Page 74 of Claws and Feathers

“Look, I’d rather not talk over the phone,” Ryan continued. “Are you able to drive down and meet me in person? I have something you might want to see, and I can’t swing the trip with my work schedule.”

Cooper wavered with mixed emotions. The thought of leaving Abby made his insides twist with anxiety, but if Ryan Stone wanted an in-person meeting,surely, it had to be worth his time.

And yet, something was whispering in his ear to decline. Something was poking at him, nudging him to insist on a phone interview instead.

Only… then he risked Ryan saying no. He risked never hearing from the man again. Cooper didn’t have anything on him to require an interviewat all– he couldn’t force him to give him answers. All he had was Ryan Stone’s free will. And right now, he was willing to talk under these terms.

Cooper reluctantly conceded. Solving Abby’s case was his mission. It was his fuel. Hehadto go. “All right. Give me a day to make arrangements. I can meet you Thursday morning.”

Thirty-six hours.

In thirty-six hours he would hopefully be that much closer to answers. Tojustice.

Cooper McAllister was headed to Illinois.

Chapter Twenty-One

Abby stood in a daze in the middle of her living room as Cooper walked out the front door.

Holy. Shit.

What just happened? Did Cooper just say he…lovedher?

She wasn’t entirely sure what to think, or feel, or how to even breathe. She wasn’t sure if her heart was beating at triple its normal pace, or if it had stopped beating altogether. Abby clutched at her chest, bunching the cotton tank top between trembling fingers. She could see Cooper’s shadow through the small, foggy window of her front door. He was pacing beneath her porch light.

His words trickled through her mind like a leaky faucet.Drip, drip, drip.Abby had been cold to him – she’d been unkind.Unfair.Cooper was the last person in the world to deserve her hostility.

She was still standing where he’d left her when he entered back in through the front door a few minutes later. Abby noted that his expression had soured. He looked anxious.

“Everything okay?” she asked, meeting him in the entryway.

Cooper scratched the back of his neck, his eyes looking at his shoes. “I have to go, Abby. Tomorrow,” he said. “I have to leave town for a couple of days.”

“Why? What happened?”

“I, uh…” His gaze returned to her as he continued. “I just got off the phone with your brother. He wants to talk to me in person about something. I’m hoping he can help with your case.”

Abby recoiled at his words. Herbrother? What could Ryan possibly know? “Y – You never mentioned he was a suspect. I don’t understand.”

“He’s not a suspect. I mean, I’m not sure.” Cooper sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Regardless, he seems to knowsomething, so I have to go.”

“I’m going with you,” she decided.

Cooper shook his head. “No. You can’t come with.”

“Why?”

“You just can’t.”

Abby bit down on her lip, mildly offended. She crossed her arms in a defensive stance. “He’s my brother. I want to see him –especiallyif he knows something about my case.”

“Abby…” Cooper placed a hand on her shoulder and began to lead her towards the couch. They sat down side-by-side, and he took her hand in his. “I know you want to be there. I get it,” he said. “But Ryan might not talk if you’re there. Andifhe’s involved somehow, I can’t put you in the line of fire.”

She searched his face, finding only tenderness and understanding in his eyes. Abby softened. “What about you?”

“I’m trained to handle dangerous people. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“I’ll always worry about you.” She ducked her head, squeezing his hand. When she raised her eyes to his, her heart swelled with the remnants of his confession. “Cooper… did you mean it?” Abby was almost afraid to ask. She was afraid he’d take it all back.

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