Chapter 8

On the way to the mall I could only think about Lester and the look in his eyes when he asked me to save him a dance. He is so damn hot, from his short and spiky hair, to those green eyes that I felt like I could get lost in. And then there is the body, and what a body it is. I would have to put Lester at about 6'2 and full of muscle. I have to stop thinking like this or I am going to be in big trouble. I finally got to the mall and parked about 15 miles away from Macy's. I found Lula and Connie waiting for me by the dresses.

"Hey girls."

"So how did it go last night?" Connie wanted to know.

"It wasn't too bad, I'm just glad it's over. I started moving my things into Rangeman this morning."

"Enough talking let's shop." Lula declared.

After about 45 minutes of searching and trying on different things I finally found the perfect outfit for tonight.

"Girls, what do you think of this one?" It was a black one piece pant set, it had a wide flared leg, halter style top that tied around the neck. It also had a sash belt that tied around the neck.

"Girl, that is the one. Try it on, let us see how it looks."

I came out of the dressing room and both Lula and Connie dropped their jaws. "It's perfect!" exclaimed Lula.

"I have to have this for tonight. Now I need to find the perfect shoes to go with this." I found the perfect FMP's with a 4 inch heel. We all finished up our shopping and Lula agreed to pick me up at 9pm for our night out. I went home to get ready. Val called and asked if I wanted to come over and get ready at her house and then I could catch a ride with her and Jack. I called Lula and told her that I would just meet her there.

"I'm glad that you decided to come over. Now while we get ready you can tell me what has been going on."

"Val the last week has been really strange, even for me. Joe and I are finally done and let me tell you I haven't felt this good about myself in a long while. This new job with Ranger is going to be a great step for me. This job is going to let me fly."

"So Ranger just brings you to his office and offers you a job?"

"Kind of. Remember the other night I told you he wanted to meet with me today so we could discuss the training?" She nodded. "Well when we got to his office he told me that they have been trying to hire a female to work with them for a while but no luck. So he offered me the position, and after training Jack will be my full time partner. Right now Jack and I both are going to go through training with Ranger and the rest of his team."

"How the hell are you going to work with those guys? They are all so damn hot."

"Tell me about it. Do you know them?"

"I have met Ranger, Tank, Lester and Bobby. I don't think I would be able to work with them without drooling all the time."

"What do you know about them?"

"Not much really. Jack is friends with the four of them and usually when they were in Boston we would all get together."

"So how do I look?"

"Oh my God Steph, you look amazing. Are you trying to impress anyone special tonight?"

"Nope, but this is the first time in a long time that I have gone out and have been single. I want to have a good time."

"Did I tell you that Marylou and Lenny are coming out with us tonight as well?"

"No." Now I felt guilty for not inviting them myself.

"Well Jack ran into Lenny and he invited them."

"Cool, I haven't talked to Mare in days. She is probably ready to kill me by now."

"Let's go get my husband and get out of here."

"Is mom watching the girls tonight?"

"Yeah, and boy is she mad about grandma moving out. Dad is on cloud 9."

We had all decided to meet at a new club called Pure. Marylou and Lenny arrived the same time as us, so the five us us went in together looking for the rest of our group. The place was amazing, three floors each with a dance floor. The music was even better and was perfect for dancing. You could feel the music pulse through you. I spotted Lula,
Tank, Connie and Hal just inside the door.

"There you are, we have been waiting for you. We have a table upstairs in the VIP lounge."

"Lead the way Tank."

We all followed Tank upstairs, Bobby was already at a table waiting for us with a beautiful woman sitting next to him. Lester was also at the table but he seemed to be alone. Bobby introduced us to his wife Gina and then flagged down the waitress to get us all drinks.

"So who is ready to do some dancing?" Lula asks.

"I will be soon, I just need to have a drink first." I answered Lula

"You know this party needs some shots to get us going." Lester has announced to everyone .

"What kind of shots are we talking about?" I asked

"What's your pleasure?"

I wanted to scream you, but instead I told him "Tequila."

"Uh-Oh Steph's looking for trouble tonight!" Exclaimed Marylou

Now Lester looked at me curiously and asked why.

I shot Marylou a death glare but she ignored me and answered his question.

"Well when Steph starts doing shots she sometimes gets a little..."

"Mare so help me God..."

"What I wasn't going to say anything bad, I was just going to say you tend to get a little crazy."

"Is that so?" Lester questioned.

This time it was a laughing Val that answered. "Yeah, she..."

I cut her off before she could got any further. "Okay can we just stop picking on me."

"Okay for now, but later on all bets are off."

Lester walked over to the bar to order the shots.

"Hey Steph, isn't that Joe over there?"

I turned and looked and sure as shit it was Joe and he was with Teri.. "Shit."

"What's the matter Steph?"

I turned to the only person who could have done this. "Jack did you tell him where we would be tonight?"

"Hey what's the matter, you looked happy a few minutes ago?" Lester asked me.

"Joe is here with Terri."

"I can't believe he is here with her, I thought they were a thing of the past?"

"Val, you really have been gone to long. Teri never gave up on Joe."

"What about when you two were together?"

"I am not really sure what to think, but I do know that during one of "our breaks" he was seen with her at a hotel. You know what can we just forget that they are here and get this party started."

"Sounds good to me beautiful, and look here come our drinks to help us out."

What is is about Lester that makes me feel better. I have only known the guy a couple of days and yet there is just something about him. I sit here and watch him as he is joking with the guys and start thinking about what it would be like to be with him, to have his hands on me, his mouth...

"Hey Steph, you ready to do some dancing yet?"

Shit, I have got to stop thinking like that if I am going to handle this job.

"Yeah girls let's go."

"Hey Steph, don't forget you promised to save me a dance."

I looked Lester right in the eye licked my lips, winked at him and told him that I hadn't forgotten. There has got to be something wrong with me because I have no idea where the hell that came from. Oh well, I could always blame the Tequila.

We had been out on the dance floor for a while and the girls and I decided to take a break from dancing and go get another drink.

"So guys what happened to Ranger?"

Tank answered "Problem came up and he had to take care of it, not surprising though. He usually finds a way to get out of going out with us."

"Gotcha."

I was having a good time laughing and joking with everyone. I looked over at Lester and caught him watching me, I smiled and he winked then asked me to dance. No sooner we got to the dance floor a slow song came on, I wasn't sure I could do this not with the way he was looking at me and made me feel. He put his hands on my hips and I rested mine on his shoulders.

"What's the matter Steph?"

"Huh?" Oh good one Plum! "I'm fine Lester, why would you think something is wrong?"

"You just look like you are not enjoying yourself at the moment."

"Oh, believe me when I say I am enjoying myself and maybe just a bit too much."

"Really care to tell me more."

"Nope" By the end of the slow dance we were both laughing and decided to keep on dancing.

"Hey Les, let's take a little break and get a drink."

"Will I still get another dance after our drink?"

Good Lord that smile of his is going to kill me. "I'll think about it."

"So Steph what's your poison this time?"

"I think I could do with another shot or two, how about you?"

"The same, come on we'll go right to the bar it will be quicker."

Next thing I knew Lester was grabbing my hand and brought it to his mouth. He turned my hand over and licked the inside of my wrist and then sprinkled it with salt.

"Les what are you doing?"

He looked at me and smiled. "I am just enjoying my shot of tequila, do you have a problem with this?"

Jesus Christ if my panties weren't ruined before, they defiantly are now. "Nope no problem, but next time you could warn a girl."

He started laughing and did his shot. "Come on Steph why don't you try it my way."

We managed to finish both shots that way and my entire body felt like it was on fire and I doubt it was from the alcohol. I heard laughing coming from behind me and I turned to Joe and Teri standing there.

"Cupcake."

"Morelli, is there something you wanted?"

"No, just saw you standing here with this thug and wanted to say hello."

By now the rest of our group had joined us at the bar. Jack spoke up first.

"Joe, Teri how are you doing?"

"Jack, I heard you two were back in town. Where is Val?"

"I am right here Teri."

"It is good to see you both."

"You know Jack I still can't believe you are working with this group of thugs. I always thought you were one of the good guys."

"Joe, your drunk go home. You don't know anything about these guys or what they do, some people could say the same thing about you."

"Oh come on Cupcake, how about a dance?"

"I wouldn't dance with you if my life depended on it. Why don't you just take your little whore home and leave me the hell alone."

"Who are you calling a whore."

"Teri let me ask you a question, how long have you and Joe been sleeping together?"

"Almost a year...shit"

"Shit, Cupcake listen to me she is lying."

"You son of a bitch." Next thing I know I turned to Joe and punched him as hard as I could in the face.

"Jesus Christ Cupcake, I think you broke my nose."

"Good you deserve it. Rot in hell Joe and stay the hell away from me, and that goes for your whore as well."

Lester came over and put his arm around me. "Come on Steph, let's get you out of here." He then turned to Tank and talked to him quietly for a minute. Lester led me outside and to his car we got in and he turned the radio on. Lester went to change the station and I made him stop, I love the song that had just come on. It was a new song by Alicia Keys, I'll admit that it is not my first choice in music but I love the song.

I just want you close

Where you can stay forever

You can be sure

That it will only get better

You and me together

Through the days and nights

I don't worry cause

Every thing's gonna be alright

People keep talking

They can say what they like

But all I know is everything gonna be alright

No one no one no one

Can get in the way of what I'm feeling

No one No one No one

Can get in the way of what I feel for you

When the rain is pouring down

And my heart is hurting

You will always be around

This I know for certain

You and me together

Through the days and nights

I don't worry cause

Everything gonna be alright

People keep talking

They can say what they like

But I know everything is gonna be alright

No one No one no one

Can get in the way of what I'm feeling

No one no one no one

Can get in the way of what I'm feeling

I know some people search the world

To find something like what we have

I know People with try

Try to divide

Something so real

So till the end of time

I'm telling you that

No one no one no one

Can get in the way of what I'm feeling

No one no one no one

Can get in the way of what I feel for you

I sat here the car listening to the words and I wish that I could find someone like that. Someone that will love me for me and no matter what always be there for me. A few more songs came on and before I knew it we were in the Rangeman garage.

"Come on beautiful, let's get you upstairs."

"Les, thank you so much for getting me out of there."

"How's the hand?"

"It hurts like hell, but it was so worth it."

"Come on, let's get you some ice."

We got up to the fourth floor and Lester helped me into my apartment and then told me that he would be right back. He walked back in the door with an ice pack and a chocolate cake.

"OMG, is that for me?"

He started laughing and told me yes. "Here put this ice on your hand, and then we can share this wonderful chocolate cake that Ella made earlier today."

We sat and ate our way through the cake and it was the most heavenly chocolate cake I have ever tasted.

"Do you want to talk about what happened tonight?"

"There isn't much to talk about really. Joe and Teri were high school sweet hearts, they broke up at the end of their senior year in high school. But I had a feeling that Joe and Teri have been fooling around for a while now. I always liked Joe, in high school he was the guy that every girl wanted including me. When I was in high school I worked at the Tasty Pastry after school. One night Joe came in and he managed to sweet talk me right out of my uniform and took my virginity behind the éclair case. He then wrote a poem on the stadium wall and at Mario's sub shop. My parents found out about it and I thought my dad was going to kill him. Two days later he left for the Navy and I didn't see him again for two years. I was driving my dad's Buick and I saw him walking down the street and I hit him, I only broke his leg but God it felt good."

"Wow! Beautiful, remind me to never get on your bad side."

"Yeah well, I was still pissed off. He is lucky I didn't kill him that day."

"So how did you two end up together?"

"A couple of years ago I ran into him and he asked me to dinner. Things just went from there, I don't think I was ever happy in the relationship. He has told me he loved me, but I never told him. I never even felt love for him."

"Hey don't even think about him, he doesn't deserve you...at all. If he was seeing Teri behind your back, do you think he really loved you?"

"I am not really surprised at what Joe did, he is not the first guy to cheat on me. But I can tell you he is the last."

"This happened before?"

"My ex-husband cheated on me with the town tramp, I came home one day and found them on our dining room table going at it like wild animals. The ink was barely dry on our marriage license. I got revenge on him as well, we had the messiest divorce in Burg history and because of it his political ambitions were shot down."

"Beautiful, you shouldn't have had to go through all of that. You don't deserve it."

"Thanks Les. I'm sorry for ruining your night, I don't even know why I am telling you all of this."

"Hey don't worry about it, you saved me from sitting alone tonight and I had a great time dancing and talking with you."

"Oh come on Les, there were plenty of beautiful women at that club to dance with tonight. I am sure you could have picked one of them to dance with."

"Didn't want to, I am really glad you came tonight and I am looking forward to working with you and getting to know you better."

"Me to Les. I don't mean to be rude, but it is getting late and I am kind of tired. Thank you for everything tonight."

I looked at him as I was speaking and all I wanted to do was kiss him. I don't know if he read my mind but he stood up and came over to me and pulled me up out of my seat.

"I meant what I said Steph, there wasn't anyone there I wanted to dance with tonight except you."

And with that he put his hand on my cheek and kissed me. I don't think I have ever felt so much from one kiss. Lester now moved his hands to my hips and mine went around his neck as I melted into him and the kiss. He broke the kiss and put his forehead to mine.

"Steph I have to go, if we keep this up..."

"Thank you again, for everything."

I watched him walk down the hallway and to the elevators, when the doors opened he looked back at me an winked before getting on. I put my hand on my still tingling lips, good job Plum. You managed to tell you new boss all about your horrible love life, cry on him and then kiss him all before you even start this job. Can't wait to see what happens when we actually have to work together.

TBC