Chapter Eleven

Ranger looked out the window at the woman walking along the beach. She had on a blue swimsuit top and blue shorts, her wild crazy curly brown hair was dancing in the light breeze. She was a beautiful woman but he knew it was her other qualities that drew him to her. She was the most determined, spunky, and stubborn woman he'd ever know.

"How long has she been out there?"

"Since you left for the airport." Tank answered. Ranger frowned, he'd just returned from dropping Stephanie's sister and her family at the airport. He'd been gone almost three hours.

"That was hours ago, has she eaten?"

"No, she looked at the tray and walked out to the beach. She's been there ever since."

"She should eat." Not long ago Stephanie had been a food addict, moaning and savoring good food. Now he almost had to force feed her. "she's lost too much weight."

Tank shrugged. They both knew it would do no good to try to pressure her into eating. Stephanie was too stubborn for that. She'd just dig in her heels and fight, even if she knew she needed to eat. She just hated it anytime someone tried to tell her what to do and would normally do just the opposite.

"Thought it was best if I just left her alone. "

"OK get dinner ready. I'll go talk to her." He wasn't happy about Stephanie missing a meal but he knew Tank was right.

"Boss, maybe you should let her be. I think she needs some time alone."

"Maybe."

His eyes never left Stephanie and he noticed that she was now sitting on the beach. Maybe Tank was right. But he really wanted to go down there now, hold her and reassure her. But he knew she needed time.

"OK, I'll be in my office. Call me when dinner is ready. Iif she's not up then I'll go down and get her then."

Ranger could here Tank laughing as he walked off. Tank knew all about the ring box that he was carrying around in his pocket and the damn man was getting a great deal of amusement out of the fact that Ranger was afraid to asknswer Stephanie to marry him. Tank could laugh. Tthis was his life, he'd almost lost Steph to the Slayers.

For two years he had made himself stay back and watch her. Telling himself that his life didn't lend itself to relationships and it didn't in any normal sense of the word. But he found himself wanting one with Stephanie.

If he'd learned anything in the last two years it was that he'd found his match in Stephanie Plum. He'ds never known a woman like her before sometimes it amused him that she was the one who brought some of the danger into their lives with her many stalkers.

A smile came to his lips as he recalled all of her cars that now rested in car heaven. He could even recall the very moment he'd fallen in love with her. It was when he was FTA and she had called, not to ask if he's done it as most of his family and friends had done, no Stephanie had simply asked if he was okay.

No, if anyone's life was less likely than his to not support a relationship it was Stephanie's and maybe that fact made them perfect for each other. He pulled the ring box out and opened it. Hhe hoped she liked it but even more he hoped she would say yes.

The Slayers had taught him a lesson that he had forgotten. Life is meant to be lived. Iit was to short in some cases to waste. Now he needed to convince the lady in question to say yes.

Stephanie watched the waves, deep in thought. Fate always had a way of stepping into her life and biting her in the ass. How many times in the last two years had she thought that she was going to be dead? Too many to count, what with buildings burning down, cars exploding, and crazy skips shooting at her.

Maybe that was part of the problem maybe someplace in her mind she really did believe that she would be dead before she could have a future. Why plan for what she wouldn't have?.

No, she thought that was only part of it. But what the hell was the other part. Her brain started to ache too much damn thinking. Then her stomach rumbled protesting the fact that she hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch. She hadn't had much of an appetite lately. The sun was getting low so she knew it must be almost dinner time.

Good, she could finish thinking later, later was good. Liz had said they were going to work on her denial issues, she had just replied that she didn't have a problem with them. It was just how she coped, that and sleeping, oh and chocolate. Yeah a girl had to have chocolate.

Maybe that was the problem. Sshe hadn't had any chocolate for awhile. Sshe would have to ask Ranger for some at dinner tonight. All this eating healthy was okay when she was sick but now she was feeling better. She needed chocolate and maybe some coke and Tasty cakes. Her stomach rumbled again agreeing with her thoughts.

She stood up and started brushing the sand off. Then she felt the tingle that told her Ranger was near. She turned and smiled at Ranger walking down the beach toward her.

"Babe."

"You know could make some noise."

"Wouldn't be as much fun." Ranger looked at her through his lowered lashes. "Besides you knew I was coming. How?"

"I could feel you."

"Babe." He grinned a wolf smile.

She tilted her head and looked at him.

"Babe you're looking at me like I'm dinner."

"Yum."

"Babe, you're playing with fire."

"Ranger, maybe I want to get burned."

Ranger shook his head. He liked that Stephanie was comfortable enough to bait him.. "Babe dinner is done you. Are ready to eat?"

"Yeah." She was getting good at this one word answer thing.

"Babe, you didn't eat breakfast or lunch."

"I know."

"Why? You know what the Doctor said if you don't eat you won't heal as fast."

"I needed to think."

"About."

"Things."

"OK, you'll let me know when you're ready to talk right."

"Yup."

Ranger put his arm around Stephanie's shoulder and pulled her in tight for an amazing kiss, his arms traveling up and down her back caressing it. Ranger pulled back looked for something in her eyes and satisfied with what he saw kissed her again.

"Babe, Tank's waiting for us."

"He's going back to Trenton soon?" She asked the question even though she already knew the answer. She would miss the big man they had become close friends during the two weeks they had already been on the island.

"Yeah, Lester will be coming down."

"How about Bobby?"

"After Lester goes home."

"Cal?"

"Babe, Cal gave you his stun gun."

"So no vacation." During one of our conversation Ranger had let me know that the members of his Rangeman crew would be coming down to supplement the skeleton crew he kept at the Villa. She'd teased him about them just wanting a vacation.

"Right."

Ranger kissed her head and with his hand at her back continued steering her toward the dining room.

Stephanie moaned at the aroma, it was beyond delicious. She knew that whatever dinner was she was going to enjoy it. As they walked into the dining room Steph's stomach decided to voice its opinion and let out a loud growl. Ranger and Tank both laughed.

"Better feed that monster before it gets angry."

"Ha ha funny man." Both men could tell that Stephanie was enjoying their teasing.

"Bombshell finally decide to leave the beach?"

"I like the beach its quiet and there are no little boys teasing me."

"Little boys..." Ranger pretended to look hurt. "Babe we do it because we love you."

"Plus its fun," Tank grinned. I gave him my best death glare and the man just laughed more. He had been doing that a lot lately who knew that a scary ex-army man could laugh so much. I seemed to bring it out of him and we had become close friends. I decided maybe it was best to ignore him. Sometimes that worked.

This time it didn't. Tank scooped her up and started tickling her." Bomber I'm not a little boy."

"Fine!.." I screamed. Then I smiled at him and batted my eyes. "Nothing little about you big boy." Then I punched him. "Now how about putting me down so we can eat."

Ranger watched in amusement when they had first arrived Stephanie had been quiet and withdraw but lately she seemed to be coming back.

Tank settled Steph into her chair and they enjoyed the leisurely meal.

"Ranger, what's for dessert?"

Ranger looked at me and Tank dropped his fork.

"What?"

"Babe this is the first time since we've been here that you've asked for dessert or anything sweet."

"I want chocolate."

He raised an eyebrow. Tank picked up his fork and finished eating.

"Does this have anything about your thinking on the beach?..."

"Might." I was starting to like this whole one word answer thing. If the Mmerry Mmen could do it so could I.

"Come to any answers?."

"Yeah, I need chocolate, coke, and Tasty cakes."

"Babe that stuff will kill you."

"Maybe a pizza. Ranger do they even have pizza here?"

"Babe you can have anything you want."

"So I can have chocolate and dessert?"

"Babe anything." He gave her a wolf grin.

"Bombshell, Leo made tart's for dessert tonight."

She started thinking.

"Ranger, has there been dessert every night?"

"Yeah."

She glared at Tank.

"Who's been eating my dessert? if I haven't?."

"Babe."

Tank jumped up from the table mighty fast for a big man. Stephanie was after him in a flash. No way was he getting away with eating my dessert she thought. She cornered him on the patio by the pool.

"Bombshell."

"Tank, you shouldn't eat a girl's dessert."

"You didn't ask for it."

"Makes no difference." Stephanie said shaking her head. "Some thing's are sacred."

He looked at Ranger. The look he got back said he would be in a world of trouble if he hurt her, which he never would. It also said he wouldn't be getting any help. Stephanie sprang, he jumped and they both ended up in the pool. Then they both came up laughing looking at each other. Steph put her hand out to Ranger but instead of letting him help her out she braced herself and pulled Ranger into the pool. He grabbed her and pulled her under.

"Babe, you're bad."

She just laughed. Wow, how he loved it when she laughed like that. Ranger pulled her into his arms and kissed her deep and passionate. Tank cleared his voice..

"Kids maybe we should get dried off so that Steph can have her dessert."

They all climbed out of the pool. Steph heard Ranger mutter something under his breath it sounded like what about his dessert and she starred at him. She didn't know that Batman muttered.

"Did you say something?" Ranger noticed how her eyes were twinkling and dancing as she spoke.

"Yes, I said dessert sounds good." She starred at Ranger as he appeared to blush a little.

"Babe I'll have Leo get you some chocolate tomorrow Babe."

"Thanks Ranger, you're sweet."

"Babe, I'm not sweet." He glared at her. I guess big ex-army men did not think they were sweet.

"Take it back." Ranger growled. "I'm sexy Babe. I can deal with handsome, scary, maybe even adorable, but not sweet or cute. "He gave her a half pout which coming from Ranger made Stephanie laugh. " Babe puppies and kittens are cute and sweet, not me."

"Ranger you are cute and sweet."

Then she reached up and kissed her tongue brushing his and when she felt him groan she pulled back and smiled. Batman was dazed not use to her being the one to initiated their kisses. She took the opportunity and started running back to the dining room before he could react.

After his vision cleared he looked at Tank for support. Tank shrugged.

"Your woman, your problem, besides she didn't call me cute or sweet."

Ranger shook his head, hopefully she would be causing him problems for years.

After dinner she curled up on the couch with Ranger and they watched a movie. Sometime after she fell asleep Ranger carried her to her bed. He undressed her and pulled one of his shirt on her. He had noticed that she liked sleeping in them and it pleased him. He kissed her forehead.

Then he tucked her in before making his way to his room next door. He wondered if she would have one of her nightmares tonight. He hated it when she had them but when she did he got to share her bed. He would comfort her until the dream passed then spend the remainder of the night holding her so that she could sleep. He noticed that the therapy was helping and she no longer had them every night.