Chapter 2
My plan is to infiltrate the remainder of the story with how Steph decides on what she wants to do. I'll gloss over some of the main story since I'm assuming most of the readers have read the story, plus I'm mainly focusing on the relationship aspect. I may include some direct quotes from the story and those will always be in italics. As always please be gentle but I would like reviews both positive and/or negative if you have them. Thanks enjoy.
Early the next morning I awoke for my installation and planning session for RangeMan. Over night I seemed to have found denial land fairly easily and I was able to push my issues to the back of my mind. But now that I am standing in front of my mirror looking like mini-Ranger I find myself, running the gamut on what it is that I want to do with Joe and Ranger. Before I could make myself go crazy, Caesar was pulling in front of the house we were there to work on. Time to get to work, personal life will have to be placed on hold once again.
After finishing up the job and returning home I decided I needed to look at Dickies office once more hoping to fly under the radar on the weekend. I decided to pose under the pretext of another security firm and see if I could un-cover more files that might lead to who had Dickie.
After getting passage through the foyer into the main part of the building I was able to snoop through all of the other partners' offices finding nothing. I also found a few current and nuts and stalker files in Dickies office. The last office I checked looked used so I started up the computer and pulled a few files onto a flash drive I had pocketed. It looked like financial information of some sort. I started to slip out of the office and head over to the secretary's desk.
While I was rustling through the secretaries' desk the elevator door opened and out walked a bleached blond LA type muscleman. He looked right down at me and asked, "Whatchadoin'?"
Shit! I knew this was going to be trouble, I tried to play it off like I was from the security company but he wasn't picking up what I was laying down. He knew who I was. Double shit.
He said, "I don't make mistakes like that, lady. I got an eye for the girls. I even remember your name. Stephanie Plum. I remember it 'cause it's a 'ho name. Stephanie Juicy. Stephanie Good-to-Eat. Stephanie I'm-Gonna-Sink-My-Teeth-into-You."
Yikes! I don't think I'm gonna like what he wants to do to me. "Sorry, I'm not on the menu."
Mr. Blondie continued to tell me how much fun he wanted to have with me before he turned me over to his boss for questioning for being too nosey. Before Mr. Big and Bad had a chance to "play" with me, I grabbed the large staple gun and pressed it to his crotch, bam, bam, bam, bam… I do believe I stapled his nuts and with the face and coloring on it I believe it probably didn't feel so good. I also, don't think he's going to be "playing" with anyone for awhile.
I jumped up ran through the office to the elevator and out of the lobby crashing straight into Ranger. He stopped my forward momentum by wrapping me in his arms to steady me. He turned to Tank who was idling behind the Cayenne and motioned for him to leave. I told him we needed to move out quick, so in no time at all we were in the Cayenne down the street about a half a block away looking and waiting for Mr. Blondie to make an appearance.
Now that I was in Ranger's presence again, I was suddenly and acutely aware of every breath he took and how mouthwateringly delicious he smelled, Bvlgari and Ranger. Mmmm… My hormones had always been extra sensitive to Ranger and his presence; I could feel him within a ten foot radius by the hairs on the back of my neck or whenever his eyes were on me. I had always had a sense of his presence a dull hum that was sent through my neck and down my spine. I had assumed it was just my imagination but I've always wondered if it's some of that gypsy blood letting me know he belonged to me, the same thing that alerted my Mom and Grandmother that I was coming to the house.
As we were waiting in the car I asked him, "What were you doing in the lot?"
"Hal was working the remote monitors and suspected you were in the law office building. He was worried about you."
"How about you? Were you worried about me?"
"I always worry about you." Hmm… In the past I would have assumed he thought of my safety as more of necessity since he has been my mentor from the beginning, but since last night I think his concern is now more in tune with how he personally feels about me, not just the professional aspect. Much to think about.
As I talked to him about what I was doing in the offices he was carefully and coolly studying me. It seemed on the outside like everything about our relationship was the same, but I knew better. He was looking at me wondering if I was going to comment on last night's discussion, and at this point in time I wasn't going to touch it with a ten foot pole. I knew he wasn't going to bring it up; he was leaving it in my hands. Now I just wish I knew what I was going to do with it. While I was talking and he was scrutinizing Blondie came out of the office slowly, stooped over holding his package. Ranger raised his one perfect eyebrow in question about what was wrong with him.
"Well it seems I wasn't completely under the radar and I had to sort of staple his nuts."
"Babe, you never disappoint." And with that I was smiling, he always seemed to know what to say to make me feel like I did what was best at the time. With Joe I would have gotten a lecture about how I should have been doing something else, anything else as long as it wasn't what I thought I needed or wanted to do. That was the biggest difference between my relationships with both of these men, Joe just plain didn't want me to do what it was that I did on a day to day basis while Ranger helped me and tried to keep me as safe as possible while I did what I wanted to do. More food for thought.
While I was having my inner debate we managed to make it to Ranger's office. While in the office we started to discuss what was going on with Dickies partners and what felt off with the whole picture. Eventually we pulled out the flash drive and set it up to take a look at the information. I pulled a chair up close on Ranger's side of the desk. While we were reading through the information and the numbers to figure out what it was we were looking at, I had brushed up against Ranger a few times on his arms and his thighs. I don't know about him, but whenever I even touch this man whether on purpose or not my whole body responds with an over whelming need to do it more and more.
After studying the financials for over a half hour we tabulated that we were looking at financials of at least forty million and change.
As we were talking Ranger was gathering up the paper work and hand me a copy of the reports and informed me he's having his accountant summarize everything on a more official basis for us. He looked at his watch. "I have to get to the airport. I'm flying to Miami to escort a high-bond FTA back to Jersey. I should be home tomorrow night. I'll call when I get in. Tank will be available if you have problems."
I asked without thinking, "If we were together would you let me know before hand if you were leaving?" As fast as the words were out of my mouth, even before I was able to be embarrassed by the statement Ranger gave me his 1000 watt smile and quickly replied by saying, "Yes I would tell you, and if you wanted to you could come with me." I smiled back a tiny smile of approval.
With that being said he escorted me to the elevators and took me to garage and the car. He opened up the door to the Turbo before he let me inside he quickly pulled me to him and whispered softly against my ear, "Be safe babe," and with that he gave me a kiss right below my ear and left. I took a few minutes to collect myself in the car before I was able to actually pull away from RangeMan. That man has a definite way of making me loose focus that was for sure.
After my morning and early afternoon excursion Lula and I decided to check on the apartment building that Petiak and company owned. We moved through the building slowly posing as handy women all the while looking for Dickie, we didn't find him but we did meet Smullen's girlfriend. So after the day was complete I grabbed a pint of Ben and Jerry's and enough Tastycakes on the way home to last me through my decision making process, at least I hoped so.
When I exited the elevator I saw a RangeMan at my door, he informed me that he was suppose to check my apartment give it an all clear before letting me in. He even checked under my bed, jeez how many psycho's do you know that can fit under a bed?
"Sorry," he said when he was done. "Tank made me do it. If something happens to you while Ranger's away, we're all out of a job."
"Ranger should get a grip."
"Yes, ma'am."
I closed my door and looked at him through the peephole. He was still standing there. I opened the door.
"Now what?" I said.
"I'm not allowed to leave until I hear you lock and bolt the door."
After I locked and bolted the door and saw that I no longer had a bodyguard I decided to call my actual boyfriend first, since I hadn't heard from him.
"What?" Morelli said.
"I just wanted to say hello."
"I can't talk now. I'll call you later."
"Sure."
Next I tried Ranger's cell but I knew he wouldn't answer so when I got his answering service I made it short and sweet, "You're a nut."
Morelli's phone conversation was fresh in my head and I knew he wasn't going to call me back. Worse part was I was ok with that kind of treatment from him because I expect it and don't expect him to treat me any better. Puhhleaseee… He had always treated me as though I was expendable in a way. He never took me out on dates, he's only ever given me flowers once, he lets me know he wants me by talking about how "his boys miss me", and he talks about my job performance as if I never actually bring in my skips. He says I'm the worst bounty hunter he's ever met but in the end he says he loves me. He also wants me to become burg, he wants a woman who stays home, where its safe, who cooks cleans and keeps the children and him in order.
The good things on the other hand about Joe is that I know my Mom likes him and wants me to marry him and he wants me to live with him and recently he's stocked my pantry and freezer with food. And he's willing to work with Ranger when I'm in trouble if his job doesn't get in the way. Also, the big reason I've continued to go back to him is because I'm comfortable with him, he leaves it all out in the open, there is no mystery when it comes to him. Not to mention he does have a great ass and he's definitely easy on the eyes. People say he has the best ass in Trenton but I know from first hand knowledge that title should be Rangers but he would probably kill someone if they said that to him, plus not many in the area have had the privilege.
But is that enough for marriage and life? Before I started to get into all of this actual contemplative deep thinking crap, I decided to grab a pencil and some paper to write down Joes negative and positives before I got too deep. That's what all those experts always say you should do. Well if it's good enough for those experts it's good enough for me.
With Joe's negatives and positives written down on paper I realized I wanted to shower and eat before I started my list about Ranger. The down time could help me organize my thoughts on the man in black. So after some yummy Chinese and a warm shower I was now in my thinking position in the middle of the bed spread eagle with the paper and pencil in the air beginning my list about Ranger's positive and negatives.
"Proud of you babe" that was my first positive. Those four words had saved me from breaking down countless times, him showing me approval and acceptance where others (cough*Joe) had shown anger and frustration, always helped me to breath a little easier; even if it was his $100K car that was being torched. He makes me feel beautiful with just one look; he doesn't need to include any comment about his boys to let me know what he wants. He's kept me safe and secure, not only when I'm out in the world but he's offered me solace in his private apartment without even knowing what was wrong. He doesn't question what I want to do; he just helps when he can. He's been shot at for me on more than one occasion and I'm sure he would do it again if he felt it was necessary.
Crap his list keeps getting longer and longer.
He spends money protecting me; he spends time away from his job to help me with no impression that it's a burden. He even works with Joe and he's never bad mouthed him to me, unlike Morelli who loves to call him a psycho and a thug. He may not always say those three perfect words that most women want to hear but this man shows it to me more often than is necessary! He shows me through actions what I mean to him. Plus, the fact that he's sex walking doesn't hurt either.
On the negative he hurt me badly when he told me to go back to Joe after we fulfilled the terms of our deal. That's when I started to place physical barriers between us, he told me he could ruin me for all other men and that night he'd proved how possible that statement could be. But even after that we still were able to come together and be friends and I still trust him with my life more than I do with Joe or any other man besides my Daddy.
He also has the mystery that surrounds his life outside of work. Unfortunately I think that may never change to include as much as I would like, he's still a quiet stoic man of few words who has endured and completed many horrible but just missions in his life as a government machine. All that being said, I also think I may know more about him than most, when it comes to his emotions and the man behind the batman mask. I can live with that as long as I know him best, I can live with the questions and darkness hanging in his batcave.
According to his words from the night before he's negated everything else he's ever said that has put me on the outside of his life, love with no ring, no marriage or kids, no steady part in my diet. According to his words his love may not come with a ring but with a strong commitment and a steady stream of dessert in the form of a sex god. I can live with that, hell I don't even now if I want marriage or a kid in my life.
I looked over at the clock, it's already 10:30 and I'm busted ass tired. Mental exercise is not my way that is for sure. But I do believe I've already made my choice. It was as obvious as it was easy to decide. I don't want a man who's comfortable to me just because I've known him longer and my Mom likes him, which should almost turn me away from him. I don't want a man who wants me to be a burg style wife. I want someone who wants me for the me I am today; not what he hopes I turn into. I want the one who literally makes my skin burn with a look and with a touch can make my breathing come faster and with a kiss can make my panties wet and my core light on fire.
While writing all this down I reinforced that I do love both my men, but I'm only in love with one of them on a romantic forever kind of way. Now what the hell am I going to do about it? Before I can start on a new list of what to dos I decide I'm done for the day; enough with the mental gymnastics for one night. I lay my pencil and paper on the night stand and slip under the covers to sleep peacefully and happily about my new direction in life. I know now what I want, even if I don't know how I want to accomplish achieving it.