Acceptance- Part 14
This chapter is kind of a transition. Plus, I am now into Vince. Please leave feedback, it helps prevent writers block.
Steph's POV
I love my new apartment- or is it technically a duplex? Whatever it is- It is perfect- and more reinforced than Fort Knox. The way the guys have beefed up the security, I believe this duplex could withstand anything short of a nuclear explosion. They had even built me a "panic room" in case anyone got past the motion sensor lights, reinforced doors and sensitive alarm and camera systems.
It provides me with some privacy, but in some ways is like I never left Rangeman. I still have a tracker in my car and in my purse. They still monitor the security cameras twenty-four seven, and at least two SUVs come running whenever there is the slightest triggering of the motion sensor lights. This happened twice already, when two huge SUVs screeched into the driveway and Lester and Bobby men pile out- looking like SWAT , guns drawn and aimed at the intruder- the neighbor's dog that wandered into my drive and set off the motion detectors. I am pretty sure that one of the guys watches from the fifth floor as my car leaves Rangeman and travels the 2 ½ blocks to my duplex.
Today, I woke up and for the first time in ages, I felt good, better than I had in a long time. I fed Rex, and got dressed in my Rangeman uniform and had my favorite- donuts for breakfast. Since I was trying to get into shape to get back into the field, I decided to walk to work. Ok, so walking 2 ½ blocks isn't exactly primo cardio training, but it was better than driving. I got to Rangeman and into the elevator . It was the first time since Ranger and I had broken up that I didn't think of Ranger when I saw the elevator button for the seventh floor.
I got to the fifth floor and hear deep male laughter as soon as the door opened. I stepped off the elevator and saw a bunch of the guys huddled around a computer. They sobered up abruptly and took whatever it was off the computer as soon as the doors open. I was afraid to ask what they didn't want me to see.
" Hey, sweetie, you look great!" Bobby came up and gave me a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. I beamed at him and followed him across the room to my cubicle as four other pairs of eyes followed my every movement. I was pretty sure Lester and Ram were checking out my ass. I didn't see Vince though. I had a fleeting sense of disappointment that he wasn't there. I was still thinking about that kiss we'd shared. It felt good, but I didn't want to rush anything. I wondered why he wasn't here- this was his usual shift. Then I remembered he told me he was going on a Reserves mission for a week or so. He didn't tell me where and I didn't ask.
I was just signing in to my computer to process yet another pile of searches when Tank came into the room to hand out assignments. It was amazing how the guys, even though they were civilians now, seemed to snap to attention with military precision when he walked into the room. " Listen up men, " he looked briefly at me, " and Steph. He handed out assignments, giving the best, juiciest out first. I couldn't help but laugh as I watched the guys reactions to the assignments they got. Hal seemed thrilled to be out in the field, and Ram was bummed about doing monitor duty.
"Bobby, you'll be with Steph." He looked at me and smiled. Bobby had a nice smile. And he was sweet. And of course, like all Rangemen, he was seriously built and hot. He and I were to track down one of my low level skips. Bobby was tough and serious,always polite and sweet, but I felt like he was always analyzing everything I did. Bobby was one of those guys, Ranger and Vince being the others, with whom I felt totally and completely safe. I felt like Bobby could handle anything-he could handle shooting stuff and medic stuff. I didn't really know much about his background. He was serious and silent. I actually hadn't worked with him much, but I liked him. Not as much as being with Vince, though. I was convinced that Vince could handle anything- like he could diffuse a nuclear bomb with a bobby pin and gum wrapper or something. Like a buffer, way hotter MacGyver.
I was glad to be back at work, but I still couldn't help but feel that I was constantly being watched. Like they had assigned Bobby to "babysit" me. The skip we were getting was low level, Bobby probably could get him by himself, but I couldn't complain. At least they were letting me out of the office again. It was the first step, I guess, to being allowed to be in a major field operation again.
Vince's POV
I had been on my mission for the last week. Part of me missed the excitement, the absolute readiness of active duty combat missions. The sniper's absolute observation of every object in his environment, absolute readiness for every situation. But I had done two active duty tours in a war zone, and when my deployment was up, I didn't sign up for another four. Now I was in a reserve group of former Special Forces soldiers who were highly trained and skilled, but no longer on constant active duty. It wasn't really the traditional reserves, but it wasn't active duty, either. It was the best of both worlds. I could still be a sniper- one of the best, but not have the hassle of all the active military stuff. That way I could work at Rangeman .
I lined the target up in the site of the Leopold scope of my long range light sniper rifle. As my hands adjusted the scope, my thoughts wandered beyond my mission, to Rangeman. In particular to Steph. I thought of the kiss we had shared in her new apartment just before I left for this mission. It took me totally by surprise, and that is not easy to do. I thought Steph was still into Ranger, but maybe she is getting over him.
Still, I am not sure how appropriate it would be. I mean, he's my boss, even if I am pissed at him for being such an asshole. Shit, he had her and threw her away so fuck what he thinks. But I don't want to be a Ranger rebound or temporary replacement. And who knows, she may be into one of the other guys, too. Not like she doesn't have a bunch of choices. Not a guy at Rangeman would turn her down. Except me, because I , apparently am a moron. If she has sex with me, I want it t be because she wants to have sex with Vince Sonterra, not because Ranger isn't available and I'll do. She needs to get over Ranger before she gets into someone else.
I lay flattened out on the roof of a building, my target within my sites, and my mind miles away. What the hell was the matter with me? I was acting like a fucking chick. I am usually very disciplined. I have that remarkable guy trait of compartmentalization- focusing only on that I am doing and putting all other thoughts out of my head. So why , while I saw on a mission, prepared to take out my target, waiting , completely still, for the go order, was I thinking about kissing Steph?
"Sniper one- fire." I gently squeezed the trigger and smiled as my target blew up. We guys are so fucking simple- we love anything that explodes. Boobs and bombs are the two things sure to get a guys attention. I felt my dick get hard as I imagined hat Steph's breasts looked like. I shook my head to try to get myself back focused on the job. "Sniper one. Target eliminated." I rose from my prone position and began to disassemble my rifle. I would be back in Trenton tomorrow and I was glad. I knew Steph was going out for low level skips and I knew the guys, Bobby in particular , would look out for her. When I got home, well, we'd see what happened.