Chapter 4
I quickly dressed in the dark blue jeans and pale blue t-shirt that Lester had found in Ric's apartment. I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror. No hair products or make – up. "Looks like I'm going for the el-natural look today," I muttered to myself.
"Yeah, and I like it Beautiful."
"Jesus Les, don't any of you guys know how to make any noise when you walk?"
This earned me a hearty laugh from Les.
"Yeah, yeah, whenever you're done laughing at me maybe you could give me a ride to Vinnie's."
"Oh, come on Baby, I'm not laughing at you , I'm laughing with you."
Les held out his hand and I took it, we walked hand in hand all the way down to the parking garage. As I was getting into the passenger side of the SUV I heard Tank, "Hey bomber, wait up!"
I turned to find Tank walking towards me wearing his black t-shirt and cargo pants.
"Hey Tank."
"How are you doing this morning?" "Did this clown take good care of you last night?"
"I'm doing good and yes, Lester took very good care of me last night."
"Good, where are you two headed now?"
"Les is nice enough to give me a ride to Vinnie's."
"Here, will you pick some donuts up on the way and tell Lula I said good morning?" Tank asked while handing me a ten dollar bill from his pocket.
"Sure Tank," I said while thinking, I can't believe a Merry Man actually gave me money to buy donuts.
"See you guys later," Tank said giving me and Les a wave.
"Did Tank really just give you money for donuts?" Les asked while starting up the SUV.
"Yeah," I answered back while buckling up my seatbelt.
"I don't know what that Lula has done to him," Lester muttered under his breath.
Chapter 5
With my pink cardboard box of donuts I entered the Bonds office. I had told Lester that Lula could give me a ride home.
"Hey skinny white girl, who was that hottie that just dropped you off?"
"The hottie was Lester, and you have met him before," I stated while setting the donuts down on Lula's desk.
"Oh yeah, I remember Lester," Lula said with a dreamy look in her eyes.
"Thanks for the donuts Steph," Connie said while digging into the pink box.
"These donuts are from Tank and he says good morning Lula."
"My Tankie is such a sweetheart," Lula said while attacking the donut box.
"Any file for me?" I asked while sitting on the old brown leather couch with my boston cream donut in hand.
"No, slow morning." "And what's going on with you and Lester?" Connie asked while straightening up her desk.
"Yeah, that is one find man," Lula piped in.
"Nothing is going on. I had a rough time with a skip last night and Lester took care of me because I was a little shaken up."
"You alright girl?" Lula asked coming to sit next to me on the couch.
"I'm fine, but it was nice to have his company last night."
"You got nothing going on with Lester, nothing with Ranger, and nothing with Morelli. Is that right Steph?" Connie asked while staring at her bright red fingernails.
"Joe has a new girlfriend who is moving in with him and I am very happy for them. Ric and Lester are just my good friends."
"It sounds like it's time for a girls night out then," Connie said.
"My Tankie is taking me on a hot date tonight. You wanna all get together tomorrow night?"
"Sounds good to me. A new bar opened up by Pleasure Treasures," Connie answered.
"I think a night out is just what I need," I replied.
I hung out at the Bonds office for a couple hours and then Lula dropped me off at my apartment. I went in, fed Rex, and went to lay on my bed in my thinking position. I fell asleep thinking about how good I felt when I was with Lester.
Chapter 6
Dave has me pinned up against a wall. His hands and mouth are everywhere. He is tearing my clothes off. Where are Tank and Lester? "Lester, Lester, Lester!!!" I am screaming over and over. Where is he?
I wake up in a sticky sweat with tears coming down my face. I am gasping to catch my breath. Lester bursts through my bedroom door.
"Les, what are you doing here?" I ask while rubbing the tears from my face with the palm of my hand.
"I just stopped by to see if you wanted to go to lunch and I heard you screaming my name."
Lester moved to sit beside me on my bed, whispering "oh Baby," while holding me tightly in his arms. I buried my face in his chest and tried to calm down. Lester began rubbing his hands up and down my back and across my arms. It felt so good and Lester was making me feel so safe. I was enjoying this silent moment with Lester.
"Baby, where are you washcloths?"
"In the cabinet in the bathroom."
"Just lay back on the bed Baby, relax," Lester whispered as he gently pushed my back and leaned over to place a kiss on my forehead.
I lay back and closed my eyes. I heard Lester moving around in the bathroom and turning the water on.
"Here, you go Baby, " Lester whispered as he placed the cool washcloth on my forehead. He began gently stroking his fingers up and down my arms again.
"Thanks Les," I mumbled as I drifted off.
"I'll be right here when you wake up," Lester whispered as I felt him lay down next to me.
Chapter 7
When I next woke up Lester was really still right there. He was sitting up against my headboard and texting on his cell phone.
"Hey," I whispered and reached out to touch his arm. "I can't believe you are really still here."
"I told you I would be," Lester smiled.
I stretched and sat up.
"How do you feel now?" Les asked seriously.
"I feel so much better. Is your lunch offer still open?"
"I think now it would be an early dinner offer, but yes, it's still open," Lester said while taking my hand and playing with my fingers.
I became mesmerized watching him intertwine our fingers together.
"Um, Earth to Steph. Did you hear anything that I just said?"
"Yeah sure," I lied.
"Well, I'll just repeat it all just in case," Lester said while placing both of our hands on the bed. "I said that I need to wrap some things up at Rangeman and would it be okay if I pick you up in a couple of hours?"
"That sounds good," I responded while moving my hand so that my fingers became intertwined with his again.
Lester leaned down and gave me a light kiss on my lips, "Looking forward to dinner Baby, see you soon."
"Bye Les," I said as he walked out of my bedroom door. He turned at the doorway and winked at me, I giggled, and he was gone.
I flopped back down on my bed with a frustrated sigh, "What the hell am I doing?" I grumbled to myself.
I got up, went into my tiny bathroom, and took a long hot shower. Then I went to my closet to decide what to wear and realized that I had no idea where Lester planned on taking me. I pulled a few outfits out of my closet and showed them to Rex, but he was not help. I finally chose a faded blue jean skirt that falls about two inches above my knee and a cute v-neck lavender t-shirt. I also happen to have the perfect purple FMP's to go with the outfit.
Well, I'm all dressed, ready to go, and now I'm feeling nervous. I'm so confused about these feelings I'm having for Lester. I walked into the kitchen to grab a Corona form the fridge when my cell phone rang.
"Yo," I answered.
"Yo, yourself," Ranger's voice came across the phone.
"Hi Ric, how is everything in Miami?"
"Babe, things are good."
"How is Julie?"
"She's good, It's been fun spending time with her."
"How much longer do you think you'll be in Miami for?"
"Not sure. Could be one week, could be four."
Right then my doorbell rang.
"Ric, I gotta go."
"You got a hot date Babe?"
"Ummm, talk you later Ric, bye," I said as I answered the door to a very handsome Lester.