A/N: So sorry for the long delay in posting! Time has gotten away from me. Here's another little outtake of Ranger's POV. I hope you enjoy seeing what he's been thinking! I'm hoping to have the next chapter up in the next week or two. :) As always, please let me know what you think! Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own none of the usual suspects and make no money off this story.
Plum & Prejudice
Chapter 6.5: Ranger's POV
"I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun."
The day after the charity ball, I find myself pounding the shit out of the punching bag in the gym. I already finished a five-mile run in the icy air outside. I find that the frigid temperatures help me clear my mind. Unfortunately, a certain curly-haired brunette haunted my dreams last night and seemingly my every waking thought.
I've never thought this much about a woman since I was seventeen. The summer after our parents died and Abuela had taken up some cleaning to help pay the bills. I was cutting lawns. One of our neighbors happened to be a bored housewife. I was mowing her lawn once a week, and she'd watch me from the front porch and bring ice-cold lemonade for me when I finished. Her name was Sarah, and she was thirty. A few weeks in and she invited me inside. I was a horny virgin, and she taught me how to please a woman. That was the one, and only time I ever had sex with a woman more than once.
Since then, I've had no serious relationships or even met a woman I've thought twice about-until now. I punch the black bag in front of me. I'm wailing on it and don't even hear the footsteps behind me.
"Ease up, RangeMan," Ram comments, "otherwise me and Tank will wrestle you down so Bobby can sedate you." I grunt and look at him with narrowed eyes. I still the bag and notice my knuckles are a bit worse for wear.
"Yeah, man, didn't find a woman to sink your dick in last night, or what?" Tank comments from my other side. I round on Tank to glare.
"Do you want to face me in the ring?" I question, looking up at my behemoth of a friend. He may be taller and more robust than me, but I am quick and agile. Tank's brute strength is a definite advantage, but he hasn't bested me yet. They gave me the moniker Ranger for a reason. Tank raises his hands in surrender.
"Nah, you know I'm just asking because I care," he replies with a smirk, "I got my Lula loving last night. I think I might propose to her this next year." I don't know why I'm surprised to hear Tank say that. I guess I always thought he had similar ideas as me on relationships. They've been together a little over two years now. They even live together. I just don't know how he lets her in and doesn't worry about our past coming back to haunt us. Although, Lula does make him a better man. Ram is grinning.
"Congrats, Tank! That's exciting," he says, and his eyes turn wistful, "I had a girl I was going to marry once." Tank and I share a look.
"Valerie Plum?" Tank and I are in sync as we both ask at the same time. Ram looks at us with narrowed eyes and lets out a sigh.
"Yes," he replies curtly, "she's the love of my life." Ram just used present tense. I have a feeling he'll be in for more of that heartbreak Caroline was talking about yesterday.
"So, why didn't you?" Tank questions raising a bushy eyebrow. I look back expectantly. Thank fuck we are the only ones in here and that the monitors don't have sound. No need for our men to hear our private discussion.
"I enlisted and didn't want to leave her waiting for me," Ram explains, "you know what we do. Then when I got back, I've seen so much shit. How would she look at me?"
"Well, she was looking at you like you hung the moon last night," Tank points out, "we did our duty for our country. Now we deserve happiness. All of us." Tank gives me a pointed look as he says the last part. Ram looks conflicted even as Tank glares at us both.
"You will never know if you don't try," he comments, "and I prefer to live my life with no regrets."
"When did you become a Hallmark card?" I question, looking at my best friend, "should we start calling you Pierre?" Ram laughs. Tank just shakes his head and walks away, muttering about assholes. Ram gives me a look.
"Maybe Tank's right…" he hedges, "will you be my wingman as I call on Valerie this morning?" I give him a look like I can't believe he just said that.
"Call on Valerie? What are we? In the eighteen hundreds?" I question, "can't you just say visit?" Ram grins and shrugs, checking the watch on his left wrist.
"Meet in the garage at nine-fifteen?" he asks, his blue eyes moving back to mine. I resist the urge to roll my eyes, and I give a nod.
At precisely nine-fifteen, Ram and I head towards the Plum house in the Porsche Turbo. He informed me that both daughters are staying with their parents. I'm queerly curious to meet Mr. and Mrs. Plum after seeing the wife make a spectacle of herself last night.
"Did you see and hear Mrs. Plum last night?" I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me. Usually, I'd rein it in, but it's Ram, and this whole situation has me off-kilter. Ram shoots me a look.
"I did," he replies, not adding anything. Ram is not making this easy for me. If only he were as talkative as his sister.
"It doesn't bother you?" I question, "she's very focused on money." I can see Ram's eyes harden.
"Valerie is not her mother," he says tersely, "I'd hate for anyone to judge me by the actions of my father." His comment effectively shuts me up. Ram's father walked out on his mom, him, and sister when Ram was only ten. They never heard from him again. Ram's mom was lucky in a way because she met Peter not long after that. Peter is Ram's step-father and the one he gives the title of dad.
We arrive in front of the brown duplex at nine forty-five, just as a yellow cab pulls up. Ram and I watch a tiny gray-haired lady in a red dress as she steps out of the cab with a pair of heels in her hand. Ram smiles.
"Hi, Mrs. Mazur," Ram calls out, obviously recognizing the older woman. She's thin, and her skin hangs, but she still manages to look decent in her dress. Her curls are mussed around her head, and her makeup is faded.
"Steven, is that you?" she questions, looking my friend up and down. He gives her a nod and offers an arm to her as we walk to the door.
"This is my friend and business partner Ranger," Ram explains to the old woman, "Ranger, this is Valerie's grandma." I nod and say hello after figuring that out. I feel her eyes tracking up and down my body as she assesses me.
"I saw you dancing with my granddaughter last night," she comments, a gleam in her eye. I swallow uncomfortably but nod. Her entrance into the house is quite spectacular. I have to stifle my laugh as she announces our presence and talks about her exploits from last night. Valerie is the first to greet us, and she gives Ram a genuine smile as she sees him. I see his face light up in return. Then, she escorts us to the small living room. They have two recliners on either end of a brown couch. She motions for us to sit down.
The home is small, and due to this, we're able to hear everything the others are talking about in the kitchen. I hear Stephanie's medium cadence voice floating through the kitchen to the living room as she talks with her Grandma. I realize I drank more water than usual, and Valerie directs me to the upstairs bathroom. They really must have no privacy in this house because I can hear Stephanie's conversation with her mother.
"Stephanie Michelle Plum! You go in there this instant," her mom all but yells. I wonder if it's my presence that is really deterring her. The thought doesn't make me too happy. I'd like to meet her parents face to face, but I have a feeling that won't happen.
"Well, he can have all the money in the world and look like Brad Pitt, but if he's as rude and arrogant as he seems, then nothing could tempt me," Stephanie replies. I guess I missed a couple of pieces of the conversation. I finish my business and head downstairs. I just reach the bottom when Stephanie bumps into me as she laughs. She is backing out of the living room for some reason. Instinctively, I move my hand to her elbow to help keep her balance. Like last night, a jolt of electricity races through my skin from our touch.
Stephanie turns to face me, and her face burns a beautiful red as the blush creeps up her neck to her cheeks. She looks embarrassed, and I think she looks adorable. She apologizes, and we move back into the room. Valerie and Ram are sitting an awkward distance apart with their hands identical in their laps. Valerie is blushing almost as brightly as her sister. Ram looks like he's trying to hide a smile.
There's a moment of silence all around before Stephanie speaks. Then, of course, she surprises me.
"So...did you see the NASDAQ is down a few points?" she eeks out in question form, gazing around all of us. I nod and voice that I indeed saw it. It was down a bit today, and I'm about to comment when she speaks again, taking the words from my mouth. I've never met a woman interested in stocks or anything that wasn't pretty and shiny. Maybe I've been spending time with the wrong women.
Our limited conversation about the NASDAQ dries up, and there's a lull in the conversation when we can all hear her mother's loud voice. I see Valerie and Stephanie give each other looks.
"What, Frank? Do you think it's too unreasonable? They both need to find well-off husbands-you know we couldn't support them and who will make sure we're taken care of as we get older?"
The women look apologetic, and Stephanie clears her throat. I figure she's about to say something, but I find it's Valerie this time.
"Do you two have plans for New Year's Eve?" Val asks us, smiling from the couch.
"Not now. We were both planning to cover a shift so some of the other guys can go out," Ram replies, his demeanor very open.
"Wow! That's very nice of you two," Valerie says, smiling at Ram, "I'm just lucky school's closed for the entire week."
"Steph, I saw you were dancing with Joe Morelli last night," Ram comments innocently. I immediately feel my spine stiffen, and the anger I felt last night rises. I can tell he's purposely avoiding my gaze, so I direct it towards Stephanie. She seems uncomfortable with the statement.
"Yes, we ran into him at Christmas Eve Mass, and our parents insisted we spend some time together," Stephanie replies, "I don't think I'd seen him since high school." I feel a little burst of relief. At least she's not close to the woman abusing asshole. I notice Valerie grins at her sister.
"And now she has a date with him!" Valerie exclaims, seeming very happy for her sister. I feel myself frown, and I narrow my eyes some more. I should warn Stephanie, but it's not my place to do so. Maybe Morelli has changed… Julie's beautiful cherubic face flashes in my mind. Morelli is scum. He doesn't even know or care that he has a daughter. He never even attempted to contact Rachel after his attack, not that he would have lived long if he tried.
"It's nothing serious," Stephanie says defensively, her eyes flashing to mine, "besides, I could do worse." I can feel the anger building. I have a feeling that she directed her last comment at me. She doesn't even know me! How could she compare me to that…disrespectful less than man piece of fucking trash. I can feel my legendary control in danger of slipping. I have the strangest urge to throw her over my shoulder and lock her away.
"Just be careful," Ram responds ominously. I don't know how much more obvious he needs to be. I need to get out of here ASAP. I need to work through my anger, so I shoot Ram a look. A cell phone rings in the distance, and Stephanie jumps right up and excuses herself.
We make a hasty exit not long after. My knuckles are white on the steering wheel as I drive us back to the building. The first five minutes are silent before Ram speaks at last.
"Steph really dislikes you," he comments casually, as though saying the sky is blue. I feel a jab at his statement. I don't know why it bothers me. I don't care about some white girl from fucking Chambersburg. My eyes slide over to see Ram studying me.
"What makes you say that?" I question, trying to seem like I don't care at all.
"Well, when you were in the bathroom, Steph and Helen had a throw down," he informs me, "and it was over you!" I feel my eyes widen marginally over this. I turn to face Ram.
"Over me?" I ask incredulously. Mrs. Plum doesn't even know me.
"Her mother said, and I quote, 'Stephanie! Get in there! That Carlos is the president of the company and probably makes more than Steve,'" Ram mimics using a falsely high pitch voice that makes me want to punch him just to shut him up. However, this piece of information does clear up what I missed. My lips form a thin line as I realize that Mrs. Plum is just thinking of Ram and me as bags of money.
"And then Stephanie compared me to being like Brad Pitt," I finish, "except I'm rude and arrogant, so I don't even tempt her." Saying that out loud hurts me in ways I'm not prepared to think about. At least she's not after me for my money like her mother. We barely spoke yesterday. Did my one comment about her truly prejudice her so much against me?
"Yup," Ram replies, awed, "what else did you say to her last night?" He knows I'm usually beating women off, so he's not used to me being snubbed. I shrug and try to get the conversation off of me.
"You be careful, Ram. Valerie doesn't seem too interested," I say, remembering how closed off Valerie seems. Ram grins.
"Nah, I don't think so. You missed us making out like teenagers on the couch," he replies confidently. I laugh out loud.
"That's why Valerie and Stephanie were blushing so hard when I came back," I mutter, shaking my head. Ram grins again and nods. I take a moment and then slug him hard in the shoulder as we wait at a red stoplight.
"Damn, what the hell was that for Ranger?" he shouts, rubbing his shoulder. I give him a look that says, 'don't be a pussy,' but he ignores it and glares at me with one eyebrow raised.
"Why in the hell would you bring up Joe Morelli?" I ask, gritting my teeth as I clench my jaw in anger.
"Hey, I hate the guy as much as you do," he says palms up, "and Steph was like a little sister when I was with Valerie. I don't want to see him hurting her." I allow a nod and agree that's perfectly reasonable.
The next several days pass quickly, and I'm taking Gigi back to the airport. She's studying in Gainesville at the University of Florida. I hate that she's so far from family; even Abuela Rosa in Miami is far. The only upside is that she's harder to find if anyone from my past tries to seek revenge and get her.
"How are Abuela Mariela and Abuelo Omar?" I ask my sister. Her curly hair is pulled back in a ponytail, and she's in an oversized sweatshirt and Adidas soccer pants for the plane. She shoots me a look with narrowed eyes.
"Good, you know they wish you'd come around more often," she says softly, "and Les came too. We had a lot of fun. He's such a cheater at board games, though." I chuckle. My cousin does know how to be a kid at heart despite all the shit we've seen. He's adamant about never getting married or into a serious relationship. He's so serious; he's already been snipped. Even in our younger days, Lester always swore he'd be a bachelor for life. I always wanted a love like my parents, but now my soul is black, and I've seen way too much shit to consider it.
I barely allowed Gigi back in my life when I returned from the Army and the missions. I still go on missions, so it's not like I'm redeeming myself. I visit as little as possible, even with Ella's coaxing. I'd be completely cut off from everyone if it weren't for Gigi and Ella. Lester, knowing me since childhood, also tries to cajole me into family events. I see Gigi pinning me with a stare.
"I'll work on making more of an effort," I concede as we arrive at the Newark airport.
"Are you sure you want to leave before New Year's Eve?" I question, raising an eyebrow at my little sister. She told me when I bought the tickets that she would leave on the thirtieth.
"Yes, Carlos, I'm sure," she tells me slowly like she's talking to a child, "I'm going back early. My friends and I want to celebrate together." I mumble something about not seeing her enough. I see her move, but I'm focused on the cars in front of me when I feel her tiny pinch. She managed to get the skin on my bicep. Fuck, stings like a bitch.
"Gigi!" I bark, "what the hell?" She's unfazed by my outburst and simply raises one eyebrow. She looks a lot like Mama in that look.
"You could always come back to Florida! Or hey, crazy idea, never joined the Army, and then we'd have seen each other a hell of a lot more often," she tells me, effectively putting me in place. I hope my enemies never find out about her because she's one person I will do anything for. I rub my arm, feeling the sting again.
"Carajo," I mutter, "you still know how to pinch." Gigi smiles smugly and turns to face forward in her seat again.
I help her get her bag from the trunk. I give her a tight hug before she can head into the airport.
"I'm so proud of you, Princesa," I whisper in her ear, "and I love you." She tightens her hold on me.
"I'm proud of you too, Carlos. I love you," she says, pulling back and looking me straight in the eye, "don't close yourself off from love. You deserve it."
With that, she grabs the handle on her suitcase, gives me a cheeky grin, and wave as she departs into the airport. Gigi always insists on being independent. She doesn't know that the earrings and bracelet have a tracking device in them in addition to her phone. I'd do an under the skin tracker if I thought she'd forgive me. I sigh and get back into my car to head back to RangeMan.
Lester came back to work Wednesday and has been doing bodyguard detail for a high-paying UK client. They've had some threats due to expanding here to New York. Typically, we don't extend our services that far but the money is worth it on this one. Additionally, the threats seem to be passive since nothing has happened since we started working on them. Les is paid to be a glorified babysitter. He's one of our most personable guys, so he often gets this role. The woman is flying home to the UK today for about two weeks so that Lester will be free for New Year's Eve.
Lula and Tank have invited the entire building out to Club Casa Night Club. I could pretend I don't care or am uninterested, but the truth is I know Stephanie will be there. I want to avoid it and forget about her, but she hasn't left my mind. Ram has been rethinking things on his end and pulled back from Valerie.
I've almost convinced him to skip going and let us just cover the monitors for the night so our men can enjoy themselves. Of course, we typically rotate this way, so it's not unusual.
At six forty-five pm on New Year's Eve, I make my way downstairs from the penthouse. I'll be working the monitors. We have shift splits, but tonight it's generally twelves just for consistency and to keep the number of men to a minimum. RangeMan follows the same protocol for all holidays.
"You think he'll go for this?" I hear Ram ask as I step onto the control room floor.
"Of course, he has to!" my cousin's voice responds. I have a bad feeling. I stride over to their voices.
"As long as you calculated this out financially," Ram replies. I turn the corner to the monitoring room to find two men in the chairs with Ram and Les standing behind them. I narrow my eyes and cross my arms.
"Explain." Ram looks weary, but Lester just shoots me a grin and puts his palms up in a "don't kill me' gesture.
"Primo, great to see you," Lester begins, "but you should be getting ready for a night out." I just stand, looking at him. Then, in a few moments, he shifts his weight from foot to foot. Ram is struggling to contain a smile. Lester gestures to the filled chairs.
"Called in contractors," he says as though that explains everything, "we have plans at Club Casa."
I turn around without saying anything and head to the gym. I decide to get another quick workout in. I want to be mad at Lester, but the heat isn't there. Part of me doesn't want to work. Instead, I want to see what a certain blue-eyed woman would be wearing for the new year. Immediately, I regret my train of thought, and it only makes me go harder on the treadmill.
Three hours later and Ram is driving us to Club Casa. He shoots me a grin and gives me a look out of the corner of his eye. I ignore him, and we're in the parking lot of the club before I know it.
Thankfully, RangeMan does security for the building, so we have no trouble getting past the line. Ram informs me that they have a few tables on the upper level. The music is loud as we make our way to the dance floor upstairs. Then, the music changes, and I can hear a familiar Latin beat of 'Yo No Sé Mañana.'
The tingling on my neck begins almost instantly, and my eyes track the dance floor. I immediately lock on my cousin and Babe dancing closely. I feel the jealousy flare before I can tamp it down. The song is finishing, and I swear they're about to kiss.
"Santos!" I yell, surprising myself. Both of their heads snap up, and they part like they've been burned. I clench my jaw and try to relax. It's none of my business. I see him squeeze her hand before they make their way over to me. I try sliding my blank face into place, but I know I'm shooting daggers at my cousin.
I look over at Stephanie, and my eyes soften as I take in her appearance. She looks gorgeous in her sparkly dress that hints at the package underneath. Her hair is in soft curls around her face, and her blue eyes are sparkling with delight as a healthy flush covers her cheeks. I motion to Lester and walk over a bit.
"What the hell, Santos?" I growl, crossing my arms over my chest. I can see the flush on my cousin's face and the smirk on his lips.
"What? I was enjoying the company of a beautiful woman," he comments nonchalantly, but I can see the challenge in his eyes.
"How the hell did you meet her so fast?" I ask, annoyed that my mouth is moving faster than my brain for once. I see Les raise an eyebrow.
"Is the Mighty Manoso jealous?" Les questions, his jaw-dropping just a bit. Shit.
"Stephanie isn't like other women," I bite out, "I don't want you to hurt her." Les moves a hand to his heart and fakes a look.
"Primo, how could you think I'd be capable of doing that to a woman?" he asks, acting like he's deeply offended. I raise an eyebrow.
"I don't know what you said to Beautiful, but she's not exactly your biggest fan," Lester comments, "so you better fix that shit if you want a chance in hell." My chest tightens, and he leaves me to trail behind him as he heads back towards Stephanie and the group.
I see her watching us as we approach. Somehow, she and Lester seem to have an easy camaraderie that makes me believe they've met before tonight. We take seats on either side of her as she continues studying us. Lester speaks first, using that damn nickname for her. Of course, it's accurate, but that doesn't mean I like it. The bastard even wraps an arm around her shoulder and shoots me a look. I take a discreet deep breath and let it out from my nose.
As Stephanie speaks, it's clear to see she's already feeling the effects of the alcohol. It's actually pretty adorable, and she flushes a lovely shade of pink. I can't help the grin that spreads across my features at her explaining her alcohol tolerance. I notice she freezes and blinks when she sees my expression, almost like she can't believe it.
Thankfully, Lester goes to get a new drink, so I get Stephanie to myself since the other members of our group have hit the dance floor. I decide it's my chance to get some information. I swirl the liquid in my lowball glass as I study her profile. Her curls are beautiful and frame her heart-shaped face. Her neck is long and graceful. My eyes trail down following the low v cut of her dress as it hugs her curves and then to her thighs where the hem sits, riding up to show her creamy skin. I just want to touch her. But, dammit, I need to switch my attention to something else.
"So, where did you meet Lester?" I start with breaking the silence. I see the surprise briefly on her face as she turns to face me. I notice her studying me a bit before responding. I try to stay respectful, my eyes never leaving her face. Her eyes are gorgeous, a bright blue that just captivates attention. I'm surprised she met Lester professionally. He's only been bodyguarding the woman from the lingerie company. Hmm… I swirl my drink some more before I ask what kind of business she's in. I know she's business savvy or at least in tune with the markets.
I can feel my involuntary reaction when she tells me she's a lingerie buyer. After appreciating her beautiful body a few minutes ago and now imagining her with some barely-there lace… Dios. I'm going to hell for my train of thought. My grip tightens on my glass. When she explains who she was meeting with, I instantly remember signing the agreement.
"Right, I remember that contract," I comment, looking down and clearing my throat. Mierda, how am I turning into a sixteen-year-old boy just being in the same presence as this woman? The song changes to a traditional Salsa, 'Vivir mi Vida' by Marc Anthony. I see Stephanie close her eyes and sway to the beat. I remember her on the dance floor with Lester, and I know I can't let this opportunity pass.
I gently place a hand on hers, and she reacts like she feels the jolt going through her too. Her ocean-blue eyes meet mine, and I almost forget all my thoughts. Only one phrase goes through my head… Stephanie Plum is dangerous. In spite of this realization, I smile.
"Would you like to dance?" I question, hoping she says yes. I move quickly to stand and grab her hand. I feel the tingle run through my body at her electric touch. I have no idea what causes it, and she's the only person I've noticed it happens with. It's not unpleasant actually; it's like tingles that could turn into goosebumps. I'm not one to get goosebumps which makes it all the more unusual.
As we get onto the dance floor, I shoot her a smile, and she seems momentarily stunned. I smirk a bit. Maybe I affect her as much as she does me. I start slowly to make sure she can follow. She follows my moves closely, not missing a beat, so I pull her closer and pick up the pace. It's almost like she's an extension of me as we step, sidestep, and spin around the floor. Our hips move in tune, and I need to be careful she doesn't feel how much I'm enjoying this dance. Finally, I twirl her out into a double spin, and she breaks out into a huge grin and laughs delightedly. Mmm… what I wouldn't give to hear that all the time.
The song starts to end, so I twirl her in and then dip her low, our bodies molded together from the waist down. I can see the pulse in her neck beating wildly. She's glowing from a little sheen of sweat from the fast movements of the dance. I see her chest heaving with her uneven breath, and I lean in a bit closer as I see her pink tongue dart out to moisten her lips. Finally, our eyes meet again, and hers have turned a darker shade of blue.
I'm about to say fuck it and kiss her when the music abruptly changes to a harsh beat meant for grinding and twerking. Not exactly something that sets the mood. Slightly annoyed, I bring us both back to upright. I'm pleased when she thanks me for the dance and compliments my dancing skills. Abuela Rosa would never let me get out of dance lessons. She said every proper Cuban boy needed to know it. I always complained, but I secretly enjoyed it. It's fun, especially with the right partner. As I look into Stephanie's sparkling eyes, I can't help but feel a deep sign saying she's the right partner.
I grab her hand and bring it to my mouth for a gentle kiss. I keep my eyes on hers as I do. Finally, I release it and thank her as I watch the blush creep across her features again.
We head back to the table, and I keep a little hand at the small of her back. I'm internally delighted that she doesn't remove it.
Unfortunately, Caroline is waiting at the table. As soon as Stephanie sits down, Caroline grabs me and takes me back to the dance floor. Thankfully it's not a Latin beat. Caroline has terrible rhythm. I've witnessed it from afar.
"Are you having fun, Carlos?" she asks, calling me by my given name instead of my preferred nickname. I give her a blank stare.
"I am. Are you?" I reply as we move to the music. This music is not my preferred style. Caroline is rubbing herself close to me as she grins.
"Yes, I am," she replies. I hope she's done because I don't feel like talking.
"What do you think of Hal?" she questions. I'm trying to gauge if she really cares or if she thinks it will make me jealous. Caroline not so subtly wants to be more to me than just my good friend's sister.
"Hal's a good man," I reply, gazing out at the crowd, "he'll treat you right." I can see the pout on her face from the corner of my eye. As the song ends, she stalks away from me. I notice Stephanie sitting all alone, so I head over as though drawn by some invisible string.
As I get in closer, I see she's sitting with her eyes closed. So I take a seat beside her, and she slowly opens her eyes and looks over.
"Getting tired, Babe?" I question, taking a drink of water. She gives me a shrug, her eyes turning back to the dance floor. I find it relaxing to just sit beside her. I want to know her better. Something I never thought I'd be feeling about a woman. What am I getting myself into? We chat a little about dancing when I look at my watch and notice it's almost the witching hour.
"Looks like it's time to countdown," I comment, as I realize we've somehow moved, so our legs are touching from the knee to the thigh. I can feel the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of my dress pants. I watch as she scans the crowd a final time, and I swear there's a hint of disappointment. But I don't think about it much as we launch into the countdown, my eyes never leaving her face.
"5...4...3...2...1… Happy New Year!" The roar that goes up is deafening. Before I can talk myself out of it, I lean in quickly and press a kiss on her cheek. I pull back with a soft smile.
"Happy New Year, Babe," I say softly as I watch her face turn pink again. Her lids close, and she's looking up at me through her lashes. I'd love to plant a real kiss on those lush pink lips. Instead, I watch as she places her hand on the cheek where I kissed her. Maybe...just maybe… she's just as attracted as I am.
"Happy New Year, Ranger," she replies, clinking glasses with me as she smiles. We sit in comfortable silence as the celebration continues around us. I'm feeling content.
Of course, it doesn't last long as the rest of the group shows back up at the table. Lester comes up baiting me, which causes Stephanie to laugh. Dios, her laugh is beautiful. Unfortunately, Caroline chooses this time to butt in, and I can see Babe's demeanor change as she takes it in. Hopefully, I didn't just lose all the ground I feel I made tonight.
The night winds down, and somehow Stephanie slips away before I can say goodbye. Les slaps me on the back as we wait for the valet to bring the cars around. However, I did notice Caroline leave with Hal, for which I'm happy.
"Damn Ric, you sure got it bad," Les comments, "never thought I'd see the day you'd have a puppy dog face for a woman." I shoot him a glare as my lips press into a thin line. He just lets out a loud guffaw. I basically confirmed it with my silence.
"At least you picked a good one," Les finally says as he calms down. I give him a stare with one eyebrow raised.
I am in so much trouble.