He grinned wider. “And I’m giving you a chance to earn something better than minimum wage.”
He reached for her again, this time aiming for her shoulder, his hand coming in fast, confident, like he had done this before and expected it to go the same way it always did.
It didn’t.
Mara moved before his fingers made contact. Not dramatically, not with the kind of flourish people expect from a fight, but with something cleaner, more precise. She stepped inside his reach, her hand catching his wrist and turning it just enough to break his balance, her shoulder driving forward into his chest with controlled force. The shift was subtle, almost gentle, but it was enough. His footing slipped, his weight shifted, and suddenly he was off-center, his body reacting before his mind could catch up.
By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late.
