OWNED BY J.E. - I just play around with them.
Last Time:
"OK then." Bobby looked at me then. "You have my permission to date Diesel." That was it I started laughing so hard I was crying. These men are my family and I just can't find it in my head or my heart to be mad at them. Lunch was fun with my boys.
SPOV Continued
We finished up our lunch and headed back to Rangeman for work and training. This afternoon I was headed to the gun range with Hector to work on my gun handling. I had found through my training that even though I don't like gun I was actually an excellent shot and according to Hector and Tank I was one of the best in the company only second to Hal who was a sniper. I was going to start sniper training. Not that me being a sniper would ever be of use but Hector was offering and it sounded like fun. When I hit the range Hector was waiting for me.
"Hey, Estefania. How are you?" Yes hector speaks almost perfect English but apparently only around me. When we are out with the guys he acts like he is not bilingual.
"Hola, Pappi." Hector loved when I called him that. Hector does not bat for my team but wow is he hot and he always has my hormones in a jumble. I think that it is him being unattainable that get me. He is another one of my extended family.
"So Estefania, I hear you have a new Pappi." How did Hector hear about Diesel so fast? I bet that damn Lester has been gossiping again.
"Hector, no matter who comes into my life you will always be Pappi to me. That is unless one of your boy toys has a problem with it." Hector looked amused.
"If one of what you call my boy toys had a problem with it they would be my boy toy no longer. You are my family and you have first dibs on calling me Pappi. As a matter of fact that is what your children will call me too" Hector smirked.
I put on my ear and eye protection and grabbed a gun effectively shutting off any more talk of my children. I glanced at Hector who was laughing so hard he was crying. What is it with these guys teasing me today? Hector and I worked and trained diligently for well over my allotted range time but by the time we finished I could effectively load, unload, take apart, put together and clean the gun of the week. Shooting is not hard for me so we train more for the actual gun itself. After cleaning up our mess I kissed Hector on the cheek and left him on four while I went onto five to find Lester.
I got off the elevator and headed to Lester's cubicle to beg a ride home. I got there and Lester was on the phone. He held up his finger and from the one sided conversation I heard Les was finalizing his date for the night. I drifted off for a few minutes coming back to earth when I heard him say "My best friend is also coming with a date." My eyebrows went up and Lester hung up smiling.
"Hello Beautiful. Are you ready to go?" I nodded at Lester and on the way out of the office I grabbed my purse and we headed down to the garage and hopped into Lester's car.
The ride was like any other until we were almost at my apartment. Here is where Lester dropped the bomb that I was going out with Diesel, Lester and a new girl named Tara. I had one hour to be ready and then we were going to Rossini's. Rossini's is a real nice place and I love the crème brulee there.
"Really Les, you didn't ask me if I wanted to go and I don't know if Diesel has plans or not." Lester held his hands up.
"Whoa Steph, I talked to Diesel when you were down with Hector and he said he had no plans tonight so the two of you could go." The last time I went on a double date with Lester the female he was with ended up thinking that because she was meeting his sister, i.e. me, Lester was proposing marriage.
"Les, I really don't want to do this. The last time didn't turn out to well and you didn't talk to me for three days after the date. Please don't make me do this." I was begging. Diesel and I were in a new relationship and as much as I didn't mind him being around the guys I wasn't secure enough to be around other women with him yet. Especially women like I knew Lester dated. Lester dated buxom, rail thin, blonde more often than not model types and I was just me. Curly haired, not so rail thin, needed a push up bra, Stephanie Plum.
"What has you so upset Steph? I mean really its just dinner." Lester being a guy really didn't get it. His just dinner was a torture session to compare me to whatever other women were around. I was just not ready.
"You don't get it. The women you go out with are gorgeous and I just don't compare. You know what Les whatever I will go. It doesn't really matter. The inevitable will just happen sooner." Lester looked at me with sad eyes.
"I didn't mean to make you feel bad Steph and what do you mean the inevitable?" I lowered my head and looked at Lester's boots.
"I mean it's inevitable that Diesel will realize that I am not good enough for him and you flaunting your beautiful woman in front of him will just make him realize it sooner." With that I turned and ran in the doors and up the stairs to my apartment not even waiting for the elevator. I pushed my way through my door barely unlocking it and ran to my bedroom locking everyone out. I decided to get into my thinking position and just go to dinner as I am, well, I will change clothes but who cares about anything else. I laid there until I only had 15 minutes until the guys got here and then hopped up and threw on the first dress I laid my hands on. It just so happened that the dress I picked was a dress bought on the Rangeman credit card for a distraction which meant it was very short, and very low cut. I grabbed some shoes and a clutch making sure to transfer everything I needed and headed to the living room. When I walked in I saw Lester and Diesel lounging on the sofa. Both men looked relaxed and comfortable while I felt like my nerves had just been electrocuted. They were wearing dress slack and button up shirts in fact if my nerves weren't so crazy right now my hormones would probably be in an uproar.
Diesel stood, walked over and brushed a kiss across my lips. I just ignored the flurry of emotions that ran through my body and got right into it.
"OK lets go, I want to get this over with." I motioned to both the men to get out the door. As they passed me Diesel looked concerned and Lester looked sad. Oh well bully for them. We took the elevator in deference to my heels and walked outside. Lester had his Lexus as that was his group date car. When it was just him and a woman he took the mustang. I walked over to my car.
"Steph, where are you going?" Lester asked.
"I am driving myself." This way when I needed a way home I wouldn't have to call a cab. I didn't tell them that but they don't need to know my contingency plans for everything.
"C'mon Steph, just get in the Lexus it will be fine. I promise you." At this point Diesel just kept looking between me and Lester. I guessed that Lester had not told him about our little argument this afternoon.
"Fine Les have it your way. I mean you always do anyway." I climbed into the back of the Lexus. Diesel slid in next to me and grabbed my hand clutching to like I was a life raft and he was drowning. I tried to smile at him for reassurance but I just could not do it so instead I leaned my head into his shoulder and closed my eyes.
I must have drifted off for a few minutes and I came to when the passenger door slammed. I was right of course the woman in the passenger was everything I described and more. She turned in her seat and introduced herself but she barely looked at me instead all of her attention was focused on Diesel. Lester, who had just got in the car and Diesel didn't seem to notice. I pulled away from Diesel and stared out the window while little miss fancy pants, also know as Tara, engaged the men in conversation.
We pulled up at Rossini's, got out of the car and after a stern warning to the valet about the condition of the car we entered the restaurant. Lester gave his name and we were seated immediately. We were seated at a round booth in the back of the restaurant which gave the illusion of privacy. Tara and Lester were sitting sort of across from me and Diesel with a space in the back of the booth where I out my purse. The waitress came and we ordered drinks before picking up the menus. After our drinks came and we ordered Tara started asking Diesel and Lester questions totally ignoring me so I took this as a sign to just sit and shutup. I was in my own little world when I felt Diesel nudging my foot. I looked over at him.
"Yes?" I asked him.
"Did you hear any of the conversation?"
"Nope, but then again none of it was directed at me so why would I?" Tara looked at me with a scowl.
Diesel put his arm around me and pulled me close before whispering in my ear. "Sunshine, she has nothing on you. Don't let her get to you." Yeah well he must not have been paying attention. I glanced at Lester who was looking at Tara with disdain. I decided to freshen up while we waited for our meals.
"Will you excuse me please while I freshen up?" Diesel moved and being the gentlemen he is he took my hand to help me up. Not even looking at Lester and Tara I headed to the woman's restroom. After taking care of business I went to wash my hands and ran into Tara. I moved past her to the sink only to have her follow me and lean against it.
"So what is it with you and Diesel? He is hot and made of money. What are YOU doing with him?" Wow Lester really picked a winner. I didn't say anything. I couldn't. I just finished washing my hands and went back to the table with Tara trailing behind me. Just as we sat down our food came. I couldn't eat. I knew Tara was right. Tara kept looking at me smugly and Lester kept looking between Tara and me. Diesel seemed oblivious to what was going on but I could feel his concern. Lester tried to start a conversation with me.
"So Beautiful, are you ready for tomorrow? We are going on to have a long day." Tara looked at me and then at Lester.
"What's going on for tomorrow and why are you spending the day with HER?" Tara's emphasis was on the word her and the way she said made me feel even lower.
"Well, Steph and I are partners. We work together everyday and tomorrow we have a lot of skips to pick up. We both work for Rangeman." Tara was looking at Diesel the whole time Lester was talking.
"What about you Diesel? What are you doing tomorrow?" Tara was really starting to push my buttons. Diesel just looked at her dumbfounded and then he jumped up. He sat back down after looking under the table. The waitress came and took our dessert order and cleaned off our table. The whole time Diesel kept getting closer and closer to me. When she left Diesel looked at Tara.
"I am working tomorrow why do you ask?"
"Well I would love to see how games are designed maybe I could come watch you. What do you think?" Tara was trailing her finger down her neck to her décolleté the entire time she was talking. Les looked at me and I shrugged as in an I told you so gesture. Diesel was getting red.
"Are you seriously hitting on me with your date and my girlfriend sitting right here?" Diesel was pissed and it was really starting to show. Tara started to back pedal.
"Well no, I am just really interested in gaming." Tara was growing flustered as Lester moved away from her.
"Really and how do you even know that I design games? I know Lester didn't tell you and you have never met my Steph so how do you know what I do for a living and how much money I have?" First of all did Diesel just call me his Steph? Oh and here I sit being such a bitch to him.
"Well, Lester told me who you were so I checked you out."
"That doesn't make any sense because I don't design games under my own name." Diesel looked at Lester.
"Where does she work?" Lester looked at Diesel to try and help him put it together.
"At the Trenton Trust bank." Diesel stood up and grabbed my hand. He looked at Lester.
"Holy Shit. Lester I just figured it out. She somehow accessed my bank account." Lester and Diesel both looked at Tara who was really looking uncomfortable right now. Lester stood up and crossed his arms waiting for an answer.
"Well hell, all I hear about is Steph this and Beautiful that and I wondered why anyone would be with her. I mean I had seen her picture on the paper before and I knew there was nothing special about her. So when Lester asked me to double with the two of you I checked Diesel out. I have access to incoming wire transfers and there are not many people named Diesel. I saw that you get transfers for a lot of money from a company called Bungee so I looked them up and saw that they make video games so I just put two and two together." Diesel looked at Tara and then at Lester and then back to Tara.
"You do realize that I will be talking to the bank president tomorrow. Anyone who accesses confidential information for their own gain does not belong working for a bank." Diesel said to Tara who looked mortified. I wondered how man other times Tara did this. Lester looked at Tara.
"Now why don't you tell me what you said to Stephanie in the ladies room?" Lester looked pissed.
"I just wanted to know why Diesel would be with HER. I mean look at me and look at her. Why would someone pick me over her?" At this point Diesel had my one hand while Lester had my other.
"Why would someone pick Steph over you? Well let's see. Steph is beautiful, kind, tenacious, non-judgmental, funny but above all else she is family to me." Wow Lester really loved me, as a sister of course. Les then looked at Diesel.
"Sunshine means the world to me she is the light in my soul, she is the most gorgeous person in the world and I love her with all my heart. You Tara are nothing but a soul stealing, over inflated bimbo who as of tomorrow will be unemployed as well." At this point Diesel turned me around and we started to walk out only to hear Tara say:
"What Bitch are you hiding behind the men?" That was it I had it and tore away from Lester and Diesel and flew back and over the table drilling miss fancy pants right in her nose. Diesel lifted me off of her.
"Listen Bitch you will never be good enough for any of my guys and let me tell you that I have the connection to make you disappear like smoke." Tara just laid there bleeding and when the waitress came with the bill Lester gave her enough to cover any damages as well as the bill and we walked out leaving the bleeding bitch behind.