Page 31 of Bend

Long dark hair falling in soft waves down her back, catching the warm light from the house as she moves. She’s wearing a pale corset-style top that fits like it was designed specifically to ruin a bloke’s ability to think straight, paired with jeans that sit just low enough on her hips to make the whole thing feel unfair.

Simple. Effortless.

There’s a small cross hanging from a thin chain around her neck that glints every time she steps under the driveway lights, and her eyes scan the place slowly, calm and curious like she’s clocking everything at once while looking for someone.

She stands out straight away.

Not because she’s trying to.

Actually the opposite.

Most of the people at this party are doing that thing rich people do where they pretend to be confident while practically drowning in insecurity. Flashy watches, loud laughs, and houses that look like they were designed specifically to scream I’ve got money, please notice.

But this girl’s different. Theres no sign of hesitation. She just walks up the drive like she owns the bloody place.

Completely unbothered.

Which, in a place like this, makes her stand out more than anything else could.

I watch her a second longer than I probably should.

Then the words leave my mouth before my brain has the chance to stop them.

“Bloody hell… she’s fit.”

Wolfe turns his head immediately.

“Who?” he mutters, “Tourist?”

“Maybe,” I say.

But my eyes follow her anyway.

She reaches the edge of the lawn and pauses there for a moment, scanning the party like she’s looking for someone. Her gaze moves across the crowd. Across the house, and balconies, toward the bikes before landing on us.

Then, it stays there for a brief second before she turns away quickly. Like we were the two people in this party she didn’t want to notice her.

Interesting.

I tilt my head slightly and call out across the driveway.

“Oi.”

She stops, and looks over again. I lift my beer bottle in greeting.

“You lost, sweetheart?”

Wolfe exhales slowly beside me.

“Really?”

“What?”

“You’re flirting.”

“Am not,” I mutter. “She probably just needs help finding her people. It’s a party, innit? Not exactly the safest place to be wandering around on your own.”

Wolfe turns his head slowly, giving me that look like he’s already seen through the entire act.