Page 121 of Bend

A real position. A real team and a chance to prove I’m more than Evelyn Cooper’s secret daughter who showed up uninvited and made everyone’s lives complicated.

Forcing myself up, I head down the narrow isle between the seats toward the front of the bus.

“You planning on staying in there?”

I look toward the open doors.

Draygon is standing at the bottom of the steps, jacket open over a black shirt, tattoos disappearing beneath the sleeves. The wind pushes his dark hair across his forehead, and his eyes are already on me.

“Won’t lie, I’ve been considering it. Seems pretty peaceful in here.”

He huffs a laugh, “Until they realize you’re missing.”

“Well, then I’ll lock the doors.”

His mouth pulls into a small smile as he holds out his hand. “Come on, pretty girl.”

Fuck.

That nickname should not work as well as it does.

I take his hand and let him help me down. His grip is warm, steady, and for a second after my sneakers hit the ground, neither of us lets go.

Before I can reach for my bag, he grabs it from the step and throws the strap over his shoulder.

I lift a brow. “Wow. Chivalrous too? You’re really building an impressive résumé.”

He glances down at me. “You complaining?”

“Nope, I’m just deciding if I should be suspicious.”

“About me carrying your bag?”

“About you being nice without demanding something in return.”

That gets a low laugh out of him.

“I don’t need to demand anything from you.”

His eyes move over me slowly, and yeah, there’s no fucking mistaking what he means by that.

Heat crawls straight up my neck.

I lift a brow. “Cocky much?”

Draygon’s mouth tips into a smirk. “Very.”

“At least you admit it.”

“I know what I can get away with.”

His gaze drops again, lingering just long enough to make my stomach tighten. He steps in, one hand settling at my waist, and presses a quick kiss to my forehead before I can make another smart-ass comment.

That shuts me up for half a second.

Annoying.

Andre calls my name from farther up the drive.