Born to Be Wilde

The eighth book in the Wilde series, 2007


Dear Readers,

The wait for Joel Wilde's story is finally over! Here he is, tough and lean and breathtakingly sexy. Thanks to all of you who've written to me asking for his story, and for hanging in there while I wrote it. I hope it's everything you've anticipated, and much more.

Joel is the last of the Wilde family. In past books, he's always come off as casual and laid back, and for the most part he is. He's served in the Marines, has seen and done things he'd rather forget, and just wants to live a simple, uncomplicated life as a bachelor. His main focus is his job as a security specialist, and when an old friend calls in a favor, Joel finds himself in way over his head with a woman who is sensual, determined, and has no qualms about discovering just who Joel really is beneath all that rough and tough military façade.

This story took many unexpected turns for me, especially with Joel's character. He was far more complex than he'd let on in previous books, and he had deeper emotional issues that explained so much about the life he'd chosen and why he swore he was better off being single and on his own. But Lora Marshall, the woman he'd promised to protect, refuses to let him be a slave to his past and to those fears that keep him from committing to any one person.

For those of you who might be reading about the Wilde family for the first time, I hope you enjoy this story enough to want to read about the rest of the Wilde gang. So far, there are seven stories in all, and those books can still be found at your favorite online book source, or at your local bookstore.

While the members of the Wilde gang have all found their happily ever afters, the wild and sexy fun doesn't stop here with Joel! In Born to Be Wilde you'll get to meet three of Joel's good friends, Ben, Jon, and Kevin, all ex-marines who now work for the same security firm, Elite Security Specialists. Each one of these men will be getting his own story, as well. Right now, I'm working on Ben's story, and Wild for Him is scheduled for release in summer 2008. I hope you'll find these friends of Joel's as fun and charming as I have.

For now, enjoy Joel and Lora's story, and be sure to visit my website at www.janelledenison.com to read more about the Wilde series, check out my upcoming releases, and enter my monthly giveaway contest. I also blog weekly at www.plotmonkeys.com, so please come and join the fun!

(http://www.plotmonkeys.com)

Happy Reading!

Janelle Denison

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.