CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

DAILY CHALLENGES

The hardest part for Steph was keeping the secret part of her and Ranger's relationship a secret. The more he emphasized honesty, the harder her lying became. And nothing got by Connie or Lula when it came to other people's sex lives…or perceived sex lives.

"So, what's up with you and Magic Man Manoso? You walked in here yesterday like you had been plugged in all night long…and not to an electric socket. Girl, you practically glowed!" Connie was sitting at her desk, looking over her cup of coffee and smiling from ear to ear.

"She wasn't walking too good, neither," Lula offered from her perch on the well-worn chair in the corner.

Steph gave Lula a hard stare. "I've been exercising every day and I am sore. Ranger and I are just working out the details to our relationship…nothing official. We are just casually dating. Geeze, I don't go asking you if you got laid last night!"

"When I hook up, I want the world to know. Sounds to me, Connie, like the 'lady doth protest too much'." Lula was giving Steph that 'uh-ha' look.

The conversation suddenly stopped and Connie froze in mid-sip. That meant that either dead-Elvis had resurrected and was coming through the office door or Ranger had just walked in. It was Ranger.

"Ladies, Babe, I got your message. Is Vinnie in?" The whole while he was talking to Connie, Ranger had his hand on the back of Stephanie's neck. The movement was not so much sexual as it was territorial.

Lula noticed how Steph slightly closed her eyes and leaned into his grasp. Hmm, there's more to this than casual sex. Wonder what that girl is up to. Morelli used to make her hot. Manoso makes her behave like a swooning teenager. Uncharacteristically, Lula decided to keep her thoughts to herself and just observe for a while. Big changes going on here. Lucky girl.

As soon as Ranger had walked into Vinnie's office, both women shifted their eyes to Stephanie and waited. "What?" Steph was busying herself by shuffling through her purse looking more for an escape than any item in particular.

"You were purring. I heard her purr. Didn't you?" Lula looked at Connie waiting for affirmation.

"That was either a purr or a moan left over from last night. But it sure sounded hot!" Connie was laughing, but her eyes never lost contact with Stephanie's.

"You guys need to get a life and stop watching video porn every night." Steph could feel her cheeks getting warm. I was not purring. I was simply clearing my throat. I wasn't that loud. Was I?

Ranger walked out of Vinnie's office twenty minutes later with a file in his hand. "Stephanie, you are mine for the week. Let's go." He didn't look at any of the women as he headed out to his vehicle.

The girls all swapped looks at each other, eyebrows raised in questions. Steph shrugged her shoulders and raced out behind him. This should be interesting, she thought as she piled into the Cayenne and waited for instructions.

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"Your cousin has gotten himself involved in another clusterfuck. Seems his latest intimate encounter was video taped and the videographer has threatened to release it on the web." It was hard for Ranger not to smile at Vinnie's latest crisis. "There must be a 'trouble magnet' gene that runs through your family."

"Don't put my family in the same class with that pervert. Besides, the rest of us are fairly normal. We just lead interesting lives." As the words left her mouth, Steph realized she had opened the door to countless sarcastic remarks. She was pleasantly surprised by Ranger's reply.

"People are who they are, Babe. And they act according to their nature. That's what makes the world go 'round. But this train of self-destruction stops here, right now, with you. You're better than all this. You just have to realize it for yourself." He eased the Cayenne out into traffic and headed back to Haywood.

"I know I've been more trouble than I'm worth and my family is a little strange but I don't see it as being self-destructive. We just seem to run into more bad luck than most." Steph could see his point, but couldn't help being defensive of her beloved family.

"We make our own luck. And if you expect to fail or you believe that you don't deserve to win, you will fail. You are worth more to me than all the trouble that you create and I don't regret a minute of it. But it stops now, with you. That is my job."

"How is that your job? It's my life that seems to be in permanent down-the-toilet mode. You have power and respect and a successful business. You don't need to be my babysitter and crisis manager." She couldn't help the guilt she was feeling, even though it was Vinnie this time and not her causing another Plum-problem. Jeanne Ellen's words echoed in her mind…"he's bailing your ass out of yet another self-ignited fire."

Ranger's sudden reaction to her comment scared all thoughts from her head. He yanked the steering wheel and pulled the SUV to the curb, cutting off cars and receiving the New Jersey Salute for his actions. Slamming the vehicle into park, he spun in his seat to face her. His eyes were blazing fire. His jaw was set. And his words were calculated. "You gave me the job when you honored me with your submission. I have taken up this responsibility gladly because I find you're ten times more valuable than any trouble that comes with the package. You give me purpose. You bring me joy. You give me challenges that no one on earth has given me. Right now, I need to know…do you trust me?"

His sudden anger and the forcefulness of his words left Steph stuttering with her answer. "Of…of cor…course I trust you. Wh…why would you ask s…such a question?"

His whole countenance changed as he realized he had frightened the very woman he was trying to reassure. Ranger reached across and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her gently on the temple and spoke softly in her ear. "Oh Babe, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I just want so badly to make your world positive and peaceful. My world has always been bounded by rules of order. Getting involved in yours has been…how did you put it?...a unique experience. Frankly, I'm making this up as I go along. But I promise that I'll get it right and make it right. OK?"

"Ok," she whispered. "But why does Vinnie's latest fuckup have you so irritated? Omigod, not another duck!"

His laughter filled the Cayenne. "No, the animal kingdom is safe for now. Seems Vincent was caught on tape canoodling with two very fine looking she-men. I just don't get it. His wife, Lucille, is a good-looking, respected woman and his father-in-law is one scary SOB. Trouble doesn't find Vinnie as much as he actively targets himself. This time it won't stay private among family. This time the name Plum will be out there for the world to see. And I will not have my woman subject to that kind of humiliation and embarrassment." He gave her a hot and hungry look with his final words. "I'd prefer to do that in the privacy of our own playroom."

Those words caused her to flush from her cheeks to her doodah. She quickly changed the subject. "So what's our game plan? Do you have any idea who our smutty photographer is?"

"Who ever it is, they are rank amateurs. They e-mailed Vinnie the threat. Silvio should be able to backtrack the link in no time. I want you to use the resources at Rangeman to work with him and get me the name."

"But that won't take a whole week. You said that you had me for the whole week." Now she was confused.

"We'll let Vinnie sweat for a while. His pile of IOUs to me just grows and grows, and someday I plan to collect…big time. I wanted you to myself this week because Friday is your birthday and I want to make sure it is something special." He looked at her as he mentioned her birthday, simply to enjoy her reaction.

"You remembered my birthday! I didn't say anything and you still remembered." Birthdays were something special to Stephanie, but Ranger never made a big deal about his. Her smile reminded him of a child on Christmas morning. In many ways, he thought, she is still a child. I have to remember that.

"Babe, October 12th is circled permanently on my calendar. I'm trying to have it declared a national holiday, but surprisingly I don't have that much power…yet. You do realize that your birthday falls on a Friday this year." He had that dark and sultry look in his eyes as he made that last statement.

The contract…Friday submission…kinky sex…birthday celebration…oh my! The thoughts made Steph's breathing erratic. She practiced her 'square breathing' until they reached the Haywood garage. Oh goody! How can I get through this week without looking like I'm on the verge of a maximum climax?

Ranger was all business when they walked onto the 5th floor. He had fobbed off the camera in the elevator and took some liberties with her lips and breasts on the ride up. He seemed in perfect control. She, on the other hand, had to excuse herself immediately and head for the restroom. I can't work all day in wet panties. She dried between her legs and was tempted to finish the job Ranger started. Luckily, she remembered her promise to him…"I won't do for myself what is your pleasure to do for me. If I'm on fire…you are my fireman…no more showerhead lover, I promise."

He was keeping his promises to her and Steph made a commitment, right there in the sanctity of the washroom, that she was going to keep hers…or at least she would do her damn best at trying to keep them.