Simple Hearts
Chapter 18
His Porsche was parked in its usual spot and he led Stephanie hand-in-hand to the elevator. This was the first time she would see his apartment and he was nervous. Ranger didn't want her to feel out of place in his man cave.
Hitting his fob, the heavy wood door unlocked. "Come on in, Babe."
Ella was finishing setting the dining room table and lighting candles. There was a large vase on the entry table filled with flowers where he placed his keys. More fresh flowers were on the table and on the mantle.
"Stephanie, it is so nice to see you," Ella greeted hugging the young mother who captured her boss' heart.
"It's nice to see you and dinner smells wonderful," she greeted in return.
"I hope you like scallops."
Any seafood excited Stephanie. "I love scallops! Any seafood," Stephanie said appreciating her effort.
"Enjoy your dinner and I'll take care of the dishes tomorrow," the housekeeper ordered. "There's tiramisu for dessert." She pushed her metal cart out closing the door behind her. Before exiting the elevator on 6 she placed a 'Post-It' note by the 7 button 'DO NOT DISTURB-ELLA'. She wanted to make sure Ranger's best friends didn't get any ideas if they returned early from the surveillance job following a cheating wife in Philadelphia. Actually, it was her husband Luis dressed up in a wig and checked into a hotel there for the evening. Ranger didn't trust his friends at all with Stephanie in the building. His mother messed up his plans for the previous night and he wasn't taking any chances.
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Once the Rangeman housekeeper left, Stephanie's attention turned to her surroundings for the evening. The table was set with expensive china, crystal glasses and votives, and a crisp linen tablecloth. Standing in one spot, she turned completely around taking in the kitchen, living room, and dining room.
It was a masculine apartment but in an elegant way. The furnishings were expensive she knew. The black leather sofa was buttery soft she felt with her finger tips. The mantle matched the glossy wood of the dining room table she noticed from the chairs and kitchen island. There was a large flat screen TV in a corner, one of the biggest she ever saw. For all its sophistication, there was hardly anything personal. Walking over to the coffee table, Stephanie spotted something special, the Power Ranger keychain from Christmas was hanging off a candlestick.
"Your apartment."
Ranger spoke interrupting Stephanie, "Was decorated by the same decorator who did my other corporate apartments in the other offices. I kept everything basically the same, but I think I discovered I'm more than this and I think you know that, Babe."
She nodded. He can be rough around those handsome edges, but would protect anyone she thought who needed it just like Reilley's 'Power Rangers'.
"The bathroom is off the bedroom," he said pointing to the wide open door, "or there is a powder room off the entry. I'll put the food on the table if you want to explore."
Not able to resist, she jumped at the chance to see what was beyond the open door. Stepping into Ranger's bedroom, the walls were a shade darker than the dove colored walls of the living area. The bed was king size. The headboard and two nightstands were the same glossy black and she would describe the drawer knows as vintage made of frosted glass and silver. The bed covering was a satiny grey with a few black and white checked toss pillows in the middle. Those and two small frames on one nightstand were the only personalization. She recognized the one she had given Ranger of the one of the three of them on Christmas Eve. The other was him sitting with a young girl standing beside him. The resemblance was there, but neither appeared comfortable.
The bathroom was a spa. A deep jetted tub, the large shower with multiple showerheads was charcoal subway tile with black edging on the frosted glass doors. Thick white and black towels hung from the wall rack.
She stepped through the other door finding a large dressing room and every woman's dream of a closet when the light automatically came on. Shirts, pants, and suits were neatly hung in the closet space. Shoes were lined on a rack and the drawers had the same vintage handles as the bedroom furniture.
Coming out of the inner clothes sanctum, Ranger was standing in his doorway, a reserved expression was on his face waiting on a response from Stephanie.
"I want to live in there," Stephanie indicated the dressing room tapping the door frame with her hand. The closet in the Cape Cod had organized storage, but Ranger's was extra large and extra organized.
A grin spread over his face. "I thought you loved me, but now that you've seen my dressing room I know where I rank."
Stephanie teased, "Closet space out ranks everything."
"Well, let me see if I can gain the top spot again with my housekeeper's cooking and some special Cuban attention." He held out his hand and she strolled across his bedroom meeting it.
"Closet space is premium, but I'll give both a try."
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
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There was soft music, candles lit all around the apartment, and delicious aromas in the air. It was the perfect seduction scene for Stephanie.
"Ohhhh, these scallops are tender," Stephanie moaned.
There was a sexy eyebrow and tight jeans sitting next to her at the dining room table. "What about the closet space now?" Ranger joked.
In response to the question, there was a sexy, mischievous grin from his dinner companion. "I'll let you know after dessert." Her face became serious. "Who is that young girl in the photograph with you?"
Ranger never looked away; he knew a day would come when he told Stephanie about his daughter, Julie. "My daughter, Julie. I was married for a very short time after I joined the Army. Rachel had me served with divorce papers even before she was out of the hospital I think. The baby had my name and she wanted to marry someone else. Julie has been raised by Ron and thinks of him as her father. I've visited a few times. Julie knows I'm her biological father, but Ron is her father."
"Is that what you want? Both of you looked uncertain in the photograph," Stephanie told his her honest impression of it. He did have it out so it meant something to him.
He shrugged. "I was young when Julie was born and so was Rachel. She doesn't really know me and I know hardly know anything about her. I sign a check to help raise her. Maybe when she's older and not so influenced by her mother, we'll get to know each other better."
Stephanie listened to his words mulling them over for a few minutes. "You missed seeing her grow up, it's why seeing the tarantulas or the trains seemed so important to you. Things you missed with her?"
He nodded saying, "Partly and I wanted to be with you and Reilley. I never took the time before and when I found myself stranded out of my element, I wanted more. Then, the government called me so unrepentantly after the New Year. It's been calling most of Julie's life. It's what I chose; Rachel didn't want the military in Julie's life." He stopped speaking staring down at his empty plate. "My government contract is just about up and for the first time in a number of years I don't want to renew it. I want to see the other side of life and I want to see it with you and your son, if you'll let me."
Her face was soft listening to Ranger and his request. "Reilley and I wouldn't want any other Power Ranger," she said softly holding his hand. "Maybe, you and your daughter will finally have the chance to know each other a little better."
"Maybe."
Stephanie had the feeling Ranger wasn't telling her something. "Is there anything else?"
"Yeah," Ranger uttered the word with disdain in his voice, "I have to fly to Atlanta to meet with a big client, but I'll be back for your move on Friday. I should be back Tuesday evening."
"You have a business to tend to, Ranger. I can get us moved," independent Stephanie told him. "I guess the aquarium is off tomorrow with us. When do you leave?"
He cocked his eyebrow surprised she would assume he would miss going to the Camden aquarium with them. "After the fish. I'll leave from Philadelphia. What am I going to do in Atlanta, but sit in my apartment there? I know the client and contract, so it will take a few minutes to review the proposed changes."
"You have an answer for everything," Stephanie mocked him.
He walked to the dining room table with a glass cake plate topped with a decadent tiramisu. "That's why I'm the boss. Dessert, Babe?"
Her blue eyes grew wide and so did her smile. "With that, I think you and the closet space are too close to call."
"Just wait, Babe," Ranger gave Stephanie a sexy wink telling her with a Spanish accent that ruined her panties, "the closet has nothing on the attention I'm going to give you very soon." He placed her plate in front of her. Next, he dabbed her lips with a taste of one of her favorite desserts.
"Uh huh" was all she could say with lips on hers.
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Both were laying in a quiet glow on Ranger's large bed, each of their thoughts were of contentment. For Stephanie lying there in those strong arms, it was someone she knew she could lean on when she needed strength. She carried everything for so long by herself since before her son's birth.
Ranger was lost in the feeling of finding the woman who was his not only his match, but Stephanie showed him the path for his heart to follow. He was amazed in the warmth he never sensed before in his life. There was also an internal shudder realizing what he may never have discovered if he was never stranded by the 'wonderful snowstorm'. He saw it now as a Godsend. A 'someday' was before him that he never realized he wanted until stepping into the dark and cold.
A cool, velvet sensation broke his private reflection. A pink rosebud from the vase beside the bed was brushing a scar on his shoulder followed by a warm kiss. Stephanie touched one on his upper arm with the flower then her lips.
"There are many of those, Babe."
She sighed with a little sadness in her breath, but her blue eyes shone with love.
"Each one added to the man you are. I imagine some of the actions were worse than the others; each was a stepping stone to lead you to a snowstorm. And, there you were."
"Yeah," he whispered, "and snow will never be the same just like a Christmas tree." His chest rose with his chuckle.
He let her lips and rose wander down his body until Stephanie touched a scar on the inside of his knee. Sensations pulsed from that tiny spot rupturing the control he was harnassing. "Come here," his deep smooth voice came out gravely with passion Stephanie's touches had awakened again.
"Me?" Her blue eyes batted at him.
"You." Ranger's strong hands slid her up along his body with ease creating a wonderful friction between them.
When they were face to face, neither said another word. Hungry lips sought to be satisfied by the warm soft ones.
"What are you doing?" Stephanie posed staring into the onyx eyes.
"I'm going to show you again how much I love you." And he did.
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Stephanie unlocked her parent's front door quietly stepping inside with Ranger having driven her back to the 'Burg'. She considered staying the night with him, but didn't want Reilley to wake up during the night to find her not there.
A light was burning low in the living room; there asleep in Frank Plum's recliner were grandfather and grandson. There was an old story book of hers beside them. Ranger picked up the little boy to carry upstairs.
"Daddy," Stephanie whispered tapping his shoulder gently, "I'm home."
"Pumpkin," her father muffled trying to wake up.
"Go to bed. I'm putting Reilley to bed," she told him.
Frank got up and made his way to the stairs. "We had fun, Stephanie." She kissed his cheek before he turned to go join his sleeping wife. "I'm glad you're coming home."
"Good Night, Daddy."
Walking down the hall to her old room, Ranger had her son in bed and Woody was tucked next to him under the blankets. Pudding was curled on the bottom of the bed.
Stephanie kissed his cheek. "Nite, Sweetheart. I'm here."
A sleepy smile crept over his face and he never fully woke up. "Mommy," he whispered. "Power Ranger."
Cuban fingers smoothed his hair. "Nite, Blue Power Ranger."
The night light was on when the two of them quietly as they could on the creeking stairs went back down.
"Would you like anything?" Stephanie asked.
Ranger pulled her down next to him on the sofa. "I don't want to leave you just yet."
"OK," she agreed resting her curls on his shoulder getting comfortable so they could stretch out.
Grandma Mazur smiled to herself when she came home after her evening out. Sleeping on the sofa was her favorite granddaughter and her 'hot' boyfriend.
He stirred when she covered them with the afgan. "Go to sleep," Edna said in Ranger's ear. "I'll check on my great-grandson." Stephanie snuggled into to him never waking up. They were still that way in the morning. It was a perfect night Ranger thought.