These characters belong to Janet I am just borrowing them for my amusement. Although I would love to keep Ranger and the merry men for myself!

This story does contain violence, and touches on dark subject matters. This story is not friendly to Morelli or Helen Plum so for Cupcake fans you have been warned.

I want to thank everyone who writes a review for my story. I enjoy reading them and I love ideas they give me so keep them coming! You do my soul good!

I have a website that I have created to give you all something to explore to dig deeper into the story "What does it mean to trust" You can go to the following website and see character bios (along with some pictures of what I think they would look like), ask questions, give suggestions, see Stephanie's training schedule, Lester's personal vehicles, Cars trucks, and bikes that are in the Rangeman Compound, Rangeman test requirements, and pictures of the places they have been and of Stephanie's ring and clothing. I will continue to add additional information to this website so continue to check out the website.

www(dot)fanfictionstoryinfo(dot)webnode(dot)com

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Chapter 26: Girl's Night Out

SPOV

I get out of the tub and jump in the shower at least my sore muscles are starting to feel better. Washing my hair and shaving, exfoliating everywhere I start to wonder what in the hell will I wear. It wasn't like I had been shopping and I threw all of my clothing away because the stalker had gone thru all of my things and they just felt dirty.

Shit Stephanie guess you will be going in your Rangeman uniform that will be really sexy for a night out on the town. Not that I was going to find anyone but still I am woman and I like looking good, well when I am not having my ass handed to me by one of my brothers.

I got out of the shower, running some gel thru my curls that Mr. Alexander had given me, well recommended and I purchased after all nothing is free. I was going to put my hair up a little tonight but let the curls tumble down my back it will help keep me cool and stay out of my face well except for the few pieces that will frame my face.

I quickly dry my hair so I can lay down after all if I lay down with it wet I will never be able to style the wild maddening curls that I would be left with. Lying down on the bed I quickly drift off to dream land after setting the clock to get up in time to finish getting ready and get to the club by eleven. We were going to a new club that had opened, The Blue Light Bar, It seemed popular and Rangeman took care of their security so I knew we would be treated as VIP and that is always fun.

RPOV

My Babe had told me about her plans to go out with the girls for "Girl's Night Out". Normally I wouldn't care and would only hope that she had a good time and would provide safe travel to and from the club after all we all know that my Babe can't hold her alcohol. A little bit goes a long way with her. That reminds me to make sure I have the cure ready for her tomorrow morning.

Tonight however I was a little worried with her stalker still out there and us not having any clues other than the knowledge that a cop may be involved was making me a little anxious and badass' don't do anxious, especially me. When we are anxious about something we just seek it out and kick it's ass and that takes care of it but this time we didn't know whose ass to kick.

We are partners and she had made the decision to go lord knows she deserves a night out of fun with all the hard work she has been doing this past week. Just tonight I saw her limping from the gym to the elevators and into the apartment. She was putting forth a hundred and ten percent and she was excelling and reaping all of the benefits well I was reaping some of those benefits as well but we won't go there.

You could see changes in her daily. She was growing more confident, she was becoming more in control of her own life, she was trusting herself and her "spidey senses", and she was trusting us as her brothers and me as her lover. She was opening up to me allowing me to give her pleasure in ways she had never allowed before because she was never confident, and trusting as she has become. It was an amazing transformation and seeing her this way only caused me to lover her more, if that was possible.

I however was worried about tonight. I asked her if she wanted me to go with her but she said that she wanted to go and have fun with Lula, Connie, and Mary Lou and not have to fight off every girl in the club for coming on to me. Like the guys wouldn't be coming on to her at least she had asked Lester and Woody to join them and I am certain others from Rangeman will show up if they have gotten word of her going out tonight.

I knew she wanted to relax and be able to talk to her friends about us and didn't want for me to hear everything said. I have three sisters after all I know how they tell each other everything. It would be awkward for my Babe for me to be there and Stephanie talking about us.

I had a contract that desperately needed my attention so I would be working on that tonight, that is if I am able to concentrate on it. I knew Lester would protect her and fight for her just as hard as I would. Woody would also and I knew that if trouble broke out they would let me know. Rangeman did security for the club they were going to so I could pull up the camera feeds if necessary but I am going to try not to do that so Stephanie can have her privacy.

I walk into the bedroom to wake up my Babe so she can finish getting ready but all I really want to do is keep her in this bed all night long. She wants to be at the club at twenty three hundred and it is currently twenty one thirty. She will probably say I let her sleep too long as is since I heard the alarm go off a half hour ago. But my Babe needed her rest so I let her sleep a little longer

SPOV

Once again I am awaken with lips on me pressing butterfly kisses all over my face, my eye lids, nose, lips, cheeks, across my forehead and down my neck. God that feels so good. I can't help the smile from breaking out across my face letting him know that I am no longer asleep, damn.

I moan. "Babe it's nine thirty you need to get up and get dressed if you are still going to go out for girl's night out." He tells me. Go? Going out for girl's night out? What's girl's night out when I can have a Carlos night in? What the fuck was I thinking? See how this man affected me? Makes me forget what I had planned, makes me want to change my plans just so I can stay in this bed in his arms. Damn Lula, Connie, and Mary Lou would have my ass. Lula was already pissed enough at me I didn't need her even madder at me for standing them up. Hell she would probably hunt my ass down if I did. It has been over a week since I have talked to her or seen her and let's face it a lot has happened in that week and I have told them none of it.

"Okay" I tell him but it is hard to move from where I am feeling so good, so loved, so warm being in his arms. I slowly start to move towards getting up out of the bed. When I break our contact my body immediately revolts to the lack of his touch. I immediately miss his warmth and touch but I continue to get up if I give in I won't be leaving this bed tonight.

I stepped into the closet looking for something to wear this should fun with the limited clothing I have. Looking at the rack of my clothes I spot an outfit I am almost positive wasn't hanging there this morning. Pulling it off of the rack it couldn't be more perfect for tonight. It was almost as if someone had picked it especially for tonight. I tell you Ella is the greatest. She is a goddess among women. There is nothing that she doesn't or can't do. I swear I don't know what I would do without her I just want her to adopt me.

"Carlos, Ella is a Goddess!" I yell to him as I pull on the white lacie Victoria Secrets thongs that rode low on my hips and my white strapless lacy bra. Ella had the whole outfit assembled down to the bra and panties hanging in the closet. "What is that Babe?" Carlos asked me stepping into the closet. I heard a growl from behind me. Oh Carlos approves, I smile as I rock my ass in front of him giving him a little bit of a tease.

I turn towards him "Ella put this whole outfit together" I motioned to the hanging items "for me even down to the panties and bra and it is perfect for tonight." I tell him. "I don't know how she knew and I don't know how she does it all, but I do know that woman needs a raise." I tell him. "Babe I couldn't agree more seeing you in that I would most definitely agree Ella needs a raise." He said in a sexy voice.

I turn back to the jeans that were hanging there. They are Lucky Brand jeans and I am immediately in love with them. They are washed worn jeans that appeared to be distressed with almost holes in the legs. They ride low on my hips hugging my ass and the legs are straight.

I shrug myself into them and damn they fit me perfect. Carlos growls again. Turning around I look at my backside in the mirror and the jeans are hugging my ass perfectly they look amazing. "Carlos when you get the bill for these jeans you won't be as pleased as you are now. They are about two hundred dollar jeans." I tell him to prepare him for the bill. I have never been able to afford Lucky Brand jeans. Hell I was doing good to afford the thirty dollar Levi jeans when they went on sale.

Carlos growled again "Babe the way you look in those jeans I wouldn't care how much they cost. The view you are giving me right now is worth every penny those jeans cost." Wow I couldn't keep the smile off my face. I just hope I could make it out of the house without ruining my panties first. It was going to be a challenge. One right now I was certain I was going to lose.

Reaching back to the hanger I take the shirt off the shirt is white I noticed it was also a Lucky Brand damn. This shirt has little straps that go over my shoulders and buttons up the front. It has a heavy lace almost eyelet but not quite across the top and there were also on each side of the shirt same lacy pattern that you could see my skin thru. I slipped it on leaving the bottom two buttons undone so my jeans would peak thru. It was the perfect top for the club I would be cool and it looked super hot on me the perfect combination.

Looking in the mirror this shirt was showing off my shoulders and arms. Damn I am getting some definition. Looking good there Steph. Who knew a week of working out and training would change my body this much? But I guess eight hours a day six days a week will do that to a girl.

I heard Carlos let out another growl behind me, I smile. " Babe you didn't want me to go because you were worried about having to fight all of the women off of me, what about the men? Who is going to be there to fight the men off of you?" He asked me I looked at him like he had two heads. "Babe have you looked at yourself? You are beautiful and you look smoking hot in that outfit. The men at the club are going to be falling at your feet the second you walk in." He tells me.

I smiled at him. "Batman you are the only man I want to fall at my feet." He smiles "Babe when you get home tonight I have every intention of falling at your feet and worshiping at your throne all night long." Yep that did it I have officially lost the battle panties are now ruined. I smiled at him "Carlos I have every intention of holding you to those words." I turned back to the rack and opened the sack hanging from the hook. Shoes, oh my god four and half heels with huge rhinestones across the toe and foot and a strap that goes behind the ankle they are beautiful and they will add just the amount of bling this outfit needs.

The roughness of the jeans added to the elegance of the shoes was a perfect combination then mixed with the subtleness of the shirt this outfit was smoking hot in a not overdone or trying too hard kind of way. Carlos moved behind me when I put the shoes on. I picked up the smaller sack from the hanger and made my way into the bathroom with Carlos hot on my heels.

I brushed out my curls and pulled my hair up off of my face but allowing the back to cascade down my back in flowing curls. I pulled a few strands out around my face so they could frame my face and then started on my makeup.

It felt good to get dressed up like this. The work I had been doing this week was so intense I barely had time to put on makeup not that it would have done any good with all the sweating I had been doing. I was going simple tonight but with a little smoky eye. I put on my barely there blush and a light lip color only a few shades darker than my natural lip color. I used neutral eye colors with a dark brown for the smoke affect making my blue eyes pop. I added eyeliner and three coat of mascara. I was almost ready. Opening up the smaller sack a pair of sterling silver earrings fell into my hand. They were a circle with bars hanging down from the circle in grading lengths. Perfect for how I had my hair. How could Ella have known that? I tell you she is a Goddess it's the only way. I put them in and immediately fell in love with them they were the exact size they needed to be. Not to small not to be seen or paid attention to and not so big that they overtook everything else also they moved beautifully.

I had on the hog's tooth necklace Carlos had given me earlier. I wasn't going to take that off I was going to wear it. "Babe hold on a second." Carlos asked me as he retreated back to the closet. He came back in the bathroom with a silver chain in his hand. He motioned for me to run around without showing me exactly what he had other than it was a chain, I turned around.

He put the necklace on my neck and it hung low much lower than the Hog's tooth it hung down and rested between my boobs in my cleavage, this bra was doing wonders for my chest. Picking up the necklace I immediately recognized it. Turning to look at him I was smiling for all I was worth. "Marking your territory Batman?" I asked him playing with him. He nodded "Babe not that it will do any good with the way you look tonight but maybe it will keep one or two guys away, I can at least hope." I laughed and he joined me.

Normally that would have pissed me off had Morelli tried to pull that I would have been gone but with Carlos it just felt different maybe because I wanted to mark him as mine. Hell if we were dogs I am sure by now I would have pissed on him to mark him as mine.

I picked up the necklace it was Carlos' dog tags. Looking at them "Don't you need these though?" I asked him. He shook his head "they are extra if you want to wear them Babe consider them yours." He said. Did I want to wear them? Would my grandma grab his "package" the first chance she got? Of course I wanted to wear them.

His name on my chest between my boobs hell yeah I wanted to wear them. Besides it made my outfit even hotter. "Hell yeah I want to wear them I love them." I tell him and he just chuckled. I threw on some silver bangle bracelets oh my right arm, I was officially ready and if I could say so myself I was looking pretty damn hot.

"Babe you are beautiful I think that I should go to ward off all of the men that are going to want you." He told me I could tell he was partially joking. "Carlos you are the only man I want attention from, never question that." I picked up the dog tags placed a kiss on them and then let them drop back down between my cleavage damn I loved the way that felt I was never going to take these babies off.

"Damn Babe you having my tags on is hotter than I ever imagined or expected. If you want to be able to go tonight you better be leaving because my control is breaking down and I am about this close" he holds up this hand up with his fingers only millimeters apart "from dragging you to our bed and having my way with you for the rest of the night."

Holy hot fuck shit I was that far from letting him have his way with me. I have ruined this pair of panties a dozen times since I put them on or so it felt. I put my id and money in my pocket along with my lip gloss I didn't want to have to keep up with a pocketbook tonight. Carlos slipped a panic button into my back pocket while getting a nice feel of my ass, eliciting a moan from me. Damn that man, I was mush in his arms.

He lifted my shirt and just below my jeans he put a clear disc on my skin. "What is that?" I asked him it sort of looked like a patch of sorts like a nicotine or birth control patch. "Babe it's a new tracker we just got in. I can test it tonight and if something should happen I have two trackers on you the panic button and this disc it isn't invisible but it's as close as we have with implanting a device." Implanting a device? Like that would happen, not. Not that I would expect him to ask me or for him to expect me to actually have one of those.

Testing? Yeah testing Batman was covering all possibilities I am not dumb. "Okay" I tell him, anything to appease him and aid with his comfort level for me going out with everything going on in my life at the moment and this is me we are talking about here shit tends to happen when it comes to me. It's not like I am bugged for sound or at least I hope I wasn't. Carlos wouldn't do that not without telling me first. He trusted me like I trusted him. He knew he was my life, my soul, my very breathe just as much as I was his. I looked at the clock, time to go meet my brothers in the garage and head out.

"Carlos it's time to go" I tell him. He nods and walks me out to the elevator. We get on and hit the button for the garage. Walking out of the elevator Lester and Woody were waiting on me. Lester lets out a low and long whistle when he sees me. I do a slow turn around for him with my arms out. These men make me feel so good about myself.

"Damn Beautiful you are going to bring down the house. " He tells me. It's not like I have on a distraction outfit, I have on jeans yes tight ass hugging jeans but they are jeans not a dress that is cut up to here and down to there as my distraction outfits go. Speaking of distraction outfits I don't have any so I need to do some shopping before I am needed for a distraction.

"Lester you laying it on a little thick don't you think?" I tell him. He just shook his head checking out my necklace. "Damn Beautiful you are killing me here a hog's tooth and dog tags, you are every soldier's wet dream." He tells me "Santos" Carlos barks at him. Lester just shakes his head again looking at Carlos he says "You know it's fucking true Rangeman I am not saying anything that isn't true." I had to laugh. He reaches up and picks up the chain to the dog tags reading them he looks back at Carlos. "You just had to go and put your name up on that chest didn't you?" Carlos just smiles at him and says "Don't you forget it Santos she is mine, all mine." Lester just shakes his head laughing.

Lester turns to me laughing "Beautiful you should have picked me I would have my name tattooed across your ass so you couldn't just take it off." Laughing more I couldn't help but laugh with him leave it up to him to say something so off the wall no wonder he is my best friend. But that is something to think about, a tattoo. Now that could be fun. I am going to talk to Cal about it maybe I could surprise Carlos.

Looking at Lester "Come on you big goof ball we are going to be late." I tell him as I walk over to Woody "Okay mister if it has a beat I can dance to it, you better be ready to show me your moves because I am ready for some dancing and fun." I tell him as I hug him. He looks at me and smiles "Darling I have only one thing to say, bring it." Oh shit, but I can't turn down a challenge so I just nod instead.

Turning back around I give Carlos a kiss that threatens to burn down the building it's so hot even the cat calls from Lester and Woody don't break up this kiss. May as well go with really ruined panties and a kiss that will last me the rest of the night than just previously ruined panties, right? I give them the finger while deepening the kiss eliciting laughter from them and a growl slash moan from Carlos or maybe that was from me who the hell knows at this point.

"Damn Boss did you just growl?" Lester asked him effectively breaking our deepened kiss and bringing us back to reality. I stood back up straight and I ran my hands down the front of my jeans trying to tamper down my hormones hell I could have just taken him on the garage floor in front of Lester, Woody, and all of the control room and I wouldn't have given a shit.

Lester & Woody started laughing louder and Carlos chokes out a "Babe" Shit I tell you he fucking broke me. I can't keep my thoughts about him to myself. Oh well as hot as he was who really cared of course I would want him I would have to be blind, deaf, and dumb not to want that fine specimen of man in front of me.

"Carlos we will finish this later" I tell him. He whispers in my ear "Count on it Babe I have some worshiping that needs to be done and it will take a while as I haven't been to confession in a very long time." Holy shit maybe I should stay here and help with that confession after all we wouldn't want him going to hell or anything like that now would we? But Lula will be so pissed she would hunt me down so I have to go damn rock and hard place but I really wanted the hard place even though I was heading towards the rock.

I look at him "Holding you to that Batman, I love you" I told him he smiled "Love you too Babe, you have fun." He said as I climbed into the back of the SUV.

LPOV

Damn Beautiful looked so fucking hot tonight. I was one lucky bastard that got to spend time with her tonight. But damn looking at her dressed in those jeans and top would make a grown man cry. She got in the SUV. My cousin pulled me aside for a minute, here we go.

"Santos, I know you will protect her and watch her but don't go getting drunk and pick up some bar girl tonight. You know the dangers in her life please stay with her tonight and watch her. I am counting on you to keep her safe. Please for me, I know you love her and she is your best friend but she is my life man. Guard her and watch her don't let anything happen to her man." He tells me and I can see the concern in his eyes almost fear, but I know Carlos doesn't do fear. Well not normally maybe when it came to Beautiful he does fear just like me.

"Man I will guard her and protect her with my life you know that. I won't lose focus tonight I promise you." I told him to calm his concerns and his fears that neither of us would ever admit to having.

Not that I planned on picking up another woman tonight I knew I needed to stay focused with all the shit that was going on in her life. I was just glad that she asked me come with her. I tried to calm him even more. "Man she will be fine. I will deliver her back to you tonight unharmed. Trust me. If someone gets her or hurts her they will have to go thru me first." I tell him.

He knows me, he knows what I am capable of he knows I am more than capable of protecting her and that I will. He nods we bump firsts and I climb into the SUV. She waves at him as we pull out of the garage heading to the Blue Light Bar.

Driving I quickly went into my zone watching for cars, watching for potentials hazards and watching for signs of anyone tailing us to the club. It had to be all over the burg by now hell half or possibly all of Rangeman new that Beautiful was having a girl's night out tonight and most of them were laughing at Woody and I for being invited. I know why they were laughing though they tried to get under our skin that we were invited so they could forget the fact that they were left out.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that had she asked any of those other fuckers they would have jumped at the chance to go with her. Hell knowing some of them they will show up anyway and act like they didn't know. I suspect both Hal and Cal will be there as they have the night off and I would be willing to bet you more would as well.

I didn't let the fucker's teasing me get to me I could beat any and all of their asses on the mats so if they wanted to find out who was still the badass of the group and who still could maintain his man card and be invited to girl's night out at the same time I have one thing to say to them meet me on the fucking mats and I will show them who.

I can tell that Woody is also aware of his surroundings looking for tails, and other threats. While Rangeman didn't pull him aside and tell him to protect his woman like he did me he knows, hell we all know to protect her at all costs. Not just for him, but for us too for every one of us because none of us could survive something to happening to her. She was the glue that bound us as family she was the heart of all of us, she held our souls our redeemed souls in her and we all needed them as if they were the air we breathed.

I was glad to see there were no tails on us. Hopefully she would have a fun filled night out with her friends god knows she deserved a little bit of happy in her life when she could just relax and enjoy the company around her and enjoy herself. She had been working so hard with her training I know for a fact that during off hours she would practice, study, and workout more just so she could do her best during her training sessions. She loved our approvals at her excelling and would do anything to get them.

I knew she was researching the different things she could find on the internet. I also knew that her and Hector were working together some in the evenings. I haven't asked her about it but if I had to guess I would say he was teaching her Spanish. I wonder if Rangeman knew that our little girl was learning Spanish and if Hector was teaching her she was probably learning all of the dirty words first because that fucker could cuss.

We pull up to the club I put the SUV in park right up next to the club I see Beautiful shaking her head and muttering something about fucking karma "What's that beautiful? I didn't hear you." She just glares at me and growls, what the fuck did I do? "UGG" I hear her say so I raised my eyebrow trying to figure out what had changed in the ten seconds since I parked the car? "Do you call ahead and have people move before you get here because no matter who is driving, except for me, when I am with you guys you always get the best parking spots. If I was driving I would have to park in the next state and walk my ass to the club." She said exasperated I had to laugh which caused her to further glare at me.

"Beautiful don't be mad you know I am not laughing at you. You know I would never laugh at you only with you. Maybe if you drove a vehicle that the lot wasn't ashamed to have it parked there you would be able to find better parking" she glared more and I laughed she just shook her head and started laughing with me that did it she just she just smiled at me now that is my Beautiful. I just shake my head and open my door.

I open her door and take her hand as we make our way to the club. There are people out the door lined up but since Rangeman covers security we don't have to wait. We more than likely wouldn't wait anyway because they let the hottest people in and we were hotter than any of those in the line poor dumb fuckers I don't feel sorry for them they should have known better and dressed hotter what can I say?

I bumped fists with Howard at the door. He wasn't really a Rangeman per say as he was hired only for club security of this club but he was hired by us and paid by us so I am not sure exactly what that made him but he was a cool dude and I liked him.

"Hey man you got a hot piece of ass with you tonight." He said to me well I liked him better two seconds ago. "Man you need to be careful what you say, this is Ranger's woman and my best friend you need to clean up those thoughts about her now." I tell him quietly before Beautiful hears him or me. When he hears she is Ranger's woman he pales a little good now the fucker knows the gravity of his mistake so I won't need to teach him any further lessons.

I stepped up behind beautiful and nudged her to go on in the club.

SPOV

Holy shit this club was hot. It was blue light bar and I could now understand the name everything was blue lights. It was bright, it made you almost feel as you were in water with all the blue surrounding you it was exciting and it was hotter than hell. The music was blasting, people were dancing, the drinks were flowing this was definitely the happening place you could tell that.

I looked through the crowd to see if I could spot the girls. I suspected Connie and Lula had beaten us here not sure about Mary Lou she had trouble getting away from Lenny and the kids at times. I finally spotted them sitting at a table in the back of the bar. We made our way over to them I was still scanning the beautiful club barely able to control the awe I was feeling.

There were blue lights in the ceiling. The bar was lit up with blue lights the dance floor had waves with lights in them. I was excited about tonight and nervous at the same time so much had happened in the past week plus that I didn't want to spend the whole night talking about only those things yet I knew Lula, Connie, and Mary Lou would want to hear every sordid little detail and if they knew that I had moved in with Carlos they would want every single detail of our life together both in and out of bed. I didn't want to share that part of him and me with them or anyone. That was mine but I know how those three can be when it came to getting information out of someone Carlos could probably learn a few things from them when it comes to interrogation techniques because they were vicious.

Lester must have sensed my thoughts, ESP is a good things at times, he stopped me from moving forward put his arms around me getting close to me he said "Beautiful if it gets too intense or you need a distraction for the moment remember Woody and I will be right there with you just waiting for a chance to take you to the dance floor you only need to give us a sign and we will whisk you away for some fun on the floor." I smiled at him see this is why he is my best friend. This is why I love him and he is my brother by another mother and father, ones I wish that were really mine.

I smiled at him "Just what I needed to hear. Thanks." I told him and we continued to the table.

Just as I expected when we got to the table Lula and Connie let out a shriek that could deafen you above the thumping music of the club. Lula was first "Girl you are looking fine. Tank said that you were doing well and looking well but I didn't realize you were doing this good. Damn I might have to move into that building you are living in if it is this good for you I can't imagine how fine it would make me because I am already all sorts of fine." I smiled at her "Yeah Lula you are all sorts of fine" I tell her. Lester just shakes his head as if trying to clear a thought. Probably her moving into Rangeman I could only imagine the havoc she would cause.

Lula is a lot of fun and she is a good friend but she could be a little let's just say over the top. From the way she dressed to the way she acted and talked. Lula was loud and Lula was proud. Somehow I am not sure quite how but it all worked for her and she was in her own way beautiful. She had overcome a lot in her life and I was proud of her too for making her life better.

Connie was chomping at the bit to ask questions I could just see her bubbling over. "Hey Connie" I told her "Hey Steph" she didn't know when or if she should ask what she wanted to know but I knew sooner rather than later her curiosity and the desire to know would overcome her and she would start asking questions.

I wasn't at the table five minutes when Mary Lou came walking up to the table. "Hi Hon how are you?" she asked me. "I am good." I tell her I didn't want to get into the whole stalker thing that I was going to keep to myself. I would tell them about Joe and me and moving into Rangeman but that was it questions about Carlos and I were going to be off limits.

I could tell they didn't know where to start or who to start I had never seen them like this before normally they would be asking me questions so fast it would cause my head to swim and my eye to twitch with all the demanding to know all the details but tonight they were almost unsure if to ask me.

"Okay what gives I thought by now you all would be pounding me with questions about what has been going on in my life why is everyone being so quiet and just staring at me?" I ask them they were starting to give me a complex. Connie spoke up "Steph we aren't sure what to ask you. Looking at you, you look amazing you are glowing your body is in better shape than I remember seeing you and you, you are just stunning. You are carrying yourself in a way that I haven't seen you carry yourself in a very long time if ever." She told me. Huh? Am I that different? I look at Lester and he just smiles. What the fuck? I needed answers and he just smiles. Men I swear, I am about to revoke his best friend card.

"I am the same person only everything has changed in my life. I am no longer dating Joe we are done forever. I am not going to go into details about anything but I am sure you probably already heard some stuff probably none of it is the truth considering the burg but I don't want to spend my night talking about it or him. I have moved in with Ranger" I didn't want to call him Carlos in front of them or his men "we are now in a relationship" I would tell them later when I took my ring out of my pocket that we were engaged but I didn't want that to be the first thing they focused on and trust me the burg eyes they have they would have spotted it the moment I walked into the club even in this crowd. Of course it helps that the ring is huge and is brilliant but still I will tell them later tonight.

I continued "I haven't been by the office lately because I am currently being trained by the Merry Men at Rangeman. My goal is to pass the acceptance test and become a full time Rangeman and work there full time. My training is eight hours a day plus I do my work out during my lunch time so I don't have a whole lot of extra time." I wasn't going to say that I wanted my nights with Carlos when he was available, studying my training subjects or learning Spanish when he wasn't that was something that I wasn't telling anyone well Lester knew but that was all.

Lula was just shaking her head her red hair just swinging back and forth. "Girl I tell you we have missed your skinny white ass at the office, it hasn't been the same without you but you are looking good, and I can see that that man of yours is taking care of you because you are glowing brighter than this bar." Lester just about lost his beer as he had to choke it down to keep from spitting it across the table. I didn't want to drink much tonight I wanted to remain sober so I took a swig of Lester's beer while he was recovering.

He wouldn't mind I often shared his drink, his food, his ipod. When a slower song came on I motioned for him to hit the dance floor. I knew none of the others even saw my motion after all Lester and I were getting pretty good as ESPing each other. He stood up turning to me "Steph I love this song you want to dance with me?" He asked me I nodded.

The song was Adele's "Make you feel my love". We hit the dance floor and he pulled me into his arms I put my head on his shoulder because I didn't want anyone to hear what I was saying. "Lester?" "Yeah Beautiful" "Have I changed? Am I different?" I asked him. I didn't feel different I wasn't sure what they meant. He sighed "Beautiful I am not sure what to say. I think you have changed but it is for the better." I know he felt me tense up in his arms because I heard him mutter shit under his breath.

"Beautiful that didn't come out right I guess what I should say is that I have noticed a difference in you this past week more so the last couple of days. You seem more confident in yourself, you seem more comfortable in your own skin. I don't really know how to explain it but you seem happier than I have ever seen you and you couldn't be more beautiful because of it." I almost busted out in tears, happy tears, overwhelming being touched tears see now this is why he was my best friend.

"Thank you" I tell him. "Don't thank me Beautiful you have been doing all the work and you have been excelling it's helping you find your confidence that I already knew was there inside you. See we all have known how amazing you have always been it's just that you didn't see it in yourself. Now you are starting to feel it and see it and it is showing and that Beautiful is what they are seeing in you. That is also probably why they didn't just jump on you with all the question you were expecting because they saw the amazing woman you are." As he turned me on the floor holding me in his arms I smiled at him. Lester was a great dancer he knew how to make a woman look good on the dance floor.

"Thanks for having my back tonight" I tell him he looks down at me smiles "Always Beautiful, with an ass like yours I will always cover your backside anytime anywhere." Playful Lester was back just like that I couldn't help but laugh at his pitiful sex references. He knew I knew he would always have my back regardless of what happened. I trusted him to always be there almost as much as Carlos.

After the song ended we made our way back to the table all eyes on us. Connie spoke up first "Fuck Stephanie does Ranger know you are here tonight with these two men?" She is scanning the doors probably expecting a mad Cuban to burst thru any minute.

"Connie calm down, he knows I invited Lester and Woody to come with me tonight. Lester is one of my best friends, and Woody well Woody has some things to prove tonight" I said smiling at him he just half laughed looking at me "Bombshell anytime you are ready, any time you are ready." He said.

"Skinny as white girl what the hell could that fine specimen of a man in a cowboy hat have to prove? Unless he wants to prove that he can hold that hat up without hands I can't see anything else he would need prove." I blushed, Lester just about lost it. Mary Lou and Connie were howling at her how strong were those drinks? How long had Connie and Lula been here before we got here?

Woody just had a shit eating grin on his face that said that he would be up for the challenge. I just shook my head at her. Holy fuck what had I gotten myself into. I mean I know in the past when we got together for girls night out we were a little freer with thoughts than other times but then it was just girls so we could talk about guys and sex and make jokes but this time Lester and Woody had joined us so I thought the talk would be a little different, guess not. Shit I may have to get a drink to survive tonight I think as I take another swig of Lester's beer.

All of a sudden the music changed and the beat that came thru the club was unmistakable "Thriller" I looked at the girls and guys around the table we all knew this song. I could see it in their eyes I only had one thing to say "Let's Dance" we all jumped up and headed to the floor. Everyone had remembered these dance steps growing up. There was no way they would be forgotten. We got in a row and started dancing I looked over and both Lester and Woody was keeping beat and dancing. Wow even badasses know the Thriller moves.

Lester started to speak the part beside me looking at him I couldn't believe he remembered that I just smiled at him laughing as we were all in synch clapping our hands above our head and sliding our feet across the side our zombie arms and legs going up and down and stepping. Man I can only hope someone gets this on tape. There are few others at the bar that have joined us on the dance floor but for the most part it is just Connie, Mary Lou, Lula, Lester and Woody.

When the song ended we were all laughing holding on to each other to keep from falling down as we made it back to our table. Damn that was fun. Connie had said they play one or two retro dance songs every hour.

The next song was the new Enrique Iglesias "Dirty Dancer" came on looking at Woody it was time for him to put his money where his mouth was. I tagged his arm and we headed to the dance floor. Damn is all I have to say that man could dance. He ghosted behind me dancing close but not grinding on me which I appreciated as I really wasn't into being grinded on by anyone other than Carlos but I had to admit Woody was hot as hell and he could dance. I quickly noticed that he had the attention of almost every woman on the dance floor. I saw the evil glares they were giving me they were jealous I had only one thing to say to those bitches, suck it.

I heard him chuckle behind me and turned me around I could see the laughter shining in his eyes "out loud" he nodded. Oh well it was the truth so I couldn't feel so bad about having said it. I shrugged and kept on dancing. When the song changed to Lady's Gaga's "Born this Way" Lester took over while Woody started dancing with Connie. Damn this song, hearing it I can't help but think about Carlos when I danced for him. Thinking about his reaction to my dancing was doing a number on my hormones shit.

I got more glares from the women let's face I was with the two hottest guys in this club and they could dance better than any man here. They made me look good out on the floor. Several guys had tried to cut in but Lester and Woody wouldn't allow it. Not knowing who my stalker was they were taking no chances soon as a guy made a play towards me they would glare at the man and being smart they decided to go look elsewhere for dance partners.

We hadn't been there a real long time when I looked up and saw Hal and Cal coming toward us. I had just sat back down stealing another swig of Lester's beer "Damn Beautiful should I just order you one?" he asked me I shook my head "no I don't want to drink a whole one I just want a sip here and there." Lester just shook his head and ordered him another one unlike me Lester could hold his liquor I suspect he would have no more than two anyway knowing him.

Cal walks up to me and I stand up and hug him and give him a kiss on his flaming skull tattoo. I give Hal a hug and a kiss on the cheek as they pull chairs up to our table. Damn this is turning into a regular little Rangeman party. "Hey guys what brings you here?" I asked them. Cal looks a little sheepish "Angel we knew you were coming and we wanted to join you hope you don't mind us crashing your girl's night but I figured since Lester and Woody came then you wouldn't mind more of us." He said. I would never mind my brothers being with me.

I smiled at him. "Cal I never mind my brothers being with me" I tell him. He just smiles Lula speaks up in true Lula fashion "Mind? Fuck no we don't mind we will take all of the man candy we can get." I looked at her "Lula don't you mean eye candy?" I asked her I know I should have known better but it sort of popped out. She shook her head "White girl eye candy is that guy over there at the bar man candy well that is what is surrounding this table. Eye candy you can look at and take it or leave it but man candy, now man candy is a man that makes you want to.." I cut her off before she could say anything else . "Lula I think we get the picture you don't need to say anything else." Blushing.

"Damn white girl you blushing. With your new man and the way you been glowing all night I would think you would have gotten over being embarrassed whenever I mention sex because from your glow I would say you been going at it several times a day." I just blushed more and dropped my head in my hands. Good lord here we go.

Before this conversation went further into a place I didn't want it to go the song "On The Floor" by Jennifer Lopez came on and I looked at Cal. "Want to dance?" he asked me I just nodded and we headed to the floor. Even with his tattoo on his forehead he was better looking than the other guys and once again I got a glare from all the women. Oh well I can't help it that my brothers were forged from Zeus himself. It's not like I had anything to do with it. We started dancing man is it a requirement of Rangeman to be able to dance? I mean Cal being as big as he is was limber on the dance floor.

If these women think these men I am dancing with was hot well they should see Carlos if he was here they would be a pile of goo on the floor as is their eyes stayed glued to my guys more than the guys they were dancing with.

"Bombshell I didn't know you could dance this good." He said I just looked at him is he kidding? "I can't you guys just make me look good. I am beginning to think that it is a requirement of Rangeman that you all can dance." He just laughed and shook his head. Well I knew one requirement was they had to be beautiful, and sexy as hell he chocked shit I said that out loud. "Angel please don't call us beautiful okay it will ruin our badass image." He tells me half laughing. What they weren't good looking saying they are good looking is like saying Grand Canyon is a hole in the ground. Yeah it is a hole in ground but it is a big fucking hole.

Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" started playing and Cal and I continued to dance with each other. The beat was such that Cal was dancing around me circling me he would step up to me as if his body was going to touch mine but he would stop just short and then step back as he made his way around me. Damn he was a hot dancer. I could feel the green eyes of all the other women on the dance floor on me they were just waiting for an opportunity to descend on my brothers. Back up bitches is all I could think.

As the song changed to Lady Gaga's "Judas" Lester was suddenly standing in front of me and Cal was making his way back to our table, fuck good way to be aware of your surroundings Steph. But not missing a step we danced our asses off. When the song ended it was time for a drink so we made it back to our table. I took a swig of Cal's beer this time, hope he wouldn't mind. He was smiling so it was all good.

I was about to sit down when I noticed Valerie making her way to our table. Fuck .

DougPOV

I heard the guys ribbing Lester about being invited to girl's night out so I listened carefully to see if I could find out where they were going. I heard them talking about a new bar that Rangeman did the security for and I figured that is where they were going. Soon as I figured out where they were going I called Morelli to let him know. I decided to see if Mike would be interested in going with me since most of the Rangeman guys have very little to do with us I didn't bother to ask them.

We got to the bar probably twenty minutes before Stephanie, Lester and I believe Woody got there. When we got here the only way we were permitted to enter the club was by showing our Rangeman credentials but I watched them at the door the guard just opened the barrier for them to walk thru bumping fists with Lester. Stephanie was looking hot as shit tonight. I didn't want to take my eyes off of her.

God I was going to have to figure out how to get some time alone with her. Watching them as they made their way over to a table with a brown hair woman that reminded me of Betty Boop and a large black woman with bright red, these must be her friends.

I watched her as she danced with Lester and Woody damn I wanted to dance with her, I was going to dance with her before the night out she just hasn't seen me yet but surely when I make my presence known she will dance with me after all she is the Rangeman whore and watching her tonight you can tell it.

I watched as Cal and Hal showed up and pulled chairs at her table of course they would go straight over to their little whore none of the guys have even noticed that we are sitting here they would rather hang with their split tail bitch. Don't they know the saying bros before ho's I guess not. Well I am going to get me a taste of that ass before it's over. It's just a matter of time and planning it.

Hell maybe if she decides to dance with me tonight she will just come home with me I could probably apply a little alcohol and she would be begging me to fuck her. Most women were like that fuck I could have any of them in this bar tonight but I didn't really want them, I wanted Stephanie.

I watched her dance with Cal and I watched him circling her stepping up and back to her I can't tell from here but I am sure they were grinding all over each other. Then Lester stepped in and they picked up right where Cal and her and dropped off see I knew she was the Rangeman whore it doesn't matter who she is grinding that tight ass of hers against.

Damn I waited too long she is heading back to the table. I saw her drinking after Lester and now she is drinking from Cal's beer even more evidence the relationship they have.

I briefly thought about drugging her drink, I am sure I could score some ecstasy, rohypnol, or GHB that would be more of a guaranteed thing but if she isn't drinking her own drink that sort of nicks that idea I will continue to watch her for she will eventually get a drink. I scan the crowd looking for someone selling I knew they were here they were at all clubs it was just a matter of figuring out who it was and what they were selling.

Mike had found a girl and was dancing with her. He told me to drop the whole Stephanie thing but I be damn if I am going to let a split tail take my job. I deserved that full time job and I wasn't going to let her take it from me. She had a place alright but that was under me both literally and figuratively. It would only be a matter of time I could be patient and wait for it.

I think I found what I am looking for. I just spotted a guy passing pills now it's time I made my introduction hell I bet he will practically give them to me when I show him my Rangeman credentials see how working for Rangeman had its benefits?

I suspected that Morelli would show up before the night is over I just hope that I am able to have my dance with her before. Maybe I will get lucky once she dances with me she will invite me over to her table and I will have excuse to get her a drink then maybe I can whisk her away before Morelli gets here because I want my chance with her before he gets to her.

LPOV

Well girl's night out is going better than I expected. So far Beautiful is having fun although she keeps drinking my damn beer. Not that I care but for someone who didn't want to drink a whole one she certainly doesn't mind drinking mine. Not that I am going to tell her that. I just do what any man would just order another one when that one gets empty and no one is the wiser.

Cal and Hal showed up and she has enjoyed dancing with them. Right now she is dancing with Cal but I think it is time that I cut in when I realized the song was coming to an end I made my way over to her I nodded to Cal who nodded back and when the song ended and "Judas" began I stepped in.

She was smiling and dancing her heart out and I could tell all of the men on the dance floor had at least one eye on her so long as they didn't try anything all would be good they could look all they wanted.

I saw a guy making his way over to us and I glared at him I let him see the monster within me in my eyes and he paled a little and backed off. Thankfully Beautiful didn't see that she had her back to us and since I never missed a step I didn't alert her to anything being a problem.

I have noticed the women's eyes on me but tonight I was Beautiful's even though we were just friends I wasn't picking up anyone tonight. I came with her and I was leaving with her and she was going to have my attention tonight even though it would lead me to sleeping alone she was worth it. I would never hurt her ego like that even though she had Ranger these women didn't know that I would never allow them to think I would disrespect her like that.

I looked over at the table and I guess the other guys were doing the same thing as me as none of them had picked up other women by now. The time they had been here all would have a woman dancing on the floor and lined up to go home with them by now. Well maybe not Hal he is a little shyer than the rest of us but Woody pulls his cowboy shit and the women swoon in and Cal well Cal turns on his bad boy attitude and everyone knows women can't turn down the bad boy. I well I just give them my smile and let my green eyes sparkle and they are under the Santo's spell it is better than fucking hypnosis only one so far that it has failed with is Beautiful here.

Hell between the three of us I am not sure which one is the worse. I mean I am known as the playa of Rangeman but that's only because I am talked about more than the others. I don't care that they talk or tease me I know I can beat all of their asses whenever I want. Cal and Woody tend to be more private than me and no one gets involved in their life like mine. Hal well I am not certain but he may still be a virgin. I don't think I have ever seen him leave a club with a woman. The poor fucker, maybe I should help him.

I can tell Beautiful is getting hot so when the song ends we make it back to the table. She picks up Cal's beer and takes a swig, thank fuck now maybe I can drink a whole beer. I haven't spent a whole lot of time around Lula but I have to say tonight she has been a trip and several times she has caused Beautiful to blush at her comments and a couple of times made me chock on my beer but I can see why Beautiful loves her.

I see Beautiful look up and mouth Fuck so I followed her line of sight and saw Valerie her sister walking towards us. Oh shit the perfect one of the family is on the way over. One guess as to who sent her to talk to Beautiful. That means that the burg knew all about us being here. It also meant that Morelli would know we were here. Double fuck. I quickly glance at each of the guys looking at them long enough for them to understand what I am telling them.

They know me well they would have picked up on my change in body language immediately upon setting eyes on Valerie . They weren't stupid they would realize if she knew we were here then so would Morelli. Somehow I had a feeling what was a fun and relaxing night for us and Beautiful was going to take a hard downward spiral any minute and it was going to start with Valerie and end with Morelli. Fuck.