right out of the gate, especially with the guys I’d be bunking with. All my years in training had taught me that I needed to take a firm stand or these guys would walk all over me in a second, just for fun.
In similar situations in the past, I’d discovered if I just nipped it all in the bud before they could even get started, that it sort of knocked them off their high horses a little and shut them up.
I was counting on the same method working for me here, even though I knew the rules were a lot looser here in the wild. It had a reputation of being like the wild west out here.
Anything goes.
Each man for themselves.
Survival of the fittest. All that crap.
I could play that game, and at the same time, I was determined not to let them use my gender against me.
By the looks on the faces of the men I was sharing a tent with — so far so good. I ignored the lot of them while I began unpacking and making up my cot. I could feel their eyes on me and whatever jokes they’d been making before I’d walked in had dried up, but I didn’t care. Let them look.
Of course, they’d probably think I was a bitch — or a lesbian — either one was just fine with me.
As long as they didn’t think they could touch me, and they let me do my job, we’d get along just fine. I wasn’t here to make friends.
I glanced over at the man next to me, who was clearly the most handsome of them all, and by the quiet confidence oozing off of him, the most arrogant, I’d bet.
I could smell guys like him a million miles away.
Addicted to danger. Full of cockiness and blind bravado.
A guy that handsome probably had women lining up to squeeze his biceps. I rolled my eyes, ignoring the fact that he was pretending not to look at me.
Even better, I thought.
One less problem I wouldn’t have to deal with.
Chapter 5
Jesse
I sat on my bunk, watching the other guys fall over themselves trying to appear like the coolest guy in the tent to Fiona. She wasn’t falling for their bullshit though.
What a firecracker, I thought, as I watched her control the situation with her body language alone. As soon as one guy stared too long, she’d whip that head around, red ponytail flying behind her as she arched a brow.
Instantly, they’d look away.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m outta here,” I said, standing up and walking out before I cracked up fully. It was nice to see a woman put those fools in their place. But I wasn’t going to stick around and let her give me the same treatment, and I knew the longer I stayed within twenty feet of that sizzling dish, the harder it would be not to drink her in.
She was hotter than the flames I knew were raging on the other side of the mountain towering over us. And probably just as dangerous. A woman like that could do some damage.
I reminded myself that I was only here for the cash and the thrills — and not the kind of thrills that would most certainly be found between that woman’s thighs.
No, that was a pleasure I needed to stay far away from.
Focus. That’s all I needed, which I was extremely skilled in switching on when needed.
Discipline. Well, that was another story.
I have a history of self-sabotage when it comes to the temptations a forbidden woman’s arms held, but I was determined to suffer through. The struggle was real, though, especially with a woman like Fiona.
I liked ‘em fiery and the blazing inferno raging in that girl’s eyes was enough to melt my resolve.
So, yeah, I had a problem. But it was my problem to deal with, not hers.
It wasn’t her fault she was right up my alley.
And she’d made it crystal clear she’s only here to do a job.
You gotta respect that.
So, me leaving? That was me showing respect.
Chapter 6
Fiona
Making us arrive a day before our shift starts proves to be a colossal waste of time. It takes maybe half an hour to get settled and then we’re sitting around on our asses staring at each other -- or, as most of my coworkers are doing -- getting shit-faced drunk.
I’d indulged in one beer, and then I stopped. The last thing I needed was to be the only drunk woman in a sea