Ranger sat at his desk and read over the rules for the game that Carl Costanza emailed over. They'd already hammered out the major items, like who'd be responsible for securing the playing field and who would acquire the umpires. Costanza about had a heart attack when Ranger told him where they'd be playing.
Just to keep up his hard ass persona, Ranger insisted that the umpires needed to be from the same pool used for TPD's sanctioned games and he wanted backup documentation as proof. Ranger didn't need them trying to pull a fast one on him and his team by using friends or other players as umpires.
He had to admit, he'd never been much of a sports guy. He enjoyed watching baseball and football and because of that he knew some of the rules, but it's not like he'd actually played either in any formal capacity.
As far as he'd been concerned, he assumed the rules were the same that they played by in professional ball. Apparently, that wasn't the case, as proof by the document he was holding. However, they weren't playing in a formal league or any type of sanctioned game. So, who said they had to play exactly by these rules? What he needed was advice from someone well versed in the game. Ranger reached for his phone and buzzed Tank.
"Yo," he answered.
"Where's Vince?"
"I believe he's in the basement working with Zero on his batting."
"I need him to come to my office."
"Done," Tank replied then hung up.
Again, Ranger picked up the paper and began reading through the rules. Vince had played baseball in high school, and then after his stint in the military, he played men's slow pitch in his spare time.
In most situations Ranger was comfortable being in charge. This was one situation where he had to admit he was totally in over his head.
A knock had him looking up to find Vince standing in the doorway to his office. "Tank said you wanted to see me, boss?"
"I did." Ranger motioned to the chair across from his desk. After Vince sat, he handed him the list of rules. "Costanza emailed me this."
Vince took a cursory look at the paper. "Okay."
Ranger leaned back in his chair. "I'll admit that I don't know much about baseball except what I've watched on TV, but some of these rules don't appear to line up with what I do know."
Still holding the paper, Vince leaned back in his seat. "And you don't trust that Costanza is being honest."
Ranger's men knew him well. There were few people outside of his building he trusted. "I wouldn't put it past him to slide in a few rules which don't really exist which would be in TPD's favor."
"Well," Vince eyed the list then Ranger. "The rules for men's slow pitch are quite a bit different than major league baseball." He turned his attention back to the list and began to read. After a couple of minutes, he nodded as he returned the list to Ranger's desk. "There's nothing unusual on that list of rules," he said. "Though, it appears that when their league was formed, they combined the rules of a couple of different leagues to make their own."
Ranger arched a brow. "So, does that mean we can change the rules?"
Vince shrugged. "Since we're not officially part of their league and it's not a sanctioned game, I don't see why not." He leaned forward to rest his arms on the top of Ranger's desk. "Why would you want to, though?"
"Power move," Ranger replied mimicking his move. "I mark up the rules and send it back saying that we want the following concessions made. The changes I request need to make the game harder for them than what they've been playing in their league."
"They can choose to not agree and then what?"
Ranger smiled. "Then we negotiate. Even if I don't get all the concessions I ask for, they'll have it in their heads that maybe we're better than they originally thought."
Vince shook his head and grinned. "Remind me to stay on your good side."
His comment had Ranger barking out a laugh, then he motioned to the paper. "Since you know the rules, I need your expertise with what to demand for concessions."
He reached out with his left hand. "Got a red pen?"
Fifteen minutes later Ranger had the freshly corrected document scanned and emailed back to Costanza.
"Let me know when he gets back to you," Vince said as he stood. "I'll help you with the negotiation part." He turned to go.
"Vince," Ranger called after him.
He stopped in the doorway and looked back. "Yeah."
"I want you to manage the team on Saturday."
His eyes went wide as he turned and walked back to the chair and sank down. "Me?"
"You have the most knowledge and experience out of all of us. It only makes sense that you'd be the one in charge."
"B-but," he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees as he looked at Ranger. "You're always the one in charge."
"That's because we're usually in situations where my knowledge, expertise and instincts are the best. In this situation, you're the best man to lead the team."
"I'm honored," Vince said. "And I'll try not to let you down."
"I know you won't," Ranger replied as he pushed up from his chair. "Now, I need you to get the guys and the gear together. I secured us some practice time on the field where we'll be playing the game on Saturday."
"Oh yeah?" Vince grinned. "Where we playing?"
Before he could answer, another knock on his office door had them both looking up. Gene stood in the doorway. "Just thought I'd let you know that the birthday girl just pulled into the garage."
Steph was here? Ranger's smile returned. He hadn't expected to see her until her birthday dinner later that night. "Thanks, Gene." Then he turned his attention back to Vince. "I'll meet you and the team in the garage."
Vince gave a nod as he stood and headed for the door. Ranger followed until they reached the exit. Vince took the stairs down while Ranger waited for the elevator to stop. When the doors opened, he stepped right into Stephanie's embrace, then backed her into the corner of the elevator and lowered his mouth to hers. The doors closed, but thanks to a quick push of his fob, he scrambled the cameras and kept them sitting on Five.
When he finally allowed them to come up for air, she made that cute whimpering sound which always hit him right in the gut.
"Mmmm," she smiled up at Ranger. "Happy Birthday to me."
He grinned as he reached out and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "I figured you'd be working today."
"I decided that since it was my birthday, I'd take the day off and spend it with my favorite guy and his men."
"Well," he leaned down and brushed a soft kiss across her lips. "Your favorite guy is honored that you want to spend your birthday with him."
"But," she said, as she eyed him with suspicion. "I hear a but in there."
"I'm taking the guys to go practice at the field where we're playing the game on Saturday."
Both her brows went up in surprise. "Oh yeah? Maybe I can help." Then she slid her hand behind Ranger's head and pulled him down for yet another kiss. If he didn't have a responsibility to the team and the damn game, he'd be hauling her ass up to Seven, stripping her naked and giving her a birthday that she'd forever remember. Instead, he slowly pulled away and rested his forehead against hers. "Dois, Babe, you test my control."
Her smile returned. "Good to know, Batman, but you didn't answer me. Can I help you guys get ready for this game?"
"Do you really want to spend your birthday hanging around a baseball field with a bunch of guys?"
Her smile widened. "When it's you and my Merry Men, I do."
He wished he could get her to say I do to another question, but when they had their talk last Friday, he agreed not to push her on the subject. He knew how skittish she was when it came to marriage and rightly so. "Have you ever played any kind of baseball or softball?"
She shrugged as he re-engaged both the camera and the elevator, allowing it to transport them to the garage level. "A little here and there. Nothing organized though."
Shock slid through him as he stared down at her. His Babe, who hated exercise had voluntarily played a sport? What else didn't he know about her? "Do you have a glove?"
"I did. Dad gave it to me when I was twelve and I've used it a couple of times, but after the last fire at my apartment, I packed it and some other things I don't use but didn't want to get rid of and took them back to mom and dad's house. I don't know, but think the box is in the garage on a shelf."
"Then we'll swing by on the way and see if you can find it."
Thirty minutes later he pulled into the parking lot of Arm & Hammer Park and angled the turbo next to one of the Explorers. The guys were all standing outside their vehicles, their shocked expressions following Ranger's vehicle as he parked.
Steph's eyes widened as she stepped out of the turbo. "This is the park you secured for practice?"
"Yes."
She looked from Ranger to the front of the building and back. "But this is where the Trenton Thunder play."
"I know." He locked the turbo and turned to look at the building. "Rangeman handles home security for one of the owners. I called him, explained the situation and the charity bet. Since this is the off season for the team and they didn't have any events scheduled for this weekend, he made me a deal." He started for the building only to realize Steph remained in place next to his car. "Babe?"
She shook her head as if she was clearing her thoughts. "Is there anyone you don't know?"
He slung his arm around her and pressed a kiss to her temple. "No. Now let's go."
Steph wasn't the only one in awe as his guys climbed the dugout steps to the field. "This is fucking awesome," Santos said. "TPD's team is going to shit themselves when they see this."
"Let's hope so," Ranger replied as he waved everyone over. "Okay. We have the field for the afternoon, so let's make good use of it. Since Vince has the most experience, I've made him team manager. What he says goes."
More wide eyes followed Ranger's declaration as they slowly shifted their attention from him to Vince. After several seconds of silence Cal finally spoke up. "All right, let's make this happen."
An hour later Ranger stood with Vince and watched as Steph helped Zip warm up his arm so he could take his turn on the pitching mound. Vince glanced at him then back to Zip and Steph. "I have a feeling she's holding out on us."
So did Ranger. "What are you thinking?"
Vince's attention was on Steph as he spoke. "I want to see how well she bats. If she's as good as I think she is, we'll try her in some field positions and see how she does." He turned back to look at Ranger. "I know this is supposed to be a men's slow pitch game, but I didn't see anything in the rules spelling out that women weren't allowed to play."
"Neither did I," Ranger replied.
"Good." Vince smiled, then turned to climb the steps onto the field. "Hey Steph!"
A few minutes later he had her positioned in the batter's box, giving her instructions on how to properly hold the bat. "Okay, don't choke up so far on the bat." He arranged her hands. "I know it feels weird, but if you keep your hands closer to the knob, you'll get better extension and more power so, when you make contact, the ball will go farther."
"You mean if I make contact," Steph said. Damn it, Ranger hated it when she doubted herself like that.
"No," Vince said. "I mean when. Now, relax and just let your instincts take over. When you hit the ball, just stay put, because we're going to do it a few times to see how you swing."
Vince walked back to where Ranger was standing, then turned and yelled to Zip. "Okay, Zip. Let 'em rip and don't go easy on her. I want to see what she can really do."
Zip gave Vince a nod. His first pitch went past her without her swinging.
"Come on Steph," Vince yelled. "Don't be afraid."
Zip threw his next pitch and Steph swung. The crack of the back told them she made contact. It went over Binkie's head at second base and landed in front of where Woody was in center field.
"Good, Steph," Vince yelled. "Do it again."
Ten pitches later, and Steph had made contact with every one of them. A couple had been foul balls, but she'd still made contact.
When she finally dropped the bat and walked over to Ranger, he couldn't hide his smile. Damn he was proud of her. "Babe, you've been hold out on us."
