Disclaimer: If you recognize the character as a J.E. character, they are hers. The original characters are mine and I take full credit for them. They are part of my imagination.

Spoiler Alert: I could use anything from the 18 books that are out.

Special thanks to Deanna - AKA RampsAngl for helping me to remember my two trips to Seattle and tweaking my facts so they are more accurate. I appreciate all the assistance and suggestions you gave me on these chapters that take place in Seattle.

I would like to thank all of you who have reviewed. I try to respond to every review, but there have been some guest reviews as well as those who have PMing turned off. I want to let you know that I read all the reviews and appreciate all of them.

Chapter37: A Distraction Revealed

Stephanie's POV:

I gave a frustrated sigh and threw the covers back. No matter what I tried I couldn't get to sleep. I couldn't get away from the fear I felt when we were locked below deck. I also couldn't help but want Rand beside me. He had held me and helped me to feel safe. My feelings for him had changed considerably since our first meeting at the Space Needle. I let my mind take over and remember all of the other meetings we'd had. I couldn't help but smile as I remembered going over the Falls with my hand wrapped around his belt, and kneeing him in the groin when he irritated me, among others. For some reason when the knock sounded at the door I wasn't surprised. I slipped out of bed and didn't even think about slipping into a robe before going to the door and opening it. I was wearing a tank top and short boy boxer pajamas. My hair was down and probably a mess from all the tossing and turning I had been doing.

I opened the door and Rand stood there. His eyes darkened with desire as he looked at me. I felt an answering desire. I stepped back so he could enter and he took the few steps forward before closing the door and lifting me into his arms. His mouth came down on mine as he carried me towards the bedroom. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on. For a guy with a cast on his hand Rand wasted no time in undressing me and getting rid of his own clothes. His mouth devoured mine before moving south. He kissed every inch of my overheated body and paid special attention to my doodah. My hands clenched in his hair as I screamed with my climax. My breathing hadn't even returned to normal when that luscious mouth of his started all over again. This time he entered me and thrust to the hilt, starting a rhythm where I could only hold on tight and cling to him as he rode us to the Promised Land.

We finally slept when we were too exhausted to do anything else. Throughout the rest of the night we took turns waking each other and letting our passion rule over and over again. It was in the early hours of the morning when we woke together that instead of letting passion rule, we took a well-deserved break to talk. Rand held me in his arms as we talked, and I lay there feeling as if all were right in the world and I could stay like this forever. Rand caressed my arm and we discussed topics that before had been taboo. Rand asked how I felt about children and I asked him how he felt about a working wife. I found he was okay with his wife working and it didn't matter if she couldn't cook because he loved cooking, not only that but he was a gourmet cook.

I joked that at least I'd never have to worry about not getting desserts. Rand kissed me gently and said he would make all the desserts I would ever want. We ended the conversation with another round of lovemaking. We were lying together as our breathing and heart rates returned to normal and I asked him, "When do you have to go back to Seattle?"

Rand caressed my cheek, "I'm not going back to Seattle Sweetness. I'm going to ask for a transfer to the local office. If its not approved, then I'll look for a different job. The only reason I really took the job in the first place was it paid well and I wanted Casey to have everything I could give him."

I looked up at him again, "If you could be anything you wanted, what would you be?"

Rand grinned, "What do I want to be when I grow up?"

I returned his grin with one of my own. "Yeah. What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Rand's eyes narrowed and he kissed my forehead. "I worked construction when I first got out of the service and took custody of Casey. I've always wanted to create homes."

My eyes opened wide, "Is that why Casey became an architect?"

Rand shrugged, "I don't know. I never pushed it on him. But maybe he went into it because I gave up my dream to raise him. I would never change the past. I'd do everything in my power to keep Casey with me. I have no regrets."

"Have you thought about going back to school and getting a degree in architecture?"

Rand shrugged, "I'm 35 years old. I don't know."

I nodded, "Yes, but you have the experience of working construction. Casey is taken care of, he and Hector are a happy couple. Besides, if you need help with your homework I'm sure Casey would help you."

Rand smiled, "Maybe. Its something to think about."

I snuggled closer to him and put my hand on his neck. He ran his uninjured hand down my arm. "I'm glad you're staying around."

"There's no reason left for me to go back to Seattle. My family is here and so is the woman I have fallen in love with."

I felt the tears burn the back of my eyes. I looked at Rand with all that I was feeling and whispered, "I am so in love with you. It scares me how much I love you."

Rand pulled me closer, "Why does it scare you Sweetness?"

"Because, I've never had good luck with relationships. I told you about Dickie, and Morelli, and then there is Ranger."

Rand's hand tunneled into my hair, "The fault lies with them. Dickie was an ass who obviously has no taste if he wanted that whore instead of you. Morelli , don't get me started on Morelli. As for Ranger, I am just grateful that the only thing he can offer you is friendship because otherwise I would have never met you."

"Does it bother you that Ranger and I are still friends?"

Rand shrugged, "To tell you the truth I thought it would, but it doesn't. I trust you. I also know that Ranger wouldn't intentionally hurt you. He can't give you what you need so he's offering you friendship. I think you are over him and accept his friendship as all he can give."

"The rest of the guys are just friends too."

Rand nodded. "I know Sweetness. Like I said, I trust you."

"I'm glad I was wrong about Heather. I kind of like her now that she and Ram are a couple."

Rand laughed, "I'm glad you were wrong about Heather too. I've always thought of her as a friend and if she had really been trying to sabotage me it would have hurt."

"So…what are we going to tell my mom?"

"How about if we tell her we are a couple and we are exploring a relationship. When it becomes more we will let her know."

I smiled, "When, not if?"

Rand kissed me, "When."

That was the last of the conversation as Rand's mouth covered mine and our passion once again took over. When the alarm sounded sometime later, I moved in Rand's arms to turn it off. When I turned back he was staring at me with a smile on his face. I started quivering with desire, not believing I was still craving more after the night we had spent loving each other. It was different with Rand than anyone else. My only explanation was we were both putting love into the equation. So after a very fulfilling wake up session we hit the shower and dressed for the day. Rand fixed us a Bacon, egg, cheese, and black olive omelet with toast.

I moaned at the first sip of coffee. "This is better than Casey's."

"I would hope so. I'm the one who taught him how to make it."

Once we had finished our breakfast, we cleared the table and headed up to the 5th floor. Technically this was a bonds day but I was too sore to go chasing any skips. Once we stepped out of the elevator I headed for my desk. Rand kissed my cheek and then headed into Ranger's office. As I got busy with the searches, I couldn't help but feel as if something was wrong. We were missing something with the Stewarts, and while I no longer felt Heather was on the wrong side, there was something we were overlooking. I was just finishing up my last search when an email came in. I clicked on it and couldn't help the scream that came out of my mouth.

In less than 10 seconds I was surrounded by Ranger, Rand and several Merry Men. I turned blindly and went into Rand's arms. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close as the guys talked about finding where the email came from and who sent it. Hector went to work on my computer and in seconds he had the answer. I felt like the other shoe had finally dropped. Apparently we weren't done with Marlow yet as the email generated from him. The fact he made it so easy for us to trace it back to him meant he was taunting us, and that he felt confident with his chances.

We moved to the conference room to discuss our game plan. I knew what was coming before Ranger even said anything. He wanted me inside the building until Marlow was once again in jail. I nodded and let him know I'd try. Towards the end, Ram came in with Heather by his side. He had a grim look on his face. He let us know that Heather had just been informed the Stewarts were middlemen and not the threat they were thought to be. With their death, it was doubtful we'd find the real culprit at the head of the organization.

I bit my lip and hesitated, but I was positive I was right. "Marlow is behind it all. He said he knew who I was. Its like he knew I would come in to distract him and bring him out. He wanted to be caught so he would have an alibi when the Stewarts brought in the guns. But more than that…I think they are bringing in drugs along with the guns. Marlow is making a run at two very powerful individuals. I think he's using me as a distraction to keep you guys out of the mix. If you guys think he's after me, you attention will be on protecting me."

Rand's eyes narrowed, "It makes sense. There was the white powdery substance on the boat. I wouldn't be surprised if it was heroin."

Heather nodded. "So how do we play it to put him off?"

Hector's eyes narrowed, "Protect Stephanie and lay trap."

I noticed that Ranger, Rand and all the others were wearing similar smiles. Looks like Marlow had bitten off more than he could chew when he pulled the tiger's tail. Stupid fool didn't realize the tigers were bound together with a common goal. He may have pulled one tail, but it set about a chain reaction that pitted him against an army of tigers all with the same agenda.

I know, I'm late with posting. Sorry. I've been working on Family Ties. I only have 2 more chapters of that story yet to go and plan to finish it up Friday. I will try to get another chapter of Heartbreak for you on Friday as well.