Story disclaimers are all in Chapter 1.
Chapter 11: What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
A waft of cool air from the ceiling fluttered against her curls as Stephanie passed through the Miami Executive Airport security gate. Feeling a shiver where her hair had begun tickling her neck, she reached up to finger the offending strands from under her collar. And, of course, that movement caused her winter coat to slither off her arm, where it had been draped, down to the floor.
She bent down to lift it, only to see a pair of men's shoes stopped beside her, along with a square, tanned hand already picking up her coat.
"We may need a slight refresher on 'awareness of your surroundings'," Ranger drawled from above.
With a snort, she straightened up and saw the expected smirk on his lips, as she retrieved her coat from his hand. "How do you know this wasn't a clever ploy to lure you closer?"
"Already there, Babe," he replied as he snared her close with his now-freed arm.
With a pleased sigh, she released her rolling carry-on and surrendered to his embrace. Her arms wrapped under his open windbreaker and, oh, he was warm and so lusciously male. "I missed you, Ranger," she mumbled into his shoulder, inhaling his scent. His aftershave— she sniffed again; she'd have to find out what he was using now instead of Bvlgari— combined perfectly with his natural musk.
"Missed you too, Steph," he bussed her hair with his lips. His arms were snug around her as he murmured something else, which she didn't quite catch.
She was breathless, even though she'd known Ranger was meeting her here, today. She'd only been away for about a week, but it seemed so much longer. She arched her neck slightly to look up, catching his deep brown eyes with hers. "I'm exactly where I want to be," she said.
His lips quirked in a smile. "You have a thing for airports?" His eyes sparkled with amusement. "I can work with that."
She whapped his upper arm. And ouch, she needed to remember that the man was pure muscle. "I have a thing for you, Ranger. You should know that by now." She felt heat rising to her cheeks.
"Is that so?" he asked. His voice dropped an octave as he added, "I can work with that, even better." Then, his face dipped slightly and she felt his lips—his generous lips, his full and firm lips— meet hers. The sweet, slow press of his kiss heated quickly with slow, soft nibbles along her lips. His breath deepened as she reciprocated; his arms tightened as the tip of her tongue reached out for a tentative caress along the seam of his lips.
And then the sound of someone clearing his throat interrupted the moment. With a final, soft touch of his lips, Ranger pulled back and nodded at a trim yet muscular man standing at an attentive distance.
Still in his arms, Stephanie half-whispered, "I guess we both need to work on awareness of our surroundings." She felt his quiet laugh rumble against her.
"Yo, boss," the other man said, and now Stephanie could see his Rangemen T-shirt. "Ma'am," he added, removing his ball cap and nodding toward her.
"Steph, this is Logan," Ranger said.
"Call me Stephanie," she smiled as she reluctantly pulled away from Ranger.
"Yes ma'am. I mean Stephanie."
"We all set?" Ranger asked.
"Think so, sir. We have eleven checked items, is that right?"
She followed the dart of Logan's gaze toward the baggage pickup area. Though there weren't many people in the terminal on New Year's Eve, several attendants in burgundy vests and matching tan slacks hovered, visibly eager to reunite people with their luggage. Or, with their twin collies, in the case of the tall, slim woman in a power suit who was currently gushing over her furry Starsky and Hutch-i-kins.
Stephanie spotted another, stockier man, also in a Rangeman T-shirt, standing by a bellhop-sized luggage cart. Which was loaded almost to overflowing with— oh, oops— her suitcases and boxes. Yup, all eleven of them.
"Steph?" Ranger prompted.
"Oh yeah, Logan. Eleven is right. Four suitcases and seven boxes." Nibbling at her lower lip, she glanced sideways at Ranger. "I may have gotten carried away when I decided what to pack."
"Which is why I brought Logan, here, and Javi," his chin pointed toward the Rangeman by the luggage cart. "And an SUV with extra cargo capacity," he finished, eyes gleaming in amusement.
She snorted. "I guess Cal tattled on me after he dropped me at the airport. Seriously, though, I never knew that one of the advantages of executive flying was that you could bring so much extra baggage."
"Both Cal and the airplane manifest gave me a clue," Ranger's lip tipped in amusement. He reached over to tuck an errant curl behind her ear, then slid his fingers all the way down to her hand. "Besides, Babe, I told you it was fine to bring what made you feel comfortable, and to let Vince bring Rex and anything you forgot when he drives down next weekend."
"And I really appreciate it," she replied, wrapping her fingers in his. While they walked with Logan over to the luggage cart, she reflected that Ranger's offer meant that she'd been able to bring everything she needed to really, completely be here in Florida. No more living half a life while straddling two possible locations, one foot in each.
She'd done that for far too long. She'd had her own apartment but eaten, done laundry, and stored belongings and off-season clothing at her parents' house. Whenever she'd moved in with Joe, she'd kept her apartment so she could easily move out at any time. She'd gotten close to Ranger, even staying with him, while keeping Joe as a safety option.
Well, it had all seemed like safety, but really it had increasingly felt as though she was living along a thin, precarious edge of her life without diving in.
She glanced at Ranger, whose wry expression no-doubt meant he was aware that she hadn't been following his conversation with Logan. Nor had she paid attention to the fact that, somewhere along the line, her carry-on suitcase and winter coat had joined the pile on the luggage cart. While she watched, Ranger tossed his keys to Logan, at which point the two Rangemen began pushing the cart toward the exit.
Ranger turned, resting his hand on the small of her back. "What do you say, Babe? Ready to roll?"
His touch had restored her to the moment, to the start of her new life. So, with an almost giddy smile she answered, "Sure am Batman, let's go." He nodded with a satisfied expression and began directing them both toward the door.
Something tickled in the back of her mind as she watched Ranger's men push the luggage cart through the sliding exit doors. The tickle resolved into a shudder as she could almost picture walking with Dickie Orr, following the bellhops into their honeymoon hotel while arguing about how many suitcases she'd brought. Probably that, right there, should've been a big clue that something might not be right. That, and the fact that she'd actively hated the way he'd always clamped his arm over her shoulders so firmly that it was almost impossible to walk unless she exactly matched her gait with his. As though she were simply an extension of him.
So differently from how Ranger's hand rested along her waist as lightly as a promise.
Her shoulders twitched again as she wondered what it meant that getting married to Dickie— with his judgmental and heavy, clamping arm— might have been the last adult-style commitment she'd made?
Until now. Well, that really was something to think about.
Or maybe just let it go, she thought as the gentle glide of Ranger's hand along her waist made her aware that she'd stopped walking during her Dickie blast-from-the-past. Only a half-step beyond her, he'd stopped and turned. She looked up into his concerned gaze.
"Did you forget something?" he asked, brows creased as though already planning detailed contingencies for how to retrieve or replace the as-yet unknown, forgotten thing.
But she hadn't forgotten anything. Nothing worthy of remembering, anyway. Reaching up to brush his shoulder in reassurance, she smiled. "No. It's nothing. I just realized I left behind even more unnecessary crap in Trenton than I even realized. And I don't need any of it."
His eyes searched hers. Then, apparently finding what he was looking for, he nodded. "Good to jettison what you don't need." Tilting his head toward the exit, he added, "In the meantime, let's catch up with what you did bring."
The sliding doors reopened, replacing the air conditioned, soft lighting of the terminal building with an inward puff of humid sunshine. Ranger pulled out Oakley's from his windbreaker pocket. Having prepared, she pulled on her own sunglasses. Then, ready for the sun, she glanced at Ranger and saw her smile reflected in his shades and echoed in the relaxed contentment of his lips.
Of course, because this was Ranger, his vehicle was right outside the terminal exit. Logan and Javi made quick work of loading the back of the notably large, black SUV, while Ranger opened the passenger door. He held out his hand to help her climb into the seat, which holy cow she needed because it was like hoisting herself from the lawnmower shed up to the roof of her parents' garage when she was ten.
After she was buckled in, Ranger stepped over to his men for another quick conversation. She sat back in the ample bucket seat, where there was almost enough room for two of her. She looked around. No dust or food wrappers anywhere, of course, in a Rangeman vehicle. The glovebox was surprisingly unlocked with only a folio of car manuals in it. She adjusted her seat forward, and then back, and leaned down to start feeling around for the gun safe.
"Misplace something, Babe?" Ranger asked as he opened the driver's door.
"No, just checking out the vehicle safety features. You know me," she straightened, pulling her seatbelt on.
"That I do," he nodded once while starting the car. He pressed a couple of buttons in the center console, causing a gentle flow of air conditioning to dispel the wisps of heat that had lingered along her skin. Soft jazz began drifting in the wake of the cooled air.
Glancing first at his side mirror, Ranger pulled away from the curb. "The gun safe is well hidden," he said in a conversational tone, proving that he did, indeed, know her. Then, eyes glinting in amusement, he glanced her way. "Speaking of well hidden, did you leave your gun in the cookie jar again?"
She snorted, but then realized, "Oh jeez, you know I probably did leave my gun there when I packed." Turning to squint at the boxes filling the cargo area. "I think it's in the box labeled 'Medium Sized Stuff,' though it might be in the 'Open Me First' box. You know, I'm surprised it got through airport luggage screening," she mused, with a look at Ranger, as this was the type of mystery he was ideally suited to answer.
The faint pinch in his lips hinted strongly that he was refraining from saying anything. Probably he was relieved she hadn't been detained in the special gray, windowless room where New Jersey stashed perky possible terrorists. Or, having lived through many of her car and apartment disasters, it was even more likely that he was envisioning a gamut of mishaps stemming from an exploding ceramic, brown-bear cookie jar.
Poor Ranger, having to worry about so many things all the time. Smiling, she reassured, "Don't worry. My gun is never loaded. So, nothing bad could happen. Probably that's what the screening guys figured out."
"Something like that, Babe," he said, his lips tipped in amusement. After merging onto the expressway, he glanced her way. "There's a protocol for checking firearms when flying, which we'll review next time you travel somewhere. This airline, though, is very familiar with Rangeman and our specialized luggage. I know for a fact they know how to properly deal with undeclared weapons. You'll probably find an inspection slip inside that box."
"Oh, that makes sense," she nodded. She knew Ranger would know the answer.
She relaxed into her seat, watching his focus shift to the traffic on the road ahead. The cobalt of his casual windbreaker and the deeper blue of his polo flattered him, emphasizing his healthful tan. He seemed wrapped in the vibrant, late afternoon sky and blessed with the hint of the distant ocean's color.
He really belongs here, she thought.
And he wants me here, too…. Her lips still hummed with the electricity of his kiss at the airport. Her entire body still felt wrapped in the strength of his arms. In her mind's eye, she could still see the fullness of contentment on his face as he'd led her outside to his SUV.
With one more glance at Ranger, who seemed to have settled into his driving zone, she leaned back into her very comfy bucket seat.
She watched the neighborhoods, shops, and open spaces pass by as they drove, testing out the idea that she was driving toward what was now going to become her city. Sunny Miami, with tall shiny buildings, palm trees and palmettos, and showy billboards for T-Mobile, Bacardi, and Casino Miami Jai-alai. And lush Key Biscayne, with its pastel hues, small shops, and beaches.
It almost felt like a dream, except her sore muscles from packing and moving out of her apartment reminded her that this was all real. And, oh, also…. "Ranger, thanks for lending Cal and Chet to help me get my stuff all organized before leaving." She turned to face him. "And for use of the van. I was going to lose my security deposit if I didn't get rid of my furniture." She squinted. "I thought for sure that Dillon would've taken it, but I guess it was too craptastic even for him."
Ranger exhaled something that sounded like a snort of laughter. Well, that's how it would've sounded if he were anyone other than Ranger. He glanced her way. "You're welcome, though they both volunteered. Any other time of the year you probably would have had even more help." He reached his hand out, finding hers. "None of us felt good about you living there, Babe. Too unsafe. Too many times we didn't get there soon enough," his voice darkened.
"Even so, it felt strange leaving it for the last time. It was so small when it was empty, but even so it echoed." She paused, "I do feel bad, though. You went to the effort to get my bedroom window replaced, and then I immediately moved out."
"Think of it as a long-deferred wish that I got to fulfill."
She chuckled. "Well, that apartment's in the past, now," she squeezed his hand, ignoring what sounded like a grumbled "Thank God."
She continued, "When I find an apartment down here, I promise this time I'll let you put in security. And I'll even learn how to use it without shooting it, or something." She fidgeted with his hand, snaring their little fingers together. "And hey," she said, "I'm even pinkie swearing it."
There was that snort again, as Ranger tightened his fingers, and then shifted his hand to wrap around hers, again. "That makes me feel immeasurably better. Though my offer still remains. You're welcome to stay with me." He paused a beat. "Both you and Rex. And your boxes."
"I know," she said, smoothing her thumb again over his warm, strong hand. "It's just that this is a new start and I want to figure out what that's like." She paused, recalling how she'd explained this to Mary Lou. Looking at Ranger, she finally said, "You already know that I came down here for my college roommate Ellie's wedding. Being around her and her friends reminded me of what I was like, back then. In a good way." She blinked. "You know, I'd forgotten how free I felt then, like a brand-new adult who could do anything."
"As far as I've seen, Steph, you still can do anything you decide to try."
Scooting toward him as far as her seat belt allowed, she stretched a bit further to lean her head briefly on his shoulder. "You're always so supportive. I don't know why it took me so long to realize it."
"Always, Babe," he murmured.
Her breath shuddered briefly. And then, with a chaste kiss to the swell of his muscular arm, she pushed herself back up into her seat with an audible "oof." And, geez, could the stick shift be in any more of a rib-bruising location? Angling up to sit straight, again, she released Ranger's hand to re-adjust her seatbelt.
As she wrestled in place, Ranger steered into the cloverleaf to another highway. And how perfect! It was the Dolphin Expressway. She was moving from a state with prosaic, numbered highways to a place that named them after Flipper, one of her favorite Saturday afternoon reruns from childhood. Well, maybe Flipper was a porpoise, not a dolphin; she could never keep that one straight. In any case, it was a good omen.
As another good omen, the car stereo had started playing one of Grandma Mazur's favorite songs. She was bathed in a lush woman's voice singing "Blue skies shining on me, nothing but blue skies do I see." Even the radio was telling her she was obviously making the right decision.
She turned to explain this combination of obviously positive omens to Ranger, but realized that he didn't need omens or other external validation for his decisions. And, also, that she hadn't quite finished what she was trying to tell him.
Well, she'd resolved to be better at communicating. So, she continued her explanation. "Anyhow, back to what I was saying. The last few months made me realize that it's been a long time since I felt like the Stephanie Plum who Ellie remembered. The one with her life in front of her, who knew she could do anything she wants."
She paused, noting Ranger's frown of concentration. The one that indicated that he was listening— really listening— even though his eyes were focused intently on the traffic ahead.
She swallowed, knowing that she was at the main point of what she wanted to say. Sitting up, she forged ahead. "We've talked about what it would be like to really be in a relationship. Well, I want to bring that can-do Stephanie into whatever relationship we build between us. Like I said on the phone the other night, I don't want to be the old Stephanie, where I kept plonking my stuff in your apartment and camping out because, once again, I didn't think ahead. Like you were just convenient, or temporary."
"I wouldn't see it that way," he said, darting a glance her way.
"I know. But I might. And that's the point." She shrugged, mentally deflecting memories of Joe accusing her, with some validity, of doing exactly that. "Anyway, Ranger, that's why I'm going back to Ellie's condo for the week until she returns. That'll give me time to find a place of my own."
She paused for a breath, then couldn't help adding, "If I'm really lucky, I'll find someplace like Ellie's that's cozy and convenient. And, holy cow, with modern appliances, please."
"I told you I'd help you find the right place," Ranger murmured.
"I know you said that, but you're busy. I don't want to impose."
"I've promised to not be too busy for you."
She felt her heart go all gooey with awe. "You know I appreciate everything you do for me, right?" His brows furrowed behind his shades as though he were searching for deeper meaning. So, she hastened to add, "Don't worry. That's like 'thank you' but with different words. Like giving someone an extra donut because you didn't remember to get the cake but you still want to give them sugary appreciation. Which, well, I guess is possibly even more confusing," she concluded, realizing that she was halfway into an epic babble.
She was relieved, though, to see that his expression was still telegraphing something between indulgence and outright amusement. She should've remembered this: that even when he didn't follow her details, he always seemed to enjoy hearing what she had to say.
So, she resumed her explanation. "I always appreciate your help. But you might not know that I spoke with your sister Ariana about trying out her estate management job for a week or so. While we were talking, she said she thought she knew of a place I'd really like that was coming available. So, I already have some options."
"That you do," he replied with a smirk that looked oddly cat-ate-the-canary satisfied. Well, Ranger always did like to look out for her, and probably felt that having her work for his sister was the next best thing to working at Rangeman.
"Will you need a car?" Ranger interjected casually, his eyes on the road.
"Yeah, probably," she shrugged. "I figure I can look into that this week, too. And before you show up with a shiny Porsche or something to lend me, remember that we haven't determined yet whether I'm free from the curse of Molotov cocktails through the passenger window or garbage trucks falling from the skies."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Thinking of her crap cars reminded her of one truly cathartic moment in Trenton. "Did Cal tell you about excavating my car from under Blizzard Mountain in Trenton and taking it to Big Al's Salvage and Sales?" Crossing her arms, she sniffed while adding, "And not to Rosolli's Junkyard, thank you very much."
"Can't blame you there, Babe." he said while slowing to change lanes.
"Thanks. Anyway, my car started out as a junker and then, after spending a couple months under six feet of snow and ice, they couldn't resell it. So, they extracted the few parts they could use, and then..." she paused dramatically. "Then, they let me watch them put it in the big, red car smasher. And, ka-boom, they totally flattened it. It was really fun." She felt herself grinning ear-to-ear at the memory.
"Should I worry that you've come to enjoy having your cars destroyed?" Ranger's eyebrow peeked out and hovered above his shades.
"No, this was special. It was like saying goodbye to the crappy parts of living in Trenton, in one big, loud smash." She grinned at the memory. "Cal and Chet both whooped along with me. And then, Big Al gave me a paperweight made from crushed parts, topped with the flying serpent that had been welded to the hood." She twisted toward the cargo compartment. "That's definitely in the 'Open Me First' box in the back."
"You never disappoint, Steph." As he spoke, he turned the steering wheel to start them across the first bridge from mainland Miami to Key Biscayne. The low, afternoon sun behind them scattered gems of light atop the rippling water of the bay.
Stephanie's ears picked up a low, sensuous voice on the car stereo singing "What are you doing
New Year's Eve?"
"That song reminds me, Ranger," she glanced sideways at him through her lashes. "You said to make sure I had something nice to wear this evening, but you never told me why."
"I did promise it wasn't for a distraction," he deadpanned.
"Yeah, because I said I'd bring Grandma Mazur with me, if it was."
"A threat I always take seriously, Babe" he replied.
Unable to see his eyes under his sunglasses, she tried to determine if he was serious or amused. Finally she decided that the suspicious tilt to his lip meant it was the latter. Probably.
She noticed, though, that he still hadn't told her what he had planned for tonight. She squinted in his direction, listening to the music in the background. She knew that Ranger always did his best to deliver on his promises. But she was not— had never been— a patient person. And Ranger knew that.
Nevertheless, she attempted to disguise her antsy, trying-to-act-indifferent energy by swaying slightly to the music, earning her another glance from behind Ranger's sunglasses. This time, his lips betrayed unambiguous humor as he said, "I made reservations for New Year's Eve dinner tonight at Three Palms. It's the late seating, so we can stay through the midnight countdown." He paused again before adding, "If you'd like."
"Ranger, that sounds really nice." Over the past several weeks, she'd heard her friends enthuse about holiday dinners at that restaurant, and she had to admit he'd outdone her expectations. Both dining and dancing, if she remembered correctly.
Then, she blinked as the restaurant name fully registered. "Wait, that was the place where I first saw you that night, just before Christmas. Next to the bar where I was." With a slight growl to her voice, she added, "You were walking your date back to the parking lot."
"Right restaurant, wrong date," he glanced at her with the hint of a shrug. Then he returned his attention to the road, adding, "In retrospect, I consider that evening to have been a scouting mission. Like recon."
"If we ever meet your date from that night, can I tell her that?"
That earned her an actual laugh. "As long as I'm there to see the fireworks." He smirked while adding, "Just don't hurt her too much. She's my sister Carmen's college friend."
Stephanie snorted, though she had a strong suspicion that he wasn't kidding. Well, hold my beer, Stephanie thought, having total faith in her own proven, Jersey-bred ability to hold her own in any conversation with former girlfriends or dates. Thank you very much Joyce Barnhardt and Terry Grizolli. Not to mention Robin Russell, as if Stephanie hadn't figured out that not-so-secret recent history. She squared her shoulders at the thought.
After a breath or two, though, she found she'd relaxed again without even thinking about it. The tree-lined boulevard through the Key Biscayne state preserve gave way to the main thoroughfare through the town. Her eyes tracked along all the now familiar sights. As the Spanish market, the local artists' jewelry store, and the sailing themed café passed, one by one, a warmth welled from within. Apparently her heart really hadn't meant "goodbye" when she'd left all of these places behind just one week ago.
"Almost back home, Babe," Ranger's voice recaptured her attention, echoing her thoughts as he so often did.
She turned toward him with a smile. "It's odd, but that's really how it feels. Like home; like it's my community."
Then her smile faltered, overtaken by a pang of disloyalty for the home she'd just left behind. Her father's concern, her mother's tough support, her sister and nieces sharing their eccentric spirit. And, speaking of eccentricity, there was her Grandma Mazur, go-go dancing and gun waving as a public service to stretch the boundaries of familial embarrassment. Beyond that, there was Lula's loyalty and Mary Lou's unwavering acceptance. She was leaving all of them behind.
While she pondered, Ranger turned off the main road toward Ellie's neighborhood. "It's your talent," he said so quietly that it almost seemed that he was talking to himself, though she knew that was her habit, not his. She studied his face in the dappled shadows from riffling palm fronds overhead.
Then he glanced her way. "I saw it at Rangeman," he said. His expression hinted at amusement mixed with something fierce, like pride. "You accept people no matter who they are, show us the best in each other, and don't give up on anyone." He returned his attention to the road. "That changes people. Forges connections, makes communities. In that way, you never really leave them."
"Huh. Really?" Stephanie blinked. How had he known that was worrying her? Oh, never mind. Of course he knew. He was Ranger.
A rare smile teased along his lips. "Bobby pointed out that Rangeman really shouldn't have worked out, very long, from an organizational standpoint. We're about sixty percent veterans, another ten percent former cops and feds, and a full thirty percent ex-cons and gang-bangers. People of color at the top, work teams crossing race, religion, and class backgrounds." He shrugged. "Not the usual recipe for long-term organization stability. But then you came along, and within a few months Rangeman started being a true 'band of brothers.' And you know me: I don't believe in coincidence."
"Wow," she murmured.
"Yeah," he replied, that hint of a smile still lighting his face as he slowed in front of Ellie's condo complex. The SUV tires crunched on sand and crushed shells as they turned into the parking lot. And, once again, the never-available spot nearest to Ellie's building was open.
While Ranger parked, Logan and Javi emerged from another black SUV, parked in the next row. While she watched, they liberated a set of wheeled moving carts from the back of their vehicle. And now Stephanie knew how her boxes were getting from Ranger's trunk to Ellie's house. Her sore muscles celebrated Ranger's thoughtful, all-encompassing help.
She turned to share her happiness, only to find the driver's seat empty.
"Surroundings, Babe," Ranger murmured behind her as he opened the passenger door. Holding out his hand, he helped her clamber down.
"Says the Wizard, who could be anywhere. At any time," she mumbled while untangling her purse strap and then hoisting it to her shoulder. And how the heck did purse straps— like Christmas tree lights and earbud cords— get tangled, all by themselves, while just sitting there?
Ranger's exhale reached snort territory as he closed the passenger door. "Ready?" he asked, gesturing toward the sidewalk.
She took a few steps and then paused. "Wait," she said, turning around. "Don't we need to tell your guys how to find the condo?"
Ranger tilted his head and looked about to answer. But instead, he reached up to remove his sunglasses in the languishing daylight that was giving way to dusk. Shrugging as he slipped the folded glasses into his jacket pocket, he finally said, "They won't have any problem finding it."
She glanced sideways at him, remembering how she'd wandered around the complex a couple of times before finding Ellie's condo on her first visit. But then, of course, she had also been busy checking out the pool, the tennis court in the distance, and the path to the beach.
So, yeah, maybe it wouldn't have been as hard to find if she'd been more focused. And, of course, Logan and Javi were Rangemen, trained at finding the most elusive fugitives in foreign bazaars, no-name shantytowns, and New Jersey shopping malls. They could find anything.
Secure in her conclusion, she realized they'd resumed walking toward Ellie's condo. In the interim, Ranger had taken her hand. The firm pressure of his fingers and the lazy movement of his thumb against her palm felt so natural, even though this hand-holding was a new thing. Not something he'd done much, if ever, the entire time she'd known him in Trenton. And yet, just today, they'd walked hand-in-hand at the airport, and again here.
Removing her own sunglasses with her free hand, she blinked back an unexpected prickle of moisture. Had she ever truly believed that she'd find herself thinking of Ranger— a.k.a., Batman, the Man of Mystery, the Wizard— as her "sure thing"? That he would be the man with whom she'd feel most complete when walking at this side?
"Penny for your thoughts," Ranger's voice quietly interrupted her musings.
"Only a penny?" She peered at him through lashes. Then she grinned as his eyebrow and the corner of his lip rose in concert, speculation and amusement vying for prominence.
"You did suggest, earlier, that providing a car wasn't appropriate at this point."
And here was a new discovery: it was possible to laugh while rolling one's eyes at the same time. "Possibly there's something between a penny and a car," she suggested, still bringing her laughter under control. Then she gathered herself together, circling back to answer his original question. "I was just thinking how nice this is. Walking together, to a place that feels like home. With the added benefit of palm trees and a pool."
And, in fact, both of those things were now in her view. In the waning light, the lamps inset within the pool glowed like lucent pearls being caressed by the darkened shadows of waving palms. The seats around the pool were empty, though the pulse of dance music emerged from one of the condos within walking distance. In warmer weather, Stephanie imagined that the whole complex would come alive on holidays.
She sighed, knowing that she'd miss that, but decided she would look for a place that was just as nice. Starting tomorrow. Probably.
For now, though, she was ready to be at her temporary home, which was just around the next corner. Glancing toward Ranger, she said, "I guess it's a good thing that I accidentally kept Ellie's extra keys in my winter coat when I left. I mean, I know you could pick the lock, but it will also be nice to be able to leave and come back on my own."
"Yeah, about that," Ranger murmured. As he inhaled, his face took on an almost hesitant expression. As they turned down the path to Ellie's condo, he pointed toward the door with his chin.
A colorful poster of a face was covering the door. "What the…?" Stephanie said. Without thinking, she'd begun to step sideways toward the door as though it was a skip waving a gun. Or, at least waving a Super Soaker filled with Kool Aid, like one of her last skips before Ellie's wedding. Releasing Ranger's hand, she reached for her purse, which was always heavy enough to be a respectable weapon.
And then, she saw it. Blinking, she stopped walking. And then she blinked again.
"Ranger, it's a ginormous poster of Cindy-Lou Who from the Grinch! And a giant red gift bow. Like my dream." Her eyebrows rushed together into a full crease of confusion between her eyebrows. Then she heard Ranger beside her. Was that a cough? Was he clearing his throat?
She felt him shrug just as she turned her gaze his way.
"That's my sister Ariana's doing. I told her about your dream of coming home and finding them on your door." He still had that almost hesitant look on his face. Well, she hadn't yet released her white-knuckled grip on her purse, so maybe he sensed handbag-induced danger was still in the offing.
She exhaled, releasing her hold on her purse to let it hang, again, loosely on her shoulder. With a half-smile, she shook her head and said, "I can't believe you remember that. Of all the things I've said."
"Stephanie, I remember everything you tell me. Why wouldn't I?" Now Ranger's brows were creasing his forehead, telegraphing their own bewilderment.
Without thinking, she slid her palm from his fingers, and then turned to rest both hands on his shoulders. "I'm more used to people having a more selective memory, usually focused on my faux pas or what I should have done if only I'd been listening," she confessed with a mental handbag-slap at Joe Morelli and Dickie Orr, among others.
"Their mistake, Babe." His arms came around her, pulling her toward him. His lips pressed softly against the top of her head.
"Keep saying nice things like that, and this could work out between us." She wriggled in his arms until she was looking into his eyes.
"I'll keep that in mind," he replied with amusement lighting his gaze.
Then, with a thwump, Ellie's front door swung open behind her. Before the giant bow's red ribbons finished fluttering, Stephanie had freed herself from Ranger's arms and pivoted back toward the doorway.
To her surprise, Ranger's sister Ariana emerged from the doorway. "I thought I heard your voices," she enthused. "Welcome home!" As she spoke, she tossed heaping handfuls of confetti in the air.
"Um, what?" Backing up, Stephanie refocused on Ranger. "You know, when I said that I knew you had the ability to break into Ellie's place if you wanted, I thought I was making a joke."
"Oh, he didn't have to break in," Ariana brightly piped up before Ranger had a chance to speak.
"About that, Babe," he began, only to have Ariana interrupt him yet again.
"¡Dios mío! Carlos, you didn't tell her, yet, did you?" The rubber soles of her boat shoes thwacked impressively as she strode over to Ranger. "You talked with her every night on the phone." Ranger's sister shook her head. "And today, you were together all the way from the airport. Que idiot." Ariana slapped him upside his head. "I told you, don't make this a surprise."
She then turned to Stephanie. "My brother doesn't understand us women at all."
With dawning comprehension, Stephanie blurted, "Oh! Ariana, it's all good. We did talk about this a few nights ago." Then she rolled her eyes. "Though not today. And you know, Ranger, I thought that your idea of renting, or maybe buying Ellie's condo was one of a few options, not that you were actually in the process of doing it."
"I'm a man of action, Babe," Ranger commented while nodding at his men Logan and Javi, who were each rolling boxes up to the door.
"No kidding," Stephanie snorted. Seeing Ariana's speculative look, so similar to Ranger's under her straight eyebrows, Stephanie explained, "Ranger's used to approaching everything like a mission."
Ranger shrugged. "Like I said, Steph, this lifestyle thing is a work in progress."
"I know," she replied gently as she bumped her shoulder against him.
Ariana snorted. "Just tell me he doesn't see you as a mission."
"Maybe at first he did," Stephanie giggled. She finger-waved at Logan and Javi as they hustled back to their vehicle for another load. Then she glanced upward through her lashes at Ranger. "Back when you started teaching me how to be a bounty hunter. Remember?"
"Couldn't forget, Steph. You helped me to quickly realize the error of my approach."
"Good answer," she nudged him again.
Ranger simply nodded with a vaguely smug quirk of his lips. "Let's go inside," he said. "Ariana has been working her magic."
"Flatterer." Ranger's sister smiled at her brother's praise. Ushering Ranger and Stephanie ahead of her, she explained, "Your friend Ellie wanted to keep her furniture, so we arranged for storage until she gets back in town. Carlos told me, though, that you liked what she had. So, we found similar furnishings."
Stephanie walked through the door while Ariana finished talking, and took a look around. "Wow," she exclaimed. "Ariana, it's like you 'bippity-boppity-booed' everything into colors and styles I would've bought." She walked into the main room and released Ranger's hand so she could turn slowly, in place, to see it all. "It's really nice. How did you do this in one week?"
Ariana's satisfied expression closely resembled Ranger's, with the addition of a Cheshire cat smile. "It was a joint effort. After Carlos gave me the green light, I came over and got our cousin Ella on a video call for some ideas, put together my list, and called in some favors with my usual vendors. And I got a couple pieces from the wholesaler Carlos buys from."
At Stephanie's questioning look, he explained, "Safe house furniture gets trashed and needs to be replaced more often than you'd imagine."
"Ah," she replied, swiftly banishing her half-formed image of Ranger as a clandestine interior designer. She turned toward the bedroom for a peek. "Oh my gosh, you found a Wonder Woman night table lamp. It's like the one I asked Santa for in fifth grade." She spun back to Ranger and his sister, actually speechless.
"Ella," they answered in tandem, followed by Ariana's laughter and Ranger's self-satisfied smirk.
Before Stephanie could figure out what to say, Logan and Javi returned to the condo. Javi rolled his half-empty moving cart to the far living room wall, where the previous load of boxes formed a low embankment. Logan stopped his cart in front of Stephanie and murmured, "Excuse me, ma'am. I mean Stephanie. Are these bed and bath items? If so, I'll put them in those rooms."
Looking down, she saw he had her suitcases plus the boxes labeled BeddyBye, Shoes Shoes Baby, and The Taming of the Hairdo. "Wow, yes," she replied, beaming at Logan. Clearly Ranger had brought the A-Team today. So much for Valerie's fussing that she should have used so-called "normal" labels to avoid delivery and unpacking mayhem. Seriously, though, Stephanie didn't have that many boxes; any mis-labeling would end up as a humorous mixup, not catastrophe.
"So Stephanie," Ariana stepped toward her, resting her arm around her waist. "If everything looks okay, I actually need to head out. I left my number on your fridge in case you forgot it, and you can call at any time." She winked, "And don't forget to tell me whenever you're ready to come join me on my mission to pamper the rich and famous. Like I said on the phone: the job is wacky and unpredictable, the customers are a trip, and the money is good. What more could a gal want?"
"I'll call, I promise," Stephanie chuckled while Ariana wrapped her in a cheek-smooching hug.
"I'm holding you to that," Ranger's sister replied. Walking over to the coffee table, she gathered a leopard spotted sweater and matching purse. She then zeroed in on Ranger, enveloping her slightly stiff brother in an enthusiastic embrace. A brief flurry of Spanish followed, volleyed back in the same language. As Ariana responded, Stephanie thought Ranger was actually on the verge of rolling his eyes.
Note to self, remember to find a Spanish class, Stephanie reminded herself.
Finally, with a quick kiss to her brother's cheek, Ariana concluded, "Y no olvides decir lo que sientes, hermano mío." Inhaling as she pulled back, she tapped her brother on the shoulder. In a gentler voice, she added, "So, be good," she finished with a soft smile.
"Always," Ranger drawled, his head tilted quiet amusement.
Then, with a quick wave and a final farewell, Ariana slipped out the front door.
Sensing their moment, Logan and Javi approached Ranger. "We tested the alarm and hung the drapes earlier, and brought everything from the truck just now. Need anything else done?" Logan glanced between Ranger and Stephanie.
"Steph?" Ranger glanced her way. "Are you all set?"
"Gosh, sure," she answered. "Thanks, guys." Javi, the silent one, gifted Stephanie with a blinding smile. The gold tooth in front added to the smile's bling, but it was the genuine pleasure in his eyes that Stephanie saw. Murmuring, Logan nodded and acknowledged her thanks, as well.
Ranger shifted and the men both stood at attention. He nodded, "Then we're all set. See you next week."
The men nodded. And then both Logan and Javi grabbed their moving carts, said their final goodbyes, and rolled outside. Illumination from outdoor door and pathway lamps countered the early evening's darkened sky. Meanwhile, the New Year's Eve party in the next unit was obviously picking up steam, with laughter and a dance tune audible in the distance.
After the door closed, Stephanie looked around again. "Wow," she exhaled, momentarily overwhelmed. How had Ariana figured out that she wanted a café table instead of Ellie's big dining table? How had she known that Stephanie thought the TV should be on the inside wall, not the one where Ellie had put hers?
"You like it?" Ranger asked in a matter-of-fact tone, as though he were asking her opinion on a pair of shoes. Or, in his case, probably a dinner salad.
"I love it. But it's a bit of a surprise." She sat down on the sofa and thought for a moment, nibbling her lip. "What would you have done if I didn't like it?" She swallowed. "What if I'd said I wanted to live somewhere else? You and Ariana have done all this work." She gestured vaguely around her.
Ranger came over and sat on the coffee table in front of her. Reaching for one of her hands, he answered, "Then I'd help you find another place that you liked." He glanced away briefly, then gazed directly back into her eyes. "You said you liked it here and were comfortable, so that was my main consideration. You don't have to stay here, if you don't want."
"Oh, I want." Seeing his eyes darkening, she had to fight the urge to fall under their spell. At least for a little while longer. "I did the math. If Ariana pays what she says, I can cover the rent that Ellie said she might ask, though I won't have much left over. Probably, though, I could get some hours at the Grouper Inn. The owner said he'd hire me if I came back." And, she mused, she'd also get at least one free dinner a week, that way. She'd be totally on board with a fried grouper sandwich, mayonnaise-enhanced tartar sauce, fries, and slaw at least once a week.
Once again, though, Ranger had that almost hesitant look on his face. "Stephanie, the amount you pay in rent is up to you." Probably sensing the "huh, what?" that was about to blurt from her lips, he continued speaking. "Your friend Ellie really wanted to sell this place. So, my lawyer made an immediate cash offer above what she was asking." He shrugged. "You really don't have to worry about rent. It's yours Babe, if you want to live here."
It took her a moment to absorb what he'd said. While his fingers laced into hers, Stephanie's thoughts brushed along the sometimes hazy edges of her experiences with living arrangements and relationships. And what that all might mean when applied to the man in front of her.
Here he sat: a multi-talented, world-traveled man who apparently had resources beyond what she could readily imagine. Meanwhile, she was a Jersey girl who'd been scraping by, day-to-day, on irregular paydays and wits the entire time she'd known him. Along with Ranger's paychecks, vehicles, and armed bailouts from skip pursuits gone awry.
Well, she'd already decided that she wanted a better, more balanced relationship with him, going forward.
Blinking, she said, "Ranger, if we're going to try this dating thing, I'm not sure I can have you as my landlord. I know you have the resources to afford it, but it feels weird."
"Understood," he said with a nod. "If it helps to know, I bought this apartment to be part of the trust I have set up for Julie." A small, far away smile softened his lips. "You liked this condo so much, and it's a safe, friendly neighborhood. I thought perhaps Julie might want to live here after she grows up." With a half shrug, he added, "Any rent that gets paid until then, whether by you or anyone else, goes into that trust."
"Oh," she exhaled, imagining Julie's delight at having such a nice place all to herself. Near her family, but all her own. "Oh," she repeated, seeing Ranger's gesture through his perspective. He might claim to still be figuring out relationships, but he was a lifelong expert at taking care of the people who needed him.
She leaned forward, caressing his face with her free hand. "That's so thoughtful. And, I do like it here, so I'll be totally okay paying rent to support Julie." She smiled, adding, "But, how about we negotiate the amount of rent some other time?"
"Works for me," he replied, shifting slightly so that first his exhale, and then his full, warm lips tickled against her palm. Her breath caught as his touch vibrated through her skin, from her palm to her heart, and from there igniting through her body as though a fuse had been lit in her veins.
Catching her gaze, he added, "There are better things to do with our time, this evening." He pulled her hand from his face and, with an efficient, graceful shift, moved to sit beside her on the couch. "Better things, like this," he said, voice husky and dark. And then he gathered her into his arms, covering her lips with his.
And here was more proof that Ranger never lied, because this was definitely a better thing to do with their time. Now. Tonight. Or whenever.
She felt his lips quirk into a smile as she leaned further into the kiss. She shivered at the spark lit by his touch. And at the liquid fire of his tongue as it slipped ever so slowly along hers, cajoling her to join it. As one of his large hands began teasing her hair away from her face, the other pulled her closer to him.
"Mmm," she exhaled while reciprocating his touch. Her own hands circled his shoulders. Without conscious thought, she twisted into him. Her far leg reached over his legs, claiming his thighs. It was only right, since he had already managed to completely claim her breath, her lips, and her desire.
He broke off their kiss, briefly, for a breath. Then without a pause he dipped down to again plumb her lips with his sensuous, expressive mouth. His faint five-o-clock shadow brushed her cheek while his fingers slipped under her blouse, trailing ribbons of smooth heat along her eager skin.
She moved briefly, chafing her elbow against the sofa's upholstery as she discovered that her arm was now caught under his. She attempted to free herself, bending her arm and twisting, but only managed to wedge her fist in Ranger's armpit.
Aware of his surroundings as always, Ranger murmured, "Let's take this someplace more comfortable."
With that, he stood, pulling her up with him and into his arms. Through their clothing, she could feel the fullness of his body— his muscular chest, the strength of his legs, the hardness of his desire straining toward her. His arms framed her body, holding her head steady for another long, glorious kiss, while his other hand tickled deliciously along her waist.
Squirming slightly only brought her closer to him— a perfectly desirable outcome, she acknowledged with the ever-decreasing portion of her brain that was still online. Meanwhile, her own hands caressed from his waist to his hips, reminding herself of the pleasure of the flesh underneath his chinos.
Going further, her hands cupped his rear end, feeling the muscles underneath tensing and shifting at her touch. With a low moan, she pulled him toward her, pushing her pelvis against his now even-firmer length.
She felt herself melting with pleasure at his sudden gasp of breath, not to mention the twitch that bucked him even further toward her.
Breath rough, he began nibbling along the shell of her ear, "As I recall, your bedroom is that way," he nudged with his chin, also using his hands to hint in that same direction.
"Such a good memory," she sighed, while shivering to the feeling of his lips beginning to butterfly down her throat.
"I always remember what's important," he murmured against her heated skin before he continued his kisses.
And then the breathy, murmuring quiet of the room was interrupted by a loud burbling growl.
Ranger paused his lips. Stephanie blinked. And then she cursed her fate because, of course, her traitorous stomach had chosen exactly that moment to let out a fierce, rolling grumble. Ranger began to laugh, the sound swelling in counterpoint to her stomach's complaint. His shoulders actually shook with amusement while she attempted to hide her blushing face against his shirt. "So not fair," she mumbled into the cloth.
At which point her stomach growled again, this time even louder.
"And there's my cue," Ranger said, kissing the top of her head as he relaxed his hold on her. "Must be time for that New Year's Eve dinner I promised you."
"But, but..," she protested, arching her neck back until she caught his still smoldering eyes. Before she could formulate what she was trying to say, her traitorous stomach again contributed its own emphatic commentary.
"Come on," he murmured, lightly jostling her arm. "Let's go feed the beast. After all, I intend to wear you out tonight."
Oh my. A renewed pulse of warmth raced through her body, teasing her core with her own desire. And yet she knew he was right; she really did need to eat. And besides— she felt her own lips lift in a smile— he'd actually promised that he was taking her on a date tonight. At a nice restaurant.
She reached up to touch her sensitive, well-kissed lips against his. Feeling daring, she replied, "Only if we can come back afterward and return to where we left off."
"No problem, Babe," he returned her kiss. Hands on her shoulders, he pulled away so they were no longer pressed against each other. Then, he smirked, a hundred percent pure Ranger Mañoso. "I even have a key, so we won't have to break in when we get back. I'm told this makes it more of a real date."
Stephanie snorted. Then she smiled; she was going to find out what it was like to have a real date with Ranger. Something new.
To be continued…
Note: In my mind, songs in this chapter are the lush, old fashioned Ella Fitzgerald versions, though any version will do.
