"Do you guys really slide down a pole from the top floor or is that just a Hollywood thing?" she asked as I showed her the bunkroom upstairs.
"No, we really do slide down if we're up here sleeping." I laughed. "Want to try it?"
"Can I?" she asked, looking up at me with her eyes shining again. I found myself unable to look away as I nodded. I stepped closer to her, holding my breath and knowing that there was nothing in the world I wanted more right at that moment than to kiss her.
Alex held my gaze as I lifted my hand up and softly cupped her cheek before bending down and lightly brushing my lips across hers. I heard a soft hum escape her lips as she pressed back against mine and kissed me harder. She rested her hands on my chest as I pulled her closer and continued kissing her. I could feel the blood rushing away from my brain as my pants became tighter. My thoughts raced as I felt her tongue gently flicking my bottom lip before she gently bit it.
I wanted her. I wanted her there and then, and just as I was about to make a choice that would not have been a good one, the station alarm sounded and the familiar voice said, "Engine One, Truck One, Ambulance Fifty-Five, car fire at the intersection of LaSalle Street and Wacker Drive. Two people trapped."
"Alex, I'm sorry," I said as I stepped back and searched her face for signs of disappointment. "I think we need to go."
"Yes." She nodded slowly. "I need to get home and study for the exam I have later this week."
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, fine," she said, not giving anything away before she put on a bright smile and said, "Let's go, shall we?"
I led her out of the station, and we stood and watched as the trucks took off toward the call.
"It's pretty impressive," she said as she climbed into the truck and fastened her seatbelt.
"Yeah, I've been on the job for ten years, and I still feel that same overwhelming pride every time I climb up on the truck to go to a call," I said. "Most of the guys do, and the ones who don't are the ones who kno
w it's time to get out."
"I imagine it's that way with any career, or anything at all, don't you?" she asked. "If you're not excited about it, then what's the point?"
"Good point," I nodded as I started the truck. "Where can I drop you off?"
She gave me her address, and I drove her home in an oddly comfortable silence. I pulled up in front of her building and prepared to walk her to her door.
"No, it's okay," she said, pointing to a second floor balcony. "My apartment is right there, you don't need to escort me."
"Alex, I really enjoyed this," I began, uncertain if she wanted to see me again.
"I did, too, Cam." She smiled. "Next time it's my treat, though. Don't forget."
"Okay, that's good to know," I said before adding, "But, um, could I get your phone number?"
"Huh?" she replied.
"If we're going to go out again, I'd rather call you to arrange it than having to take a chance on running into you at the hospital," I said as she burst into laughter.
"Oh my gosh, you're so right! How silly of me!" She laughed as she pulled out a pen and wrote her number on my hand. I breathed deeply as I felt her hands cupping mine and smelled the fresh scent of her hair inches away from my nose. I fought the urge to grab her and kiss her again. When she was done, she looked up at me for a moment before leaning in and quickly kissing my lips, and then she was gone.
I watched her walk to the door and let herself in. She turned and waved before disappearing into the building. Only when the light went on in the second floor apartment she'd pointed out did I start the truck and drive away.
The whole ride home, I wondered how long I needed to wait until I called her for a second date.
#
When I reported for duty the next morning, the overnight crew ribbed me about my new role as station tour guide.
"So, you've decided to pick up a second job, have you, Connor?" Mike Kelly laughed as he and Victor cooked breakfast.
"Who told you that?" I asked as I poured a cup of coffee and sat down to read the paper, ignoring the wolf whistles coming from the couch on the other side of the room.
"The guys going off duty said you were pretty hot and heavy up in the bunkroom with some little blonde you'd offered to give a tour to," Mike said as he flipped pancakes on the griddle.