Author's Note: I am so sorry that it has been so long since I updated. It's been super busy here. And I haven't had a chance to do anything but work, eat and sleep. Hope you guys had a great Mother's Day! And Congrats to anyone who graduated! Thank you for the reviews!

Again, I am sorry this late. I hope I can update again soon, but super crazy busy around here and when I can talk about it.. I will. Promise! Enjoy!

NOT MINE!

Chapter Eight
Time Changes Everything

"Steph?"

I looked up into a pair of dark coal black eyes and frowned. I dreamed about those eyes last night and many times before, but somehow they were different. I felt connected to the eyes in my dreams and at the same time my soul hurt and I always woke up in tears after that dream. It was the same damn dream every time.

"Babe, you're a walking disaster." He said, walking towards me slowly like a predator with his prey. His black eyes lustful and full of sinful promises.

Rolling my eyes, I put a hand on my hip and give him a death glare. "Then why keep me around?" I asked.

He gave a barely there shrug, grabbing my hips and pulling me towards him. "Entertainment purposes."

I feel the hurt deep within me and I wiggle away from his gripping hands. "Well this has been fun, but I need to go." I turned towards the door but before I could get far strong arms encircled my waist and pulled me back against a hard and solid chest.

"Babe, you know I care about you."

I shrug. I honestly wasn't sure anymore. As his lips met my neck, I felt nothing but pain.

I don't know what the dream means or why it makes me cry for hours every morning, but I hated it. It's like a repeat in my mind, playing over and over again. I can never see his face but those eyes reach my soul. And those eyes are identical to the ones I'm looking into now.

I give Diego a small smile. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Steph, you okay? Are you remembering anything?"

I shook my head because I didn't want Diego knowing about this man or this dream. Part of me believes that while the man in my dreams probably existed somewhere, the eyes was just a coincidence. Just me projecting because I had been spending so much time with the man in front of me. And we had been spending a lot of time together. At first, it was about my past and trying to bring anything to focus but lately we have been just hanging out. Talking for hours about anything and everything. He even helped me with my course work for college. He had slowly become a staple in my life. Someone I enjoyed talking to and being with. But I was scared to open up about these dreams.

Diego cupped my cheeks in his palms and waited until my eyes met his. "I don't know what you're going through but I do understand that its hard for you, but Stephanie, honey I am here for you and I will always be here for you. No matter what you say to me or what you tell me, that will never change."

Tears welled up in my eyes and I nodded. His eyes went soft and his thumbs caressed my cheeks. "Steph." His voice soft and sweet, he pulled me into arms and I wept. For the first time since I woke up with no memory, I leaned on someone else, emotionally that is. I sobbed against Diego's chest. He held me firmly, one hand wrapped in my hair and the other rubbing my back, he whispered softly in Spanish. I didn't understand a word, but I didn't need to. His presence meant everything.

Ranger's POV

-Present Time

Ranger entered Tank's office, immediately sinking down into a chair and putting his head into his hands. He was out of fucking ideas. He was lost. And completely fucking clueless. He searched the damn van for months, going over it with a fine tooth comb and came up with shit. There was nothing in that van that gave him any clue has to where Stephanie was. She could be dead for all he knew. Fucking dead, hurt or in trouble and he didn't have a fucking clue.

"Nothing?" Tank asked, his voice soft. Afraid to alarm the bear that was teetering on his last thread of control.

Ranger raised in head slowly, meeting Tank's eyes. "I found expired food, dirty and clean clothes that was covered in dust just like the van itself and I found this." Ranger pulled a twenty dollar bill from his wallet and slid it towards Tank. Tanked picked it up and frowned.

"Love Frankie? Who the fuck is Frankie?" He wondered out loud.

Ranger didn't answer. Instead, he stood up, grabbed the twenty dollar bill from Tank's hands and walked out the door.

"Ranger?" Tank's voice stopped him, but he didn't turn around around.

"Maybe it's time you reach out to Miami RangeMan." Ranger visibly stiffened. "I know you don't want to, but I think we need their help. All hands on deck." Tank added.

Ranger gave a stiff nod and walked away.

Steph's POV

The knocking on my front door pulled me away from my homework. I was both relieved and a little annoyed. I had a lot of homework to do. I opened my front door and immediately smiled.

"Diego. What do I owe the pleasure?"

He smiled and I felt butterflies form in my stomach. Every since that moment we had where I cried like a baby in his arms, I felt closer to Diego. I also was insanely attracted to the man and loved anytime he did anything. But his smile was my favorite.

"We're going to the Carnival." He announced and my mouth dropped.

I shook my head. "Diego, I can't. I have homework and..."

He stepped forward and our bodies brushed against each other and I blushed. He was now in my personal space and I really liked it. His hand covered my mouth and I fought the urge to lick it.

"You have been doing homework nonstop, Honey. You need a break and I am going to provide that break. We are going to the carnival. So you can either go with what you're wearing..." He stopped briefly and his eyes traveled the length of my body and I found myself blushing harder. I was wearing a pair of pink pajama shorts with little hearts on them in red and a matching tank top. Both covered the important bits but a lot of skin was showing. "Which I personally have not a problem with what you're wearing but if you refuse to go get dressed, I'm putting you over my shoulder and carrying you out of here, dressed in that." His hand dropped once he finished talking.

I laughed and his smile brightened. "No need for all that. I'll be your willing kidnapped victim. Just let me go get dressed."

He nodded in agreement, his coal black eyes dancing with laughter. I practically ran to my bedroom. I quickly changed into a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a flowy blue top that went well with my eyes. I slid into a pair of white chucks. My hair was already pulled into a pony tail so I swiped on some lip gloss and some mascara.

I stepped back into the living room, grabbed my phone and purse and met Diego at the door. "I'm ready."

He whistled. "Looking good. I'll be the luckiest man there."

I smiled as we went out the door. That night at the carnival was the best night ever. Granted, I didn't have much to compare it to, but Diego made it special. We went on all the rides first, screaming at the top of our lungs on the roller coasters, there was two of them but we rode them multiple times. After all the crazy rides, we ate all the carnival food they offered. Funnel cakes, fried twinkles, lemonade shake-ups, chili cheese fries, walking tacos, nachos, deep fried Oreos, hot dogs and corn dogs, ice cream, and my favorite, caramel apples. After we practically made ourselves sick on food, we played games where Diego spent a small fortune trying to win me a stuffed hamster. He was the cutest little guy with the longest whiskers. The moment I saw him, I had to have him and Diego knew that.

I've had a lot of dreams about a hamster. I told Diego about them on more than one occasion and he remembered. I loved that he remembered that. He won me that little brown and white hamster. And I promptly named him Rex.

"Why Rex?" Diego asked me, laughing as I hugged the hamster to my chest.

I shrugged. "I don't know. It feels right."

Diego dropped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me in tight to his side. "Rex it is. Can't argue with logic."

I snuggled into Diego and hugged Rex. No you can't argue with logic.

"Where to now?" Diego asked as we walked.

"Mmmm... I want another caramel apple." I told him.

He pulled me in tighter and nuzzled my hair, laughing. "Another one! You've had two."

I gave him a pouty face and he caved instantly. "Another caramel apple it is."

He bought me half a dozen. One for now and five more for later. I think I fell in love a little right there. I ate my caramel apple, tucked against Diego's side and Rex in Diego's arms as we walked back to Diego's black BMW M4 sports car. When I asked Diego what type of car it was that's what he told me. I didn't know crap about cars but I did know it was pretty. He offered to let me drive it. I laughed and said no thanks. That thing was expensive and it looked it.

We reached his car just I finished my apple. I leaned against the side of his car and looked up at the stars. It was a clear sky and we were now far enough away from the carnival that the lights didn't interfere with the stars.

"It's so beautiful." I stated, looking up in awe.

"Yes you are." Diego replied. I wanted to make a joke about how corny that was but when I met Diego's eyes, that joke died on my tongue. The intensity in his eyes seared my soul.

"Steph, I really want to kiss you. It's causing me physical pain not to. But I don't want to cross boundaries with the working relationship we have and I do not want to break your trust, but..."

I interrupted him. "Shut up and kiss me." I felt the same.

His eyes widened but he didn't hesitate. One hand cupped the back of my neck and brought me to my toes. Our lips met and the world seized to exist. He was slow at first. Teasing kisses that tickled and enticed. His tongue came out and licked the seam of my lips and I opened my mouth, accepting all of him. He dived in and I moaned low in my throat. My hands gripped his shirt, holding him to me. He growled as his hand tightened on my neck. We kissed and kissed, our tongues dueling for control but giving and taking until we were both shaking and out of breath.

Diego slowed the kiss down before stopping. His forehead rested against mine and our breaths mingled and mixed as we caught our breaths. He was the first to break the silence. I was still in kissed stunned silence. "That was fucking incredible."

I smiled. "I think it could use some practice." I replied.

His eyes widened and he growled low in his throat. "I can do that." And his mouth met mine once again. We made out against his BMW M4 for a while enjoying the fresh air and the cool breeze. His hand never left the back of my neck and while I wasn't sure if that's because he didn't want to push me or because his other hand was holding Rex, I was grateful. I was not ready for anything more than this. But this, kissing him, it was everything and I could do it all day. And I was pretty sure Diego agreed.

Ranger's POV

Ranger picked up the phone and dialed.

"Miami RangeMan, this is Hudson."

"Hudson, I need to speak with my brother."

"Sir, Diego isn't here." Hudson spoke slowly, like he wasn't sure if he should be sharing that information with him.

"Where is he?"

"Well..." He paused like he was thinking, but coming to a decision he opened his mouth and started talking. "He's been helping this girl. She's got amnesia because she had this really bad accident. She's super sweet and super hot. Her name is ..."

Ranger interrupted. He didn't give a shit about why all of a sudden Hudson had verbal diarrhea. "Does he have his cell phone on him?" Diego was known for leaving his cell phone in his office when he was helping a client. Ranger gave him shit about it continuously but it never helped.

"I believe so, but I..."

Ranger hung up. He didn't have time. He didn't want to involve his family or his Miami business but he needed to find Stephanie. Before it was too late.