Ranger smiled, "We aren't going to Miami. I figured Daniel might want to spend some time with his family in New York before he goes so I've offered him and Kat use of one of my apartments. They're going to stay in Trenton until he has to leave. That way he can spend time with both his family and Kat."
Stephanie smiled as she walked towards Ranger, sliding her arms around his waist. When he met her gaze she said, "Let's go home Ric."
Chapter 19
By the time they arrived home, everyone was beat. Stephanie and Kat walked straight through the front door and flopped down on opposite ends of the couch. Ranger took refuge in the large chair nearby. They remained silent until Stephanie's stomach grumbled for some attention.
"Guess we should feed her." Ranger said to Kat.
"Yeah, she seems to get grumpy when she doesn't eat on time." Kat commented.
"Hey! I'm sitting right here." Stephanie whined.
"Babe, you know it's true." Ranger laughed.
Stephanie thought for a minute, then shrugged and said, "So what are we having?"
"Pizza." Kat said.
"Chinese." answered Ranger.
"Donuts." Stephanie added.
"Anyone willing to budge?" asked Ranger.
Stephanie and Kat both shook their heads no.
Ranger huffed then said, "Fine. I'll call in the orders and go pick it up. And Steph, you have to eat something besides donuts."
Stephanie pouted, "Fine, get me some Sesame Chicken and 2 Boston Crèmes and a chocolate glaze."
"Babe." was all he said before grabbing his keys and walked back out the door.
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Several hours later, and with a smug smiled plastered across his face, Ranger lounged on the bed watching Stephanie toss clothes from the closet.
"Stephanie, I told you it doesn't matter what you wear."
She turned to him, "Yeah right. It's not everyday that I meet your ex-wife."
"True, but she seriously won't care what you're wearing."
"Is she a women?" Steph asked.
"Yes."
"Then she'll care."
"Babe, Eva's not like the typical woman."
"Yeah I know Ranger. You've said it all before, but I can't help being nervous. I'm the outsider here. I'm going to be her daughter's stepmother one day. I prefer to make a good impression. Now leave me alone and let me find something to wear."
Tossing his hands up in defeat, Ranger rolled over onto his back and drifted off to sleep.
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The following morning was a blur of activity. While Ranger and Kat went off to the airport to pick up Eva and Daniel, Stephanie roamed around the apartment making sure everything was perfect. She rearranged the pictures on the fireplace mantel a dozen times before settling on an appropriate positioning.
She re-fluffed the pillows on the couch, re-dusted the tables, and after checking the time she slide the cookie dough into the oven.
While checking herself in the mirror one last time she heard Ranger's voice over the intercom.
"Babe? You there?"
"Yup. Did you make it back ok?" Steph replied.
"Yeah, we're on our way up."
"Ok." she said before nearly vomiting from nerves.
When she pulled herself together she returned to the living room and stood before the door, waiting for them to arrive. As she stood there staring at the closed door, Stephanie tried to imagine what Eva would look like.
'Probably tall, skinny, and drop dead gorgeous.' she huffed to herself. And just as she was about to chastise herself for being cruel the door flung open.
Ranger was the first one through, followed by Kat, then a tall, muscular man who was undoubtedly Daniel. And last but not least, Eva entered.
"Babe. Meet Daniel and Eva." Ranger said as he slid into place next to Stephanie.
"So nice to meet you Steph. Ranger's told us so much about you." Eva said as she extended her hand.
"Thanks, you too." Was all Stephanie could say in reply. Stephanie shook her hand then stepped back to take in the woman before her. She was nothing as she had pictured her. Instead of being tall, she was short, barely coming up to Steph's shoulders.
Skinny wouldn't describe this woman either. She wasn't fat, but she didn't have a models figure either. Her breasts were large and motherly, her waist was stout and straight and her hips flared into smooth humps above her legs.
Stephanie also imagined that not many people would classify Eva as drop dead gorgeous. That isn't to say she wasn't attractive, because she was. But instead of exuding born bred beauty, Eva's allure seemed to come from within. She held herself with an air of confidence that people would immediately be drawn to. She looked comfortable in her own skin, but more importantly, she moved as if she knew exactly how to use her body.
Eva had beautiful shiny black hair that fell just above her shoulders and a dark, rich complexion that screamed of her Cuban heritage. Her best feature was undoubtedly her smile. It was the type of smile that could make you feel relaxed and comfortable in a matter of seconds.
"My God Ric, what have you done to her. She's simply glowing." Eva said as she held Steph's hands wide to take a look at her.
Stephanie blushed as Ranger pulled her further into his body. "It was nothing of my doing. She glows like this all the time." He answered then gave her a quick kiss on the top of the head.
Pulling away from both Ranger and Eva's touch, Stephanie laughed. "Ok, ok. Enough about me. How was the flight?"
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Later that evening as Stephanie unhooked her earrings in front of the dresser mirror, Ranger joined her in the bedroom.
"Did you get them settled?" Steph asked.
"For now. Most of their clothes are unpacked so they should be fine until tomorrow." Ranger answered her. He took a few steps closer to her and allowed his hands to slide around to cup her belly. He nipped at her now, bare shoulder as he gently rubbed her stomach. "So what did you think of Eva and Daniel?"
Stephanie laid the last earring on the dresser and turned slowly in Ranger's arms. When she was facing him she let her arms slide up his chest until her hands hooked behind his neck.
"I think they're fabulous. I definitely see why you thought they would be so great together. I noticed that they even have a some sort of silent communication. They seem to know what each other is thinking, just with a single look." Stephanie said.
Ranger kissed and licked her shoulder before slowly moving towards her neck. He stopped only long enough to reply, "Some people say the same thing about us."
Stephanie laughed, "You mean the ESP thing? I think you're the only one in the family with that talent."
Ranger pulled away quickly and locked his eyes with hers. Scared by his sudden change in mood Stephanie asked, "What's wrong?"
"That's the first time you've called us a family babe."
Relaxing again into his arms she sighed, "And it won't be the last."
"Better not be." He said as his lips once again sought out her neck.
It was Stephanie that pushed away the next time. She broke from his embrace and walked towards the bathroom, talking to him as she went. "You know that book I've been reading?"
"The What to Expect one?" asked Ranger who was now settling into bed.
"Yeah. Well, I read a real interesting section in it last night."
"You did?" He questioned.
Stephanie flicked off the bathroom light and once again joined Ranger in the bedroom. The bedside lamp was the only light in the room and it shone across his bare chest giving it a golden glow. He tossed back the covers of the bed and made room for her.
"I did. The chapter was about hormonal changes in the 2nd trimester."
When she slid into the bed, Ranger immediately wrapped an arm around her waist and dragged her on top of him. "What about them babe?"
Before lowering her lips to his she said, "It appears that during the 2nd trimester some women experience an increase in their sex drives."
Ranger lifted his head and met her lips half way. When he pulled back he said, "Are you one of those women?"
Stephanie smiled and said, "There's only one way to find out."
In one quick move, Ranger rolled them over until he had her pinned beneath him. "Actually babe, I can think of a few more ways than just one." As his wolf grin slide into place, Stephanie's toes instinctively began to curl.
To be Continued…