AN: We're back! Who knew it would be so much fun to write with a partner? This story is not quite a sequel to our first story, The Gift of Grace. More like a continuation. We are excited to post and will do so five days a week. We look forward to hearing your thoughts about our joint venture. As always, we use these characters for fun and not for profit.
And so, without further ado, grab yourself a Coke, (and fries, if you need a hangover cure) sit back and ...enjoy!
jago-ji and sonomom aka The Pardo Girls
Chapter 1: Gone, Baby, Gone
The winter rain pounding on his bedroom window woke him up an hour before his alarm went off. Unable to go back to sleep, Ranger stretched his arms over his head, pointed his toes, and then sat up on the side of the bed. He actually felt a little thrill of excitement thinking about his schedule for the day.
Today was the final day of the house renovation. The Bat Cave! He smiled broadly when he thought about what Stephanie had once said to him when he'd told her he was on his way home from a job.
"Home to the Bat Cave?" she asked. Back then no one knew where he lived. The address on his driver's license was a vacant lot.
"Yeah. The Bat Cave," he said.
"I'd like to see the Bat Cave sometime." Steph looked up at him through those luscious long lashes of hers.
Their eyes held.
"Maybe someday," he said.
Back then, this house had only been a pipe dream, much like RangeMan had been when he was still in the military. He'd come a long way since then.
Growing up in a lower middle class family had spurred Ranger to dream big about his future. Joining the Army hadn't really been much of a choice after he'd lost his college scholarship and had to drop out of Rutgers. But his military experience as a Special Forces soldier had given him the skills that had enabled him to earn his fortune after he'd been honorably discharged from the Army.
He didn't dwell much on those later, dark years he'd spent as a mercenary. His numerous deployments had taken him all over the world, but he'd only seen the depressing dregs of the countries he'd fought in. Yeah, he'd only taken jobs sanctioned by the U.S. government, but still, he was just a hired killer. Some of his jobs had been more personal, like when he was hired by corporations or wealthy families to rescue people who'd been kidnapped for ransom. However, those miserable years had built up his considerable nest egg and jump-started his security business. That's why they call them soldiers of fortune, he grimaced.
He showered and dressed and stopped by the control room on his way to the garage. Tank waved him into his office. "Today's the big day!" Tank said, shaking his head. "You sure you want to do this, man?"
"I do," Ranger said.
"Hey, save that kind of language for the church," Tank laughed. He swung his arm out to the side, hand extended, and brought it in toward Ranger. "Well, good luck, my friend. You're going to need it with Steph. If that house doesn't convince her it's time to set the date, nothing will."
Ranger met Tank's wide handshake halfway and the two of them gave each other a brotherly man hug, including a sharp slap on the back.
"That's what I'm hoping. It's time to take the next step with Stephanie and set our wedding date. I don't know why she's been dragging her feet, but I won't be taking 'No' for an answer tonight."
"She won't be able to resist the Mañoso charm," Tank quipped.
"She's been resisting so far," Ranger muttered.
"You've both spent way too many years being commitment-phobic. Steph may just be holding on to some residual fear." Tank gave his best friend an appraising look. "But you really are ready now, aren't you? Go for it, Ranger. I'll hold down the fort here, and you go get your girl."
Ranger shrugged into his winter coat and hiked down to the garage. The wet rainy weather was not going to dampen his spirits, not today.
First, he drove across town to a nondescript strip mall and parked in front of the corner store. The sign out front said Jersey Girls Chocolatiers. Manning the shop were two young girls dressed in candy striper pinafores. When Ranger walked into the store, the girls' eyes grew big and they stopped talking. He stepped up to the glass-fronted counter and was met by silence. The girls were staring at him, mouths open. Ranger tilted his head to study the trays of beautifully decorated chocolate confections lined up under the counter.
Finally, one girl stepped forward and stammered, "M-m-may I help you?" The other girl stayed in the background, fanning her face with her hand.
"Yes. I'd like a box of chocolates," Ranger said.
The girl nodded. "W-what kind? M-milk, dark or white ch-chocolate?"
"Yes."
"Okay," she nodded again and took a deep breath. The girl standing behind her giggled and then quickly covered her mouth with her hand. "Truffles, cream-filled, nuts, nougat, caramel, or brittle?" the first girl asked, gaining confidence.
"Yes."
"So, you want a large box of assorted chocolates. Do you want the one-pound, two-pound or the five-pound box?"
"Better make it the five-pounder. And I need it now. Do you gift wrap?"
"Of course. Give me ten minutes." She turned to the other girl and gestured for her to start filling up the mega box with an assortment of the shop's candies. She turned back to Ranger. "May I offer you some samples to taste, sir?" Again, the second girl giggled.
"No, thank you." He slid a platinum credit card across the counter. "Ring it up."
Ranger walked out the door, a large gold foil-wrapped box under his arm, while the two young girls pressed their noses against the window and watched him slide into his Carrera.
He set the box of specialty chocolates on the passenger seat. Steph loved chocolate. Well, she loved anything sweet, but these chocolaty confections would send her over the moon, he mused. He mentally checked off the first item on his list. Then he moved on to the florist.
It was mid-afternoon by the time he pulled through the wrought iron gates of his newly remodeled home. It was a large two-story house, more like an estate with the amount of acreage surrounding it. And, of course, it was protected by a state-of-the-art security system. He carried in several of the bags he'd picked up earlier in the day and met the interior decorator in the expansive hallway. The woman, an attractive middle-aged lady, was dressed in a navy linen pantsuit and sensible two-inch heels. Ranger had hired her before the remodeling had been completed, as he wanted a feminine touch throughout the house, so that Stephanie would feel welcome immediately.
"Mr. Mañoso, I'm pleased to tell you the last of the furniture has arrived and I just put the final touches to the decor. I hope you will be pleased," she said, a tentative smile crossing her face.
"I'm sure I will, Gloria," Ranger said. "Everything you've done to date has been excellent." His praise changed her tentative smile into a broad one of pleasure. "But I'd like to see the final arrangements." They walked through the house with her pointing out the new pieces and the changes she'd made since he'd last been there. He was satisfied with the overall look, but he would make it clear to Stephanie that she would be free to make any changes she desired.
"There are several fresh flower bouquets in the backseat of my vehicle," Ranger told her. "I'd like you to place them wherever you see fit. Tonight is a special night. I am showing the house to my fiancé, and I want things to be perfect."
At the mention of a fiancé Gloria's smile dropped, but she nodded obediently and left to carry out his instructions. Ranger moved into the kitchen and found Ella chopping vegetables.
"Ranger, I thought I heard your voice," Ella said. "Are you pleased with the house? I think Gloria has done an excellent job. Stephanie will be thrilled. Any woman would be with this incredible house."
Ranger joined her at the kitchen's massive granite-topped island and snitched a piece of carrot. Ella glanced up and smiled at her boss as he chewed and looked around at her dinner preparations. "It looks like you have everything under control here," he observed.
"Dinner tonight will be memorable, I can assure you of that. There will be five courses: a tasty appetizer, a hot soup, a small salad, a decadent starch with vegetables, a classic protein, and, of course, dessert. Do you think you can handle serving all that by yourself?"
"Yes, I think I can handle juggling a few plates and bowls. You were able to find all the wines and liqueurs I requested?"
Ella nodded as she continued to prep for dinner. "There are several bottles on the sideboard, complete with their respective crystal. The rest are chilling in the refrigerator."
"Thank you, Ella. I want Stephanie to feel pampered tonight. I want everything to go smoothly."
"How could she not feel pampered with you catering personally to her every whim?" she responded. "As you asked, I planned the menu with Stephanie in mind, not you," she said, giving him a meaningful look.
"Yes, that's what I want. I can eat anything, but I want Stephanie to feel as if she's died and gone to heaven. You know how she loves her food. I trust there will be more than one dessert for her to sample?" he asked.
"But of course," Ella grinned. "I prepared a cherry cheesecake, a triple-layer double fudge chocolate cake, crispy amaretto cookies, and a lemon gelato with raspberry sauce. No one enjoys her sweets more than Stephanie."
"It sounds delicious, Ella. Again, thank you for pulling this dinner together. I appreciate all of your efforts."
"I'm just glad you are finally taking this step. The two of you deserve a life together. I know Stephanie will be swept off her feet, literally and figuratively." Ella smiled and ducked her head down at the same time. "I will leave you clear instructions, so that you will know where everything is and when to serve it. I wish you'd let me serve the dinner, but I understand why you want to be alone with Stephanie tonight. Now, get out of the kitchen and let me finish putting your dinner together."
Ranger gathered his packages and climbed up the grand staircase to the master bedroom, to prepare that room for the long-anticipated after dinner entertainment. He arranged a variety of cream-colored candles around the room and set the decorative butane torch on the nightstand. He placed the five-pound box of chocolates on one of the bed's king-sized pillows. No single mint on the pillow for his woman. Next, he lifted out a box full of red rose petals the florist had prepared for him. Turning down the 1,000 thread-count Egyptian cotton top sheet, he proceeded to scatter the soft petals across the bed.
...
Ranger walked up the two flights of stairs to her apartment and stood outside her door, an unexpected feeling of nervous anticipation filling him.
This was it! Today was "someday." This was the day he would take Stephanie to the Bat Cave, as she had always referred to wherever he lived. The day he and Stephanie would set their wedding date. He couldn't wait to surprise her. His house ... their house ... was finished and waiting for them. The evening was all planned. He would show her the house, serve her their dinner himself, and then they would set the date, finally. He wouldn't even consider that she might postpone it yet again. That was not an option!
It had taken him a long time to get here, and he had foolishly sabotaged himself for years. When he first moved to Trenton and began his long-term plan to establish himself as a security expert, he'd told himself his lifestyle wasn't safe for a family. He'd still been doing freelance mercenary work then, as well as bounty hunting, and he didn't have time to do any of the social niceties with family or friends, let alone date. He'd had a business to build.
He'd known he'd made enemies with his gun-for-hire work, enemies who would jump at the chance to get revenge by targeting those he loved. He couldn't afford to get close to anyone. That included one intriguing, blue-eyed, curly-haired dynamo who kept crossing his path. While he knew he had to steer clear of her, he was still kicking himself for sending her back to the cop after the first time they'd made love. He'd panicked when he realized how deep his feelings were for this wild child from the Burg.
But the true crux of the matter was that Stephanie had simply not been part of his long-term plan, and because of it, he'd pushed her away, time and time again. But fate kept intervening and throwing them together. Plus, he just couldn't stay away from her. She'd gotten under his skin and he lost control every time he was near her. Hence, the "poaching" she'd accused him of when he couldn't resist touching her, kissing her. Another reason he'd kept pushing her away. He hated not being in control, and she made him lose it.
But all that was in the past. After that last fucked up situation with Grace Galloway at the safe house, where Stephanie had been shot and almost died, he'd finally come to terms with the fact that he loved her and that she was the center of his life. So, he had finally proposed to her, during those glorious two weeks at Hilton Head. And tonight, he would make it abundantly clear to her that he wanted her to be his wife, his life partner. And he wanted to start that life now! He'd once teased her that once you go into the Bat Cave, it's forever; there was no turning back. And tonight would be no exception. No turning back!
He took a deep breath and knocked. Usually, he let himself into her place without knocking, but he wanted to do this right. She must still be getting ready. He knocked again. No response. He listened intently, but he heard nothing stirring in her apartment.
Frowning, he tried the door and it was unlocked. Stephanie always locked her door. A sudden tenseness shot through his body as he opened the door and stepped into the foyer. One look inside and he pulled his Sig from his pancake holster. He slipped quietly along the wall into the living room. His innate senses told him the apartment was empty, but he checked every room anyway.
The bedroom did not look disturbed other than a pile of dirty clothes on the end of the bed. The bathroom had a wet towel on the floor and Steph's flat iron was still on the counter. But the living room was a mess and not just with Steph's usual messiness. The lamp that normally was on the end table was now knocked over onto the sofa, the coffee table was askew, and the area rug was bunched up against the wall. Steph's purse had been dumped on the dining room floor. And ... there were smears of blood on the outer edge of the dining room table as if someone had grabbed it with a bloody hand.
One thing was clear. Stephanie was gone!