Free Her Soul to Keep by Delilah Devlin Page B

around.” She ducked her head, perhaps to hide the new blush staining her cheeks. “I’m Mariah Cohen.”
    To halt the automatic response, he pressed his lips tight. Tonight, he wasn’t Viper. “I’m Daniel Vacarro,” he said softly and held his breath. Would the name niggle at her memory?
    “Daniel. Not Danny?”
    He gave an exaggerated shudder.
    She laughed again. “Not manly enough?”
    He narrowed his glance and arched a brow.
    “See?” she said, a smile curving her soft, plump mouth. “We’re already getting to know each other.”
    His gaze darted upward to catch a hint of amusement in her sparkling eyes. He gave a gentle snort. “Are you always such a smart ass with complete strangers?”
    Her head canted as she peered into his face. “We aren’t strangers, Daniel . I admit, tonight I feel just a little reckless, but I recognized you right off. We’re just taking a short walk in the middle of a crowd of people.” She flipped her hair off her cheek. “What’s the worst that can happen?”
    Viper shook his head. The woman was crazy. But she was right. The only danger he posed tonight was to her sweet, curvy body. His fingers curled over hers, pressing them against his forearm. “This is the place.” He swept her into the coffee shop and halted at the end of a long line.
    As the people waiting in front of them peeled away, one at a time, some patting pockets for “missing wallets,” some squinting at the menu board as though they suddenly couldn’t read it, Mariah stood quietly beside him, bewilderment rounding her eyes as the line melted completely away. “This never happens.”
    “What would you like?” he deferred to her, hiding a smug smile. So, he’d worked a little of his magic on the other customers. Bite me.
    She placed her order, and then lifted a brow.
    “Nothing for me,” he murmured.
    “You didn’t come for the coffee?”
    “I’m not the addict.”
    “Afraid you won’t be able to sleep tonight?”
    “Who’s going to sleep?” he muttered under his breath.
    Her tongue swept out to wet her lower lip as rosy color crept across her pale cheeks. She let him pull her aside to wait at the end of the barista’s counter. “But you didn’t pay.”
    Viper shrugged. “I know them.”
    “Right,” she said, her tone indicating she didn’t quite believe him. “Did you wink at the girl or something?”
    “Why? Do you think my charm’s irresistible?”
    Her soft feminine snort was followed by a slow, dazed shake of her head. “I’m here, aren’t I? And we just met ten minutes ago.”
    Viper closed his eyes for a second, trying to keep his memories at bay and just enjoy the moment. She had no way of knowing how much her innocent comment ate at his resolve. They’d met a long time before this night.
    Her name was called, and he opened his eyes, catching her gaze.
    She gave him a concerned look then stepped forward to claim her cup. “Do you want to stay here?”
    The press of warm-blooded bodies around him felt suffocating and far too tempting. “Let’s walk.” Outside again, he raised his face to the warm breeze and drank in the cleansing air. “Sorry about that. I don’t like crowds much.”
    “I kind of figured that out. There are tables just down the way. Want to sit?”
    He nodded, hoping his sudden melancholy would vanish. He had only a few hours to spend with her, if she let him, before he had to return to his world. He didn’t want to waste a moment thinking about things that could never be.
    As she walked, she played with the plastic lid then took a quick sip. Her eyes drifted closed. “Mmmm…this was just what I needed.”
    They reached the tables outside another café. Viper chose one at the outer edge of the extended courtyard and pulled out a chair, waiting as she settled before taking his own beside her, rather than across the table. His gaze swept the harbor, noting the glints of moonlight sparkling on the water. For a long moment, he kept his gaze there