Page 9 of Cooper’s Passion

“Don’t worry, he’s not really mad,” Cooper said with a look at Anita’s flushed face. He turned halfway, showing her his cuffed hands. “Do you mind uncuffing me?”

Anita reached into her handbag and pulled out the key. He turned his back to her, and she unlocked the cuffs. “Why didn’t you identify yourself as a police officer?”

Now free, Cooper turned around to face her. “Because I’m not. I’m a private investigator.”

“And you’re on a first name basis with the chief of police?”

He shrugged. “I’ve known Mike all my life.” Then he took a breath. “So, about your apology for falsely arresting me…”

“What apology?”

“The one you haven’t given me yet.” He smirked.

She pointed to his blood-stained shirt. “I merely followed the evidence. So, how did that happen? Looks like blood splatter to me.”

“It is.” And he’d just come up with an excuse of how to explain it away without exposing his secret. “I stopped a bloody fistfight between a couple of drunks. Who knew that a nose can bleed that profusely?” He grinned, turning on his charm. “No good deed goes unpunished, right?”

She gave him a doubtful look. “I guess.”

“So, how about that drink?”

“What drink?”

“The one you’re going to buy me to make up for handcuffing me.” He winked at her. “Not that I’m totally against cuffs. Under the right circumstances.”