Chapter Two—Rejection
I'm afraid of love love love
Stephanie's POV
The next day, I was eating a jelly doughnut in my Camry in the parking lot of Tasty Pastry contemplating where my next paycheck was going to come from. A black Porsche Boxster pulled up next to me. Without turning my head I knew who was driving the ridiculously expensive sports car. I also knew he wasn't at the bakery for his morning sugar and lard fix so I waited for him to approach.
Ranger Mañoso is the 'other tall, dark and handsome man' in my life. He is second-generation Cuban-American, a badass bounty hunter and co-owns and manages a successful security company. He is my friend, my mentor, my protector, and for one unforgettable night was my most spectacular lover.
Ranger knew Joe and I were together, on and off, but that didn't stop him from poaching kisses. It also didn't prevent me from desiring those very same hot kisses. Damn my Italian/Hungarian hormones!
Ranger'd been out of town for several weeks, but I'd been so wrapped up in my own problems I hadn't even wondered where he'd gone. He was frequently out of town for weeks, even months at a time, so this was nothing new. Ranger had an aura of mystery about him and rumors flew about what he actually did for a living. Killer for hire, Special Ops, secret agent/spy, Batman… pick one.
"Babe, raspberry polka dots look good on you."
I looked down at my white t-shirt now spotted with several dribbles of dark red jelly. Before I could lick the last of the gooey stuff off my lips, Ranger stuck his head in the car window and licked the corner of my mouth himself. Essence of Ranger filled my nostrils and sent dizzying waves of sensual images through my brain. The summer heat was just starting for the day, but my body temperature just shot past a hundred degrees.
Ranger straightened back up, "Yup, raspberry," he said, seemingly satisfied with his powers of taste and observation. Nothing escaped Ranger's notice, not even the cotton candy-colored blush creeping up from my neck to my cheeks.
"Looking a little flushed there, Babe. Heat getting to you?"
He was dressed in working attire today—black t-shirt that hugged every bulging muscle and every ripped ab, black jeans that cupped his perfect ass, but were just loose enough in the front to leave something to the imagination, and black work boots. Dark chocolate eyes, long dark brown hair slicked back into a ponytail, full luscious lips and sex radiating from every square inch completed his ensemble.
I decided to stay in my car. It was safer for me. Just having Ranger this close already had my heart racing and my lower regions doing flip flops.
Ignoring his earlier comment, I quipped, "How's the Lone Ranger?"
I didn't get a smile, but then I didn't expect one. Ranger wasn't one to let his emotions show, even a benign one like humor.
"I'm running out to Point Pleasant to check on a client's property. Want to tag along?" he asked.
Jeez. An entire day alone with Ranger in a convertible driving to a romantic seaside destination. I didn't think my 'biological clock-ticking hormones' could take it. Ranger and I had a long history of dancing around each other and I hadn't been very successful at avoiding his advances. There had been times I hadn't even tried.
It's not like I had anything else to do today, but I knew I'd be playing with fire if I spent it with this Cuban Sex God.
I knew Joe would have a fit if I went. Even if I managed to stay more than an arm's length from Ranger, when Joe found out I'd spent the day with Ranger, he'd start one of his Italian yelling jags, arms flailing and accusations flying. And I really wouldn't be able to defend myself. I wasn't working for RangeMan so I couldn't claim it was job-related. Of course, I could claim friendship and that would be true, but I knew I would be less than happy if Joe spent a 'friendly' day with Terry Gilman. So, do unto others, and all that crap.
My guilt over wicked thoughts about Ranger was bad enough. I didn't need any additional guilt from his inevitable attempts at kisses and caresses.
"I smell smoke, Babe. You're thinking too much." Ranger squatted down next to my car window. "It's just a half day's trip, reassuring a scared family after a break-in and reinstalling the alarms after some minor vandalism. I wasn't suggesting a tawdry rendezvous, just a pleasant drive to the beach, a short meeting with a client, lunch at a seafood restaurant, and back home." His voice held a note of entreaty in it.
Blast his ESP. How did he know my mind went straight to sex? Oh yeah, maybe because each time we saw each other I ended up pressed up against his magnificently hard body, his lips and life force sucking the breath out of me.
However, nothing about Ranger could be considered tawdry. Badass definitely, but primo badass all the way. Speaking of a 'bad' ass, Ranger's was 'sink your teeth into bad.' And talk about 'beefcake.' Mmmmmm…surf and turf for lunch?
"Babe, if that's what you want for lunch, I'm sure I could arrange it." Now Ranger was grinning.
Damn! My 'appetite' and tendency to say my thoughts out loud were always getting me into trouble.
A day at the beach with Ranger sounded so tempting. Too fuckin' tempting.
"I'm pretty busy all day today, Ranger. Job hunting, you know, but thanks for thinking of me." And now, I'll be thinking of you all day long.
"If you need a job, you know you're always welcome to run searches for RangeMan."
Yeah, a job at RangeMan would be great until Joe got wind of it. "Again thanks, Ranger, but I'm looking into a new line of work. Something that doesn't involve garbage, bombs or psychos."
Ranger dropped his arms onto my open window and gazed at me. "Personal products plant or button factory?" he chuckled.
My temper flared. "I have other skills," I huffed.
"Don't I know it." A grin followed that cryptic comment. "You can do anything you put your mind to. If you need references or help with your resume, let me know. Be glad to help."
He stood and with a quick stretch, Ranger leaned in and kissed me, soft and lingering. As surprised as I was, my fingers found their way into his silky hair and I held his head in place as the kiss went on and on. Finally, his hand came up and held mine against his head. His eyes were inches away burning into mine. He brought my hand to his mouth and placed a kiss on my palm. This wasn't casual flirting, this was Ranger in danger mode.
"Steph…I…" he started, his voice low and filled with emotion, his eyes dark with desire.
A flash of fear shot through me. "Ranger, don't."
I was feeling vulnerable and afraid I would give in to whatever he asked. My willpower was already on low.
I flinched as his blank expression slammed into place. We stared at each other for an interminably long moment.
He uttered one final brusque word, "Babe."
Ranger stood up and strode quickly to his car. I watched him get into his Porsche and then tear out of the parking lot.
Immediately, regret froze me and something inside me cracked.
A song came on the radio—a song that said it all. Fighting back the tears, I pulled onto Hamilton Avenue, nowhere to go—except where I was too afraid to.
I keep on tellin' myself that I'm alright
But I know that this wasn't other times
When I let him go and I was fine
Ooo…I can't lie
'Cuz I never fell harder
I stopped when you started
Arrived when you parted
and now I'm stuck here
Why did I listen
to my inhibition and run
When there was nowhere to go and now
Now I know
You were the only one
And now I'm the lonely one
Watchin' the days go by
And I can't ever forgive myself
think that I need some help because
I'm afraid of love love love
I'm afraid of love love love
I'm afraid of love love love
I turn the light off at night
When I start to cry
I don't wanna see my life passin' by
I finally found someone who could
Open up my eyes
I'm afraid of love love love
AN: Song is 'Afraid of Love' by J. Rice. Special thanks to bgrgrmpy for her proofing skills and support and to sonomom for her literary advice and encouragement to post.