Chapter 15

Woody POV

Dating Stephanie for the last six months has been phenomenal, better than I ever could have imagined. Still, lately, I feel her slipping away from me. We took things slowly. We didn't make love until we were dating for three months. Since Stephanie has children, she didn't want to rush into anything. I had to respect her wishes. At work, we kept our relationship entirely professional. In fact, some of the newer guys don't even know we are in a relationship. Ranger has been an issue, though. No, he hasn't made any overt moves on Stephanie. However, since they do share children, they spend a lot of time together. Right now, I'd say that they are best friends, but as they become closer, I feel Steph pulling away.

'Stephanie,' that took me a while to get used to saying. I met Steph when she was going by Michelle. It was hard to get accustomed to calling her 'Stephanie.' She told me she didn't care which name I used, but I noticed her grandmother and father used her first name, and so did the Core Team. Most of the guys at work started to call her Steph as well. I was one of the last hold outs.

Today, Stephanie and I are heading to Point Pleasant for the week. Ranger is taking the twins with him to Miami. Each year, his family goes to Miami in the summer for vacation. His siblings, Lester and his sister, and their aunts and uncles all go. It's a big Manoso family reunion. Naturally, he wanted to use that time to introduce his kids to the rest of their family. I know the twins are excited about going with Ranger, but Stephanie is naturally on edge. She's never been away from her children for a week, and even though she knows they are in good hands with Ranger, she's still concerned. I only hope that our trip can distract her a bit.

I rented a house next to the two places that Rangeman will be using this weekend for our company barbeque. Each office spends one weekend a summer together where the employees get to be friends. I've heard from a few of the guys who transferred to Trenton from Boston or Miami that the cookout is phenomenal. It is a great team-building week. For our branch, which is still in its infancy, this will only help to unite us.

I arrive at Stephanie's house, ready to drive to the shore. I park in her driveway then walk to her door. When my foot hits the first step, her door opens. "I think I have everything. I even packed a few things for when the twins come home this weekend. I'm not sure if Ranger is going to do any laundry."

She puts her bag down, greeting me with a hug and kiss. "Don't worry, baby, I'm sure everything will be fine. Let me take your bags." I pick up her three bags to carry them to my car, where I finish putting them in the trunk as Steph reaches my vehicle. I open her door for her, helping her inside. Then, I walk around to the driver's side. Once we get on the parkway, we start to talk.

"I'm glad that we have this time together, baby, just you and me. It is nice not to have any interruptions, to be able to enjoy each other's company."

"Yes, I know what you mean. As much as I miss Lucia and Alex, and I am glad to have some adult time. It's hard being a mommy all the time."

"I can imagine. I'm excited to spend time with the kids this weekend."

"I think they will enjoy that as well."

We make it to the beach in a little over an hour, which is a great time. We spent that time talking about some of the things we are going to do this week. As we drive towards the house, Stephanie sees a home for sale but has an under contract sign. It's three houses away from the one I'm renting.

"Oh, I always loved that house. It's my favorite one. I've always dreamed of owning it one day. There's this fabulous open porch that faces the beach, with a semi-private balcony. I wish I knew it was for sale, not that I could afford it. I hope the new owners don't ruin its charm."

I understand her sentiment. That house is clearly one of the older homes and has a good structure. It seems, from the exterior, to be sound. But, nowadays, most people don't want colonials; they want sprawling villas and McMansions.

I pull into the driveway at our home away from home, parking our car. The place I rented is a three-bedroom cape. It has the appearance of a bungalow that was expanded. I retrieve our bags from the trunk, proceeding to tell Stephanie where to find the key. We open the door after she enters the code into the key lockbox. Once inside, I place our bags down in the entrance. We'll have time later to bring them up to our room. I want to take a few minutes to explore the house with Stephanie and perhaps, christen one of the rooms.

I had made arrangements for the kitchen to be stocked with staples, knowing that we'd also be eating out. We immediately walk to the back of the house and look out the deck's sliding doors. Stephanie opens the doors, stepping out to take in the beach.

"I've always loved the beach; it's my happy place, the place where I can be free. Whenever I come here, I feel all my worries and problems leave my soul with the tide." Stephane says, and she leans her arms on the top of the railing, looking out at the Atlantic Ocean.

I walk up behind her, placing my hands around her waist. I feel Steph tense in my arms. "Do you want to take a walk on the beach?" she abruptly asks.

"Sure," I reply. Steph moves out of my arms and removes her sneakers and socks, placing them near the door. I follow suit, and we walk down the three steps to the sand. I go to take her hand, but she sees a few buckets under the deck.

"We can collect some seashells! Lucia loves looking that them." She hands me a bucket as well before we head towards the hard, wet sand near receding tide. We walk along the shoreline for about an hour and somehow manage to fill both buckets. When we return to the house, we use the hose at the base of the deck to rinse off our feet before climbing out of the sand.

"This was a great haul. I don't think I've ever collected so many."

"We did get a lot of shells. I'm surprised so many of them were intact and not broken."

"I'm glad we're here, John. It's nice to spend time with you, alone, outside of work when I don't need to worry about Lucia or Alex walking in on us. I know you want me to introduce you to them as my boyfriend, but I'm not ready for that yet. Their relationship with Car…Ranger is blossoming, and I don't want to do anything that could make them resent you. They are extremely protective of their new-found father, and I'm afraid that if I introduce you to them now, they will think you are trying to take his place and pull them away from him. If things between us continue to grow, I want them to accept you whole-heartedly."

It grates me, but I guess I can understand where she's coming from. However, it is making me second guess if we are going to last in the long run. We head into the house, spending the next forty minutes putting our stuff away, making the place ours, at least temporarily. When we are in the bedroom, we bump into each other, and Steph almost loses her balance. I catch her with a hand around her waist. I lean down to kiss Stephanie. She returns my kiss with enthusiasm. I being to allow my hands to roam under her shirt, thrilled that she not stopping me.

I unclasp her bra, letting my hands roam to her breasts. I pull her shirt and bra off in one swoop, then lift her up so I can feast on her firm breasts. I hear little moans escape her lips, so I know she's enjoying my ministrations. I walk back towards the bed. When I feel the edge at the back of my knees, I sit, keeping Stephanie wrapped around me. I move my mouth to her neck, then back to her lips. Her hands are pulling up my shirt, so we separate and stop long enough for her to take it off me. I work the button and zipper of her shorts, which gives me enough room to cup her sex. I start to fondle her clit, feeling her body tense towards release. I place Steph on the edge of the bed, pulling off her shorts and panties, letting them drop before I move my mouth to her center. I allow my tongue to explore her, loving the way her hips are bucking. When I feel she's close, I reach in my pocket for a condom before kicking off my pants. I quickly roll it on, then line myself up to her core. I spread some of her juices over my length, then slide home. I set a moderate pace since she is so close, and when I feel she's at the precipice, I lightly bit her nipple while pinching her clit. I feel her orgasm flood through her body as mine explodes.

I continue to slowly move inside her, milking us both. When I know that there is no more to give, I gently pull out and dispose of the used condom. While I do that, Stephanie crawls up the bed, pulling down the duvet and sheets before climbing in. I lay beside her, attempting to wrap my arm around her. I enjoy spooning with my lovers after sex, but Steph isn't a cuddler. I feel her move away slightly, so I take the hint. I kiss her shoulder, then lie on my back. Soon, I hear her breathing even out, knowing she's asleep.

I try to follow her into slumber, but I can't. All I keep thinking about is how Stephanie is still so distant from me. Every time I try to hold her, she pulls away after a few seconds. Steph still doesn't like to hold my hand or let me guide her with my hand on the small of her back. When I go to put a stray curl behind her ear, she moves away. Hell, sometimes she even pulls away when I go to kiss her. I've observed interactions between her and Ranger, and I see some stark differences. When he goes to move her hair, she lets him. When he places his hand on her back, she doesn't move away. What does that mean?

I think I know what it means, but I don't want to believe it. I don't want to feel that I'm losing this wonderful woman. There's a part of me that wishes I asked her out a year ago before I went to Boston to train. Maybe we'd be further along in our relationship. I sigh, realizing that I must work hard this week to win her, to make her see that a future with her and her children is what I want. Maybe then she'll open herself up more to me.

XXXXX

Saturday morning is finally here. In a few hours, Ranger will be here, along with the rest of Rangeman and Stephanie's kids. I know she is anxious to see her children. We just finished eating breakfast when her cellphone rings.

"Hello." I see Stephanie smile at the response.

"Did you have a good time with dad and your cousins in Miami?"

"That's great! I missed you both. I can't wait to see you in a few hours."

"Okay. Love you both." There is a pause, then her conversations continues. "Hi, Carlos, did they behave themselves?"

"Great." I see her begin to walk towards the front door. A moment later, a courier arrives, handing Stephanie a package that she needs to sign for. She returns to the kitchen. "Okay, I got the box. Now what?"

She opens the box and inside are a set of keys. "What are these keys for?"

"Yes, I saw it when we arrived Monday." I glance at her trying to figure out what is going on. She mouths to me "the house we saw for sale." I nod my head in understanding…somewhat.

"You bought that house?! When?"

"I love that house! Okay. I'll have everything set. It will be nice not having to worry about packing every time I come down here with the kids. It'll be nice to be able to stay the night whenever I want. Thank you."

Suddenly, Steph is staring at her phone. "No phone manners."

"What was that about, baby?"

"Carlos, he bought that house. He said that it's for me and the kids, so we can come down here as often as we'd like. He knows I love the shore, and he wanted me to have a beach house to use. I still can't believe he bought THAT house. We're going to stay there tonight."

"With Ranger?"

"Yes, of course," Steph says before walking over to me. She takes my hands then sits on the table, so she's facing me. "John, I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to be in a relationship with you, and having Carlos get to know his children. There's no manual, and frankly, no one I know has ever been in a similar situation, so I have no one to go to for advice. Please don't be angry with me, but I don't want to send the twins, especially Lucia, any mixed messages. Carlos said there are four bedrooms, so we won't be sharing. Now is not the time to have the two of you stay with me and the twins."

I'm disappointed, angry, and resigned all at the same time. I'm not surprised, unfortunately. "I get it, baby, I do, but I don't like it. I hate that I feel like you're hiding me from those who mean the most to you. I mean, I haven't even been invited for a family dinner. I'm only allowed with your family when there's a large gathering, where I'm just another guest. I sometimes feel as though you don't love me like I love you."

"John, I do love you. Look, let's give it another month. Next month, when I bring the kids here, you come with us. It will be your initiation into Plum madness."

"Okay. I can wait. Thank you, baby." I reply as I pull Steph on my lap. "Now, since we don't have much more time alone, I say we spend it with fewer clothes on." I stand with Stephanie in my arms and race to the bedroom. I might as well make our last hours together, alone, count.