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She pointed at his plate with her glass. “Eat your dinner.”

He picked up his fork and took another big bite, like he needed to hurry up and eat it before she booted him out the door.

She put him at ease, even as she settled back intoher seat. “I’d really like to spend more time with you.”

The next forkful of food hovered in the air as he stared wide-eyed at her. “Seriously?”

She took a leap. “The song I posted tonight was definitely for you. I was very disappointed you didn’t show earlier. I wanted us to share a meal and talk and get to know each other better.”

He set the fork down again. “If I could have been here, I would have. I really need you to believe that.”

“I do. So finish your food, and let’s get to know each other better.”

He took a sip of his wine and stared at her. “There’s something you need to know about me. I will never lie to you. But I also can’t tell you everything about my life either.”

“Are you into something illegal?”

“No.”

“Is whatever you are into dangerous?”

“Very.”

She didn’t know what to say to that. “I’m not going to be able to guess what that really means, am I?”

“I really wish you wouldn’t, because I can’t tell you.”

She held his steady gaze. “Then, at least tell me this. What’s your name?”

His gaze intensified. “Everyone here calls me Viper.”

Here.Interesting.

She shook her head. “I want your real name.”

He sighed, his eyes full of secrets and regret. “And this is where you either trust me or you don’t, because I can’t tell you that.”

“Are you a wanted criminal?”

He almost grinned. “No.”

“I’m not calling you Viper.”

“Call me whatever you want, and I’ll answer to it.”

Mine.The resounding claim rang through her heart and mind. “You want to be with me so much that you’d just let me call you anything because I don’t want to use that nickname.”

“Yes. It’s just a name, Lyric. What I’m missing in my life is someone who sees me, not all the other stuff going on around me. I don’t know how to make that make sense to you when I can’t tell you everything right now.” The earnest words and utter intensity and hope in them sent a wave of sympathy through her.

“You need me to have faith.”

“I’m asking for a hell of a lot more than that, and I know it, and I’m sorry for it, because it would also be best if we kept this, whatever this is that’s happening, between us.”

“You don’t want people to know we’re seeing each other.” She didn’t like hiding things from the people she cared about.

“It would be better for you if they didn’t.”

“Why?”