Page 8 of Bend

“Think so?” I ask, watching her instead of the bar now.

“Yeah.” Her thumb drags lightly over the calligraphy again. “You look like you’d bite.”

My mouth twitches. “That what you’re hoping for?”

Her eyes lift then, sharp and bright under the low lights. Playful and curious.

“Maybe I just like knowing what I’m dealing with,” she says. “Isn’t it smarter for the prey to figure out what kind of predator they’re standing in front of?”

I smirk at that.

Predator.

It shouldn’t hit the way it does, but something about the way she says it makes it land differently. She sounds fucking amused. Like she thinks she’s in control of the narrative tonight.

And shit, maybe she is.

Her thumb drags lightly over the ink again, tracing the curve of the script like she’s testing whether I’ll react this time.

“You always label men that quick?” I ask.

“Nah. Not always. Only when they look like they’d enjoy the chase,” she replies.

She finally leans back, withdrawing her hand slowly, and the absence of her touch registers immediately. I pick up my beer to give my hands something to do, taking a slow drink while watching her over the rim of the bottle.

“So,” I say, voice casual again even though the air between us isn’t, “what brings you to Tampa?”

Her head tilts slightly, just enough to signal she knew the question was coming.

“What makes you think I’m not from here?” There’s no defensiveness in her tone, just honest curiosity.

“You don’t move like you’re from here,” I say.

“Oh?” She folds her arms loosely, clearly amused. “And how exactly do Tampa girls move?”

I let my eyes drag over her once, not hiding the fact that I’m checking her out.

“Anyone local knows this place isn’t exactly safe after dark,” I say. “Especially not looking like that.”

Her brow lifts slightly. “Like what?”

“Like you,” I answer, voice even. “Too pretty, and showing that much skin when walking in a place like this? Alone?”

It’s not criticism, it’s fact.

“Girls from around here don’t stroll into a dive bar in this neighborhood solo unless they’re meeting someone. They know better. They know how quick attention shifts from harmless to, well, not.”

My jaw tightens slightly at the thought.

“And if you were here to meet someone, then you wouldn’t have accepted Isla’s invite to join us. Plus, not going to lie, you look like you’ve got better places you could be,” I add. “Like this isn’t your usual scene you just needed to let loose tonight. Destress a bit and forget all the bullshit going on. My guess, this was the closest option.”

Her lips curve, faint but real.

“You’re awfully observant, Draygon,” she says.

“I try.”

She studies me for a long second, then shrugs one shoulder.