Page 33 of Claws and Feathers

And yet, those elusive feelings kept clawing their way to the surface, demanding his attention. Abby’s wide, tormented eyes, and her supple skin pressed against him weren’t helping one bit.

He hesitated, despite knowing exactly what his answer was going to be. “Of course.”

A few minutes later, they were on the couch. Abby was cocooned in a checkered fleece blanket, her feet propped up beside her and her toes touching his thigh. Cooper glanced at her as the light from the television screen illuminated her beautiful, porcelain features.

“Anything you want to watch?” she wondered. “I need to get my mind off things.”

Cooper leaned back against the cushions, his knee bobbing as he turned back to the screen. He needed to get his mind off things, too – only, they weren’t the same things. “I’m not much of a TV guy. I don’t have time for it.”

“You mean, you don’t binge Investigation Discovery and take notes?” Abby asked, humor finally trickling its way into her tone.

He chuckled, matching her playful mood shift. “I don’t need to take notes.” Cooper tapped the side of his head. “Steel trap.”

Abby smiled wistfully. “I wish I could say the same. My memory is crap. That’s why I got into photography… so I could remember things better.”

Cooper twisted on the couch to face her, his arm resting along the top of the sofa pillows. “Really? What else don’t I know about you?”

“I don’t think you want to go there,” she dismissed. “It’s an endless rabbit hole.”

“What if I do?”

She caught his eyes and chewed on her lower lip. “Fine. Ask me anything.”

He grinned. “Favorite pizza topping.”

“Really? You had to go there first?” Abby sighed with comical exaggeration, sitting up straight. “You probably already think I’m damaged enough, but this is a whole other level.” She paused for effect. “Pineapple and black olives.”

“Shit. That’s dark.”

“Told you.”

Cooper lifted his arm and propped his head against his hand, his elbow digging into the back cushion. He was enjoying the spark that had returned to her eyes. He was enjoying it as much as he was enjoying the way her feet had found their way into his lap and she didn’t even seem to care. “Ask me something,” he challenged.

Abby’s eyes twinkled for just a moment, a smile pulling at her lips, but then she ducked her head. Her humor fizzled. “Why was Maya at your house?”

Cooper had not been anticipating her question. The sound of his ex-wife’s name escaping her lips left a bad taste in his mouth.Maya.She was a viper, all right. She had slithered into his life like a snake, curling around him, squeezing the air right out of his lungs and leaving him feeling emptier than ever. When he’d found out she had been Abby’s psychiatrist this entire time, he’d flipped. He knew what she was up to. He knew exactly why she’d shown up on his doorstep at two A.M., drunk on white wine and bad intentions. Cooper hadn’t given into her devious wiles, as he had done so many times in the past.

He sighed, their eyes holding together as she waited for him to proceed. “She came by my place after I got home from working the bar the other night. She was intoxicated, crying, and wanted to talk. She said Henry dumped her or something – I don’t know. I was honestly too busy trying not to fall asleep to really pay attention.” Cooper watched as Abby studied him with curious interest. “Anyway, she passed out on my couch an hour later and I went to bed. Nothing happened.”

“Why was she… dressed like that?” Abby fidgeted with the hem of the blanket, her eyes darting away from his face. “I – It’s not my business. You don’t have to answer that.”

“She said she spilled wine down her shirt and borrowed one of mine. Honestly, I think she was just trying to get my attention because she knows she lost it a long time ago.”

“Sounds like you have a complicated history,” she said.

“Toxic is a better word for it.”

Abby looked up at him again. “Sorry to pry. Thank you for clarifying.”

He nodded. “Why did you come by that morning?”

“Oh… it was nothing. Totally not important.” Abby quickly changed the subject and peeled off her blanket, rising to her feet. “Can I get you anything? A drink? Something to eat?”

“I’m okay. Thanks.” Cooper’s eyes roamed over her, noticing what she was wearing for the first time. She was dressed in cotton shorts and a white tank top. Her lack of a bra caught his attention in a big way, and he had to force himself to look away.Damn.

Abby didn’t seem to notice and bobbed her head. “I’ll be right back.” Before she disappeared into the kitchen, she paused and turned back around to face him. “One more question.”

“What’s up?” Cooper replied.

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