AN: I don't own anything and I'm not making any money. I planned to post this chapter before today but was without internet from Sunday afternoon until today. This chapter isn't quite as perfect as I wanted but I hope you enjoy it all the same.

Steph: Thanks for all your help with the brainstorming and helping me get my story in line. You are amazing Babe.

Please leave me a review. The more reviews I get the quicker I'll spit out another chapter. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and added this story to your favorites and have an author or story alert for me or my stories. You Babes are wonderful.

Chapter 2 – The party and meeting Carlos.

Steph's POV

I woke up at 7 am on the day of the party. I was so excited and had a lot I wanted to do before we headed to the party two doors down. I went straight to the shower and did my normal routine, shaving and moisturizing. I wrapped up in a towel and went back into my bedroom Frankie was still sleeping which gave me more time to get ready.

I picked out a denim mini skirt that was frayed on the bottom, a blue racer back tank top and white corkscrew wedges. I blow dried my hair and straightened it; I put on light makeup with a bronze eye shadow and brown eyeliner.

I looked myself over and thought I looked good. I woke up little man and put him in blue, gray, and white plaid shorts, with a blue and gray polo shirt and blue, gray and white plaid shoes. The outfit was a gift from Tia and Frankie looked adorable in it.

I laid Frankie down on the floor beside with me toys and grabbed Tia's present to wrap it up. I got it all wrapped up and took myself and Frankie downstairs to wait for my parents to get ready. They came down shortly after me so we could be at the party by ten am.

We walked the short distance of two doors down Lester was opening the door to Lula as we walked up the driveway. He came directly to me and took Frankie out of my arms talking to him as he went. We walked into the house and Tia was in the kitchen cooking but I couldn't see what it was. Tio was in the backyard hanging up decorations. I hugged Tia in the kitchen setting her gift on the table and she turned around and took Frankie from Lester.

I walked outside to see if Tio needed help, which he did. I started helping him hang up signs and put Tiki torches in the ground. Everyone was due to arrive around noon and the party would last well into the night. It's just how we did things in this neighborhood.

Once all the decorations were hung, Tio and I headed into the house, hearing laughing coming from the kitchen as we walked in. I walked directly to Lester and Lula, asking to speak to them in private. I wanted to talk to them about last night, they were my best friends and I just needed to tell someone about what I had done.

We walked into Lester's bedroom and I went straight to his bed and flopped down.

"What's up Beautiful?" Lester asked as soon as all of us had set down.

"I went to the cemetery last night." I told them.

They both nodded but Lula spoke, "White girl, you go there a lot, what was different?"

"I went to tell Andres that it was time for me to move on and quit dwelling on losing him and try to find happiness again."

"Do you feel better now that you have done that?" I nodded, tears slowly streaming down my face.

"I do, it was hard to do because I love him and I always will."

"White girl, it is time, Les and I was both waiting for you to realize it was time. Andres loved you and wouldn't want you going on like you have been I'm glad you did it." Lula said before reaching over me and hugging me tight against her.

Les pulled me out of her arms, "You know Beautiful, I'd probably try to be the guy you moved on with but I see you as more of a sister than a girlfriend. But, I'll marry you and you can travel in the Army with me." He said half seriously.

"Thanks for the offer, Les, but you need to save marriage for the right woman." He laughed.

"Nope, you're the only woman I'd marry." I shook my head, laughing, knowing he was telling a partial truth. Lester never wanted to get married, he says he'd just assume live with a woman than marry one.

We all three hugged and walked back down to the living room, where Frankie sat whining in my mom's arms.

"Honey, I think he's hungry." My mom said as I walked in.

I nodded taking him from her and grabbing a blanket out of his bag before going back to Les's room to feed him. He, of course, fell asleep eating, so I unlatched him, fixed my shirt, and carried him back downstairs in my arms.

I sat down on the couch with Les and Lula each on one side of me. The doorbell started to ring and Tio was letting people in and steering them to the backyard where the party would be held. I got up slowly, to keep from waking little man, and walked outside. I sat down in one of the chaises and Lester set down at my feet.

He knew I would be overwhelmed meeting all of his and Andres's family. Lula was off talking to one of Lester's cousins who she wanted to date. Jose Manoso, he was a year older than us but attended the same school, he was a cute guy and Lula thought he was the cutest.

People trickled in and continued to fill up the backyard. We would be having Tamales for lunch and dinner was being catered by one of Tia's sisters, Ella. Tia and my mom brought out the tamales and set them on the buffet stand Tio had put up. There were different tamale variations, beef, and pork, chicken, shrimp, vegetable, and cheese tamales.

Everyone lined up at the table and began to fill plates with tamales, chips, salsa, and queso. Tia was one of the best cooks and I enjoyed eating her meals anytime I could. I walked back to the chaise I had been sitting at, still holding Frankie cradled in one arm and sat down to eat my lunch.

Lester was off talking to Family members and Lula was still with Jose, they seemed to be getting close here. There was a gorgeous guy sitting on the chaise next to mine and I had no idea who he was, but as I walked closer to him I felt a tingle at the back of my neck. It was something I had never felt before and I was confused by it.

I began eating and watching the guy out the corner of my eye. Lester returned to the chaise and introduced me to the gorgeous guy, "Beautiful, remember me telling you about my cousin who is in the Army?" I nodded since I had food in my mouth, "This is him, Carlos Manoso."

He looked at Carlos, " Cuz, this is Stephanie and her son Frankie." Carlos nodded but didn't seem to make a connection.

Tia walked over with who I assumed was Carlos's parents since there was a shocking resemblance.

"Ricardo, Isa, this is Stephanie and Frankie, Andres's and Steph's son." Carlos looked over and raised an eyebrow at Lester who just smirked.

Ricardo and Isa just smiled, "He should be waking soon and then you can actually see him." I told them and they walked off to talk to the other members of their family. Angelo and Lucia came over to check on us and give us each a kiss which woke Frankie up.

He smiled as he saw his Abuela and Abuelo, flapping his arms around. Lucia took him and began talking to him in Spanish while Abuelo watched smiling at them. He wrapped his arm around me. "How are you doing Hija?" He asked.

"I'm okay, but I'm doing better than I was." He nodded.

"Frankie is getting big."

"He is and he looks so much like Andres."

"I know, he does have your traits also." I nodded.

"Hija, I know you loved Andres and still do but have you thought about dating again. You are still so young." He told me.

"I know and last night I went to the cemetery and talked to Andres about just that thing. I think he'd be okay with it." I replied.

"He would, he would only want you to be happy." He kissed my forehead, squeezing me to him before walking over to Lucia, who was showing Frankie off to everyone.

I sat back down on the chaise and watched as everyone owed and awed over my beautiful son. Carlos was watching me closely.

"I didn't know you were the one that had a child with Andres, I thought you were Lester's girlfriend." I laughed.

"No, I'm Lester's best friend." He smiled a beautiful smile that melted me.

"So, I know you didn't grow up in Miami, where are you from?" He asked.

"New Jersey."

"What brought you to Miami?"

"There were some circumstances in New Jersey and we thought it best to move, my grandparents live here in a retirement community so we moved where we would be close to them." I told him. He nodded.

"Do you have any siblings?" He questioned.

"A sister but she lives in Jersey, she's in college and engaged."

"Interesting, you know most of my family."

I nodded, "They're a great family." He smiled again.

"They are." He replied.

"How do you like the Army?" I asked.

"I like it, it's challenging and I get to do some good for my country."

"What do you?"

"At the moment, I just finished Ranger school and am waiting the assignment for my first mission." I nodded, thinking how dangerous that sounded.

Lester walked over with little man and handed him to me, "I think he's hungry again. He's been whimpering. Lucia said whenever you feel like some time to yourself let her know and she'll keep him for you." I nodded with a smile and got up to go to Lester's room to feed Frankie.

Once in Lester's room I began to wonder what the tingle in my neck was about when I got close to Ranger, it was like an instant connection. I had never felt anything like it before and it freaked me out a little. What was that about? And his smile was gorgeous it made me want to melt into a puddle on the floor. I couldn't make heads or tails of what was going on.

Ranger's POV

After I got to the party I set down in chaise, the girl who set in the chaise next to me was gorgeous and I got a tingle when she got close to me that I didn't quite understand, but she was carrying a baby. It confused me a bit, as I didn't know if it was her baby or someone else's. The baby looked a bit dark to be hers.

I noticed Lester sit with her and introduce her as beautiful, I started to think maybe it was his girlfriend but I couldn't imagine him with someone who had a child. I then saw Tia Maria and Tio Ernesto introduce her to my parents and say the baby was my Cousin Andres's baby, who was deceased.

The baby did resemble Andres but she, Stephanie, as she was introduced, didn't look like the type of girl Andres usually went for. He usually liked dark skinned girls with long straight hair, exotic looking girls. Stephanie didn't look like that, she was pale skinned, blue eyes, and curly brown hair, girl next door looks.

After Andres's parents came over and took the baby and Lester moved off, I questioned her about her life and her living in Miami. She asked me a little about the Army but Lester came back carrying the baby and she took him and went inside.

I looked at Lester after watching her walk away, "Don't look at her like that Carlos, she's been through enough than you pulling your hit it and quit it stunt." I chuckled a little.

"I can tell she's been through a lot, especially being a single mom." He nodded.

"It hasn't been easy on her Andres and her were planning to get married. The night he was in the wreck she had found out she was pregnant. She didn't handle it well and has just now decided to quit dwelling on his death and what might have been."

"I'm sure it was hard but it's been a long time since his death, you're telling me she hasn't dated or anything since his passing?" I asked.

"That's what I'm saying, she's busy being a single mom, taking online college classes so she doesn't have to leave him with anyone, and grieving the loss of Andres. Dating has been the last thing on her mind."

"How come you haven't tried anything with her?" I questioned since Lester was a playboy.

"I liked her when she first moved her and thought maybe we could end up dating but Andres asked her out before I did and they were happy with each other, they fell in love and then he got in that damn wreck."

"What about now?" I wondered.

"Now, she says she's ready to move on, that it's time." Lester replied. I nodded.

"Carlos, I love you man, but if you hurt her at all, I will kick your ass!" Lester said a little forcefully.

"I didn't say anything about getting with her or hurting her." I told him. He just gave me a dirty look.

Shortly after that Stephanie came back out carrying a sleeping baby once again. He really was a cute baby which was weird for me to say, I'm not usually a person that likes kids. Luckily, none of my siblings have kids.

Everyone was getting ready to eat and then the music and dancing would start. We all lined up to fill our plates with various Cuban and American food. I had never heard anyone moan over food like Stephanie was and she was sitting next to me. Lester was by her and smirking at me and my obvious discomfort. Everyone ate quickly, wanting to get to the dancing which is one of our passions as Cubans.

She sat down in the chaise beside me and smiled at me and Lester. Lester smiled back at her, "It's almost dancing time Beautiful, and I hope you plan on dancing one with me."

She giggled, "Of course." I smiled at her giggle.

There had never been a girl or woman that made me smile just watching them. She was totally different than the ones I was used to. Most women tried to do anything in their power to get my attention and Stephanie just smiled and talked to me like I was any other person.

Her mom, Helen, walked over to us just as the music started playing, "Honey, go dance for a little bit and I'll hold the sweet boy." She nodded, handing the baby to her mom.

Ernesto was the first to walk over to her and ask her for a dance. She got up happily and did the salsa with him, Angelo came next and they did the tango. Lester asked her to dance after that and they did the Mambo, which is a super sexy Latin dance and I have to admit, I was jealous watching them.

I couldn't understand why I was so jealous of them. I had no right to be, I barely knew her but something in me arose at seeing her dancing with him. When their dance was over she came back over and sat beside me. She sat out a song but the next song that began was a one we danced the bachata too. It's a very sexy dance.

"Stephanie, would you like to dance." She smiled a beautiful smile.

"I'd love to." She got up and I took her hand.

I led her to the dance floor, and we began to dance. She was the perfect dance partner following me perfectly. It was everything I could do to control myself while dancing this sexy dance with her. After the dance she went back to her seat.

Her dad, Frank, was there waiting on her, "Pumpkin, your mom and I are going to head home do you want us to take Frankie or leave him here with you."

"Actually Daddy, I think we'll head home too." He nodded and got up; her mom was standing a few feet away talking to Tia Maria.

Stephanie hugged Lester and gave him a kiss on the cheek, and waved at Lula, who was talking with my brother and looked at me, "Bye, Carlos."

I smiled, "Bye, Babe." She smiled and walked over to her parents.

I realized after she had walked away I had called her babe. I never used nicknames for the women in my past. This confused me even more than the tingle. I knew I'd do whatever I could to see more of her before I got my first mission assignment.

Little did I know that in less than two weeks I'd be completely in love her.