Chapter 29—Shorty's
Wednesday, April 14 (still)
Author's Note: It's been a long day for Ranger. This day started at the crack of dawn with Ranger and his men installing the Center's new security system. Ranger shared breakfast with Steph. While listening to her rave about the skydiving experience she had the day before, Ranger made his mind up to make Stephanie his. Then Michael appeared. Ranger realized he had serious competition in Michael and left to plan his strategy, which included tonight's distraction and takedown of a dangerous skip. His plans for an intimate dinner with Stephanie thwarted when Bobby suggested they celebrate at Shorty's, Ranger is a bit nonplussed.
Stephanie's POV
Ranger reached in and pulled me out of the BMW by my wrist. We stood there looking at each other and I thought, maybe…maybe he would kiss me, but, to my disappointment, one of those ubiquitous black SUVs pulled up next to us and Vince jumped out.
In my mind, we were still alone and I twined my fingers through Ranger's long silky hair and pulled his head down so I could press my lips against those full pouty (poetic license) lips of his and kiss him senseless. And that was just the start of my fantasy.
In reality, Ranger dropped my wrist and, with his hand on the small of my back, guided me to the back door of one of the dilapidated shops. Vince tagged along behind us. Ranger opened the door and led me through a dark hallway into a bustling kitchen smelling of wonderfully yeasty bread, pepperoni, and spicy Italian sausage.
A swinging door, obviously leading out into the restaurant proper, burst inward and a short dark-haired man bustled in, his arms loaded with empty trays. "Mañoso, you bastard. How dare you show your face in my kitchen after what happened the last time." I assumed this was Shorty. Ranger held up one hand in a conciliatory gesture.
The little man dropped the trays on a counter and picked up a huge serrated knife. I stepped back bumping into Ranger's hard chest. To steady me, he put his hands firmly on my hips, his fingers splayed across my stomach and I flushed to my roots.
One of the other guys in the kitchen handed Shorty a loaf of crusty bread fresh from the oven. Shorty grabbed a wooden board and placed the bread and knife on it and shoved it at Ranger. "Go. Eat. Drink. Your pizza will be out in a few minutes."
He pushed Ranger through the swinging door and gave Vince and me a dismissive glance before pounding his fists into a large ball of dough.
The main section of the restaurant was decorated in dark colors and the lighting was exceedingly dim. I could barely see anything after coming from the brightly lit kitchen, but Ranger kept walking, pulling me after him.
Caesar and Lester were drinking beer at one of the large corner tables. They must have taken a short cut or they both had lead feet. Vince took a seat next to them. Ranger set the bread down on the table and guided me into the back booth. He slid in beside me.
I glanced around at the other patrons. Ranger and I were grossly overdressed, but no one was even looking at us. This was definitely a place people kept to themselves.
A busty waitress in a low cut top brought over a pitcher of beer and set down frosted mugs in front of us. Lester threw an arm around her waist and whispered something to her. She laughed, but her eyes remained fixed on Ranger. I noticed her eyes were green, the same color as my catty thoughts when the waitress leaned over to say something to Ranger. As I watched her boobs threatened to spill over her blouse, I knew that was one area I could never compete in. Ranger was polite, but gave her no smile, no encouragement. She left in a huff. Inordinately pleased with his reaction, I put my hand over my mouth to cover my Cheshire grin.
All heads turned when a fight broke out between two of the more rowdy patrons at a booth across the room, but it was quickly stopped by a big burly man in a black t-shirt and black Levi's who'd been leaning against the bar.
So, this was RangeMan's equivalent of the TPD's Pino's Pizza Palace? The only way a cop would show his face in here was if he and two dozen of his fellow officers were raiding the place.
Vince leaned over to me, "Well, Steph, how'd you like your first distraction?"
Not sure how I truly felt yet, I said, "I had no idea what to expect, Vince, but it was fun, except when the Italian Stallion wanted a 'rubdown' right in the club. Ugh! The main thing is the skip was arrested and no one got hurt." I'd decided to ignore the part with the gun to my head.
Caesar chimed in, "I thought that drunk was going to ruin it when he wanted to dance with you and we'd have to blow our cover. Good thing Petrucci fancied himself a tough guy and took care of it by himself, but the commotion he caused delayed us getting out of there. The bouncers wanted to come after Petrucci, but we calmed them down."
Lester actually looked disappointed, "Dang, Caesar, just when it starts to get interesting, someone 'calms' things down. I keep hoping for a knock down, drag out barroom brawl." Lester looked wistfully across the room at the now quietly talking men sitting in the booth. The guys laughed at Lester's desire for a fist fight, but I was glad Lester hadn't got his wish, either time.
Shorty himself brought two large pizzas to our table and Ranger introduced me to the taciturn chef. I got a grunt and a head nod and then he turned to the guys, commanding, "Eat." Leaning across the table, he waggled his finger in Les' face, "No brawling," he admonished as he bustled back into the kitchen. Lester didn't look chastened.
All talking ceased for a minute as we dug in to the hot pizza. I hadn't had anything to eat since my picnic lunch with Michael, so I was ready to stuff my face. I wasn't expecting a slice of crusty, cheesy heaven. Baked in a brick-lined, wood-fired oven with fresh ingredients; this was hands down the best pizza I'd ever had, even if it had vegetables on it. I moaned in ecstasy with every bite I took.
As I reached for my second slice, I noticed the guys were still silent and staring at me. "What?" I said, wiping my face with a napkin, thinking I must have pizza sauce all over my mouth and chin. Ranger glared at them and they fell back to eating keeping their faces down. What I'd miss?
Tank and Bobby joined us before all the pizza was gone and the banter picked back up. With his mouth full of pizza, Lester blurted out, "Steph, how did you get to be our 'distraction' girl tonight? This is a far cry from your job at the Veteran's Center and it's dangerous as well. All the time we've spent together, you've never mentioned any of this."
His eyes darted to Ranger, a quizzical look on his face. Ranger turned to look at me, the corners of his mouth turning down slightly. He didn't look pleased, but I had no idea why he was upset.
I knew I couldn't keep my job a secret from my friends any longer. I ignored Ranger and told them how I became a bounty hunter for my cousin's company, but had been having a hard time making ends meet on the low bond skips I was handling, so I took the part-time job at the Center.
When I explained Ranger had been 'mentoring' me in bounty hunting techniques for the past eight months, all but Vince stared at Ranger. They obviously were surprised at that piece of information. Ranger just sat back, expressionless, drinking his beer.
Lester wouldn't let it slide, "So, Ranger, you've been mentoring our Steph in how to be a badass bounty hunter? I bet you insisted on working really close with her? How selfless of you." Les locked eyes with Ranger, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I imagine that includes all-night stakeouts with just the two of you, practicing frisking techniques, exploring various uses for handcuffs…?" "That's enough, Santos," Ranger spat out.
Les kept pushing, "Was tonight just another lesson? Did you have to use Steph as bait for a dangerous scumbag like Petrucci? What's next…?" Ranger leaned forward, palms pushing down on the table.
Body tense, voice low and dangerous, Ranger uttered, "If you want to continue this discussion, Santos, let's take it outside."
I needed to jump in and diffuse the tension that was rapidly building. "Stop it, both of you. I chose this job. I asked Ranger to teach me what was required to be a bounty hunter and he's always been there when I needed help." I was looking directly at Lester, but I put my hand on Ranger's arm, trying to soothe both men's anger. "I jumped at the chance to do tonight's distraction. Someone has to do this job and I'm proud to do it." Hoping to lighten the mood, I looked pointedly at the other guys, "I'd love to hear about some of your experiences. Maybe I can pick up some pointers."
My Merry Men took their cue from my request and conversation turned to other subjects. Ranger and Lester remained silent, but the tension eased considerably. I listened as the guys talked and told funny stories about some of the skips they'd brought in. I studiously avoided joining in. I had lots of stories, but I didn't think they were very funny.
When Caesar was telling us about one of his favorite arson cases he mentioned the fiasco with Stiva's funeral home burning down. Turning a surprised look to me, he asked, "You aren't the one and only Bombshell Bounty Hunter the press keeps hyping, are you, Steph?"
Mortified, I nodded and hung my head, waiting for the jabs and jokes to start. Instead, the guys insisted on high-fiving me and fought over who'd buy my next beer, calling me fearless and a celebrity. I was starting to feel pretty good when Ranger said he wouldn't call me fearless, but I was certainly no chicken. I kicked him under the table. That story didn't need to be told tonight.
Rubbing his bruised shin, Ranger shot me a lopsided grin and I couldn't help smiling back at him, remembering my most recent and smelly debacle. He settled his arm over my shoulders and lightly stroked my arm. It was an intimate gesture, not overtly sexual, but not the purely friendly gesture one of my Merry Men would do, either.
I relaxed and enjoyed myself, eating a few too many slices and drinking a bit too much beer. On the other hand, Ranger hardly touched his beer. He was conspicuously quiet the rest of the evening, but he seemed to enjoy himself, though with Ranger it was hard to tell.
After a couple of hours, I was starting to nod off. Ranger nudged me and we excused ourselves despite the guys' protests that the night was still early. I must be getting old. Two in the morning on a weeknight was way past my bedtime.
Ranger again held my door for me. We were both quiet on the drive to the Center. That's a laugh. I fell asleep before we left the parking lot.
Ranger's POV
Stephanie was great tonight. The way she looked in that sexy black dress and those heels nearly brought me to my knees. She'd left her hair curly and falling around her face and shoulders just the way I liked it. Too much makeup, but perfect for the role she was playing. If I hadn't set up the distraction for tonight, we would have never left her cottage. I hated to share her with anyone.
I couldn't resist attaching the wireless mic to her, something I'd normally let the woman do herself. I had too much fun seeing how far I could push her and, of course, any chance I could get close to her, I wasn't about to pass up. I nearly laughed out loud at her 'sliding into second base' comment. Even under stress, Steph retained her sense of humor.
She played her role perfectly. She had Petrucci eating out of her hand. I imagined every guy in the club couldn't take his eyes off her. Didn't surprise me there was almost a fight over her. Have to factor that in for the next distraction. And there will be another RangeMan job for Stephanie. If she only knew her own potential.
I wanted to be the one to help her realize her natural talents and help her develop her other skills. It was intoxicating to see her face light up and her body vibrate with pleasure when she finally acknowledged her successes. There was no ego in her, only awakening joy. I couldn't get enough of her.
But this evening did not go the way I'd planned it. Damn Bobby for suggesting Shorty's.
I'd made private reservations at a little restaurant in east Trenton where Steph and I could have had a quiet romantic dinner and gotten to know each other on a personal level. It was an intimate place where I could indulge my need to touch her and kiss her. I'd intended to tell her how I felt about her, away from work and, dammit, away from my men.
What was all that about…with my men and Stephanie? How could I've not known they all knew each other?
It seemed Tank, Bobby and Lester all knew Steph…and they were very friendly, I'd say way too friendly, with her. All of them felt free to hug and kiss her, and Bobby…he had his hands all over her stomach. If he'd gone any lower, I'd have decked him. It was obvious they were all smitten with her. What was that Santos had said? 'All the time we've spent together…' Even Vince and Caesar seemed a little too familiar with her for just meeting her the other day.
They had all these private little jokes with her. Grandma Mazur? Robin Hood? And Steph's self defense moves on Petrucci? I couldn't get her to carry a gun or exercise, but Santos could get her to learn how to defend herself?
Dios, Santos! If he wasn't family, I'd have killed him tonight. Insinuating my teaching Steph was just a ploy to get into her pants; that I'd take advantage of her trust in me. Now I've fallen in love with her and, of course I want in her pants. But I want to be in her heart first. It's beginning to look like I'm going to have to fight my own men just to get close to Stephanie. They are obviously protective of her; I can't fault them for that. One thing's for sure, I'll definitely 'follow up' with Santos the next time we work out on the mats. No one, not even my cousin, can get away with attacking me like that, and especially not in front of Stephanie!
These men are my brothers and I trust them with my life, but I'll be damned if I'll share my woman with them. There'll be no more touching, no more hugging and definitely no more kissing my woman from them. Let them get their own Babe!
And she was so comfortable with them. As Army Rangers and now at RangeMan we'd cultivated intimidating personas as part of our jobs. Steph just ignored it and treated my men like they were her best friends. The way she clung to Tank after Petrucci was subdued…it should have been me.
When did my partners start going out to the Veteran's Center? I'd been donating to the Center for over a year now, but I'd never heard Tank or the other guys mention the place. I guess that's what happens when men only talk about work. Tonight, I found out Lester's teaching self-defense, Bobby's holding monthly clinics and Tank seems to be in the middle of Steph's Center job as well.
What else wasn't I aware of? Fuck! I'd have to do some digging into this. I hated surprises!
I'd heard Steph enjoying her food before, so it didn't surprise me when she started with her sexy utterances, but she had my men mesmerized. I couldn't blame them, but damn, I knew firsthand what was going through their heads. Being with Stephanie when she was enjoying a good meal was a sensual experience for any red-blooded man. Part of Steph's charm I was going to have to get used to. Certainly piqued my curiosity about what she'd be like in bed. My sexual fantasies just exploded into a full sensory experience.
I thought I might have some time to talk with Stephanie alone on the ride out to the Center, but she fell asleep as soon as I turned over the engine. She woke up just enough for me to get her out of the car and help her into her bed.
Taking off a woman's clothes is usually an enticing prelude to sex, but Stephanie started snoring softly as soon as her head hit the pillow.
I wanted her fully awake and responsive for any romantic encounter we might have. Although I admit I took my time gently removing the tape that held the mic under her perfect breast. Seeing her without a bra nearly broke my control. Patience, Mañoso.
It had been less than a day since I decided to make Stephanie mine. I could wait another day or two. Friday's benefit dance would provide an excellent opportunity for me to sweep Stephanie off her feet. I knew I could outdance Michael and any other potential suitor that might have his eye on her. It would be a good time to get to know her father a little better, too. I knew Steph was very close to him and being ex-military himself, we should have some things in common.
I tucked her in, kissed her forehead and reluctantly left. No, this evening didn't go at all as I'd planned. Not at all. A cold shower wouldn't cut it tonight.
