Page 54 of Claws and Feathers

Abby whirled around to face him, her hair cascading over her shoulder with wild abandon. A rebellious strand caught between her lips and she pushed it aside. She was brimming with fire and fury and guilt, and emotions so intense they might combust right there on that sidewalk. Maybe she would go up in flames and everything would burn away. Maybe they both would. Maybe she wanted it that way.

She had intended to take Cooper down with her – to latch onto him as she exploded to ash, as shedisintegrated– but he was gazing at her with such wounded eyes, she couldn’t help but freeze instead. Abby melted a little. Only a little. Never entirely. “You broke my heart, Cooper. I just needed to feelwanted. Desired. I’ve only been with one man my whole life, and he cheated on me for four years. Then I finally open myself up again, and you reject me. You don’t know what that feels like.” Her eyes were watering, she could feel it. She wanted to claw at them for betraying her in such a despicable way.Stay strong, Abigail. Stay strong.

Cooper was still staring at her, drinking in every word she’d said. Every expression. Every tear of betrayal. “Abby…”

“Just don’t,” she said. She held up her hand when he made a motion to approach her. She couldn’t handle being so close to him – not now. Perhaps, not ever. “You made your feelings pretty clear. Just let me go home.”

Abby was taken off guard when he ignored her plea and took deliberate steps right to her. One, two, three calculated steps. Slow and full of purpose. Then one more. That last one…oh. That final step was the killer. Cooper was only inches away from her, invading her in every possible way. She could smell the cedar on his skin.

Abby’s eyes darted across his face. They settled on his lips, parted and…enticing. She remembered how they’d felt against her own – how they’d warmed her up, made her buzz and tingle and shiver with feelings she couldn’t quite describe. Abby thought he had been right there with her, indulging in those indescribable feelings. Soaking them up like the summer sun. She could haveswornhe was equally under the spell of whatever carnal magic had been wafting around them, seeping into their bloodstream.

Cooper raised his hand, tucking that same rogue strand of hair behind her ear and making her skin come alive with a familiar heat. She swallowed.

“Desiring you isn’t the issue, Abby.” He leaned in closer,closer, until his lips were grazing her ear. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”

Her knees went weak. Abby never knew that weak knees were anactualthing. But there she was with her weak willpower, her even weaker heart, andoh yes, her weak knees. She tried to respond, but only a breathy gasp escaped her.

Cooper pulled back, only slightly, only marginally. He was still impossibly close. His damn lips were impossibly close. Abby realized then that her hands had sneakily traveled to his upper arms, her fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt. She was holding on for dear life. Possibly to steady her weak knees. Possibly just tofeelhim.

Likely both.

“You…wantme?” His admission had startled her. She hadn’t anticipated such a confession. “Then why did you reject me?”

Cooper cradled her face between his palms, his thumbs caressing the stray tears away from her cheeks. “I was trying to take the moral high road,” he said, his voice almost splintering. “I was trying to do the right thing. I’m working your case, Abby. You’re the woman I’ve sworn to protect. I’m not supposed to be attracted to you.”

Oh.Well.Abby sucked in a breath so sharp, so piercing, it prickled the back of her throat. Her hands were still clinging to him, her fingers digging into his biceps. She knew for certain he was the only thing keeping her from collapsing to the pavement. “I – I’m sorry.” Abby wasn’t sure why she said it, but an apology seemed necessary. Well-deserved. She’d just grinded up on a man he loathed for the sole purpose ofhurtinghim. It was a wicked thing to do

He pulled back then, as if what had happened only moments ago came rushing to the surface. “Yeah.” Cooper’s arms fell to his sides, prompting hers to do the same, and he stepped backwards. One, two, three calculated steps. And that last one…killer.

He was so far now, she couldn’t reach out and touch him. She couldn’t breathe him in. She couldn’t feel his warmth emanating into her susceptible skin.

Abby felt empty.

“Come on,” he said. “I’ll drive you home.”

And then he turned away, leaving her feeling colder than ever. She followed, because she had no choice but to follow, but her feet dragged as she trailed behind him. They felt heavy. Everything felt heavy.

Guilt was a heavy weight, after all.

Chapter sixteen

Another week had gone by. A week of house renovations, moving, and supreme loneliness.

Abby plucked the orange tabby from off her newly refinished hardwood floors. The cat purred in contentment when Abby kissed her head. At least she had Cupcake.

James had been by that week to finish the flooring. He was kind to her. Abby wasn’t sure if James was aware of the shitstorm that had passed through the prior Friday evening, but even if he were, he had stayed friendly and neutral. James didn’t seem like the type to engage in drama, anyway. Abby was grateful for that. He had been the only familiar face she had seen all week.

It was her own fault.

Abby sighed as she collapsed onto her new navy blue sofa. She set Cupcake down and watched as the cat scampered away, finding new things to explore. The only thing Abby wanted to explore was her newest Netflix recommendations. She glanced at her cell phone on the coffee table – silent. Always silent.

Abby had tried to make amends with Daphne. She had apologized profusely, blaming her behavior on both the excessive alcohol and her poor coping skills. While they were legitimate excuses, excuses didn’t hold much weight when a knife had been stabbed through the back of the one person who had been there for her. It made her feel sick inside.

Abby had gone to Daphne’s house the day before to collect the rest of her belongings. After continuous ignored texts and phone calls, Abby was hopeful Daphne would be open to a face-to-face meeting. Unfortunately, Abby was only met with iron eyes and thorny words.

“Did you come to get your shit?” Daphne had asked flatly, her fingers curled around the door frame.

Abby had stood on the porch with her tail between her legs. She’d lowered her head, ashamed and sorry. “Daph, I never meant to hurt you.”

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