Thank your for the wonderful reviews to my newest story. Also, thank you to everyone who added the story to your alerts. I appreciate it very much!
Previously: He hated hearing the hurt in her voice and knew she was having a bad night. Making a quick decision he told her, "Steph, I'm on my way over and we'll talk. I'll be there in ten."
Knowing he'd already hung up, she was unable to protest. Standing up, she checked on Adrian on the way to her room to change. After she changed into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, she padded her way back to the living room just in time to hear the knock at the door.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and smiled, "Come on in, Bobby."
Bobby stepped inside and pulled Stephanie to him. "Hey, Sweetheart. Are you doing okay?"
Stephanie inhaled deeply and pulled back from Bobby. "I'm okay now. Thanks for coming over."
Bobby shut and locked the door behind him and followed Stephanie into the living room. Settling on the couch, Bobby looked at Stephanie and said, "Want to talk about it?"
Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes and fought the tears. "It's just so hard sometimes. I wish like hell he were here to see his son, to help me raise him, to love him, to love me."
"He'll be home, Steph. I just can't tell you when, but hopefully soon." Bobby knew he needed to get her thinking of something else; he knew she hated crying. "Hey, three years ago, did you think we'd be sitting here today?"
Stephanie laughed and looked at Bobby. "Oh HELL no. You scared the shit out of me when we met."
"Yeah," laughed Bobby. "I remember."
Bobby, Lester, Ram, and Zip had just finished a grueling week of orientation at RangeMan. They had all been offered positions the same day and had gone through training and orientation together. Lester and Zip were Army, but looking for a place to settle down after their time was up.
Lester and Bobby had grown up together and kept in touch while Les was active with the Army. When Les told Bobby he was looking for a place to settle down, Bobby told him about Ranger and his company. Les talked to Zip and they agreed to head to Trenton with Bobby and apply for positions.
During the first week, Bobby, Zip, and Lester met Ram; an ex-marine who was looking to settle down in a quiet town as well. During the orientation, Ranger had decided that Zip and Ram would become partners as well as Bobby and Lester.
In the mood to relax for a night, the guys hit Pino's for dinner. They were all talking about the option to move into the apartments at the office when Bobby looked up as the bells above the door chimed.
"Damn, look at that," he whistled. There was a curly haired brunette wearing a tight short black dress and three-inch hells walking towards the counter.
Zip looked up and smirked, "Hell yeah, I'd love to tap that tonight."
"Shit, you don't have a chance," laughed Lester. "If anyone is gonna tap that, it's me." He stood up and began his strut to the counter.
Ram looked at the guys and said, "Ten bucks she kicks him to the curb before he even says his name."
"Naw, man. I know Les. He'll have her eating out of his hand," replied Bobby.
Ram and Zip threw money on the table and Bobby added his as they watched Les approach the woman.
Lester approached the stool next to the woman he was stalking. As he sat down, she looked at him and smiled. "Hey there, Beautiful. Can I buy you a drink?"
She looked him up and down before saying, "I don't know. Why are you dressed all in black? Are you planning on stalking someone?"
"Depends. Are you looking to be stalked?"
The woman held out her hand, "I'm Stephanie and you are?"
"Lester. Lester Santos." He kissed her knuckles, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Les and Stephanie sat the counter talking for what seemed like hours when he remembered the guys he was there with. "I forgot, I'm here with some friends from work. Would you like to meet them?"
"Sure," she said as she hopped off the stool.
Lester walked Stephanie over to the table and introduced her to the guys. "Stephanie, this is Bobby, Zip, and Ram. Guys, this is Stephanie."
Bobby stood up to shake her hand and saw her pale at the weapons strapped to him. "Nice to meet you, Stephanie."
Stephanie looked at the guys and felt a little scared near them. Zip noticed and stood up, "No need to be scared around us. We aren't going to hurt you." Stephanie looked at Zip and smiled.
"Sorry, I just don't like guns and it scared me just a little to see them strapped to you guys," she supplied.
Zip wrapped an arm around her shoulder and leaned in close, "I'll keep you safe."
Slipping out of his grasp, she smiled and looked at Ram. "What do you guys do for work?"
Bobby held a chair out of her and they all took a seat around the table. After talking for an hour or more, she became comfortable around the guys and found that they all had just moved to the Trenton area for a job.
Looking at her watch, she realized she needed to get home. "I have to be at work early in the morning, so I should be going. It was nice to meet all of you."
Zip stood and offered to walk her out but she politely declined. "Will we get to see you again?" he asked.
Looking at each of the guys, she nodded, "I'm sure we'll run into each other again."
The guys all watched her walk out of Pino's and get into her car.
"Damn, that was one fine woman," spoke Zip.
"Told you your ass wouldn't be tapping that," smirked Les.
"Not tonight, but I bet sooner than you ever will," fired back Zip.
Bobby slapped them both upside the head, "Stop, she's a nice woman. Neither of you schmucks will get the chance to tap that if you keep talking shit."
Ram looked out the window and back to the guys, "Exactly, because she's going to be mine."
Bobby looked at Stephanie and smiled, "Man, that was some night. I still can't believe you picked him over me," he teased.
"Oh Bobby, you'll always be my second choice," she laughed.
"Gee, thanks."
Bobby looked at the clock and saw it was already three in the morning. Looking at Steph, he saw the bags under her eyes. "You, my dear, need to go to bed. I'm going to head home."
"No, you can crash on the couch. You look too tired to drive home." Stephanie stood up and walked towards the hall. "Let me get some blankets and a pillow for you."
Bobby stood up and followed her down the hall. When she reached up in the closet for the blankets, they fell out and on top of her. Bobby reached around her, caught them, and in the process, pulled her back against him. Feeling her tense up, Bobby moved his arms and let her move. "I'm sorry, Steph. I didn't mean to overstep."
"You didn't, Bobby. I'm sorry for that. I know you'd never do anything that I didn't want." She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "If you need anything, just let me know."
Bobby watched her go to her room and shut the door. On his way back to the living room, he stopped at Adrian's door and checked on him. Seeing him covered, thumb in the mouth, other arm wrapped around his teddy bear, he backed out and went to set his stuff up on the couch.
Bobby woke up some time later to the feeling of someone standing in front of him. Fighting the urge to reach for his gun, he peeked out and saw a little blond haired boy with a thumb in his mouth and a bear dangling from the other hand. Opening both eyes, he smiled at Adrian.
"Bebe sleep?" asked Adrian.
"Hey buddy. Yes, I stayed the night."
Adrian climbed up on Bobby's chest and laid his head down. "Mama?"
Bobby wrapped an arm around Adrian and held him so he wouldn't fall off. "Mama's in bed asleep. Let's let her sleep a little longer, okay?"
"Otay," replied a sleepy Adrian.
Bobby laid there with Adrian and could tell with the toddler had fallen back to sleep. He decided to close his eyes and rest some more until Adrian was ready to get up.
Bobby woke a few hours later to someone using his stomach as a trampoline. Looking through hooded eyes, Bobby saw Adrian sitting up and making his bear bounce on Bobby stomach.
"Hey there, Bear. No bouncing this early," teased Bobby.
"Bebe waked up," giggled Adrian.
"Yeah, are you ready to get up?" Adrian nodded. "Are you hungry?" Adrian jumped off the couch and stood near the edge.
"Eat, eat, eat," he chanted.
Bobby laughed at his enthusiasm, "What would the prince like for breakfast?"
"Mitey mouth takes," Adrian said as he ran for the kitchen.
Bobby laughed and chased after him. Helping Adrian up into the chair, Bobby looked in the cabinets. "You are lucky. Looks like your mommy has the stuff for Mickey Mouse Pancakes." Bobby looked around, "Do you want to help?"
Adrian shook his head. "No help, eat."
Bobby fixed the pancakes and made extra for Stephanie; he knew she'd be hungry when she woke up. As Adrian was finishing his second one, he looked up and smiled. "Mama, Bebe fixed takes."
Stephanie walked over to Adrian, ran her fingers through his hair, and kissed his head. "I see that, baby. That was nice of Uncle Bobby, huh?" Stephanie looked at Bobby and smiled. "Thank you for getting up with him this morning."
Bobby looked at Adrian and laughed, "I didn't have much of a choice, did I?" Stephanie looked at Bobb and waited for him to explain. "I woke up the first time to him standing at the couch staring at me. The second time was to Bear using me as a trampoline."
Stephanie laughed and tried to reprimand Adrian, but she couldn't find it inside herself to do.
Bobby got ready for to leave, "I need to head home and get ready for work. Do you work today?"
"I do. I need to get Adrian ready to go to Nana and Papa's for the day and then head to work myself." She hugged Bobby and kissed his cheek, "Thanks again for last night."
"Give me a call later… maybe we can all do dinner tonight," Bobby said hopefully. He went over and gave Adrian a kiss on the head, "See ya, slugger."
"Bye Bebe," Adrian replied with a mouth full of pancake.
Stephanie walked Bobby to the door and locked up after he left. Once they were ready to head out for the day, she loaded Adrian into her car and buckled him in. When she pulled in the drive, she saw the curtains and the front door open.
Adrian looked out the window and squealed, "Nana, Papa, Nana, Papa."
Laughing, Stephanie unbuckled him, set him on the ground, and watched him take off for the door. When she looked up, she saw Lincoln standing on the porch with his arms open for Adrian. Ester walked out the door and smiled at the boy.
"Good morning, Stephanie," Ester said as she kissed her cheek.
"Good morning. He's already had breakfast, but I think he might be ready for a nap earlier than usual today."
Lincoln looked at Stephanie and back to Adrian. "We can take care of that, can't we?"
Stephanie gave Adrian a hug and kiss and handed him back to Lincoln. "You be good for Nana and Papa, okay Little Man?"
"Otay, Mama," Adrian said as he looked around the yard. "Want twing," he said.
Lincoln handed the bear to Ester and took Adrian to the swing as they watched Stephanie pull from the drive and head to work. She didn't know what was wrong, but Stephanie had a feeling of dread wash over her as she made her way to the highway. The only thing she could think was to say a prayer for Adrian's father, "Please, Lord. Let him make it home soon. We need him."
Well, what do you think so far? Any ideas which is the dad? Is it even one of the guys mentioned in this chapter? Leave me some love... or I'll hold one of the MM hostage!
