Author's note: Sorry for any typos. I try hard to keep the grammar mistakes and typos to a minimum. I know they can distract from the story.
Chapter SixteenI eased out of bed, a little sore, but certainly smiling. Ranger had gotten up very early, saying something about a run. I heard the shower running. Before I made it to the bathroom, the water was turned off. He entered the bedroom, wrapped in one of the bath sheets, smiling at me.
"You're finally up," he stated. He leaned down to kiss me.
I knew that I had to look terrible. My hair had a tendency not to take night of wild sex lying down. It usually stood up in the wildest of places. I was afraid to look in a mirror, but more afraid to have Ranger look at me.
"Don't look at me," I cried. "My hair has to be a mess."
Ranger smiled softly, "Yes, but I have the pleasure of remembering how it got that way." He pulled me into his arms.
Now this was the way to start one's morning. He felt right. He felt like we belonged to each other. I sure couldn't let him know what I was thinking. I was too afraid of scaring him off.
"Hey, get showered and dressed. We have to get to the station to press the charges against Willard Noble."
I had almost forgotten about him. I hurried through my morning routine. I had to wash my hair, but didn't want to spend much time on fixing it so I pulled it back with an elastic band. I found the cap I usually wore and covered up the rest as much as possible.
Ranger was waiting for me in the living room, paper bag in hand.
"Tank bought this for you. Felt sorry for setting you up last night." Ranger handed me the bag of donuts.
I sighed contently as I reached inside for the waiting Boston Crème. Ranger laughed, but didn't say another word. He escorted me to the elevator. I finished the first donut and was thinking of the second when we reached the garage.
"Are you going to let me eat these in your truck?" I chided.
Ranger looked over at me and replied, "Sure, if you take off the hat?"
"What's wrong with the hat?" He never said anything about it before.
"Can't see you hair and I like your hair." He removed the offending hat himself, freeing my hair from the elastic band at the same time. It wasn't dry, so it didn't poof out as much as it usually did. Ranger ran his fingers through to the ends. A very sexy feeling, I had to admit.
"We're going to the station, right?" Both of us needed to focus or we would never leave the parking garage.
Ranger seemed to catch himself and I could tell he was as lost in the feeling as I was. "Yeah," he managed to respond. "The station."
I figured that Joe would probably be there as well. I was okay with seeing him again, but wasn't sure how Ranger would take it.
"Have you talked to Joe?" I figured Ranger probably had the chance.
"Yeah, he's waiting for us." He stole a glance in my direction.
It didn't need to be said that Joe knew where I spent the night. Today would be the best test I could think of to see how we both were dealing with the separation. I had Ranger, but Joe was alone.
"Okay," I said, not returning Ranger's glance.
The Trenton police station was pretty nondescript. A totally utilitarian building, it blended with the surrounding properties. Ranger pulled the SUV into a visitor-parking place and we got out at the same time. We passed Constanza on the way in.
"Hey Stephanie," he shouted. "Heard about your adventures last night. You're the talk of the precinct, yet again."
I know it was childish, but I just stuck my tongue out at him. I heard Ranger laugh.
"Come on, Babe, time to face the music. That cop is actually your friend. You can bet that you and Morelli will be hearing about this for some time." I could swear that Ranger actually seemed pleased with himself.
"Manoso, Stephanie, come on with me." Joe was waiting for us inside. We followed him to conference room. "I'll get the detective in charge."
"Wait, Joe, before you do that, can I talk to you privately?" I turned to Ranger, who just stood up to leave.
"Yeah, Okay." He sat down at the conference table.
"I'm guessing that you're getting a lot of flack about Ranger's capture of Noble last night," I started.
Joe's jaw clinched. It took him a moment, but he looked me in the eye and answered, "Not the capture, the method. Using you as a lure for the guy. What was he thinking? For god sakes, Stephanie, you were in his bed."
I figured this conversation would have to take place sooner or later. "Yes, I was in his bed. I was used as a lure to capture a guy who kidnapped my father. It was my choice, Joe. I wanted the guy caught. I figured he'd be stupid enough to try to get into Rangeman. He didn't appear to know about Ranger. Lord knows why he didn't, but the plan worked. I'm not sorry I took part in it, but I am sorry if it embarrassed you at all."
Joe rubbed his jaw. I knew that look. He was hurt and disappointed. I could see his side. If he had dumped me and then within a few days was discovered sleeping with someone like Terry, I would be hurt.
I liked Joe and wanted to stay on his good side. "Joe, I swear that I never wanted to see you hurt. I still care about you, in my own way."
He tossed up his hands. "I was never very good at staying mad at you for long, you know it. I just want you to be happy, Cupcake. I swear if Manoso hurts you, he will answer to me."
"Thanks, Joe," I said and kissed him on the cheek.
Of course, Ranger picked that moment to come back into the room.
Before I could speak, Joe locked eyes with Ranger. "Try not to use her to lure any more crazy people, will you?"
Ranger just shook his head. Joe left the room and Ranger sat down in the chair next to mine.
"Babe, you two okay now?"
"Yeah, we're fine now."
The paperwork at the station took longer than I expected. We were late arriving as it was because I had slept most of the morning. My mother had called to remind me about dinner.
I looked at Ranger as I talked to her. He shook his head, indicating to me that he would join me for dinner. "Yeah, Mom, both of us will be there. How's Dad?" My mother proceeded to fill me in on all the calls and the rumors she's heard.
"Your father wants to know if it is true that that man broke into Ranger's apartment and tried to kidnap you? And what, young lady, were you doing in Ranger's apartment?" Leave it to my mother to bring this up now.
"Mom, I'll explain everything later. See you in an hour or so."
"Dinner is at six. Do not be late." As if I needed reminding of that.
Ranger took me to the mall and we did some quick shopping. I was surprised when he actually went into Victoria Secret with me. I was further surprised when he picked out several items, in the correct size I might add, and bought them for me.
"They're more for me than you," he stated flatly when he saw my expression.
We purchased jeans, tee shirts and sweaters. I was paying for the lot when Ranger seemed to disappear. I stood at the checkout counter looking around for him when he ambled up, holding a very sexy black dress.
"Thought you could us this for distraction jobs," he offered, putting the dress on the counter and proceeding to pay for it.
"Yeah," he continued. "I think I would find you very distracting wearing this."
I had to smile. Ranger told a joke.
We went back to the apartment so that I could change clothes and he could check in with the guys. It was after five o'clock but we had time for a quick shower before left. It wasn't that either of us needed the shower part, but it provided a really good excuse for us to have our hands all over each other.
I dressed in the new jeans and sweater I just purchased, after putting on one of the bra and panty outfits Ranger bought for me. He watched me dress appreciatively and I returned the favor as he donned a pair of black slacks and a pullover sweater than practically melted onto his body.
"How do you manage to buy clothes that seem to be made to showcase your body?" I asked him, licking my lips for emphasis.
"You keep looking at me like that and we miss dinner." A fact, nothing more. I wouldn't have stopped him.
We arrived at my parents' house right on time. My father actually got out of his chair to greet Ranger. He kissed me on the cheek as well. This new Dad was a bit scary, but I think I could grow to love him.
"Your mother and father have been discussing your living arrangements with stud muffin here," Grandma Mazar interjected.
Oh no, here we go. "Seems that they think you and big boy here are shacking up. Are you?"
Well, that depends on your definition of shacking up. Sleeping together, sharing an apartment, yeah, we're shacking up. The question was what about commitment. Shacking up didn't necessary imply commitment, so it was as good a term as any?
Before I could reply, I heard Ranger answer. "Stephanie and I are currently sharing my apartment." He had such a sexy voice.
Grandma didn't seem appeased by that answer. "You sleeping with my granddaughter?" Ranger tensed, not knowing how to answer.
Who's sleeping? Would have been my first response, but these were my parents!
Once again, Ranger beat me to the punch.
"Stephanie is a grown woman who can make her own decisions. I think it would be impolite to talk about her personal life, or mine for that matter, without her consent."
Clever answer, but Grandma was even cleverer. "I wouldn't stop you if you wanted to sleep with me," she offered. "I'm beating Steph feels the same way."
I only grinned at Grandma. The woman had a one-tract mind. "We'll talk about this later, Grandma, when it's just us girls."
She wiggled her eyebrows in acknowledgement. Ranger smiled at me. "I'll have to let Sadie know that there are more than fourteen good ways to leave a relationship. My granddaughter may have found the best one."
I had no clue what she meant, but knew that she would tell me eventually.
We finished dinner without any of the usual distractions or comments that landed me in particular in trouble. My father actually carried on a brief, if not one-sided, conversation with Ranger. Mom had made my favorite pineapple upside cake. While I enjoyed the cake, Ranger filled my parents in on the arrest of Willard Noble. I noted that he left out a few details that he was afraid would embarrass me. I helped my mother with dishes, leaving Ranger to deal with Grandma's incessant questioning.
"Babe, your family is something else. Remember how I said that you were like your father? Well, I think a part of you came straight from Grandma Mazur. That woman had to have been something in her day. That woman has sex on her mind all the time."
To be honest, who could blame Grandma when she was sitting there with Ranger? Shoot, I had sex on my mind when I was in the room with him as well.
"She's not totally responsible for that, you know. You do look very sexy tonight. If you could read my mind, you might find it on the same tract as Grandma."
Ranger took me in his arms, leaning back against his Porsche. "Well, I have to admit, it's a lot easier to take you feeling sexy than your grandmother." He kissed me gently. "Your grandmother talking about sex is creepy."
I reached up to kiss him again. Before I could stop myself, I said, "Where's all this leading, you and me?"
Ranger looked deeply into my eyes. "Wherever you want, Babe. Wherever you want."
"I thought you didn't do relationships?"
He smiled, that mega-watt smile that could light up my world. "Maybe I changed my mind," he offered. "Maybe I have decided you're worth the risk."
"Risk?" I wasn't sure what he meant.
"Risk, as in my heart."
I couldn't say another word. I just leaned into him, listening to the steady beat of his heart, feeling the warmth wash over me and finding peace.
"Babe, let's go home."
THE END.