"New Neighbor"
Chapter 1
This is my first chapter story.
It is an AU (Alternate Universe), with MM (Merry Men) pairing with an OC (original character).
I am still learning all the lingo, so I hope this helps others who are learning, too.
I won't tell you if there will be a HEA (Happily Ever After), or with whom. I love stories that keep you guessing.
All characters, except the OC, belong to Janet Evanovich.
This story begins when Ranger promotes Tank to head the Atlanta branch of Rangeman, and Tank is moving into his new home.
A special thanks to my Beta, Rainbow Severus.
A/N (Author's Note): Character's internal thoughts are italicized.
Hope you enjoy it, and please leave a review!
...
"Damn man! Why do we need all this crap here at the house again?"
Lester was already getting bitchy. They had only been unloading the van for 20 minutes now, but the Georgia heat and humidity was getting to him. He leaned against the side of the van and wiped his forehead with the back of his arm. His shirt was already damp with sweat, and clung to his chest.
"We've been through this." Tank began. "Ranger wants the house set up with the minimal equipment necessary to run things from here in an emergency."
The house they were "setting up", was just a typical house you would find in any suburb. Located just outside Atlanta and not far from headquarters. Ranger's plan was to use it as housing for the core group or visiting Rangeman employees when needed. The Atlanta office building was not as big as the one in Trenton, and did not have apartments for the men. That all would change with Tank heading this branch now. Ranger knew that his close friend would not only straighten this branch out, but double business in no time. He was already in contact with builders and drawing up plans for a building that more suited their needs. In the meantime, the house would do.
Tank thought back to when Ranger brought up the subject with him.
"It's failing. I can't seemed to find someone to manage things who is worth a damn. I can't keep traveling down there for weeks at a time to straighten it out, only to have it go straight to hell when I leave again. I need some one I can trust. I need you, if you're willing."
Tank didn't hesitate. This was his oldest and trusted friend. If he needed him, the answer was yes. "When do I leave?"
Ranger smiled and nodded his thanks. "Monday."
Tank took a break from unloading, and leaned on the van near Lester. He allowed himself to think about what he would miss with this move and being away from his friends. Of course he would miss hanging out with Ranger and Steph, and Shorty's pizza, but he was excited to be back home. It had been almost 7 years since he left Georgia, and his mother and two brothers still lived in Atlanta. He looked around at what would now be his new home. The houses were surrounded by tall pines with the occasional magnolia tree in a neighbors' yards. He had grown up in the heart of the city, but thought...
"I could get used to this."
He felt himself smiling thinking of his new home, that is till he looked over and saw the grouchy expression on Lester's face.
"Stop your bitching, and finish up. That's an order."
Lester Pulled himself up straight and walked to the back of the van where he continued to grumbled under his breath about the sticky heat while helping Woody with a large piece of equipment.
"It's not so bad. If you think this is hot, you would never make it in Dallas." Woody added.
"Let's get this over. Man, I need a cold beer. Make that two." Lester replied. "I can't wait till my two weeks are up and I can get the hell out of here and back to Trenton."
"I don't know. I kind of like it. It reminds me of Texas. It's nice being back down south." Woody replied.
Tank had requested a couple of members of the core team come with him for two weeks to help set things up and get everything back on track at this location. Ranger agreed and also told his staff in Trenton that if anyone wanted to relocate to Atlanta they could.
…...
Ashley was performing her usual day off routine: washing the clothes that had built up to a toppling pile during the week, cooking enough food for an army so that when she dragged her tired butt home she could just eat and collapse, and cleaning up a little (which really meant moving stuff from one pile to another.) She didn't mind her busy schedule and loved her job. Working as a paramedic for the county, while also volunteering at the local VFD as a firefighter and medic. Between the rotating 24 shifts at work, and the 12 hour shifts at the fire department, there was no time left for anything else in her life.
She had just finished frosting her guilty pleasure for the week, a triple chocolate cake with chocolate butter-cream frosting and thinking of sampling some for lunch, when she heard noises coming from outside.
Peaking through the curtains, she saw the source. Three men, well one was more like a mountain, were unloading boxes from a van next door. All three were gorgeous, and couldn't look more different. The mountain, had deep brown skin, a shaved smooth head, and muscles upon muscles. One of the men had mocha skin and black silky hair that fell to his collar. While the last man, had a nice tan and his blond hair stuck out a little from under his hat.
"I guess I have new neighbors." She was practically drooling. "Well, it would be rude not to welcome them to the neighborhood." She ran to the bathroom mirror for a quick hair check, and noticed frosting on her lips. "Must be from licking the spoon." She giggled. That reminded her of the cake.
"Perfect timing!" Quickly wiping the frosting from her lips, she hurried to the kitchen to grab the cake while trying not to run next door.
...
In the midst of his griping and slamming boxes around, he saw her.
"Never mind. I love Georgia!" Lester proclaimed dropping a box on the ground, then jogged away.
"What the hell, Les!" Woody yelled after him while stooping to pick up the box that now must contain broken pieces of equipment. He looked around for the cause of Lester's major attitude change, and found it. Her. He stood still watching her for a moment and felt himself begin to smile. She was small, tiny really, with long brown hair that looked like it was sun-kissed and hung low down her back. What caught his eyes the most, was her smile. It lit up her whole face, and she reminded him of sunshine.
Wiping his sweaty hands off on his jeans, Lester stopped in front of her. "Well, hello beautiful!"
Ashley blushed and smiled. "Um, Hi. Welcome to the neighborhood. I'm Ashley. I live next door." She gestured with her head. "Oh, this is for y'all." She tried to hand Lester the cake.
Damn!
Listen to that accent!
Sexy as hell!
I love Georgia!
Les thought.
Lester took the cake and quickly shoved it at Woody, who was now at his side. Then taking her hand and kissing it, he tried to imitate her accent.
"Well, Sweetness, you didn't have to do all this for me." He watched as her blush deepened at his words. "I do feel very welcome here now." Wrapping an arm around her waist, "I'm Lester Santos, but you can call me Les, or Baby." He waggled his eyebrows.
Damn it, Lester!
There is no way in hell I am going to stand back and watch him make the moves on her.
Woody bumped Lester aside and handed him back the cake. He held out his hand to her. "Please forgive my friend's manners, or lack there of, Miss. My name is Woody, and may I say you have a lovely drawl. Reminds me of home."
Ashley took his hand smiling back at him, "Oh, thank you. I like your accent, too. I'm from Texas. I just moved here a few months ago."
"Well, that's it then. We're destined for one another. I'm a Texas boy myself. Born and bred." Woody realized he was still holding her hand, and found himself not wanting to let go. He felt a tingle where their skin touched.
...
"Where the hell is everyone!" Tank barked out when he noticed he was all alone. He walked around the van and saw why his workers had abandoned their task.
A woman.
Perfect. Now we will never finish.
Leave it to Lester to drop everything to start horn-dogging around.
Tank made his way over to the small group, ready to tear Lester a new one.
"Lester, get you lazy ass back to..." He started, but stopped abruptly when he saw her. He looked down at her and she was smiling brightly up at him.
"Mine." He said under his breath to Lester.
"No freaking way! I met her first!" Lester whispered back at Tank, trying to be discreet.
"Mine. I'm pulling rank. She's mine. Back off Santos."
"What the hell! You can't do that with a girl! This is bullshit!" Lester huffed back.
Tank pushed Lester aside, and smiled brightly down at her. "Hi."
She beamed up at him.
The Mountain, is gorgeous!
She thought.
"Hi." Her voice broke with a nervous giggle.
Lester wasn't giving up and continued to try and smooth talk her, but she just smiled politely and nodded. Not even knowing what he was saying. She only had eyes for Tank.
"Thank you for the cake." Tank interrupted. They had not stopped staring into one another's eyes since the first "Hi."
"My pleasure." Ashley began. "Um, I bet y'all are hungry, and you look really hot. I mean... um... it's hot out here. Would you like to come over for lunch? I just finished cooking enough for the neighborhood." She laughed.
...
The boxes and the van were quickly forgotten, as they accepted her invitation. Relaxing in the cool AC, they ate the casserole she made, then polished off the cake. After a couple of beers, they lounged around the living room talking about everything under the sun. Tank told her about his promotion and about growing up in Atlanta, while Woody told stories about his family's ranch. Lester pushed his bad boy youth, saying he knows how ladies love a bad boy. Ashley told them how she ended up on the east coast so far from home. She loved Texas, but wanted an adventure. She wanted to go out on her own, away from the safety net of family. So, she accepted a job offer in a new state, and packed up.
Brave to up and move away from everyone she knows.
Tank thought.
The four laughed and joked for hours, till the sun started to set.
"Well, I guess we better get back to unpacking before we lose daylight." Tank begrudgingly said.
"Right. You and Woody get right on that, while I help Ashley with the dishes." Lester replied as he slipped his arm around her waist.
Tank grabbed Lester's collar and dragged him to the door. "Mine." He whispered to him.
"This is bullshit!" Lester huffed as he trudged back to their house.
"Thank you for all you kindness, Ms. Ashley." Woody said with a wink. "I was hoping that maybe..."
Tank elbowed him in the side. "Back to work, runt."
Woody shot Tank a look, and then smiled back at Ashley before walking away.
Tank turned to Ashley and smiled. "I was thinking, since you are new to the area... Well, you said you haven't been out much. Just work and all..." He hesitated.
She gazed up at him smiling brightly. "Yes?"
Man up!
Afraid to ask out this little girl?
He yelled in his head.
He took a deep breath and began. "I would love to show you some of my favorite places around Atlanta. We can start with my favorite pizza place. Dinner? Tomorrow night, after your day shift at the fire department?" He held his breath.
"I would love that! How about 7?"
He asked me out!
"Perfect." Leaning down, he pressed a kiss on her cheek.
She felt her knees weaken. Gulp! "Can't wait."
...
She could barely sleep that night. Thoughts about the day, her new neighbors, and mostly Tank, swirled through her mind.
...
Tensions ran high that night at the Rangeman house. After unloading the van, Lester went to his room slamming the door.
"That was not cool, man", Woody told Tank. "You can't just bully us out of the way so you can get a date. You know Lester and I both like her, too. Be a man, and let us have a shot."
"You are walking on dangerous territory. Watch yourself." Tank face reddened with anger.
"Whatever." Woody said walking off in disgust.
...
Tank fell asleep thinking of the little angel he met today. There was no way he was backing down. She would be his.
He was awaken in the middle of the night by the phone ringing.
What the hell?
This better be good.
"Tank here. Go."
"Yo."
"What's up Rangeman?" He glanced at the clock on the bedside table. "It's two in the morning. Is there a problem?"
"Yes. Lester called me about an hour ago. He woke up Steph. She is not happy."
"Why the hell is he calling you in the middle of the night?"
"He's pissed. Claims you're abusing your power by pulling rank over some girl."
"You're kidding me?"
"That's what I said."
"That little brat. I can't believe he went whining to you. That man whore can pick up any woman he wants to play with. She's mine."
"Yours?" Ranger teased. "Sounds like the big guy fell hard."
"She's the one, man."
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter.
Thank you for reading.
Please leave a review and let me know what you think.
Melanie