Born to Be Wilde

Chapter One

"I need your help."

Startled by the desperate request drifting through the phone line, Joel Wilde's fingers tightened around the cordless receiver pressed to his ear. It had been one helluva long time since he'd heard that voice, but he recognized it instantly. A friend. A comrade. The man who'd literally saved his life.

"Zach?" he asked incredulously.

"Yeah, buddy, it's me." Zach Marshall's forced chuckle fell flat. "It's been a while, huh?"

More than four years, to be exact, Joel thought as he sat down on one of the bar stools in his kitchen. As marines they'd been assigned to the same Force Reconnaissance unit, and after serving their country for four and six years respectively, they'd both opted not to reenlist. Their last mission in Baghdad had been harrowing, and one that neither of them had been eager to repeat. In fact, most of the men who'd been a part of that assignment had walked away with either physical or emotional scars. And for some, both.

Joel was a man who'd always thrived on risk and adventure, but his tour of duty in Iraq had been much more than he'd ever bargained for. After watching good men die and nearly losing his own life, as well, Joel had wanted nothing more than to join the real world again and live a normal life, free from strict rules, from relentless, rigorous missions, and from being responsible for other men's lives.

He'd tried to keep in touch with Zach over the years, but Zach was a wanderer, always seeking action and adventure. He was a good guy at heart, but he was also a drinker and a gambler and usually found trouble instead. Which brought Joel back to the reason behind his friend's call.

"What's going on, Zach?" Joel was compelled to ask, but dreaded the answer.

"I'm in trouble. Big trouble." Zach's voice cracked with the faintest hint of despair. "I owe a bookie a shit-load of money that I don't have."

Joel wasn't surprised, just disappointed that his friend hadn't changed his ways. Obviously Zach hadn't learned his lesson after one of their comrades, Bruno, had beaten the crap out of him when Zach had neglected to pay up the five hundred bucks he'd lost to the big, burly marine during a poker game.

Joel blew out a rough stream of breath. "How much?"

A noticeable pause ensued before Zach finally answered. "Over fifty grand."

Joel's mind reeled with disbelief, and a ripe curse escaped his lips before he could stop it. "Jesus, Zach, I don't have that kind of cash to give you."

"I know, and I swear I'm not asking you for it," Zach tried to assure him. "But this situation involves more than just me. Remember my sister, Lora?"

They'd never met personally, but Joel did, indeed, remember bits and pieces about Lora Marshall. Zach had openly shared the amusing letters his sister had written to him on a weekly basis, and the occasional picture she'd sometimes include along with the correspondence.

It had been a very long time since Joel had seen any of those photos, or even thought of Lora Marshall, but as he closed his eyes her features easily filled his mind. She'd possessed a lovely face with soft, pretty features, which was framed by rich, shoulder-length brown hair that looked shiny and silky to the touch. In a bleak, war-filled existence, he recalled being drawn to her laughing, inviting blue eyes, and a smile that was both sweet and sensual in an understated way.

Joel's gut clenched at the thought of Zach putting her life in jeopardy somehow. "What does your sister have to do with any of this?"

"I need you to make sure she's protected," Zach said on a quick rush of breath. "These people I'm dealing with… they might be looking for her."

Joel jammed his fingers through his too-long hair and frowned, not liking the direction this conversation was taking. "And why would they be looking for Lora?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

"Dammit, Zach," he bit out harshly, his own anger rising swiftly to the surface. "You can't just drop something like this on me and not tell me what the hell is going on. If your sister's life is at risk, in any way at all, I need details, all of them, in order to keep her safe."

"Okay, I'll tell you everything you need to know." Zach's tone was more subdued now. "Just promise me that no matter what, you'll look after her until I get this mess taken care of. She doesn't have anyone else, and I need to know that she's in good hands. You're the only one I trust to keep her safe from any harm."

Joel absently rubbed a hand over his jean-clad thigh, right where a puckered scar resided-an ugly, glaring reminder of how Zach had once risked his own life to save Joel's during a covert mission. Joel owed him, and while Zach hadn't come right out and said as much, Joel was certain that his friend was counting on that return favor now.

Keeping an eye on Zach's sister was the least Joel could do. "You have my word that I'll take care of her," he promised, then reached for the pad of paper and pen on the counter in front of him. "Now tell me why your sister's life is in danger."

Zach exhaled a long, deep breath, obviously stalling a few extra seconds. "The guy I owe the money to is demanding payment, which I don't have. Not yet anyways. I just need more time to get it."

Joel highly doubted that extra time would help Zach's situation in any way. Most likely, he'd use any respite to chase good money after bad in hopes of striking it rich in a bet based more on luck than skill. And that rarely paid off. After all, gambling cities were built on losers, not winners.

"How much time?" he asked Zach.

"A few weeks at the most. And in the meantime, the reason why I need you to watch Lora is because I did something incredibly stupid."

A noticeable pause ensued, and Joel waited not-so-patiently for his friend to continue, which Zach eventually did.

"Right before I enlisted in the Marines, my sister took out life insurance policies on both of us worth one hundred grand, just so we'd have something if anything should happen to either one of us, since we have no other family. It's a prepaid policy and it doesn't expire until we each turn thirty, and that's still another eight months away for Lora."

Joel swore beneath his breath. Certain he knew just how Zach had used that life insurance policy, his stomach cramped with a sense of apprehension, followed by a swift kick of anger. "Go on."

"I used the life insurance policy on Lora as collateral against the loan I took from a guy named Lanny Mendoza," Zach reluctantly explained, confirming Joel's suspicions. "I was desperate, and I honestly never thought he'd need to use that policy, but after a streak of bad luck, I've discovered just how ruthless Mendoza and his gang of men can be. His thugs beat the shit out of me and broke my arm and nose, and now they're threatening to go after Lora if I don't pay up, and soon."

Because with Lora dead, Zach could collect on that life insurance policy to pay back his loan, with interest. It was a chilling thought. While Joel was furious that his friend would drag his own sister into his sordid dealings, at least Zach was doing what he could to ensure that his sister was protected.

"I'm really afraid for Lora's safety," Zach said, his anxious tone backing up his fears. "You know I wouldn't ask you to do this if I had any other choice."

"Yeah, I know." Joel tapped the end of his pen on the notepad. "Where can I find your sister?"

"About four years ago she moved from Springfield to Chicago. She's living in a small one-bedroom apartment by herself."

Joel jotted down the name of the complex Zach gave to him, along with Lora's home phone number, surprised to learn that she'd moved clear across the state and lived so close to him. Especially since he distinctly remembered from one of the letters she'd written to Zach during their time in the service that her boyfriend had proposed, and she'd accepted. So why was she living alone?

Curious, Joel said, "I thought she was engaged to get married."

"She left the jerk two years ago." Zach didn't offer details, and Joel didn't ask for them, since that personal information wasn't pertinent to the case. "She works full time during the day at the St. Claire Hotel as a masseuse and part time at night at The Electric Blue. Her best friend, Sydney, owns the place, and it's relatively new. Have you heard of it?"

"Yeah. Actually, I've been there…" Joel's voice trailed off as a sense of recognition washed over him. It had been months ago that he and his friends had gone to The Electric Blue to check out Chicago's hottest new bar, but what he remembered most about that night was how distracted he'd been by one of the bar waitresses that had looked so familiar to him. Not to mention the awareness that had been evident between the two of them at first glance.

At the time, he couldn't place where he'd seen her before. Now, as Joel thought back to the pictures Zach had shared with him of his sister, he knew. The woman he'd been intrigued by and attracted to had been Lora Marshall.

What a small world it was.

"Hey, Joel. Are you okay?"

Zach's urgent tone pulled Joel back to the present. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Look, I don't have much more time before I need to get off the phone," Zach said. "If I can't get the money, Mendoza's guys will probably come looking for Lora in about a week, which gives you plenty of time to insinuate yourself in her life in an inconspicuous way."

"In an inconspicuous way?" Joel repeated, not bothering to hide his irritation over Zach's suggestion. "What's wrong with the straightforward approach? Just tell her the truth and that I'll be around to protect her until you get your shit together?"

Silence reigned on the other end of the phone line, and Joel imagined that he'd made Zach cringe with his honest expression of the situation. Tough shit, he thought, and shoved his fingers once again through his hair in growing agitation. Zach had gotten himself into this mess, and Joel wasn't about to make any of this easy on him. His friend needed someone to give him a reality check about his addictions and how they were affecting not only his life, but now his sister's.

Finally, Zach spoke. "I know I royally fucked up, and I'm the worst kind of bastard for doing what I did. But I love my sister, and if you tell her the truth…"

Zach's voice cracked with raw emotion, and he cleared his throat before continuing. "This isn't the first time I've gotten myself into this kind of trouble, and if Lora finds out what I've done with her insurance policy, I'm afraid she'll never forgive me. Or worse, she'll disown me as her brother. She's the only family I've got, Joel."

The other man's sincere appeal struck Joel right where he was most susceptible, because family was one of the most important things in his life. The support. The camaraderie. And knowing you could count on someone for anything. His brothers and sister were close, along with their cousins, so Joel could understand why his friend didn't want to risk his relationship with his sister.

"Whatever you do, please promise me you won't tell her what I've done," Zach pleaded.

Blatantly deceiving someone went against Joel's character, yet there were many times when his profession as a security agent required him to take on a new or different persona in order to do his job. This case would have to be no different, because Joel knew he wouldn't, and couldn't, turn down his friend's request.

Resigned, Joel rubbed a hand along the stubble on his jaw. "I'll do it," he finally said.

"Thank you." The relief and gratitude in Zach's voice was palpable. "I owe you, buddy."

"You don't owe me anything." Especially since Zach had saved his ass in Baghdad. In comparison, this was a small favor to grant. "But I do need a promise from you in return."

"Anything," Zach said willingly. "Anything at all."

Joel stated the one thing weighing heavily on his mind. "You need professional help, Zach. You're out of control. When you start gambling with other people's lives, you've gone too far."

"I know." Zach turned somber. "I swear I'll put myself into a rehab program once this is over."

"I'm going to hold you to that." If there was one good thing that came out of this disaster, it would be finally getting Zach's life straightened out.

"Hey, I heard you went into business with Jon, Kevin, and Ben," Zach said, changing the subject for a moment. "Some kind of security firm, right?"

"Yeah, Elite Security Specialists," Joel said of the company he'd started with three of his fellow ex-marines and good friends. "We're doing pretty well."

"That's great to hear," Zach replied sincerely. "I know it's been years, but I've missed hanging out with you guys."

The melancholy in Zach's voice was unmistakable, and Joel couldn't help but wonder how lonely the past years must have been for his friend. He wondered, too, if Zach was still desperately trying to escape the horrors they'd lived through in the war.

Once their term in the Marines had ended, he and Zach had spent two weeks together living it up and trying to forget what they'd endured. They'd caroused and partied with a bevy of willing women, and made up for all the wild, frivolous fun they'd missed out on during their time in Iraq. Then they'd gone their separate ways. Zach had driven off to Atlantic City with his wallet filled with the savings he'd accumulated during his time in the service, and Joel headed back to Chicago, where he'd grown up, to figure out what he was going to do with his life now that he was no longer a part of the United States Marine Corps.

He'd spent nearly two years doing oddball jobs before going into business with three fellow ex-marines as security agents. They'd formed ESS Group, and were hired to do everything from setting up security at venues and special events to protecting high-profile clients to undercover work when it was warranted. In just a few years' time, the company was well on its way to becoming one of Chicago's top security firms.

Joel had managed to make a life for himself outside of the service with a job he enjoyed. Unfortunately, Zach hadn't been able to put his time in the Marines behind him and was still living like a nomad.

"You know where to find us, Zach," Joel said, extending an invitation he hoped his friend would someday accept. "By the way, where are you?"

"I'd rather not say. The less you know right now, the better."

"Fair enough," Joel conceded. "Is there a way I can at least get a hold of you if I need to?"

"My cell phone." Zach gave him the number, and Joel added it to his notes on the pad of paper.

"I've got to go," Zach said reluctantly. "Semper Fi, Wilde Man."

Joel couldn't help the smile that formed on his lips. It had been a long time since he'd heard the nickname the guys had given him in the service. "Semper fi." Always faithful. And that code applied to his fellow marine and friend.

"GOD, he's so hot, I'm about to melt into a puddle right here and now."

Lora Marshall smiled in amusement at her co-worker Monique as they waited at the end of the bar for their drink orders. Sydney, Lora's best friend and the owner of The Electric Blue, stood on the other side of the mahogany and brass bar, mixing an array of cocktails and popping the caps off chilled beer bottles with an ease and rhythm that came from years of experience. Despite how busy Sydney was, she didn't stop from joining in on the conversation.

"Who's hot?" she asked over the loud music. There were dozens of good-looking guys in the place, and she gave the crowded bar area a quick glance in search of the mystery man Monique seemed so enthralled with.

"Lora's guy," Monique said as she set two beers, a mai tai, and a cosmopolitan on her tray. "Table sixteen. The one dressed all in black."

Lora rolled her eyes. She didn't need to look in that direction to know who was sitting at the designated table, especially after hearing Monique's description. "He's not my guy." But she had to agree that he was definitely hot.

"Oh, yum." This bit of interest came from Sydney, who'd spied the dark-haired guy and found him to be just her type. "Well, I'll certainly take one of him."

"Sorry, boss." Monique added a pineapple wedge to the mai tai and pressed a lime into the long neck of a bottle of Corona. "He wants Lora. He always asks for Lora." With that, she picked up her loaded tray and made her way through the throng of customers to deliver her drinks.

Lora couldn't deny Monique's claim. Yes, he did always ask that she take his order. This was the third night he'd come into The Electric Blue, each time with a friend. If the past two evenings were any indication, he'd order one beer, maybe two, and nurse them for the next few hours until the place closed. Even though he didn't lack for female interest, he never danced with anyone, though his friends seemed to enjoy the singles scene.

"Well, well, well," Sydney drawled. With a sly grin curving her lips, she expertly flipped a bottle of Ketel One vodka in her hand and poured two shots of the liquor into a tumbler for an apple martini. "It appears you have yourself an admirer. He looks like the kind of bad boy who would be perfect to end your two-year dry spell."

It was a familiar conversation between the two of them. While Sydney enjoyed all kinds of male attention, in the bedroom and out, Lora was far more particular and didn't do one-night stands.

"I've dated since my breakup with Brent," she said in defense. Unfortunately, none of those too-conservative men had aroused anything more than amicable feelings. There hadn't been any kind of zing or real attraction to make Lora want anything more than a casual friendship with those guys.

Sydney served the martini to the woman standing at the bar in front of her and rang up the sale before saying over her shoulder to Lora, "Sure, you've dated here and there, but I'm talking about sleeping with a guy. You know, mutual physical pleasure, orgasms, and all that fun stuff. It's just not normal for a woman your age to go that long without sex."

Lora laughed, grateful for the loud music that helped to drown out her friend's frank observation. "I've done just fine on my own." Refusing to elaborate on that comment, she went on, "Besides, if you haven't noticed, between my day job and working here in the evenings for you until closing, it's not like I have a lot of free time to pursue any guy."

Sydney cast a quick glance at her watch while pouring another drink. "You know what? You're absolutely right. You're getting off at ten tonight. I'll keep Monique until closing. Use the time wisely." She winked at Lora.

Lora shook her head as she placed the Long Island iced tea on her tray. "I don't mind staying."

"You're off at ten," Sydney said adamantly. "I certainly don't want to be responsible for your lack of social and sex life."

"Fine." Lora added a mudslide to her orders to deliver. "I could use the extra sleep." Even over the noise in the bar, Lora heard Sydney's sound of disgust and had to bite her bottom lip to keep from grinning.

"Please do not waste the extra time on sleep," her friend said. "Not with a perfectly hot and sexy man eyeing you like he wants to eat you up in one big bite."

What a delicious, decadent thought. A light shiver coursed through Lora, and her Electric Blue T-shirt suddenly felt too tight across her breasts. Instinctively, she glanced toward him. Sure enough, he was watching her, and even from across the crowded room their gazes met.

Always dressed in black-T-shirt, jeans, and shoes-he looked a little dangerous, and a whole lot like a rebel. A daring rule-breaker. A man who thrived on risk and adventure. His too-long, tousled black hair and the dark stubble shadowing his lean jaw only added to that tantalizing image. Then there were those stunning, piercing blue eyes of his that had the ability to tempt a woman to sin. With him. In many different, erotic ways.

Lora sighed, and as if he knew exactly where her thoughts had traveled, a slow, disarming smile tipped up the corners of his sensual mouth, bringing to life an instantaneous awareness that coiled low and deep in her belly. Her attraction to this man was undeniable, like nothing she'd ever experienced before.

"Oh, for God's sake, take him into the storeroom and do him already," Sydney teased. "I'll have Monique cover for you."

Her friend was absolutely outrageous. But then again, Sydney had always been bold and brazen-the exact opposite of Lora's more cautious, reserved nature. "I'm so not that kind of girl," she said primly.

"Maybe you ought to be." Sydney passed a shot of tequila Lora's way, which completed her drink order. "Bad girls have more fun. Trust me, I should know."

Yes, Lora was very aware that Sydney had worked hard to cultivate her wild and unabashed reputation over the years-with much success. It helped that Sydney had the body of a Playboy centerfold, wore tight, revealing outfits to flaunt those curves, and wasn't afraid to use her sexuality to get exactly what she wanted. Being a "bad girl" had served Sydney well-in business and pleasure.

Lora had known Sydney since their freshman year of high school, and even though the two of them were so different, in so many ways, they'd forged a tentative acquaintanceship that ended up blossoming into a strong and lasting friendship. They'd been together through the years, in good times and bad and even through Sydney's unexpected pregnancy at the age of fourteen-always supportive of each other and never judging one another. Only Lora knew that Sydney's gutsy, assertive personality was all a façade for a very painful childhood that had left deep emotional scars.

Lora double-checked her order pad against the drinks on her tray to make sure she had everything. Then she went ahead and added one more item. "Can you give me a bottle of Sam Adams?"

Sydney arched an auburn brow as she uncapped the beer and slid it down the counter to Lora. "His choice of drink?"

"Yes, and his name is Joel."

"Ahhh, you're already on a first-name basis." Sydney grinned.

"He introduced himself the first night." Lora shrugged and added a stack of cocktail napkins to her tray.

"A first name is all you need to do the deed," Sydney said with a naughty inflection in her voice. "Now go and make those deliveries. The crowd's getting restless and they're looking for some action."

Knowing that meant Sydney was going to ring the loud cowbell behind the bar in the next few minutes, which would announce the employee entertainment that The Electric Blue was known for, Lora picked up her tray and passed out the drinks to her customers, then headed over to Joel's table.

"Hi there," she said, and set the chilled bottle of beer on a napkin. "Sam Adams, right?"

Up close, that slow, lazy grin of his was even more potent and disarming. "Am I that predictable?"

There wasn't anything about the man that struck her as tame or boring. "I'm just going on past drink orders, and you're becoming a regular."

He leaned back in his chair, and even that slight movement exuded an abundance of male confidence and sex appeal that should have been deemed illegal. "What can I say? I like the atmosphere here."

He liked her. The sentiment glimmered in his vibrant blue eyes and infused her with a pleasurable, sensual warmth. There was no ignoring the truth making itself known… she really liked him, too. She was very attracted to him, but there was something else about this man beyond the physical that drew her. She supposed it was his easygoing charm and affability that made her feel so comfortable around him.

As he continued to smile at her, a flash of familiarity swept over her. It was as if she'd seen him before, but she couldn't pinpoint when or where. It wasn't the first time she'd felt that connection, but it was one of those feelings that remained too elusive and indefinable for her to fully grasp.

She redirected her attention to the other man sitting at the table, who was obviously a friend of Joel's. "What can I get you to drink?"

"I'll take a Sam Adams, too," he replied easily. "By the way, I'm Jon."

He was a good-looking guy, and his grin was very warm and friendly. "Nice to meet you. I'm Lora."

"So, what time do you get off work tonight?" Joel cut in smoothly.

Lora was used to the question, since it was one he asked every evening. The past few nights she'd helped close down the bar, but Sydney had just given her strict orders to take off early. "My shift is over at ten."

"Ahhh, my lucky night," he said, looking very pleased. "Would you like to go somewhere after work and have a drink with me?"

She automatically shook her head. She might work part time as a cocktail waitress, but hanging out at a bar other than The Electric Blue on her off hours really wasn't her thing. "I don't drink."

"Anything?" The amusement in his voice was unmistakable.

"No alcohol," she clarified, certain she'd just effectively pegged herself as too much of a Goody Two-Shoes, as Sydney often called her, for Joel to pursue her further. Which was probably just as well.

"How about coffee?" he asked as he stroked his long fingers down the condensation gathering on his bottle of beer. "I know a great coffee place down the street from here. It's even within walking distance."

"I have to go to work early in the morning." It was an automatic response, one she used on men she had no interest in going out with. But with Joel, she was beginning to wonder why she was resisting when the attraction between them was so strong. So arousing. So tempting.

"I promise not to keep you out late." He placed his right hand over the left side of his chest and glanced up at her with a hopeful look that transformed his edgy good looks into a more boyish appearance. "Please don't break my heart by saying no."

She laughed, certain that he was the heart-breaker in this scenario. That was a good enough reason for her to keep her distance from him, since she'd been on the receiving end of that kind of emotional upheaval before. But despite all that, there was something irresistible and charismatic about him.

Jon leaned forward in his seat and spoke loud in order to be heard over the music. "If it makes you feel any better, I can vouch for the fact that he's an honorable, trustworthy guy." Then he graced her with an engaging grin that had no doubt worked magic on many women.

She believed Jon, and most importantly she trusted her instincts. She thought about everything Sydney had just said to her and came to the conclusion that her friend was right. She did need more of a social life. Besides, just because she had a cup of coffee with Joel didn't mean they'd end up in bed together.

"So, what do you say?" Joel asked. "One coffee drink of your choice, and we'll call it a night."

This time, she didn't hesitate with an answer. "Sure."

He blinked, drawing her attention to those long, sooty lashes and his vivid blue eyes. "Excuse me?"

She almost laughed at his startled expression. After all her previous excuses, he obviously thought he'd heard her wrong. "Yes, I'll go and have a cup of coffee with you."

"Well I'll be damned," he drawled in a deep, satisfied tone of voice. "It is my lucky night."

At that moment, Sydney rang the loud cowbell behind the bar, signaling that it was time for the waiters and waitresses to give the crowd the kind of entertainment and sexy fun they'd come to expect at The Electric Blue.

When she'd first agreed to work for Sydney when her friend was shorthanded, Lora had had reservations about this part of the job description. She wasn't the type to get up in front of a group of men and women and strut her stuff like all the younger, college-aged employees so effortlessly, and eagerly, did. In fact, it had taken her a few weeks to gather up the nerve to participate, then another solid week to get used to dancing in front of so many people.

But now, many months later, she'd learned to enjoy the nightly ritual. Not because she was an exhibitionist, but rather because it had become a fun, harmless escape for her. A time and place where she could indulge her sensual side while keeping her emotions under wraps.

"Work calls," she said to Joel, then glanced at Jon as the crowd behind her started cheering and chanting for the revelry to begin. "And I'll be back soon with your beer."

She headed for the nearest platform and set her tray on a shelf. As she hopped up onto the stage and the strobe lights flashed and the music took on a seductive beat, she decided that tonight she was suddenly feeling very daring and uninhibited.

And he was the reason.