Chapter 5
A few weeks after they planted the cameras, Hector started a betting pool to see which woman got pregnant. His money was on Charmaine, while Miguel said, Terry Gilman. Their friends bet on Joyce Barnhardt or Connie Rosolli. Miguel returned a few times to puncture the new condoms. If Morelli wants a baby, he will get a baby. It won't be Stephanie's baby.
Stephanie was working to find a skip Ranger was having difficulty locating. Dario Lopez was proving hard to pin down. She spent the last week working primarily at Rangeman after Joe confronted her outside of Vinnie's office. Joe was insistent on getting back together with her, but she wasn't interested. To get tricked into having a child did not appeal to her.
Ranger backed off completely. He recognized the signs that Joe would win Stephanie back over. Stephanie, however, was insistent it was not going to happen. Not wanting to risk heartbreak, Ranger took a step back.
"Do you have a minute?" Stephanie asked from Ranger's office doorway.
"For you? Always," he replied. "Close the door."
Stephanie told Ranger about the convention happening in Atlantic City in a few weeks, at the end of March. "It's the Hard Rock Memorabilia collection," Stephanie explained. "There's supposed to be a ring that belonged to Elvis Presley. Dario's been trying to steal it for years."
"What do we need?" Ranger asked.
"Dario has a crush on Cher. If I straighten my hair and wear the type of clothes she wore early in her career, I'm positive I could get him to leave with me," Stephanie replied.
Ranger raised an eyebrow. He wasn't saying no, but he wanted more information before saying yes. She showed him photos of her wearing different outfits from last year when she looked for the perfect Halloween costume. His eyes darkened when she showed him the one of her wearing Cher's disco fashion look. The tight, low-rise red pants and crop top showed a lot of Stephanie's abdomen. "That one," Ranger moaned.
"I guess it's a date?" Stephanie asked. She smiled when he selected the costume she had hidden in her dresser.
"It's a date," Ranger readily agreed. He moved around the desk and pulled Stephanie close to his chest. His lips hungrily kissed her lips as he gently pushed his tongue into her mouth.
Stephanie moaned and wrapped her legs around Ranger. As his kiss got heated, her core started clenching before she screamed, "Ouch. Put me down." Tears streamed down her face.
"Babe?"
"Cramps. Really bad. Need to lay down," Stephanie said through tears and pain. Stephanie takes birth control pills for a few reasons. She won't get pregnant, and the cramps would be tolerable. However, there's the odd time where she still gets intense pain.
Ranger carried Babe to her apartment on the fourth floor. He laid her on the bed and slipped off her shoes. Ranger grabbed a few Advil for her to take. She swallowed the pills with water. He removed his boots and climbed into the bed beside her. They fell asleep with Stephanie pressed against Ranger's chest. His warm hand rested on her abdomen below her belly button.
Joe started coming around Stephanie's apartment late at night. She wasn't comfortable staying there after hearing someone on her fire escape. Her spidey sense indicated she should stay at Rangeman. Every time she looked at her bedroom window, she shivered.
Ella knocked on Stephanie's Rangeman apartment door. Stephanie got dressed for working at Rangeman. "Morning," Stephanie greeted.
"I brought you scrambled eggs, sausage and pancakes for breakfast," Ella announced.
"Bless you," Stephanie responded. "Can you adopt me?"
Ella smiled as she patted Stephanie's cheek. "You're my daughter in my heart." She remembered the day Ranger brought Stephanie into Rangeman had surprised the men. They got used to Jean Ellen Burrows a few years earlier. Ella knew Carlos never slept with the woman, but she also knew Stephanie suspected they did.
Jean Ellen got trained by the men and worked the distractions. Ella didn't like the woman. Jean is beautiful and caring, but she's too dominant for Carlos. She preferred to dress like Carlos and take down the men herself. Carlos likes a strong woman, but he also enjoys being needed. Jean Ellen did not rely on men to help her. She was too headstrong, and it didn't appeal to Carlos. After a second incident of taking over the distraction, Ranger terminated her contract at Rangeman. He met Stephanie the following day. Stephanie makes Ella's surrogate sons happy. Anybody who makes the Merry Men feel loved was important to Ella.
Tank made arrangements in the Atlantic City hotel for Ranger, Stephanie, Lester, Hal, Bobby and himself. Cal and Vince would run Rangeman in his absence. Ranger and Stephanie would share the honeymoon suite. The others will stay in the suite next door. It would require sharing the king-sized beds, but it wouldn't be the first time.
Thursday evening arrived in a snap. Stephanie had her bag packed for the weekend. She opened the suitcase to make sure everything she needed for the distraction Friday evening got packed. Cher costume? Check. Sexy red high heels? Check. Five lingerie sets? Check. Ranger's shirt? Check. Jeans and tops? Check. She added makeup, hair products, straightening iron and socks to the bag before zipping it closed.
As usual, Ranger's timing was impeccable. He arrived while Stephanie pulled on her boots. "Babe?" Ranger entered Stephanie's Rangeman apartment. She was wearing tight jeans and a blue sweater. The colour enhanced her eyes, making them look more intense than usual. Stephanie's hair lay in tight curls to her shoulders.
"Hey, Batman. I'm almost ready," Stephanie replied. Ranger couldn't stop staring at her breasts. The fabric clung to her body like a glove. Stephanie smiled when she caught Ranger staring at her. "Do you like what you see?"
Ranger took a few strides towards Stephanie. "Always," he growled. He pulled her off the couch and slammed his mouth against her, pouring his emotions into the connection. She moaned as Ranger grabbed her head. He threading his fingers through the curly locks before he gently tugged her head back to kiss her neck. Much too soon, he ended the kiss and rested his forehead against her. In Spanish, he said, "I'm irrevocably in love with you."
"We should go," Stephanie whispered instead of saying the words she longed to say. She loves Carlos beyond all reason. Ranger released his grip on Stephanie and grabbed her suitcase. Stephanie grabbed her thermal jacket and followed Ranger to the garage.
He placed the suitcase next to his in the trunk of the Turbo 911 before guiding Stephanie to the passenger side. Ranger opened her door and waited for her to get seated. They got halfway to Atlantic City when Ranger pulled off the highway onto a deserted dirt road. He grabbed his phone to call Tank. "We'll meet you there," Ranger said, then hung up. "Babe."
Ranger moved his seat back as far as it would go. He reached for Stephanie and pulled her over the console. Stephanie kicked off her right boot. With more skill than Stephanie typically displayed, she got his pants unbuttoned and unzipped. Ranger removed her right leg from the tight jeans. He opened the driver's side door to give Stephanie room. "Carlos," Stephanie groaned. Neither of them noticed the horn as they made love. Ranger gave Stephanie some tissue to clean herself. He waited for her to move back to the passenger seat and pull herself together before continuing the drive.
Once Ranger started driving again, Stephanie realized they didn't use protection. She stared out the window and watched the scenery. Thank goodness she was taking birth control. The last thing she wanted was to get pregnant. However, having a mini Carlos wouldn't be too horrible. Stephanie shook the thought from her head.
God, that woman is responsive, Ranger thought to himself. He loved everything about her. Babe was quirky, loving, generous, resilient and gorgeous. She found herself in dangerous situations many times but always rose above. Nothing got her down. It made him love her more. They held hands as their journey continued.
Stephanie got lost in her thoughts as Ranger parked behind the hotel. Her Merry Men patiently waited for her to exit the car. Lester smirked and wiggled his eyebrows when he saw Stephanie's messy hair. He knew Ranger and Stephanie stopped for a quickie. Stephanie rolled her eyes and walked towards the group.
Hal ran towards the 911 to grab the suitcases. They walked into the hotel lobby together but let Tank handle the registration. "Our room in two hours," Ranger said after Tank gave him the keycard.
Ranger dragged Stephanie towards the elevator. He didn't bother grabbing their luggage. One of his men would bring it to the room. Ranger's hand rested on the small of Stephanie's back. She felt the heat from the light touch. Even though they stopped to have sex, Stephanie felt her desire for Carlos grow. The sexual energy in the elevator became nearly impossible to ignore.
When the elevator doors opened on the top floor, Ranger lifted Stephanie while he wrapped her legs around his waist. He nipped, kissed and sucked on her lips as he guided her to their room. The second the door closed behind them, Ranger stripped Stephanie and carried her to the bedroom. He closed that door behind them before he dropped Stephanie onto the bed. Stephanie watched Carlos quickly strip and crawl up the bed. Good lord, he looked sexy. After screaming his name for the third time, they climbed from bed to take a shower.
Tank unlocked the honeymoon suite using the spare keycard. He heard Ranger and Stephanie having sex in the shower. Tank smiled and hoped Ranger finally pulled his head from his ass. Stephanie made Carlos a better man. He knew they were in love and wondered when Carlos would get the balls to marry Stephanie. When Ranger gave Stephanie the stupid excuses, Tank wanted to smack him in the back of his head.
Lester, Hal, Bobby and Tank entered the suite while Stephanie dried her hair. Ranger waited for Babe to join them before going over the plans. Stephanie could smell the food in the other room. She pulled her hair into a ponytail, giving up on forcing it to cooperate. Instead of wearing the clothes Carlos removed earlier, she pulled on a pair of yoga pants and Ranger's shirt.
Hal gave Stephanie a plate of Chinese food as her stomach growled in appreciation. The men discreetly fixed themselves as Stephanie ate. She always noticed their hands move to shift the erection. They thought she never saw, but she always did. Stephanie never brought their attention to the motion. Carlos didn't bother fixing himself. Getting an erection from his Babe's moans was inevitable.
Ranger ran through their plan several times before he dismissed the men. He craved time alone with his Babe. She was everything he wanted in a woman. No other woman could hold a candle to her. Stephanie doesn't think of herself as attractive. Quite often, she said her looks were average. When Ranger looked at Stephanie, he sees more than average. Her inner beauty shone through to illuminate the outward beauty.
Stephanie woke up early the following morning. Her legs were like jello from the number of times she had sex with Carlos. The bed was empty beside her, but the sheets were still warm. She heard the shower as she walked towards the washroom. Carlos could sense Babe the second she entered the bathroom. He waited for her to use the toilet before he pulled her into the shower. "We don't have time, Carlos," she moaned as Ranger pressed her against the tile.
"I'll be quick," he groaned. Stephanie's knees got weak. Ranger may have been quick, but he was thorough. Her heart was full of love for Carlos. Each time they connected intimately made her fall more in love with him.
Stephanie stood in front of the bathroom mirror, straightening her hair. It was tedious but necessary. Lester knocked as he asked, "Beautiful, are you ready?"
"Nope. Still straightening my hair. It's a process you can't rush," she replied.
He opened the door to assist with the back. Stephanie tightened the tie of the robe around her waist. Lester removed the straightening iron from her hand. "Work on your makeup. I've got your hair," he whispered.
Stephanie was grateful to have some help to get ready. Her sexy shower with Ranger put them behind schedule by thirty minutes. She had no regrets. Lester watched Stephanie's facial expressions as various thoughts ran through her mind. He could tell when she thought about Ranger. Her thighs squeezed together as she wiggled her ass. Lucky bastard, Lester thought.
Most of the Merry Men were half in love with Stephanie. They saw her as their sunshine, the beacon of light to guide them home. Stephanie made them better men by accepting them, warts and all.
Lester watched Stephanie apply eyeshadow and mascara that caused her eyes to shine a deeper blue. He couldn't stop himself from staring. She's beautiful. Lester kissed the top of her head before he unplugged the iron. "I'm done," he whispered.
"Thanks, Les. I appreciate the help," Stephanie responded.
Ranger watched Lester enter the bathroom to help Babe style her hair. He wasn't surprised since Lester often helped braid Bobby's hair into the neat rows. "Is Babe nearly ready?" Ranger asked Lester when he returned.
"Beautiful needs to change out of her robe into the costume," Lester answered. Ranger nodded in acknowledgment.
They only had to wait another five minutes before Stephanie joined them in the living room of the honeymoon suite. "Holy crap," Hal said as he blushed bright red. Stephanie winked at Hal, which caused him to blush more. Bobby, Tank and Lester were speechless. They loved seeing Stephanie in her distraction outfits, but this one was more revealing. The pants outlined every curve and muscle from her hips to her knees. Stephanie blushed when she noticed them staring at her crotch. She couldn't wear lingerie beneath the outfit.
Ranger approached Stephanie to place the mic between her breasts. It was the only place to put the device to prevent it from showing. He loved the feel of her long straight hair but preferred to tangle his fingers into the curls. "Babe," he whispered against her lips as his hand moved up her top to place the mic. Stephanie's eyes glazed over as Ranger lightly stroked her breast. "Mic check."
"Testing, testing," Stephanie mumbled. The men nodded to indicate the device was working. Ranger placed his hand on Stephanie's lower back as he guided her to the elevator.
Stephanie entered the convention room after Ranger, Lester, Hal, Bobby and Tank got situated. She looked around at the various displays. Everything was in pristine condition as though loved by the owner. Stephanie longed for Ranger to love her enough to have their 'someday' now. As she looked at the display of jewelry that belonged to Elvis Presley's estate, Dario Lopez approached her. "You look absolutely stunning," he whispered as he stroked his hand along her exposed back.
"Thank you," she said as she gave him a wink. "Could you excuse me for a minute? I need to use the ladies' room." In her mind, Stephanie was screaming, "Abort. Abort." Dario Lopez was sending her spidey sense into flight mode. She needed to get away from him as fast as possible.
"Sure thing, gorgeous," he replied. He waited a few seconds before he followed her from the room.
Ranger watched as Dario followed Stephanie from the conference room. "Babe is scared. Move in," Ranger ordered.
Dario grabbed Stephanie's arm before she could open the washroom door. Ranger and Tank suddenly appeared and apprehended Lopez. Stephanie relaxed when Tank dragged Dario from the hotel. They would head back to Trenton to turn Lopez over to the TPD.
Stephanie and Ranger returned to their hotel room. Ranger wasn't ready to go home. "Stay with me for the weekend," Ranger whispered.
"Okay," she replied. They didn't leave their hotel room all weekend.