Trust Raven to shrug off an easy out. He'd meant the offer as a friendly gesture, knowing better than to judge someone's abilities on appearance, but he was starting to get the impression she wasn't one to accept the easy way out or the comfortable path.

That was fine by him; he had no doubt about taking the bridge. (All right, not a lot of doubt. Not enough to stop him.)

Plainly intending it as a joke, Jess held his hand out as answer, not for one second believing she'd actually take it. "Was it that obvious? I'm trembling in my boots."