Timeline: Five years ago they left Trenton, they were in a relationship for three. Ranger left and two years later returned. This story takes place over a year's time so don't think he's getting off easy in any part of this.


Chapter Two

Now

Carlos POV:

I walked into the Rangeman gym at five in the morning, and I was surprised by what I saw. Steph was in the sparring ring with Tank.

She bounced back as he swung at her, before faking a stomach shot and nailing him in the jaw with a right hook. Tank stumbled backward, clutching his jaw.

I watched as she bounced on the balls of her feet. She looked damn good, and not just the outfit she was wearing. She wore a red sports bra and a pair of black biking shorts. She was trimmed and toned now. Her hair was longer, braided down her back.

She dodged Tank's advances. He might be big but he wasn't slow and he packed a hell of a punch. She spun around his back as he fell into a punch. She kicked him in the knee sending him to the mat.

She twisted his arm around his back, pinning him. She smiled and after a few seconds, he tapped. She jumped off of him and helped him up. He clapped her on the back, and Les held the ropes down for her to climb over. She spat out her mouth guard and started unwrapping her hands.

I watched as she moved to the other side of the gym and began to stretch out. I walked over to the treadmill and began to stretch, Steph only ten feet away from me. She glanced at me before finishing her stretching.

She climbed onto the treadmill next to mine and put on a pair of headphones. I climbed onto my treadmill and started my routine. Upping the pace as I went on.

I watched her eventually climb off, and stretch out. I watched in the mirror as she went into the women's locker room. Tank jumped onto the treadmill she just left.

"So you went to lunch yesterday?"

"I have to eat Tank."

He shot me a glare in the mirror. "Yes, I took her to lunch and we talked."

"But I see she hasn't forgiven you." He said with a small smile.

"You don't think she should?" I asked.

"I think she should make you work for it." He corrected me.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "I'm not expecting her to run right back into my arms."

"Good, keep your expectations low. She's a strong woman and she's not going to forgive you easily." Tank informed me.

"I know."

XXXXXX

Steph POV:

I sat at my desk, sifting through the paperwork. It was late at night, and all of the office staff had gone home. Nine o'clock at night and there was too much paperwork to deal with on a Friday night.

There was a soft knock on my door, and I looked up to see Carlos standing there. Two cups of coffee in his hands. "Heard you were still here." He said, nudging the door open

"Paperwork."

He chuckled. "It's the silent killer."

I laughed despite myself. He set the coffee down on my desk for me. I noticed it was from my favorite cafe. "You remembered," I said softly.

"I haven't forgotten anything about you, Babe." He replied just as softly.

There was a lull as we studied each other. He broke the silence, "Do you want some help?"

"Oh, I wouldn't want to trouble you."

"Babe, this is my company, I'm used to the paperwork."

"Alright, fine," I picked up a stack and handed it to him, "Get to work then."

He chuckled and took the stack. "I've got a standing desk that you should be able to lower to your height," I told him.

I pulled the desk out from behind the file cabinets and unfolded it. Carlos shook his head and took it from me. He set it up and sat across from me. At eleven o'clock we finished the paperwork. I sighed, sitting back in my chair with a cramping hand.

"I hate paperwork." We both said at the same time. Carlos smiled at me again.

"Babe, let me buy you dinner and take you home."

"Is that a question or an order?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Babe, will you let me buy you dinner and take you home?"

"Sure." I smiled. I stood, gathering my bag and putting my computer in it. I holstered my gun in the small of my back. I shut the lights out and locked my office behind us.

He led me out of the building, Marco waved us goodbye and shut the door. He walked with me down the street. "What do you want to eat?" He asked.

"McDonald's." I grinned.

He groaned but nodded. Half a block later we were shaking the snow off of our jackets and walking into the restaurant. At the counter a teenage girl leaned against it, popping her bubble gum bored. Her head leaned against her fist, holding her phone.

Her eyes flitted up to us, when she saw Carlos her bubble popped and her phone tumbled to the counter. I rolled my eyes as we approached. "What can I get you?" She asked, eyes roaming over Carlos.

"I'll take a quarter pounder, a ten-piece, and a large fry," I said, Carlos's hand found my hip. It felt so comfortable, and I wanted to enjoy it for a moment, the memory of it.

"I'll take a water and a quarter pounder with fries."

She put in the order and Carlos handed her his card as I tried to dig mine from my wallet. I sent him a glare and he smiled sweetly at him.

I walked to a table as Carlos got his card and receipt. He joined me, sitting across from me. "Do you normally stay so late on a Friday?"

"We're in an active season." I shrugged. "More clients, more paperwork."

He nodded. Our order was called quickly, well we were the only ones here, surprisingly for a Friday in New York. He went to get it from the counter and brought it back to the table.

We ate in silence. Carlos shook his head as he finished. "I'm going to have to do a couple extra miles tomorrow."

I rolled my eyes. "You need to enjoy life, Carlos. Stop being so uptight. One burger isn't going to make your heart explode."

He chuckled. "Come on Babe, let's get you home. It's past midnight."

"Ever the gentleman." I smiled. He opened the door for me and I stepped out, burrowing down into my jacket.

"Should we get a car?"

"I only live two blocks north."

"Close to the office." He said observationally.

"Surprised you don't know that." I snorted.

"Actually, someone doesn't list their actual address on their paperwork." He said shoot me a look. "And I hear you're a ballbuster when it comes to paperwork."

"Oh no, you can thank Tank for that." I smiled sweetly. "The only people that have my real address is the core team."

He shook his head. "That's a security hazard."

"Hmmm," I said as we walked to my apartment. When we arrived in front of the building, it was really coming down.

"Would you like to come up until this passes?" I asked him.

"Only if you're okay with it." He answered hesitantly.

"I wouldn't have asked you if I wasn't."

I turned and typed in my code, and he held open the door. He followed me up to the third floor, and I stuck my key in and opened the door. I stepped inside and flicked on the light. The light on the alarm panel flashed as he closed the door. I typed in the code turning the light green. I hung my coat up on one of the hooks and kicked my shoes off. I motioned for him to do the same.

I turned on the lamps in the living room as I walked through. I walked into the kitchen, reaching up into the cabinet and grabbing two mugs. "Do you want cocoa or coffee?"

"Do you have the kind with little marshmallows?" Carlos asked. I grinned over my shoulder.

"Who do you take me for?"

He chuckled and sat at the bar. I poured milk into the mugs and stuck them in the microwave together, putting them on so it would heat up. I grabbed two packs out of the cabinet and laid them on the counter as we waited.

"How's Julie?"

"Grown." He snorted. "She's started college."

"She told me, she said Princeton was her dream college."

He sat up and cocked his head to the side. "I didn't know that you still talked to Julie."

"She calls at least once a week. We've had coffee a few times." I shrugged. He nodded.

The microwave beeped and I opened it, taking both mugs and setting them on the counter. I mixed in the mix and placed the mug in front of him. He lifted it with both hands and smiled as he took the first sip.

I walked into the living room and grabbed the remote, turning on the TV. I flipped to the news and turned up the volume on the TV. I sat on the couch and Carlos joined me, sitting on the other end.

We watched as the weatherman came on. Delivering the worst news. This blizzard wasn't going to let up all weekend. I looked at Carlos, "It doesn't look like you're going to be going anywhere."

"I can leave now Babe and make it back to Rangeman before the worst of it hits. I can crash in one of those apartments."

"Just stay here." I surprised myself by saying. "I have a guest bedroom, enough food for two weeks, it won't be an issue."

"Are you…"

I shot him a look that told him not to finish that sentence. "I have no clothes."

"Yes, you do," I said.

He raised an eyebrow. "Shut up." I glared at him.

I walked into my bedroom and grabbed one of his old shirts and a pair of sweats. I carried them back out into the living room and handed them to him. He smiled.

"I thought you were giving back all my stuff."

"Oh shut up. They're soft and comfortable. Besides, sometimes the guys stay over and need something to wear."

"Hmmm, that's why they smell like Dolce Vita." He smirked.

"I'll show you your room."

Ranger POV:

I was up most of the night, thinking about Steph. From what I was told she had turned into a bit of a workaholic. It hadn't surprised me that she was still in her office so late tonight. It did surprise me when she took me up on my offer to take her to dinner and take her home. And it blew my mind when she let me upstairs.

Now I am stuck here for the weekend. Normally I would have been fighting to get back to Rangeman. I didn't feel so stuck. I couldn't help but let my mind drift to the last time we had gotten snowed in together. Last time we had been on better terms.

Then

Steph padded out of the bathroom, dressed in one of my shirts. I watched as she went to the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing over a white New York. I smiled from where I sat in the living room. "Babe?"

"Yeah?"

"Enjoying yourself?"

She turned and smiled at me. "When I'm with you? Always."

I smiled and opened my arms. She walked over and settled into my lap, curling herself up in my arms. I pulled a blanket over us, and she snuggled into my neck.

"Normally I would hate being trapped inside, but I like being trapped with you." She grinned.

I laughed. "Thanks, Babe."

"Well, it's a compliment. If you were any other man I would have probably already chopped his nuts off and fed them to him."

I winced and she laughed softly. "Let's watch a romantic movie."

"Babe."

"Nobody's going to know." She rolled her eyes. "Besides you enjoy rom-coms just like I do."

"You're going to get my man card revoked." I groaned. She laughed again.

"Let's watch The Bounty Hunter." She grinned. She bounded over to the entertainment center and opened one of the cabinets. She pulled the movie out and stuck it in the DVD player.

She grabbed the remote and gave it to me before curling back up in my lap. By the end of the movie, I could hear Steph's stomach growling. I grinned, "Come on, let's feed the beast, Babe."

I carried her into the kitchen with me. Setting her on the counter. She shrieked as her hot skin hit the cold marble countertop. I chuckled, sliding between her legs and kissing her. I tapped her on the ass lightly. "Stay."

She pouted. "Carlos."

"You stay, I'll cook."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatcha gonna cook?" She asked, swinging her legs like a child.

I chuckled. "How about some waffles?"

"With chocolate chips?"

"And strawberries and whip cream."

She grinned. "I love you, Carlos."

"I love you too Babe."

Now

I woke up to cursing in the kitchen. I threw the blankets back and slid from the bed. I stumbled into the kitchen and found Steph fumbling with the waffle maker. I stood in the doorway with my arms crossed, leaning against the frame watching her.

"Need some help?"

She didn't jump, just looked over her shoulder at me. "If you'll make some coffee that'll be great."

I nodded and moved in behind her and got to work. I turned on the machine and filled up the water tank. I opened the drawer below it and found the pods.

We moved around the kitchen in silence working in harmony. I leaned against the counter as she finished cooking. Laying two stacks of pancakes out for us.

"Here are your healthy pancakes." She said sliding the plate over to me. I watched as she fixed hers up just like she always did, before digging in.

"There is some workout equipment in the foyer closet. I have a foldable treadmill in there too if you want to use it." She said,

"What are you going to do?"

She shrugged. "Depends what I feel like doing. After this meal, I'm going to go take a nap."

I chuckled. "Since you made breakfast, I'll make lunch."

She nodded her agreement. I watched as she finished her pancakes and coffee, and stretched. The shirt she was wearing rode up, showing a couple inches of her stomach. I felt my mouth water.

"Eyes up." She said,

I blushed and she grinned. "When did you start going gray?" She asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "After I met you." I joked.

She rolled her eyes. "Well you're forty now, I guess it was bound to happen. You're going to be one handsome silver fox." The last part seemed to slip out. "Whatever woman ends up with you is going to be lucky."

I looked up at her. "I don't want another woman. I want you to be the lucky one."

She sighed softly. "Ranger…"

"I know." I interrupted her. "I just want you to keep that in mind. I'll be waiting for you. I know I made mistakes but I love you."

"I just… I just need time. The last time you left, I don't think you understand what it did to me. There was a time where my life was dark. I was in a very dark place." She paused like she realized she was saying too much. "It took me a long time to get back from there, a lot of help from the guys. Either way that's a story for another time."

That left me concerned. What had happened after I left? No one ever told me anything, but then again Tank, Les, and Bobby were all pretty pissed at me. I had no doubt that their loyalties now lied with her instead of me. I had the feeling that anyone at the New York office would take her side over mine.

"I told you I wasn't going to force you, Babe," I assured her. "I want you and I'm willing to wait however long I need to."

She nodded, biting her lip. Her face looked a little troubled, her eyes dark. "I'm going to go curl up in bed with a book. Let me know if you need anything."

I watched her walk down the hall and close the door of her bedroom. I sighed and loaded the dishwasher. I turned on the cycle and found the closet in the foyer where she said the equipment was.


y'all know I love a good cliffhanger! The next chapter has more back story for what happened to Steph after Ranger left and how she got over it. Don't worry he's not getting off easy.