Bare Chested Ranger Ch. 2
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The flight was uneventful and Stephanie was thankful for that. She enjoyed the cushiony seats in first class, they felt like a whole body hug. She never was a good flier but between the seats and the first class amenities she managed to distract herself with thoughts of Ranger. She wondered what Ranger's plan was and why he had chosen to work with her instead of Jeanne Ellen who was a stronger partner. What had Tank said? "You have good instincts that compliment Rangers." Her spidey sense had helped him several times in the past. Ranger trusts her and her gut instincts. The thoughts of Ranger calmed her to the point she forgot she was on a plane and dozed off.
Before she knew it, the flight attendant was waking her and soon she was exiting the plane. Stephanie was met by a familiar face. A huge grin erupted across her face seeing the sign that read "Miss Plum." She raced to the man holding the sign and wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. "Silvio! How are you?"
He laughed and hugged her tight. "I'm good Steph, how are you?"
She pulled away and he picked up her carry on bag. "Any more bags?" he asked. She shook her head no and they headed out. "So, you didn't answer my question," Silvio prompted, "how are you doing?"
"I'm good now, it is so nice here!" she smiled climbing into the passenger side of the black Explorer and grinning at the palm trees swaying in the light breeze against blue skies. This weather was a world away from Trenton right now. She hoped Ella had packed her some shorts and skirts. Maybe a bikini too she might be able to visit the beach.
"Are we headed to Rangeman?" she asked after a few minutes on the road. "Nope, my orders are to pick you up and deliver you and your bags to the Boss's house."
"Bags?" she asks looking at him like he was crazy, he had carried her one bag. "Yeah, what you came in with and the stuff Ella had sent to the office."
"Oh...Wait, did you say you are taking me to Ranger's HOUSE?" she gasped, her mind reeling.
Silvio chuckled and signaled to get into the right hand lane. "Yeah. The cruise doesn't leave until tomorrow afternoon so he said to bring you to the house and you'd go from there. I believe he is driving you two the shipyard and we'll pick up his car from there. I would guess he needs some time to brief you on your covers too." Silvio watched her out of the corner of his eye wondering if she was going to hyperventilate
.
The rest of the drive was quiet. Stephanie was deep in her thoughts and Silvio was OK with the silence.
Stephanie's eyes got wide when they approached the gate. He slid a special card into a slot, punched in a code and the enormous iron gate opened. They drove down a long driveway and stopped in front of a large two story house that looks like a mansion but by Miami standards was a modest home. Stephanie sat in awe for a moment, unable to move. Is this the batcave she wondered. Silvio chuckled quietly to himself and walked around to open her door. She hopped out and stood for a moment just taking in the the modern looking white home. There appeared to be three small garages. She wondered if he had fancy cars in each of them. Silvio grabbed the bags and unlocked the front door. He set the bags in the foyer and when he stepped back outside he found Stephanie walking slowly toward the house, eyes wide and mouth open in awe. He wondered if the guys were watching this on the monitors back at the office. He knew that the front and fence line had cameras but that was it so Ranger could have some privacy yet feel secure enough to relax.
Silvio escorted her inside and saw a note sitting on the small table near the entrance. He saw the word Babe written in Ranger's handwriting and handed it to her. "I need to get back. Do you need anything before I leave?" he asked. Stephanie touched the letters on the top of the note and shook her head. "Thanks," she said quietly and looked back down at the pristine white linen paper. "No problem," Silvio said and leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Have fun! There is bathroom down the hall to the right if you want to freshen up," he said and palmed his keys and slipped out the front door locking it behind him.
Stephanie turned the paper over in her hand and unfolded it to read what Ranger had written.
Babe,
I am so glad you are here. Slip into your suit and meet me out back on the beach.
R.
She went to her carry on and sure enough Ella had packed her a coral colored bikini. She followed Silvio's directions to the bathroom and moaned when she saw how beautiful it was. She set the bikini on the counter and ran her hand over the counter top and looked at the small shower. This must be the extra bathroom she thought to herself, fighting the urge to look around the house. No, she wanted to see Ranger and he would show her around later she decided. She was glad she had gone through the whole primping and grooming regimen this morning even though in Trenton there was little chance anyone was going to see her in less than a parka.
As usual, Ella had chosen perfectly. Stephanie grinned at the perfect fit. She didn't look half bad. She hoped Ranger would agree as she grabbed a towel and headed in the direction she assumed would lead her out to the back. She found herself in the large spacious, very modern kitchen and walked up to the refrigerator. Pulling the door open she found fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as what looked like fish and stuff for breakfast. A couple of bottles of wine were chilling and a whole case of bottled water. She grabbed two and headed out the back door off the kitchen.
The sea air filled her lungs and the sound of the surf crashing the shore instantly calmed her. She closed her eyes a moment and just breathed in the peaceful atmosphere. As she neared the beach she saw him. He was walking out of the water, his skin glistening in the sun. She felt the tell-tale tingle in the back of her neck and he looked up just as she reached up to rub it. Ranger smiled and headed toward her. He stopped by a pair of Adirondack chairs that faced the water and watched her walk toward him. He grabbed a towel off the chair and wrapped it around his waist hoping to hide the reaction that his wet trunks wouldn't; seeing her in the bikini. She was just a few feet away when a breeze caught her hair and blew her wild curls around her face. "You made it," he said with a smile closing the gap between them and pulling her into his arms hugging her tight.
Stephanie thought she might pass out so she wrapped her arms around him and nestled her face in his neck. He smelled of Bulgari, the sea and Ranger- an intoxicating combination that sent a current of electricity between her legs.
Ranger savored the feel of her in his arms but wondered why she was so quiet, it was very unlike his Babe to not say anything. He pulled away and looked at her. "Babe?" he said, his eyes trailing up her body before finding hers. "You OK?" She nodded, handed him a water bottle and settled into a chair trying desperately to regain control of her hormones. Damn those Hungarian hormones she thought as she took a big swig of water.
Ranger sat down in the chair next to her. He took her hand and brought it to his lips kissing her knuckles. "Please tell me what is going on." After what seemed like an eternity to him, she spoke. "Is this the batcave?" He couldn't help but chuckle. "No Babe, but if you think you can handle it when we finish this case I'll take you there." This time he kissed her palm and then intertwined their fingers.
