Beefcake for Charity Chapter 6
A/N: The characters you recognize belong to JE, the rest is mine including all the mistakes. ;)
Ranger POV
The auction was only a few days away and as I suspected the men have lost their damn minds! I knew Santos would lead the pack in outrageous behavior and honestly it has been hilarious watching them try to out do each other and hear their trash talk. But I can't let them know how amusing it is or this mayhem will continue long after their charity bid is complete. This is all for a good cause and it has been fun watching Steph take the helm.
I was about to return to my office when the sight of my second in command furiously scratching his chest caught my attention. "Tank!" I barked and motioned toward my office. He was still scratching his broad chest with both meaty paws as he sat down in one of the guest chairs in front of my desk. I leaned back in my chair, steep-ling my fingers and looked thoughtfully at him. He could barely concentrate long enough to look at me. "Care to explain?" I asked.
"Explain what?" he groused. My eyebrow shot up in question as he began scratching his chest for the third time since he came into my office. Before another word was uttered I caught a glimpse out the doorway of Bones rubbing himself on the back of desk chair.
"Do we have some sort of bug infestation?" I asked and turned my attention back to the mountain of a man sitting across from me scratching like a dog with fleas.
"I don't think so," he said finally.
"You don't think so?" I let out a small sigh, my patience being tested. I opened my mouth to respond when Stephanie's laugh came ringing through the hall.
"You what?" she screamed between fits of laughter. I sprang from my chair to find her bent over slapping her leg and laughing uncontrollably.
"What is going on here?" I demanded
"He…..He…"she couldn't get any more words out before another fit of laughter took over. I turned my attention to Bones for an explanation. He glanced down at his feet, his face flush as he tried to discreetly scratch his crotch.
How did I lose control of this situation? Has everyone gone insane around here?
Santos strolled in and quickly analyzed the situation as Tank came up behind me still scratching. Les' lips curled into an ear to ear grin before he started laughing almost as hard as Stephanie.
"Will someone tell me WTF is so funny and why these two can't stop scratching?" I growled. Santos and Babe sobered up. Babe wiped the tears from her eyes and Santos just smirked looking from Bones to Tank.
"Manscaping." The deep voice behind me said.
"Excuse me? What?" I turned to find Tank looking sheepish.
Stephanie finally spoke up. "I think what the big guy is trying to say is that he and Bones here took Les' advice and had some male grooming done and something went wrong or they took it upon themselves to make it a 'do it yourself project'."
The deep red in Bone's face darkened confirming Stephanie's suspicions. Santos chuckled. Babe took sympathy on the two boneheads, apologized for laughing and suggested that they go see Bobby about the situation before they scratch off a layer of skin. She turned on her heel and headed back to her office.
"Manscaping?" I whispered as Tank and I turned to return to our offices. "Shut it," he growled. I couldn't help the soft chuckle that escaped. As I closed my office door I wondered what lengths I would go to if Babe hadn't responded to me the way she did. I sat down at my computer and typed in the term 'man-scape',quickly wincing and shutting the laptop. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. To think Babe does that for me gave me a whole new respect for her.
BOBBY POV
Les strolled into my office and flopped down on the couch putting his feet up; a goofy grin wide on his face.
"You look like the cat that ate the canary. To what do I owe this visit and should I ask what has you so pleased with yourself?" I asked zipping up my newly restocked medical go bag.
Lester smiled wide. "I was telling some of the guys about looking good for the ladies and instead of seeking professional help Tank and Bones decided they could do it on their own."
"Oh God!" I gasped, remembering the time years ago Les and I tried removing hair on our own. It had been a mess. I had been over confident being a medical professional and let's just say it was not pretty so I had a good idea what my compadres were going through. "They.."
"Yep," Les nodded emphatically, barely containing his laugh.
"They should come in," I said "that could become a problem."
"I don't think they'll want to show you out of embarrassment and the ribbing they'll get."
"I am a medical professional," I countered feeling a bit insulted at the implication.
"Yeah," Les said, "But you are also a buddy and the competition."
I frowned hoping he was wrong but knowing deep down he was right. I hoped they would seek some assistance somewhere.
STEPHANIE POV
There was a quiet knock on my office door. "Come in," I called closing my laptop. I was surprised to see Tank filling my doorway. He entered quickly closing the door behind him.
"What's up big guy?" I asked
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. His large hands went to his massive chest and began scratching like a madman. My heart went out to him . I rounded the desk and grabbed the bottom of his painted on Rangeman t-shirt.
"Let me see," I said as he stopped me by dwarfing my hands in his. His face was stoic but his dark eyes pleaded for help. I tried to give him a tiny reassuring smile but I still could sense his anxiety. "I'm guessing it is just a rash," I said when he loosened his grip on my hands and allowed me to lift his shirt.
His expansive chocolate chest was covered in red bumps started by waxing and inflamed by all the scratching. I gingerly ran my fingertips over the bumps and he shuddered. "You should see Bobby," I said.
He shook his head. "Can you help?" he asked quickly. I looked up into his pleading eyes and stepped around behind my desk and grabbed my key fob and pulled Tank with me into the elevator. I almost asked why he didn't have Lula help him but then remembered she had been out of town for a few days visiting a friend. Our short elevator ride was quiet; not that I expected anything else it is not like Tank is known for his verbal prowess.
Once inside the apartment on 7; I took Tank's hand and led him to the bathroom and motioned for him to have a seat. He lowered the lid and eased down on it pulling his shirt off over his head giving me a better looks at the rash in the light. "Why did you wax your chest?" I asked,"I don't recall you being that hairy Tank."
I dug through a drawer until I found the tube I was looking for. "I saw Lula drooling over some bare chested guy on television. He was in the shower and on horse and I wanted to bring in as much as I could for the kids."
My heart did a little flip at the confession. "Lula loves you big guy. Wait, was she drooling over the old spice guy?" I chuckled but quickly sobered seeing his expression. "He is attractive," I said finally squeezing a large dollop onto my palm and applying it directly to the red areas. "But he isn't the bad-ass with a heart of gold that my friend is in love with," I continued. "Besides," I grinned, "Your cologne is better than his!"
"Thanks Steph," he said as he grabbed me pulling me into a hug. "Anytime my friend," I smiled and patted his back. "You didn't wax anything else, right?" He shook his head and gladly accepted the tube on his way out the door. He met Ranger at the elevator and gave him a quick nod and punched the down button. Ranger quickly let himself into the apartment.
"Babe?" he called. I came out of the bedroom and smiled at my sexy Cuban man thinking how did I get so lucky. He grinned and pulled me in for a kiss. "I'm the lucky one," he whispered taking my lips in a sweet kiss. "Did I say that out loud or are you reading my mind again?" I asked looking up into his beautiful dark eyes.
He kissed me again and groaned. "I wish I didn't have a meeting in a few minutes," he said releasing me.
"Make it up to me, tonight?"
"Count on it Babe!" he grinned. "Did you get Tank taken care of?"
I nodded. "Thanks Babe, I knew he wouldn't go to Bobby and I can't have him scratching like he has an entire flea circus taking up residence on his chest."
"A flea circus? Who are you and what have you done with my bad-ass boyfriend?" I laughed.
"I'll show you bad-ass," he growled playfully grabbing me and nipped at my neck. I grabbed a hand full of tight buns and told him he better go before he misses his meeting. He groaned and let go moving toward the office to grab something off his desk. "Later Babe," he said and gave me a quick peck on lips and pat on the butt.
BCCBCCBCCBCCBCCBCCBCC
A half hour later I returned to my office and found Bones waiting for me. "What can I do for you?" I asked making my way to my desk. He sat quietly on the couch his hands folded in his lap.
"I uh, I need your help." he said.
"Sure," I said, "how can I help?"
"Before, you were right, I should have gone to a professional to have some grooming done...it itches soooo bad Bomber!"
"You should go have Bobby look at it." I said trying to be reassuring. His face paled. "Please can you just take a look? It itches and burns." Before I could respond he had his pants down. I averted my eyes but not before I got more than I bargained for. It said something to me that this man I barely know was more comfortable showing me his rash than the company medic. Hmm. I wondered if it was a guy thing, or not wanting buddies to see them in a vulnerable state. Maybe they see me as a kid sister? I'd have to explore that more later, first the task at hand.
"At least cover your junk so I am only seeing the rash," I managed to say before turning back to face him. His hand quickly covered his manly part and I bent down to examine the inflamed area a little more closely. I hoped to God that Ranger would not come barging in at this very moment, not only for me but for the sake of Bones' life.
"Well?" he asked.
I stood up and stepped toward the door. "I don't have what you need here, pull your pants up and stay put I'll be right back."
Bobby POV
It was a surprise when Stephanie appeared in my office. "Hey Bomber, what's up?" I said getting up from my inventory to give her a hug. She paused and bit her lower lip seeming to be fighting with herself in what to say."Are you hurt?" I asked starting to check her for signs of injury. I pulled the pen light from my jacket pocket and started checking her pupils. She pushed my hands away and took a step back, "I'm fine, Bobby," she protested.
"I assume Les told you about the manscaping," she said, grinning when she saw me wince. "I swear, men are such babies sometimes," she chuckled at my obvious discomfort. "I mean really," she continued, "You get shot and it is no big deal but hair removal..."
"What can I do for you? " I interrupted hoping to change the subject.
"I need something for skin irritation in a sensitive area and possibly some chemical burn."
I went to the cabinet and pulled out a tube and a small bottle and handed it to her. "Tell Bones to wash the area gently with this and apply this twice a day until the symptoms disappear, and for God sakes quit scratching!"
She nodded and thanked me. "Why did he come to you?"
She shrugged, "I guess I am less intimidating and since I'm a girl I'd have a better understanding?Maybe they figured I'd been through it? Who knows."
"They? Tank came to you too?"
"I've said too much," she said and bit her lip again. "I'm going to count on you to treat this with patient confidentiality."
"Of course Bomber, it won't leave this room."
"Thanks Bobby," she said and turned to leave.
"Steph?"
"Yeah?" she turned around looking at me expectantly
"Thanks for having our backs!"
She smiled and her eyes sparkled, "I'm just glad I can help, you guys have all done so much for me. I love you guys."
I pulled her into my arms for a hug. "We love you too! Thank you for making our brother happy. He's like a new man."
Before either of us could say another word my phone dinged with a text to head out, there was trouble at an account and Knuckles had a superficial wound. I grabbed my bag and escorted Steph to the elevator.
When I met Santos in the garage I wondered what would happen at the auction and who would bring in the most for charity. It wasn't just about the betting, each of us wanted the bragging rights. As long as I beat Santos we're all good.
"Keep dreamin' Brown," he smirked and started the SUV engine.
A/N: The next chapter is in progress and should be up soon...It's auction time, get your checks books ready! ;)