See prologue for disclaimers. Feedback is greatly appreciated!

Chapter 15

Tank found us the next morning, my shirt riding up around my waist, my leg thrown over Lester's, my lips pressed to his collarbone, Lester's hand on my bare hip. Whoops, I thought as I blinked myself awake. Not a good way to start a date.

Lester apparently missed the day where the Army taught you to sleep lightly, because he hadn't yet stirred.

Tank was just standing in the doorway, he hadn't spoken, but I could tell he was pissed.

"Lester," I whispered and shook his shoulder gently.

Lester responded by shifting his hand up to cup my ass, pulling me flush against him, but he didn't open his eyes.

"Lester," I said with a little more force.

"Sweetheart," he murmured, his eyelids heavy, and he kissed me.

"Santos," Tank yelled.

Lester's eyes flew wide and he pushed away from me. He practically jumped from the bed.

Tank grabbed Lester by the back of his shirt and dragged him out the room.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I could hear Tank's voice raised in anger from my living room. "I'm gonna kick your ass." Tank lowered his voice to a rumble that I couldn't make out. I walked to my doorway and listened.

"I wouldn't," Lester responded to whatever I'd missed Tank saying, sounding offended.

"You would. You totally would," Tank said heatedly

"No. Not with Steph." Lester was getting angry.

I decided I'd better intervene. I shuffled into the living room.

"Nothing happened," Lester said emphatically.

"Tank, really, Les was a perfect gentleman and I didn't make it easy on him. He didn't lay a hand on me. Well, except what you saw and I'm pretty sure he wasn't fully conscious." I wrapped my arms around myself. "I… I asked him to stay."

Tank looked at me for a beat and then nodded. "I'm sorry I barged in Steph. I was worried about you. I heard about Hal."

"Yeah," I said. Damn Hal's big mouth. "I'm okay. Well, no, I'm not okay, but I will be. What choice do I have?" I gave him a wobbly smile.

Tank nodded sympathetically. He moved toward the door, and said, "I'll call you a little later?"

"Okay."

Tank left us standing in my living room. Lester walked over to me and wrapped me in a hug.

"So, you didn't learn the whole 'sleep with one ear open' thing."

Lester chuckled, his laughter rumbling in his chest. "I was just really comfortable. I'm not usually that easy to surprise."

He rested his chin on the top of my head and said, "I need to tell you something. Not to make your life harder or more complicated or anything like that, but I need you to know that I'm in love with you. And I know you still love Ranger and I'm willing to wait, or walk away, or whatever you want. I just didn't want to make the mistake of never saying it."

I stood motionless in his arms. He said, "I'm gonna leave now, unless you need something. I know Tank had plans for today and he's probably waiting down in the parking lot to pummel my ass."

"Thank you, Lester. Thank you for caring and being my friend and for last night. I needed you. Not just anyone, Lester. I needed you."

He kissed the top of my head and stepped away from me, giving me his most charming grin. "Call me if you need anything, Sweetheart."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Tank called an hour later after I'd showered, gotten dress and eaten breakfast. I had started to feel human again.

"Hey Steph," Tank said over the phone. "I'm gonna give you a rain check on my date."

"Oh, Tank, I'm sorry. First poor Hal and now you."

"It's okay, Steph."

"No, really, I'll be fine. I'll do my best to be decent company. I don't want to lay here and wallow. I did that last weekend."

"Well, I have an idea. Maybe you ought to get away for a day or two. There's a little place I have in the mountains up in Pennsylvania about two hours from here. You are welcome to use it. You can come up there with me, we can spend a quiet day, or we can canoe on the lake or hike. Whatever. And you can stay up there as long as you want."

"Sounds good. Thanks."

"Great. I'll see you soon."

A few hours later we were pulling up in front of a quaint log cabin with a wide front porch. Behind it you could see the lake peeking between the trees.

"This is perfect." The only sounds were the pine boughs rustling in the breeze and the calls of birds in the thicket.

"It's not much, but it's enough for me."

"It's great. So peaceful… just what I need."

"Let me show you around." He let us into the cabin using a key that sat under a flower pot on the front porch. So much for the security expert. The front door opened onto a large living area with a stone fireplace on the right wall, wood floors and polished log walls. The furniture was simple and rustic but looked comfortable. The place was spotless. A doorway to the right of the fireplace opened into a large bedroom with a bathroom attached. To the left of the great room were a breakfast bar and an archway into the generous kitchen and eating area. The best feature, though, was the back wall of the great room which had floor to ceiling glass windows that allowed in the sunlight filtering through the trees and provided an awesome view of the lake a few hundred feet away.

Tank set my bag down in the bedroom and came up next to me where I was staring out at the beautiful scenery.

"Why don't you walk down to the lake while I unload the groceries?"

"You need help?" I asked.

"Nah. It won't take long. I'll join you in a few minutes."

I let myself out of the sliding glass door in the kitchen and made my way down to the lake, breathing in the crisp air fragranced with pine. It was cooler here than in Trenton by maybe ten degrees and the humidity was lower.

I could see that the lake stretched far and wide into the distance but the density of the trees on the edges of Tank's property helped maintain some privacy from his closest neighbors. There was a long dock, with a canoe and rowboat lashed to it. There was a little boat house on the shore. I walked to the end of the dock and sat down, my legs dangling over the edge.

Tank found me there a few minutes later and offered me a hand up. "You want to go out on the lake?"

Tank managed to get the canoe into the water and helped me to step into it before climbing in after me. At first, I was sure we'd sink 'cause Tank is no delicate flower. But, the Native Americans must have known a thing or two about design because, while the canoe sat a little shallow on my end, I wasn't sticking up in the air like I was on some crazy see-saw.

The great thing about canoeing with a big strong guy was he was willing to do all the work. I just sat in the canoe and relaxed, my fingers trailing in the water.

As he steered along the perimeter of the lake, Tank told me about growing up in Newark. His family was all nearby and very close-knit. He and Ranger had known each other from way back, growing up in the same neighborhood and they decided to join the Army together when college didn't take. Tank had been at Ranger's first wedding and had been there for Julie's birth. Ranger had helped Tank through the loss of his young wife to a reckless driver five years ago. They were closer than brothers.

"So, Tank. I guess you knew about this all along," I said, finally acknowledging the pink elephant.

"Yeah, Steph. I knew that Ranger got married. I wanted to tell you and I've been hounding him to tell you. I was trying to avoid you finding out from Hal, the gossipy little old lady."

"It's not his fault. Everyone else knew. He assumed I did too... God, I feel like such an idiot," I swallowed tears and stared out across the water.

Tank stopped paddling and let us drift. He stared at me until I met his eyes. "Steph, you are not an idiot. Ranger, though I love him, is. I've told him that everyday for the last six months."

I nodded. I wanted to be angry at Tank for not telling me about this, but I knew that Tank had done what he always did. He supported Ranger, right or wrong. I could admire the loyalty even while I hated being a victim of it. I had other questions, but I didn't want to do this here, where I couldn't hide. I was going to get answers though, sooner or later.

I took a deep breath and tried to regain my equilibrium. Denial was my friend. I looked back out at the water that was gently turning us back in the direction of the cabin.

"I'm hungry." I finally said. When all else fails, change the subject.

"Well, there is food in the cabin, let's head back."

"Alright."

Tank paddled us back to the dock and helped me scramble out of the canoe.

While Tank was putting the canoe away, I walked up to the cabin to start lunch. I walked through the sliding glass door to find her standing in the kitchen. I just stood there, mouth agape.

"Hi," she said cheerfully, "I'm Carmen Manoso."