Usual disclaimer from one woman and her virus.
Waking moments
Steph's POV
It's morning and somehow despite the deep thoughts in the dark hours, I've slept better than I have in a long time. The room seems warmer, safer, I can't describe it any better than that. I know that any moderately gifted child could break in here in a matter of seconds, but I feel strangely protected.
I don't feel a tingle or a zing, so he's melted away with the last of the dark, but I'm sure I can detect a trace of Bulgari and Ranger in the air. Wishful thinking? Maybe. A comforting thought? Most definitely.
He'd hate the thought of being regarded as a guardian angel, maybe he'd prefer the term guardian bad ass, but whatever you call it, he's mine and I'm grateful for him. Maybe I'll tell him that, I can see his face now, that single eyebrow arcing skyward, that almost there, hint of a ghost of a smile and his ever useful, often uttered, answer to almost everything I say - 'Babe'. The most used word in the Ranger vocabulary given meaning only by the tone of his voice and the slightest expression on his gorgeous face.
I regard my washed out blue eyes and way beyond tousled and into truly frightening hair in the bathroom mirror and find to my surprise a slight tilt upwards of my own lips that seems to have been missing for a while.
Today is a Rangeman day and it's been a haven for me recently. After the bust up with Joe and the hysterics of my mother, who has banned me from her sight until I come to my senses and crawl back to him, it's pretty much become my only refuge.
There at least I have peace from her, as her first few attempts to call to harangue me were summarily rebuffed by the Merry Men and she got the message pretty quickly. They look out for me almost as much as Ranger does, although I haven't seen any of them in my bedroom in the middle of the night, that doesn't mean that they weren't there. I'm not sure if that thought creeps me out or not.
Showered and the beast that is my hair somewhat tamed I turn my attention to clothing .Now that's the easy part, wardrobe choice on Rangeman days is pretty much a no-brainer.
Black cargo pants, black stretchy t-shirt, black boots, black jacket and a black baseball cap. All embroidered with the discreet Rangeman logo.
My mini Ranger look Lula calls it,but just wearing his uniform made me feel closer to him while he wasn't here. But now he's back and I have to decide what to do about it.
I'm still thinking it over when I reach the Rangeman garage in my latest beat up POS car.
But at least it ain't Big Blue, right?
Even if I didn't know he was back, I would know he was back from the change in the atmosphere of the place. There's a buzz that's only apparent when he's around. I wave to the guys in the control room and enter my own little cubicle and find a Tasty Pastry bag containing a Boston crème do-nut and a still hot mocha latte. I look around to see who's watching me to get an inkling of who left them, but the men all seem to have their head's down and are working hard. Curious.
The muted buzz of the room falls silent and I know even without the tingle that my guardian bad ass has left his office and is stalking the floor.
I pretend to be riveted by the search I'm running and will my suddenly racing heart to slow as he has to be able to hear it rattling off my ribs.
The smell of Bulgari and Ranger envelops me and I breathe deeply revelling in his delicious aroma, the only thing that beats it is the taste of his skin as I run my tongue down the surprisingly soft skin of those rock hard mocha latte abs and down towards his.... Whoa! Hey! back up there girl. I caught myself before I started to drool, I think. I hope.
"Babe"
I turn my seat to face him checking my chin for drool as I do so. " Ranger, when did you get back?"
"Last night" did I imagine it or was there the slightest hesitation there?
"Good to have you back" I offer , hoping that he can't read my knowledge of his presence in my bedroom last night on my face.
"Did you get my gifts?"
I pick up the empty cup and smile " Thank you, although aren't I supposed to give you a welcome home gift and not the other way round?"
He grins, the full 100 watt wolf grin and my heart rate breaks out of the stratosphere and hits orbit.
"What did you have in mind?"
I can feel the flush rising, it's not embarrassment, it's lust and my hormones momentarily take over my voice box and smother my common sense"You can buy me dinner and we'll see where it goes from there"
"Babe" he purrs, his voice low and if anything the grin is brighter and almost wider than his face.
"I'll pick you up at 7.30"
I'm stunned, first by the sheer audacity of my screaming hormones and then by his agreement.
Judging by the look on his face, mine must be a study in stupefied amazement.
"It's just dinner, I'm not kidnapping you"
"I'll pack a bag, just in case" Damn it, woman shut the hell up, you're just getting in deeper.
He laughed, deep and rich and it feels like warm silk slipping over my skin. "You never disappoint"
I keep my mouth tightly shut, stopping myself from answering. With a very slight shake of his head, the smile still apparent on his face, he's gone, back into his office and I lower my burning face to desk level and rest my forehead on the edge. What have I done? My hormones are doing a victory dance, my heart rate shows no sign of slowing and my heart is warning of more pain and misery to come.
The afternoon passes in fits and starts, as it does when both dread and anticipation are at work. Five minutes seemed like an hour and then the next hour goes past without me realising it. I've spent a lot of time mentally searching my wardrobe for the perfect outfit and not so much doing searches for Rangeman. But it's finally home time and I'm already a nervous wreck. Maybe the ritual of getting ready will help calm me.
Waiting for the elevator, which for once seems to be taking an age to arrive I'm still mulling it over. I have neither the time nor the money to go off to the Mall to shop for an outfit. So that only leaves what I have in my closet. There's not a great deal and there's nothing that he hasn't already seen.
Finally the car arrives and I find that in my deep musings I've been ignoring Ella.
"Stephanie are you all right dear?" she's the Rangeman Mom figure and I just wish I could persuade her to adopt me.
"Ella Sorry. I have a date tonight and I can't figure out what to wear" she's a woman, she'll understand.
Her eyes sparkle mischievously " I know, I have my orders and I've come for you"
"Orders?" I sound suspicious
She laughs "Orders" she repeats as the elevator stops and she ushers me out "Please come with me"
"Ella?" I nervously tuck a curl behind my ear.
"Trust me, when we are done with you, you'll knock his socks off"
"We?"
"Stephanie honey, the one word answers are scaring me. You look like him and now you are starting to sound like him"
"Sorry , I'm just a bit surprised, that's all"
Her warm hand landed on my arm and we stopped just outside the door to her apartment. "I was given the afternoon off . My orders were to get you an outfit for tonight. I have asked Lindy, a friend of mine to come and help with the finishing touches"
"He organised all this for me?" another stupefied expression, he seems to be causing them today.
"Don't ever doubt that you are important to him" she took hold of my hand.
"Just not important enough" I added, unable to keep the slight tinge of pain out of my voice.
"Tonight may be the start, just don't give up on him" she squeezed my hand. " Come on let's make you gorgeous"
She's true to her word, I hardly recognise this elegant creature staring back at me. The dress isn't one that I would have chosen, but I'm wise enough to admit that Ella knows what suits me better than I do. It's gunmetal grey silk, but that's isn't doing it justice, it's not matt, it's iridescent and it shimmers seductively when I move. It's sleeveless and has a Chinese style collar, but the there is a deep V at the front which gives a hint of cleavage. It skims my body like it was made just for me and it finishes just below my knees, but there are slits in the sides almost to the tops of my lace hold ups. On my feet are the most amazing shoes which match the dress perfectly with a delicate looking 3 inch heel. My hair and make up are just amazing. Lindy, Ella's friend has tamed the beast , most of it is caught up in silver combs, which are studded with seed pearls the same shade as the dress with random looking, but carefully chosen curls framing a face whose make up is so delicate that it makes 'barely there ' look overdone. I don't know how she did it, but my earrings and pendant have stones that are almost the same colour as my eyes. The exquisite beaded evening purse and wrap complete the outfit. And I face my reflection in Ella's full length mirror I can see in the eyes of the two women that are standing just behind me just how astounding I look.
Ella's phone breaks the silence and she turns away to answer it. " Yes, she's ready" a pause and then she turns round and smiles at me " No, you come and get her"
Another pause and her eyes sparkle with impish amusement "It's either that or I send her to the control room and you can pick her up there"
A grin broke out on her face "No and I don't care what else you threaten me with, you will come and collect her"
Another pause and she bit her bottom lip to stop from laughing "It was nice talking to you Ranger, see you soon" she snapped her phone shut and burst out laughing. "He's on his way"
"I guessed" the butterflies in my stomach have suddenly become hornets.
"I do hope you make it out to dinner" Ella added ." You need to be seen in that dress by more than just Carlos"
"Thank you, I didn't know I could look this good, maybe he'll think me more worthy now" Oh hell that just slipped out.
Ella's expression turned serious "You're worthy, you're the best thing that's ever happened to that man and one day soon he'll realise it. He'd better"
"That sounds like a threat"
"Yes honey, maybe it is"
The gentlest knock came to the door and Ella hurried to answer it. I turned away to collect my purse and Lindy settled the soft wrap over my shoulders. "Good luck" she whispered and squeezed my hand and I turned to face him.
Author's note. Sorry it's taken so long to post, but there's been a lot going on here and most of it isn't good. I hope it was worth the wait.
I'm also sorry to stop there, but since this was supposed to be a one shot, I haven't really worked out any coherent sort of storyline. Hopefully I'll have more time to work on it from now on. Thank you. Valzie.