Chapter 14

I woke up the next morning feeling like shit. My throat was raw, and my eyes felt like they had sand in them. The after effects of a night spent battling tears. I was surprised to find that Carlos was still in bed with me. He was awake; I knew that for sure. But he was just lying here. Still. Holding me.

"Morning," I rasped out.

He just squeezed me a little tighter.

"You didn't go for your run this morning?" I asked.

"I didn't want you to wake up alone."

I sniffed back a few tears. "Thanks." I whispered.

He just dropped a kiss on my head in response.

And this was why it felt so right to call him Carlos instead of Ranger. This feeling, this intimacy.

It had happened a few days after we returned from the police station. We had been in bed together, and things were getting incredibly hot. After an especially well placed nibble, I had moaned, "Ranger!" He froze and pulled his head back.

I opened my eyes and looked around for him. "What's wrong?" I panted.

"Babe, I want you to call me Carlos." He said huskily.

"OK," I agreed quickly, trying to direct him back to his previous efforts at making me a very satisfied woman.

"I mean it, Stephanie." He said seriously.

I blinked and tried to come down from my Ranger (err, Carlos) induced state of bliss. "Why?" I had whispered.

"Because I love you. And besides, it's a little weird for my woman and the mother of my 'maybe baby' to call me by my street name. I don't want you to call me the same thing the gang leaders on Stark call me."

I had nodded and pulled him up my body. When his lips were finally even with mine, I whispered, "I love you, Carlos." And that had been the end of that discussion.

I smiled, remembering how happy – very happy – he had been to have me call him Carlos.

"What time is it?" I asked, trying to turn over to see the clock.

"7:30."

I gasped. "You're going to miss the Morning Meeting!"

He shrugged his shoulders. "It doesn't start for another half hour. If I make it, I make it. If not, Tank can take charge."

I turned in his arms. "Want to plan on missing it?"

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Depends on what I'm missing it for." I could see the corners of his lips twitching.

"It's just that I need a shower," I began, drawing lazy circles on his chest. "And it's so hard for me to reach the middle of my back all by myself…"

He growled and stood up. Yanking me out of bed, he tossed me over his shoulder. That was fine by me. Now I had a perfect view of his delicious ass.

I leaned down to pinch it, and he retaliated with a slap on my bottom. I grinned wickedly I kind of liked this game!

"Babe!" he laughed.

Whoops! My cheeks flooded with color. "Out loud?" I asked.

"Yeah, Babe, out loud!"

When we got to the bathroom, Carlos sat me on the counter and began pulling my t-shirt over my head. I suddenly realized the 'surprise visitor' that I had gotten last night, and my eyes grew wide with panic.

He stopped and looked at me. "What's wrong, Babe?" he asked.

"Well, it's just… You know last night I… Um…" I stuttered.

He looked at me for a minute, and finally I saw understanding dawn on his face. "It's OK. That doesn't bother me." He reassured me.

My cheeks flamed. "But it kind of bothers me!"

Carlos turned on the shower and waited until the water got warm. "I'll step out, Babe. You get in first and do what you think you need to do. I'll be back in a few minutes. OK?"

I nodded. I waited until he stepped out, and then I stripped as fast as I could and hopped in the shower. I washed 'down there' several times and was relaxing under the warm spray when I heard the door open.

I tensed up just a little and bit my lip when Carlos opened the shower door. He smiled when he saw the uncertainty on my face. He came over and wrapped his arms around me. "We won't do anything that makes you uncomfortable." He whispered.

I nodded and leaned against him. He tipped my head up and kissed me, pressing his lips against mine tightly. He nipped my bottom lip with his teeth, sucking it into his mouth, and I moaned. His eyes sparkled at the noise, and he devoured my lips again, then moved along my jawline and up to my ear. I shivered as he reached the sensitive spot behind my ear. He nibbled along the column of my neck until I was in a serious state.

Without even thinking about it, I hooked a leg around his waist. "Stop teasing me." I ordered him breathlessly. He didn't answer, he just moved his mouth to my breasts. He would lazily lick and nip at one nipple and then move to the other. Back and forth, back and forth. I panted and thrust up against him, grinding into his erection.

When he felt me press against him, he growled. "Not yet, Babe."

"Yes!" I pleaded. "Now! Please! Right now!"

He lifted me up, and I wrapped my other leg around his waist, rubbing shamelessly against him, my hands tangled in his hair.

He poised at my entrance. "Are you sure?" he asked, searching my eyes.

Why was he asking me questions? He needed to quit talking and just bury himself inside of me already!

Apparently I said that out loud because he growled and thrust into me. He pounded in and out of me over and over before he walked us back to the shower wall and sat down on the bench seat there. This change in angle caused him to push further inside of me, and I threw my head back, rubbing my breasts against his chest. "Carlos!" I wailed.

He grabbed my hips and thrust up into me. Leaning down, he captured a nipple between his teeth. "Oh! Oh! Oh!" I shrieked. I felt my muscles spasming around his cock as I came.

The pulsing of my inner walls must have been too much for him, because I heard "God, Babe!" and then Carlos joined me, falling over the edge.

My entire body felt like Jell-O as I collapsed against his chest. He nibbled on my shoulder, and I moaned lazily as his tongue and teeth teased me.

R&S R&S R&S R&S R&S

Once we had finished washing and getting dressed, we grabbed a quick bagel and headed downstairs. It was already 9:00, and I knew the guys would figure that something was up. Carlos hardly ever missed a Morning Meeting unless he was in the wind. And he never showed up for work at 9:00.

I bit my lip as we headed for the elevator. "What are you going to tell the guys about why we're late?" I asked.

Carlos raised an eyebrow at me. "Nothing. That's one of the perks to being the boss, Babe. I don't have to report to anybody."

"But they'll wonder what's going on." I protested.

Carlos nodded. "They probably will. But they're smart enough not to ask, and I'm not telling them anything."

I blew out a sigh. "What should I say if they ask?"

"Whatever you want, Babe. Anything. Or nothing. Up to you." He pulled me into the elevator and hit the button for five.

R&S R&S R&S R&S R&S

I had been at work for over an hour, and none of the Merry Men had approached my cubicle. That was probably because Carlos had glared at everyone when we got off of the elevator and walked me to my desk. Usually as soon as his office door was closed, the vultures would have descended on me. Today, however, Carlos had kept his door open. The guys would walk towards my area, look nervously over at the open door, and suddenly change directions.

In a way I was glad that they were leaving me alone. I didn't think I had it in me to explain the negative pregnancy test to each guy over and over again.

Of course the Merry Man who wouldn't be afraid to approach my desk would be Lester. He swaggered over to my cubicle. "What's shakin', bacon?" he asked, wagging his eyebrows up and down.

I smiled at him, but it didn't quite reach my eyes. His expression changed from joking to concerned, and he dropped down into a squatting position so that we were at the same eye level. He reached out and gently patted my belly. "Feeling OK?" he asked.

Well, crap! How was I supposed to keep it together when he did shit like that? I shook my head no and started bawling. He looked shocked for just a second, but he recovered quickly, wrapping his arms around me. He sat down cross legged right on the floor to my cubicle and pulled me onto his lap. I buried my face in his shoulder and just sobbed while he rubbed my back.

It took maybe 2 minutes for the rest of the Merry Men to assemble outside my cubicle. Seconds after that, I saw them shift to the side to let Carlos through. He leaned down and gathered me up in his arms. I flung my arms around his neck. "I'm soo-ooo-rr-rr-ry." I hiccupped. "I'm s-s-soo-ooo soo-oo-or-rr-ry!" He put a finger under my chin and tipped it up to look at him. The blank mask was gone, and I could see that he was upset, too. The guys traded nervous glances at his expression. They weren't used to seeing their leader show emotion. Definitely not that kind of emotion.

Carlos gave me a soft kiss. "Shh, Babe. Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong." He told me in a husky voice.

The guys watched silently as he carried me out of my cubicle and into his office. He sat me down on the leather couch and wrapped a soft blue throw around me. He picked up his phone and had a whispered conversation with someone. Since Ella appeared minutes later with hot chocolate and cookies, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that was who he called.

Ella came over and pulled me into a hug. She clucked and fussed over me, patting my back. When she pulled back, I could see tears in her eyes, too. "You just call if you need anything, Stephanie. Even just to talk." I nodded, and she excused herself, slipping back out of the office.

I felt almost guilty for making such a big scene. It wasn't like I had lost a baby. I hadn't been pregnant at all. It was just that it had felt so real! I had been so sure! I shoved that thought out of my head and drowned my sorrows in chocolate.

After my sugar binge, I laid down on the couch and pulled the throw over me. I would have gone up to the apartment, but I didn't really want to be alone right now. Carlos seemed to understand. Although he didn't say anything, it was nice to know that he was here with me. I took a short nap, and when I woke up I was feeling almost human again. I brought my laptop into Carlos's office and sat on the couch running searches while he worked on payroll and account billing at his desk.

I had just entered my third search when my cell phone rang. I answered it, and a quiet voice asked, "Is this Stephanie Plum?"

I pulled the phone back and looked at the caller ID. Not a number I recognized. "Yes, it is. Who's this?"

"My name is Evelyn Kaszowski. I own Evelyn's Bridal Shoppe on Market Street."

"Oh, yes! Were you able to find something on your security footage, Mrs. Kaszowski?" My heart started beating faster, and I could feel the butterflies multiplying in my stomach.

"Yes, actually I was. I think the tape shows pretty clearly what happened. I have it here for you if you want to pick it up."

"Yes! Yes, I do! Thank you! I'll be right there!"

"Um, dear?" Mrs. Kaszowski interrupted.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Would you mind not bringing one of those big guys dressed all in black with you? At least not into the store? They kind of scared some of the brides last time." She asked nervously.

I smiled. "No problem. I can come by myself. I'll be right there!"

I ran out of Carlos's office and right smack into Lester. "Got him!" I crowed.

"Got who?" Lester asked, perplexed.

"Joe! The lady who owns Evelyn's Bridal Shoppe just called. She said her security footage recorded the whole thing. She thought it was pretty clear. I'm headed over to grab the tape now."

Lester started towards the elevator. "I'll ride along."

I frowned at him. "Well, you can come if you really want, but you'll have to stay in the car."

Lester raised an eyebrow at me.

I grinned. "I guess you scared some of the brides who were in for fittings last time. She specifically asked that I didn't bring any of the big guys dressed in black with me."

Lester rolled his eyes. I was having a horrible effect on the Merry Men! "Fine!" he huffed. "I'll just stay here. But I want to see that tape as soon as you get back!"

I grinned. "No problem!" I yelled, racing down the stairs. I know, me taking the stairs, shocking! But I was so full of nervous energy that I couldn't stand still long enough to wait for the elevator.

I ran over to the key box on the wall and grabbed the set to "my" SUV. I raced over to the bridal shop, careful to stay under the speed limit and not to run any lights. As soon as I had the car in park, my door was open, and I was hopping out. I tried to settle myself down before I went racing into the bridal shop in full on bounty hunter mode.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly pushed the door open. I heard the little bell ring, letting Mrs. Kaszowski know that she had a customer. She came bustling out of the back and smiled when she saw me. "The tape is in my office, dear." She called. "This way." She motioned me to follow her to the back of the store.

When she opened the door to her office, I saw Joe standing there. I turned around and tried to leave, but he grabbed my arm and held it tightly. Mrs. Kaszowski hustled back up to the front of the store.

"What are you doing?" I hissed, trying to free my arm.

"I'm trying to talk some sense into you, Cupcake." He slurred.

"Have you been drinking? Oh my God, Joe! It's not even noon! You're drunk!"

He glared at me. "I'm not drunk. I just had a couple of beers before work, that's all."

I looked around the office. "So I guess there's no tape, huh?"

Joe grinned. "No. Ranger isn't the only one with ears on the street, you know. I heard that you were looking for a tape of me pulling you over. I figured you'd appreciate my technique. It's pretty much what Ranger has you do."

I glared at him. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Distraction, Cupcake! Only instead of using a whore dressed in a tight skirt to lure you here, I used little old Mrs. Kaszowski. By the way, she thinks you're under arrest, so it won't do any good to yell and scream when I cuff you and drag you out of here."

I sucked in a breath. "What?" I gasped.

Joe snapped a cuff on my wrist. "You heard me. You're coming with me." I tried to run, but he grabbed my other arm and twisted it painfully behind my back. I let out a yelp of pain, and he just smirked.

"You like it rough, don't you?" he leered.

My stomach clenched. "What are you talking about?" I whispered.

"I saw the pictures, Stephanie. I know about all of the marks that Manoso left all over your body. I always thought you were too unimaginative in bed, but hey, if you're into that S&M stuff, I'd be happy to play along."

I spit in Joe's face. "You're a pig!" I screeched at him.

His eyes grew cold. "I've got some toys in the car we could try out. Nothing fancy. A whip, some hot wax candles, a paddle."

I kicked him as hard as I could in the shin, and he released his grip for just a second. I started running towards the back of the store, but he beat me to the door.

He pulled me out the door and into the parking lot. I looked around the lot, but his car wasn't there. He must have parked somewhere else so that I didn't see it when I pulled in. He grabbed my keys out of my purse and shoved me into the back of the SUV, using a second set of cuffs to tether me to the grab bar over the door. Joe knew this car was tracked. He knew it had a camera in it. So why the hell were we taking my RangeMan SUV? My mind was warring with itself. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? If the guys could find me and get the video, it would be a good thing. It would show that Joe had kidnapped me from the bridal shop. But in the mean time, I had a feeling that this was a bad thing. A very bad thing.

TBC