Chapter 3
"Atlantic City?" Stephanie yelled over the roar of the wind. He still didn't tell her where they were headed, but the signs seemed to indicate AC.
Ranger just shook his head. "No…but close." He reached over and squeezed her hand. "We're almost there."
About fifteen minutes later, they were crossing the Longport Bridge to the island. Stephanie asked him at least a dozen times what was in Longport, but he just smiled back. He didn't speak until he pulled in the driveway of a large, contemporary, gray house with white trim.
"Surprise," he told her then kissed her cheek.
Her eyes widened as her mouth opened and closed. The confusion on her face gave away her trying to decide if he had purchased the house or not.
"No, Babe, I didn't buy you a beach house."
"Whose house is this? Why are we here?"
Ranger got out of the car, walked around, and opened the passenger door for her. She took his offered hand, and he pulled her to her feet.
"I got a call today from Rasmussen. They're going to be gone longer than planned, and he hired Rangeman to secure a few of his personal properties. This was one of them. In gratitude for all we did for Inga, especially you, he said we can use the place whenever we want." Ranger snaked an arm around her waist and led her to the door. "I know it's not Point Pleasant, but it's right on the beach, and the houses aren't on top of each other."
Stephanie couldn't put two words together to even form a sentence. The house was gorgeous. And, all she saw so far was just the back. The closest houses were about a football field away on either side. The salty air heightened her senses along with the crashing of the waves. Stephanie loved the ocean. There were times when she would drive out to Point Pleasant, just sit on the beach, and listen to the waves for hours.
Ranger escorted her inside. The decor was understated but elegant. The main floor held the kitchen, dining room, living room with a fireplace, and a sunroom with sliding glass doors that lead to an enormous deck. On the right side of the house, a tower boasted an open stair case leading to the second floor.
"Nice, huh?" Ranger whispered into her ear as pulled her back into his chest.
Stephanie just nodded. She was still too surprised to speak. He brushed his lips against temple as he hugged her tight.
"Why don't you look around while I get a few things out of the car?"
Brief panic flashed in her eyes. "I'll help you," she insisted, a slight blush creeping into her cheeks. Embarrassed by her response, she attempted to cover it. "I mean…both of us can get it done faster, so we can enjoy this place."
Ranger squeezed her hand. They weren't inside Rangeman now. He should have been more aware that leaving her inside an unfamiliar, and unsecured, house was not the best decision. She was mortified by her reaction, so he pretended not to notice.
"Okay, Babe," he told her. "I'll grab the heavy stuff, and you can grab the duffel bag."
Hand in hand, they strolled out to the car. The trunk held a large wicker picnic basket, the large duffel, and a smaller bag. Ranger hoisted the large duffel over one shoulder. He handed Stephanie the smaller bag then removed the basket. Stephanie closed the trunk before they headed back inside.
Ranger set the basket on the breakfast bar between the kitchen and the living room. He tossed the duffel on the couch. Stephanie placed the smaller bag next to it.
"What's in the basket?"
Ranger threw her a look over his shoulder and smiled. He knew that her curiosity wouldn't allow her to wait to be surprised. He raised the lid and began to remove the food that Ella had prepared. When she tried to peek, he spun her around and gently pushed her out of the kitchen with a playful swat to her behind.
"This is for later."
"Did I see Ella's chocolate cake in there?"
"Not telling."
He quickly finished putting the food away. After grabbing the duffel bags, they journeyed upstairs. Two large bedrooms that shared a full bathroom sat at the back of the house. The master took up the whole front of the house and had its own private balcony.
Spectacular couldn't even describe the view. Stephanie rolled back the sliding glass door and allowed the cool breeze to wash over her. She turned to him, giving him that heart melting smile that he loved so much, and extended her hand. Tossing the duffels on the bed, he took her hand in his, and she pulled him outside. His arms enveloped her waist, hands splayed on her baby bump, and rested his chin on her shoulder.
They both shared a love for the ocean. Something about the sand, the waves, the smell…it had a calming effect on both of them. One day, Ranger did want to move back to his house in Miami. But, this would do for now. He gently placed soft, butterfly kisses up the side of her neck.
"Let's go for a walk."
Ranger had no idea why but was in a rare mood to talk. He had already revealed some of his past to Stephanie. She knew he had gotten into trouble and that his parents sent him to live with his grandmother for a while. But, he always held his cards close to his chest. He never used to be comfortable exposing his deepest and darkest secrets. After almost losing the most precious thing in the world to him, Stephanie, it forced him to learn to open up. Letting his feelings out to Raoul had been liberating. Once thinking emotional outbursts made him weak, he now understood how wrong he was. He felt stronger than he had ever felt.
"What was her name?" Stephanie asked him softly.
"Rosa Elena Manoso. She was my Dad's mother." He brushed his lips across hers in a gently kiss. "She would have really loved you, Babe. I just wish she got to see that I made something of myself."
Stephanie took his face in her hands. She returned his gentle kiss with one of her own. "I'm sure she's looking down and is so proud of you, Carlos."
Ranger flashed his 200 watt grin. The moment was interrupted by growl from Stephanie's stomach. Blushing, she rubbed her belly.
"We're hungry," she told him.
Ranger smirked. "Come on. Ella's prepared something special for you."
When Ranger came to inspect the house earlier that afternoon, he retrieved the patio furniture and cushions from the storage room. He purchased flowers and battery operated candles at a local store. Then he placed a call to Ella to prepare a special dinner and pack it up so they could take it with them. Everything was set for their stay.
Stephanie quickly detoured to the bathroom. Ranger poured her a glass of ice tea and set it on the table on the deck. He placed the battery operated candles on various spots around the patio table.
When she was finished, Ranger ushered her to the lounge chair beside the table. He handed her the ice tea.
"Just relax, Babe," he explained. "I'm going to heat up dinner."
He watched her eyes for her reaction. The panicked look returned. It tore through his heart, but he managed to keep a relaxed expression on his face. She set her ice tea on the end table next to the lounge and started to scoot towards the middle of the cushion.
"I'll help you," she insisted.
Ranger put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. "I've got it, Babe. Just sit back and relax. I'm right in the next room."
She bit her lower lip.
"I brought you hear to spoil you. Sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy the view."
She dropped her gaze but nodded. She was being stupid again, but she couldn't help it. Just watch the waves, she told herself. She heard him getting things ready in the kitchen which helped. Knowing Ranger, he was probably making noise on purpose for her sake. Normally, Ranger never made a sound. That's what made him good at what he did. The notion that he purposely was banging pots and slamming cabinet doors helped to keep her heart rate under a hundred beats per minute.
Ella had outdone herself with dinner. Fettuccini Alfredo with sausage, garlic bread, and a side salad. She even included a bottle of sparkling cider since Stephanie wasn't able to have alcohol. And, it all tasted like heaven.
After dinner, Ranger and Stephanie snuggled in the lounge chair. It didn't take long before she dozed off. It had been a long day, and she was exhausted. With the feel of Ranger, the full stomach, and the rhythmic crashing of the waves, Stephanie felt more content and safe than she had a long time.
The sun hung lower in the sky when Stephanie woke. Still wrapped protectively in Ranger's arms, his warmth gave her comfort. She hugged him tight then stretched.
"Ready for some chocolate cake?"
"Always ready for chocolate cake," she answered with a giggle.
Ranger slid out from under her then helped her to her feet. He started towards the door, but Stephanie tugged him to her.
"Thanks for bringing me here," she began. "This is the first time since….uh…you know." She paused to swallow hard. "This is the first time that I felt like myself in a while."
"Anything for you, Babe. I did bring you here because I thought getting out of Trenton for a bit might be what you needed. But…." He gave her a sly smile. "I have to admit that spending time alone with you fills my selfish needs as well."
"Are you sure that you will be able to fulfill those needs?" she asked while pointing to his crotch. "I mean…you did get a…boo-boo today."
Ranger groaned. "I prefer the term…flesh wound. Men don't sustain boo-boos on their equipment."
Stephanie snorted.
"Don't worry. We'll be ready for anything and everything tonight," he assured her. God bless that triple antibiotic ointment! He had forgotten all about it.
They gathered the plates and took them inside. Ranger cut two pieces of cake. Stephanie raised her eyebrows.
"You're having cake, too?" she asked him incredulously.
He smiled. "I do indulge every once in a while. Besides, I'm going to burn off these calories tonight anyway. I'm giving you a bigger piece so you'll be able to keep up with me," he explained as he waggled his eyebrows. He watched as a rosy hue flooded her cheeks.
He pulled a carton of chocolate milk from the refrigerator and poured her a glass.
"Okay…who are you and what have you done with Carlos?" Stephanie joked.
"Selma told me that chocolate milk was fine," he admitted. "I know I'm a health food nut. When my grandmother died from a heart attack, not only did I make a promise to her that I would straighten up, but I wanted to take better care of myself. So, I quit smoking and started eating healthier."
Stephanie picked up the cake plates while Ranger carried the milk. The glowing candles placed around the deck created a more intimate setting as the sky started to darken. They sat back at the table to eat their cake. Ranger fed her the first bite.
"There is only one thing that is better than Ella's chocolate cake," she moaned.
Ranger gave her a confident smile. "And…you'll be having that later," he added.
Stephanie's fork clinked as she set it on the plate. She folded her hands as she bit her lower lip. "Carlos?"
"Are you okay?"
She nodded. "Um…I've been thinking…." She shifted around and avoided his stare.
"That could be dangerous," he laughed trying to lighten her mood.
Stephanie just rolled her eyes. "Well…we haven't talked about names or anything. I thought that if at least one of these babies was a girl that we could name her Rosa. Rosa Marie Manoso kind of has a nice ring to it. Don't you think?"
Ranger just stared at her.
"We don't have to…," she gushed. She felt like she offended him with her suggestion.
He laced his fingers through hers. "Babe, I couldn't even begin to tell you what that would mean to me to name my daughter after my grandmother. Thank you." He whispered his thanks because his throat had tightened on him. He wanted Rachel to name their baby Rosa, but she insisted on Julie.
"Really?"
Ranger just nodded as he squeezed her hand. "I don't want you to do that just to please me. I want you to want that name too."
"I haven't even begun to think of names, Carlos. That's the truth. But when you told me all about your grandmother and how special she was to you, it just feels right. And if at least one of these babies is a boy, I really want to name him after you."
"I guess we'll have to have 2 girls' names and 2 boys' names ready to go," Ranger agreed. "As long as the babies are healthy, I don't care what we have. But, it would be great if we had one of each."
"Ricky and Rosie," Stephanie mused. She took another forkful of cake. Then she fed one to Ranger.
After he swallowed, he took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. "Every year, I go to Miami for Grandma's birthday. I visit her and tell her what's been happening in my life. I've never told anyone this…not even Tank. Her birthday is next week, and I would like for you to go with me this time."
She couldn't help it. The tears flowed freely. It amazed her that she could have kept herself together this long. Today had been a fantastic day. Ranger shared so much about his relationship with his grandmother. Since the kidnapping, she felt like their relationship had been taken to a much deeper level. Both of them had been so guarded, and the walls had come down. She no longer had any doubts or fears about Ranger dumping her. They were soul mates and were meant for each other. But the fact that he just shared something with her that even Tank didn't know, it just cemented their bond tremendously.
"I would really like that, Carlos. But if you feel that it's important to keep that private, I'll understand."
"I do want to keep that private, but private for us," he explained. He reached over and wiped the tears from her face. "Now hurry up and finish that cake."
Ranger's internal clock woke him at his usual 5:30 in the morning. Stephanie slept peacefully in his arms. It had been a couple weeks since her last bout of morning sickness. Certain strong smells still caused her stomach to roll, but it was going away like Selma said it would. He was grateful to get rid of that morning routine.
The curtains fluttered with the cool breeze from the open door to the balcony. The crashing waves pounded in the distance. This little escape was exactly what Stephanie needed. What they both needed. He gently ran his hand up and down her back, watching her sleep. The sun would be up soon. He'd love to go for a run on the beach, but Stephanie might not be able to handle it. He decided he would wake her in a little while and let her decide.
Letting Stephanie make her own decisions was important to her. It gave her a sense of control in her life. Giving up the control of making decisions on his own was difficult for Ranger. For years, he gave orders and people followed. No questions asked. Not ever being in a relationship before, he wasn't used to the give and take, the compromise, and most of all, relinquishing control over another person. Yes, Stephanie was still his employee, but she was going to be his wife. An equal partner. They were going to be a team and a family. There were going to be times that he fell back into old habits, but he wasn't worried. Stephanie would be sure to remind him.
"Is everything okay?"
He happened to be so deep in thought that he didn't detect her awakening. He tightened his hold on her and kissed her temple. "Every thing's fine. I was just listening to the waves."
She reached over and lifted his wrist to see the time. "Ugh," she groaned. "It's still night time. Go back to sleep."
"It's morning, Babe."
"No it's not. It's still dark out. It's not morning 'til the sun comes up…or it's 10 AM."
He chuckled. "I was thinking about going for a run. Would you be okay with that?"
He felt her body stiffen. He looked into her widened eyes and got his answer. Ranger felt a twinge of guilt. What was he thinking? He took her out of the safe cocoon of the Rangeman building and brought her to a strange and unsecure house. Hell, she was afraid to wait in the living room while he unpacked the car.
"Forget it, Babe," he told her. "I don't have to run today. Let's just hold each other."
Stephanie immediately felt foolish and nibbled on her lower lip. This needed to stop. She had to start getting control of her irrational fear of being alone. Ranger would never let anything happen to her. And, she sure as hell was not going to run off on any solo missions again! She pulled away from him and sat up, drawing her knees to her chest.
"Well…maybe if you ran back and forth in front of the house….it would be okay," she said.
"So…if I run like Jim Carrey in The Cable Guy and look like a fool….that would make you feel better?"
She swatted his thigh and began to giggle. "No! And for the record, running like Jim Carrey should be a breeze for you since you did dress up like an ugly woman for me."
He raised an eye brow. "Ugly?"
"Carlos," she began, "you are an incredibly handsome man. I still get tongue tied when I look at you, but you looked horrible as a woman."
"Damn…I didn't think I looked that bad."
"Well…you did. But what I'm trying to say is that if you keep within eye shot of the house, I think I'll be all right. As long as I can see you, I don't think I'll be afraid." She bit her lower lip again. "I didn't mean that you should look like an idiot running around in a circle."
He gave her his 200 watt grin. "Well, I'm glad we cleared that up. Are you sure about this?"
She nodded. "I have to try to get back to normal. Might as well start today."
Stephanie watched him run along the shore line. Even though she could still see him, her heart rate picked up as he got farther away. When he became a little speck, he turned around and headed back. The tension melted as he got closer to the house. But as soon as he passed the front of the house and continued in the other direction, she almost wished she insisted he did the Jim Carrey imitation. It seemed like she was never going to get over this stupid fear.
Ranger knew she would watch him the whole time. He regretted even bringing it up. But when she insisted, he thought it would be good to try to help her work through her fear. He caught her watching him through the sliding glass doors of the master bedroom. This was a huge step for her. He decided to only run a few laps before calling it quits.
"This was a stupid-ass idea," Stephanie muttered to the empty room. What the hell was she thinking? She could still see him, but she didn't like being alone in that huge beach house by herself. What was she going to do about it? Yell to Ranger to come back? Yeah...sure…get him even more worried about her. As she fiddled with the belt on her robe, the perfect solution popped into her head.
After Ranger turned towards the house again, he could see Stephanie leaning on the rail of the balcony. Her hair billowed from the ocean breeze. It wasn't until he got closer to the house that he realized she was naked. Having been caught totally off guard, he tripped over his own feet and landed face first into the wet, hard sand. The chilly, incoming tide washed over him.
"Shit!" Stephanie exclaimed after watching Ranger fall. She scurried back inside and covered herself with her robe. She braced herself for the upcoming confrontation. It only took seconds to hear the sliding glass door from the downstairs deck roll open then closed. His heavy footsteps echoed in the open stair well before the bedroom door flung open.
"Oh…Carlos," she stammered, "are you done running already? That was fast." He knew she was a horrible liar, but it was the best she could come up with at that moment. Noticing that he was wet, she frowned. "Did you go swimming?"
His eyes held that feral look as he toed off his wet sneakers. With one hand, he reached behind his head and pulled off his shirt. "Either you were really afraid, or you want me bad," he told her in a low and husky tone. He continued to stalk towards her.
Her hormones seized control, and she dropped the robe.
That was all it took. Ranger pounced and pushed her back on the bed. She ran her hands down his back and under the waist band of his damp shorts, shoving them down. Ranger lifted himself up to facilitate their removal so nothing stood in his way.
Ranger burned with desire. She had never done anything like that before. Stephanie had always been so self conscious of her body. The image of her standing naked outside on the deck would be imprinted in his brain forever. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he slid inside her. Starting at a slow and steady pace, he was having a hard time holding back.
Ranger knew it was okay for them to continue a regular sex life during her pregnancy. But, there was no way he would ever ask Selma about how wild and rough they could get. Shit, he knocked her NuvaRing loose. What damage could he do to the babies? Selma did say that Stephanie was a high risk pregnancy because she was having twins.
"Carlos…" Stephanie begged, "harder…please!"
He trailed up her neck with his mouth. "I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't. Please."
She felt the vibrations of his groan against her chest as he picked up his pace and pounded into her. Finally! He had thrown away the kid gloves and made love to her the way he did before the kidnapping.
Their coupling was fast and furious and came to an earth-shattering finish. After catching his breath, Ranger tugged the sheet over their bodies as he lay next to her.
"Did I hurt you, Babe?"
She shook her head. "I'm just pregnant, Carlos. I'm not going to break."
He kissed her. "Good to know." He splayed a hand over her belly. "Now tell me the truth. You were scared, weren't you?"
Without looking at him, she nodded. "I know…I'm hopeless."
"I wouldn't say that," he told her. "You have always been so shy about your body. That took a lot of guts coming out of your comfort zone to stand outside naked." He cupped her chin and tilted her face towards him. "You never did anything like that before. It really turned me on." The wolfish grin spread across his face.
"So…there might be hope for me after all?"
"I'd say so. If it helps, you can strip for me any time to help you work through this."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't get used to this. I'm only going to get fatter and the chances of you seeing me naked are going to get few and far between."
"I'm sure I'll get in a peek or 2. You love me and will take care of my needs. I need you in my life, Stephanie. Other than my family, you are the only person to love me, Carlos, for the man that I am. Not for my money or my reputation, but for me. Thank you for loving me." He captured her lips with his, and let his tongue caress hers.
"I fell in love with Ranger, but Carlos totally stole my heart." She gave him a sly and devilish smile. "I love you and need you, too. When I first realized how much I needed you, it kind of scared me a little. I guess I never had such deep feelings for anyone before. But to be needed just as much by you, means the world to me. I may be afraid of being by myself right now, but I'm not afraid of loving you anymore."
She followed his gaze to his waist. She noticed the tented sheet then looked up to see the wolfish grin. "Is the off switch broken again? What the hell did you put on that boo…uh…flesh wound?"
