Born to Be Wilde

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 facade 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?'