My heart sank. No, she wasn’t kidding. I liked Miranda, and she was the only real friend I’d made since I moved back home to Red Sands six months ago, but she was flakier than a breakfast croissant.
She waved at the guys, and one of them waved back and gave her a leering wink. I stifled a shudder. “They’re all yours,” I said.
“Ooh, Christmas came early!” Miranda grinned and hurriedover to their table. She leaned over to give them a generous view of her cleavage. Miranda was short like me but petite, and she liked to wear padded bras and scoop-neck shirts. She certainly seemed to have caught their attention.
I sighed and headed back to my section to take more orders, making a mental note to catch the bubonic plague next time someone tried to foist off a Friday night shift.
A couple of minutes later, Miranda came over and tapped my shoulder. “I asked what they wanted, and they said they’d like us to join them in their hotel room tonight.” She widened her eyes hopefully. “It might be fun!” I scrunched up my face in a grimace.
“I’m all set, thanks.”
She pursed her lips in annoyance. “Whatever. All for me, then.”
I opened my mouth to answer, but a wave of dizziness swept over me, and black spots swam in front of my eyes.
I hurried off and shoved my way through the crowd. My heart was racing, and I didn’t know why. I’ve never been prone to dizzy spells or panic attacks.
I made it to the hallway in the back of the restaurant. It led to the kitchen and also to the back alley behind the restaurant. I stood there for a moment, eyes shut, bracing my hand on the wall.
“Daphne? Let’s go. You’ve got to come with me.” A rough, growly voice said from behind me. And another smell swept through the air, but this one was delightful. Masculine, musky, with a hint of pine forest thrown in.
Somehow, I knew even before I opened my eyes.
The Viking.
Two
Daphne
He was easily six foot six, eyes chocolate brown, thick dark hair that swept past his shoulders and a lush beard that framed full lips.
I must have been hallucinating because it sounded like he’d just ordered me to leave with him.
His eyes met mine and his gaze pierced my soul. He stared at me as if he knew me, as if he’d always known me deeply, intimately. Heat swept over me, and my nipples instantly turned hard as my panties dampened.
“Holy wow,” I choked out.
His mouth curled up in a sardonic smile. “So I’ve heard. Don’t worry, though. I’m more than just a pretty face. I also do tricks. Shall I show you one?”
“Excuse you?” I snorted. “I mean, you’re notthathot.”
His eyes gleamed with amusement, and he folded broad arms across his chest. “Actually, I am.”
“Yeah.” I sighed in defeat. I mean, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. “You really are.”
He nodded, smiling down at me. “And so are you. We’re well matched. The fates have smiled on me today in many ways.”
Of course. Here came the cheesy lines. Did I look like an easy mark? Like I’d be hard up. Like he wouldn’t have to put much work into it?
“You can tell, too, right?” He quirked an eyebrow. “I scented it the first time I walked in here.”
Scentedit? Curiouser and curiouser. Did this actually pass for a pickup line where he came from?
I should have stomped off. And I definitely would…in a minute or two. It was just that standing there next to him felt so right, somehow. I had so much stress going on in every area of my life, between a recent breakup, dealing with a crazy mother’s mood swings, and being so broke I couldn’t even pay attention. I just wanted to enjoy this feeling a little more before I swept away in a huff.
“You know my name,” I said. “What’s yours? I can’t keep calling you the Viking.”
“The Viking?” he grinned. “Come again?”
