Chapter 3

I dressed in a white wrap around blouse with a push up bra and lots of cleavage, black slacks with a wide black belt, and 4-inch black peep toe FMPs. I topped it off with red lipstick and lots of mascara for courage.

I went to Ranger's office and opened the door. "Let's go big boy."

His eyes smoldered. "I'm having indecent thoughts about you, Babe. You're beautiful."

That got a smile. "Flattery might get you everywhere, Mr. Manoso."

He got up and put his arms around me and kissed my neck.

"I love how you feel in my arms Stephanie. If you're feeling up to it later maybe I could show you how much."

We needed a change of subject. "Get the team Ranger. Let's do this."

We arrived at the racetrack by about 1800 hours Ranger time. I had a mic in my cleavage and an earpiece. Lester and Hal were my tails and we headed to the betting area. I was hanging around looking for our guy when I spotted him just placing a bet and heading toward the paddock area of the park. I followed him. He was evidently getting a look at his picks as they were walking and exercising.

Grandma Mazur likes to look at the horses in the paddocks before she places a bet. She always bets on the ones that relieve themselves before a race. She says they run faster.

If they do a number two then they're a sure bet. She probably has a point there.

I walked up beside Hancock and said, "I want to place a bet. What do you suggest?"

He looked me up and down and a slow smile started to spread across his face. "If you want a sure thing sexy girl you can put your money on me. We can skip the races and you can come home with me."

Yuck, I thought. I was getting ready to speak when a large older man looked across the paddock at me and said, "Well if it isn't the "Bombshell Bounty Hunter." He gave me a huge grin and oh shit! I recognized him. It was Mr. Antonio Aulisi, the elderly mobster I had picked up with Lula a while back. Hancock cut his eyes to me and glared.

Oh Boy! I didn't waste a second; I was on the run. I ran into the horse stables thinking I could find a place to hide. I heard Hancock not far behind me. I ran to the back and opened a gate and crouched behind a horse. The horse was aggitated and not very happy I was there. In my earpiece I heard Ranger asking me to report.

I couldn't report unless I wanted to give myself away. Ranger was saying, "Steph, Lester and Hal have lost eye contact, report!" Then I saw movement next to me and that big horse whose butt I was kneeling behind raised his tail and broke wind times infinity. I didn't think it was ever going to end. I heard one of the guys say, "What the fuck was that?"

I gagged and whispered, "Horse fart!" I heard guffaws of laughter through my earpiece.

I said, "I'm stuck in the stable behind a horse's ass, Ranger! Come and get me dammit!"

More guffaws of laughter.

Then I heard a voice outside the stall. Hancock said, "get your ass out here sweet cheeks, We have some unfinished business."

Then another voice said, "I know who you are and if you want to keep your money making bulge you're gonna' put that piece down nice and slow. Come out from behind that bangtail (race horse) sister, I got you covered."

I slowly rose up and walked out of the stall and there was Mr. Aulisi holding a gun on Hancock. I said, a nervous "thank you, I guess I owe you one." A slow smile spread across his face. Uh oh! I thought. Behind him a grinning Ranger and the guys walked up.

Ranger slapped cuffs on Hancock and handed him over to Hal and Lester. He turned around and shook Mr. Aulisi's hand. Mr. Aulisi said, "If I had known you were working toots, I wouldn't have blown your cover. Getting you out of that horse stall was the least I could do." I grinned at him and said, "Eh, Whattya gonna' do?" He chuckled and kissed me on the cheek. "I like you doll. You got fuckin' balls," and he winked at me.

We went back to Rangeman and picked up Jake. Ranger grabbed a bag of food Ella had left for us and we went to my apartment. I fed little Jake and we ate at the table.

Ranger said, "You did good tonight Babe. I think Aulisi has taken quite an interest in you."

"I think he's okay. I kind of like him. He's about the only skip in my history that never attacked me or threatened me for taking him in and we tricked him into coming with us," I said. Ranger chuckled at that memory.

After we cleaned up dinner, I headed off to the bedroom to change and Ranger grabbed my hand and pulled me back to him. He put his hands in my hair and gave me a seductive kiss on the side of my mouth and then brushed his finger across my cheek and lips. He stuck his thumb between my lips and whispered, "Let me in Stephanie." Then he put his mouth on mine and kissed me with such passion my knees went to jelly. Have I mentioned that Ranger can kiss? He unwrapped my blouse and reached for my bra clasp and I grabbed his hand.

"Not yet." I pushed away from him and grabbed a t-shirt on the way to the bathroom.

I changed and sat on the side of the tub. Not usually being one to consider moral dilemmas that closely, I couldn't figure out exactly what I was feeling. I had, after all, pretty much been in love with three men at one time. I have a situation that I don't know how to deal with and having sex with Ranger right now just feels wrong.

I sighed heavily and left the bathroom to crawl in bed. I heard the door open a little later and Ranger came in to tell me that he had taken Jake out. He asked, "Is it alright if I stay?"

"Yes, Ranger we're a strange pair. We've been sleeping in the same bed for years mostly without sex. Get in." He dropped his clothes, crawled in and pulled me to him.

"You're worth the wait Babe, I love you."

Ranger's POV

I was hoping that my Babe would let me make love to her last night but I understand. Isn't that the reason I'm leaving today?

I lay awake most of the night just holding her and memorizing the smell of her hair and the unique smell of her body. I had listened to her breathing and the little snores she makes when she lays on her back spread eagled on the bed. She doesn't stay that way long. She always comes back to me and centers herself on top of my chest and wraps her legs with mine. God, how I love this woman.

I eased myself from her and out of bed. I placed a letter and little box on the nightstand. I leaned closed to her and kissed her sweet face. I whispered, "Estafania, Tu eres mi vida (you are my life). Sin ti no soy nada (without you I am nothing).

Te amo tanto. Estoy apesadumbrado que le lastimo. Usted significa tanto a mi. (I love you so much. I am sorry that I hurt you. You mean so much to me).

Then I gave Jake a scratch behind the ear and I left her apartment.

Stephanie's POV

I woke up early with my stomach pitching again. I am going to die before this is over I thought before I slammed the lid of the toilet up yet again and retched.

I washed my face and brushed my teeth and went to flop back into bed. Ranger was gone and there was a box on my nightstand. I opened the box and was shocked. It was a beautiful white gold necklace with a big diamond in the middle and surrounded by blue sapphires.

There was an envelope there and I picked it up and opened it:

Dear Babe,

You deserve so much more than just this necklace. I can picture how beautiful it will look on you. I thought the sapphires would compliment your blue eyes that I love so much.

I'm leaving this morning to go "in the wind." I don't know how long that I will be gone. I trust you and Tank to run the company while I'm gone. I'm so proud of you.

I will be thinking of you every day. Te amo', Estafania.

Carlos

I grabbed the closest clothes I could put my hands on and grabbed Jake and my bag and ran out of the apartment. I put my pedal to the Lexus metal and prayed I wouldn't get a ticket. I key fobbed the garage gate open and slid my car to a stop.

There was an SUV getting ready to leave. I banged on the dark window. Lester was driving and Ranger was in the passenger seat.

"Get out Ranger!"

He slowly opened the door and got out and I ran around to stand in front of him.

"How can you just leave without telling me! I'm trying to trust you again. We are partners dammit!"

"Stephanie, When I volunteered for this assignment, I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought giving you some time would help us."

"What do you mean volunteered? You didn't have to take the job? Who is going with you, Lester?"

"No, I'm alone on this one. They needed intelligence and a marksman and that's all I can tell you. I took the job for atonement Babe. To put space between us and try to wash away my guilt."

"What? You think putting your life at risk for no good reason will help us?"

"I just found out I'm pregnant and I need you here with me!"

His face went from mocha latte to almost beige. He grabbed the door of the SUV and put his head against it. Then he reached out his arm for me and pulled me against him. I felt him putting up his wall. He released me suddenly and set me away from him.

"I'll make sure that your looked after. I have to go."

Then he got back in the SUV and they drove away. I sat down on the garage floor and sobbed. A little soft hand reached for mine to help me up. "Come dear. You are not alone and he will come back to you. He loves you so much." It was my savior in the form of a little latin lady named Ella.

TBC