Page 36 of Claws and Feathers

“Fine,” Marky obliged. “I can do that. Kate, truth or dare?”

It looked as if Kate was going to spit out a contemptuous retort, but she leaned back in her chair and folded her arms instead. “Truth.”

“Is it true you’re willing to take off your clothes?”

“Marky!” Lyle slapped him. “I’m taking your ass home.”

Abby watched with equal parts amusement and disgust. Cooper was shaking his head and pinching the bridge of his nose across from her, and Kate was flipping Marky the bird with both hands.

It was time for more sangria.

Abby stood from her chair, making her way into the kitchen. Kate had made multiple pitchers of the homemade cocktail and it wasdelicious. It was also sneaking up on her in a major way. She found herself teetering as she poured the beverage into a plastic cup, so she leaned her hip against the counter.

Moments later, she felt a hand on her opposite hip. Abby jolted around to see Cooper standing impossibly close to her. She leaned back against the countertop to catch her balance, gripping the edges with white knuckles. Cooper dropped his hand, but his proximity remained. She noticed his eyes rove over her, prompting a surge of heat to shoot right through her and make her squirm. “Hey.”

Cooper swayed a bit on both feet as he brought the spout of his beer to his lips. “Hey, yourself.”

Cooper was tipsy. Abby decided she liked Tipsy Cooper. She reached behind her and brought her own cup of liquid courage to her mouth, her eyes peering at him over the rim.

“Sorry for that clown. He’s always trying to get attention. I arrested him for a DUI last year and it gave me immense satisfaction.”

Abby snickered as she regarded him. He was staring at her with deep interest, still standing so close she could feel his body heat emanate into every pore. She wasn’t sure if she was drunk on sangria at this point, or the intoxicating scent of his cedarwood cologne and musky aftershave.

Somehow, Cooper leaned in evencloser. “I have another question for you.”

Abby could feel her breathing quicken. She pretended to remain unfazed, but her wild heartbeats were making a liar out of her. She swallowed back the sticky lump in her throat as her alcohol buzz battled it out with the buzz of the chemicals charging between them. “Ask away.”

Cooper grinned, his eyes gleaming with flirtation. “Truth or dare?”

The chemicals were winning. They weredefinitelywinning. Abby chugged the rest of her sangria, then squeaked out a timid, “Truth.”

He finally pulled away to take another sip of his beer, then leaned against the counter beside her. Their shoulders were touching as he turned to face her. “Is it true you talked about me in your therapy sessions?”

Abby sucked in a breath. She had no idea what he was going to ask her, but she’d never anticipatedthat. She found herself struggling for a coherent response. Luckily, the sangria was making a comeback, and it gave her tongue a little bit of courage. “Obviously,” she said with as much forced indifference as she could muster. “You rescued me from unspeakable terror. You play a big role in my ‘True Crime Drama’ of a life.”

“I guess you’re right,” he nodded, running a hand along his bristled chin. There was still a humorous teasing dancing in his hazel eyes. “So, what’s my role in this TV drama? You’re clearly the sexy lead heroine.”

Oh.Okay, then.Abby shushed the increasing ‘lub-dubs’ of her racing heart. She dared to make eye contact with him, instantly regretting it. An insurmountable heat passed between them.

Jokes. Make jokes.It was her go-to whenever she needed an out. “The bumbling sidekick. I thought it was obvious.”

“Ouch.” Cooper placed a fist against his chest like a dagger, his grin broadening. “I was hoping for the brooding hero or something.”

Or the love interest?

Yikes. Nope. That response would stay locked away in her ever-growing notebook of ‘Shit Abby Shouldn’t Say Out Loud’.

“Well, maybe I’ll promote you,” she opted for.

Kate came bounding into the kitchen, successfully breaking up their flirtatious banter. She halted in her tracks when she spotted them. “Jesus, the unresolved sexual tension in here is so thick I’m practically choking.” She made dramatic coughing sounds for effect. “Need a room? I’ve got a spare.”

Abby cleared her throat and stepped away from the counter. “Your hospitality is unmatched.”

“Right? I’m awesome.” Kate breezed over to the refrigerator, shooting Cooper a pointed look. She pulled out another pitcher of sangria. “Did you want to go to the bar before or after you and Abby work through that tension?”

Cooper shook his head and tossed his empty beer bottle into a garbage can. “I’m ignoring the second part of that question. We’re going to the bar?”

“Yup.” She poured a substantial amount of sangria into her cup. “James is sober. He’s driving.”

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