Page 28 of Claws and Feathers

It really had been a long time. Probably almost a year. He’d had a few hook-ups after Maya; rebounds. But they’d always left him feeling empty and unsatisfied. Cooper was a connection man – he needed substance and somethingreal. He craved genuine intimacy.

Maybe that was why Abigail Stone had gotten under his skin. She had substance. She was real. She was funny and quirky, and had a crooked smile that justdidsomething to him.

Abigail Stone was also very off-limits.

Cooper shook the thoughts from his head. He looked up just in time to see a familiar face situate himself on the stool across from him.

James Walker tipped his head in greeting. “It’s hoppin’ tonight,” he noted, his deep voice hardly penetrating the heavy bass from the live band. “The ladies are eating these guys up.”

Cooper rolled his eyes. Freeze Frame. A bunch of tools from New York thinking they were going to be big stars. “I’m swooning.” He leaned forward on his hands. “What can I get you, partner?”

James eyed the drink specials written in Kate’s girly chalk handwriting above the bar. “I’ll do that Fireball one. Thanks, McAllister.”

Hannah breezed up to the counter, plastering an eager smile on her face. “Hi!” she said. Sunbeams practically radiated off her. “I’m Hannah. I’m new. I’ll get your drink for you.”

Kate appeared behind the counter again, her tray now empty. She winked at James. “She’s Hannah. She’snew.”

James chuckled, his laughter rich. “How are you, Kate? It’s been a while.”

Kate flipped her hair over her shoulder with a shrug. “Just being my usual delightful self. Slinging deep-fried appetizers. Drowning in debt.” She parked her hip against the counter and looked thoughtful. “Hey, I don’t think we’ve really chatted since game night last Christmas when Kravitz’s girlfriend barfed all over Uno.”

Cooper was trying to divide his attention between Hannah’s questionable cocktail-making skills and James and Kate’s conversation. Ah, yes… game night. That was one for the books. Not only did Kravitz’s girlfriend indeed barf all over Uno, Cooper seemed to recall some flirtatious banter between his partner and his sister. He was surprised to hear they hadn’t had much contact since then.

“Memorable night,” James agreed, his eyes twinkling as they stayed fixed on Kate. “We should do a repeat.”

“I think that’s a brilliant idea,” Kate said. She turned her attention to Cooper. “What say you?”

Cooper shrugged with indifference. “Maybe I can squeeze a little Scattegories in somewhere between my full-time work week, overtime, random bar shifts, sleep-deprivation, and security detail.”

“’Atta boy,” Kate said, slapping him on the shoulder. Her gaze lingered on James, a candid smile curling onto her lips. “I’ll see you around, Walker.”

Before she disappeared into the kitchen, one of the band members stepped up to the bar with an attractive, exotic-looking brunette on his arm. The guitarist slid up next to James with a friendly nod and winked at Hannah. “Whiskey, please.”

She practically fainted. And was that… drool?

Cooper took over the order as Kate followed him.

“Hot damn,” she said, whispering over his shoulder. “If I were wearing any panties, they’d be –”

“Whoa, I’ll stop you there. I’m literally gagging right now.”

Kate’s laughter filled his ears as he poured the whiskey into a glass.

“Hey, his girlfriend is totally checking you out,” she observed. “She’s obviously a floozy. Maybe I’ve got a shot.”

Cooper set the drink on the counter and the band member tossed him some cash. When Cooper turned around, Kate was still ogling. “As far as I’m concerned you’re a virgin, and you’ll always be a virgin. Also, I’m begging for a subject change here.”

“Fine.” She raised her hands to her hips. “How’s Abby?”

“I’m requesting another subject change.”

“Oh, stop,” Kate said. “She’s adorable – in a tortured kind of way. And I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”

Cooper pretended to ignore the insinuation, but it festered in the back of his mind. He knew exactly what Kate was talking about. And he couldn’t seem to help the warm, tingly feeling that came over him when he thought about that look.

Her wide eyes, sometimes indigo, sometimes violet. Always curious and engaged. Abby was special, and thatshookhim. Cooper was trying desperately not to become too attached, too interested, but she made it downright impossible. She was clever and witty. Smart.Different.

He liked different.

---