Disclaimer: Everything recognizable belongs to Janet Evanovich. I am only borrowing them. Thank you for allowing us to use your amazing characters for fun!
Thank you for the wonderful reviews! Thanks again Heather for all of your help getting this posted.
-chapter-4
A month passes and I've been busy working at Rangeman. I can't chase skips for a couple more weeks while I'm recuperating, so I fill my time and bank account with butt-numbing searches for my favorite group of Merry Men. My bank account is doing well for once, thanks to the Jack Frost distraction check. My life has fallen into a comfortable routine. I don't see Ranger very much; he's maintained a distance and I've been busy with the previously mentioned butt-numbing searches. During this time, my mind has continued to return to my problem with Ranger. I've tried hard to not think about my current situation, but it was becoming more and more difficult. I definitely needed time with my friends, and a night out with margaritas seemed like the perfect solution.
This Friday is the big day. I was going out with Connie and Lula. Mary Lou had a soccer tournament with her oldest son and couldn't come; I will miss her since she is definitely the voice of reason. I was headed to Haywood for my morning of searches, and I stopped at the Tasty Pastry to get my morning doughnut fix. After waiting my turn, I place my "usual" order and chat with the salesgirl, Mary, while I wait. I don't even turn to look when the bell rings as the door opens. I know something's going on when Mary breaks off midsentence and glances nervously between the door and me. I turn to see a pretty petite blonde woman, or should I say girl, holding hands with Joe Morelli. I smile and wait for them to approach. I guess everyone is waiting for an explosive scene since the entire bakery is dead silent. I ponder that for a half second and am surprised to find out that I'm not only NOT jealous but am actually very happy that Joe seems to be moving on. I greet them with a warm smile and chat for a few more minutes while Mary finishes with my order. I pay for my doughnuts and leave the bakery realizing that I only have "friend" feelings for Joe and that I'm happy that he may have found what he was looking for. How is that for being a grown up? Yay me! I arrive at my cubicle with two minutes to spare.
The doughnuts are long gone, and a giant coffee disappeared while I worked diligently on my searches for Rodriguez. Who is this guy anyways? At lunch I wander in the break room and see Lester sitting at the table with Cal and Hal. I grab a chicken salad on whole wheat, an orange, and a bottle of water and sit at their table. I needed some info and their help.
"So, what's everyone doing today?" I casually ask. Lester is the first to answer. "I'm headed out to grab Marcus Fritz. He's staying at his girlfriend's house, and she has to work at 1700 so we are going to head out at 1530 to pick him up. Want to go, Beautiful?"
I smiled, "I would love to, but I am swamped with searches." The last part came out dejectedly. "Who all is going with you?"
"Zero and Manny. Ranger and Tank have client meetings out of the office all afternoon."
Lester is no dummy and correctly guessed what I was really asking. I needed to know when Ranger will be out of the office so that I can plant his birthday gift. I don't want to get caught in the act, so I need to sneak in and out. Not that you can sneak in or out of this building; it's more monitored than the White House. I just need a little privacy to place the purchased items up on seven.
I get back to my cubicle and start three more searches to begin while I sneak out to commence with Operation Birthday Surprise. Crap, I have been hanging with military types a lot. I'm nervous and I can't believe I'm actually doing this. I grab my messenger bag and head out. I pass by Ranger's office and sure enough it's empty and dark. I step on the elevator and fob my way up to the penthouse. My palms are sweaty, and I give myself a pep talk. You can do this. You are an adult, and you can handle this. It's no big deal, I say to myself. I set my bag on the credenza at the foyer and pull the wrapped packages out of my bag.
Grabbing the notes, I place the card with the first note by the tray that holds his keys. It's propped up so that it'll be the first thing he sees when he comes in. Next, I head to the fridge and put the first present inside with its note on the front. I take the next package to the closet where he has his gun safe and put it on the shelf above the safe. I head to the shower and put the last package by his shower door. I mentally go over the placement of the presents and confirm the notes are in the correct order before I hastily gather my stuff and practically run back down to my cubicle. I know it's not a big deal. It's not like I got him a bag full of Pleasure Treasure toys. Yeesh. I get a hot flash just thinking about that; memories of that cherry oil still gives me chills.
RPOV
I am stuck in these meetings with Tank, and I can barely pay attention. Its 1800 hours and this meeting is taking longer than expected. I got a text alerting me that my Babe has gone up to seven, looking suspicious. It's my birthday and I assume she's leaving a present for me. That makes me smile. She's such a light in my life. I'm struggling to keep her at arm length lately. I've been sneaking in her apartment to watch her sleep more and more. I'm addicted to the peace that only she gives me. I wish things could be different.
Lately, though, the contract work that I have been doing for the government has been taking its toll. I'm not getting any younger and even though I can still do the work, how long can I stay in the game? I may want to start shifting my focus to more of a supervisory, planning, or training role. I have made an obscene amount of money risking my life for the good of the country and now it's time to put the risk on the younger guys moving forward. Unfortunately, my life still won't lend itself to relationships because of all the enemies that I've made. Scaling back my contract will not take away enough risk to my Babe to allow for a relationship. If only someday was possible.
I glance up at Tank as he clears his throat. He gives me a look that I interpret as get your head out of your ass and wrap this up. I smile and stand, looking at my watch. "If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to call." I shake hands with the potential clients and just like that, the meeting is over. I have some investigating to do back at my apartment. In the car, Tank gives me shit about zoning out during the last 10 minutes of the meeting and chuckles at my irritation at being called out. I really need to relax.
I don't have to wonder long about Babe's gift as I walk into my apartment and put my keys in the tray. A card with her familiar cursive is propped against the tray. I'm surprised that I'm not interested in doing anything else except seeing what was inside. I stand rooted to my spot as I open it. It's a typical birthday card but inside is a typed note on a slip of paper that falls out and flutters to the floor. It's a poem, a scavenger hunt, and I have to follow the clues to receive my gifts. God, I love this woman!
It's time to relax and get some rest
Go to the fridge to begin your quest
Grab a bottle and take a drink
I want you to enjoy and not over think
I smile and immediately head to my refrigerator. Inside is a wrapped present that, not surprisingly, looks like a six pack of beer. I pull the wrapping paper off; it's a six pack of a beer I first tasted in Hawaii when I was there with Steph looking for the Rug. I don't often let me mind dwell on thought of Hawaii. It's not realistic, so no reason to go there. I'd remarked to Steph that the beer had a nice fruity flavor but didn't let on how much I liked it. She must have known, though. Grabbing a bottle and opening it, I saw the next clue. Taking a sip, I read the next poem.
Your next gift is innovative, you'll see
Something you'll use on your next B & E
Go to your closet and after securing your gun
You will find a new toy not just for fun
Standing before my closet gun safe and looking on the self above it, I see another wrapped present. I set my beer down and open the wrapped box. It's a new high yield lock pick set that Ram showed me not too long ago. It was made of a governmental proprietary steel, and I wanted to replace mine but haven't gotten around to ordering it. I smile as I absorb all the trouble my Babe has gone through to make my day. I look around for the next poem with more excitement that I've felt in a long time.
Your last task to complete before you get your rest
Is a shower with your body wash that is simply the best
It's your private space but you cannot walk around bare
So, I have picked out something sexy for you to wear
I finish my beer and walk toward the shower. Propped up against the wall is the final present. It's small and I decide to shower before opening it to see what I'm supposed to wear. I can't keep the smile off my face as I consider that Babe has incorporated my nightly routine into her scavenger hunt. Except for the beer, I normally put my weapons away, shower, and eat and relax a few minutes before I work on Rangeman business. I need to stay ahead with any new developments that come up, so I often spend much of my free time working.
My relaxation is pulling up Babe's trackers to see that she is home safe. If she is at Morelli's, then there is no relaxation for me. Lately, it appears that she has been maintaining her distance from him. Maybe they are finally done. I've stretched out the excitement of what I am supposed to wear long enough and pick up the package after toweling myself off. I smile as I open it, not at all surprised by what I find. I know she doesn't like the all-black uniform and wishes for more color but this? I don't even bother to stifle my bark of laughter as I stare at a pair of silk boxers in a leopard print. They are definitely Babe. I hope the guys never see these. I pull them on and head back to the kitchen for dinner and another beer. Later, I check Babe's tracker and see that she is at a Mexican restaurant over by the bond's office. Her car is at her apartment building, so I bet she is having dinner with friends and plans to have a couple of drinks.
