Thanks for the awesome support and patience. It's been a crazy ride the past several weeks, but thankfully things seem to be settling back to normal.
I lost the charger for my iPod and it was a bitch to find one, you know the old kind that aren't super small, that wasn't pricey. Finally, I found one I could afford last week (after months of being without one). After listening to some music, I bumped into some songs that fueled the continuation of this short story arc. Again, thanks for the awesome patience and it just happened to be that I'm updating after exactly 3 months (yikes!).
Just Want You to Know- Backstreet Boys
And nothing I could do could protect me from you…
Wrapped around your finger, always on my mind
Faster- Matt Nathanson
You're so delicious, you're so soft…
You taste like sunshine
You spike my blood
You make my heart beat faster, faster
I Can't Be Your Friend Anymore- Tim Rushlow
This might come as quite a shock, but I've given it a lot of thought
This thing that's come between us can't be ignored
I hope you understand, this wasn't in my plans
You can run to me, you can laugh at me, or you can walk right out that door
But I can't be your friend anymore
First Time- Lifehouse
We're both looking for something we've been afraid to find
It's easier to be broken
It's easier to hide
Looking at you, holding my breath
For once in my life, I'm scared to death
I'm taking a chance, letting you inside
Feeling alive all over again…
Hard to Say I'm Sorry- Westlife
Everybody needs a little time away, I heard her say
From each other
Even lovers need a holiday, far away from each other
It's hard for me to say I'm sorry…
After all we've been through, I will make it up to you
I promise to…
For You I Will- Teddy Geiger
Nothing seems to be, nothing tastes as sweet as what I can't have
Tonight I'm not afraid to tell you what I feel about you
I'm gonna muster up every ounce of confidence I have
And cannon ball into the water
Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE and the songs to their respective owners.
Lester's POV
"There are some people who clearly belong together, but then nothing happens." I commented mostly to myself. "It's frustrating as hell and a little sad too." I said to Cal as I tried to return my full attention to our job.
"He's on the move." Cal informed me over my ear piece. "Headed South." I scanned the casino and spotted Hanson. He wasn't hard to spot, considering he was over six feet of man. I nodded, weaving silently through the slots and several seniors.
Cal remained silent, but just as I reached the side door through which Hanson just exited my partner finally spoke again. "Yeah, Boss and Bombshell so belong together."
I chuckled even as I hit the pavement running after our skip. Sure, Hanson's legs were longer, but I was in better shape. Hanson realized he was done just before Cal cut him off when he rounded the corner. My partner's a sneaky bastard, because the dude didn't even break a sweat. Within seconds we had Hanson cuffed and secured.
"Help!" Hanson yelped. I kicked his shin so he would have something to bitch about. "Police brutality!" He wailed.
"We're not the cops, you dick." I told him, kicking him again. Fortunately for him, he got the message and shut the fuck up. "Bring the SUV around." I didn't want to attract attention to us, because now that the job was done I might be able to go see what the status of Beautiful's wedding is.
Cal shot me a skeptical look, like he knew I was up to something, but didn't protest.
"I've got a lot of money." Hanson blurted out, cocking his head to the side suggestively. "Let me go and I'll be very generous."
I let out a full belly laugh. "You think I do this for money?" I asked rhetorically. Truth is, I have enough money to last me a whole lifetime. I wouldn't go so far as saying I'm rich, but I'm pretty well off. "No." I squinted at Hanson. "I do this for fun." I smiled crookedly and it must have scared the crap out of him, because he didn't make another offer.
Once Cal arrived I tossed our skip in the backseat before settling in the front passenger seat. Cal was headed towards the parking lot's exit when a familiar Green SUV roared past us. I shot the driver an annoyed look, only to realize it was none other than Joe 'fucking' Morelli behind the wheel. As soon as I confirmed that he was alone, I told Cal to stop.
"Why?" He asked.
I glared at him. "Because Beautiful isn't with him." They were together last time I saw and it doesn't make sense that he would just leave without her. Nope, not after he got what he's wanted for so long. If he won the girl, why would he leave her behind? And he looked pissed as hell too.
"But…" Cal cut his eyes to the backseat. Hanson stared back at us blankly.
"You take him back and I'll go see what's up with Beautiful." I had the door halfway open when Cal let out a sound that was somewhere between a whimper and a groan.
"No." He said simply.
"You can't stop me." I dared him to even try. I know it was stupid of me to defy him, considering that we had company.
"And I'm not gonna. I'd rather have the Boss shoot us together than having to explain why you stayed behind."
That's why I love having Cal as my partner. Not that I will ever admit that to him. "What about him?" It was my turn to cock my head to the side.
"He'll come with if you need my assistance." Cal cut his eyes to the backseat once again. "And he will behave." Hanson paled.
With a wide grin, I angled out of the SUV and headed back inside the hotel.
S&R-Ranger's POV
Even before I hung up on Lester I was vibrating with excitement. Babe didn't get married to Morelli. I know I had no right, but I grabbed the keys for a truck and exited the penthouse. There was no way in hell that I wasn't going to see Babe.
As I rode the elevator down to the garage I couldn't help but realize I should be angry with my cousin for disobeying protocol and orders. Les can be an annoying, smug asshole at times, but I guess I can't be too mad at him this time. Had it not been for his nosiness I would have never known how close Babe was to marrying Morelli or that she backed out at the last second.
As awkward and painful as it was to get behind the wheel, not even that deterred me.
It hadn't occurred to me how spontaneous and in the moment their 'let's get married' idea was until I entered Babe's apartment. Her place looked exactly as I saw it the last time I paid her a late night visit, right before I had to leave for Miami. My chest ached at the thought of her waking up one day only to realize she was unhappy. All I want is for her to be happy. I guess I was wrong for thinking that Morelli could really make her happy in every extent of the word.
I wanted to punch something or someone, but instead I sank into the chair I long ago claimed as my own in a corner of her bedroom.
S&R
"Come here." I said to Babe as I snagged her hand.
"Ranger." She straddled my thighs, pressing her sweet pie against my hard dick and making me sit up straighter in my chair. Well, it's really her chair.
"I'm an idiot." I mumbled against her throat.
"Yes, you are." She threaded her fingers through my hair and tugged. As soon as I reared back to look at her beautiful face, those sexy lips of her touched mine. And of course, I kissed back.
I must have dozed off, again, because I was startled awake by a buzzing in my pocket. With a groan that was pure annoyance, I dug into my jeans' front pocket to fish out my cell phone. "Yo?"
"Dude, where the hell are you?" Lester whined. "Tank says you're not at Rangeman." He started bitching that there he was keeping an eye on Babe while I was doing God knew what.
I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that I'd lost track of time sitting in Babe's apartment, so I grunted. "What do you have for me?"
"Maybe I shouldn't tell you." Les was playing with fire. At my growl, he sobered up. "Beautiful and Co. are at this new bar on the edge of Trenton." Lester said the women, with Babe taking the lead, have already drank way too much.
"I'll be there." I hung up, knowing he'd send me the address via text.
Sure enough, as I was heading out of Babe's bedroom the message came in.
I arrived at the place in fifteen minutes, mostly because it took me some time to make my way out of Babe's building. As I angled out of my truck, I scanned the parking lot. I didn't spot Babe's car, which wasn't much of a surprise. I did spot a Rangeman fleet SUV, parked near the dumpsters.
Even before I was inside I could feel the vibrations of the music. Out of pure instinct I bypassed the tables and headed towards the bar. And sure enough, that's where I found them.
"No, no, no, no, no, no." I heard Babe even before I spotted her.
"Why?" A burly blond man had her caged with one arm on either side of her body. I thought leaving his dick and balls unprotected and wide open was a bad move on his part. Dumbass. "A white dick ain't good enough for ya?"
Something flashed across Babe's eyes and before the idiot realized it, her knee had connected with her target. The man dropped to his knees, cupping himself.
"That's right, biatch!" Connie hollered in the man's ear, obviously shitfaced.
"Kick his ass, Steph!" Babe's childhood friend, Mary Lou, added. Some people might think I know way too much about Babe's life, but I don't care.
"Shoot his little white dick off!" Lula cheered, sounding surprisingly sober.
"You fucking…" Burly tried to lunge at Babe, but before he was even halfway up I wacked him in the small of his back with my cane. "FUCK!" He sank back to his knees, both of his hands busy soothing the affected areas.
Before he could attempt to stand up once again, I positioned myself in front of Babe. I was standing so close that I could feel her body pressed against my back. "Out." I ordered, and though my voice was a low whisper he got the message. I was tired and in pain, but he didn't have to know that.
We all watched him inch his way out of the bar in silence and a moment later I spotted Lester follow him out.
"Ranger!" Babe shoved me aside, frowning at me. "What are you doing here?" Her brow scrunched up further when her gaze traveled down my body. "And what happened to you?" She was seriously slurring her words. Les was right. Babe was beyond tipsy.
I left some bills between their empty glasses before addressing the women. "What was that about?"
"White gurl said black tastes better." Lula made a dismissing gesture. "That fo was just hating."
"Yeah!" Connie shouted her agreement.
Lester joined the mix, giving me a curt nod. It's his silent way of saying that all was clear.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why didn't you interfere?" Babe had things under control, sure, but she was intoxicated. Plus, the man looked determined to get his way.
Lester waved a hand at me. "So Beautiful could kick me in the balls?" He shook his head. "Nope. No, thank you." I glared at him. Les blew out a sigh. "Come on, ladies."
Somehow he convinced the women to go with him, ushering them out in less than five minutes.
And then there were two.
Babe and I stood there staring at each other for several moments after the others left. She couldn't seem to focus on any one piece of me and neither could I, scanning my eyes over her from head to toe.
