Chapter 6
Stephanie -
I found myself hoping for another Ranger picture every time I walked into a room. Maybe it was a one-for-one thing, and our Picture Pervert was done.
Four days later, we were deep into the new FBI investigation. We had all put in a few LONG days and I was starting to drag. Rodriquez and I had spent 15 hours a day doing research, looking for the link to tie the kidnappings together and coming up short. I felt like time was running out and started to freak out a little.
Standing up to stretch, I looked down at the beep signaling the last search was complete. Bending over, I clicked and starting reading. My foot started tapping and my heart rate picked up when I realized what I was looking at. Gotcha, you bastard.
I yelled, "Found him!" Within 30 minutes, Ranger and the guys mobilized and were heading out the door.
I put a headset on, and listened into the takedown. It went smoothly. The next thing I knew, Ranger was squatting in front of me.
"Come on, Babe, let's get some sleep."
Groggy, I asked him what time it was. "After midnight. Scene was a mess, but it's done. Proud of you for finding him, Steph."
He picked me up and carried me out to the elevator. He looked exhausted too. I put my arms around his neck
and laid my head on his chest.
That's how I woke up hours later. In his arms with my head on his chest. His bare chest. He was still sleeping, so I had time to get my bearings. I still had on my Rangeman tee but no pants. He appeared to have on gym shorts but nothing else.
It took ALL I could do not to rub my hands ALL over that chest. So I carefully lifted myself off him to hit the bathroom. When his arms tightened, I said, "Bathroom, Ranger." He let go, so I could go.
When I came back, he pulled the covers back motioning for me to crawl back in. I wasn't sure that was a great idea and was considering when I saw the framed picture on the dresser.
"Another one? When did you get this?"
"It was sitting by you on the couch in your office last night when I came to find you so I grabbed it and brought it up. I only looked at it quickly."
"Hmmm. This was days ago. Look how wet you are! Look how dry I am!"
I picked it up and studied it some more, sitting on the bed. This photo, like the others, was beautiful. It captured my laughing face pulled close to Ranger's by a towel. His sunglasses were on his head, so I
I could see the amusement in his eyes even though he wasn't smiling. "I gotta say, I love our stalker. And he's got a thing for you wet it seems." Internally, I thought, who wouldn't? I mean, geez.
He leaned over and looked at it. "What do you think? Let it roll, or try to find him?"
Mulling that over, I finally told him to let it roll. Ranger, a man of few words, said, "Fine, let's get some more sleep," and pulled me down and back into his arms.