Disclaimer: The characters belonging to Janet Evanovich are used strictly for entertainment purposes.
A/N: Thanks to my readers for their encouragement and compliments for the last chapter. I was overwhelmed by responses to the song and am humbled by you all. Thank you. M and Alf, thanks a bunch for your hard work and help on this chapter. This story wouldn't be where it was without you. :)
Tank pulled into the driveway of Lula's rental home located a few blocks over from the Rangeman office. She'd lived in the house for nearly two years and had a steady stream of undesirable roommates, all who ranged from drugged-out prostitutes to thieves who'd run off with some of her favorite valuables. It had taken her nearly eight months, but she'd finally found two girls who had similar goals: work hard, save money, and stay away from the streets. Over the last fourteen months, the three had become good friends.
He swung out of the SUV and walked toward the house. He liked Lula's roommates and felt they'd been good for her; she'd needed to build some new friendships. They had helped her work through her anger over Stephanie's abrupt departure and supported her when she made the decision to leave the bonds office to find a job with better pay and benefits. Tank was proud of all three of them. They were making great strides in their lives to overcome their pasts and build a solid future. No one could ask more, he certainly didn't.
Lula had found a position as a teller at a local bank and made it through the training classes as a star pupil. Once she learned she could be a good student, it sparked an interest in taking some college courses in the evenings after work. Her roommates had each talked about it at various times for a few months; so one night over pizza and margaritas, they decided to go for it and enrolled in a business computers course at a local community college.
The door opened before he could reach his hand out to grasp the knob. "Double T!" Lula launched her slightly slimmer self into his arms and he wrapped his chiseled arms around her. "Where are we going?" She had taken to calling Tank 'Double T', DT for short, because she said he was twice the man of any other she'd ever known.
"You know the new sushi place you wanted to try out?"
"The fancy one? Shōtoku Garden?"
"That's the one, Doll Baby."
Lula squealed and squeezed her arms around his neck, nearly cutting off his air supply. He patted her back and gasped. "Oh! Sorry, DT! I got carried away."
Tank laughed and kissed her. "Let's go. I have reservations beside the Koi pond."
Lula laughed in excitement and hooked her arm through his. "I'm ready, Mr. Sexy Man. Take me to the fish!"
He drove her across Trenton in his new Lexus LX570. The vehicle was big enough and roomy enough to fit his frame, yet dripped with luxurious comfort; leather seats, wood trim, nine-speaker sound system, and heated power seats. He'd asked Lula's opinion on the color and went with her preference, choosing the red color 'Noble Spinel Mica' instead of his standard choice of black. He was pleased with the look of the deep red color and the appreciation he saw in his woman's eyes when she looked it over.
She didn't know it, yet, but he had ordered a Lexus SC430 for her when they'd gone to look at the SUVs. She had fallen in love with the little Matador Red model and wandered back to it repeatedly. She'd almost convinced him to buy it for himself, and he might have if it hadn't looked like the worst sort of torture to squeeze into for a man his size. Instead, he ordered the car for her with all of the bells and whistles, plus the rear spoiler, for her birthday next month.
He also had a special surprise for her at Christmas by way of a five carat Cartier princess cut solitaire in a platinum setting with channel set diamonds. Sure, they'd broken up for a stupid reason a couple of years back, mainly his obsession with cats, but he knew she was the woman for him. She had changed his life.
"I heard you went to lunch with Morelli." Tank wasn't worried about Morelli, but he was curious about why the cop wanted to meet with Lula.
Lula looked a little nervous and said, "Uh, he just wanted to catch up, you know? Check up to see if I heard from Stephanie." She winced at her own lie.
"Lula." Tank's voice let her know that he didn't buy her lie. He shifted into a more comfortable position and waited patiently for her to give it up and explain.
It took a few beats, but soon Lula blew out a breath and stared out the window. "Fine, but I can't look at you when I tell you. I made a promise and you're asking me to break it."
Now even more curious, he said, "You know I won't tell a soul, Lady Lu. Not even Ranger."
Satisfied with his answer, she turned to him with excitement in her eyes. "Supercop is gonna propose to Connie tonight!"
The announcement almost made Tank drive off the road in pure shock. "But they've only been together for what – less than two months?"
Lula shook her head at him as if he didn't understand. "Sure, they've been a public item for two months, but he spent a lot of time at the bonds office, especially the first six months after Steph went away. He and Connie had a lot of time to chat and get to know each other." She smiled, happy for her friend. "Next thing you know, little Miss Connie has a gym membership and eats healthy. Then bam, one day our little Connie is fine. F-I-N-E. And Supercop noticed. Connie doesn't have any guilt over it."
Tank nodded. He knew Lula told Connie and Mary Lou about the conversation between Stephanie and Ranger the night she left. He also knew they hadn't told anyone else because they realized Stephanie wouldn't have wanted it all over the Burg. He knew the women loved to gossip so their silence felt eerie, almost like a eulogy to their good friend.
"He asked her out on a date the day after Batman came back to town. It's like he waited for the right moment." She looked thoughtful and Tank wanted to distract her before she asked questions he couldn't, or shouldn't, answer.
"Well, I'm glad. S'bout time Morelli moved on with his life." If only he could get Ranger to do the same.
Lula nodded and a sad look came into her eyes. "I can believe Stephanie left without a word to those fools Morelli and Ranger about where she went, but to not call me or Connie, and especially Mary Lou?"
"You know why she didn't." He reached over and picked up her soft hand. "She'll come back when she's ready."
Lula nodded. "I know." Sometimes when she thought about it, she felt hurt to know one of her friends had so little faith in her.
"She'll be back and when she is, she'll need love and support from her friends."
Lula narrowed her eyes at Tank. "You don't need to tell me that! I can love the shit outta anyone, but I will give her a piece of my mind first!"
Tank laughed. "She wouldn't expect any less from you, baby."
*\/*\/*\/*\/*
Stephanie sat on the window seat with a spectacular view of the ocean, but she didn't even see it. Mary Lou hadn't called her and Stephanie figured she would have received her package a couple of days ago. She felt let down, even though she knew she didn't have the right. A sigh escaped as she rested the side of her head against the cool hard surface of the windowpane. Obviously, she had misjudged how much she had upset Lou and couldn't find it within her to blame her friend for not calling.
She'd thought, no hoped, Lou understood she had good reasons for her abrupt disappearance and call, even if it was just out of curiosity. Now it seemed she was wrong. Stephanie looked down at the phone in her hands and sighed. It was another prepaid cell phone. She still hadn't taken the time to get a contract with a carrier and found she didn't use it enough to warrant the expense. Not to mention a prepaid phone couldn't be traced to her.
She tossed the phone down beside her feet on the cushioned seat and closed her eyes with a sigh. Now was as good a time as any to get a nap. Apparently, Merc and Geo had different ideas because they burst through the front door and ran over to her. Geo exclaimed loudly, "Belle! You will not believe what just happened!"
She turned her head slightly and cracked one eye open. "What?"
Merc put his hands on his hips and gave her a mock frown. "Come on! You need to be more enthusiastic!"
She rolled her eyes and sat up with a more 'excited' expression on her face and asked, "Gee, what is it, Pa?" in her best Opie Taylor impression.
Geo ruffled her hair playfully and plopped down beside her. His hard, muscular body squished, her against the window. "We just ran into Devin Stone-Croft downstairs in the Casino."
"Why were you two in the casino?" She narrowed her eyes at them.
"We were nowhere near the tables!" Merc tugged on one of her curls and picked up her feet. He settled down into the seat and pulled them onto his lap for a massage.
With a low moan, Stephanie closed her eyes and enjoyed the heaven he created in her tired arches. "Geoffrey, you have zero-point-two seconds to explain to me why I should care before I pass out from your brother's magic touch."
"'Kay," Geo said and she could feel his laughter against her back. "He's the guy who produces Twisted Mind. Big time record company guru."
The massage forgotten, Stephanie's eyes widened and she shoved Geo's body away so she could sit up. "Really? How did you pull it off?"
Merc grinned like a little boy ready to launch into his pile of presents on Christmas morning. "Get this! He came to the hotel and asked where he could find us!"
Stephanie stared at Merc and Geo laughed. "Gee, what's wrong, Belle?"
"Well! What did he want?" Stephanie launched herself off the window seat and paced over by the couch. "I can't believe he approached us!"
"It was because of Mitch from Twisted. Remember the jam session we did last month with them at battle of the bands?" Geo practically hummed with excitement.
Stephanie turned around and looked at Geo. Oh yes, she remembered Mitch. He'd done everything in his power to get Stephanie to go back to his hotel room. She'd had to keep up pointless banter with several people she didn't know to avoid the creep. Geo's announcement gave her pause. "Mitch told him about us?"
Merc stood and walked over to her. He settled his hands in a light grip on her shoulders and gave them a light squeeze. "Stone-Croft doesn't just listen to bands on a whim. He's super busy. It means he's heard our stuff."
"He wants to listen to us?" Stephanie's mouth locked open in shock.
Geo fidgeted in his seat. "Yes. He'll be at The Closter tonight." He got up and crossed over to Merc and Stephanie and threw his arms around both for a huge group hug. "Aaaand," he paused for dramatic effect, "Let Me Go is on our set list for tonight."
"Oh no. No, no, no. It's not ready. I can't do it tonight!" Stephanie felt pure panic rise in her chest. "We should do one of your songs."
Merc shook his head. "Geo's right. We need something to off-set the rest of our songs. We'll do our originals, too. With this guy in the crowd, we'll want our whole arsenal, not just covers, but we'll even them out between the two sets tonight. Stephanie, your song is the one. I can feel it and if you look deep inside, you know it, too."
Stephanie began to pace to ward off the nervous energy, which had just filled her. Geo piped in, "Our band's name is Naked Soul and I don't think we could have found a better song to represent us than the one you wrote. It is pure, naked emotion; it's deeper than Drying Up My Soul. We need it tonight, Belle. Please?"
She dropped her head and stopped all movement. She hated when people used 'please' to win her over, but she didn't have the heart to say no. They had saved her when her car quit on the side of the highway; then they gave her a place to stay, gave her two instruments, became her friends, and helped her blossom into the person she'd been afraid to become for so long. If she was more confident, it was because of their support and constant cheerleading. She lifted her head and saw they knew they'd won. "Fine, but I want to rehearse it. I want Ryan to join me with the part he created last night when we ran through it. Actually–" She was throwing up obstacles and they all knew it.
"No way, Belle. For tonight, do your acoustic version. It will show variety in our sound and it's truly beautiful with just your voice and the guitar. It's perfect and I wouldn't change a thing. I mean, one day we'll rock it out, but it's right to do it this way," Merc expressed in a soft voice.
Stephanie's shoulders drooped as she exhaled loudly. "Okay, but we will amp it up at some point in the future."
"Deal," Geo agreed. He bounded over to wrap her in a huge hug and swung her around and around until they were both dizzy and tumbled to the floor in a pile of belly laughs and cackles.
She'd almost forgotten about her phone when it rang. Her laughter stopped abruptly and she sat up. "Merc, can you check to see who it is?"
He reached down to the floor, where it had fallen when she'd jumped up from the seat, and scooped it up to read the display. "It says Lou."
With a gasp, she stood and tore over to grab the phone from his hand and hit 'Talk' as she brought the small device up to her ear. "Lou?"
"I thought it was you," she heard Lou's tight voice on the other end of thephone and began to worry about the reason for her call.
"Yeah." Think, Stephanie, think. What to say? How to begin?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Mary Lou, who simply said, "I understand."
Stephanie sagged in relief and sat down on the window seat. "I needed time. I was so hurt and I just … ran."
"Yeah, we heard about what happened between you and Ranger. I don't blame you one bit, though I thought I would have heard from you before now." Mary Lou's voice was strained.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't intend to hurt you." Stephanie felt awful and a pang of pain shot through her heart at how Mary Lou's must have suffered.
"Steph, I said I understand."
"Okay, but I needed to say it." Stephanie paused and then asked, "Uh, you know about the conversation with Ranger?"
"Yeah, also how Joe demanded you to marry him and when you said no, he broke it off." Mary Lou's voice softened and she said, "That was all over the Burg the next morning along with some other stuff about Joe which really isn't important now."
Stephanie's mouth snapped open and then closed. "You're right. We were done the second I couldn't choose him over, uh, the second I couldn't choose him."
"I know. I was shocked about what Ranger said to you, though." Stephanie clenched her teeth together against the wave of fresh pain the memory caused. "Joe looked for you for a long time, but Steph, I should tell you–"
Stephanie cut her off. "I know about Morelli and Connie. They came to the place where I, um, work. I saw them together and it's okay. I'm really happy for them, especially Connie."
She could hear the relief seep into Mary Lou's tone. "Good. I didn't know how to tell you."
"Okay, so you know Joe wasn't the reason I left Trenton. When he said we were done, I realized he was right and I was relieved." Anticipating Mary Lou's next statement, Stephanie said, "Yes, you also know what else happened before I left. Stellar night for me in the romance department, I finally decide to be true to my heart and it gets ripped out of my chest. I just had to get away. When Lou might have spoken, Stephanie said, "It's fine, Lou. I'm better now."
"At first, we were all excited because Ranger left town that night too. We were hoping the two of you, well – but then when that guy, Lester, showed up the next day asking about you."
Stephanie felt the room start to tilt, so he had looked for her. She wasn't ready to explore those thoughts so she forced herself to speak. "Did Connie ask you to go out to a club tomorrow night?"
"Yes," Mary Lou answered cautiously. "How did you know? Connie never said she saw you."
"Well, she sort of didn't know."
"You were in disguise?"
"Yes, pretty much." She heard Lou take a breath to speak and stopped her again. "Lou, I promise, I'll tell you all of it. Just do this for me. I'll leave instructions with security at the club. After the first band is done, go to the stage doors. Tell them your name and you're there to see Michelle. Sound okay?" Stephanie gushed out.
Lou was silent for a second and then said, "Okay. Uh, I don't – you go by Michelle now?"
"It's a long story, Lou. I promise I'll explain it all, okay?"
"You've got it." Mary Lou let out a small squeal. "I'm so excited to see you!"
"Me, too!" Then Stephanie sobered. "Lou, you have to keep this secret. I want to tell Connie and Lula, but you know they won't be able to keep it quiet."
"I think you underestimate them. They know all about the conversation with Ranger and they haven't told a soul. Connie hasn't even told Joe."
Stephanie sighed and closed her eyes. "I appreciate how hard it must have been for them, but do you honestly think they wouldn't tell people they saw me?"
Lou said nothing while she contemplated the prospect. After a moment, she blew out a breath. "Okay, I know what you mean. I won't tell a soul. So, is this phone how you want us to stay in contact?"
"Yes. You can call me anytime from it. Use up the cards and let me know when you load the last one so I can send more. The minutes only last three months once you activate them, so call me a lot and use them up, 'kay?" Stephanie smiled, she was so happy to finally talk to someone who knew her, really knew her, and still loved her. She felt a part of her shattered heart mend back into place.
"You don't have to do pay for them. I can get cards for it."
"I want to. I'll see you tomorrow night, Lou." Stephanie hesitated a second and said, "Try not to be late. You don't want to miss the first band."
"That's the band Connie wants us to hear, so we'll be there on time. I can't wait to see you!"
"Me, either!"
They disconnected and Stephanie sat on window seat for a few moments with a huge smile on her face, happy her best friend was back in her life. The sound of a throat clearing brought her back to the present and she looked up at Geo.
"Who is Lou?"
"My best friend since we were little girls. I've asked her come back stage tomorrow night so we can chat."
"Sounds like a great idea, Belle. Is she hot and single?" Merc winked.
Stephanie stood and wrapped her arms around him to plant a quick smack on his lips with hers. The year-long exposure to two highly affectionate males made her more comfortable with physical displays of affection than she ever thought possible. The affection may not have been a problem, but when she received an unexpected jolt through her entire system from the contact of Merc's lips on hers, she realized she needed to be on her guard. "Oh, she's hot, but married. Come on, boys. Let's go rehearse."