Chapter Nine

Nick pulled up in the Excursion at the Donner Lake Marina, still trying to figure out what had caused Brass to tersely insist on returning the boat once back at the beach. He'd told Grissom it'd only delay the picnic 20 minutes, so Grissom had agreed to it. Brass was already there waiting for him in front and wasted no time in climbing into the passenger's seat.

"Well, is everybody PO'd at me because they have to wait?" Jim rumbled.

"No, they understand the boat and other stuff had to be returned, but everyone's ready to eat when we get back," Nick replied and added. "You're the one who's full of piss and vinegar if you ask me."

Jim rubbed at his neck and groaned. "Look, I came here to find some friendly female company just like you and I'm not used to not filling my quota if you get my drift."

"Sure, I get it. The day's young, Brass man, we got good grub waiting for us and who knows what's going to happen at the festival. You just need to be in the right place at the right time," Nick said encouragingly.

"Yeah, that's what I keep hearing but what I see is nearly everyone's hooked up at this point," Brass snapped even as he tried to take Nick's encouragement positively but it wasn't working.

"Can I make an observation?" Nick offered.

"What?" Brass gave a sigh of resignation.

"I saw you getting a great back rub from Iris. I've had my share from her and she gives amazing massages…" Nick began.

"Massages by Iris?" Brass was incredulous, never dreaming he'd put two such words in the same sentence.

"Uh oh! Me and my big mouth! Cat's out of the bag now. Yeah, she can do massages, Brass man, but that's on the down low. She only gives them to select people or she'd have them lined up. From what I could see, she was giving you an involved one, slow and lingering, and I never got that type from her. Lucky you," Nick said with genuine envy.

"She's a good friend, same as you. She was just concerned I didn't have sun screen on," Jim blew it off and refused to think further on it.

"Ah, we're here, Jim. Man, I hated being away from Alicia even that long," Nick said as he saw her wave from the picnic area.

"You are so whipped," Jim's laughter boomed out of the Excursion as they opened its doors.

. . . . .

After a quick shower and change into fresh clothes, something everyone else decided to do while Nick was gone to get Brass, Iris was a busy bee about the picnic table, making sure all the food was set up to her satisfaction along with place settings with paper plates and the like. Catherine and Sara had pitched right in, along with the Truckee Triplets Iris had secretly dubbed the ladies met by Ecklie, Greg and Nick.

Hodges was putting the finishing touches on his brownies and worrying over them like a mother hen. Iris stopped to check his progress.

"They look great, David," she complimented him.

"Will they keep okay, given we're waiting longer?" Hodges sounded just a bit whiney.

"They'll be fine…," Iris started to say.

"Hodges?" a new voice interjected.

David Hodges knew he had to be having an intense daydream or hallucination at that moment. He couldn't believe his eyes let alone his ears.

Wendy gave him an amused look. "Are you a doubting Thomas or should I say doubting David?"

He set the brownies down as she approached and he felt her fingers entwine with his. Hodges finally could only say a simple "How?"

"I asked Grissom to reconsider about having Wendy join the team outing. He heard my many reasons and agreed. She flew up and just got here," Iris said.

"That's right and I expect you two to make the best of the remaining time with our plans," Grissom interjected when he saw Wendy going into the covered picnic area and followed.

"Uh, thanks, Grissom," Hodges said cautiously but gratefully.

Grissom nodded and left to resume the Frisbee game he had going with Sara and the rest of the group.

"I knew, Wendy knew, you knew, we all knew and you still needed a nudge!" Iris snickered and went back to checking over the food. "Hey, two more brownies need a W!"

"She's trying to play matchmaker," Wendy said low in Velikon.

"Can't say she did a bad job," Hodges replied in the same manner, deftly adding the letter W in red icing to the brownie cupcake.

"You really did make brownies," Wendy's disbelief was genuine.

"I have prowess in the kitchen," Hodges declared confidently.

"Do you have prowess in other areas of the house?" Wendy whispered in his ear and the warmth of her breath made Hodges' brow break out in sweat.

"Uh, a demonstration could be arranged…later, that is," Hodges murmured nervously.

. . . . .

When Nick and Brass got back, they went to get their showers done and it was in record time. Jim was sure the sound of his stomach growls could be heard a block away.

Brass saw that the picnic tables had been pushed together so everyone could be seated by one another. He called out, "Let's dig in!"

"Don't have to tell me twice!" Nick came in with an arm around Alicia.

"If Iris' recipes are half what you said, I'll have to work out for a week but it'll be worth it," Alicia lamented.

"Don't worry, hon, I've got a way to work off the calories for both of us," Nick chuckled at Alicia rolling her eyes at him.

"Iris, is anything here new that we haven't had?" Catherine asked.

"The chicken is baked with a honey glaze and ground pecans are part of the batter crust," Iris disclosed. "No one's allergic to nuts I hope?"

She was relieved to hear from all that no one had a nut allergy.

Grissom pointed at the head of the large table where he stood that Jim should take a seat there. Brass nodded and sat down. The drinks were varied from cold beer long necks to lemonade to soft drinks. He'd chosen a Heineken for his own beverage of choice.

Grissom raised his long neck beer with a grin. "You all knew a toast was coming. There are good ships, and there are wood ships. The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships, and may they always be. May you live all the days of your life."

"Well said," Toreth said before drinking her beer.

"Grissom always has some quote in his head," Jim agreed and took a swig of his Heineken.

"Food…I need nourishment," Greg tried to sound pitiful.

"Praise the Lord and pass the plate," Iris said simply and opened up the insulated food carrier with the fried chicken.

"Amen to that," Brass added, causing her to look at him with mild surprise. He gave her a reassuring smile, remembering to honor their truce.

"Get that chicken going," Dee commanded jovially.

The food was dispensed quickly and they all fell into feasting like Vikings of old.

Second and third helpings were asked for without guilt. Hodges saw how much Wendy could put away and pondered where a future dinner date should take place.

"Now that was a spread," Jim said at least with a contented belch. He waited for female disapproval to be displayed.

Iris shrugged and let at least a Richter 8 on the burp scale go, much to Brass' concealed delight. She was the most genteel among the women to him, so this was a pleasant surprise indeed. "It's a sign of good cooking and considered in other cultures to be a way of complimenting the food," Iris explained.

With that, there was a sequential cacophony of varying degrees of male and female burping and any gestures of female disapproval came from nearby women with their kids in tow. That Brass started laughing and his humor was contagious, quickly spreading to the entire group.

"Everyone has room left for brownie cupcakes, right?" Hodges proposed and quickly placed two cupcakes in front of each person, including Wendy and himself.

Almost everyone wasted no time in devouring their goodies.

"Uh, I'm not much for sweets, Hodges, someone else can have mine," Sara revealed and pushed them away.

"Please try them, Sara," Hodges coaxed and pushed them back her way.

"I'm sure they're great, but I can't," Sara refused and pushed the cupcakes back toward Hodges.

"Man, I'm stuffed to the max, couldn't eat another bite. Wish I could try them out. Sorry, Hodges," Warrick declined his brownies also.

Hodges tried to hide his dismay. "Uh, well, I understand."

"Pudgy, my ass," Jim grunted, knowing only Nick and Warrick would understand that reference to Doc Robbins, before taking Sara's cupcakes. "I can give these a very good home."

"Me too," Ecklie chimed in and Warrick handed him the cupcakes.

"Your cupcakes are a hit," Iris chortled at Hodges.

"Right…a hit…," Hodges said slowly.

About fifteen minutes after eating the cupcakes, Brass suddenly looked flushed as he felt a rush of energy and something else. It was the feeling of blood surging through his veins, a roaring in his ears, and a turgid thickening occurring due south of the belly button that only happened when he was in the mood for amor. His senses were all heightened and the knowledge he was in the presence of females. Not here not now he groaned internally. Jim scanned the rest of the group discretely and no else looked the same as he…wait a minute…Ecklie had broken out in a similar sweat.

Toreth was chatting with Iris and Sara about how she'd gotten into jewelry making when Ecklie's hand insistently claimed hers. "Won't you excuse us, please?"

As Ecklie walked by Nick, he said hoarsely, "Where are the jet skis?"

"At the dock, what's up?" Nick queried.

"One guess, I need to find a port of intimacy…immediately," Ecklie rasped as he lead Toreth away toward the dock. Her look of confusion melted into surprise as Ecklie stopped to kiss her.

"What got into him?" Iris wondered in ear shot of Hodges who looked the other way.

Brass was struggling to control a raging desire to do what you can't in a public place and not get arrested for it. He needed to release what was building inside somehow some way somewhere. Now was when he desperately needed that babe to be and he agreed with Ecklie's discrete exit. Toreth was in for the ride of her life, no question, if Ecklie felt a fraction of what Jim was experiencing.

No longer in control of himself, instinct took over and demanded satisfaction or as much as could be had spur of the moment. Brass saw Iris as she shared something funny with Nick and the two were having a good laugh. His zone of vision narrowed to focus only on her as he strode up to her. She saw him approach and she smiled at him, thinking he had something to add to the joke she'd told Nick.

Brass literally "attacked" Iris as he placed his hands on her hips and hoisted her up on the picnic table. Iris only had a moment to gasp in surprise. Like an eagle swooping down on its targeted prey, Jim's lips hungrily clamped on hers, his tongue unrelenting in its quest past her lips to find her own. His arms crushed her to him as his probing kiss continued with a "take no prisoners" attitude. The rest of the group stood in shock before a chorus of hoops and hollers erupted around Brass and Iris that were all encouraging. What astonished Jim as much as what was happening at the moment was Iris' beginning to return what was clearly now a willingly received kiss. Brass felt her hunger answering his own, her arms sliding slowly up his chest and then around his neck. Her fingers clutched frantically at his back then kneading between his shoulders, like a cat luxuriating at a scratching post.

Their delicious exchange went on for how long neither knew as everything around them faded away. What mattered only was the mounting desire to find a place where it was only them so that this journey could reach the mutual conclusion that was as old as time itself. Jim wanted to go find the other jet ski and steal away with Iris. He'd seen a very small but isolated cove nearby with an out of the way beach. No one was there he was sure and he desperately wanted to take Iris there. Brass shuddered against Iris, feeling the roaring start to subside and his vision began to clear, but the vascular thickening in his nether region was now an acute ache. Their lips were slow to part as Iris looked up at him, her expression a mixture of confusion about what had just happened and wanting them to resume what they'd just shared. She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts but she wasn't extricating herself from his embrace.

"Uh, sorry, it must've been the brownies talking," Brass said hastily and eased himself away from Iris. "I'll be back later, need to take care of some business."

"Brass man, you okay? You're red as a lobster!" Nick observed.

"Nick, toss me the key to the wave runner," Jim demanded hoarsely and caught the silver key with one grab. He was making a dash for that cove he'd thought about so he could relieve the pressure building inside like a champagne bottle needing uncorked. The result would be about the same he thought ironically.

Catherine watched as the homicide detective did a hurried exit stage left. "Anyone notice how Jim was walking? His gait reminds me of a guy with an extreme case of jock itch."

"After that smooch he laid on Iris, maybe he had more in mind?" Warrick shrugged.

Iris still looked stunned and Sara went to check on her friend. "Iris, you okay?"

Iris blinked several moments, her fingers gently touching her lips…lips that felt like they were on fire. "Wow."

"Wow what?" Sara asked carefully.

"Wow as in who knew he could kiss like that," Iris clarified softly. "Jim acted like he was under…Ecklie too."

"What are you talking about?" Sara wanted to make sense out of what Iris was saying.

"Okay, I think we can all pitch in and clean up after this great picnic lunch," Grissom moved to shift the group's attention to another task given what had just happened between his best friend and one of his CSI's.

Iris saw Hodges and her eyes narrowed. He was covering leftovers with Wendy and saw Iris coming his way. The stormy look on her face caused him to gulp.

"David, could I please have a word with you in private," Iris changed gears and made sure her voice matched a face that was the definition of pleasant.

"Uh, sure, Iris, I'll be right back," Hodges said and glanced hopefully at Wendy. She gave him a brilliant smile and it encouraged him to face whatever he had to with Iris.

At the back of one of the Excursions, Hodges followed Iris when she spun on her heel and her index finger poked him sharply in the chest. He knew she fenced and thought if had been an actual epee and her anatomical knowledge he'd of been skewered on the spot. Her eyes were dark black as she demanded, "What was in those brownies?"

Hodges' eyes dropped and he scuffed his sandals in the dirt like a little boy. "It was herbs like I said."

"David, what herbs? That had to be some mix given the reaction of Ecklie and Jim, but why only them," Iris persisted.

Hodges shifted his weight restlessly from foot to foot like a kid with his hand caught in a cookie jar. Iris wouldn't let him go until he came clean.

"I was doing research on the web about herbal love potions. The exact ingredients are Guarana seed (Paullinia cupana); Damiana (Turnera diffusa); Kapikachhu (Mucuna pruriens); Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera); Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus); Muira Puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides)' Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris); Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium); Bala (Sida cordifolia); and
Sariva (Hemidismus indica)," he confessed slowly.

"Love potions?" Iris gasped, recognizing the herb names.

"Yes, I wanted to conduct a controlled experiment to see if there was any veracity to the claims of herbal love potion mixtures," Hodges elaborated.

"You gave us the equivalent of herbal Viagra, at least for the men, so you could have lab rats? What were you thinking? What if someone had an allergic reaction? How did you expect this so-called experiment to go?" Iris was furious now.

"I went over the what-ifs in advance, Iris, I promise. I was able to find out through discrete questioning here and there that no one had any allergies to herbs. My experiment was to see if anyone displayed any immediate changes in behavior toward their significant other after eating two brownie cupcakes that would give credence to the claims of herbal aphrodisiacs. Originally I didn't plan on my eating any so I could observe the results firsthand, but when Wendy came unexpectedly I had to put myself into the test group. I couldn't foresee Ecklie and Brass eating four but, obviously, four have an effect and two didn't. Are you going to tell Grissom?" Hodges finished with a nervous croak at the thought of a reprimand from the man who he truly had a fawning hero worship of.

Iris pondered several moments on her response as Jim's kiss played over and over in her mind which she now knew was in essence drug-induced. Brass hadn't been himself as the herbal concoction had denuded him of naturally set boundaries. "No, I'm not going to have you recount this to Griss. No actual harm was done. I'm sure Ecklie and Toreth are making the most of your little party favor. As for Jim, he has to be as embarrassed as me for what happened. Still, don't you ever try such an irresponsible stunt again," Iris sternly warned him.

"Iris, I can't thank you enough," Hodges said with palpable relief.

"Get back there and enjoy your time with Wendy. I have high hopes for you two," Iris gave Hodges a friendly nudge to head them back to the covered picnic area.

. . . . .

Brass tried to make a discrete return to the covered picnic area nearly 45 minutes later. He'd not had any difficulty in achieving resolution of his particularly marked state of arousal, it'd only taken a more intimate version of what he'd had happen with Iris for the proverbial scenes of a rocket taking off, a train going into a tunnel, a volcano erupting, an atomic bomb going off, or a hot dog landing in a bun to occur. He observed a lively Frisbee game in progress involving Sara, Grissom, Hodges, Wendy, Ecklie and Toreth but also three-on-three volleyball going on between Nick, Alicia, Catherine, Warrick, Dee and Greg.

He made sure he was by Ecklie when he was between Frisbee tosses. Jim asked in a low voice, "So, Conrad, how was it?"

Ecklie gave him a peripheral glance, "How was what?"

"You left with Toreth like a bat out of hell and I was in the same boat as you, so you know damn well what I'm asking about!" Jim insisted.

Ecklie pulled back away from the Frisbee game a moment, calling out to Toreth he'd just be minute, and then walked a few feet away with Brass following. When he was sure he was no one else was within hearing range, he said to Brass with a very un-Ecklie like grin that stretched from ear to ear, "Best loving I've ever had…bar none…even before and after the ex Mrs. Ecklie! Wait a minute, you said you were in the same, uh, boat?"

"Yeah, well, the love boat sailed without me," Brass sighed crankily.

"Sorry, Jim," Ecklie said sympathetically and saw Toreth's beckoning wave. "I need to get back there."

"Another whipped male bites the dust," Jim muttered to himself with the promise not to fall into that category. He was in control of his own destiny when it came to the getting-some-loving department.

He then sidled up to Nick, bare-chested and sporting an Adonis-like physique, "Uh, where's Iris?"

"Ready for round two, are you stud?" Nick joked.

"Funny, Stokes, you and I both know it was an accident!" Brass protested.

"You sure about that?" Nick asked pointedly before he served the volleyball.

Brass ignored his question. "Just tell me where."

"She took the jet ski when Ecklie and Toreth got back, said something about going for a swim where it's allowed," Nick disclosed.

"Damn," Jim swore softly.

"Not to worry, Brass man, she'll be back by the time we're ready to head to the festival," Nick insisted.

"Jim, come play Frisbee!" Sara laughed as she chased the one she missed from Grissom. She snagged it in mid-air finally and came back to grab Jim's hand playfully. "Come on, don't be a stick in the mud!"

Brass reluctantly joined them but found to his delight he could still sling one like he had in his college days. While Jim was somewhat pleased no one besides Nick made any reference to or asked about what had happened between him and Iris, he found himself periodically scanning about to see her return. An hour later as everyone rested under the covered picnic area and enjoyed something to drink, she quietly showed up post shower and changed into fresh clothes. Jim swallowed hard, wondering how she'd not only act toward him but deal with any comments from the rest of their group.

"Warrick, slide me a lemonade, please," Iris requested and took a seat by Dee and Greg. She made no eye contact with Jim whatsoever.

"So how could you leave without the Brass man after your very public romantic interlude?" Warrick asked with a "tsk tsk" sound.

Jim groaned inside to himself – here we go.

"Oh, you mean the act we pulled?" Iris replied breezily.

"Act?" Warrick faltered.

"Yes, Jim and I wanted to do something that would just shock everyone's socks off and we decided to do a little play acting at some point during the team outing. We figured no one would expect our acting like a twosome. It wasn't planned for right then and there, but I have to hand it to Jim on the timing," Iris declared casually between long sips of lemonade.

"Oh, really, care to comment, Jim?" Greg found he was puzzled and not sure he believed what was said.

Jim's eyes met Iris' and he silently agreed to partner with her in the deception. "Yeah, Iris and I wanted to do something totally out of character for her. Hell, you know I always have an eye for the ladies and it was a golden opportunity to freak you all out."

"You dog you," Nick said with a hint of admiration.

"Guess we'll see you at the Academy Awards for best actor," Grissom interjected drily.

"Yeah, acting is a hidden talent of mine," Jim smiled convincingly.

"Change of subject, please! We're outlining again what we're doing tonight and when we're expected to head back?" Catherine interjected with a sly look at Jim.

"I have to sing a couple of songs with the Vintage Vibes tonight but we're due to go on first tonight before Deep River, so they've agreed to let me off early so I can hang with Greg and the rest of you," Dee said and she gave a little coquettish wink at Greg.

"Let's count on hitting the carnival for a while before listening to the bands. I promised Alicia a big stuffed gorilla at one of the arcade booths," Nick proposed.

"A big gorilla as a memento? I find that oddly fitting, Nick, it should definitely remind her of you," Iris quipped as Alicia tried her best not to laugh.

"Hey now, what are you implying?" Nick warned with a wagging finger at her.

"I have to be check my store and vendor tent briefly if that's okay," Toreth told the group.

"So long as the women aren't in a shopping mood!" Hodges dared to add.

"What if it's something for you?" Wendy challenged.

Recalling his promise to get an off the wall souvenir for her, Hodges wisely let it go while considering just what would serve in that capacity.

"Does anyone know when do the fireworks start?" Brass asked, not wanting the ladies to get irked at the subject of shopping. He was a battle-scarred veteran of such discussions.

"Nine o'clock," Iris piped up.

"So a little carnival, a little dancing, a little fire working, and later…," Catherine left the rest unsaid deliberately…they were all adults here. Warrick's hand stroked the small of her back at that and thoughts of what might be later came to mind for both of them.

"Well, can we make it interesting tonight and change partners while dancing periodically," Sara proposed. She saw Iris' slight smile at that. This way everyone got the chance to dance.

"I have no objection," Grissom said, understanding Sara's reasons.

"Time's wasting, next stop carnival!" Ecklie now spoke up.

As the group headed to the Excursions, Brass walked briefly beside Iris and said in a low voice for her to hear alone. "That was a great glove save about what happened between us with the, uh, accidental contact, you thought quickly."

She smiled at his hockey term reference. "We had to keep up appearances, did we not?"

"I suppose. Look, would you save a dance or two for me tonight, maybe during the fireworks?" Jim asked urgently.

Iris looked at him thoughtfully before replying, "Yes, I'd enjoy that. As far as what happened between us, it was the brownies talking, like you said earlier."

"No harm, no foul?" Brass was incredulous.

"No harm, no foul," Iris reassured him.

Brass' phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out while they continued to walk together. "Iris, I just got a text from Andrew Winters on Peter MacDougal. They've worked a plea deal with the D.A. It looks like he'll be getting probation and no trial."

"I know you wanted a trial and why, Jim, but given the facts don't you agree this worked out for the best," Iris pointed out carefully.

"Nothing can bring Luther Watkins back but he's going to be laid to rest properly, thanks to the Law Dawgs you know, so all things being equal I'll have to say yeah," Brass concurred but it was still difficult for him she knew.

On arriving to the Excursions, Jim gave her a gallant smile, "After you, milady."

"Kind sir, your chivalry knows no bounds," Iris returned demurely, accepting his hand to assist her into the SUV.

. . . . .

"Aw, c'mon, Alicia, here's the gorilla I promised you. The rest of the gang's waiting on us!" Nick pleaded. He'd spent more than he wanted to in his efforts to win the giant stuffed primate at the basketball booth.

"It's pink, Nicky, I can't take a pink one to remember you by," Alicia sniffed.

"Okay," Nick sighed and turned to the booth operator. "You have any other ones?"

"Pink's the one I have to show, buddy, hardest color to get rid of," the carnie said and spat companionably on the ground.

"Uh, well, how much would it take to get a non-pink gorilla considering I did win the game fair and square?" Nick asked, doing his best to be amiable.

"Twenty bucks will insure you get some action later with that beauty," winked the carnie with a leering smile that boasted several missing teeth.

"Gee, thanks, for being so understanding," Nick grumbled while the carnie walked behind the basketball goal and returned with a brown gorilla.

"Nicky, you got it, baby!" Alicia nearly squealed, wrapping Nick in a hug that made it worthwhile to him as his resultant grin was as big as his native Texas.

. . . . .

"Damn, Brass, ol' Deadeye should be your nickname!" Warrick affirmed as Brass won another round at the shooting gallery. The operator looked heavenward for intervention as Brass pointed to a big brown teddy bear, one of several stuffed animals he'd already won and given away to passing children.

"Iris! Here you go!" Brass called out to her and tossed her the teddy bear as she turned around. She grinned and made a sign using sign language toward him before Catherine grabbed her arm to follow Warrick.

"Gil, what'd she just do?" Brass asked his friend whose deaf mother had taught him to learn sign language as a child.

"She signed thank you," Grissom interpreted.

"How do you sign you're welcome?" Jim now asked.

"Like this," Grissom demonstrated the appropriate response. Brass repeated the moves and Grissom corrected him once. Brass practiced the physical gestures once more and Grissom nodded his approval.

"Hey, Iris!" Jim hollered.

"Yo," Iris had been trying her hand at the water gun game with Warrick and Catherine and only got her butt kicked in the process.

Jim flawlessly signed "you're welcome" to her and he was rewarded with a beaming smile and thumbs up sign from her.

The gang now tried all the rides they could before Dee had to be available for the Vintage Vibes set. Brass made sure if it was a two-person ride that he was Iris' escort. They were in the bumper cars and while Iris enjoyed Brass' company and his friendly mood, she just had to say what was on her mind. The opportunity came right after Brass took out Nick and Alicia in their bumper car with a PIT (pursuit intervention technique) move he'd used in police chases. Jim also took out Grissom and Sara by rear-ending theirs into a wall. Seeing his toothy grin of satisfaction, she nudged him hard in the ribs. Having his attention, she frowned and chided him, "Aren't you supposed to be on the hunt for your babe-to-be, your Brass Lass? You can't bag her if you're not scoping things out!"

"I'm scoping, Iris, I'm scoping but aren't we having fun?" he countered.

"Yes, we are but first thing's first and that's your finding a honey," Iris said to redirect him.

"I will before the night's out," Brass proclaimed confidently.

There was a Truckee store vendor by the carnival midway who was taking photographs of individuals, but Grissom asked if she could take a large group picture and what the fee would be. A price was agreed upon and Grissom gathered everyone to be present, including the Truckee Three which remained Iris' secret name for the three additional women. The photographer gave considerable time and thought to arranging the lineup to be just so. She made allowances for the several couples that had resulted in the last 24 hours or more. Brass and Iris were left as the odd ones out and the photographer frowned only a moment, taking Iris to the forefront having Brass stand behind her. The photographer placed Brass' arms to encircle Iris' waist and clasp hands in the front.

She stood back and scanned the group with a satisfied smile.

Brass whispered in Iris' ear, "Let's look real chummy, okay?"

Her head turned a fraction so he could hear her low reply, "You mean like everyone else is?"

Jim's nod was nearly imperceptive. "Yeah, is that okay with you?"

"Ham it up," Iris challenged.

Brass' answer was to tighten his embrace and interlace their fingers while he turned her just enough so that her cheek met his own. Iris ordered herself not to blush but it was going to be next to impossible given this close contact with him.

"Smile!" the photographer commanded just before Iris was blinded by her camera's flash.

Grissom stepped away from Sara to approach the photographer. "When can you have 25 available?"

"See me tomorrow afternoon at my studio on the square. I'll be sure they're ready," the photographer promised.

. . . . .

At six p.m., Dee had to leave them so she could join the Vintage Vibes to prepare for their show. It was evident to all that Greg was forming a strong attachment to his voluptuous companion. He wanted to go with her but she insisted that he stay with the group. Greg's sigh was pronounced after she'd left.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow," Grissom quoted sympathetically. "Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene II.

"Greg, I think you can count on having a helluva morrow with her," Warrick speculated, giving him a friendly punch in the arm.

"Yeah, she's been great for you," Nick agreed.

"Long distance romances don't tend to work out," Greg blurted to divulge his fears.

"You act like she's on the moon or something. You're just a couple hours apart, Junior, so it's not the end of the world," Brass snorted.

"Brass is right. The situation is very workable. You must show her she's already worth that to you," Ecklie interjected.

"Like Toreth is to you?" Catherine put him on the spot.

As Toreth was gone to answer nature's call, Ecklie replied boldly, "Yes, she's to visit me in Vegas and we're working out the details."

"Wow, don't drink the water around here," Iris jested half to herself.

"How's that?" Brass caught what she'd said.

"Oh, I was just thinking out loud at how everyone either came here with their partner or have found one since arriving. The exception is for you to find your mystery lass."

"What about you?" Jim's stare pinned her down.

"I came to see the fireworks and remember a childhood dream," Iris said slowly with a neutral expression and resolved not fidget under the scrutiny of his stare. She turned before her face betrayed more.

"You ready to show off your slow dancing soon?" Sara asked Grissom with a hopeful peck on his cheek.

Grissom smiled at her while he checked his watch and recommended to the group, "Let's head over to the stage and be in a good spot for when Dee sings."

. . . . .

The stage area was full to capacity for the Vintage Vibes show to begin. Dee was dressed in a black sequined pant suit with a V-shape that gave a teasing glimpse of her cleavage. She was given a request that she scanned quickly and then addressed the audience. "Let's try something a little different tonight. I'm going to ask the ladies to follow Miss Alicia down here in a simple line dance that's fun to do. Give us just few minutes."

Alicia went up to Dee followed by Iris, Catherine and Sara. Toreth joined them a moment later as Alicia was asking, "What song? You don't do country!"

"Our group does requests at all kinds of events, and this one's been a recent favorite at wedding receptions. Can you come up with something?" Dee showed Alicia the request.

"Iris, Nick said you do ballroom dancing mainly, so what do you think?" Alicia now showed the song request to Iris.

"Oh, we can have some fun with this one," Iris grinned.

Alicia and Iris came up with a quick routine in five minutes.

"Ladies, come up front and check out this new way to step. Come on, don't be shy!" Dee said with a beckoning wave and the response to invitation was well received by the number of girls from teenagers to grandmothers. "Okay, follow Miss Alicia now."

The steps weren't complex and the body moves for the more adventurous made for a fun routine.

"Okay, men, this song's real popular at wedding receptions so for any single ladies here you may get an offer in the near future because your man won't be able to resist you!" Dee commanded and went into Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)."

The men in Grissom's group focused their attention solely on the ladies who'd they'd been spending their time with as they danced and Alicia accentuated hers with some belly dance moves that Catherine, Sara, Toreth and Iris quickly incorporated into their own steps. Dee mimicked Alicia perfectly on the stage as she sang with gusto. Iris caught Jim's encouraging wink with his head nodding in time with the song.

At the end of the song, the male applause was more than polite and had whistles and shouts as the girls to grandmothers rejoined the teenagers to grandpas.

Dee's wide smile at Greg gave promise to how his evening would be later as she went into another Vintage Vibe song. Greg resumed dancing with Iris who saw that Brass had been invited to dance by a stunningly lissome ash blond who had him wrapped up and held close. Jim didn't see Iris or hear the audible gasp that Greg heard.

"What's wrong?" Greg asked and held Iris at arm's length a moment.

"Jim got his lass," Iris did her best to sound jubilant. She and Brass hadn't even had a chance to dance together yet, but she refused to let that spoil what should be a happy moment for her friend.

Greg caught sight of the detective gliding over the floor with his new female partner. "They make a nice couple."

"Yes, they do indeed," Iris concurred blandly. The song ended and the audience applauded as Dee saw Greg and Iris. She gave them a friendly wave.

"Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, all the young at heart, the Vintage Vibes would like to thank you again for coming to the Truckee Fourth Festival and sharing this part of your evening with us. We'd like to invite a friend up to sing a special song for you all tonight. Would Iris King please come to the stage?" Dee requested and beckoned with a crooked index finger.

Iris' mouth dropped in shock before she quickly grabbed Greg by the arm. "Greg, how does she know I sing?" Iris demanded.

"Uh, well, it came up during conversation with Dee at some point," Greg disclosed casually.

"You are so going to owe me," Iris groaned.

"Come on, Iris, we're waiting," Dee said into the microphone. "Let's encourage her with some applause, folks!"

The crowd clapped and it was punctuated with whistles from the CSI team and friends.

"Sing like you do at the lab," Grissom encouraged her.

"Iris, knock 'em dead, I know you can," Jim said supportively as he came over with his willowy partner. Iris never got the chance to even hear her name when Nick took one arm and Warrick the other to escort her to the stage.

Once on the stage, Iris reluctantly joined Dee who covered the microphone with one hand and put a sheet of paper in her hand with the other. "This is our set list. Pick any song. Greg said you've got great pipes."

Iris scanned the list quickly and looked at the bass player who was the band's leader. She pointed to a title on the list and he nodded with a grin. "Good choice."

She closed her eyes a moment, breathing in serenity and breathing out confusion for composure. It's just like singing a special at church she told herself. She then turned to face the audience. "Like most of you, I'm accustomed to singing at home or in the shower or in the car. I'd like to sing "Be My Baby" for you tonight. Everybody out there grab your honey, let's dance close and slow."

As the band started the popular 1960's song, Iris found her gaze fixing on Jim as she started to sing:

"The night we met I knew I needed you so and if I had the chance I'd never let you go. So won't you say you love me, I'll make you so proud of me. We'll make 'em turn their heads every place we go. So won't you please be my little baby. Say you'll be my darling. Be my baby now. I'll make you happy, baby, just wait and see. For every kiss you give me, I'll give you three. Oh, since the day I saw you, I have been waiting for you. You know I will adore you till eternity. So won't you please be my little baby. Say you'll be my darling, be my baby now..."

As she took hold of the microphone, she sang with a plaintive, forlorn tone as she watched the audience melt into twos to dance slow and close as she'd urged. To her surprise, Jim had taken his ash blond comrade to a vendor's table at the edge of the dance floor to buy her a drink. Their eyes continued to meet and she thought she saw him raise his whiskey glass to her as if in salute. The emotions Iris had denied to admit to now welled up inside as she continued her focus on Brass with how she sang directed fully at him. She felt a dismal sense of irony now for what she'd hoped for in her heart of hearts of meeting someone special and to have it reciprocated. Iris decided to let the song say what she couldn't directly, even if it was for naught with Jim and had to be for someone who didn't yet exist for her.

Iris was encouraged by the head nods and thumbs up she was receiving from her team mates while they enjoyed the close contact with their partners. Her smile was for them and not herself as she went through another round of the song as the band played seamlessly behind her.

Brass kept his eyes on Iris for nearly the entire song, even though his supple new dance partner was doing her utmost to ply her charms on him. He'd give her an occasional nod while she chattered in his ear, finding quickly she was a very self-absorbed person that could only talk about herself. She saw his eyes weren't on her but on the person singing, so she placed a blood-red fingernail under his chin to coax his gaze back to her. A part of the lyrics from the Michael Jackson song, "Man in the Mirror", he'd heard on the radio started to play in his mind at that moment:

"I'm starting with the man in the mirror, I'm asking him to change his ways, yeah. No message could have been any clearer. If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make the change. You gotta get it right, while you got the time. 'Cause when you close your heart, you can't close your, your mind, then you close your mind."

As the song ended, Iris she gave a brief bow and exited the stage to find Dee waiting to hug her while they heard loud applause. Dee said loudly in her ear, "Go back out!"

"I can't," Iris shook her head with a catch in her voice and tear-bright eyes that reflected the stage lights.

"You sang your heart out for someone in the crowd didn't you?" Dee concluded with round eyes.

"It's okay and best left as one of life's what-ifs," Iris acknowledged.

"Stay here. I've got one more song to do," Dee ordered before she had to go back out on stage.

Before she had to face her teammates, Iris remained behind the stage while she lifted up her glasses to dab at her eyes with a napkin. She sank wearily onto a bar stool to shake off the pensive cloak she now felt the weight of. Refusing to give into it, she listened to Dee's last song which was "You Can't Hurry Love" and it was another love song which didn't help her sense of irony at first. However, the song was catchy and breezy so Iris resolved to shake off the negative and stay positive. With eyes closed, she lost herself in the song as the lyrics took her on a wistful journey:

"I need love, love, to ease my mind. I need to find, find someone to call mine. But mama said, you can't hurry love. No, you just have to wait. She said love don't come easy. It's a game of give and take. You can't hurry love. No, you just have to wait. You got to trust, give it time. No matter how long it takes. But how many heartaches must I stand before I find a love to let me live again. Right now the only thing that keeps me hangin' on when I feel my strength, yeah, it's almost gone. I remember mama said: You can't hurry love. No, you just have to wait. She said love don't come easy. It's a game of give and take. How long must I wait? How much more can I take before loneliness will cause my heart to break. No I can't bear to live my life alone. I grow impatient for a love to call my own. But when I feel that I, I can't go on. These precious words keeps me hangin' on. I remember mama said: You can't hurry love. No, you just have to wait. She said love don't come easy. It's a game of give and take. You can't hurry love. No, you just have to wait. She said trust, give it time. No matter how long it takes. No, love, love, don't come easy."

A dry sob escaped Iris as she heard the next part of the song: "But I keep on waiting. Anticipating for that soft voice to talk to me at night. For some tender arms to hold me tight. I keep waiting. But it ain't easy."

Her eyes remained closed as she took solace from the song's advice of waiting and to be patient, but time tended not to be a friend in matters of the heart and a sigh escaped her in spite of her mental pep talk.

"Iris?" a baritone voice she didn't expect to hear asked.

Jim stood by her with an enigmatic smile of sorts. She was then aware that he was minus his limber dance partner. Iris shook her head trying to ascertain why. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have sung straight at you the way I did. It just helps me when I to sing in public like that to focus on one person alone. I hope that didn't cause your dance associate to get out of sorts with you."

"I got that impression and I was flattered. Come on, rest of the gang's waiting," Jim said simply and took her hand in his. He went down the stage stairs first and turned to put his hands around her waist and lift her down. Jim reclaimed her hand again.

Iris felt like her heart was in her throat while she asked what she had to, "Jim, don't I get to meet the person you were dancing with?"

"Nope," he said flatly.

"What happened? You seemed to enjoy her company?" Iris asked, quite bewildered.

"Maybe if I could've got a word in edgewise but we'll never know. She was all about her so I told her the rest of my dances were promised," Jim explained with a shrug.

"Ah, well, we just regroup to find someone worthy of your affection. I think there should be unattached ladies between songs," Iris reasoned and turned to go but Jim held her hand fast. She gave him a questioning look but he gave a curt nod of his head at who approached. Iris could play along and her fingers twined with his so that they looked very chummy as Brass had said earlier in the evening.

Eric was walking with the ash-blond that had been with Brass just minutes ago. Jim thought the woman didn't waste any time. Eric gave Iris a long appraising stare before he spoke, "Well, kids, nice night for romancin', isn't it? I didn't know you could sing, Iris, you're full of surprises."

"I could say the same for you, Mr. March, as one with surprises," Iris replied amiably but kept it formal.

"Jim, Eden, here said you to know each other," Eric said casually, his arm possessively circling the slender waist of Brass' former comrade.

"The lady and I had had a couple of dances. She's a very nimble dancer, quite capable of agile moves, almost serpentine in grace," Jim clarified, keeping Iris right beside him.

"Empty net still I see?" Eric speculated with a sympathetic tone.

"No, Eric, I've found my company for the weekend," Brass corrected him as he carefully raised Iris' hand clasped securely in his and then kissed it. Iris' eyes widened marginally but she responded by laying her head on his shoulder, her rationale being to put the "dazzle with diamonds and baffle with bull hockey" adage into practice.

Eden said nothing but her scathing look raked Iris who also remained silent but gave a sublime smile in return.

Brass saw the exchange and in spite of Eden's height, he laid odds Iris could still kick her butt without question.

Eden purred to Eric, "I need another drink. I'll get you one too." She then headed to the nearest vendor tent serving alcohol.

"Well, I think you kids deserve each other," Eric observed with a fixed smile, "Eden and I are heading back to my place. I'm get to take a trip to the Garden of Eden and got the tools to do some gardening. See you on Sunday."

After they left, Iris groaned," I think they deserve each other! He's a legend in his own mind! What a crass jerk!"

"Eric may find he just took on more than he bargained for," Brass agreed with a dry laugh.

"Jim, you know you can stop pretending since you showed Eric you were with someone so you can actively pursue some sweet thing here at the festival. I believe Eric won't be coming out of his hotel room the rest of the weekend because he won't need a chemical restraint for that Eden person," Iris remarked with a quirky smile.

"Uh, no can do, Iris," Jim told her bluntly, still keeping her hand captured in his own.

"I..I..I don't understand?" Iris looked quizzically up at him.

"I was telling Eric the truth. I've found the person of interest I want to spend the holiday with…all of it…day and night, that is if she wants to," Jim revealed and drew her closer to him. "Does she want to?"

"Person of interest?" Iris said and cocked her head while a cautious smile crossed her lips as she tried to interpret his law enforcement phrase beyond what it usually meant.

"Yeah, does she want to?" Brass repeated and folded Iris with care into his arms.

"Jim, I've got fine hair, a pert nose, a plethora of freckles…features I hardly think warrant your attention," Iris found herself saying nervously.

"Detectives love to serve warrants and I think you should know I'm into freckles in a big way," he said gruffly. "So, last chance, does she want to?"

"Yes, my Captain, she does…more than anything," Iris informed him softly.

"Come on, you're spoken for every dance the rest of tonight and tomorrow," Jim smirked at her and took her to the dance floor as the Deep River band began their set.

Brass proved he was smooth on his feet and Iris found her respect mounting with each dance they shared. To her the man moved with a kind of stealthy grace that belied the distinct no-nonsense gait with which he walked. She had no trouble at all synching her steps with his as he lead. The rest of the team including Ecklie displayed little to no surprise whatsoever at seeing the newest couple join their ranks and this dismayed Iris greatly.

"Brass man, what'd you have to do knock her over the head?" Nick commented as he and Alicia went by.

"No, Stokes, she ambushed me. Can you believe it? You gotta watch out for the quiet ones," Jim replied, snarky tone in full force.

"Jim…," Iris started to object but he placed a finger against her lips.

"It's okay, kitten," Jim reassured her.

"Warrick and I approve," Catherine seemed to purr while she and the café au lait CSI moved slowly by.

"Wow, they're glued to each other," Iris observed.

"You don't think we can be?" Jim challenged.

"Uh, sure, I'm sure it's in the works already. You don't stand a chance, you know," Iris replied tartly.

Brass laughed low in her ear, liking her spunky response.

The only time Brass gave her leave to dance with another was with Grissom and while Jim enjoyed squiring Sara away, Iris was pleased to experience first hand the suave style with which Grissom slow danced.

Iris observed that Brass had stopped briefly with Sara. He and Nick were side by side with their cell phones doing some kind of exchange of information. It was concluded quickly so the men could resume their close dancing but still left Iris puzzled.

She let it go and commented to Grissom, "I can see why Sara would want to monopolize your only dancing with her."

"Well, I can only attribute that to her good taste," Grissom smiled wryly, going so far as to dip Iris low.

"Hey, hey, Gil, don't be a tough act to follow, okay?" Brass protested with a false scowl while he showed that he too could dip while a willingly supple Sara allowed it.

. . . .

The skies were just starting to turn a rich purple blue of dusk as the Deep River band finished its last song. Grissom and his group had piled into the Excursions to head to the King's Beach State Park to watch the fireworks, where Toreth had a friend who'd reserved them prime watching space. The Mayor of Truckee was on hand as he took his place behind a podium with microphone. "Testing one, two, three. I'd to welcome all of our visitors to the Truckee Fourth Festival. We've now reached the countdown time for the fireworks show to begin."

Pre-recorded patriotic music was playing in the background as the mayor went on, "Okay, I need everyone's help, especially the kids, as we count down: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and…"

The crowd roared, "ONE!"

As the fireworks show began with a spectacular pattern of choreographed aerial explosions and color, the music shifted to a mix of rock and pop as the mayor encouraged anyone who wanted to dance to do so.

Those in the CSI group that wanted to continued the slow dancing they'd all been reveling in all evening. Iris found Brass swaying her to the music while she leaned into him and savored the close contact she was growing content having with him. He bent down to say into her ear, "Come and dance with me beneath the dragon's breath, Iris."

She pulled back and he saw the expression of shock in her face as the latest round of fireworks illuminated the crowd below. He took her by the arm and walked her away from their group toward a concession stand, leaving the others to think they were getting refreshments.

"Iris, did I saw something wrong? I just remembered how mysterious you were when you said that the other day. It just seemed the thing to say here and now. Did I mess up?" Brass was worried as he tried to comprehend her reaction to what he'd said.

Her brow knit into a frown as she formulated her reply. She then looked up at him with a gentle smile while her hand went up to stroke his cheek as a gesture of reassurance. "No, Jim, you didn't mess up or say something wrong. I was just taken by surprise that's all. I didn't think my flippant phrase was worth recalling."

"I do pay attention," Jim revealed with a wink.

"And so you would being the superior homicide detective you are," Iris laughed to put him at ease.

"I meant I pay attention in non-work related ways," he clarified while pulling her in for a hug. "We better get a hot dog and something to drink so we look legit going back."

The fireworks show lasted approximately an hour before concluding with a grand finale of starbursts and huge blossoms of sparkling color flooding the sky punctuated with loud booms and pops.

The Excursions quickly loaded up for the return back to the lodge house and the collective mood seemed to be one of anticipation of a repeat of the previous night's behind closed door activities. Greg would be spending the night again with Dee, while Hodges and Wendy were getting to be a coosome twosome from Iris' discrete observation. They were riding in the Excursion driven by Grissom.

"Iris, what's for breakfast tomorrow?" Hodges leaned forward to ask because he and Wendy had called dibs on the furthest back seat.

"Well, I'm doing all the cooking," Iris said and Hodges understood her words with their in between meaning. "I'm leaning toward pancakes, bacon-egg-cheese omelets or egg-cheese omelets wrapped in tortillas, hash-brown casserole and fresh fruit."

"How early did you get up to cook?" Grissom asked.

"Um, I guess it was around 5:30 or so," Iris shrugged.

"That's too damn early unless we're on an out-call at work," Jim interjected.

"I didn't hear you complaining about the hour of preparation this morning while you were eating," Iris returned.

Brass said nothing and let his satisfied smile answer for him.

"You sure you don't want help? Knock on our door on your way down and I'll get up," Sara insisted.

"Well, I'm predicting no one will want to willingly leave their comrade sleeping alone, so it's all good and I truly don't mind," Iris assured them all.

"Don't be a martyr!" Jim growled in her ear.

"I'm not. Admit it! Everyone else in the group is going to have another night of …um…don't bother knockin' if the bed's a rockin'. No one's going to feel like cooking a breakfast," Iris disagreed with him soto voce.

"You might not feel like it either," Brass said mysteriously.

Iris gulped, wondering what he meant by that.

. . . . .

"Thanks, girl, I appreciate you doing this for us! Uh, I'm headed upstairs so good night," Nick said hurriedly as he was the last person to leave his wet clothes with Iris. She'd told everyone in advance she'd do quick load of laundry if the wet things from the lake were left with her in the utility room. Knowing what awaited Nick, she couldn't blame the Texan CSI for being in a rush. She shut the washer lid after adding the detergent and walked into the living area. Not a soul in sight and she looked up the stairway at the closed doors. Only the loft bedroom door was still open. Her heart fluttered at the sight of it, let alone the thought of her sharing a bed with Jim Brass another night. As she headed upstairs, each step caused the feeling of her tummiflies to get more intense. She shut the loft bedroom door behind her and saw Jim wasn't in bed and the sheer curtains to the deck door were blowing gently in the night breeze. She heard music playing faintly outside and her curiosity was raised.

As Iris stepped onto the deck, Jim corralled her to seize her hand and immediately started to lead her in a very slow dance. He liked her surprised look as he said, "So you going to let me perform mouth to mouth resuscitation that you claimed you didn't need earlier today?"

"Only if you're certified at it," Iris returned saucily.

"Screw certified I'm a master at it," Brass chuckled.

A soft yellow flood light bulb illuminated the desk with a warm glow that mimicked the full moon above them. The music was playing from his Apple Iphone as Brass told her, "You know there's a sequel to that song you sang so well tonight."

"Oh, pray tell, what is it?" Iris said with interest.

Brass turned up the volume on the Iphone as "Take Me Home Tonight" played:

"I feel a hunger. It's a hunger that tries to keep a man awake at night. Are you the answer? I shouldn't wonder when I feel you whet my appetite. With all the power you're releasing, it isn't safe to walk the city streets. Anticipation is running through me. Let's find the key and turn this engine on."

Jim proved to be a very smooth dipper to Iris, ranking right there with Grissom, as he brought her slowly back up to nuzzle her cheek before his lips slid to her neck as the song continued: "I can feel you breathe. I can feel your heartbeat faster. Take me home tonight! I don't want to let you go till you see the light! Take me home tonight! Listen honey just like Ronnie sang: Be my little baby! I get frightened in all this darkness. I get nightmares. I hate to sleep alone."

"I have to agree with the song here, I hate to sleep alone now," Brass said with a husky growl in her ear.

The song went on: "I need some company. A guardian angel to keep me warm when the cold winds blow! I can feel you breathe. I can feel your heartbeat faster. Be my little baby! Just like Ronnie sang. I say just like Ronnie sang: Be my little baby, my darling."

"Wow, what a way to segue wave," Iris said, impressed.

"I'd like to think you're my guardian angel," Brass grinned and then started a new song on his Iphone. It was a country song and it made her look of astonishment at Brass all the more humorous to the homicide detective. "Your face is asking me these questions: Since when do you dig country tunes? Who told you I like this one?"

"Uh, yes, pretty close," Iris replied.

"I asked Nick back at the dance to tell me favorite recent country tunes with certain questions in mind. Come on, I have it on repeat so we can enjoy it in full," Jim wanted her close and found Iris was agreeable to that while they danced and listened to the song "History in the Making" (sung by Darius Rucker):

"Don't move Baby Don't move. Awww look at you. I just want to take this in. The moonlight dancing off your skin. Our time lets take our time. I just want to look in your eyes and catch my breath, cuz I just got a feeling. This could be one of those memories. We want to hold on to, cling to, one we can't forget. Baby, this could be our last first kiss, the door to forever. What if this was that moment? That chance worth taking. History in the making."

"Are we making history?" Iris asked fully while stroking the wattle beneath Brass' chin.

"Oh, yeah, count on it," Brass smiled at her before he took her in a slow twirl about the deck floor.

"Inside, baby inside, can you feel the butterflies?" Darius sang behind them.

"Jim, did you know you've always given me butterflies," Iris disclosed quietly.

"I've been known to have that effect on women," Jim chuckled while the song played on:

"Floating all around, Cuz I can sure feel them now. Tonight, maybe tonight, is a start of a beautiful ride that will never end. And baby I've got a feeling this could be one of those memories. We want to hold on to, cling to, one we can't forget. Baby, this could be our last first kiss, the door to forever. What if this was that moment, that chance worth taking, history in the making. Right here, right now, holding you in my arms. This could be one of those memories we want to hold on to, we want to cling to. One that we can't forget. Baby, this could be our last first kiss, the door to forever. What if this was that moment? That chance worth taking, history in the making."

During the line of "Baby, this could be our last first kiss", Brass stopped and took Iris' face in his hands. He tilted his head just so as he told her in a gruff whisper, "Iris, I'm sorry for earlier today at the beach. You know that wasn't like me and I still can't explain why. If I could do it over I'd of meant for it to happen this way."

With that, his lips took hers gently and he found them to be as expected, warm and cushiony beneath his. The kiss while cautious at first rapidly became more involved in its intensity. It became open-mouthed and he found her yielding to him. Time stood still for them it seemed until fireworks lit up the sky over nearby Donner Lake and distracted them a moment.

"So am I hired for doing all your future resuscitatin'?" He rubbed noses with her while one hand slid to her upper chest where he felt the wild beating of her heart.

In her mind's eye, Iris imagined she stood on the edge of a cliff like a romance novel's heroine, daring to take this possible romantic leap of faith.

"The line of resuscitating candidates forms to the left," she giggled.

"No dice, I sent the rest packing. I don't compete," Jim griped in a no-nonsense way.

"You know you have perfect taste for the content of that song as to the current situation," Iris complimented.

"Well, if it please the court, I'd like to submit into evidence the second song," he left her briefly to go to his Iphone and select the next song. Iris joined him in their continued slow waltz about the deck. As it started, she looked up at and he liked the sparkle of approval he saw there in those dark doe eyes while he let Dierks Bentley speak for him with "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes": "Girl, I've been waitin' on this long hard day to get over so I can rest my head right here on your shoulder. I just wanna lay here and feel ya breathe. Listen to the rhythm of your heartbeat and see where it leads. We're wide awake but girl I wanna make you close your eyes. And say my name like only you can say it and hold me tight."

Brass did hold her tight and close, feeling her shiver against him and found it caused a delicious tingle in him from head to toe. Iris had her own suppleness he found as he dipped her and placed a lingering kiss at the hollow of her throat when he brought her back up.

"All I need is only you and me alone tonight. I wanna make you close your eyes. Oh yeah, I wanna make you close your eyes. You can make me work for it girl if you want to. Just leave a trail for me to follow you into the bedroom. And if you need a little bit of help from me, babe, there's not a button that I can't reach. Let's see where it leads. I wanna take you somewhere out there 'til the world fades out of sight. We're wide awake but girl I wanna make you close your eyes and say my name like only you can say it and hold me tight, just hold me tight.
All I need is only you and me alone tonight, yeah. I wanna make you close your eyes."

"I want this with you, Iris, and not just for tonight. I want it to be special between us. So, I wanna make you close your eyes. Can I?" Brass whispered hopefully into her ear and felt her nod to the affirmative between kisses that continued all throughout the song and when it ended Brass had guided them over to the Iphone so he could shut it off. He'd had to bend over to get the phone and on straightening up his audible grunt of pain couldn't be concealed.

"Jim, is your back bothering you?" Iris scrutinized, seeing how he hunched his back to one side.

"Yeah, I kind of tweaked it earlier today when I jumped in the water to look for you and the day's been real active for an old dog like me," Brass said bluntly.

"Old dog, my foot, you're just sore, that's all. Come on inside where I can do something about it," Iris admonished and took his hand.

"The cure could be either a lap dance or a happy ending of some sort," Jim proposed with crooked grin.

"Well, I did promise to give you the massage of your life when we were leaving the grocery store. However, I can't control your physical responses otherwise," Iris informed him straight-faced.

"I'll take care of that department," Jim laughed.

"Give me a minute to get ready to sleep while you change out here," Iris ordered and took her baby doll pajamas into the bathroom.

When she emerged a few minutes later, Brass was resting comfortably on the bed looking at some sports scores on his Iphone. He was in his sleeveless T shirt and boxers. Iris sat down beside him, holding a jar in her hands. "Ready to be rubbed the right way?"

"All my life," he joked back at her.

"Take off your shirt and lay on your stomach, please," Iris requested.

"I like the direction this is headed in," Brass continued to joke as he complied.

Iris rolled her eyes and started to apply the yam cream to his upper back like she had earlier in the day. "You might wonder how it is I know how to do this. I took a basic massage therapy course during my nursing school classes to help pay tuition. Over the years I took some additional classes to expand my knowledge in the therapy techniques."

She could gauge from his oohs and aahs to soft grunts that she was indeed rubbing him the right way and then asked him to turn onto his back. Brass did so and looked up at her thoughtfully before asking with a smirk, "Would you be willing to dress up in a sexy nurse outfit to fulfill every guy's wish of the hot nurse fantasy?"

"Me…a hot nurse?" Iris gave a self-deprecating snort at the visual image her mind created.

"Yeah, who says you're not?" Brass demanded.

"Wow, that's the most romantic thing that's ever been said to me or asked of me," Iris leaned down to rub noses playfully.

"Not good enough, babe," Brass shook his head to sneak a kiss instead.

Iris resumed her slow and methodical massage of his torso, arms, legs and even feet. "I'm giving your feet a workout in reflexology."

"Oh, well, you've got my other reflexes working out too," Brass nearly moaned at how great the foot massage was making him feel head to toe. "What's in that stuff?"

"The main ingredient's wild yam but it's a custom made blend I have prepared that includes other organic elements," Iris replied as had him sit up so she could pay special attention to his shoulders again.

"Some secret sauce, eh?" Brass uttered with a low oof.

"Um, something like that. Gee, all I need are some marshmallows to top you off with and I'd eat you up 'cuz you smell just like candied yams. You'd be very yummy," Iris gave a disappointed sigh while making lip-smacking sounds.

"So what's stopping you?" Brass grinned up at her.

"Ahem, now in the morning you need to take a warm shower to maximize the relaxing effect of this," Iris instructed and ignored his question.

"You take a shower with me and that will maximize the relaxing effect," Brass said suggestively and followed this by pulling her to him. He lay under her while her surprised doe eyes met his amused blue ones. "I figured you'd like it on top!"

"What're you up to?" Iris finally sputtered.

"I promise you get to find out," Brass pledged and a long kiss followed during which his hand went to her chest and again felt her thudding heart and he stopped. "Iris, I don't want to if you don't want to."

He saw confusion in her eyes for only a flash of a second between heartbeats that was replaced by that soft warm gaze he could wrap up in like a blanket. She put his arms about her and nestled to him. "I want to Jim but can we take it slow and gentle at first. I've got a lot of catching up to do and need you to give me a refresher course."

He rolled them over with a throaty chuckle. "I get to drive, okay?"

She looked up at him, her face the picture of trust, as she replied, "Access granted."