Page 2 of Claws and Feathers

Daphne puckered her crimson lips. “Her name is ‘Not Interested’,” she said pointedly, tipping her head back and swallowing the shot.

Cooper sighed. Kate had burned her bridges with Daphne Vaughn the moment Henry had chosen his sister over the feisty redhead. The romance had only lasted one summer, and it was five long years ago, but the damage had been done. Daphne held tightly to that grudge, and Cooper was guilty by association.

The friend fidgeted on her bar stool and cleared her throat. “Thanks, Daph. You know I love your unsolicited interference.” She downed her own shot and met Cooper’s eyes. “I’m Abby. I moved here from Illinois. I grew up near Chicago.”

Abby.

Cooper reached for another rag to busy himself – and to mask his curiosity. Abby was staring at him intently, her blue eyes looking almost violet against her periwinkle romper. “A city girl, huh?” He tossed the empty shot glasses into a bin of dirty dishes. “Crow’s Peak is quite the change of pace.”

“I needed a change,” she told him. She adjusted the strap of her romper after it dipped off her shoulder. “I’m staying with Daphne until I can find a place. Real estate doesn’t seem to be a hot commodity around here.”

“People are born in The Crow and they die in The Crow,” Cooper said with a wry chuckle. “It’s not really the land of opportunity.”

“Small town vibes. I get it,” she smiled.

Daphne leaned into Abby and waggled her eyebrows. “Small towns have stories. They have ghosts.” She nudged her shoulder with a giggle.

“People have stories. People have ghosts,” Abby corrected. “Small towns just give them less ground to travel.”

Cooper studied her as he mixed a cocktail. She was peculiar, in a compelling sort of way. She had a distinctive beauty about her with see-through eyes, rosebud lips, and a smile that curved slightly more on one side. He turned to an adjacent patron and nodded his thanks, trading the Tequila Sunrise for a wad of cash. Kate breezed up behind the counter mumbling something about college kids and getting stiffed.

Daphne’s ears seemed to perk up. “I tip based on good service. Just saying,” she said snidely.

Awesome. Let the cat fight commence.Cooper took a step back, removing himself from the insinuating battle.

Sure enough, Kate whipped around, her honey hair following in a similar fashion. She tossed her empty serving tray onto the counter with a resounding clatter. “Excuse me? I provideexceptionalservice.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “If you catch my drift.”

Daphne’s eyes flashed. “Then how come you couldn’t keep him longer than a pathetic summer?”

Cooper reached for his sister’s arm before she could do something regrettable. “Let it go, sis.”

“Let it go?” Kate pulled her arm back in one sharp motion, then redirected her eyes to Daphne. “You and Melancholy Barbie need to get out of my bar.”

Abby’s head shot up. She had previously been doing her best to ignore the shit storm moving in and manifesting itself into a hormonal hurricane. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Okay, enough. All of you.” Cooper felt like he was scolding a group of children. He silently cursed his father for begging him to work tonight. The last thing he wanted to do was get in the middle of a five-year-long rivalry spiraling to a peak. He noticed Abby hurl a death glare in his direction.

“I’m sorry, but your sister is being a bitch,” Abby said.

Daphne snorted.

Cooper narrowed his eyes, feeling an obligation to defend his sister. “Careful.”

“Are you going to arrest us, Officer?” Daphne asked, her tone laced with mock saccharine sweetness.

Abby stood from her bar stool, clutching her purse strap in a firm hand. Her eyes lingered on Cooper before she headed toward the bathrooms. “Thanks for the warm welcome.”

Cooper watched her go, her hips swaying brazenly as she stormed away.Great.He’d successfully pissed off the pretty new girl in town. Daphne shot him a dirty look, then raced to catch up to her friend.

“Sorry.” Kate’s shoulders sagged in defeat as she pulled her ticket order out of her apron pocket. “I didn’t mean to sabotage your chances with –”

“Melancholy Barbie?” He cocked an eyebrow at her, and she lowered her head sheepishly. “Real cute.”

“Hey, I said I was sorry,” she argued. “You know me. My foot and mouth go together like beer and cheese fries. Sounds great at the time, but always ends in regret.”

Cooper sighed. His eyes remained fixed on where Abby had disappeared into the restroom. He wondered what a girl like that was doing with the likes of Daphne Vaughn. Part of him wanted to know more about her, but the logical part – the part that always won out – knew there was no point in finding out. Cooper was too busy. He was too wrapped up in crime scenes, warrants, and restraining orders.

In fact, he was so wrapped up in everythingbuttending to the bar, he’d been completely oblivious to the customer who’d just skipped out on his bill.

---