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.