Chapter 11

"Connie, do you have those files ready for us yet? Oh and I also need any Rangeman files you have ready."

"Just give me a few more minutes and I will have everything ready, in the mean time Jase do you want to start your paperwork?"

"Sure." Connie handed Jase a folder with a bunch of forms for him to fill out.

"Okay Steph I have three for you, and two for Rangeman." I took the files she was handing out to me.

"Thanks Connie, we are going to take off. I will see you girls tomorrow."

Jase and I went out to my car and made our way back to Rangeman chatting along the way.

"So what's up first?"

"Well I figure we can go back to Rangeman and find out any information we might need on my skips and then go to Pino's for lunch. After we can go get the skips."

It didn't take us to long to look up my skips and we were back in the car and off to Pino's. We found a booth in the back and ordered a large pizza and a couple of soda's.

"So Jase, do you think you are going like it here?"

"You know I think I will, it is going to be a big change but I am ready for it."

"Hiya Cupcake."

Shit where did he come from?? Joe was standing at our table and Eddie was right beside him.

"Hey Joe, Eddie."

"Hey Steph."

"So Cupcake are you in trouble again?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well usually you are here with Ranger and when we see you with his other guys it usually means trouble."

"No Joe, no trouble. We are just here for lunch before we pick up my skips."

Eddie just took a good look at who I was sitting with and he looked surprised.

"Jase?"

Eddie and Marylou were the only two that knew of what happened in my life and they both knew Jase and Maggie. I wouldn't have made it through without the two of them talking to me when I needed it.

"Yeah Eddie, how the hell are you?"

"Good. How about yourself, you in town for a visit?"

"Nope, I am here to stay. I just took a job at Rangeman."

"Are you two partners?"

"This is all nice but Cupcake who the hell is this guy?"

"Joe Morelli meet Jase Romano. Jase is an old friend of mine."

"And Eddie just happens to know him?"

"You know what Joe, you don't know everything about my life. Don't you have some place to be?"

"I'm outta here, Eddie how about we meet up later?"

"Yeah, just call me and let me know about the party."

I don't even know if Joe heard him because he walked away and out the door so fast.

"So that is Joe Morelli?"

"Yup."

"Okay so let's go back a few steps, you are here working for Rangeman now?"

"I wanted a change and Ric offered me one so here I am. But, I am not her partner."

"Hey, what's wrong with being my partner?"

Eddie and Jase were just sitting there laughing and I both shot them a useless death glare.

"Tank is my partner, Ranger is now with Lester and the Ass next to you is partnered with Bobby. He is with me today helping with my skips."

"Sounds like fun, but what about everything else?"

"I told Ranger and the guys everything and I found out that Ranger, Tank, Lester and Bobby were on the team to get us out of Columbia. Ranger is the one who actually got me out."

"Small world."

"Can you stay for lunch or do you have to get back to work?"

"I gotta go back, Joe wanted to meet here and go over some plans for his party on Saturday night."

"Party for what?"

"I think he was trying to tell you about it when we came over here. He got a call and something big has come up and they need him to go down to DC by next Monday. We are throwing him a going away party on Saturday night."

I had already been thinking of the weekend and started planning. This was going to be a weekend just for Ric and I. I had already checked with Tank and had him clear Ric's schedule and I rented the Presidential suite at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia and made us reservations at the Fountain restaurant located at the Four Seasons.

"Well I already know I won't be able to make it."

"Oh really, anything special going on for the weekend?"

"Yes Jase as a matter of fact I do have plans and keep your mouth shut, it is going to be a surprise."

"Okay you two, I have to get back to the station. Jase we are going to have to catch up soon."

"Sounds good Eddie."

"So little sister, what do you have planned for the weekend?"

"That is none of your business, now let's eat this pizza and get some work done. I have some more planning to do."

"I thought your break up with Joe went good, he kind of acted jealous with you sitting here with me."

"It did but I guess he still worries about me, let's not talk about him anymore."

We finished our lunch and caught my three skips in under three hours. The rest of the week seemed to drag on, I just wanted the weekend to get here so I could be alone with Ric and not have any interruptions. I talked to Joe and explained to him that Jase is an old friend and Eddie had met him a few times when we were younger, and I told him that I wouldn't be able to make it to his party on Saturday. Between his schedule and mine our goodbyes were said over the phone. I found some time in between training to get to the mall and pick up a new dress and some lingerie to wear for the weekend. I had everything in my apartment packed and ready to go. Tank was picking me up at 4:00 to drive me into Philadelphia and drop me at the Four Seasons. I had Ella help me with Ric's clothes and Tank was bringing those with him. I left a note with the guys in the control to give to Ric as soon as he got in the building.

Ranger's POV

It has been a long week and all I want to do is grab Steph and take her to my house for the weekend. We could both use a little rest and relaxation. I have been trying to call her on her cell but she is not answering. Lester had called and told me that she left something for me in the control room and I couldn't seem to get there fast enough. I pulled into the garage and went directly to the control room, anxious to see what my Babe had left for me. Lester handed me the note as soon as the elevator doors opened, he then pushed me back in and sent to the 7th floor. I waited until I was in the apartment to read the note.

Ric

There is something for you to wear in the bedroom, put it on and when you are ready there will be someone waiting for you downstairs to bring you to me.

Don't be late

Love

Babe

I couldn't wait to see what she had in store for me so I hurried in the shower and put on the suit she had left for me. I had a gift that I wanted to give to Steph, so I went into the safe and put it in my pocket. I went downstairs and sure enough there had been a black limo waiting for me. What the hell is she up to I thought with a smile on my face.

"Good evening Mr. Manoso, I was instructed to bring you directly to Ms. Plum. If you are ready we can leave now."

With traffic it took a little over an hour and I was surprised when we stopped at the Four Seasons hotel and it was now 7:15.

"I was instructed to give you this when we arrived."

Ric

Hopefully you are outside, go into the Fountain Restaurant and I will be waiting for you.

Love

Babe

I went in to the restaurant and was guided to a table where my Babe sat. She looked amazing.

"I see you found me." She had a smile on her face that lit up the place.

Steph POV

I saw him walk in and my jaw dropped, he looked even better than I thought he would.

"I see you found me."

"Babe. So what prompted this evening?"

"Well, I thought we could both do with some downtime after everything that has been going on and I thought this would be perfect. I have a room upstairs for the weekend." Ric's eyes instantly turned black.

"You really planned this out."

"Yes I did, I wanted to do something nice for you. What good is having money if you can't spend it." He gave me a raised eyebrow for that remark. "Any money I had made from doing missions was put into investments. My uncle Jack has overseen those investments for me, and there is quite a bit of money there. When I decided to start over I wanted nothing to do with the money, now that the truth is out I figured I deserve to spend some of it."

Our server had some over and brought us a wine list, Ric had picked out a fabulous Chardonnay. Dinner was amazing, Ric ordered Asian broiled red snapper fillet and I had the butter poached Maine lobster. I tried to keep my moans to a minimum but it was hard especially when dessert came, I had ordered a Dark chocolate raspberry mousse and it was to die for. We had talked throughout the meal and it was nice to know that it was just the two of us and no one from the Burg looking over our shoulders.

TBC