All family characters belong to Janet. Mistakes are mine. What Steph bought can be found in various styles online.
"Hey, Boss. Do you have a few minutes?"
"When have I ever been the boss of you, Babe?"
"I did listen to you more than anyone else in my life. That's something."
"It is," I agreed, waiting at least five seconds to see if our daughter would be appearing behind Steph's legs and bursting into my office a millisecond later.
My eyebrow went up.
"I asked our baby if she was sleepy and ready for a nap," Steph said, answering my unasked question. "She said no, and then fell asleep on her kid's couch before I'd even wrapped up my call. Ella offered to camp out in my office and plan tomorrow's menu while keeping an eye on Olive so I can talk to you."
"I welcome any time with you."
"So you say now."
"So I'll say always."
That brought out a smile as she walked over to me. She was about to sit on my desk, but I curled my fingers around her wrist and tugged so she'd land in my lap.
"Is this appropriate workplace behavior?" She teased.
"It is for us."
She pressed her mouth to mine, but I immediately took over. I slid my hand under her ponytail and tilted her head so I could kiss her as thoroughly as I needed to. This is one of the reasons for the obsession I've always had with her. I could kiss her, make love to her, or hold her when she was hurting … and the urge to do any or all of that again was instantaneous. A toddler, a baby-in-progress, and a years-long marriage into our relationship and I still can't get enough of her.
When my mother used to tell all of us kids that there's someone for each of us out there … we just had to pay attention so we wouldn't get sidetracked by a pretty face or an overly charismatic personality. One by one, we're learning exactly what she meant. When I met Stephanie, that was it. As soon as Celia spoke to Arlen, there was no one else. It's going to be fun seeing our siblings fall like dominoes one after the other. It's already been highly entertaining to watch that happen among the men here.
"We're in your office," Steph said against my lips.
"We are."
"Which means we can't do anything about how you're making me feel."
"We could, but I'm guessing you're about to counter that with you can't do anything with Ella only feet away."
She drew her head back. "If you knew that'd be my answer, why did you kiss me like that?"
"I can't help it."
"Uh-huh."
To distract both of us, I redirected the conversation so my dick would settle down. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
I was pleased to see her eyes remain unfocused for a few more seconds. "Ummm, I'm pretty sure it was about a phone call I got, but now I'm not sure about anything except that I want you."
"That feeling is uncomfortably mutual, Babe." I caught her hand before it could follow her eyes downward. I kissed the tips of her fingers and then curled mine over them and rested our hands in her lap. "Your phone call?"
"Right. A friend of Lenny's sister-in-law was asking the in-law … and then Lenny … and then Mary Lou that since we track down people for a living, could we locate her ex-husband so she'll have an address to give the court and finally collect the child support he keeps skipping out on? What I gathered from a few of Mary Lou's comments, this guy dodges responsibility the way you guys dodge bullets."
"You answered your own, and this woman's, question. We catch bad guys, and this guy sounds like a Grade A asshole who needs to be located and paid a visit before the court gets their hands on him."
"That was my thought and also my question. Since I can't do any apprehensions, or physical 'lecturing' like I used to, I wanna be the one to find him. I hate feeling like I'm not an active part of the team."
I let her hand go to wrap my arms around her. "You aren't only an active member of the team, you're an incredibly effective one. This month alone, more than half of the men's FTAs, you gave them the locations for."
"But I think I can do more. What if this leads to us tracking down missing kids, or taking on missing person cases the media and police have basically given up on? Before you ask if I'm getting ahead of myself, I'm going to be pregnant forever …"
"A few more months, Babe. Not exactly forever."
"Trust me, some days it feels longer than forever. The proudest moment of my life was Olive being born. She's the reason I was willing to consider it again, and why I've been trying to overlook a few of the more unpleasant aspects of pregnancy. But my point was, I'm going to need something to keep my brain busy when my body isn't willing to cooperate with me."
I wrapped my arms tight around her again and let a hand curve over her baby bump. "I wasn't going to say you're getting in over your head. I was going to suggest that you gather all the information you need on the deadbeat dad and start there. Once you find him, we'll work on creating a missing person network between the three Rangeman buildings and see where it goes. I love the way your mind works, Steph. The only objections I usually have to whatever plan you come up with are based on not wanting you harmed in the process. I'm willing to back whatever career path you choose, but it can't come at the expense of your health or your life."
"Duh. I don't do anything halfway, that includes growing a human. I'm not putting myself or our son at risk. So … we're good? And good to go?"
I pressed a kiss to her hair. "Yes. My knowledge, connections, and programs are at your disposal."
She smiled. "Thank you. I don't do bored well, so I'm really trying to find ways of staying involved without jeopardizing our kids or my time with them. This sounds like a good shift from being a BEA. For right now anyway."
"It isn't far removed from what we typically do."
"Okay, so I'll call Mary Lou as soon as I get back to my office and get Lenny's in-law's friend's contact info. Jesus, I thought I was done with Burg-style connects. Anyway, I wanna be there when Olive wakes up."
I stood her up with me. "I'll walk you back."
She didn't say I don't have to. She curled her arm around my waist and leaned in. That had me concerned she's more tired than she's letting on. But her next action showed that her observation skills aren't suffering at all.
Steph's whistle pierced the control room. "Looking good, Bobby!" She called.
He stiffened but knew there's no hiding now, so he didn't run as we approached.
"Why are you on five?" He asked my wife. "I thought you work remotely now."
She rolled her eyes. "When I live two floors above my office, I think it stops counting as 'remote'. And I got special permission from the owner of both to leave our apartment and visit my office whenever I want a change of scenery."
"Translation," Lester said, "is Ranger was down here and she likes looking at him. He's the scenery she's talkin' about."
"He's nice to look at, so sue me. And as the saying goes … if Stephanie is away from five for too long, the Merry Men will have too much fun while she's gone."
"That's not a saying anywhere except inside your own head, Steph," Brown stupidly pointed out.
"We're also escaping some of the construction noise going on, which means you'll also find our pets sleeping somewhere nearby. But nice try. You aren't going to bug me into not talking to you so you won't have to say why you're so dressed up. Hot date?"
I shook my head in disgust. We're trained to give nothing away, but the subtle shift in his stance in response to her question gave her all the ammunition she needed.
"Ah, Mireya finally agreed to dinner?"
He paused. Another … fucking … tell. I'm going to have to insist on some refresher courses in torture resistance.
"She had some stuff to work through before she agreed to anything."
"That's what I'm saying. She just went through hell, yet she still sees what an amazing guy you are. If you weren't you, she'd likely still have concrete walls around her so nobody could hurt her like that again."
"Stop, Steph," Santos chimed in. "You're making him sweat right before he has to pick Mireya up. Smelling like a gym on the first date is a worry no guy needs."
"Which is why I'm here," Brown said, "to get keys. Zero's letting me borrow his car so Mireya won't have to climb up into my truck."
"Zero?" Steph asked. "Why didn't you ask us? I get it, my car's full of Olive's stuff, but all of Ranger's are in showroom condition."
"If I'd asked, you'd know where I'm going and do what you just did."
"I found out anyway, so you could've cut out a control room stop and its audience by just asking us."
"You can use the Cayenne or the Turbo," I offered, but he shook his head.
"I'll use Zero's. I don't want her to think I'm a tool by showing up in a Porsche."
Steph stiffened and narrowed her eyes. "Did you just call my hubby a tool?"
"Yeah, like I'd risk a beatdown right when I get the woman of my dreams to go out with me. Ranger can show up in a fucking Porsche because he's Ranger. Other guys just look like they're overcompensating for something. I don't want that to be the first thing she thinks when I pull up to her house."
"How's she doing?" My wife asked.
"Better than I am knowing that a psycho was breaking into her place intending to …" he stopped, clearly not wanting to let his mind go to what could've happened if we hadn't taken out her ex.
Stephanie reached out and squeezed his forearm through his dress shirt. "She's okay … and clearly smart for being interested in you."
"Annnnd … I'm out," he said, cutting his eyes to Zero.
Zero tossed the keys to his Ford Fusion to Bobby who caught them in one hand.
"Good luck, Dude," Santos said.
"Yeah, Mireya is the kind of family I wouldn't chase away … or have Ranger chase away," she corrected. "He must've done a hell of a good job too. Val kept getting calls saying our mom's shades were all down for the first time since my parents moved in."
"I'll keep that in mind," he said with a small smile.
If he isn't engaged by Olivia's birthday, I'll have to turn in my mind reading card.
"He wasn't kidding, was he?" Steph whispered while Bobby answered a question from Zero. "He really does intend to marry her."
Looks like my wife's a member of the psychic community as well. "His mind is definitely made up. Only time will tell if Mireya is having similar thoughts. He's eager, but he won't settle for her doing anything because she thinks she owes him."
"Good, because I'd have something to say about that if that was her motivation."
"Babe."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. We have kids to worry about, the guys can take care of themselves."
"Don't worry, Steph," Santos said, risking a severed limb by slinging an arm around her, "I'll let you vet whoever I get serious about."
"That may not be a wise decision because there's a fifty/fifty chance I'd be warning her about you."
He laughed and used his arm to reel her in for a brief hug. "I was pissed that One Snot got to be in on sending your maternal maniac back to the prehistoric ooze pit she clawed herself out of, but I think I'm over it. Me and you are tight."
"Hold my wife and son any tighter and you'll never have to worry about competition again."
"Because you'll shoot Ass-less for me?"
"Guess again," I told him. "And stop the name-calling. Olivia's not even three and her behavior is more mature than yours is right now."
He sighed, but immediately let my wife go. I know Stephanie sees my men as brothers she feels obligated to watch out for, so my threat was mostly for show. If for any reason I believed one of them was thinking of making a move on her, he'd be dead before he had a chance to complete an improper thought.
"See?" My wife told the control room. "This is the kind of fun I was worried would happen without me."
"Only you," I told her.
"Yeah, I am unique. I can appreciate that now."
The elevator opened and Gene walked out. He stopped in his tracks when he saw the group of us gathered in front of him.
"Ummm, Steph? Can … I um … talk to you for a sec?"
My eyes landed on him with such force, he visibly swallowed and broke eye contact.
"Nothing's wrong and there's no need to be worried, Sir," he said a beat later.
Steph patted my chest in a calming gesture. "I'll be right back."
I trust that nothing's wrong, but I also don't like not knowing what's going on. The fact that it's an unfamiliar feeling makes it worse.
She reappeared from the elevator in the amount of time it usually takes to get down to the lobby and right back up. She had a small package and her cell in one hand when she stepped off.
"Olive's starting to wake up …"
I took a step towards her, but she held her free hand up. "Nope. You stay here. I want you and Olive to enjoy the surprise."
Those words aren't reassuring.
"What's going on?" Bobby asked, not willing to leave for his date until we learned why Steph is being so secretive.
"I have a guess, but nothing specific."
"Does your guess involve Father's Day?" Was Lester's question.
"Yes. And since all packages are screened so nothing dangerous makes it into the building, that would explain why Gene wanted to speak to her alone. He'd feel like shit if he ruined her gift."
"That makes sense," Zero added.
Steph reappeared with her hand closed around something I couldn't see. "Real quick, watch or bracelet?"
"Watch."
She grabbed my arm and worked some feminine magic to add an adornment to something that doesn't need it. She secured something to the watch lug before disappearing back down the hall. She returned holding a still-sleepy looking Olivia.
"Okay, bear with us," my wife told me. "Olive has an early Father's Day gift for you. I put your half on your watch, and Olive has the other. It's on this bracelet for now," she held up Olive's left arm so I could see the tiny, pink cord bracelet, "but it'll be added to her charm bracelet when the cuteness wears off."
"Explain," I told her.
"Olive, show Daddy how your heart works."
Her head is still tucked under her Mama's chin, Steph's face is diagonally framed by two pigtails, but my baby's brown eyes are taking in everything. With a little guidance from Steph, my daughter held her bracelet out to me, and I realized where this is going. I put my watch beside her wrist and watched the two halves of a small magnetic heart come together to make it whole.
