There's a six month time jump here...
Chapter Four
Then
Steph POV:
Carlos held my hand as we walked through the first building, of what would hopefully be Rangeman New York. This building was five floors, the building across the street was four floors. This building would be the main building, the gym, control floor, and two floors for apartments. The other building would be the offices, accounting, tech, and RD departments.
"What do you think?" Carlos asked me.
"Well, I think they're nice," Lester said from behind us. Carlos shot him a glare over his shoulder. I grinned.
"I think they would be perfect. It's going to take about five months to remodel them though."
"That would put us right on schedule to open." Carlos shrugged.
"I thought you wanted to open sooner?"
"This just gives us more time to get ourselves known here in New York. Until then we can work personal security."
"It's going to be just like when we originally opened," Les said, wrapping his arms around mine and Carlos's shoulders.
Carlos growled and shrugged him off. "No, this time I might kill you." He growled.
Les just grinned. I smiled and pulled Carlos back to me. "What do y'all say about going out for a drink tonight to celebrate?" I asked the group at large.
Once everybody agreed, the other three headed out, but Carlos and I stuck around. I smiled up at him and he kissed me softly. "This is someday Babe."
I smiled. "Good, I'm ready for it."
Now
Carlos and I laid on the couch, watching TV. An empty pizza box on the table, two empty beers. We were wrapped up together, something we probably shouldn't do but we've both discovered how hard it was not to touch each other. It wasn't like I didn't cuddle with the other guys when they came over. After six months my walls had started to lower.
Carlos leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. He paused when he realized what he did. I leaned up, capturing his lips. Carlos kissed me back tentatively, and I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck. His hands around my hips, pulling my body on top of his. I guess it was inevitable that we were going to end up back here. I loved him too much to keep pushing him away.
I pulled back, "We shouldn't." I said softly.
"You kissed me back." He said hoarsely.
"I know," I said sliding from his lap. I put the coffee table between us. Carlos stood looking down at me.
"Babe, can't you see that I'm trying here? God, I miss you so much. I take every scrap you throw at me. I just, I want you back. I've been trying, god knows I've been trying to wait. I'll keep waiting, but I love you and it hurts to be so distant from you." He said, his voice tight and pleading.
"I love you, I always have," I whispered softly.
"Will you let me take you out to dinner? Please?"
"I really want this to work between us, Carlos… I don't want to ruin what we have now."
"Babe, if we can't work it out, we can always be friends. You've always been my friend Steph."
I nodded. "Alright, let's go out to dinner."
He held his hand to me and I took it. He pulled me to him and kissed the back of my hand. "I'm not going to hurt you again."
"You better not," I muttered. "I'll shoot you if you break my heart again."
He chuckled. "I actually think you might."
I smiled coldly and I watched a nervous look flash over his face. "What time tomorrow?" I asked him.
"How's seven-thirty?" He asked tentatively.
I nodded. "Let me know what to wear in the morning."
He grinned, "Well I would prefer it if you didn't wear anything."
I narrowed my eyes at him. He held up his hands in surrender. "I'll leave now. I'll see you at work."
He leaned down and kissed my forehead. I sighed and watched him leave. Lev followed him to the door. I settled back on the couch, Lev jumping onto the couch and bouncing on my shoulder. I smiled and he nuzzled into my neck.
"I hope I'm not making a mistake," I told Lev.
He purred, nuzzling into me. I picked up my phone, dialing a number from memory. "Dr. Olson's office, how can I help you?"
"This is Stephanie Plum, I know it's after office hours…"
"Dr. Olson has left specific instructions about you." She said, and I heard rustling in the background. "Here is his personal number."
I didn't know how to feel that my therapist left specific instructions about me with his secretary. I dialed his number, and it took him two rings to answer.
"Hello?"
"Dr. Olson, it's Stephanie."
"Stephanie, what's going on?" He asked.
"I know we're scheduled to see each other on Friday, but I'm in a situation and I'm hoping you can help me see the other person's side of things."
"Ahh, your Carlos is back right? This has something to do with him?"
"Yes."
"Tell me what's going on."
"Well, tonight he asked me out on a date." I bit my lip. "I'm scared of him hurting me again. After what happened last time, I'm just nervous about it happening again. I don't know if I can do it again."
"You've made a lot of progress since you started seeing me. I think you need to take it slow and make sure he understands your boundaries. You know I'm available to you any time of the day or night."
"What if I give him my heart and he shatters it again?"
"There is no reward without risk." He told me.
I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "I hate being this vulnerable. I hate that he makes me lose my confidence."
"You haven't lost it," He stated. "You just have to remember it doesn't matter if he's with you or not. You're still your own woman and you don't need a man to make or break your confidence."
"Thank you, Dr. Olson."
"So when are you going out with him?"
"Tomorrow night."
"If you need anything you have my phone number and I'll be seeing you in person on Friday."
"Thank you."
"It's no problem, Stephanie. I will see you on Friday."
"See you on Friday."
XXXXXX
The intercom buzzed. I scratched Lev under the chin one more time, as I buzzed Carlos up. Carlos knocked on the door, and I opened it. He stood in the doorway, holding a bouquet of blue lilies. He wore a charcoal grey suit, blue tie, and white shirt.
"You look as handsome as ever Carlos," I said softly. He preened.
"God I love hearing you say my name." He purred. "You're gorgeous."
"Let me get these in a vase and then we can leave."
He followed me in and shut the door. I went into the kitchen and found a vase. I spied Carlos in the living room playing with Lev. He jingled his keys at him and Lev smacked at them.
Ranger POV:
When Steph opened the door, all the air left my lungs. She looked gorgeous. Her hair curled and pinned up a few strands framing her face, her makeup was natural accentuating her features, her lips painted red, she wore an off-the-shoulder blue dress and a pair of four-inch FMPs.
When she said my name, I felt a purr rise in my chest. Walking inside, Lev pounced on me. He tried to at least. I caught him before he could and set him on the back of the couch. I fished my keys from my pocket and dangled them in front of him.
Once she was ready, she locked up behind us. I escorted her downstairs to the Turbo, only to find it being towed away. "Shit," I muttered.
Steph giggled. "We can take a cab."
"I can have one of the guys bring us another car."
"Carlos, I don't need a fancy dinner." She informed me. "I'm happy to just spend time with you."
"Well, I at least need to feed you." I implored.
"There's a little Italian restaurant up the street." She mentioned. I nodded and smiled. I took her hand and we started up the street.
"Are you sure you want to walk?"
"Carlos, I'm a Jersey girl. I can run in heels." She laughed.
I chuckled. Then out of nowhere, there was a flash of lightning, a crash of thunder, and then rain. It was coming down hard, pelting us. "Carlos!" Steph squealed.
"Come on, we should be able to make it back to your apartment if we run," I said. She stopped to take off her heels and I chuckled, taking her free hand and pulling her along with me.
She typed in her case, opened the building door and I shut it behind us. Steph turned to me, her mascara running in streaks down her face, hair soaked, dress clinging to her form.
She looked at me for a moment before bursting out in laughter. I laughed with her, she leaned against me letting me wrap my arm around her. I led her up the stairs to her apartment. "How about instead of going out, we stay in?"
"What will we eat?"
"I have some frozen pizza in the freezer." She shrugged as she unlocked the door.
Lev pounced from the back of the couch, bounding over to me and climbing up my leg. Steph laughed softly. "I'll grab you a change of clothes."
A few minutes later she brought me out some clothes. She had wiped the makeup off her face, changing into a shirt and a pair of fleece pants. "I'll put on the pizza."
I went into the bathroom and changed. When I came back out, Steph was bent over, sliding the pizza in the oven. I smiled taking in the scene.
"Carlos, stop staring at my ass."
"Can't apologize for admiring beauty."
"Carlos?"
"Yeah, babe?"
"Shut the hell up." She grumbled, making me laugh.
The night after that was pleasant. I loved spending time with her. "Carlos,"
"Yeah?"
"Let's try this again."
"I was hoping you would say that." I grinned.
XXXXXX
Carlos POV:
Steph let me inside of her apartment, after another successful date night. "I had a good time tonight." She said softly.
"I did too Babe."
"Do you want to come inside? It's late." She bit her lip.
"Sure, I've got some clothes in the guest bedroom."
"Carlos," She paused, eyes flitting up to mine. "I wanted you to spend the night with me in my bed."
"In your bed?"
"No sex." She spouted out.
I smiled, cupping her cheek as a faint blush spread over her face. "Okay Babe, I told you I didn't mind taking this slow."
She smiled softly at me and I leaned down to kiss her. As we stepped inside the cat pounced on me. I sighed as Steph laughed.
"You go grab some fresh clothes and I'll change." She said, I smiled at her.
Once I was changed, I knocked on her door. "Come in Carlos."
"Babe."
I grinned as I opened the door. Steph was laying in bed, the other side turned down. She patted the bed and I crawled in next to her. "Now what're the rules? Touching or no touching. I can't control what my hands do in my sleep."
She laughed softly, "Mind if I cuddle with you?"
"I would mind if you didn't."
She grinned up at me. She moved over, laying her head on my chest, tossing a leg over my waist.
"I missed my pillow." She muttered.
I chuckled. "I missed you too Babe."
