All things Stephanie Plum belong to JE. I own only my thoughts.
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Scent of a Woman
Chapter 12
"Carlos, we need to talk."
"What is it, Babe?"
They had moved upstairs to the bedroom. The house was quiet and dark. The passionate interlude that had occurred earlier downstairs only served to reaffirm Stephanie's notion that she and Ranger needed to communicate. She needed to know what was acceptable in her relationship with Andrew. What she and Ranger had was so new and delicate; it could be easily damaged. Because of her history with Joe, she felt trust was still a big issue for them to overcome.
"This thing with Andrew. He's becoming more attracted to me…things are starting to get…friendly."
"Did he touch you?"
"No!..." She sat up quickly. "Not like that. Tonight it was just a kiss. But it wasn't one of those slutty distraction kisses, where the drunk guy has only one thing on his mind. Andrew is developing feelings for me, I can tell. He's a nice man with honorable intentions, but he is also hurting and very lonely and I'm leading him on." Stephanie looked down into her lap. "I mean…I am going to see him again tomorrow…at his house…and we have never talked about how far this could go."
"Babe."
"Downstairs, earlier, when we…. I could feel the tension in your body. Your eyes were so intense. I wasn't sure at first if you were angry at me."
"Did I scare you, Babe? I'm sorry; I just needed you right then. I need to touch you, to…"
"Own me?… or reclaim me?" Ranger's face became contrite. Stephanie sat up on her knees and put both hands on either side of his face. "Right now, I need my boss at RangeMan to tell me what he expects. I need my friend and mentor Ranger, to tell me what to do…and I need my lover Carlos, to tell me what he can handle. You are all three of those men for me."
Ranger took her hands and kissed them. He was in thought for what seemed like hours to Stephanie, but was, in actuality, only a few moments. Finally, he looked directly into her eyes and spoke with gentleness and surety. "As your boss, I expect you to get the job done. It's what I expect from all my employees. As your friend and mentor, I will tell you that you know yourself, and your limits, better than anyone, but you have to focus on the goal. You can't let emotions dictate your path." His eyes got very soft and his voice became almost sad and hesitant. "And as your lover, I can only ask you to be careful and come back to me unharmed." He pulled a curl and tucked it behind her ear.
Stephanie thought about his answer. "Hmmm. Alright, let's start with my limits."
"What do you think your limits are in this situation?"
"I can't sleep with him." She was adamant. "I won't sleep with him and I'm pretty sure I can avoid that. Andrew is very much a gentleman. I don't think he would even consider forcing himself on a woman. But if this charade goes on too long, he is going to expect a more intimate relationship with me. I think I can handle that, but because I am always wired, you will hear everything, and I need to know that I won't come back here…to you being upset with me, or worse…feeling that I've lost your trust."
"Babe, I would never do that to you. I know better than anyone what it takes sometimes to get the job done. I'm not going to say it won't bother me. It will. Hell, tonight was damn maddening…watching him so close to you...touching you...kissing you, but I'm the one that asked you to do this. I'm the one who put you in this situation. I will stand behind your decisions; I won't blame you for what happens. It's my job to protect you from as much as possible. If I see a situation getting out of hand, my men and I will try to deflect it."
Stephanie sighed and relaxed. "Thank you." She kissed him. "I needed to hear that." She kissed him again.
Ranger put his arms around her and pulled her tightly to his chest. "I know this is hard on us both, but I trust you with this. You've done everything right. Everything that you have planned has worked. I am so proud of you, Babe."
"Ranger?"
"Yes, Babe."
"I think I made my first big mistake tonight."
"What was that?"
"I promised to bring lunch to my meeting at Andrew's house tomorrow. I don't know what I was thinking. You know I can barely boil water!"
Ranger laughed. "Already taken care of, Babe. I called Ella earlier and she's sending up everything you need with my men tomorrow. She even said something about dessert."
Stephanie grinned and walked her fingers up his chest. "Oh, you're good!"
Ranger gave her a sexy smirk "Oh, you have no idea how very good I can be." And he pulled her into a searing kiss.
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It was late the next morning when Hal and Hector arrived in one car and Lester and Bobby in another. Lester walked in carrying a large picnic basket and a small cooler. Stephanie was in the kitchen when they came in.
"Hey, Beautiful, Ella sent this with us. You're lucky we put it in the back of the car, because the smells coming from this basket were good enough for us to reconsider our loyalty to RangeMan. If this food would have been within reach, it never would have made it here." He set the basket and the cooler on the kitchen counter.
Stephanie stepped over, lifted the lid of the basket and took a whiff. "Oh, wow. Ella is a goddess among women! Geez, there's enough to feed an army in here. Is that fried chicken?" Lester nodded and reached into the basket. Stephanie playfully slapped his hand. "If you guys take good care of me today, maybe there will be leftovers. But if your hungry now…," She opened the refrigerator and waved her hand at the contents. "…have at it. Ella already had this place stocked to the gills. There's more in the freezer and the pantry. I won't be ready to leave for another thirty minutes. You have plenty of time to grab a bite."
The men didn't need to be told twice. They eagerly crowded the kitchen, pulling out food and dishes. Stephanie giggled at the activity and banter as they discovered the wealth the refrigerator had to offer. She poured a cup of coffee and headed back upstairs to get dressed for her 'date' with Andrew. Ranger was just getting out of the shower and walked into the room with just a towel wrapped around his hips. Earlier that morning he had gone for a run. Nothing big he had said before leaving, maybe just eight or so miles. After last night, Stephanie couldn't fathom having the energy to run one mile, let alone eight.
"The guys are downstairs." She told Ranger. "I turned them loose in the kitchen. I brought you some coffee. If you hurry, you might be able to get a bite to eat before they inhale it all."
Ranger took the coffee and kissed her. "I'll be fine, the only thing in this house I'm hungry for is right here." He pulled her into his warm, wet body. He ran his lips along her jaw and down her neck. God he smelled wonderful.
"If you start something right now mister, you better be prepared to finish it quickly. I have to be ready in 30 minutes and I am not going to leave this house feeling… needy. It wouldn't be a good idea."
Ranger processed her words and stopped immediately in mid-kiss. He was well aware of how easily he could elevate her level of desire, and a sexually frustrated Stephanie could be dangerous. Stephanie smiled when she looked up at him. It was one of the few times she was able to understand exactly what his thoughts were by looking at his face.
"Am I that bad?" she questioned.
"I didn't say anything!" He looked shocked that he was being accused.
"You didn't have to. Your face and your abrupt actions said it all."
"Babe, you know how you can get. Remember the garage incident and the jelly donut analogy? Not that I'm complaining, but I sure as hell don't want to send you off to Sullivan when you're…oozing." He flashed her one of his 2000-watt smiles.
"Point taken. Now move. I have to get dressed." She walked passed him and headed to the closet. Right before she entered, she stopped. "Carlos?"
"Yeah, Babe?"
"Will you take me dancing sometime?"
"I'd like that, Babe."
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Wired, prepared with files and armed with food, Stephanie pulled into Andrew's driveway right on time. It's amazing how easy it is to keep to a schedule when you have five guys monitoring your every move. This was going to be the first time, other than in the car that Stephanie was going to be completely alone with Andrew Sullivan. She was nervous. She parked the car, angled herself out of the driver's seat and opened the back gate. No sooner had she realized that she was going to have to make two trips with all that she brought, when Andrew showed up next to her.
"Good afternoon, Maria." He had a huge smile on his face as he leaned in and planted a warm kiss on her lips. "I couldn't wait for you to get here today. I had such a wonderful time last night and I missed you."
"Hello, Andrew." Stephanie shyly smiled and pulled him in to a hug. "I had a great time too."
"What can I carry?"
"Well, how about you take the cooler and the basket. I'll bring my files." They closed up the car and headed into the house. Stephanie had been so nervous that she didn't really even notice the house until now. "Wow, Andrew this place is beautiful." They walked through the foyer and down a long hallway to the kitchen all along passing magnificent room after magnificent room. The house was huge.
"It's rather large for one person, I'm afraid. But I couldn't bear to give it up. There is so much of my wife and daughter here."
"I understand. Did Marissa do all the decorating?"
"Mmmm, we bought this house the first year we were married. Marissa spent hours with the decorators and months taking trips to antique stores all over the tri-state area. She even found things over the Internet and had them shipped here. It was her mission to make this house perfect."
"Well, mission accomplished. It's absolutely stunning. This house could be photographed for a magazine. I'm impressed that you can keep it so clean. Most men I know are lousy at keeping a house."
"During the week I have a housekeeper. She does all the housework and prepares my meals. I rough it on the weekends."
"Well, you don't have to rough it today. Shall we eat first?" Andrew nodded. Stephanie began unpacking the basket and cooler. Andrew got out dishes and silverware and set the table. "Do you have wine glasses?"
"Yes." He looked at all the food as she emptied the basket and cooler. "You do know that it's just the two of us, don't you?" he said teasingly. "I couldn't eat all of this in a week."
"I didn't know what you'd like, so I brought some of everything. You're doing me such a great favor by looking at my portfolio, and I wanted you to know how thankful I am."
Andrew walked over to her and lifted her face to his. "I love that I can do this for you, Maria."
Stephanie was uneasy with the way he was staring at her. He was falling hard. "Okay, then let's eat." She quickly pulled away from him and started moving food to the table. Once they began to eat, the conversation slipped into a relaxed dialogue. They exchanged stories of childhood experiences and embarrassing family members. They laughed and joked with each other like old friends. Stephanie was intrigued with him and admitted to herself that she could easily fall for him if it weren't for her involvement with Ranger. I mean, what's not to like, he's gorgeous, funny, generous, wealthy, successful, and obviously had a great capacity to love his now deceased wife. My mother would love him. Ugh, I can't believe I just thought that!
After lunch Stephanie picked up her files and they headed into Andrew's home office. She handed him everything, and he motioned her to take a seat across from the desk. He settled into his chair and began going through her paperwork, every once in a while, making notes.
"Maria, your husband made some very wise investments. They have paid off quite well. This man Bill Spruce, he's the one managing your accounts?" He looked up at her.
"Yes, Bill. I don't see him very often. I think he got the message that I'm not very good with this sort of thing. But I get statements and I keep everything together. I just don't know what to do with it."
"Well, he seems to know his stuff. He's done a good job keeping your portfolio diverse. Despite the economy, he has managed to increase your value at a good rate. I have made a few notes and some suggestions for a couple of changes, but overall I think your trust, in him is well placed."
"That was Ric's decision. I never met Bill until after his death. I think they knew each other from college. I'm sure that's why Ric was so comfortable with him. I still keep in touch with my good friend Mary Lou from college. I trust her with all my secrets."
"Yeah, college buddies can be pretty loyal. I have a couple of close friends from my college days as well. In fact, I have dinner with one of them every month. He's also one of my clients. We did a lot of crazy stuff in college." Andrew had a smirk on his face as he was obviously remembering some specific antics.
"That's quite a mischievous look on your face, Andrew. You and this guy must have some stories to tell. What were you two, hellion frat boys or the campus Romeos?"
Andrew chuckled. "Well, my friend Victor, was both. I, however, was a bit of a hellion, but not much of a Romeo. We really got ourselves into some scrapes," he mused. "But then I met Marissa at the beginning of my junior year and I was completely smitten, or whipped, as Victor put it. Marissa and I became inseparable almost immediately. Victor, on the other hand, he liked…how should I put it? He liked variety. He had a different girl every weekend. He came from money and was quite the charmer. Still is."
Stephanie laughed. "I can't imagine you being the wild type. I can see by the look on your face how special his friendship is to you though. Did he ever settle down like you did?"
"Victor was married once, but it didn't last long. He got too restless. He lives in New York City, but comes to Philadelphia for a couple of days once a month. We meet for dinner, hash about old times and then spend a couple of hours going over his finances."
"That's nice that you still have that connection. I'm sure it has been very valuable to you these last four months especially."
Andrew's face became pained. "Victor was very fond of Marissa. My daughter was like a niece to him. He was always spoiling her with extravagant gifts. Their deaths were very difficult on him, but he helped me tremendously. I couldn't make decisions. He handled everything for me." Andrew stood up from his desk and wandered over to a large window that looked out into a picturesque backyard garden. "For almost three months, the only time I left this house was to have dinner with Victor. He always insisted that we go out. It wasn't until the last month that I started going back to the office and on my own to Dino's on Thursday evenings."
Stephanie rose from her seat and stood next to him. "And this weekend you had dinner and dancing out with me. See, you are making improvements. I know how hard this has been for you, but you're getting there. The world will come back into focus for you eventually. Just like it did for me."
"I've really enjoyed my time with you this weekend, Maria." He took her hand in his. "I feel connected again. You have such a gift. This house seems brighter just since you arrived. Until today, I hadn't even noticed that garden outside this window. Now I can't imagine that I didn't notice all those colors before."
"I'm glad I could help you. If I have learned anything from Ric's death, it's that nothing is more important than the people you love and who love you back. You have to let them in, Andrew. You have to let them be a shoulder to lean on. And when you're strong again, you can be there for them in return when they need it. It sounds like Victor has been a shoulder for you to lean on these past months."
"I would love for you to meet him. The plans aren't settled yet, but we'll be getting together one day this week. Would you consider joining us for dinner?"
Stephanie was shocked by his invitation. She never expected to be part of this meeting. Her job was to find out when it was going to happen. She knew that Ranger considered Giordano to be dangerous, but if she were going to accompany Andrew to the dinner, she would definitely know when and where. This could really help their chances of a successful apprehension. Her instincts were telling her that to accept might make Ranger angry. "I don't know, Andrew, are you sure? I would hate to impose on your business with your friend." Oh Stephanie, what to do, what to do.
"It would mean so much to me for you to be there, Maria. We don't do any business at dinner. It's just social. Please consider coming."
"Okay, Andrew. I'd love to come." What the hell did I just do? Damn, Ranger is going to be pissed. Uzbekistan here I come!
"Great. I will be talking to Victor later this evening to set up our schedule. I'll have a firm date, place and time for you then. Is that alright?"
"Fine. I'm looking forward to meeting your friend." Stephanie looked at the clock on the desk. "I'm afraid I should be going soon. My mother-in-law will be bringing Carlos home around four o'clock. I'd like to be there before then."
"I understand perfectly. Let me help you pack up your things."
They returned to the kitchen and put everything back into the basket and cooler. Andrew handed Stephanie her portfolio and briefly clarified with her a few of his notes. Before he picked up the basket he took Stephanie's hand.
"Lunch was wonderful, Maria. I'm glad you insisted on it." He pulled her close and leaned down to her mouth. The kiss was sweet, but when he broke away his eyes were intense. He leaned in a second time and whispered over her lips. "I'm so glad we met." He kissed her again with more intensity. His hands wandered up her back, into her hair and ended up caressing her face as he broke away.
"You'll call me then?" Stephanie murmured, feeling overwhelmed.
"Yes, tonight" He grabbed her belongings and led her down the hall toward the front door.
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Stephanie pulled her car into the garage, closed the door and ran directly upstairs to the bedroom. Ranger was not there yet, but he couldn't be far behind. She took off her sweater, removed the wire and was about to put the sweater back on when the bedroom door slammed shut. She jumped at the sound.
"What were you thinking?" Ranger's words were deceptively calm, but his body language was screaming. Stephanie was not surprised that he was mad; she expected it and actually thought he had a right to be, but it didn't matter. The minute he got her dander up, her Italian genes kicked in, and it was like watching a train wreck. She couldn't stop the angry words from spilling out of her mouth.
"I was doing my job!" she yelled defensively. She threw her sweater on the bed.
"Your job was to get the information about the meeting! I told you that Victor Giordano is a dangerous man. You should not be at that meeting!" Ranger's voice was raised and stern.
"It was the best way to make sure we got the correct information! If Andrew expects me to be there he will give me all the details!" She walked toward Ranger and stood shoulders back as if in defiance. "If I had said no to his invitation, it would've seemed suspicious for me to question him about the time and place!"
"You should have found another way!" He glared directly into her eyes.
"I couldn't think of another way at the time!" She glared directly back.
"Damn it, Stephanie, I don't want you anywhere near him!"
"It was the best choice and you know it! You said you would back my decisions." They stood almost nose-to-nose, neither one wanting to back down first.
Finally, Ranger backed off and ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "You're killing me here, Babe." His shoulders slumped in resignation.
"I know, I'm sorry," Stephanie sighed. "I wasn't expecting Andrew to ask me to go the dinner. When he did, I thought about it. I really did. I didn't make this decision lightly. In the ten seconds that I had to form a response, every argument you just threw at me went through my head. When I agreed, I knew you would be angry, but I also knew that it was the best decision." She walked back over to the bed and picked up her sweater. "Listen, the dinner will be in a public place. They always go to a restaurant. I can't believe that Giordano would be dangerous out in public. And I won't be alone with him. I'll be with Andrew the whole time. You'll have back up there. I never have to be out of sight."
"I know that, but this is you we're talking about. You can attract trouble like no one else."
Stephanie put her sweater back on and sidled up to Ranger and rubbed her hands down his arms. "That is not new information. You have always taken good care of me on distraction jobs. This will be no different. Besides, you should be very good at planning for the unexpected. Look at all the practice I've given you over the last few years." She smiled coyly at him.
Ranger groaned. "Babe."
Thinking it would be a good time to change the subject, Stephanie asked, "Did the Merry Men come back here with you?"
"Yes, they're downstairs."
"Good, because I brought lots of that food back with me. Why don't you have them get it out of the car? We can eat and do something fun tonight. I need to get out of my Maria role. I want to get this perfume off and these contacts out. I want to be Stephanie for a while. Can we do that?"
He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and spoke into her hair. "Sure, Babe." He kissed her temple and worked his lips down the side of her face then settled on her mouth. He begged entry and she opened letting their tongues dance and flirt suggestively. His hands wandered up the inside of her sweater and fondled her breasts.
His kisses and hands gave Stephanie definite ideas about what kind of fun they could be having, but it was nothing she wanted to share with the Merry Men downstairs… She spoke softly against his moving lips. "Ranger, why don't you go now and let me change, because if you don't go right now, I can't be held responsible for my actions even with your men in the house." She stepped away reluctantly and out of breath. "But I won't forget where we were just now, and we'll finish this later."
"Promise?"
"Steel trap!" She grinned.
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Author Note: The story is about to take an interesting side trip. Keep reading, reviewing and enjoying. I am sooo motivated by the thoughts of my readers. Next update will be early Saturday morning.