad, Kira thought as she drove toward the trail to the pond. Brogan had texted her and asked her to meet him there at her convenience. Like a bloody business associate. Was he really going to act like they’d never shared a moment or two together? That their kisses never happened?
“Maybe it’s because he’s one of those people who don’t like to mix work and pleasure. Now that he’s all in with the nature center and you’re working with him – perhaps he doesn’t want to muddy the waters? I can understand that. It’s a difficult line to walk,” Fi had said.
“Wouldn’t you think he’d address it then? Put it out on the table? Say something – anything at all?” Kira had groused.
“Well, you haven’t addressed it either, have you?”
“But… why… I mean, no, I haven’t.”
“He strikes me as a bit shy, Kira. And you’re… well, you’re a force to be reckoned with.”
“Are you saying I scare