It's a new day, it's a new dawn, it's a new year

Happy New Year! Thank you for all the wonderful reviews on this story. Wow, I never expected so many. Thank you. I was planning on this being a simple three chapter story, but the story took on a life of it's own, and it seemed to want to go on. There is one more chapter after this :)

And thank you Margaret and Cindy for deeming this good to go. :)

Chapter 4 — Dancing the Night Away

"Ranger?" I asked. I'd spoken to Dillon with my phone on speaker so Ranger knew what was going on.

"I don't know what kind of shit he's trying to pull. I guess you should call him."

"I really don't want to talk to him."

"Do you want me to call him?"

"Would you?"

"Give me your phone, he'll take the call if he thinks it's you."

"He's in my speed dial under Joe," I said, handing my phone over to Ranger.

"Babe we have to get you a new phone," Ranger said, thumbing through my eight-year-old Razr flip phone, "I don't know how you still use this thing."

"I'm used to it," I mumbled, knowing I couldn't afford a new phone or a data plan right now.

"Ok, it's ringing," Ranger said after punching in Joe's number.

"Morelli. Manoso." "Yes, Stephanie is with me," he said before switching my phone to speaker.

"Where are you? I've been waiting for her since 9 am."

"I'm sorry Morelli, but she doesn't want to see you or talk to you right now. A couple of my men are on their way over to her apartment. I hope you won't be there when they arrive."

"Where is she?" he asked again.

"Right now we're on an airplane. Please honor her wishes and leave her alone. She'll call you when the time is right." And he hung up.

"Let me put a call into Rangeman. I want to get someone over to your apartment asap," he said grimacing at my phone as his fingers punched at the too small digits.

"Manny? No this isn't Stephanie, it's Ranger. Can you send someone over to her apartment? Morelli seems to be camped out at her front door. If he's still there, you know what to do. Thanks."

Ranger hung up with Manny just as the pilot came on over the loudspeaker. "We'll be landing at Miami International in just a few minutes. Please take your seats and buckle up for the approach. Hope you enjoyed your flight."

Again I was used to commercial flights where we circled the airport for a good ten minutes before we landed. It seemed like we went straight in. We were literally on the ground just a few minutes after our pilot's announcement.

The flight attendant opened the door, let down the gangplank and we were free to disembark. Ranger grabbed both bags and we headed down the stairs. There was a brand new, black shiny SUV right on the tarmac. I'd bet anything it was a Rangeman car coming to pick us up.

Ranger walked right over to it and as we got close, I saw it was Silvio. I hadn't seen Silvio since he spent a day teaching me how to run searches. I was so excited to see him.

"Silvio," I said, running up to the driver's window and motioning him to open it. I threw my arms around his neck and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "How are you?"

"I'm good Steph. Get in; we can talk on the ride to Rangeman. Enrique told me I'd be picking up both you and Ranger. Business or pleasure?"

I got into the back seat while Ranger put the suitcases into the rear cargo space.

"It's a little of both. Ranger asked me to help him interview for your two open positions, but he also said we'd have some time for the beach."

"Are you two a couple?" he asked, not quite sure of our status.

"I don't know Silvio. This is as new to me as it is to you."

Ranger got into the car and settled in, closing the door and buckling his seat belt. Obviously he heard the last part of my conversation with Silvio. But instead of answering with words, he took my hand in his and brought it to his lips. A gesture not unnoticed by Silvio.

"We can continue our conversation over lunch Babe. I know a great place to take you."

I guessed we were having another date.

The ride from the airport to Rangeman Miami didn't take very long. The structure appeared to be a five-story office building, but the building itself seemed larger than the offices in Trenton. Silvio fobbed us into an underground garage and parked adjacent to the elevator.

"Ranger can show you around," he said, taking our bags from the cargo area, "I have quite a number of searches that I have to finish up today. Stop by my desk later if you want to chat or help me out," he grinned.

"Ok. I'll find you later," I said when he got off at three. We stayed on the elevator to the fifth floor. I assumed Ranger had a penthouse here similar to the one in Trenton.

He fobbed the door open for me and wheeled in our bags. "Welcome to Miami Babe."

The space was much more open than his apartment on Haywood, and we could see out to the ocean in the distance from his living room.

"Let me show you around."

I got the grand tour. Beyond the foyer there was a living room, dining room and a powder room. He also had an office, a nice-sized kitchen and a huge master suite with a Jacuzzi as well as a shower in the bathroom.

"I see you staring at the Jacuzzi Babe. Feel free to use it later. Jason Sanchez will be in for his interview at 11:30 and I wanted to show you around the building before he gets here."

It was similar to Rangeman Trenton in that it had a reception area, a control room with the expected monitors, offices for Ranger and his right hand men and cubbies for everyone else. There was also a break room/lunch area, a gym and a gun range.

"I can set you up in my office Babe," he said leading me to an office I hadn't been shown before. It was a huge corner space and although I couldn't see the ocean from this vantage point, I knew it looked out towards the water.

"Nice office Ranger. Are you sure you want me in on the interviews?"

"Yes," he said strongly and unquestioningly. "I value your judgment. I'll get you a chair from one of the spare rooms and you can use my desk for your laptop."

We were all set up when a female voice announced Mr. Sanchez' arrival over the intercom.

"Send him in," Ranger said, meeting my gaze.

He took two steps towards me, titled my chin up to him and kissed my lips. "Thank you for coming with me Babe." He was about to kiss me again, when there was a knock on his door.

"Come in Monica," he said instead and we both sat down just a little awkwardly.

"Mr. Manoso, this is Jason Sanchez."

"Monica Rivera, Jason Sanchez, this is Stephanie Plum," Ranger introduced, standing up formally. "Stephanie is my associate from our Trenton office. Come in Jason."

The interview was quick as far as interviews go. I liked him a lot and I thought he'd make a good fit into the Rangeman organization. I took some notes while they talked, which I'd show Ranger over lunch. After all, I was supposed to be working.

After Jason left, Ranger took my hand to his lips. "Let's get some food, I heard the beast while we were talking to Jason," he said referring to my noisy stomach.

I was about to close up my laptop and bring it along, but Ranger stopped me. "Leave it Babe, this isn't a business lunch."

Uh ok. So I left it and followed Ranger. We stopped at the front desk on our way out and Ranger grabbed a set of keys. We went down to the garage and Ranger fobbed open a Mercedes sports car. He started it up, opened the convertible top and we took off for lunch.

"Tony Chan's Water Club Babe. The food is Chinese and the view is impressive," Ranger said as we parked just a stone's throw away from the Atlantic. "They know we're coming, so we'll be served right away. We have about an hour."

"Mr. Manoso's table, please," Ranger said to the waitress who greeted us.

"You come here often?" I asked, quite impressed by the familiarity.

"Not as often as I'd like, but I come here at least once whenever I'm in Miami. Julie likes this place."

If it got a thumbs up from Julie, it must be good.

"I recommend the chicken with black bean sauce, their variation is not overly salty. And Julie likes the cashew shrimp," Ranger said in the way of recommendations.

"Then let's get one of each and we can share."

Our waiter came over right away with tea and menus, but we ordered without even opening the menus he gave us.

"Babe," Ranger said taking my hand in his, "I want to continue our conversation from this morning."

I nodded and let him take the lead.

"To you this may be sudden, but to me it's not. I'm just happy that Morelli's stupid actions are making this easier. This time I was prepared for a fight to the finish. Stephanie, I care about you a lot," he said again, taking my hand in his and kissing it one more time. "I'd like to take you places and show you things."

"Like dating, Ranger?"

"Yes, like dating Babe."

"So that you can drop me when you've had enough of me? You've said so before."

"I've said a lot of stupid things to you before. No, if I had my way, I'd never let you go, but I like to think that in a relationship both parties have choices."

"A relationship? You want to have a relationship with me?"

"Yeah Babe."

He looked so angelic. I didn't know what to do, so I removed my hand from under his and brought it on top for one more question.

"Is there sex in this relationship Ranger?"

"Well Babe, that's usually part of a relationship, but I know that right now you feel used by Morelli, so we can take things slow."

I didn't know what to say, it was as if he was reading my mind.

Thankfully our food arrived at that moment and we both were able to concentrate on eating, leaving a lot of the unsaid things for later.

"We have to go back to Rangeman for Antonio's interview," Ranger said, wiping his mouth with his napkin. "He'll be there at 1:30. After we meet with him we can go to the beach. The ocean is a very healing. I'm hoping it will wash Morelli away."

"I'm sorry Ranger."

"Sorry for what?"

"For putting so much trust in Joe. You'd told so me many times to go back to him; I thought you saw something I didn't." And I started to cry. I don't know why the tears fell, but they did.

"Babe," he said wiping my tears with his fingers. "Dios I love you," he said softly.

"Love Ranger, did you say love?"

"We have to get back, we can talk about things later," he said leaving me with the 'love' prospect dangling over my head.

Ranger paid the bill and once again left an exorbitant tip. We drove back to Rangeman with the top down and the warm beach air filled my head with hopes.

Our interview with Antonio went well if not better than our interview with Jason and by my notes, he was someone I thought Ranger should hire.

"Beach Babe?" Ranger asked once Antonio left the building.

"I hope you packed me a bathing suit? I have no idea what's in that suitcase."

"I packed you two, but I'd like to buy you another one. I saw a blue patterned one in the window of a store on Bayshore Drive. It would look fabulous on you."

"One piece or two?" I asked wanting to know how Ranger saw me."

"Bikini."

We went upstairs to change and I was surprised when I opened the suitcase Ranger had packed for me. All my favorite summer outfits were in there, how did he know? I didn't question, but put on a modest bikini, a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and came out to see what Ranger wears to the beach.

He had on a pair of black and grey board shorts that sat low on his hips, and he looked hot. I just hoped I wasn't drooling.

"Let's go; you can ogle me later," he grinned and I knew my cover was blown.

xxxxXXXXxxxx

"Your skin is so fair," Ranger commented when I removed my shorts and top. "There's sunscreen in the bag, I'd hate for you to get burned."

I reached into the bag he'd brought and found the SPF 50. I put it on my face, my arms, my legs and my shoulders and was about to drop the tube onto the towel because I couldn't reach my back and didn't want to look stupid trying.

"Your back Babe. I'll get it for you," he said taking the sunscreen from me and turning me around to apply it.

He had lifted up my hair and was spending an awful lot of time putting the sunscreen in all the right places, sensually brushing the sides of my breasts and running his hand under the elastic of my bikini bottom. God he was getting me turned on.

"Ranger, you're getting me all hot and bothered."

"Then let's go into the ocean and cool you off," he said.

He picked me up and carried me over to the shoreline, kissing me once on the lips before putting me down into the water.

"It's cold," I said when the splash from a wave hit my upper body.

"I can see Babe," he said running a finger lightly over one of my rigid nipples. Thank God there were only a handful of people on the beach and no one was paying any attention to us.

We played around in the water for a quite a while, swimming, jumping waves and having fun. Ranger was right, the ocean was healing; but so was Ranger.

"Babe, we should get out, you're turning into a prune," he said taking my hand and looking at my fingers. "And it's getting late, you'll probably want to shower before we go out for dinner. And I have a present for you that should have arrived by now."

"A present for me? What did you get me Ranger?"

"You'll see."

We packed up the few things we brought with us and loaded them into the car. Ranger opened the convertible top again to let the late afternoon sun warm our bodies and I felt like a movie star as we drove back to his office. A girl could get used to this.

Ranger fobbed us in and we took the elevator to his penthouse on five. He opened the door and there were a few packages in the foyer. He looked into the bags before handing them to me.

"I asked for them to be wrapped, but it looks like only one place followed my wishes. Here Babe, these are for you."

"Ranger what did you get me?" I asked taking the gifts from him.

"Open them Babe."

The first one I opened was from Apple and I could immediately see what it was, an iPhone and an iPad."

"Ranger thank you, but I can't afford the data plan on these," I said truthfully.

"The data plan goes on our Rangeman account. These are business necessities and if you're going to be working for me, you need to upgrade your equipment. Happy New Year, Babe."

"Thank you Ranger," I said and turned to give him a small kiss on the lips.

"You initiated that Babe, maybe I should give you presents all the time," he joked, after we broke from the kiss that he took a little further. "Open your other present."

This one was wrapped and I had no idea what it was or where it came from until I undid the paper and opened the box. It was a blue-grey Nicole Miller dress. It was beautiful. It was fitted, yet elegant, hitting probably just above the knee.

"Ranger this is beautiful. I can't accept this from you, you just bought me two dresses for New Year's."

"This is for tonight. I couldn't find anything appropriate in your closet. There's one more present in there."

I looked at him quizzically because if there was one more present in the bag, it had to be small. I looked inside the bag again and there was a small wrapped box. I held it in my hand and looked up at Ranger.

"Open it Babe."

"Earrings Ranger. They're beautiful," I said putting them down and putting my arms around him to give him another kiss.

"They'll go really nicely with the dress. Let me put them on you," and he reached for my ear to undo the Tiffany GPS-tracker that was currently there.

"Babe, you wore these in the ocean?"

I nodded my head yes.

"You probably short-circuited the GPS. Well you didn't like me monitoring you anyway. Let me put these on you," he said sensually touching my ear and sending shivers down my spine.

"Cold Babe?"

"No, goosebumps. God Ranger, you know just what you're doing to me, don't you." I said as a statement, not a question.

"I'm putting earrings on you," he said and his lips grazed mine.

That was it. So much for not wanting to sleep with Ranger yet. I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed him back. I was an adult. I could make my own adult decisions and I just decided that having sex with Ranger was something I wanted to do after all. And I wanted to do it now.

I took his hand and I led him to the couch since it was the closest reclining piece of furniture to where we were standing.

"Babe?"

"Um, don't talk Ranger," I said deepening the kiss and giving him a little tongue.

Ranger rolled me over and looked at me softly before continuing. "Are you sure you're ready Babe?"

"Um hmm."

And then my T-shirt was gone…and so was my bathing suit top.

Ranger was placing soft kisses up and down my body as his hands cupped my breasts, then rolled my nipples. Oh God he made me feel so good. He took one of my breasts into his mouth and paid a lot of attention to it rolling his tongue over my nipple and sucking gently. Then he moved on to the other one and suddenly bit my nipple. It hurt, but in a good way. He kissed his way down my body and he let his mouth linger at the top of my bikini bottom. He was making me crazy and I wanted him so badly.

"Ranger, I need you."

"In good time Babe. Let me enjoy you first," and then my bikini bottom was off and Ranger was feasting on my lady parts.

"You are so wet Babe, I have to taste you."

God. I was going to lose it.

"Ranger now."

"Come for me first, Babe," he said, tonguing me deeply and doing something to the area between my vagina and my ass. Whatever it was, it made me come.

"Oh God Ranger," I yelled, shuddering into an orgasm.

And then his clothes were off and somehow a condom appeared.

"It's ok Ranger, I'm on the pill."

"Let's use this anyway," he said putting it on and sliding into me.

Oh God, we fucked for what seemed like hours. I came I don't know how many times and Ranger either had the stamina of a racehorse or he was multi-orgasmic. Finally I felt him tighten up and shudder into me. We fell into each other's arms, sweaty and spent.

"I love you Babe," Ranger said to me softly when he was able to speak again.

"I love you too Ranger. God I've loved you for so long."

"I know Babe. Shhh."

I think we both fell asleep and I probably would have stayed asleep if Ranger hadn't kissed me awake by nuzzling my neck.

"We have to get up Babe. We have a nine o'clock reservation. I think you're going to want to shower and get ready."

"Where are we going?"

"We're dining Cuban style and then I'm taking you dancing."

"Fancy?"

"Yeah Babe, wear the new dress I got you."

"I don't think I have shoes to go with it?" I said, suddenly panicking.

"I packed the Jimmy Choos you just bought, they're in that inside compartment of your suitcase."

I could never imagine Joe thinking to pack shoes for me. Wait a minute; I could never imagine Joe packing for me. God, Ranger was special.

I came out of the bathroom to find GQ Ranger. He had on a perfectly fitted dark grey cotton suit with a lighter grey dress shirt underneath it and he was standing at the full-length mirror, tying a black tie. His hair was slightly messy and I noticed he hadn't shaved. He looked hot.

"You look beautify, Babe," he said taking me in through the mirror.

"You look pretty good yourself. I was just admiring the view."

"From your vantage point all you can see is my ass?"

"Like I said, I was admiring the view."

Breaking my concentration on one of the more important things in life, my cell phone started ringing. I reached for my bag and saw from the display that it was Dillon.

"I'm sorry to call you again, but Joe's here and he's looking for you. I told him you were away on business, but he said he'd wait for you. I wasn't sure if I should call Rangeman or if you would take care of it. I think he's drunk."

"Hold on Dillon. Ranger? Joe is back at my apartment and Dillon says he's drunk. He wants to know if he should call Rangeman?"

"Yes. We patrol your building. I'll call Tank too."