Naughty by Nature (15 page)

“Look at that
clock.” Tessa drew his attention to a child reading a clock that had ten hands.
They soon learned that this graduation of the child from reading a two hand
clock to three hand and step-by-step up to ten was an integral part of the
training of the brain.

“This program is
not for everyone, though,” their guide for the day warned.  “It is most effective
with children of average to above average intelligence who have the challenges
of dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, problems with reasoning, logic and
problem-solving.  From time to time we may assess a child with Asperger
Syndrome but we have to look at those on a case-by-case basis.  Unfortunately,
the program is not for the severely autistic.”

Once the tour was
over Wolf and Tessa thanked their host then jumped back into the Audi and
cruised along Parkhill Road past Jackson Park.  On an impulse they turned onto
George Street where they found a group of quaint restaurants offering a variety
of choices.

“Which would you
like to try?” Wolf asked as he slipped on his sunshades and peered down the
road.  The day which had started out partly cloudy but pleasant had suddenly
turned bright and sunny, casting a glare on the cars ahead of them.

“Hmm.”  Tessa put
a finger to her chin.  “I heard about a place called Hot Belly Mama’s.  It’s
supposed to be on this street.”

“Straight ahead,”
Wolf said, pointing to the sign just about six store fronts away.

“Great.   And
lucky me, there’s even a free parking space in front of it.”  Tessa flashed him
a smile.

He shrugged.  “So
what’s so special about this place?  Aside from the name.”  Then he laughed. 
“Hot Belly Mama’s?  Seriously?”

She chuckled. 
“Yeah.  Seriously.  I mentioned to one of my co-workers that I’d be heading to
Peterborough and she said I had to check this place out.  Great Cajun cuisine. 
If you like spicy food, which I do, this is the place to be."

“And what about
people like me who can’t even stand the sight of pepper?”

“No,” she said in
an exaggerated gasp.  “You, who grew up in India?  Tell me you’re joking.”

“Nope.  I’m as
bland as they come.”

“Well, I wouldn’t
call you bland,” she began then broke off with a laugh that almost sounded
nervous. 

Tessa?  Nervous
around him?  Hard to believe. 

“Anyway," she
continued, "I’m sure they don’t only cater to lovers of spice.  What about
kids?  Children can’t usually handle peppery stuff so I'm sure they have some
bland food on the menu.”

“Are you calling
me a kid?” he growled.

“Maybe,” came her
cheeky reply.

And then they were
pulling up, almost exactly in front of the door of the restaurant.  It was like
they’d been expecting them.

Wolf hopped out
immediately and went around to hold the door open for his driver for the day. 
And as she turned to slide out of the car and her skirt rode deliciously up her
leg, he had to admit she was one of the sexiest drivers he’d ever had.

When his gaze slid
over her body and up to her face he saw a hint of a smile on her lips.  She’d
seen him staring and she didn’t seem to mind at all.  A very positive sign. 
Maybe she did like him after all.

She took the arm
he offered her and together they strode into the restaurant, looking casual and
totally relaxed in each other’s company as if this was something they did every
day. He wished.

Wolf was surprised
at the antiquated décor of Hot Belly Mama’s.  He felt like he'd stepped into a
different world.  One set in Louisiana, maybe, and not modern day Louisiana,
either, but probably from a period in time two hundred years earlier.  And he
liked it.

On the brick walls
were exotic paintings, the model of an elephant's head, surrealistic art and
the photos of Jazz musicians.  A guitar had even been mounted right there on
the wall.  A bust of Elvis Presley was on display.  Music was playing in the
background – Aretha Franklyn, the 'queen of soul'.  The American south in
Canada.  Cool.

As Tessa perused
the menu Wolf perused her.  As her eyes came to the list of delicious dishes
her brow crinkled and her small white teeth bit down on her lower lip.  Then
she released her lip, now a rosy pink from her abuse, and her tongue slid out
to soothe it.  God, that was sexy.

He must have made
a sound because she looked up and her frown cleared.  “I can’t make up my
mind.  Grilled salmon or red snapper.  They both look good.  What do you
think?”

Just looking at
her sitting there across from him, the V of her top forming a tempting and
mysterious valley, the choice of fish was the least of his concerns.  Still, he
tried to play along.  He could at least pretend that his mouth was watering for
the food and not for her.  “Red sounds good,” he said.  “Go with the snapper.”

“Snapper it is,
then,” she said with what sounded like relief.  “Black and red snapper and
Bismati rice,” she read from the menu.  “Yum.”

He smiled.  She
sounded like a kid.  “I’m a steak man myself.  I’m going for the grilled New
York strip loin.  Man food.”

Tessa rolled her
eyes then took a sip of water.  She dabbed at her lips with her napkin.  “Could
you excuse me, Wolf?” she asked as she shifted her bag from her lap and hooked
it onto the back of her chair.

“Of course." 
He stood as she slipped from around the table and headed toward the softly lit
hallway. He sat down again and his eyes were drawn to a small bunch of three
keys lying on the table.  Tessa’s keys, the largest of which was the key to her
bright orange Audi.

And then a very
wicked idea came to him
.  Wrong move to leave your keys unprotected, Tessa. 
You never know what can happen to your car when your back is turned
.  
Swiftly, before his rational mind told him to keep his butt in his chair, Wolf
palmed the keys and strode out of the restaurant.  He had to move fast if this
was going to work.  As much as he appreciated the sweet spot they’d found he
had to move the car, and fast.  He hopped in and in seconds he was parking on
Simcoe Street, out of sight of anyone standing in front of the restaurant. 
Then he jogged back.

He'd just slipped
back into the seat and picked up the menu when he saw Tessa heading his way. 
Just in case his face was dewy from his quick run he gave her a broad smile,
just to distract her.

“Well, you look
happy,” she said, giving him a funny look.  “The Peterborough air must be good
for you.  You never look like this in Burlington.”

“Like what?” he
demanded, faking a frown.

“Like…smiling and
happy and not at all stern.”  She slid into the seat.  “But I’m not complaining.”

He gave her a nod,
acknowledging her compliment and then his hand brushed his pocket and he
remembered something.  Damn.  The keys.  They were still in his pocket.  How
could he have forgotten?

And if she chose
that moment to look for her keys he’d be up the creek.

Quickly, he waved
the server over.  “We’re ready to order,” he said as soon as the young woman
approached the table.  “Here, Tessa, have a look at the menu.”

“But I already
know what I want.”  She stared at him as if one of his screws upstairs had
loosened.

“I know,” he
pressed, “but you might just want to change your mind.”  He shoved the menu
under her nose, forcing her to take it.  “Now that I look at it again, the
grilled salmon looks really good.”

“Are you sure?” Sounding
doubtful, Tessa dropped her eyes to the menu.

Now.  Wolf dug
into his pocket and while Tessa’s attention was otherwise engaged he silently
placed the bunch of keys on the table and slid it right next to her plate.  As
he did that he caught the eye of the server.  “The lady will have the black and
red snapper and I’ll have your New York strip loin.”

“Hey.”  Tessa
lowered the menu and glowered at him.  “I thought I was supposed to be ordering
the grilled salmon.”

“Nope,” Wolf said
casually.  “We’ll go with your first choice.”

Tessa gave a
dramatic sigh and passed the menu to the server.  She and the girl exchanged
knowing glances.  “Men,” Tessa said and they both giggled.

After that it was
smooth sailing.  While waiting for the meal Wolf and Tessa went over what they had
learned that day in terms of new educational techniques.  By the time the meal
came they were both past hungry and they dug in, the conversation coming in
spurts.  They ate so heartily that when it was time for dessert and coffee they
were both sated.

“I pass,” Tessa
said.  “I can’t eat another bite.”

“Me neither,” Wolf
admitted.  In fact, he was feeling a bit too comfortable.  He didn’t really
want to leave.  But no, he had to be responsible.  They had a good drive ahead
of them and, as pleasant as it was, they couldn’t hang out in the restaurant
all evening.

After a few more
minutes of light banter he called for the check.  Once the bill was taken care
of he leaned forward.  “You must be tired,” he said, noting how relaxed Tessa
looked.  “Want me to drive back?”

“No way,” she said
with a firm shake of the head.  “Nobody drives my car but me.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he
said with a tilt of the head as he acquiesced to her rule.  “Understood.”

“Good.”  She
flicked her hair back then got up and slung her bag on her shoulder.

Wolf got up, too,
and when he saw her walking away he had to call out to her.  “Don’t forget your
keys.”

“Oops.”  She
dashed back and snatched up the bunch off the table.

She was buttoning
her coat and humming to an Otis Redding song playing in the background as she
exited the restaurant.  She stepped out onto the sidewalk with Wolf close
behind her.  Then she stopped abruptly and he almost barreled into her back.

“My car,” she said
looking around, confusion registered on her face.  “Didn’t I park it right
here?” She pointed to the space directly in front of the restaurant but it was
a silver Dodge Caravan minivan that occupied that spot.  “I could have sworn…”
She looked around, seeming almost in a daze, and even looked over to the other
side of the road.  No solar orange two-seater Audi.

She looked around
more frantically now, up the road then down the road then back again.  “They’ve
towed my car.”  She swung around to him.  “They’ve towed my car, Wolf.”  Then
she gasped.  “Or…it's been stolen.  Oh, my God.  Not my Audi.”  She looked like
she was going to burst into tears.

“I’ve got to…I’ve
got to call the police.  Oh, no.”  Her voice was punctuated by near sobs as she
dug around in her purse.

All this time Wolf
had remained silent, trying hard to look just as concerned as she did, peering
up the road when she did and down the road, too.  He could feel the grin
threatening the corners of his mouth but he sucked in his breath and held his
amusement in check.  Now how would it look if he burst out laughing in the
middle of Tessa’s distress?

He was almost
relieved when she pulled out her cell phone.  Now there was no more reason to
hold it in.  A chuckle slipped out and then a guffaw and in the next instant
Wolf was doubled over with laughter.

Phone call
forgotten, Tessa stood there staring at him as if he’d lost it.  Then, as if a
light bulb turned on in her head, her jaw snapped shut and her eyes blazed.

“Where is it?” she
demanded through clenched teeth.  “Where is my car?”

Holding his sides,
his body still shaking with laughter, Wolf began to head toward Simcoe Street
and beckoned to her to follow.  There, just like he’d known it would be, sat
Tessa’s car, safe and sound, nestled at the side of the road between a Honda
Accord and an Acura MDX.

“My car,” she
cried and ran forward, her delight erasing all traces of the anger that had
just clouded her face.  She spread her arms wide and practically threw herself
across the hood.

Then, as her
relief settled, she raised up and glared at him again.  “How could you?”

Not at all
perturbed by her outrage Wolf only grinned back at her.  “You should have seen
your face…my car,” he said in a tiny high-pitched voice. “They stole my car.”

“You beast,” Tessa
growled but now she was grinning just as widely as he was.  “You pranked me.”

He shrugged. 
“Just giving you a taste of your own medicine.”

“Grrr.”  Tessa
reached for him, her small hands curling around his neck as she pretended to
strangle him.  “You don’t…prank…Tessa Tyndale,” she grated, squeezing as if she
meant it.

“Oh, no you don’t,
you little wild cat.”  Wolf slipped his thumbs underneath her fingers and
lifted her hands from his neck.  But he didn’t stop there.  Instead of
releasing her, he wrapped one arm around her, trapping her arms by her side and
with his free hand he cupped her chin, tilting her face up to his.  And right
there, right at the corner of George and Simcoe Streets, he kissed Tessa,
taking away all the control she craved, probing and plundering until she was
moaning into his mouth.