AN: Standard disclaimer applies. The characters are not my invention, except for Anna. Thank you Janet Evanovich for letting us play in your world.
Building
Chapter 2
Ranger was in his zone on the ride home. Every now and then I would glance his way, trying to read both his mood and his mind. He was proud of Anna and contented that Joe would be there for her. Ranger's dedication to his friends was total. He had watched Anna grow and develop into the woman she was now. I sensed that he was pleased with her progress. Somehow, I was turning everything in our lives around in my mind in terms of missions, just like Ranger appeared to do. I chalked this up to living with him for the last half year.
We had certainly gotten closer. I had learned a lot about the man behind the personae, but I still didn't know everything. I often felt as if Ranger was keeping a part of himself shut away, as if he were afraid that to show me this side would be to run me off. For my part, I couldn't think of anything that I could learn about him that would change my opinion of him.
We pulled into the gated driveway. The house was warm and inviting. You'd never know that underground was a series of tunnels leading from the basement to the garage house, to the garage. Rangeman employees were always on premises. Our housekeeper and cook lived in one apartment in the garage house, while the other was usually occupied by one of Ranger's employees. We walked into the foyer before either one of us said anything.
"Babe, I'm going to change and then hit the gym. Want to join me?" Ranger asked on his way up the stairs.
He always asked, but I seldom agreed. "Maybe in a few," I replied. I followed him up the stairs and into the master bedroom. It was actually the last room to be completed in our decorating extravaganza. I couldn't make up my mind what I wanted it to look like. I knew that I wanted it to be a place when Ranger would relax and unwind, but I wanted it to speak to both of us as well. The final product seemed to fit us well. I remember when he first saw it complete. He had been out of town for a few days and I had the decorator race through the changes. The night that he saw the room for the first time, he was nearly speechless. We proceeded to christen every place he could think of . I had a sitting area arranged with a data port for his laptop. I refused to put a TV in the room, but a stereo system was installed to provide some general ambiance. The bed frame and headboard was changed to a more rustic, old world style, with iron posts. A recliner and lounge sat off to one side by the terrace. There were pillows of all shapes and sizes. Some were even thrown on the floor in front of the fireplace. The fireplace was Ranger's favorite spot. When he saw the pillows on the floor, it became the first place we made love after his trip.
I walked into the dressing area and started to change clothes. I felt him come up behind me.
"Are you okay? You've been pretty quiet." His concern was touching.
I turned to face him, noticing that he was only wearing a pair of his workout shorts. I smoothed back his hair from his face.
"I'm fine. I guess I'm over analyzing again," I began.
He grinned. "I thought I smelled burning in the car."
I had to grin back. "I'm happy for Anna and Joe. I really am, but I can't figure out why I'm also a bit jealous." We had promised each other that we would be both open and honest. Ranger had wanted to know that I trusted him completely.
He pulled me into an embrace. "Hormones, Babe. You see a baby and then want one of your own," he offered.
I pulled away. "I don't think that's all of it, Ric. I saw a family, not just a baby. I know we could have a baby, but could we ever be a family?"
There I had said it. I wasn't sure that I even wanted to do the family thing, but the house and Elena's visit had me thinking about it more and more.
Ranger stiffened. "You want to elaborate?"
"No," I really did not.
He must have decided to let it go for now because he kissed my cheek and headed down to the basement gym. I took the back stairs to the kitchen when I found Ella working on dinner.
"Hi Ella," I offered as I came down the stairs. "I didn't expect to see you today. Where's Lupe?"
"Hola, Stephanie. Lupe had a family problem to deal with, so I offered to fill in. How are things going with Miss Anna?"
I smiled. "She had a fine, healthy baby boy. They named him Connor Joseph. He's adorable."
I knew I must have been glowing just thinking about him. Of course, more than once I thought that it could have been me presenting Joe with a son, but the thought only quickly flitted through my brain. I hoped Ranger never caught wind of it.
"I can't wait until you and Ranger fill this house with the laughter of children," Ella offered.
I only smiled. The whole thought was confusing to me somehow. I wasn't Ric's wife, I was his woman. We hadn't discussed marriage because what we have together was working very well. Oh, the subject came up, but one or the other of us dismissed it pretty quickly. I really wasn't sure that Ric wanted to marry me.
"I'll go down to the gym," I told Ella.
The gym was a private work out spot for Ranger and the other guys. It was complete with weight machines and mats for training. The walls on one end were mirrored. I found Ranger staring into the mirror, lifting free weights. He knew I was there, but made no move to say or do anything about it. He completed the free weight exercises and then moved over to a bench press.
"Stephanie, are you going to tell me what's bothering you," he asked as he made some adjustments to the bench.
"What to you mean?" I wasn't even sure I knew what was bothering me.
"You haven't been yourself since you saw Joe holding Connor. My guess is that you realized that it could have been you in that hospital bed."
Shit. He did read my mind sometimes. I had to try to explain. I didn't want this hanging over our heads.
"I guess that I was thinking that, but I quickly dismissed it. It wasn't meant for Joe and I to be together, let alone have a kid. It's just that it started me thinking about what I do want out life. Who am I and where am I going." I sat down on a bench opposite his.
Ranger stopped lifting and sat up. "Are you saying you're having second thoughts about our relationship?"
I looked at his face. It gave nothing away as to what he was feeling.
"No, Ric. Not that. You know I love you and you love me. I guess I was wondering if we loved each other enough for marriage. Look at Joe and Anna. Who knows if they're in love, but they got married."
Ranger sighed, "Are you saying you want to get married?"
I searched his face again. Still nothing. "I'm asking whether or not that it a possibility down the road." Okay, I laid down my cards. It was up to him now.
"Babe, I never brought the subject up before because I thought it wasn't what you wanted. Having been married before, I admit to being a little nervous about it, but marriage between you and I would be different than my first marriage. I know that."
On a whim I asked, "Ric, would you marry me?"
He grinned and advanced toward me. "Is that a proposal, Babe?"