Page 33

Story: The Inquisitor

I offered a nod and left.

You’re a natural.

Her words flowed through my mind. Since male models surrounded her, I took her compliment to heart. Despite that, my modeling venture was over unless it was to help Kiera.

Or to make sure Bruno stayed away from her.

I lugged the wagon back to Kiera’s cabin, parking it in its original spot. “You should get a room at a hotel just to be safe.”

I followed her to the front door.

“Why?” She shoved the key into her door. “The police are looking for the thief. I doubt he’ll return.”

“Stop.” I grabbed her hand, pulling her back. “Stay here.”

Steppinginto her cabin, I surveyed the area. The living room looked as it had before we left for the shoot. The bedroom,bathroom, and closet appeared fine too. Satisfied, I turned around and bumped into her.

“I told you to stay out there. You don’t listen, do you?”

She scoffed. “Not when someone barges into my place and doesn’t explain what he’s doing.”

“Just making sure that criminal isn’t hiding in here.” I placed a finger on the crease between her eyebrows and rubbed. “Don’t stress. He’s not here.”

“I’m not stressing about that.”

“Then what?” I could feel the anxiety pumping off of her.

“It’s nothing,” she huffed.

I didn’t like that she didn’t trust me enough to tell me what was bothering her. Why should I care? I had too many things on my plate. The last thing I needed was to add to it.

She’s a friend, and friends care for one another, don’t they?

“Okay. Just be careful whenever you go out.” I didn’t pressure her to answer the question. Some other day, but not today.

I added a new goal to my list: Kiera Ford would one day trust me enough to tell me all her secrets. That was my mission. I wanted to know all of her secrets and fears.

Kiera and I were friends within the same circle, but I’d never made a move or anything like that. My friends were family to me. I didn’t want to do anything that could ruin that dynamic. Besides, I’d heard she dated mostly fashion models, and I wasn’t in that arena. Would she have even considered me as a lover? A doctor and an entrepreneur didn’t seem her type. Just thinking about that bothered me.

Which was why you turned into a damn fool and tried to be her type.

Idiot.

I’d never been this irrational about anything.

She got herself a bottle of water from the refrigerator. “Do you want something to drink?”

“No, thanks. I still think you should go to a hotel.”

Irritation flickered in her eyes again. Or was that anxiety?

Great job, Forrest.You sure know how to irritate a woman.

“We’re done with the shoot. I have a lot of photos that need editing. That’s all I’ll need from you.”

The early dismissal was probably due to my comment, but I wasn’t ready to leave yet.

“Can I see the pictures?”