Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews. Hope this next chapter does not disappoint...
Please R & R, even though I don't get a chance to thank you all individually, you really made me one very happy author (and I type faster)
;o)
Ranger looked out of his internal office window and saw Tank's disappearing form.
"Suits me" he thought darkly. Right now he didn't want to see or talk to his best friend. Couldn't Tank see he was in turmoil? Oh yeah! The big black fucker had never been in love, so what would he know? He thought petulantly.
He sat back grumpily in his chair and pretended to focus on something on his computer screen, in reality he was staring at nothing as his jumbled thoughts took over.
Why am I so confused? He pondered. I don't know what to do for the best – I mean I know I love Steph but am I ready for a forever type relationship? His heart leapt at the thought but he mentally jumped up and down a few times on the little flickering, hopeful flame and snorted to himself – he still had his Government contract to fulfil. It just wouldn't be fair, after all he got paid the big bucks for taking the big risks, Lady Luck had always been on his side, but one day she may turn her back on him.
He could not and would not break her heart by not returning one day. He couldn't do that to her, she was far too precious.
He pretended to do some work as his thoughts unfurled further.
His relationship with Amy was simple – in every sense. No strings, no deep unfulfilled emotions, no hassle.
She did not light his fire the way Steph did but she understood. She knew he only wanted her body, not the rest of her and that once they both satisfied their basic needs they would both go their separate ways as usual. He knew he was not her only lover but she was his one distraction from the lonely life he'd created for himself. And that suited him just fine.
He also knew he could not treat Steph in the same frivolous way. She was not a toy to be played with, she was far too precious.
And therein lay the problem, well that and the fact that she held all the power in their relationship in her small but perfectly formed hands.
Good job she had no idea of how much power she held. His cock twitched and his heart stuttered. Mentally he slapped himself upside his head – now was not the time to indulge in his dreams – he still had a Government contract...
He sighed as his perennial excuse reared its ugly head again. He knew he was fooling no-one and after Helen's timely disclosure of his feelings in front of the whole 'Burg he knew he was really only trying to fool himself. Perhaps his Babe had rubbed off on him – he had a season ticket to Denial Land too, just he hadn't told anyone that he knew the way.
Truth be told, Amy was his insurance policy. He hadn't meant to bounce one way then the other on Steph's wedding day – but he'd arranged things with Amy weeks before. He knew that he'd need a distraction when he lost the love of his life to that idiot Morelli. Sure, he'd wanted to be there to see for himself that she'd finally gone through with it. In some sort of masochistic way he'd thought he'd be free of her charms. He just hadn't expected the ceremony to turn on its head as it had, but then again, he realised, neither had any of the other key players in the day's events.
Even when it became obvious that the wedding was not going to happen he'd run away. Back to his distraction. Having Amy waiting expectantly for him prevented him from being the pity fuck or worse still, from taking advantage of Steph's fragile emotional state. It would have been too easy to comfort her, hold her, let her cry on his shoulder, soothe her... But where would that have gotten them both?
He cared too much to do that to her, she was far too precious.
If and when he decided to give 'them' a chance he would make love to Stephanie and show her how he really felt about her, not screw with her mind as well as her body. And he knew that that's what could have happened last night. If Amy hadn't been there with her willing arms and open legs.
No. Using Amy as a substitute had been the right thing to do.
His thoughts moved to what the future could now hold. How he could still be there for Steph. What he had offered her yesterday in the cool shadows outside the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
If only Steph knew she had been offered the keys to the Batcave – even if it was a place of refuge for her to use on her own.
He smiled as his thoughts came round to his home. He'd never tell her and she did not need to know. If they ever had their someday, then he'd come clean. Only then...
He smiled as he imagined her reaction to the revelation.
o0o0o0o0o
Tank found Lester on the phone and knocked lightly on the door to his office before stepping over the threshold and closing it. Settling down in a chair he tapped his fingers together patiently and waited for him to finish.
"Wassup, bro?" Les asked, leaning back. He could tell by the big man's face he wasn't here in a work capacity.
"I don't get him, I really don't!" Tank gritted out "One minute he's pining for her, next he's fucking Amy all night, then booking her into the Batcave..."
"Woah, Big Man! Slow down! What are you talking about?"
"Your stupid half brother and his fucked up life, that's what!"
"So who's going to the Batcave?" Lester grinned mentally as he had done the first time he'd overheard Beautiful calling Ranger's home the Batcave in the Bonds Office. Only Bomber, he chuckled.
"Ok, here's the thing, I know Ranger has a soft spot for Bomber, hell we all do. It's just I think this is the real deal, not just a quick fuck behind the bike sheds kinda thing. But what happens? He gets the chance to make it right with her yesterday, but noooo, instead of scooping her up and running away with her, he sleeps with Amy. Next day, he's booking her into the Batcave."
"Amy?"
"?"
"Sorry, Tank, you're making no sense! Who's he booked into the Batcave?"
"Bomber! Christ, Santos, aren't you listening at all?" Tank said exasperatedly as he ran his large hands across his face.
"So, you're wondering why my brother doesn't get his head outta his ass, nail Steph and run off with her to his secret lair. Right?"
Tank nodded, please that Lester finally understood.
"You really haven't a clue, have you?" Lester chuckled out. "If you really cared for someone, would you want to be their back up plan?" He leant forward in his chair and waited for the penny to drop.
"But the Batcave?" Tank stuttered out.
"Best place to put something precious that's been hurt, I'd say. That way he knows she's safe. He gets to feel he's helping without interfering. She gets the star treatment without realising why. Win, win situation, wouldn't you agree?" He smiled evilly as a thought raced into his head. "Perhaps we could just help things along a bit by leaving her a few clues, dontcha think?" He steepled his fingers as he rested his elbows on his desk and waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Like you're thought processes, Santos." Came Tank's smug reply.
o0o0o0o0o
Steph finished compiling her long list and sighed. It was over two pages of actions she needed to carry out in order to get her life back on track.
She needed to apologise to Joe.
She needed a place to live.
She needed a place for Rex to live.
She needed to apologise to Joe.
She needed a job.
She needed to apologise to most of Trenton.
She needed...
She sighed again.
"How's it going, Pumpkin?" her father asked as he wandered into the kitchen in search of the TV listings guide.
"I don't know, Daddy. I need to apologise to half of Trenton, including Joe and his Mom. I need to find myself a place to live, I need a job oh and I have a whole pile of presents to return, but apart from that, everything's looking good. Oh except that I'm scared of facing the Burg right now." She added glumly.
"Give it a couple of days and the 'Burg will have a new piece of gossip to chew over, you'll see." He said, smiling. "Maybe you should take up Ranger's offer, Miami's kinda nice at this time of the year." He added, helpfully. "I think people will understand if you take off for a while, hell Joe sloped off to Hawaii on your honeymoon so why shouldn't you run away too!"
Steph eyed her father "You know what, you're right! And Ranger did say it was a Rangeman safe house so no-one could accuse me of anything."
For the first time since they'd started planning the damned wedding, he saw a small piece of his feisty daughter back and it pleased him. "Good for you, Pumpkin." He added, patting her shoulder as he picked up the magazine he needed then turned and left the room. A large grin that his daughter couldn't see was plastered all over his face. Safe house or not, she would associate it with Ranger and it would add to her positive feelings for him. He'd always liked the reserved young man and had always hoped he'd be the one sitting down to dinner at his table, not that overbearing cocky cop.
o0o0o0o0o
"Yo"
"Er, Hi Ranger"
"Babe"
"Is your offer still open. To use a safe house, that is?" Steph asked nervously.
"Babe"
"Shall I take that as a yes?" she asked equally as hesitantly.
"I'll get Baron, my opposite number in Miami to sort it out with Anna, his version of Ella."
"Thank you Ranger."
"No price Babe, remember?"
"Yeah, but thanks anyway."
"That's what friends are for. When do you want to go?"
"When can I go?"
"Tonight?"
"Wow! Actually tomorrow would be better if that's ok. I need to sort a few things out."
"Tomorrow is fine, I'll speak to Tank and sort out your flight. Any idea when you'll want to come back?"
"Is never too soon?"
"Babe!" Ranger chuckled.
"Perhaps you're right, but can I let you know once I'm there."
"Take as long as you like. It's not on the roster at the moment so you can stay indefinitely."
Ranger grinned to himself as he put the phone down. He allowed himself a few moments to be pleased with himself before he picked up the phone and dialled Rangeman Miami.
Once he'd taken care of Anna and Baron he went in search of Tank to get the jet sorted out. Stephanie Plum might be running away, but she'd be doing it in style.