They reached the base camp several hours later, and all Tyler could think about was a shower, food…lots of food…and sleep. Lots of sleep. With or without Jules in his arms. With would be his preference but he knew that was out of the question. Sleeping alone would have to do.

He exited the van, grabbed his gear bag, dumped everything to be cleaned and cleared later and followed the crowd. For some reason, and it wasn’t that he’d actively arranged it, Jules ended up walking right beside him and even sooty, stinky and overtired, she was still the sexiest woman he’d set eyes on. The hours of shut-eye caught in the truck had reenergized him enough to appreciate her sex appeal and parts of him that hadn’t been used much during the past two days sprang alive.

“It’s been great to work with you,” Tyler said to her.

She turned her head smiling and said, “Thanks. Same to you. Some guys have problems taking orders from a woman. Not you.”

“I admit it’s been a first and I wasn’t too keen on it, but you’ve turned out to be the best leader I’ve ever worked with.” He paused, the smile on her face doing funny things to his insides. “The sixth sense you have about the fire is both comforting and chilling.”

Jules laughed. “It’s because I consider her a living, breathing being with a mind that’s apt to change upon a whim.”

“Like a woman?” Tyler growled, the desire roaring through his veins.

“Maybe. Aren’t we supposed to have the prerogative to change our minds?”

“Does that mean I can hope for a change of mind regarding relationships with a coworker?” Tyler chanced his luck.

“You can always hope. But I wouldn’t hold my breath.” She slowed down and pointed at a door. “This is my room. See you around.”

Tyler yearned to disappear with her behind that door, but this would be taking things too fast. Although he was pretty sure he could coax her into kissing him and then she wouldn’t be able to hold back on the insane attraction bonding them together.

Instead he walked down the hall to his own room, stepped out of the stinking clothes and beneath a nice, hot shower. The water rained down on him, leaving dark grey streams running down his skin, along the shower base and into the gutter. He lathered his body and rubbed the caked dirt out of his short hair.

As life began to seep back into his bones, his thoughts turned to Jules and the shower she was most likely enjoying across the hallway. Her naked skin gleaming under the fluorescent lights, shiny with the water as it cascaded down over her lush breasts.

When she washed herself, would she stop and play with her nipples until they were hard and yearning for his mouth to suckle upon them? Would her hands delve between her thighs a little bit longer than was necessary to guarantee cleanliness?

Before Tyler realized it, he’d taken his erection in hand as the fantasy continued to unfold. It was mere minutes before he erupted, not holding back on his groan of release. The water streaming down his body had turned clear a long while ago and he switched it off, his legs wobbly with the experienced erotic fantasy.

Stepping out of the shower, he decided he didn’t have extra energy to spare for shaving. Food first. Sleep later. Shaving could wait until the next day.

He dressed into clean jeans and t-shirt and hurried for the cafeteria humming with hungry men and women, consuming their food like a pack of wolves.

“Hey, you spared something for me I hope?” Tyler called out, before sauntering over to the rich buffet. Their cook sure knew what a hungry crew needed after days of MRE. He placed an oversized steak onto his plate, filled the remaining space with mashed potatoes and a modest amount of veggies. Balancing the plate in one hand, he grabbed a bottle of coke with the other one.

Gunner waved him over to his table, and he reluctantly obeyed, although he’d much preferred to sit with Jules. At least he had a prime view of her shapely back, as she sat with Blondie, Kelly and Denis.

“Hey, Armstrong. You still feeling that chain saw?” Castor asked him.

Tyler nodded and grinned answering, “My entire body is still vibrating like a chord to the chain saw tune.”

“I heard your hands took a beating.” Kevin smirked across the cafeteria, returning from loading a second serving. “That could prove problematic later tonight.”

The rest of the hotshots burst into laughter and Tyler shook his head, hoping his face wasn’t giving himself away. Already took care of that. “The night is young. If anyone wants to offer help?”

“Not my first choice, but if you insist.” Gunner made an obscene gesture.

“Nah, thanks. I’m thinking more of soft, small and female hands, not your brawny paws.” Tyler tossed a dinner roll at Gunner’s head, grinning when the man caught it in the air, took a huge bite out of it, and then chomped his teeth several times before chewing and swallowing.

“Grow up, man.”

“Who me?” Gunner pulled an innocent grimace.

“Anyone else feel like they just fought a month-long war?” One of the other rookies asked.

“Come on, rook. That was just to develop a taste. There are much worse fires than this one,” Denis said.

The young man rolled his eyes, not sure whether the more experienced hotshot was simply teasing.

“Good job guys, get to bed. In precisely six hours and twenty minutes, this crew is considered rested and on the boards again.” The chief of operations said the words with a grin and everyone rolled their eyes at him. Soon thereafter everyone dragged their tired feet into their quarters to get some much-needed sleep.

Tyler hung back and fell into step with Jules. “I wanted to properly thank you for the massage this morning. It was a delicious experience and helped me get over the day.”

“Glad it helped…” She tried to keep her voice businesslike, but he noticed the hungry look in her eyes as if she were only a breath away from attacking him and kissing him senseless again. He sure as hell wouldn’t object.

But before he could figure out a way to get her to succumb to the simmering passion between them, she turned away to unlock her door.

“Hey, would you like to go out with me tomorrow? I mean, if we don’t get called out again?” The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could think of something better. Fully expecting her to brush him off again, he pressed his lips together and thought of a repartee.

“Yes, I’d like that,” Jules answered, raw desire rolling off of her and making him hard again in no time at all.

“Great. I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll see what the days holds,” Tyler managed to say, despite the panic creeping up his spine. Holy shit, she actually said yes. I need a plan.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Jules said before closing the door on him.

Tyler knew he had only one chance to get it right. If he blew this first date, she’d never consider a relationship with him. During all of his adult life he’d focused on casual sex and didn’t have the slightest idea what women liked for a first real date.

But he knew someone who did.

Back in his room, he took off his shoes and flopped onto the bed, calling the one person he trusted to steer him in the right direction as far as a great first date went.

“Hey lovely, can you spare a few minutes for me?”

“Lovely? What do you want from me Tyler?”

“Can’t I appreciate my favorite sister without her suspecting me of ulterior motives?” Tyler chuckled into the phone.

“I am your only sister. And no, you can’t.” Vivian giggled, murmuring something to someone.

“Was that Rock? Say hello to him, will you?”

“Yes, it was Rock. Since you apparently need something really desperately or you wouldn’t call me lovely, I told him I’ll need some minutes before we can go out.”

“Thanks, Viv. I may need a tiny bit of advice. Okay, make it a huge bit of advice.” He knew he could get her on board by appealing to her passion of always butting into her brothers’ lives with advice.

“Sure. So, what’s the problem?” Judging by the curiosity in her voice, Vivian had taken the bait.

“I need a great first date idea. Something romantic that a girl would like. No, love. That a girl would love.”

Vivian laughed. “I knew it had to do with a woman. But since when are you doing the courtship thing?”

“I kinda want to convince her that she shouldn’t rule out a relationship before giving me a chance.”

“You? A relationship? Signs and wonders do happen.” Vivian was genuinely surprised, since he’d never been serious about a girl in his life. Not in twenty-six years.

“Yes, me. And there’s a first for everything.” Tyler started to think it had been a mistake to call his sister.

“So, who’s this mystery girl who has you all tied up in knots?”

“I’m not tied up in knots,” Tyler protested, a bit too loudly and firmly to be believable.

“Sure you are, and I think it’s awesome. So, a first date that’s romantic and something any girl would love? I’ve got just the thing.”

Tyler waited, and when a lengthy pause ensued, he finally prompted her to continue, “Well?”

“Tell me her name,” Vivian countered back.

“Jules Cooper. Now, your idea?”

“And you are you really serious about her?”

“Yes. Very serious. Are you going to help me out or not?”

“Oh, wow! You’re not kidding. You really like this girl?”

“More than I can believe.”

“Okay, I’ll work some magic and email you all of the details first thing in the morning.”

“Thanks, sis. You’re the best.”

“Just don’t forget that when Christmas rolls around. I’ll expect something truly amazing from you,” Vivian teased him.

“You’ll be amazed. Love you sis.”

“Love you, too. Sweet dreams of your new lady love. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

Tyler chuckled and disconnected the call. He didn’t doubt for one moment that Vivian would come through for him. And Jules would be so impressed she had to reconsider her no-relationships policy. Now, if only their alarms stayed silent until after the date.