Chapter Fourteen

Ranger had expected the beachfront where the luau was being held to be crowded. He wasn't wrong. At least three quarters of the resorts guests had shown up for the festivities. He watched the flow of traffic for a minute to discern the patterns. Identifying the path of least resistance.

Hotel staff in white uniforms were moving through the crowd, distributing drinks. The general tone of the party was half lit already. Another hour and most of them would be blind stinking drunk.

Steph grabbed a Mai Tai and followed him around the edge of the crowd. The place was decorated for tourists. Tiki torches everywhere. Eight foot ice sculptures near the food. There were even beautiful women standing at the key entry points passing out flower leis. One of them turned to Steph when they neared, setting a ring of white orchids around her neck. Steph was pretty tickled about that. Then the woman turned to Ranger. He declined politely and put a hand on Steph's back to guide her away.

Steph beamed at him. "I just got leid."

Ranger shook his head. "Babe."

"What? Like I could come all the way to Hawaii and not make a getting leid joke. I'm pretty sure it's required by law." That made him smile. "Don't you want to get leid?"

He looked at her and their eyes held. "More than you could possibly imagine."

She made a cute little cringe and flicked her eyes away. He hit his mark again. Teasing her was almost as much fun as the flirting.

She headed straight for the food and he followed close behind, keeping his eyes on the faces of the people around them. He was watching for ill intent. A hard habit to break. It wasn't likely he was going to see more here than cocktail fueled festivity and the occasional flash of intimidation when people met his eye.

A middle aged woman with short bleach blonde hair latched onto Steph when they reached the buffet line. She was very friendly, nudging Steph with her elbow while she looked him over. "Newlyweds, huh?" the woman said, her southern accent hushed in confidence. Obviously thought he wouldn't hear. He pretended he couldn't.

"What makes you say that?" Steph asked.

"Are you kidding me, hun? The way that husband of yours is watching you? That's a man who can't get enough of his woman. A man only looks at a woman like that when he's head over heels in love."

It took a fair amount of effort for him to hide his smile. A bit oversimplified, but she wasn't entirely wrong. It was getting harder all the time to convince himself otherwise. Steph didn't seem to have an answer for that, but the woman didn't mind. She beamed at her, leaning forward just enough that she could catch his eye.

"I love the all black, by the way," she said to him. "Very Johnny Cash."

This time he let the smile win. He liked her.

They watched the woman move away and he leaned into Steph until his chest was on her back, her warmth filling him. "She didn't think I looked like a contract killer," he said in her ear.

"That's because she doesn't know you."

He laughed, aware of the cool press of his gun at the small of his back. She had him there.

They were nearing the buffet tables. He could tell when Steph's attention was pulled away from him, toward the scent of roast pig. He could hear her stomach growling. All base instinct. If he was lucky, he'd be able to turn that base instinct to his favor later.

Then he spotted Tootie and Simon Ruguzzi heading toward them through the crowd.

He did a quick rundown, analyzing all the possible variables and outcomes in seconds. A skill he'd honed over the years. They could stay in line and take the risk The Rug would see them. There was a chance he'd skirt them by, too involved in the argument with his wife to notice the sharp-eyed woman and muscular mercenary. But if he saw them, things could go very badly. Ruguzzi was the only other man besides Ranger on the entire beach who was wearing a suit coat. No need to question why. The Ruger would be tucked in his waistband, just like Ranger's Glock. And from the dark tension around his eyes, Ranger had no doubt that if they tried to apprehend him and lost the element of surprise, The Rug wouldn't hesitate to use it. Even in the massive crowd. There would be casualties.

Not a risk he was willing to take.

He snaked an arm around Steph's waist and swung her around him until they were hidden behind the eight foot tall tiki carved from ice. Her back was on it, the rest of her nestled against his body where his suit coat had parted. She tried to ask what he was doing, but he shushed her. Ruguzzi hadn't joined the buffet line. He'd pulled his wife aside, standing just on the other side of the ice so that they wouldn't be overheard.

"I don't know why you have to bring that thing with us everywhere," Tootie said. "It's so unnecessary. Who are you going to need to shoot?"

"You were the one who said you were being followed."

"I said it felt like I was being followed. When I looked, it was just those newlyweds who can't keep their hands off each other."

Ranger looked down at Steph, unable to decide if he should be upset or amused that everyone, including the contract killer's wife, had labeled them the newlyweds. Had noticed that they were so enamored with each other. It was something he tried to ignore most of the time. But ignoring it didn't make it less true. The thoughts surfaced again and he was having a hard time pushing them back.

Maybe she could be his. And not just here, or at Rangeman. Everywhere. He could keep her for himself even after they went back to Trenton. To hell with Morelli. To hell with what was right. He could burn in hell for the rest of eternity for the choices he'd made and it wouldn't matter. Because the truth was he did love her. So much more than he should. And fighting it hadn't gotten him anywhere.

He held onto her bright blue gaze and caught a glimpse of heaven. Her hands were on his ribs inside his coat, but she wasn't holding them apart. Nothing was.

She just stared back at him trying to remember to breath. The whispering on the other side of the ice finished and the threat receded. Leaving them alone in the dusk light.

"I think they're gone," she breathed, her voice uneven. The air was thick around them. Heavy with the scent of orchids and desire and Stephanie. He let his eyes drop to her mouth. Only a few inches away. He leaned toward her until he could feel the heat from her lips.

She shifted against the ice, trying to pull away from the cold. And then she stumbled, bringing his attention back to reality. Her sharp, spiked heel sank into the grass and she fell back, knocking into a pair of tiki torches. One flipped over onto the buffet table and caught the tablecloth on fire. A wave of alarm rippled through the crowd. Some tried to toss their drinks on it to discourage the flames, too drunk to realize the alcohol would only make it worse.

Ranger ripped off his suit coat to beat out the flames. Then Stephanie yelped. The back of her dress had caught fire too. He smothered it and scooped her up, rushing her away from the chaos.

He hardly let her feet touch the ground on the way back to their cottage. He threw the door open and set her down, locking it behind them. She was in shock, feeling the back of her dress for the fabric that was no longer there.

"Does it hurt?" Ranger asked, kneeling behind her to assess the damage.

She shook her head. "I don't think I got burned."

He could see the backs of her thighs through the gaping hole. A hint of her black panties. He grabbed the edges and tore the dress right up the back, exposing all of her soft skin. It was a little pink, but nothing more. He traced her with his fingers gently. She was right. The back of the dress was still damp from leaning against the ice. It had probably saved her skin. "Could have been worse. I don't see any real damage."

"Except the dress."

Ranger laughed a little in concession. "Another one bites the dust."

"It's not funny."

He smiled anyway, turning her until she was facing him. He pulled her into his arms. "Babe. This is the second time today I thought you might be seriously hurt. The fact that you're fine and your dress got torched is defiantly a little funny."

"Are you going to offer to buy me another one?"

"Sure. But given the progression of events, the next one's going to be made of Kevlar."

"Ha ha."

He leaned down enough to kiss her cheek, lingering there to be reassured she was alright. Grateful for her resilience. "With any luck, no one will even realize you were there. I don't figure it would work out well for us if you were blamed for burning down the resort."

"It was only one table. And it wasn't my fault."

"It was a little you're fault." She frowned at him. It was so cute that he couldn't stop the amusement from spreading over his face. He kissed her pouting lower lip. "It's alright, Babe. I still love you. And we accomplished our goal. Got eyes on The Rug. That should make you happy. Now we can order room service, get cozy, and plan our takedown."

That brightened her a little bit. And not just because of the win. He was pretty sure it had equally to do with the room service. He watched her head to the bedroom while he picked up the hotel phone receiver. A little food, some gentle caressing and a few more kisses and she'd be feeling better in no time. He called in and ordered some dinner and then his cell phone rang. Rico. He set the phone back on the cradle and answered it.

"Hey, boss. Just got a call from one of my friends down at the police station. They had to let Cutter loose. Not too surprising. Unless your girl were to press charges, they've got nothing to book him on. Noah's got what the wife needs, but he's all the way across town. Cutter will get here first. I could use a little backup with the wife until we can get her the evidence and line up a police visit."

"Text me the address." He disconnected and the text came through a second later. He plotted it with the GPS on his phone. It would take him ten minutes. He'd have to drive fast to get there before Cutter. A necessity, give that Rico didn't have a lot of fighting experience. Without backup, there was a good chance things would go south quick when he was found alone in the house with the wife.

Steph was standing in the doorway behind him. He turned to face her. "I have to head out to tie a few loose ends from this morning. Do you want to ride with me?"

"No. I'm wiped. Being set on fire really takes it out of a person."

He almost smiled at that. She would know. Steph had an unfortunate relationship with fire. It was attracted to her almost as much as the garbage. "It's understandable. I put your .45 in your purse. You should keep it with you at all times. I doubt anything will happen, but it'll make me feel better all the same."

She didn't like it, but she nodded anyway. He thought for a minute of insisting she come along. He didn't like leaving her. She would have put up a fight, though. Wasting time he didn't have. And, despite his instincts to protect her like a fragile princess made of glass, he knew she was more than capable of taking care of herself under normal circumstances.

It was the abnormal circumstances he really had to worry about.

There was a knock on the door. Ranger put a hand behind his back and slipped it around the grip of his gun on his way to the peephole. He let go when he confirmed that it was room service. Forced his muscles at ease to make him look relaxed. He opened the door and let the hotel employee bring in the tray and tipped him before he closed the door. "I should only be gone an hour or two. Keep this door bolted until I get back."

Steph nodded again. "Tell Noah and Rico I said hi."

A smile pulled at his mouth. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "Be safe."

He stepped out through the front door and listened for the bolt to slide into place while he pulled on his suit coat again. It smelled like smoke from extinguishing Stephanie, but there wasn't anything he could do about that at the moment. He started for the hotel's central building and called ahead to have them bring his car around.

The concierge was behind the front desk when he passed through the lobby. Ranger wouldn't have paid the man much attention usually. No more than the cursory glance he gave everyone else who didn't register as a threat. But this time, the young man avoided his eye more deliberately. Something lingered in his expression aside from the intimidation Ranger was used to.

Ranger didn't have time to dig any deeper at the moment, but he made a mental note to turn the feral stare onto him the next time they met. The kid might know something he didn't want to share. And Ranger had a special talent convincing people to share.

He slipped into the 911 and sped away from the resort.

The hour estimate hadn't been far off. By the time he got back to the cottage it was only nine. He'd gone to the house just in time. Pulling up as Cutter was heading through the front door. Cutter was able to coldcock Rico before Ranger dragged him back by the scruff of his neck and slammed him into the wall. Got the pleasure of taking a shot at the man's face, right in the same spot he'd hit Steph. A touch of poetic justice.

What was even better was that Cutter had an unregistered firearm in his possession. Loudly threatening both Rico and his wife with bodily harm when the police arrived. That was enough to get him hauled in again, this time on charges that might stick. Noah arrived just as the police were escorting Cutter back to the police station. If things played out smoothly, the ledgers and documentation of fraud he'd found would go a long way toward making sure Cutter didn't see the street again for a while.

Ranger let himself into the cottage, slipping the security chain like it wasn't there. One of the many skills he'd picked up over the years. Steph was in the bedroom. The low murmur of the television keeping her company. He hardly made a sound when he pushed through the doorway. The room was a wash of color, changing and flickering between light and darkness. She was snuggled up under the covers with the remote in hand. Her breathing slow and even.

He could sense her attention. She'd been dozing when he first came in, but she'd come alert when she felt him enter her atmosphere. He sat on the bed and leaned over her, brushing her curls behind her ear so that he could lay a gentle kiss on her face. "Babe."

She didn't respond. He might have thought she was really sleeping, but the slow, even rhythm of her breaths were just a little too shallow. He let out a silent sigh. His touch moved in a gentle caress down her arm until he could reach the remote. Flicked the television off. He shed his clothes and slid into the bed beside her. He pulled her back against his chest and relaxed around her until her tension eased and he was able to sleep.

He woke before dawn the next morning, but having her in his arms was too good to give up. He just lay beside her, his lips caressing her shoulder softly enough that he wouldn't wake her.

She finally stirred about an hour after sunrise. A smile tried to surface, his hand caressing her where he'd wrapped it around her breast. The exhale that escaped her quivered on the way out. Her body responding to his lightest touch. He kissed her shoulder, slipping a hand under the edge of her shirt so that he could search up her bare skin. Leading the other one down her side and across her hip.

"Um. I think I still need that minute," she tried to say. Having trouble meaning it. An opening.

He nuzzled her neck, hoping she'd give in to herself. It was all he could think about last night. Being with her. He hadn't found a way to justify it yet, but the thought was very tempting. "You think?"

"I know."

He put his mouth on her ear, caressing her in all the places she liked best. "Any way I can change your mind?"

"Probably, but you're too noble to do that."

A grin lifted his face. "I'm not that noble."

For a moment he thought she was going to let the temptation have her. Then she started to squirm away, knowing that getting out of the bed was the only way she'd be able to say no. He didn't want her to leave their bed. Even if it meant giving up his intentions. He let out a sigh and caught her before she could wriggle away, pulling her back to rest against him. "You were more fun before."

She didn't deny it. Didn't seem to want to. Steph was struggling with the balance between her two natures. The good girl and the sexual being. And she was afraid. Had every right to be. Because as much as she liked him, as much as she might try to trust him, there would never be a day that he would be normal.

She relaxed in his arms, letting him cradle her against his chest. Her fingers traced a careful line across the back of his hand. Lingering over the place his wedding ring would be if he hadn't set it on the bedside table. She was thinking about the future again. Something he tried never to do. He laced their fingers together to stop her. Knowing that it wouldn't make a difference.

As if by providence, she drew in a careful breath. "Do you think we'll ever get a chance to see where something between us might go?" she asked quietly.

He wanted to tell her yes. But he couldn't. It wouldn't have been fair to make promises he didn't know if he could keep. He let out a silent sigh and kissed her forehead. "I can't predict the future, Babe. It's not one of my superpowers."

"So is that a maybe?"

A laugh broke through. Filling his chest with warmth again. Leave it to Steph to read between the lines. He really was in trouble. "How about we jump off that bridge when we come to it."

A promise without a promise. The best he could do, considering. She seemed to accept it, though. The rest of her tension was gone. She let out a contented sigh and snuggled into him. It took a little determination to keep his body in check. He liked lying with her. Liked the quiet comfort. But it was hard to ignore that it was sexy.

He let the corner of his smile rest on her forehead. "If this dry spell goes on too long this is going to start feeling like a real marriage."

"I doubt a real marriage between us would ever see a dry spell."

A grin spread across his face. Now who was making promises?

His phone started ringing on his bedside table and he turned to reach for it. He might have thought about ignoring it for a second. Only a second, though. His phone didn't ring unless it was important. Only Steph would ever call him for social reasons. He opened the line without a greeting.

"Caught a flag," Silvio said through the phone. "Martin and Charlotte Terron checked out ten minutes ago. I've been trying to trace where they might be headed, but nothing's surfaced yet. I'll notify you the second something pops up." And then he was gone.

Ranger disconnected. Steph wasn't going to be happy. Hell, he wasn't happy. As much as he'd wanted to stretch out their time together, he hadn't actually intended to lose them.

"Terron just checked out."

Steph shot up in the bed. "What? When?"

"Ten minutes ago. Silvio's tracking his credit card, but so far there hasn't been any activity. No flights booked. No alternate hotels. Could be he got spooked and ditched the identities. Or he could be making a run for it."

"Shit!" She sprang out of the bed and snatched up the first thing she could reach from her open suitcase. Ranger followed. Glad once again that everything in his suitcase was the same. He was fully dressed before Steph had on her shoes. "Where are we headed, the airport?" she asked him.

"It's not the only way off the island, but it's the most likely. We'll head there soon. First I want to see if Ruguzzi left anything behind before maid service gets to his room."

It didn't take long to search the empty vacation cottage. He'd started in the bedroom, sending Steph to the bath. The place was stripped. Not a single personal item left behind. That didn't really surprise him with The Rug, but Tootie didn't seem like the pack and flee type. If they were making a run for it, he was betting she would have forgotten at least a few things, in drawers or under the bed.

Steph finished searching the bath and met him in the living room. The only thing there was a little white envelope meant for gratuity. He opened it and found a decidedly ungenerous tip.

"Doesn't look as though they cleared out in a hurry," Steph pointed out.

"I agree. I don't see someone who's going underground leaving a tip."

"Especially a tip so bad. What an asshole."

Ranger let his amusement win. "Babe."