Disclaimer: Everything recognizable belongs to Janet Evanovich. I am only borrowing them. Thank you for allowing us to use your amazing characters for fun!
-chapter-5
SPOV
I decided to take an Uber over to dinner with the girls. I want to have a couple of drinks and since I am a light weight, I don't want to risk a DUI. We order our first margarita and eat the chips while we peruse the menu. We are in no hurry and the waiter has to come back a few times before we're ready to order dinner. By this time, we need another round of drinks, so we place that order as well. We planned to go to a club after dinner, so I switch to water the next time the girls get drinks. Why am I the only light weight?
With our bill paid and our bellies stuffed, we head to the club. I'm feeling a little buzzed and am happy that we get to have a girl's night out. The club is busy, and the lights are flashing and the music pulsating as we stand in the small line to enter. After about 10 minutes we're in the door and immediately grab an empty table near the dance floor. For our first round of drinks, I get a Sex on the Beach. I know I'm pushing my luck with my alcohol consumption, so I drink slow, trying to find the right balance so that I can have fun without being out of control. Lula is the first to find a dance partner, and as Connie and I are sitting at our table, we're approached by a classmate of ours. Connie was a couple of years ahead of me and Raymond was in her class. He sits at our table, and I feel like the proverbial third wheel. My thoughts shift to Ranger and almost as if he were reading my mind, my phone dings with a text message.
Ranger: I got my birthday gifts. Care to see?
Holy Shit! This is flirty Ranger. Answering a text from Ranger is very dangerous, considering my inebriated state; even more so when he is being very, very friendly.
Steph: I don't think the dress code would allow you in.
Ranger: I can be very persuasive.
Oh holy hell!
Steph: Let me get back to you.
"Steph, Ray and I are going to head out. Do you want us to drop you somewhere? Lula already ditched us, and I don't want to leave you here by yourself," Connie said.
"Sure," I reply. I'm done here, anyway. I down the last of my second drink and walk out with Connie and Ray. They drop me off at the front door of my apartment building 15 minutes later and I make my way up to the 2nd floor. I'm still feeling pretty good, and it's still early and I didn't want to go to bed yet. I get an idea. Holy crap! It's the best idea ever! I get everything ready and make the call. Good thing I'm buzzed, or I would never go through with this.
RPOV
Looking over the day's report logs, I glance at my phone, willing it to buzz with a message from Steph. I know she's at a trendy club downtown, probably out dancing and having fun but I can't help but wish she was here with me. My solitary life is necessary, but I don't always like it. I push my focus back to my report and ten minutes later, my phone rings. I look at the caller ID, happy that it's Steph.
"Yo."
"I have a problem."
"What's the problem?"
"I'm handcuffed to my shower curtain rod, and I need someone to open the cuffs." With that, she disconnects the call.
Madre Dios! I am instantly affected. I am forced to sit a few seconds and wait for the dizziness to pass. After a few seconds, I'm practically sprinting, and not to comfortably I might add, around my apartment. I grab everything I need and am headed down the stairs in mere seconds. I have to force myself not to run down the stairs as I head to my Turbo; I don't want to alert the men on monitors and I'm certainly not about to explain where I'm going or what I'm about to do. I reach her lot in record time and pull my new lock pick set out of my cargos and get to work on her door. Relocking the door behind me, I head straight to the bathroom. I will myself to slow down and it takes every ounce of my self-control that I have. This scenario has been my number one fantasy since the day it happened almost three years ago. I reach the door and open it. I step in and before me is the most beautiful women I have ever known, handcuffed to her shower rod. This is going to be good.
The next morning, I'm awake at 0600. I grab my cell and text Tank. Its Saturday and I don't have meetings set, but I want to let him know that I will be late coming in. We usually work out in the gym and work on catching up with our paperwork that gets put off until now. I want to stay with Steph, but I don't want to further complicate things since I cannot offer her the life she wants. Things with Morelli have stalled and whether she'll go back to him is still uncertain.
I can't believe she called me last night. That was the most amazing night of my life. I love when she initiates, and her Vordo experience was the only other time she's done it. I showed her how much I appreciated her over and over again. I drifted off to sleep with thoughts that I really did wish things were different. I was awakened by Steph stirring on top of me. Sometime during the night, she'd assumed her usual position of half lying on me, guaranteeing me my morning wood. I trace my fingers up her bare backside and curve around to her side. She slowly wakes and is instantly embarrassed. It is very cute how she embarrasses so easily. I enjoy watching as she comes to full awareness, and I know that in the next few minutes she will make a mad dash to the bathroom to take care of business. Sure enough, she wriggles away, and I'm forced to let her go. When she comes back, she's wearing a robe and I work to hide my disappointment; her not returning to the bed affects me more that I care to admit. She heads to the kitchen, and I get up and make my way to the bathroom and put on the birthday boxers that were quickly abandoned last night. She smiles as I enter the kitchen and she hands me my coffee. "What are your plans for the day?" I ask.
"I thought I would work on gathering info on the two new skips I got this week and head to the bonds office by 9am. I may try to go after them. What about you?" She asks tentatively.
"I am headed to Miami tomorrow, and I have a lot of loose ends to tie up before I leave," I say
"Are you going to see Julie?" Her eyes light up. "I haven't seen her in so long. I email and text, but it's not the same. Tell her I say hello if you see her."
"I am planning on taking Julie out for dinner while I am there. I will let her know you asked about her." I lean into her and give her a gentle kiss and say "Thank you for the best birthday I've ever had. I will see you when I get back."
The awkwardness of the morning after is heavier than usual. I feel as if we are moving into dangerous territory, and I'm poised to bolt.
She takes a deep breath and I head back to put the rest of my clothes. "Call Tank if you need anything while I am gone," I say as I make my way to the door.
"Don't get shot."
"Don't go crazy."
This was our usual goodbye, and I feel a little sadness for keeping her at a distance as I walk out the door.
