Page 45 of Claws and Feathers

That was partly why he had invited her out on the lake today – so he could enjoy some boat time, while simultaneously watching over her. But mostly,mostly, it was for purely selfish reasons. He enjoyed her company. Maybe too much. Maybe more than he should.

Definitely more than he should.

A knock on his front door pulled him from his musings. He had texted Abby to stop by around eleven A.M. and it was still early. He set down his coffee mug and headed towards the door, discovering his father standing on his porch step. He groaned internally, then felt guilty for his reaction. Cooper knew his father needed something from him. He wasn’t one for social visits. “Dad.”

Earl McAllister nodded his head in greeting, handing Cooper the morning paper. “I brought you the newspaper.”

“I’ve got social media for that, but thanks.” Cooper accepted the paper and stepped aside so his father could enter. “Is that why you came by?”

Earl glanced around the small, meagerly decorated house. His perusal always felt judgmental, as if he were picking everything apart in his mind, but that’s just how he was. It’s how he’d always been. “I need another favor, son.”

There it is.The bar. It was always the damn bar. “You know I’m up to my ears in this case. I can’t, Dad. I need an actual night off every now and then.”

“Cooper, you know I’d never ask unless I really needed you. I booked another live band tomorrow that will draw a big crowd. It would mean a lot.”

Earl stood in the middle of Cooper’s living room, his arms folded and his stance rigid. He had a receding hairline that was graying and thinning more and more as each year passed. More significantly, his amber eyes were practicallybeggingCooper to appease his request. Cooper sighed. “I’m only promising a few hours. I can’t close. I need to sleep.”

“I’ll take it.”

Another night at The Crow Bar slinging beers and brandy. Fantastic. Cooper grumbled, his mood dampening at the impending commitment. “Is that all? I have someone coming over soon.”

Earl slanted his eyes with curiosity. “A new lady in your life?”

Cooper wasn’t quite sure how to respond to the query. Sure, Abby was a new lady in his life. She was an unexpected arrow in his heart. She’d spiraled into his life and pierced right through his armor. “Just a friend,” he replied. It was better that his father didn’t know too much – Cooper wasn’t in the mood to answer questions or try to justify himself. And he certainly wasn’t in the mood for the cautionary looks and the discretionary words of warning.

But as fate would have it, Earl McAllister would have firsthand knowledge of Abigail Stone, as she approached his screen door only a moment later. She was early.

Cooper greeted her with a smile, happy to see her, but slightly addled that she would be meeting his father. He hoped he wasn’t too much of a curmudgeon. “Abby. Hey.”

“You didn’t confirm there would be snacks, so I took it upon myself to bring some,” she teased. Abby peeked through the screen, holding onto a box of miniature doughnut holes. “Sorry I’m early. Did you have company?”

“It’s just my dad. Come in.” Cooper opened the door and let her inside. She entered his house with hesitant steps, clinging to the handle of the box. Her yellow sundress floated around her knees as she returned his smile. She was sunny and warm – a contrast to the demons that hid behind her eyes.

Earl McAllister stepped forward and held out his hand. “You must be the friend,” he said. He shot a knowing glance in Cooper’s direction.

Abby grinned brightly. “I’m Abby. Abigail Stone. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. McAllister.”

“The girl from the abduction?”

Cooper cringed as Abby slinked backwards.Awesome.Cooper ran a hand over his face as he approached his father. “Was there anything else you needed, Dad? If not, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Earl’s eyes raked over Abby, radiating disapproval. “It’s nice to meet you, young lady.” He turned to Cooper as if to say,‘we’ll discuss this later’. “Have a good time.”

Abby’s eyes lowered to the floor as Earl stormed past them and the door slammed shut. She cleared her throat, then laughed lightly. “So, this ‘Not A Date’ already includes me meeting the parents. I’ll be eagerly anticipating the candlelit dinner and passionate lovemaking later.”

Cooper’s head jerked in her direction, immediate laughter escaping him. For all that this woman had endured, her sense of humor never seemed to wane. It was admirable. And incredibly sexy. Cooper sorted through a dozen replies filtering through his mind, but none of them were appropriate, and all of them were basically different variations of,‘Let’s skip to that last part now’. Whichthatcould never happen, and goddammit, it wasn’t even noon and he was already having bad thoughts.

Platonic.This was a casual, innocent, platonic engagement. Cooper finally reeled in his meddlesome thinking. “Candles are a fire hazard. And here, I thought you knew me.”

Abby giggled and held out the box of doughnuts to him. “I already ate the chocolate ones. Sorry.”

“Shameful.” Cooper grinned as he let his eyes skim over her, drinking in her sunshine. Her blonde hair was in a loose braid hanging over her shoulder, and her ivory skin looked like it had never seen a day of sun. She had a wide-brimmed straw hat on top of her head and a radiant glimmer in her eyes that made him want to kiss her. He shook the thoughts away – a recurring theme lately. “Ready to go?”

She bobbed her head, and they made their way out the sliding back door, towards the dock. Abby glanced at him as they traipsed through the grass in his backyard. “Will you think less of me if I tell you I’ve never been on a boat before?”

“What? You’re lying.”

“Nope. I’m boring and sheltered,” she sighed. “You’ll jump in and save me if I fall over, right?”

---