Chapter 2

Frank could see that Ranger loved his daughter. He wasn't too fond of the games Ranger played, but the man was in love. Only a man in love would drop everything to run to her aid. Not a lot of men could handle military life and family life simultaneously. It takes more than wanting both to make it happen. In more ways than one, Frank failed his family. More specifically, he failed Stephanie.

His pumpkin used to be energetic and lively. Stephanie never let anyone get her down. Many girls were jealous that no matter what happened, Stephanie always wore a smile. She loved life. The boys followed her around from the time she started school. Stephanie never noticed them.

When Frank stopped at the next red light, he looked at Stephanie. She sat with her hands together, and her chin dropped to her chest. Frank did not like to see his daughter look so defeated. Sometime over the last few years, she started to lose pieces of her personality.

Stephanie felt her dad studying her. Too many questions ran through her head as she looked at the chipped nail polish on her fingers. The only question she wanted answered was why did she let people push her around?

"I failed you as a father," Frank stated. "My missions were tough. When I came home, you ran to me and jumped into my arms. Your mother would get mad, but you were always happy to see me. I looked forward to seeing your bright smile. It was my sunshine on a dark, gloomy day. Pumpkin, I've heard some things. If I ask you a question, would you answer it honestly?"

She studied her father's face before she replied, "Yes, of course." Frank looked tired. Stephanie knew his question would be difficult for her to answer but hard for him to hear.

He ran his fingers through his short curly hair. "What happened in Morelli's garage when you were six?" Frank got told Helen's version of events. What he heard through the grapevine was entirely different from Helen's story.

Stephanie twisted her fingers together and picked at the chipped nail polish. Quietly, she gave her dad the details of what took place. He used all of his Ranger training to maintain a blank face as he listened. How could Helen want Stephanie to marry that man? Her words matched the grapevine rumour.

A tear dripped from Stephanie's chin as she told her dad everything. Frank didn't ask about the Tasty Pastry incident, but she told him all the same. She took responsibility for what happened. The combination of curiosity and a crush made her vulnerable. Morelli took advantage of her curiosity, vulnerability and naivety.

Frank did not like how Helen punished Stephanie for both incidents. Helen blamed Stephanie instead of the person at fault. He wanted to kill Joe for all the harm he caused his favourite daughter. Helen needed to pay for her role in diminishing Stephanie's self-esteem.

"Thanks for the ride home, daddy," Stephanie said as she got out of the car. Stephanie didn't look at her dad. She was afraid to see the disappointment in his eyes. He may have mastered the blank look, but his eyes betrayed his emotions. Frank watched his daughter shiver as she ran towards the door. He waited until the light in her apartment turned on before he left.

Stephanie walked into her empty apartment. The squeak of the hamster wheel in the kitchen made her smile. She walked through her tidy living room and headed towards her furry friend. "Hey, Rex. Happy birthday," she greeted as she dropped a tiny piece of cake into the cage. Rex stopped running on his wheel to grab the treat. He stuffed it into his cheeks before hiding in his soup can.

She loved her fur baby. Rex turned four today. Stephanie was surprised he lived this long. Hamsters generally live between two and four years. Any day, she could wake up to find him dead.

Frank drove past the bond office on his way home. He noticed activity in the alley beside the building. Frank parked his car a few blocks away and quietly ran towards Vinnie's office to see what was happening. As he got closer, he heard a woman moan and a man grunt. "I'm not done, Joe," the woman stated.

"Don't care. I got what I wanted," Joe replied. Frank snapped a few pictures before he retreated. As he walked down the sidewalk, he saw Hector run past him. The smallest Rangeman was protecting his daughter.

After she climbed into bed, Stephanie heard the locks on her door tumble. She grabbed a shoe and walked towards the door. Joe was swaying on his feet. He reeked of stale beer and sex. "Give me the key!" Stephanie growled.

"Come and get it," Joe snarled. Joe held the keys up high and snatched the shoe from Stephanie's right hand. Stephanie took advantage of their close proximity and kneed him in the nuts. He fell to the floor, dropped the shoe and keys. She snatched the keychain and removed her apartment key.

"We're through. Get out of my apartment," Stephanie snapped.

"You and I are not over. I will get you to marry me," Joe said as he slowly stood up. He grabbed the keys while holding his balls. If Stephanie kept kneeing his nuts, he won't be able to have kids. Joe knew someone who could swap out Stephanie's birth control. What she doesn't know won't hurt, right?

Stephanie grabbed her shoe before she noticed Joe's phone on the floor. It must had dropped from his pocket. Stephanie entered his birthdate to unlock the phone. She was read when the last call he received was from Barnhardt. Stephanie tossed Joe's phone out the door and hit him in the back. She slammed the door and turned the locks.

Joe said he changed, that he didn't sleep around. Lies. All he told were lies. Stephanie questioned everything she heard from Joe. Was he working with Terry at the hotel? Stephanie heard the rumours. She didn't want to believe Joe would step out on her. Sure, Ranger kissed her while Stephanie dated Morelli, but Stephanie never had sex with him while dating Joe. She climbed into her unmade bed and cried. "I'm an idiot," Stephanie sobbed. Even when Bella cast vordo on her, she didn't sleep with Ranger until Joe forced the pause.

Today was Valentine's Day. Stephanie broke up with Joe the night before and didn't expect any gifts. She dragged her tired body from the bed and zombie walked to her bathroom. Stephanie stripped, then stepped into the shower. Once the hot water hit her back, she was fully awake. The hot water ran out before she finished rinsing. It wouldn't be her first Valentine's Day without a boyfriend.

Stephanie wrapped a towel around her, then tucked the end into the space between her breasts. She grabbed a smaller towel to dry her hair. It was her Rangeman day, so she got dressed in her Rangeman uniform. "I could really use a coffee and donut," Stephanie mumbled as she walked into the kitchen.

On the counter next to Rex's cage, Stephanie found a bouquet of daisies, a single red rose, a cup of coffee and a Tasty Pastry bag. She smiled as she read the card in the daisies. Happy Valentine's Day, Sunshine ~D.

She lifted the red rose and sniffed. It was fragrant and perfect, like the man who gave her the flower. A gold chain got delicately wrapped around the stem. Stephanie unwound the chain and read, Babe. She immediately slipped the chain over her head, letting the pendant fall between her breasts. Stephanie looked at the beautiful charm. It was a gold heart surrounded by diamonds. "Babe," got inscribed in the centre.

When she opened the bag, she found a Boston creme donut. She pinched off a small piece and dropped it into Rex's cage. He wiggled his butt and backed out of the soup can. After he grabbed the food, Rex disappeared again. Stephanie ate the donut in a few bites. Thank you, Batman, she thought.

Stephanie skidded to a stop when she saw Ranger leaning against his 911 turbo. Sexy car and sexy man, Stephanie thought as she walked towards Ranger. He was everything she wanted, wrapped up in a sexy package. She saw his lip twitch as though he could hear her thoughts.

Ranger smiled as Stephanie approached him. He noticed the chocolate at the corner of her lips. Stephanie licked her lips. His eyes darkened as he continued to stare at the chocolate. When Stephanie stood in front of him, Ranger leaned down to lick the chocolate from her lips. Stephanie moaned as Ranger licked her lips then sucked on her tongue. He broke the kiss and whispered, "Yum. Chocolate."

"Oh my God. Do I have chocolate on my lips?" Stephanie asked, her face felt flushed from the heated kiss.

"Not anymore, Babe," Ranger growled.

"You can lick chocolate off of me anytime," Stephanie said out loud.

"Babe," Ranger said before he slammed his mouth against her, kissing her until Stephanie's legs weakened. After he broke the kiss, he leaned his forehead against her head. "You're making me want things I don't deserve."

"Carlos, you deserve love and so much more," Stephanie whispered. Ranger's heart rate increased after he heard her words. He loved her with his whole heart. Until she permanently kicked the cop to the curb, he won't give in to the hope of someday. Carlos couldn't handle the heartbreak. Stephanie needed to be one hundred percent committed to him.

Ranger pulled Stephanie to the passenger side of his car. He opened the door and waited for Stephanie to move her legs inside. After he closed the door, Ranger ran around the front and jumped into the driver's seat. Ranger smiled when he heard Stephanie moan from the soft leather seats. He discretely fixed himself when he buckled his seatbelt.

Stephanie's head fell back as she sat in the buttery leather seats. Her eyes closed automatically as the senses and memory of sex in the car ran through her mind. The sound of the horn honking as her ass slammed against it. How they never got caught that day, she would never know.

"Do you have plans tonight?" Ranger asked.

"No," she replied. "Are you looking for a date?" Her voice sounded husky. Thoughts of what they could do tonight rushed through her mind.

"Babe," he groaned as his body reacted to her sexy voice. "I need your help for a distraction."

Stephanie felt slightly disappointed. She hasn't gone on a Valentine's Day date since Dickie proposed to her many years ago. For once, she would like to be part of a couple making goo-goo eyes at each other across the table. Stephanie looked outside the passenger seat window. "I'm available to help," she said as she fought back the tear that threatened to drop from her eye.

Ranger reached over to wipe the tear from Stephanie's face. Every time he saw her cry, it broke his heart. Her emotions were closer to the surface today from PMS. Ranger grabbed her hand and placed it in his lap. He stroked his thumb across her hand, in attempt to offer comfort. His Babe should not cry on the most romantic day of the year.

She felt Ranger stroke her hand. The tingles ran up her arm and threatened to make her body shiver from desire. Stephanie watched the people on the street to distract herself. Ranger incited many dirty thoughts through his touch. She felt him shift their joined hands. If Stephanie moved her fingers, she would be touching his erection. Boy, did she want to touch him.

The sexual tension in the car built. Ranger had to get to Rangeman to take a cold shower. He could smell the pheromones emanate from her body. It was the most intoxicating scent. No other woman appealed to him more than Babe. It was as if Babe got created solely for him, but Ranger had to prove it to her first.

Ranger quickly parked and pulled Stephanie from the car. The second they entered the elevator, he scrambled the cameras and kissed her. All the love he felt for Stephanie got poured into the kiss. When they reached the seventh floor, he pulled her into his apartment as he removed her clothes. It's been a few months since Stephanie had sex with anyone. She craved the intimacy nearly as much as she craved sweets.

They got caught up in the moment and made love without using protection. Ranger knew she was clean from her latest blood tests. Since the day they met, Stephanie was the only woman he bedded. Carlos didn't want anyone else. As Stephanie screamed his name, he moaned, in Spanish, "Babe. I love you heart and soul."

Stephanie couldn't understand what Carlos said, but it made her feel loved. If love is enough, they'd be together already. Carlos is a thorough lover, and she felt sated after their intimacy. Ranger was not a selfish lover like Joe and Dickie. He made sure she was satisfied before taking his pleasure from her body. She wanted to tell Carlos that she loved him, but was afraid to scare him away. Instead, she joked, "Crap! I missed my meeting with the boss."

Ranger chuckled, "Babe." He kissed Stephanie before he got out of bed. Ranger walked naked to the washroom and returned with a washcloth and towel. He gently washed Stephanie before he lifted her from the bed. They made love again in the shower. Ranger couldn't get enough of this woman. Stephanie was embarrassed when she realized her period started. He shrugged it off and passed her a tampon.