Simple Hearts
Chapter 23
"Mommy, you look just like a Power Ranger!" Reilley proudly told his mother. Stephanie came out into the kitchen ready for their first day of her new job at Rangeman and his new pre-school. She was wearing a black tank top with the embroidered company logo on her chest under an open black shirt, black jeans, and black tennis shoes.
Ranger was leaning against the counter sipping his coffee. "Babe," he said with a very appreciative Cuban gaze.
"I feel like your twin. If we go out after work, do we have to dress alike, too, like the old couples?"
The perfect eyebrows knitted together above his narrowed eyes so he appeared intense, but his mouth was twitching. "No" was Ranger's answer. He picked up his Porsche keys and box of homemade sugar cookies for pre-school. "Ready."
Frank Plum dropped off the box last night from his wife. Stephanie laughed at it. Only her mother would sway pre-schoolers through their stomachs to like the new student. Her son already won over the students, Reilley had 'Power Rangers' for friends.
The only time the Cuban Security Expert left the small Cape Cod all weekend without Stephanie and Reilley was for a time on Sunday when there was an attempted break-in at a client's house. The Rangeman Security System was not breached, but two other houses on the street with inferior systems were robbed. Tank and Ranger caught the college students committing the crimes when they walked through the neighborhood. Another house alarm went off while they were investigating the client's house. The three robbers were caught just about to play video games in a pool house with some of the stolen personnel property. Hence, Ranger had a busy morning away from his company and Stephanie's first day because he was doing security evaluations on those three houses.
Most of the moving boxes were unpacked or moved upstairs awaiting the small boy's new bedroom furniture so toys could be organized. The back porch was completely enclosed; Pudding enjoyed laying on the warm bricks watching his best buddy play on the jungle gym.
There was a time on Saturday night when all eyes were on the group of Stephanie, Reilley, Ranger, Frank, Ellen, and Grandma walking into Pino's for pizza. Mrs. Plum's cell phone was ringing as they sat there in Pino's, the 'Burg' grapevine's speed dial was working overtime informing her that she was with the bounty hunter if she didn't know it. Louie stopped to pick up Grandma Mazur for a cruise; he bought his very own Smart Car. Frank did not offer any outlets to charge the car if it was running low on power.
The Cuban-pitched tent was still Reilley's sleeping quarters in the living room and somehow it was decided after the new furniture arrived, a bigger tent would be set up so Reilley could experience outdoor 'camping' with Grandpa and Power Ranger. Stephanie was sleeping in a comfortable bed letting them 'rough' it.
"Ready, Power Ranger," Stephanie called out grabbing her keys, purse, and ushering her son towards the door with his favorite black 'Rangeman' cap over his wavy hair to begin their new week in Trenton.
Reilley echoed, "Ready, Power Ranger."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The black Porsche parked next to Stephanie's Subaru at 'Sunshine Pre-School'. She saw him mouth "Babe" when Stephanie looked over before the tinted window went up. The young mother didn't expect the Bad Ass to stop, but continue on to his company. Stephanie was wrong.
Reilley was unbuckled and the box of 'Welcome' cookies was in her hand joining Ranger at her bumper. "Don't you need to get to work?" Stephanie inquired.
"Security, Babe."
"They are pre-schoolers!"
He pulled the beautiful woman to him with no effort. "Babe," Ranger said low, "you and your son are in my life. I don't want any of the bad side of it to touch you or Reilley. I need to know he is safe away from you."
The intense dark eyes were soft looking into them but concerned. Stephanie openly accepted this man in their life and she knew without any doubt he would protect her and her son with everything Ranger Manoso was if they were in danger. She nodded and nipped his lip, "Don't over-do it, Power Ranger."
"Never, Babe," he growled against the yielding lips kissing his.
As Reilley and his mother walked to the front door, the man in black disappeared around the side of the building.
"Good Morning, Mrs. Hunter," Stephanie greeted the stern woman in the vestibule.
"Good Morning, Stephanie, and, Good Morning to you, Reilley. Ready to begin at your new school and make lots of new friends?" Her voice was cheerier addressing the young boy. It convinced Stephanie her assessment of the director was correct, Mrs. Hunter dealt with children more comfortably. She also noticed her glancing out the glass doors for the man who went around the building.
Reilley smiled broadly, "You bet and Grandma made cookies."
A young woman came rushing out of the school room door. "Mrs. Hunter, a man scaled the fence!"
"Who could that be?" Stephanie thought.
Mrs. Hunter was ruffled. "Let me set him straight!"
The glass doors opened with Ranger sauntering in with his full arsenal riding his hips and muscled body defined through his painted-on T-shirt. He flashed a white smile under the aviator sunglasses. "You must be, Mrs. Hunter. I'm Carlos Manoso of Rangeman Security," he said with heart-melting ease offering his hand. "My associate, Thomas Sherman, informed me how helpful you were to him."
Stephanie watched the director's hand come up to check her taunt pulled-back hair before shaking his. "Mr. Manoso, our security" she said edgily at first but the smile caused her to change her train of thought. She stumbled for words for a second but added "I hope is adequate in your professional opinion."
"You have a fine facility here, Mrs. Hunter. Please call me Carlos."
"Thank you, Carlos. I'm Eileen," the older woman told Ranger still gripping his hand. "We have not had any problems."
"I can see why. I do have a suggestion. If you angle your cameras more towards the opposite corner, there will be no blind spots."
"I never thought of that. Thank you, Carlos. I'm sure you will want to view our school room," she offered opening the inner door. "Come on, Reilley."
"He's so much more in person," the young woman breathed as the small group passed her. Stephanie rolled her eyes at the smirking man. He would have Cruella Deville handing over those puppies to him without another thought to a spotted coat with a smile like that!
Mrs. Hunter pointed to the blue bin labeled 'Reilley Plum' before entering the main class room.
The young eyes turned from their cereal bowls to the adults and young boy entering. It was going around the table "Who is he?"
"He's the Power Ranger!" The boys and girls already at pre-school were enlightened by Reilley. "He's the best Black Army Power Ranger!"
The eyebrow arched smartly but Ranger was keeping his blank face.
A little girl said, "That's a mean face."
"No, that's the Power Ranger look. It scares the bad guys. I seen it. It scared a tarantula!"
"Wow." The young students were impressed by the Power Ranger and the little boy's knowledge.
"I was even at the top secret Power Ranger headquarters."
"Wow! Where is it?"
"Someplace," Reilley told them. "It's a secret."
His new classmates were admiring his Rangeman baseball cap while the Cuban Bad Ass walked casually around checking the windows and backdoors with the director listening to Stephanie's son talk about the Trenton version of 'Power Rangers'. He stuck to the facts as he saw them through his four-year old eyes.
"Eileen, you have a very good building here. Doing what I do, I have to be cautious. Stephanie is my girlfriend," he explained. It was a word Ranger believed he would ever say, but it did make his once cold heart skip a beat. "Reilley is equally important to me. Their safety is my concern and he will be safe here." A business card was given to the pant-suited woman. "If you ever notice anything strange, call me directly."
'It was a pleasure, Carlos."
Stephanie was hugging her son. She didn't want to cry, with him entering pre-school, the next step would be kindergarten and he would be out in the world more. This was a new step in that direction. "I'll be here after work to pick you up. I'm not far away nor is Grandpa."
"I know, Mommy. You're always here."
"I love you, Reilley."
"I love you, Mommy. Bye, Power Ranger."
His small ball cap brim was tapped by a long Cuban finger. "Bye, Blue Power Ranger," he said.
With their hands locked, Ranger and Stephanie passed the still flustered young teacher. She sighed as they passed, "He smells so good for a bounty hunter."
He was chuckling walking to their cars. "Do you always get everyone to eat out of the palm of your hands, Mr. Macho Smoothie?" Stephanie teased.
"Babe, let me show you later how it works," he whispered before kissing her making Stephanie forget her own name.