A Month Later... Girls Talking
"Alexa, I have been thinking." I started out.
"Now that might be a bad idea." Lexa teased me. I glared at my best friend and then smiled at Sophie. We were sitting on the floor in the living room talking and having a good time. Just us girls talking. Something we did all the time.
"Now that wasn't nice, Lex." I told her.
She grinned. "Oh you know I didn't mean it. Now, what have you been thinking about?" She asked.
"Well Shay will be back within the next two weeks. And with Sophie getting older and now she's crawling. I was thinking the next time I had to go to New York, we could make it a girl's weekend. I could get us a three bedroom suite at the Plaza hotel. And we could go shopping and just hang out. What do you think?" I asked.
"I think it's an awesome idea. I love it! We could take Sophie to Build-A-Bear and the American Girl Store." Lexa happily agreed.
I raised my eyebrow in question. "Isn't she a little young for that?" I asked.
Lexa shook her head. "Uh, no of course not." She replied.
I rolled my eyes. "Okay whatever you say." She had so many toys anyway I guess a few more wouldn't make any difference. Sophie crawled towards Lexa then changed her mind halfway there. She grabbed a toy phone and started playing with it. I couldn't help but grin at her antics. She was so adorable.
"So where is Shay right now?" Alexa asked.
"The last time I talked to her, she was in South Africa. She sent me some of the shots she got...so awesome. Lions, hyenas, giraffes, and buffalo. Some up close shots. I don't know how she does it." I told Alexa. I was amazed how how talented Shay was. She always majored to get those up close and difficult shots.
"Me neither, girl." Lexa agreed. We sat there quiet for a few minutes before Lex spoke up again. We just watched Sophie play. She continued to crawl from toy to toy; laughing and giggling.
"So where is Sophie's dad? I haven't seen him around in the last couple of days. Don't tell me he got bored already." Alexa wondered out loud. I rolled my eyes at Lex.
"No, a couple of days ago, I believe it was Sunday night, he came at like midnight and said good-bye. He had to go to Miami for business. Said he would be gone for about a month I think." I answered. Sophie knew he was gone too. She was all the time looking around for him. Can't say that I blame her.
"Oh, it is quiet without him around, because it seemed like he has been over here all the time." Lexa stated.
"He's quiet when here unless he's speaking Spanish to Sophie. I barely notice when he is here." I told her. Even though I felt a little like I was lying. Lexa was looking at me like I was nuts. So I knew I would come clean.
"Girl, are you crazy? That man is fucking fine! Hot as hell! You can't tell me he is easy to be around." She exclaimed.
"He does make me nervous." I admitted. "But every since I told him that I wasn't sleeping with him, he's backed off and left me alone. He was just looking for a one night stand and you know that's not me." I told her. It hurt to admit that, but it was true. Since I told him I wasn't interested, he hasn't kissed me or even touched me.
"Why does he make you nervous?" She asked me.
It was my turn to look at her like she had lost her mind. "Um, because he's hot and sexy. I'm not dead, Lex. I do have eyes. He is a very fine specimen of a man. No denying it." I stated.
"So you think that stuff Shannon said is true?" Lex asked. I shrugged my shoulders. I had to admit what Shannon told us always made me wonder, but I sure doubted any of it was true.
"I don't know and I won't be finding out. I told you, we agreed to be friends to make it easier on each other." I said.
"What do you think of him as a person?" She asked.
"I thought he was an arrogant pompous jacknut. Just because of the way he held himself. And the way he acted." I admitted.
"And now?"
"Oh he's arrogant, but he has that right I guess. He's nice, considerate and very helpful. I feel as though I can trust him no matter what. I like that feeling." I replied.
"Is he good with Sophie?"
"He is so good with Sophie. Sophie just loves him. When she hears his voice, she starts looking around for him." I exclaimed. And Sophie really did. She loved her daddy.
"Awww how sweet is that." Lex agreed.
"Yea it is. He'll even change a ..." The doorbell rang; cutting me off. "Who is that?" Lex asked. I shrugged my shoulders at Lexa and went to go answer the door. It was a blue eyed curly haired brunette. She was beautiful.
"Hi, can I help you?" I asked her. She smiled at me.
"Hi, my name is Stephanie and I'm a friend of Ranger's." She told me. I smiled back at her.
"Oh he's not here." I told her.
"I know, the Merry Men said he was in Miami, but he told me to come back to see Sophie. And I'm only going to be in town today. Can I see her?" The girl asked me. I hesitated.
"What's your name?" I asked. It was hard to trust people these days.
"Stephanie Plum." She answered. I couldn't help but grin then. Ranger told me all about her. Those two were best friends.
"Oh, Ranger has told me a lot about you. The Bombshell Bounty Hunter?" I replied. She laughed out loud.
"None of it was my fault." She said. I laughed with her. I liked her.
"Please come on in. Sophie is the living room." I stepped back to welcome Steph in. She slides past me and looked around.
"You have a beautiful home, Ashley." Steph said as she looked around. I smiled at her back.
"Thanks, Stephanie." I told her. She saw Sophie and gasped.
"Oh she is so cute and adorable." Steph exclaimed.
"Thanks. We like her too." I told her. She laughed at me. I sat back down on the floor and told Steph to please sit down. She sat down next to Sophie. I introduced Steph to Lexa.
"So are you're married, right?" Alexa asked.
"I am. To a man named Diesel." She answered.
"How did you two meet, if you don't mind me asking." I asked.
She shook her head. "I don't mind." She told us. "Every now and then he would come by and ask for my help."
"Was it love at first sight." Lex interrupted. Steph laughed at that.
"No, he drove me crazy." Steph told us.
"How did you two end up together then?" She questioned.
"Well he came by because he needed help with something so I agreed. We were out looking for someone when he got my car blown up." Our eyes widen at the statement.
"Yea I blow up a lot of cars, well I use to. Anyway, we got back to my apartment and we were talking when my boyfriend showed up and he was so pissed off. He started screaming at me about getting a new job and settling down and getting married and at the time I didn't want to get married. Well Morelli wouldn't even let me get a word in. I guess Diesel got tired of hearing it especially after he starting dragging Ranger's name into saying it was all Ranger's fault. Diesel came out of the kitchen yelling at Morelli to shut the hell up. That if he would just stop screaming at me, I might change my mind about some things. Well Joe was so mad he just walked out."
"Then what happened, girl?" Lex asked. She laughed at our eagerness.
"I don't really know. Everything just changed between us. No one had ever screamed at Joe before in defending my honor. I thought it was so sweet and then he kissed me and wow..I was blown away." Steph replied with a dreamy look upon her face.
"Awww that is so sweet." Lex said and I nodded my agreement. But I had another question on my mind.
"Do you mean Joe Morelli?" I had to ask.
"Yea, you know him?" She questioned.
"I can't get rid of him?" I replied. And I couldn't. Especially since the break in. He was all the time coming by to check things out.
Her eyebrows narrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"A little over a year or so ago, Detective Morelli's cousin, Mooch got into some trouble in Newark. My dad is a judge in Newark and he knows of Morelli and the family. So he gets Mooch off of these charges and I don't know for sure, but I believe it was some heavy drug stuff. Morelli and his family were so happy, that Morelli promised to look after my dad's family. So now he is always around checking up on me and reporting to my dad. Sometimes its a little dis-concerning I guess. But he means well." I explained.
"Morelli is an asshole, be careful, okay?" Steph warned.
"Thanks, I will I promise." I told her.
We talked a little bit longer then Steph announced she had to go. I walked her to the door.
"Please, whenever you are in town, drop by." I told her. She would always be welcomed here. She gave me a smile.
"I will, thanks!"
"Bye Steph!"
"Bye Ash, Bye Lex!" We both wave to good bye to our new friend.
"I like her." I smiled at Lex.
"I like her too. The stuff that girl has gotten into is hilarious!" Lex laughed.
"I agree." I told her; laughing right along with her. I liked Stephanie and I immediately trusted her.
Ranger Comes Back-
I had been gone for a little over a week. It was supposed to be a month, but I was able to wrap up the business end of things rather quickly. So I rushed back to Trenton.
I was ready to see Sophie again. Hell, I was really ready to see Ashley. I hated keeping my distance from her, but I had been spending more time with Sophie and I do believe that Ashley appreciated that. I had a business problem in Miami and because of Ashley and Sophie and getting to know my daughter; I went to go see Julie and I enjoyed that. She wanted to come up here and meet Sophie. I told her I would ask Ashley about it, even though I knew Ashley will be like of course its okay, she's your daughter. Ashley rarely thought of herself.
I knew it was late, but I wanted to see them both. I pulled up in front of Ashley's place and got out. I locked my Turbo and walked to the front door. Since all the lights were off I unlocked her front door, re-locked it and then reset the alarm. I took in my surroundings and all was quiet. Which I thought would be the case. I walked up the stairs and went to check on Sophie first. My heart jumped in my throat when I saw the crib was empty. What the hell? I walked down the hall into Ashley's bedroom and smiled. Ashley was laying on her right side facing the door. Her knees were almost to her chest, one arm under her head, the other hand lying on Sophie's belly. Pillows were surrounding Sophie. Both of them were fast asleep. I watched them sleep for about a hour before I walked back downstairs and crashed on the couch.
I woke up when a warm hand moved back a stray hair from my face. I opened my eyes and grinned at the beautiful brown eyed woman in front of me. She smiled back at me easily. Well, good morning to me.
"Good Morning, Ranger. Want some breakfast?" She whispered to me. She backed up and so I could sit up. I was still watching her.
"Why are you whispering?" I asked her. She gave me a lopsided grin and pointed to the floor. I looked over at what she was pointing at and my grin widened. Sophie was asleep on her tummy; surrounded by toys.
"What time is it?" I asked.
"It's almost 10:00." She answered. I couldn't believe that. I never slept that late. I shook my head. I slept until 10 in the morning. Damn, I must have been tired.
"How long have you guys been up?" I asked. She cocked her head as if thinking.
"Since about 7:00. Sophie is cranky cuz she's teething." Ashley answered.
"Is that why she was in bed with you?" I asked. Ashley blushed and I grinned. That's when my cock decided to make his presence known. I stood up trying to get some relief in my pants.
"You came into my room?" She asked as she took a step back.
"I did when I couldn't find Sophie in her crib." I explained and she nodded.
"Oh okay. I'm sorry about that, I bet that scared you." She replied. She then turned and walked into the kitchen. I followed her. She handed me a cup of plain yogurt and a bottle of water. She knew me so well. That I like quite a bit.
"Um, Ranger. I was wondering if I could ask for a favor?" She wondered.
"Sure." I told her.
"Would you like to watch Sophie Friday night for me?" She asked me.
"Sure, whatcha planning?" I replied.
"I have a date."