Chapter 49
RPOV
No matter how well Steph tried to put on a brave front I knew she was as nervous as hell. She spent ages trying to decide what to wear and how to present herself and in the end wore a dark blue skirt and matching jacket. Her hair was in a braid down the back of her head.
"You look beautiful Babe, natural with a hint of innocence"
"Is that the image I want?"
"Yes, it's exactly right"
She hardly touched any food and only drank her coffee so I filled a dish with cut fruit for her to snack on as we travelled to Rangeman. By the time we arrived it was all gone and she seemed to have calmed a little bit. We were later in than usual because I didn't want her hanging around so as we entered my office I could hear Sam coming down the corridor.
"Ranger where do you want me?"
"Here in my office"
"Babe this is Sam, Sam Stephanie"
I saw her size him up and then extend her hand to him, Sam being Sam used her hand to pull her into a hug and to kiss her cheeks.
"You are nothing like I expected"
"What did you expect?"
I saw her pull her shoulders back as if daring him to say something detrimental about her.
"I expected some Rambette having heard all of the stories about you, but you're, you are quite beautiful and certainly extraordinary"
I watched as Steph blushed and looked down to the floor while Sam kept hold of her hands.
"So Ranger when were you going to tell the family?"
I looked at him trying to work out what the hell he was talking about and then realized he was looking at the ring on Steph's finger. Typical, none of the men here at Rangeman had even noticed and here was Sam not five minutes in the building meeting Steph for the first time and he'd already cottoned on.
"When we're ready to, so please don't spoil the surprise by telling anyone, especially not Celia"
"Not my place to say anything. Steph shall we go through some of the history so I know what to expect?"
I left the two of them in my office and went through to Tank's office, we still needed to arrange a core group meeting but I wasn't sure how far he'd got with any ideas for restructuring the Trenton office.
"Tank?"
"Sorry Ranger, how's it going?"
"Good, the meetings with clients is up to date and Hector and his team are now taking over with schematics and installation"
"Well all the information for the quarterly reviews is done and I've been giving Santos more free range with searches and skips, he seems to have taken Hal under his wing, so maybe this restructuring might evolve naturally"
"What about your work?"
"With Vince been laid up and not in the field he's been helping me out. You need to look at your role Ranger, who could do the client meetings? Maybe start to take them with you"
"I see where you're going, maybe I'll get Ram to attend some meetings, he's amiable and can talk with people, he can put them at ease yet knows the job inside out"
"How's Little Girl doing?"
"She seems more herself, I think she's found Hugo"
"That wouldn't surprise me, I don't know how she does it. What you going to do?"
"Some surveillance to start with"
"You need me to help?"
"No, I got it covered, and no I won't be messing up your rotas"
"I can always add onto the rota"
"No it's covered"
For some reason I didn't want to tell Tank about Stix coming down to Trenton and I didn't know why. I met Steph and Sam as they were leaving to go and led Steph into the lift whilst Sam took the stairs. I was holding her from behind her back to my chest.
"Ranger what's wrong?"
"Nothing"
"Yes there is, you're tense"
"Tank, he just seems different that's all"
"He's got a girlfriend, maybe they're serious"
How the hell did she know that, had he said something to her?
"He tell you?"
"Nah, I can smell perfume on him sometimes and he's making an effort with his appearance, you know, hair cut and he finishes on time and disappears"
Maybe that was why he wanted to look at delegating manager roles, maybe he had the right idea it would certainly give me more time with my Babe. As it was I had another full day scheduled for meeting with clients. Sam was waiting as the lift doors opened by his car, as we approached I turned her into me and gave her a goodbye kiss that would take her mind off the impending meeting.
"Find me when you get back and be careful"
She turned and disappeared with Sam, I just hoped she was going to be okay with him and that there was nothing said to upset her. I went back up the stairs to five and straight into Tank's office, he was busy on his computer but looked up as I went in.
"Something up Ranger?"
"No, I was wondering who the new woman in your life was"
"Err, why would you say that?"
"Tell tale signs"
"Well, I, err, she's someone I met at the veterinary center where I take my cats to"
"So it's serious then?"
"Yeah, I think it is"
"That why you wanted to make some changes?"
He looked slightly embarrassed if that was possible for someone like Tank and I had to admit that I hadn't seen this side of him since we were teenagers.
"With you being away I think I ended up making my whole life revolve around Rangeman, don't get me wrong, that's what I wanted, what I worked for, but then when I met Naida I really wanted to get to know her but there was always work interfering, long hours, being called in for an emergency and then I think I started to question my own mortality. Hell Ranger we're not getting any younger and maybe I want a life beyond Rangeman"
"I'm pleased you told me how you were feeling, I was beginning to get worried about you, and yes I can see where you're coming from, maybe it is time to step back and let the younger men take more responsibility"
"You and Little Girl okay?"
"More than okay"
"Good, I worry about her, she's seen too much and been hurt too much"
"I know, and maybe once this case is closed I can talk her into taking a relaxing break and then re evaluate what our lives together should look like"
"I'm glad you've finally seen what was in front of you all these years"
"I saw, I just didn't think I could have it"
"Well I have a date tonight so go away so I can get finished up"
I left his office with a smile on my face feeling so relieved having spoken with Tank, now to get Ram involved in some of these meetings.
