Chapter 14! enjoy!

next few chapters are Stephanie, Ranger and Heidi centric!

not mine, I know, I know, okay, Jeez, break my balls why don't cha?!

Summer Of Love (Pt.1)

Ranger rose an eyebrow, looking at Heidi, who lay on the couch in his office on the fifth floor. She had covered her face with a copy of War and Peace, and was now making noises of irritation. Ranger shook his head and went back to looking over his paper work. He was still not used to the idea of Heidi being a teenager. It had been quite a shock, when Heidi had come downstairs to the fifth floor, the other day, five years older and full of hormones. It had been quite awkward when Heidi had jumped in his arms, squealing, "Daddy, I have boobies!" it wouldn't have been so awkward, if it wasn't for the fact that Heidi had done so, in front of all his men.

Ranger looked up from his paperwork, hearing a low, "I'm sooooo bored," from Heidi, who lifted the tome from her face, "Daddy, let's do something."

Ranger let out a soft sigh, and looked up to Heidi, who blinked at him, and turned to sit up on the couch. Ranger wondered if Julie acted like this, like a…teenager? "What do you want to do, Quedria?"

"Well, I was thinking, me, you and mommy could maybe go to the beach for a bit?" Heidi said, giving Ranger a puppy eyed look, "It would be very nice if we could go and spend time at a beach, you know, as a family."

Ranger groaned, turning his face away from those puppy eyes. Damn it, she and Stephanie knew how to strum at his heartstrings. He had clients to deal with, contracts and the dreaded payroll, he couldn't drop all of it off on his men, and then go away for a while. No matter how much Heidi would plead and beg.

"No, I can't drop everything and go off to the beach, Heidi, I run a big company and it needs me." Ranger said, earning a groan from Heidi, who huffed and turned her head away, arms crossed, pouting. Why did she have to pout? "Heidi you have to understand…"

"I understand Daddy, work comes before play, I know, Scarlet made sure I did all my school work before we had fun." Heidi said getting up and walking over to the office door, "I'll just go and do nothing, again, since everyone else is so busy, Uncle Lester is working, Auntie Jeanne is training Stephanie and Auntie Scarlet Is gone with Diesel….doing goodness knows what…later Daddy…."

Ranger watched as Heidi trudged out the office, her head hanging down. If he didn't know any better, Ranger would believe that Heidi was manipulating him. She seemed to be manipulating him, but she was too sweet to do that, after all, he was her father, and teenage daughters didn't manipulate their fathers! Something inside of Ranger told him that he was a big ass fool, if he thought that Heidi wouldn't try to manipulate him.

He was going to have to agree with that voice….

(~~~~~~~~~~)

Heidi really wanted to go to the beach. She really wanted to go out into warm air, feel the sand between her toes, play in the warm surf, and taste the salt from the ocean on her tongue. Ever since she read Robinson Crusoe, she wanted to spend as much time as possibly at the beach, sans the daily struggle to survive, that was what Hot Pockets were made for. She wanted all of this, with her Mother and Father, of course, a family vacation, of some sorts. It wouldn't be hard to persuade Stephanie, with all the training torture that Jeanne had her doing, she would jump at the idea of being away from the woman. It was her father that would need the persuasion the most. Maybe if she could get him away from that desk, it could happen!

Heidi let out a huff, sitting down in the living room on the seventh floor penthouse. She had tried to make him feel guilty about working all the time, but he had been strong, telling her that he couldn't get up and go on a vacation. Damn it! she thought she would have gotten him with the puppy dog eyes, it always works on her mother and aunts! Heidi paused in her musing to think about why her puppy dog eyes didn't work on her Daddy. She wasn't a child any more, she was a teenager! At this age, she wasn't adorable anymore, she was pretty, a young lady, or the makings of sex on legs, as her Uncle Lester would tell her. damn it all, she wanted to be a child again, that way, she could get whatever she wanted from her daddy. She wasn't growing at an accelerated rate at the moment, she had seen to that. Once she found out that she could make herself grow, she found that she could make herself stop growing as well. She found out, however, that she couldn't make herself younger. Oh well, if making herself younger to manipulate people was all that she wanted, then she really shouldn't make herself younger.

Heidi picked up her latest read, "Paradise Lost," and began to lose herself in the pages. She was so engrossed in the book, that when a heavy body sat down beside her, she yelped in surprise and looked up at Scarlet's laughing face. Heidi put her book away and said, with a frown, "It's not nice to walk up to people, sit down close to them and scare them half to death!"

"I'm sorry," Scarlet said, grabbing Heidi's book, "Paradise lost, eh? 17th century poetry and religion, what's so interesting about this novel?"

"Religion is a very interesting topic, that's all, I've read Hindu books, Buddhism books, all kinds of books." Heidi said sitting up and looking at Scarlet, "So, do you believe in a higher power?"

Scarlet shrugged her shoulders and said, "I used to, a long time ago, I believed this high power gave me the gift of intellect to change the world."

Heidi leaned forward, as Scarlet's eyes darkened, and she said, "But then I saw what people did, all in the name of religion, wars, rapes, deaths, everything, and now you have people on the TV using Religion as a crutch to further their own greed, instead of helping out others. It made me wonder, if Religion truly was cracked up to be. I thought religion was based off of peaceful worshipping of a deity, it used to be, but then humans…twisted it, there are people out there, claiming to love each other, but the moment you're different, you're hated and even accosted for it. Heidi, you'll find out, in your lifetime, things are what they truly are, and I hope you're prepared for it."

Heidi sat back in her seat and said in a soft voice, "I don't ever want to deal with anything that's religious, if it's that bad, I don't want to be a part of it."

"You really have no choice, my love," Scarlet said softly, running a hand through Heidi's hair, "You are one of the deities that many people worship."

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

"It sure would be great, if we could go to the beach for a few days…."

Stephanie looked over the dining table at Heidi, who was stabbing at her slice of pork loin, her head tucked in one hand. Stephanie made a noise in the back of her throat and said, "I think that sounds great too, Heidi, it would be nice if we spent time together as a somewhat functional family."

"not you too, Babe," Ranger said, giving the two women in his life a look, "I can't just drop everything to go parade around on a beach."

"I know that Daddy, I'm sure Mommy understands too," Heidi sighed, giving Ranger a puppy eye look, "I mean, you are a successful business man, after all."

"I understand…." Stephanie said with a sigh, looking over to Ranger, giving him her best puppy eye look, "You are a successful man, who has no time for his daughter and girlfriend."

"Heidi, Stephanie-" Ranger started, but Stephanie cut him off saying, "No, no! it doesn't matter, we understand, come on Heidi, let's clean up, and go watch some TV, if we can't go to the beach, we can pretend to be there, at least."

Ranger felt his eyebrow twitch as Heidi and Stephanie got up from the table, take his plate, which he hadn't finished eating, by the way, and clean up. Moments later he could hear the HGTV channel flare to life, and then a bright female voice say, "Beach Vacation Homes!"

"They'll never stop if I don't take them to the beach," Ranger groaned, pressing a finger to his eyebrow, "I'll just have to work from a laptop then, I guess, or shuffle some of the work onto Santos…."

Now that was an awesome idea…

(~~~~~~~~~~~)

"This is a beach house?" Stephanie yelped, looking through the Cayenne's front window, "Rnager, this is a freaking beach mansion."

Stephanie turned to Ranger, who gave her a look, "Are you sure you're not a billionaire? I think you are…."

"Babe, I bought this property years ago, I just finished renovating it." Ranger said, pulling the Cayenne into the parking space, "What do you think, Quedria?"

"It's beautiful Daddy!" Heidi said with glee, "I get the room with the ocean view!"

"I assure you, Heidi," Ranger said as they clambered out the Cayenne, "The rooms all have ocean views."

The beach house was at the end of a street lined with massive beach houses. It was a cream colored three story home that blended in with the beach surrounding. The beach house had several decks, all with ocean views and some of the decks were screened in. Windows dominated just about every inch of the house, letting in sunlight and showing off the views of the ocean. The beach house was the biggest one on the street, and one of prettiest one.

Ranger had given in and told Heidi and Stephanie to pack a bag, because they were going to the beach. He whisked them off to Florida, to the Keys, to a small town situated on one of the smaller and less populated keys. He had told him that he would take them to the beach, if they promised not to ask for anything for at least a whole month. Both Heidi and Stephanie agreed quickly, before they had scurried off to pack their bags. It would be just the trio, Ranger, Stephanie and Heidi, a family vacation. Heidi was happy because they were going to be able to swim in the ocean, Ranger was happy because his girls were happy, and Stephanie was happy because that meant no training with Jeanne for a while. Ranger had burst that bubble by telling her that Jeanne asked that she work out with Ranger in the mornings. Well, at least it wasn't Jeanne she had to see! Plus, Ranger was much sexier to look at too.

Ranger opened the front door to the beach house, and had to get out the way, because Heidi ran past him, squealing with excitement. Heidi turned to Ranger, smiled, and said, "It's so lovely in here!"

The theme of the house was a beach one. The walls were a sandy color, with a sea shell border that went along the bottom of the walls. Pictures of framed silver dollars and starfishes hung up on the wall next to drawings of beaches and light houses. The house had an open floor plan, with the living room, family room, dining room and kitchen open to each other. The furniture was a dark brown, a sharp contrast to the sandy walls and the floors were a shiny dark brown lacquer. They were given a million dollar view of the beach and the ocean. The kitchen was high tech and sandy colored with sand colored quartz counters, white cabinets and sand colored tiles. There was a sand colored breakfast bar with dark brown stools. They would enjoy their time here at the beach 'mansion.'

Stephanie sat down in a plush leather loveseat and said, "Oh yes, I could get use to this, this place is wonderful Ranger!"

"Thanks Babe, I hope you enjoy all that it has to offer, there's a hot tub, a sauna, lots of sporting equipment to use in the water, you won't be bored here." Ranger said sitting beside Stephanie on the loveseat, and wrapping an arm around her, pulling her close, "And the town is only five minutes down the road, there's shopping, parks, everything.

"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah," Heidi said picking up her tote bag, "I'm going to find my bedroom!" running up the stairs.

"There's two master bedrooms, each on different ends of the house, we won't be disturbing Heidi, if we do things, Babe," Ranger purred, his eyes darkening with lust, "Babe, I say we find our bedroom too."

"That sounds like a good idea," Stephanie purred, kissing Ranger's lips, "There's a bed calling our name."

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

The moment Heidi opened the set of double doors, she knew that she had chosen the right bedroom. It was a soft blue colored bedroom, with a white canopy bed with white sheers and white bedding. The dresser was white, as was the furniture in the little seating area of her room. The desk was painted white, with seashells stenciled on the side and on the surface of the desk. A large painting of couple on the beach dominated the wall behind the canopy bed and several framed shells decorated the rest of the room. The floors were the same dark brown lacquer and there were two sets of doors. One door led to a huge walk in closet, the other into a huge white colored bathroom with a whirlpool tube, a shower that could fit five people easily and a massive vanity on one of the walls.

Heidi tossed her tote bag on the bed, and made her way over to the doors that led to the balcony of her bedroom. She opened the French white doors, walked out onto the wooden deck, and sighed, inhaling the salty sea air, this was the life! Heidi walked over to the wooden railing, and looked out into the bright blue sea. The way the setting sun fell, it made it look like a scene from a postcard. Heidi would never get bored of this sunset.

Heidi leaned forward on the railing and looked over the edge of her balcony. She was maybe half of a story from the ground and she also could see that she was somewhat close to the large pool that resided in the back area of the beach house. Heidi made a mental note to change into her bathing suit when she got a chance.

Heidi turned to walk back into her bedroom, but the soft strums from guitar strings stopped her. Heidi paused and turned back to the end of her balcony. It was very soft, she could hardly hear it, but someone was playing a guitar. Heidi walked back over to the edge of the balcony and looked around. She couldn't see anyone, so then….where was that music coming from?

Heidi peered over the edge of the railing once more, before she walked back into the house.

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

It was later that night, well past midnight, when Heidi heard the guitar again. She was up late, reading in her bed, the balcony doors open, letting in warm breeze. She went up to bed early with the intent to go to sleep, so she could enjoy an early morning swim. She had bought several books with her, and one thing led to another, and the next thing she knew, she was reading a heavy tome, all thoughts of sleep flying out the window.

Heidi looked up from the book Robin Hood, and frowned, as the sounds of someone playing the guitar filled her room. It was so clear, it was as though someone was in her room playing it, just for her. it wasn't just a guitar playing, someone was singing now, a man by the sounds of it, his voice was husky, and smooth, like fine liquor. Heidi blinked and slid out the bed, going back out onto the balcony. She couldn't see anyone in the moonlight. She walked back over to the edge and looked down and around. There was no one here, so, who was playing the guitar and singing?

Heidi walked back into her bedroom, closed the balcony door and climbed into bed to go to sleep, she would asked her parents if they heard the music.

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

Stephanie frowned, sitting up and looking at Heidi, who loomed over her, her hands on her hips. She turned to Ranger who sat in a beach chair looking just as confused as she did. They were all out on the beach, enjoying the warm weather and the pleasantly cool waters. Heidi had just come back from taking a dip in the waters, when she had asked Ranger and Stephanie about the music she heard last night.

"I heard a man playing a guitar and singing, he had such a wonderful voice, and he could play the guitar well." Heidi said sitting beside Stephanie on the beach blanket, "Tell me you heard it, it was so loud, it felt as though it was in my bedroom."

"Quedria, we didn't hear any music last night," Ranger said, watching Heidi drink a bottle of water, "I think you must have been dreaming."

"I wasn't dreaming, I heard it, I really did," Heidi said standing up with a huff, "I guess I was the only one to hear then."

Heidi huffed again, and then ran on the beach to go back in the water. Stephanie shook her head and said, "It must have been a dream …."

Last night after they family had dinner, Ranger and Stephanie had gone up to bed, to break in the shower and the tub, and the dresser. They had been tuckered out after the last round, and had fallen asleep quickly.

"Babe, I need to talk to you," Ranger said, getting out the beach chair, "let's take a walk."

Stephanie smiled, and grabbed the hand that was offered to her. Ranger pulled her up, kissed her softly on the lips and led her away from their resting spot on the beach. They took a quick glance at Heidi who was swimming in the ocean and then walked a little ways down.

"Stephanie, I love you, and I just want you to know that I'm glad you're in Heidi's life," Ranger started, looking at Stephanie who smiled softly, and leaned her head on his arm as they walked, "I feel as though something is missing from this picture."

"There's nothing missing in this picture," Stephanie said looking up at Ranger, a smile on her face, "I have you, and Heidi, and my close friends and family, there's absolutely nothing missing from the picture."

"I think there is," Ranger said with a smile, pulling away from Stephanie turning away from her.

"Ranger, you know there's-" Stephanie started, but paused as Ranger turned back to her, holding a black velvet box, "Oh my goodness…."

"Stephanie Michelle Plum, will you do me the honor of marrying me?" Ranger asked pulling the top of the velvet box open to reveal a three carat princess cut diamond ring set on a small platinum band.

Stephanie looked up with wide eyes at Ranger, before she nodded her head and exclaimed, "Hell yes, I'll marry you!"

They hugged and kissed each other, before Ranger slipped the ring on Stephanie's finger. Stephanie admired the ring on her finger and said, "Ranger, I love you, I can't wait to be Mrs. Stephanie Manoso."

Stephanie and Ranger turned as a four wheeler slowly rolled up to them. A man in a pair of khaki shorts and a white tank top slid off the four wheeler and walked over to Ranger and Stephanie.

"Hello folks, I'm from the Town's park and Recreation, I'm just going up and down the beach telling people to stay out of the water, there are rip currents out there and everyone should stay out the water." The man said with a smile, looking over to Ranger and Stephanie, "I see you two aren't in the waters."

Stephanie hasped looking over to Ranger, "Heidi was, when we were gone!"

The man perked up and said in a serious voice, "Where did you two come from, we have to get her out of the water, rip currents could drag her out to sea and that could be a problem."

"We're a half mile away from our beach house," Ranger said, as the man got on the four wheeler.

"I'll go ahead, and call for back up," The man said before he rode off down the beach.

Stephanie turned to Ranger and said, "Maybe she got out of the water, maybe."

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

Heidi let out a squeal as a wave crashed over her frame. The waves were getting a bit rough, maybe she would get out the water. Heidi looked up over the waves and groaned, she couldn't see the shore, how far had she gone out?! Heidi turned and began to swim back, following the direction of the waves. Waves always seemed to aim for the shore. She should be back there in no time. The waters were getting rougher and choppier, and Heidi was having a hard time keeping her head above them. Heidi gasped as she was swept under the water. She broke the surface and only had time to gain a short breath, before she was swept under again. This time, she couldn't break the surface. Heidi tired to swim up, but the currents they were so strong, and she was getting so tired, maybe, maybe if she stop struggling, it wouldn't be so hard to float back up to the top, though breathing was becoming an issue as of right now.

Heidi felt her lungs burning, screaming for air, the instinct to open her mouth to take a breath was so strong, that she did and she inhaled a mouth full of water. The edges of her vision was darkening, and she went limp in the strong currents. Just as she lost conscious, Heidi felt strong arms wrap around her waist and was pressed to a strong chest.

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

Ranger and Stephanie felt their hearts nearly stop at the sight of Heidi laying prone near the shore, the man over her, helping her sit up. Ranger and Stephanie ran over to Heidi and hugged her tightly, running their hands over her face and hair.

"Quedria, are you okay?" Ranger asked, looking down at Heidi, who nodded her head, leaning into his arms, "What happened?"

"I was in the water, I was so far out, I couldn't see the shore, and I tried to swim back, but found that I couldn't!" Heidi said, shaking, "I was drowning, I think, and I passed out, under the water…..someone saved me, but I don't know who."

"I'm just glad you're alright," Stephanie said, as Ranger lifted Heidi up in his arms, "Come on, let's get you to your bed, no more beach today."

"Okay," Heidi said, fatigue settling in, "Thank you, whoever saved me."

Stephanie helped Heidi out her bathing suit, and into her a pair of terry shorts and a tank top. When she was alone in her room, Heidi sat up in her bed and sighed, thinking about the person who saved her. She had woken up on the beach, to see a person looming over her. it had been a man, a man had saved her, and he had the most amazing sea green eyes, they seemed to have swirls of blue in them. She had reached up to touch him, but the man had left quickly after she had woken up.

Heidi smiled and settled back down in the bed, she hoped her savior heard her gratitude, she really did. As she fell asleep, she swore she could hear the sounds of someone playing the guitar, lulling her to sleep

TBC…

Thank you for the reviews! I love them, if you could be so kind as to review again, a girl would love that! And yes, by the end of the summer, Stephanie and Ranger will get married! SQUEEEE!