"What are you talking about Lou?"

"Give it up girl, this is me you are talking to. I know you love him, I know you want him, so tell me Steph. Why are you sharing this mattress with me instead of Ranger?"

Starting Over

Chapter 11

"Mary Lou, get a life. I've only been officially divorced for one day. What do you expect me to do? Jump right in bed with another man?"

"Of course not Steph, not just another man. This is Ranger we're talking about. Don't act like you don't have feelings for him. I know good and well you've loved that man for years now. So don't you think it's about time you told him so?"

Stephanie sat up in the bed, crossed her arms and did her best to look pissed. "I can't believe you are saying this to me Lou. I loved Joe. I married him didn't I?"

"Hey, I never said you didn't love Joe, I know you did. But that doesn't have anything to do with the feelings you have for Ranger. For some reason you've always been afraid of that man, and for the life of me I can't figure out why."

"I'll tell you why, because he has the ability to hurt me more than anyone else ever has."

Mary Lou shifted the baby to a more comfortable position and continued feeding him. "Give me a break Steph, you know good and well Ranger would never lay a hand on you."

"Of course he wouldn't but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about emotionally Mare. My feelings for him are so strong, I don't think I could survive if things didn't work out with him. Isn't it better if we just stay friends?"

"Steph, what could Ranger possibly do to hurt you more than Joe did? As for just remaining friends, you know at this point it's not possible. I know Ranger loves you. He told me so."

"What? When?"

"When he came to the house to ask Lenny and I if we wanted to come on this trip. As he was leaving I told him how much I appreciated him taking care of you and he turned to me and said, 'I love her Mary Lou'."

"Yeah, in his own way." sniped Stephanie.

"Cut him a break Steph. He's made mistakes in the past, but look at what he's done for you? Do you see him inviting any other women into his life and apartment. The man completely put his life on hold for you the second you called him. That's love Stephanie. It's about time you found out what that kind of love feels like."

"What's that suppose to mean Mary Lou?" Steph's anger rose to her throat.

"It means that he loves you the way you need to be loved. Joe never got that. Joe loved the idea of you, but not the real you. He did everything he could think of to change you. Has Ranger once ever once tried to change you? Has he ever prevented you from doing what you really wanted to do?"

Stephanie thought about her words for a moment and realized she was right. But how could she admit that to him. How could she give herself up to the man she had loved for so long. If he hurt her, she didn't think she would be able to survive it. Joe was hard enough to get over, but Ranger would be too hard.

"That's all well and good Mary Lou, but just think what the Burg would say if I jumped into his bed so soon. Hell, I'm pregnant with Joe's baby. I don't need anymore rumors than are already rumbling around."

Mary Lou laughed, "Is that the best excuse you can come up with? You're being a chicken Steph. You have never cared about what the Burg thought of you. You're scared to love Ranger, and I can't figure out why. But as long as you're being this unreasonable I'm not going to argue with you. So if you don't mind I'm going to sleep."

Mary Lou rolled over and settled comfortably on her side with the squirming little boy snuggled next to her. In a matter of moments she was out like a light.

Stephanie sunk into bed and tried sleeping herself. Two hours later she was still tossing and turning. Mary Lou's words rang loud in her head. Her best friend was right, just like usual.

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Early the next morning Steph was startled awake by the feeling of having a strong hand cover her mouth. She would have screamed, but she was quickly comforted by the sound of a soothing voice.

"Shhh, babe. Don't wake up Mary Lou and the baby. I need you to come with me, I have something to show you."

Stephanie didn't argue as she gently rose from the mattress. She threw on a pair of shoes and followed Ranger downstairs.

"Where are we going Ranger?"

Ranger reached out and took her hand in his. "I want to show you the real reason I bought this house."

Stephanie looked confused but followed him anyway. He pulled her out of the house and they set out for the beach. It was still dark outside but light was beginning to warm the sky.

It didn't take them long to get to his destination. He stopped walking as they reached the top of a nearby sand dune which was slightly higher than the others, giving them a great view of the beach.

Ranger fell to the sand and stretched his long legs in front of him. He grabbed Steph's waist and pulled her down in front of him. She snuggled between his legs and he pulled her against his chest while he encased her body with his arms. He rested his chin on her shoulder and whispered into her ear. "Get ready for a show babe. This is probably the only thing in the world that can rival your beauty."

Ranger held Steph tightly as they watched the sun rise slowly in the horizon. Light reflected from the water and announced the opening of the beach to all the tourists. The sky was filled with shades of pink and orange which signaled that it was going to be another gorgeous day on the coast.

Ranger was right, it was beautiful, nearly breathtakingly so. Something worthy of an award winning photograph.

Steph shifted her body slight so she could meet Ranger's eyes. When the sun had risen fully she turned to him and placed a hand on his cheek.

"Thank you Ranger."

"Anytime babe."

They stared at one another for a long time and Stephanie tried her best to remember why she had been so afraid.

To Be Continued….