Born to Be Wilde

Chapter Eleven

"SINCE you've never been to Santori's, I can personally guarantee you're in for a real treat."

Walking side by side through Little Italy toward the restaurant Daniel spoke of, Sydney smiled at her date, still unable to get over the fact that she was going out with a teacher. Cassie's math teacher to be exact. A man who wasn't nearly as uptight and stuffy as she'd originally pegged him to be. He might not possess those bad boy tendencies she was normally attracted to, but he was definitely hotter and sexier than she'd originally given him credit for.

Gone were the slacks, dress shirt, and tie he wore to work, replaced by casual, form-fitting blue jeans and a neatly pressed oxford shirt. The tan leather jacket added to his striking good looks and overall appealing package. One she was more and more tempted to unwrap and enjoy.

She planned to. Later. After an evening of being wined and dined by him. "I'm definitely looking forward to dinner. I was so busy with inventory at The Electric Blue this afternoon that I missed lunch, so I'm absolutely starved." Having taken off a Saturday evening, which she very rarely did, she wanted to make sure she left the bar well stocked and the place fully staffed.

"Ahhh, a woman with a healthy appetite for food." The tone of his voice was warm and appreciative, with just a hint of flirtatious innuendo, "How refreshing. Women like you who actually eat on a date are becoming a rare breed, you know."

She laughed lightly. "Trust me, I'm not a salad-with-dressing-on-the-side kind of girl." She pushed her hands into the pockets of her coat and shivered against the cold October evening breeze. "I love carbs. You couldn't have made me any happier than by feeding me authentic Italian food."

He grinned and his brown eyes sparkled mischievously, as if he'd just discovered the secret to capturing her heart and soul. "I'll be sure to remember that."

She had no doubt that he would. The man had proven to be far more direct and determined with her than she ever would have anticipated. Much to Sydney's surprise, and a bit of personal, private delight, he'd spent a few nights this past week at The Electric Blue, nursing a drink while she worked behind the bar. She'd given Daniel a good dose of her bold, daring behavior and equally brazen attitude, more than enough to scare him off, and yet here he was, still taking her out to dinner.

Which just confirmed that he was interested in the same thing that every guy wanted from her once they got a good look at her centerfold figure. Hot, fast, raucous sex. Daniel was just going about his quest in a more considerate and polite manner than all the rest, but the end result would be the same.

She'd already decided that it was going to be his lucky night, and hers too. Hell, she was as primed and ready as a woman could get, and it had been way too long since she'd been with a guy. She'd spent the past week tempting and teasing Daniel with plenty of naughty innuendo and dirty dances on the bar's countertop, deliberately building that delicious sexual tension that eventually led to a night of hot, satisfying, physical pleasure. Oh, yeah… she was definitely looking forward to getting down and dirty with Daniel tonight.

A group of young kids was heading toward them, and Daniel settled a large hand at the small of her back to guide them away from the teenagers and keep her near so they didn't get separated on the sidewalk. She was wearing a black winter trench coat, yet his touch, the alluring press of his palm, seemed to sear right though the heavy material and elicited a surge of awareness within her.

Her hip bumped against his, and he could have easily taken advantage of the opportunity to slide his arm around her waist and pull her closer to his side in a show of male possession, or to accidently graze the full underside of her breast while he was at it. She'd come to expect those not-so-subtle tactics from most guys, but Daniel's hand remained in place at the base of her spine. Protectively. Respectfully. In a way that unnerved her more than if he'd copped a feel.

Go figure.

As soon as they reached Santori's, Daniel opened the door for her to enter before him-another gentlemanly gesture she wasn't used to. With a murmured "thanks" she stepped into the establishment, grateful for the rush of warmth that replaced the early evening chill outside. She inhaled the rich, redolent scents of authentic Italian food, and her stomach growled hungrily in response.

An woman in her mid-sixties made her way through the crowded lobby of customers, her bright gaze focused on Daniel. She was wearing a pretty, flowery dress accessorized with a cute i love pasta pin with a fork and spoon twirling strands of spaghetti and a dangling meatball. As soon as she reached him, her lovely face lit up with genuine fondness.

"Well, look who decided to stop in for a visit!" The woman's lightly accented voice held distinct tones of pleasure and a slight reprimand. "It's been too long."

"I know. I know." Daniel ducked his head sheepishly, looking far too charming and appealing for Sydney's peace of mind. "I had a craving for some deep dish pizza, and we all know this is the best place in the city for that."

"You got that right." The woman gently patted his cheek before taking his face in both her hands to scrutinize him closer, as a mother would a young boy. "Just look at you. You keep getting more and more handsome each time I see you." Then she finally dropped her hands back down to her sides and shifted her gaze to Sydney, her curiosity evident in the slight arch of her brow. "Who's your friend, Daniel?"

"This is Sydney," he said, that clever hand of his finding its way back to her spine to urge her forward. "Sydney, this is Rosa Santori."

"It's very nice to meet you." Sydney extended her hand courteously toward Rosa.

"No, the pleasure is all mine," the other woman insisted as she took Sydney's hand and gave it a warm, welcoming squeeze that was far more affectionate and personal than a handshake. "I can't remember Daniel ever bringing a woman friend here before. He must be trying to impress you."

Sydney laughed. Oh, this woman was sly. And incredibly sweet. "He's well on his way to doing just that."

Daniel glanced around at the crowd of people waiting to be seated for dinner. "I didn't even think about it being a Saturday night and the restaurant being so busy." He checked the time on his watch then sent Rosa a hopeful look. "Do you have a table open, by chance? We have a movie to catch in about an hour."

The man obviously wasn't opposed to using his acquaintance with Rosa to pull a few strings and eliminate the long wait for a seat, which led Sydney to believe that maybe he did have a bit of a rebellious streak in him after all. That possibility made him all the more sexy and irresistible to her.

"For you, I have the best seat in the house available," Rosa said, happy to accommodate him. "Come this way."

She crooked her finger at the two of them, grabbed a few menus from the hostess stand, then led the way to a quiet, secluded table at the back of the restaurant, which was decorated in traditional, old-world pizzeria style. Here, the lighting was low, with a flickering candle in a Chianti bottle adding to the relaxing and cozy atmosphere.

Once they were seated in the booth across from one another Rosa handed each of them a menu and gave them the specials for the day. "Now you two enjoy your dinner, and I'll send Tony over with a bottle of wine, on the house."

She left, and moments later a good-looking man came up to their table, a bottle of Chianti in one hand and two wine glasses in the other. He greeted Daniel with a firm handshake and some friendly ribbing that made it obvious that they'd known each other for a long time. Then another round of introductions ensued for her, and she learned that this man named Tony was one of Rosa's sons.

Wine was poured, and when their waitress arrived to take their order, Sydney went with Daniel's recommendation to try the deep dish pizza, which was his personal favorite. With that out of the way, he shrugged out of his jacket, and she untied the sash around her waist and did the same with her coat.

When he'd arrived at her apartment to pick her up, she'd been dressed and ready to go-including wearing her coat. Now, as she peeled off that outer layer and watched his eyes take on a dark, appreciative gleam, she was pleased to see that her outfit had the desired effect on him. Especially her long-sleeved, lace-up, corset-type top, which she'd chosen with pure and deliberate seduction in mind. The dark burgundy fabric molded to her curves, and the low scoop neckline emphasized her best, and most lusted after assets-her breasts.

Satisfied that her blatant display of cleavage didn't escape his notice, she settled back against her seat and reached for her glass of wine. "I take it that the Santoris are friends of the family?"

His gaze met hers and he smiled. "Yeah. I've known Mr. and Mrs. Santori since I was a kid. My brother and sister and I went to school with the Santoris. And my mother and Rosa were always involved in the PTA, booster clubs, and that sort of thing, so our families spent time together."

It sounded as though Daniel had a close-knit family and had grown up in a normal, well-adjusted household. She envied that sort of childhood simplicity, things that most people took for granted. "So, you've lived here all your life?"

"Yep. Born and raised right here in Chicago." Daniel took a long drink of his wine, his deep brown eyes studying her for a moment over the rim of his glass. "What about you? Where did you grow up?"

She shrugged, and kept things vague. "I'm from various parts of Illinois."

He tipped his head curiously as he stroked his fingers along the stem of his wine glass. "I take it your family didn't stay in one place for long?"

How could she forget that this man had a penchant for asking personal questions, despite her reluctance to answer them? He'd done the same thing after their parent-teacher conference regarding Cassie's math grades, coaxing information out of her about her past that she normally kept to herself-and here he was, doing it again.

She wanted to tell him that getting to know her on a deeper, more intimate level wasn't a prerequisite for getting laid-she'd agreed to a date, so sex was a given. Wanted to tell him that she preferred a no-strings-attached affair, the kind that didn't require sharing secrets or trading personal information beyond their sexual preferences. A casual, friends-with-benefits type of arrangement, because anything beyond that with a man, any man, just wasn't going to happen.

The physical connection and attraction between them was one thing, but she wasn't about to let him in emotionally, and she couldn't think of a better way to ensure he backed off than by being completely honest and up front about her past. All of it. Including the sordid details that a nice, blue-blooded guy like Daniel wouldn't want in a future mate. And she was fairly certain that by the time their first date was over and he knew just how scandalous a past she'd had, he wouldn't be chomping at the bit for a second go.

That worked for her.

"I never had a family, to speak of," she said, giving him the reply he was waiting for. "Just a string of foster homes from the age of twelve, until I got pregnant with Cassie when I was fourteen. I spent the four years after that in a halfway house for unwed mothers, going to school, working part time, and raising Cassie."

If she'd shocked him with her blunt response, he had the good manners not to show it. In fact, the interest in his gaze increased, and he didn't hesitate to act on it. "That had to be tough," he said, gentle understanding in his tone. "Are your parents deceased?"

Sydney's stomach twisted relentlessly. More ugly truths to reveal. If her answer to that question didn't turn him off completely, then she didn't know what would. "My mother died of a heroin overdose in a back alley somewhere, and I have no idea who my father is. I don't think my mother even knew, considering she prostituted herself in order to afford her next fix."

Daniel watched as Sydney's chin lifted defensively and her eyes flashed fire-the kind that warned him that he'd just trudged onto very sensitive territory and he needed to take a huge step back before he got burned.

Despite his father's opinion to the contrary, Daniel had always considered himself a smart man, and intelligent enough to know when he'd backed someone into a corner-and that's what he'd unintentionally done to Sydney. He'd hit on a raw and painful topic, and she was lashing out, trying to protect her emotions with a fearless and defiant attitude.

He could easily understand how that approach would keep other, lesser men at a distance, but Daniel hadn't come this far with Sydney to let her shut him out now. After years of dealing with problematic kids being shuffled through the public school system, he easily recognized her behavior as purely a protective instinct. She was no different than some of those students-rough and tough on the outside because life had dealt them a crappy hand, yet vulnerable deep down inside, where it mattered the most.

Now he knew just how difficult part of Sydney's life had been, and as much as she wanted him to back off and keep things impersonal between them, he wasn't going to. He wanted to know everything about her. Every little detail. Everything that had shaped her into the fiercely independent woman she was today.

As she finished off her glass of wine, he took in her fiery auburn hair and those sensual green eyes that guarded deeper, painful secrets. She'd intrigued him from the very first time he'd met her, a year ago. At first glance, he'd seen what every other guy saw when they looked at her-a body made for pure pleasure and sin, and one she flaunted to her advantage. She was so unlike the sweet, traditional women his mother was constantly foisting on him. This woman had energy and spirit, and was feisty enough to hold her own in any situation.

Undoubtedly, she was a man's walking fantasy, but it was the way she cared about her daughter that showed him another side to her personality. A softer, tender side that he suspected she didn't show to the outside world very often. Judging by her past, she had good reason to be cautious, even suspicious of other people's motives, and he hoped that in time she'd come to realize that his interest in her was honest and real.

Their waitress came by to deliver their order, which helped to relieve the tension that had settled over the table. Daniel served them each a thick slice of the deep dish pizza and refilled their wine glasses, then watched as Sydney ate her dinner with a gusto few women would have the nerve to display on a first date.

After a few bites, he decided to switch to a lighter, mutual subject between them. One they both could relate to.

Her daughter. "So, how does Cassie feel about the two of us dating?" he asked.

Just as he planned, the mention of Cassie immediately grabbed Sydney's attention and her gaze met his with amusement, all traces of their previous exchange gone. "She took the news about as well as any typical teenager would. She wasn't thrilled about us going out, but she does like you, so you do have that going in your favor."

"That's good to know," he said, and grinned. "By the way, I spent some time with Cassie this week during the afternoon tutoring sessions."

"And?" she asked anxiously. "How's she doing?"

"For the most part, it appears that she's comprehending the daily lessons, but there still seem to be a few areas that she's struggling with." Despite working directly with Cassie, he'd yet to figure out the source of her inability to grasp certain aspects of their lesson, yet understand the more complicated equations he'd given her. There was an inconsistency there that didn't make sense to him. "I had a lot of students show up this week for after-school tutoring, so I wasn't able to spend as much one-on-one time with her as I would have liked to, but she did do better on her review test this past Friday."

Finished with her first slice of pizza, Sydney reached for a second and set it on her plate, matching his own appetite without a hint of self-consciousness. "That's good, right?"

"Yes. Very good. Overall, it's positive progress." He grinned at her, trying to allay her concerns. "I told you not to worry."

She rolled her eyes as she took a drink of her Chianti. "Easier said than done. Being a parent breeds all sorts of paranoia and concern." Then she smiled at him, her gaze now soft and mellow from the wine and amicable conversation. "Besides, weren't you the one who mentioned all the things that could be a part of the reason her grades are falling behind, like peer pressure and other distractions?"

Now knowing what Sydney had endured as a teenager, her overprotective demeanor toward Cassie made perfect sense. "She's a good, smart girl and sometimes it's a matter of getting kids back on track before they fall too far behind. However, I'd still like for her to come in twice a week for after-school tutoring, at least until I know for certain she's back to working at grade level. I'll keep working with her when I can, and I also encourage the students to pair up, which helps to hone their problem-solving skills, as well."

She nodded in agreement. "Okay, I completely trust your judgment on this."

And trusting him, a man, said a lot from this wary, cautious woman. He decided he'd take whatever he could get at that point. "So, are you going to let Cassie go to that Halloween party next weekend?"

She blinked at him in surprise. "How do you know about that?"

Done with his dinner, he wiped his fingers on his napkin and set it on his empty plate. "I heard Cassie talking to a friend before class started, and she said something about wanting to go to the Halloween party, but she wasn't sure if she'd be able to." Actually, Cassie had told her friend that her mother was being difficult, but Daniel didn't think that information was necessary.

She sighed, as if the decision was a tough one for her to make. "I haven't decided yet. I told her I'd consider letting her go if her math grades improved." She finished off her last bite of pizza and licked her fingers clean.

As Sydney's tongue swirled around each digit and she sucked the tomato sauce off the tips, Daniel felt his groin tighten with heat and desire. She had an incredibly sensual mouth, and it was so easy to imagine her using it on him in the same exact way. Her gaze caught his from across the table, and a small smile curved the corners of her mouth when she realized where his thoughts had wandered.

He shifted in his seat and forced his mind back to their discussion about Cassie. "Her grades have improved."

She pushed her plate aside and crossed her arms on the table in front of her in a way that accentuated those full, voluptuous breasts of hers that were straining against her lace-up top. "They could be better though, right?"

"Yes, but taking something away, or denying Cassie the opportunity to go to a party and have some fun, isn't going to help her grades."

She laughed dryly. "God, you sound just like Lora."

He casually swirled the last of the wine in his glass and took the direct approach. One that scraped off surface layers and tapped into more emotional issues. "What are you really afraid of, Sydney?"

She stiffened noticeably. "I'm not afraid of anything. I'm trying to be a good parent, one who makes sure that her daughter doesn't end up making bad choices or getting herself into trouble that can be avoided. Letting her go to a party at this age, any party, I'm taking the chance of her being exposed to drugs and alcohol and sex."

"Fair enough. But that's going to happen eventually, and a part of growing up is learning to make the right choices, even if that means making a few mistakes along the way. But she can't become her own person if you don't give her the chance, and sheltering her from the big bad world isn't going to keep her your little girl forever."

Just as he'd braced himself for a bristling argument from Sydney, their waitress came by to clear their dirty dishes from the table and ask if they wanted dessert, diffusing the potentially explosive moment between them.

They both declined, their waitress delivered their check, and Daniel paid for the meal, determined to make the next segment of their date far less serious and much more fun.

THE Will Ferrell comedy Daniel took her to see had been hilariously funny. Sydney couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed so much during a movie, or been so aware of a man sitting beside her in a darkened theater. Especially at the same time. Most of her dates, if she could even call them that, consisted of going to a rowdy bar or a loud and crowded club with a guy. There'd be a few drinks and a few dances and a whole lot of expectation at the end of the night that resulted in mutual satisfaction. It was always the same… until tonight.

As she sat in the passenger seat of Daniel's sporty Volvo as he drove back to her place, Sydney couldn't help but wonder how their evening would end.

Despite the intense conversation they'd had about Cassie over dinner, the rest of their time together had been surprisingly relaxing and enjoyable. After the movie, he'd taken her to a nearby Starbucks for a coffee, and they'd sat at a table and talked-this time about inconsequential things. She learned that he loved to cook, that he collected old James Bond novels, and that he was a self-proclaimed computer geek. She was unexpectedly touched by the affection in his tone and expression when he talked about his two nephews and how he enjoyed taking them to the batting cages on the weekends and coached their little league teams during the season since his brother didn't have the time. He was a dedicated uncle, and it was clear that he connected with kids of all ages.

He shared bits and pieces about his parents and siblings and how he was treated as the odd man out for choosing a less-than-illustrious career as a high school math teacher. It was enough for Sydney to realize that she'd never, ever, fit in with his family, and she was grateful that she'd never have to make the effort.

But mostly, he made her smile and laugh and feel younger and more carefree than she had in a long time. Made her forget, for a little while, just how different their lives were while he made her the sole focus of his attention. There was nothing awkward or uncomfortable about being with Daniel. No pretenses, either. What you saw was exactly what you got-a man who was smart, amusing, honest, and caring to a fault.

As they left the coffee shop and were walking back to his car, their hands swung together in one of those accidental ways, and before she could pull her arm back, he laced his fingers through hers, securing her hand in his large, warm male grasp. Her stomach did one of those funny little flips, a silly, girlish reaction that was as thrilling as it was unnerving.

He was almost perfect. Almost too good to be true. Definitely the kind of guy a woman could fall hard and fast for given the chance.

But not her.

She reminded herself that he was just a temporary diversion, a pleasurable fling she had every intention of following through on tonight. To give them what they both wanted, and go their separate ways.

Now, as he walked her up to her apartment, hand in hand once again, she decided it was time to put her plan for seduction and sex into motion.

When they reached her door, she turned around and faced him. Giving him one of those inviting, come-hither smiles that made most men weak with lust, she brazenly slipped her hand inside his jacket, flattened her palm on his chest, and stroked her way down to the flat, hard contours of his abdomen. She could feel the heat of his body through his shirt, watched as his eyes darkened with desire, and experienced that powerful surge of excitement that came from being the one in control, the one to make a man, this man, want her.

Her own body thrummed in response.

"Would you like to come in?" she asked huskily, and there was no misinterpreting the sultry invitation in her voice.

He stared at her, dark-eyed and oh-so-tempting, with a sexy, bone-melting smile on his lips. "No, not tonight."

She dropped her arm back to her side and blinked at him, certain he was joking with her, or maybe was playing hard to get. That was the only thing that made any sense, because what normal, healthy, red-blooded man turned down a sure thing?

"Are you sure?" she asked, then wondered if he was worried that they might get interrupted. She cleared up that possibility real fast: "Cassie is staying the night at a friend's."

Undeterred, he shook his head in true gentleman fashion. "I'm sure."

A flicker of annoyance got the best of her and she exhaled a frustrated breath. "Daniel, you don't have to work so hard for it, you know." She was his for the taking. More than once, if he'd like.

Amusement-at her expense, no less-danced in his gaze. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Oh, he most certainly did. And because he was being deliberately difficult and obtuse, she was about to abandon subtlety and take the blunt approach, which was more to her liking anyways. "Then let's just get it out in the open so there's no mistaking what I'm talking about." She licked her lips provocatively. "I want to have sex with you." Hot, hard, mindless sex. The kind that had nothing to do with talking, and everything to do with sweaty bodies, tangled sheets, and if she was really lucky, an orgasm or two.

He considered her proposition for a moment, not at all shocked by her candidness. "You know, I'm really flattered, but I don't have sex on the first date."

She opened her mouth, then closed it again, disbelief rendering her speechless-and that certainly didn't happen often. He was flat-out turning her down. Was this guy for real?

He casually slid his fingers into the front pockets of his jeans, his smile never wavering. "What I would like, though, is to go out with you again. You name the day and time. Whatever works for you, since I'm open."

Oh. My. God. In that moment, Sydney realized that he was going to make her work for it. String her along. Build the tension and desire between them. Make her hot and bothered to the point that she was the one begging.

She'd never allowed a man that kind of control over her, and she wasn't about to start now, either. But she wasn't ready to say good-bye to Daniel just yet, not without finishing what he'd started. He'd just issued her a challenge, a seductive game between them, and one she had every intention of winning. They would have sex, and when they did, it would be on her terms, as it always was.

"Fine," she said, and mentally reviewed her upcoming week at The Electric Blue for the slowest evening to take off. "How about Tuesday night?"

"That's great." With their next date settled, he stepped closer, leaned in, and slowly lowered his mouth to hers for a kiss.

His lips were warm and sensual as they slid across hers in an enticing, heated caress. Surprisingly soft and damp… yet wholly, deliciously male. She wanted a hot and aggressive exploration, mouths fused, tongues mating, and bodies straining for more intimate contact and friction.

Figuring that this was as close as she was going to get to any satisfaction tonight, she attempted to make their kiss a good one, but Daniel wasn't cooperating with her efforts. Every time she shifted closer or pressed for a deeper connection, he'd pull back ever so slightly, teasing her with the promise of something more lasting and erotic… in his own sweet time.

He nibbled softly, gently, on her bottom lip, and an impatient noise escaped her throat. The man was destined to drive her absolutely crazy with need, and there wasn't a damned thing she could do about it except let him saturate every one of her five senses with his slow, leisurely kiss.

By the time he was done and finally lifted his mouth from hers, Sydney's entire body was thoroughly aroused, from the sensitive tips of her breasts to the insides of her thighs, and everywhere in between. And he hadn't even used his hands, since they were still tucked into his jean pockets.

Judging by Daniel's triumphant and too-smug grin, he was well aware of his affect on her.

"Good night, Sydney," he said huskily.

Knowing there was nothing she could do to persuade this man who possessed such iron-clad willpower to stay, she dug her apartment keys from her purse and unlocked her door. "Yeah, well, thanks for what's certain to be a long and restless night for me," she said wryly.

He chuckled humorously. "Me, too."

One quick glance downward at the erection clearly outlined against the fly of his jeans told her that he'd been just as affected. A part of her admired that impressive restraint of his, but she knew it wouldn't last for long.

She'd make sure of it.