Rating: Little smut--kissing, swearing
Disclaimer: J Evanovich characters. I don't own them.
Operation Ranger
For the last few Summers, Lula, Connie, and Stephanie had gone to the Beach Bash at Point Pleasant. It started the first Friday in August. It was a day of non-stop bands, beach volley ball, and food. For fear of bodily harm, Vinnie closed the bonds office so the three of them could go in prior years.
Stephanie was back working at Rangeman, so she semi-regularly used the gym during the week and regular bedroom workouts with Ranger left her body toned and in a constant state of bliss. This year Tank was going with the three girls. Connie's new boyfriend, Stan, was meeting them there later in the afternoon. Stephanie asked Ranger to go, but he gave her excuses why he couldn't go with her. Point Pleasant wasn't one of his favorite places.
"Babe, I don't do crowds."
"Babe, I'll be backed-up with paperwork since Tank is going."
"Babe, I won't be armed."
All of them lame, but Stephanie didn't push it. Instead she went to Tank.
"Bombshell, you know Ranger, he'll relax in private with you, but in public on a crowded beach, he's out of his element. A fish out of water."
"Tank, you're going. I don't think we need to worry about Point Pleasant being invaded or skips running rampant on the beach. It's just a day of pure beach fun. Ranger's human and he could lose the macho for one day."
"It's just been a long time for him to let go and have fun at a public event, I think he doesn't know how and just avoids them."
"Well, maybe it's time he remembers. Even a big, scary, ex-army guy needs some fun."
Stephanie knew she would need to put a plan in motion to get Ranger to Beach Bash and she knew the person to call, Lula. Of course the preparations for Operation Ranger would include a shopping trip to the mall.
"We need to start out subtle so he doesn't know what hit him, White Girl."
"How", Stephanie asked.
"Let's go find you a new beachy, tropical perfume. When he smells it, he'll think of the beach."
"Ranger is very sensory oriented."
"That's what we are going to do, slowly over-load the sight, sound, taste, and touch of Batman over the next few days. Let's go find a tropical air freshener for Ella to spray around the apartment, in the elevator, but , Girl, you and the Merry Men need to pretend you don't smell it."
"I'll have Ella serve fresh pineapple, watermelon, and cantaloupe with dinners. Summer fruits. Maybe, I'll get some corndogs from a local vendor or eat an ice cream cone around Ranger. The tastes and smells of Summer. The Merry Men will love messing with Ranger so I don't think I'll have a problem. They'll be glad to get him out of the office because he's a grump when I'm not there."
"Play some beach music like the Beach Boys or ocean sounds around that apartment you share with him. Make him think beach without realizing it. Don't worry about Tank, he'll help when we need him or he won't get any Lula lovin'"
"Ok", Stephanie was making mental notes of Lula's suggestions. She hoped she would remember.
"Let's go find you some new, sexy beachwear. I think three bathing suits will do. You need a real skimpy one to sun bathe on the roof, one for visual effect, and one for the Beach Bash."
"Gee, only three?"
"Also, Skinny White Girl, you'll need a tantalizing dress for the boardwalk. We're going to be there all day and the evening.. Don't forget to tell Ranger you'll be home late on Friday as we're staying to watch the fireworks."
"We passed a short, off the shoulder dress I liked in a mall window."
"Let is hang out a day or two so he'll see it. Also, some new Victoria Secret panties to wear, not that I think he'll leave them on you."
Stephanie was at the perfume counter, sniffing for a beachy scent. "Lula, how's this?"
"Oh, Girl, that is good.! It's not strong, just a soft scent with a little tropical fruit. Not tuiti fruiti sweet. I think that's the one. Batman ain't going to know what hit him."
Lula picked a pale pastel splash bikini with a thong back. The little top would barely cover her breasts. "This is the one to wear sunbathing on the roof. When Ranger sees how little there is, tell him you don't want any tan lines."
"I can't wear that thong bottom!"
"Who's going to see you on the roof, but the Wizard. Play with his mind. Create the image of your ass is hanging in the beach breeze."
"Ok, I think I can do that." Stephanie looked at the almost nothing bathing suit.
Next, Lula was holding a bronze colored one with a bandeau top. It had a metal ring holding the top together and two for the sides of the bikini bottom. "Hang this one out with the dress. Let him think you'll be wearing this sexy thing on the beach."
Stephanie nodded at her.
"This one is the clincher. This one will get Batman to fun in the sun and you some extra-special lovin'. Before he realizes, he'll be thanking you for wanting him there."
This one was a beige-gold color. It had fringes on the triangle cups of the top that tied in the middle. The front of the bikini bottom had fringes and tied on the sides. Some of the individual fringes had aqua beads
"We'll use Tank's phone and send a picture of you at the beach in this one. From a distance, you'll look like you're naked."
"Oh my God, Ranger will freak, Lula."
"Right down to that pretty Porsche and hauling his fine ass to Point Pleasant. Make sure the room we rented to shower and change in is available all week-end, because you won't be seeing much sun after Friday."
"What if Ranger doesn't come?"
"Stephanie! He may be stupid about relationships, but his bat package will be doing the thinking for him and lead him to the beach."
"I don't like to be deceitful."
"Do you want your man to come, then we need to leave him some crumbs to find his way to Point Pleasant."
"Oh, all right. What else?"
"Make sure he knows you got a wax job in the promised land."
"He'll know. I sleep with him every night. Have Lester spray your new beach scent around the office on Friday morning after you leave so Batman will get a whiff of you. But, Lester doesn't smell nothing, remember."
"Ranger's doing surveillance with Bobby on Thursday night, so he won't be home when I get back from my waxing until late."
"That's perfect. Bobby can tune into the oldies radio station and we'll call in requests for beach songs. Ranger will be on such beach overload, he'll be there before you know it."
"I hope this works ."
Stephanie bought the pale aqua off-the-shoulder dress and new sandals, three bathing suits, a new coconut suntan lotion, a couple Beach Boys CD'S and ocean music, some new Victoria Secrets panties, tropical air freshener, and her new perfume.
She took all her packages to the 7th floor apartment, then went down to Ranger's office.
"Have fun shopping, Babe" Ranger asked her looking up from his desk. Stephanie came over to him and bent to kiss him.
"Yes, we did."
He sniffed her neck. "New perfume. It's beachy."