him?” Kira glared at Fi.
“You’re scaring me right now and I know you well. So, aye, I’m saying stop being scary. If you want to know what’s going on in his head – just ask him.”
Kira sniffed at the thought as she pulled her car to a stop. Like she could ask Brogan why he’d kissed her so that all her senses had screamed in high alert, but now treated her like a kid sister. The man would push his glasses up his nose and peer at her in confusion.
Goddess above, but she loved when he pulled his glasses from his pocket and perched them on his nose. Never in a million years would she have thought she’d have the hots for a nerdy scientist who calmly managed spreadsheets like they weren’t tools of the devil himself. And yet, here she was.
More than a little cranky, Kira huffed her way up the path, narrowing her eyes at the dark clouds that hovered on the horizon.
“You just go on and stay over there,” Kira muttered to the clouds. Rounding a curve in the trail, she found Brogan leaning on a low stone wall. Her heart did a little dance at the sight of him, his broad shoulders tucked into his trim red jacket, a few errant curls poking out from beneath his knit cap. He needed a haircut, Kira thought – and a smack upside the head.
“You do know I have work to be doing, right?”
“And hello to you as well, lovely Miss Kira. A delight it is to see you on this grey day.” Brogan’s grin flashed white in his face.
“Right. What are you needing then?” Kira refused to be charmed.
“Is something wrong?” Seeing that he couldn’t tease her from her mood, a worried look crossed Brogan’s face. “Are there problems at the gallery? Am I asking too much of your time?”
“No.” Kira sighed and squeezed the bridge of her nose. “I’m just in a mood. What is it I can help you with today, Brogan?”
“I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do to help you feel better?” Brogan, methodically as ever, didn’t move from his spot on the wall.
Kiss me, Kira thought. But she waved away his question with a small sigh. “It’s a funk I’m in. It happens sometimes. I’ll be just fine. It’s the artistic temperament and all.”
“Ah, right. Is this where you throw things and insist that nobody understands your vision?” Brogan teased lightly.
“Something like that.” Despite herself, Kira felt a smile tugging at her lips. She’d never been one for temper tantrums – she’d leave that particular award to Gracie. But she could see the merit in how satisfying they must feel. Not all the time, but maybe just once in a while to let off steam.
“Here.” Brogan bent over, then handed her a rock.
“What’s this for?”
“To throw.”
“Oh, you think you’re funny?” Kira held it up and mocked like she was going to throw it at his head. Brogan smiled and held up his hands playfully.
“Give it a go. Preferably not at my head.”
“All right then.” Kira launched the stone across the field, where it hit a pile of rocks and tumbled satisfactorily down the side of a hill.
“And?”
“I suppose that feels good.”
“We can stay here as long as you need and throw as many stones as you want.” Brogan regarded her patiently.
“I think I’m good. I promise.”
“You sure? I don’t want you scaring poor Fergal. He’s my buddy now, too.”
“Do you visit him often?” Kira asked, falling into step beside Brogan as they hiked up the hill toward the pond.
“Almost every day.”
“You do?” Kira stopped and looked up at Brogan. “Really? I’m surprised.”
“He’s cool. I like watching him move in the water and all his cute little mannerisms. I feel like he’s come to trust me, so he doesn’t hide when I’m around anymore.”
“You’re bringing him fish, aren’t you?”
“Not all the time. I’ve told him he can’t rely on me as a food source since I won’t always be able to visit. I’m not sure he understands, but…”
“He understands.” Kira thought about Brogan up here, talking to an otter, keeping him company and making sure he was safe. If her heart wasn’t already lost to him, now it slid over the final drop-off.
“Really? Even if I don’t have your powers?” Brogan asked, his tone holding no hint of censure, only curiosity.
“That doesn’t bother you, does it?” Kira stopped on the trail once again, and Brogan walked a few more steps before realizing she wasn’t