In spite of a late night, I was awake by five thirty and halfway dressed in my running clothes when Ranger knocked on the closet door.
"Yea," I asked pulling the tee shirt over my head.
"Are you going running?"
"I have too," I grinned. "I ate a lot of dessert last night."
"Do you want some company," he asked.
"Sure," I agreed.
"Give me five," he said and closed the closet door.
I grinned. Ranger ran faster than I did. His legs were longer. I'd get the work out I desired and I wouldn't be able to cut it short when I passed the coffee spots along the way. He wouldn't allow it. It would be perfect. Of course, I'd probably complain…although maybe not aloud.
We ran six miles. That's a lot of trips around the deck of the cruise ship in case you were wondering. I lost count around twelve or so. You see…it's not my fault. He was running in front of me. I don't think I could take my eyes off his ass. I needed more sugar and more exercise and I needed it quick!
"You could have run on the treadmills in the gym," Molly said cheerfully as we stretched to cool off near the pool.
"It's better to see the movement," Ranger said.
"Ummm," I agreed watching him stretch.
"But you don't have to worry about slipping or anything," she said happily.
"I just like the idea of being able to see that I've done something, but we'll keep it in mind."
"Breakfast will be set up here shortly," she smiled. "So you can eat before going ashore. You are going ashore in Costa Maya, aren't you?"
"Yes, we're signed up for the Ruins tours," Ranger said.
"We are," I blinked.
"Yea," he nodded. "Is that okay?"
"Sure," I nodded and headed inside to change. He was making plans for us like we were really a couple or something. I suppose I could live with that. "Who else is going to be in our tour group?"
"Your parents, Tank and Lula, Jean Luc and Felicia, Lula's mother and her boyfriend, your grandmother and Burt…if they get out of bed long enough, the minister and his wife, and Natalie and Cal will be joining us."
"Sounds good," I nodded. "Do you want the shower first?"
"We could save time and water if we…"
"No," I cut in. "I know what showering together will lead to."
"Getting clean," he suggested hopefully.
"Good try Manoso," I shook my head and headed for the shower.
"I'm gonna keep trying till I die or you give in," he said morosely.
I grinned and closed the bathroom door.
Less than an hour later we were by the pool munching a healthy breakfast and watching for the rest of our tour group to arrive. None of them ever did. We decided, after some conversation that they were all having breakfast in. We couldn't blame them. This ship was made for love.
Ranger harrumphed with that one.
When we loaded on our bus after debarking from the ship, we were a little surprised to see Grandma and Burt there.
"Hi Grandma, hi Burt, I don't think I've seen you two since dinner the first night," I smiled.
"We wouldn't be here now but we ran out of that Viagra," Grandma sighed unhappily. "That's okay, that nice ship's doctor…Dr. Frost, said he'd get our prescription refilled today while we was out seeing the ruins today."
"Oh…how nice of him," I said and sank down by the window with Ranger at my side and a sick feeling in my stomach.
"You shouldn't have said anything," he hissed. He looked a little green.
"Too late now," I mumbled.
My mother reached over the seat and handed me some crackers, "chew these dear. I find it helps."
"Thanks Mom," I sighed and munched quietly on the saltines.
Ranger put a guidebook in my lap. "I picked these up on the ship. I thought it would help us to know what we were seeing."
"Thanks," I smiled, "and what about lunch?"
"About that," he grimaced.
"Oh crap," I groaned. "Are you going to tell me that we're not having lunch?"
"No…it's a box lunch prepared by the ship. I'm afraid it won't be up to your culinary standards…or to the dessert I promised you."
I shook my head, "You are getting on my bad side Ranger."
He sighed and sank down in his seat, "I was afraid you were going to say that."
"You're so going to have to make this up to me," I sighed.
"Social orgasm," he suggested sweetly.
"Hmm…I'll give it some thought," I turned my gaze out the window.
"We're never having sex again, are we?"
"Never say never Ranger," I said quietly, "never say never."
By the time we arrived at the first site, I had read the entire part of the book that was about Chacchoben and I was looking forward to exploring the site. According to the guide book, we'd spend about three hours driving to and touring Chacchoben. From there we'd head to our next destination.
I followed the guide all around the site taking in the three pyramids and the incredible workmanship that went into their creation. It was amazing. I thought seeing the Egyptian Pyramids had to be just as exciting, but wasn't sure which pre-dated which and it wasn't in the guide book. It was something I'd have to research later. What was amazing was that some of the pyramids still had bits of the original red paint from centuries before. I was in awe.
Grandma studied the pyramid and tilted her head. "Well, I don't know what's so special about this. We have brick buildings in Trenton."
"Grandma, this was built thousands of years ago and without the tools we have today. They didn't have any of those tools."
"Well I know that," she shook her head. "We didn't have the tools we have today when I was born. I just don't think this is all that impressive. I know what the human soul is capable of."
It was one of Grandmas more insightful comments especially when it had nothing to do with sex.
We got on the bus a few minutes later to head to our next destination. Kohunlich was going to take about five and half hours of our day. Part of that was going to be travel and part of it was supposed to be lunch.
"Are you having fun so far," Ranger asked.
"I'm in awe," I said opening my guide book to Kohunlich. "It's amazing what these people have been able to do create."
"They had plumbing too. You know aqueducts," he said with a grin. "It's an amazing culture."
"I think I'd like to learn more about it when I get back home," I said seriously. "It's really interesting."
"Good…then you're not mad that I booked us for this without asking you?"
"Nah," I shrugged. "It's fine. Besides, it's holding our couple status in place."
"Yea it is," he said cheerfully and leaned back in his seat.
We went from that site to the next one and stopped for lunch before beginning our tour. The box lunch was fine. I had chicken salad on a croissant with chips fresh fruit and some cookies for dessert. It wasn't what I'd hoped for, but it was good.
Kohunlich was 21 acres square. It was completely surrounded by Rain Forest and most of the 200 mounds were largely unexcavated. It was amazing.
"This is a little different from Hawaii," Ranger said softly as he sank down beside me on one of the pyramids.
I wiped sweat from my neck and sighed. "It's very different. In Hawaii all we did was bask in the sun and eat like pigs. Here we're climbing all over ruins and sweating like pigs. It sort of made our run this morning a bit redundant."
"Well, you slept a lot in Hawaii," he reminded me with a smile.
"Yes," I agreed. "I did. You did too. But I had a lot to try to figure out."
"You never did say. Did you figure it out?"
"I figured out as much as anyone can figure out."
"What did you decide," he smiled.
"I think that life just is," I shrugged. "You must enjoy it for what it is. You can't have unrealistic expectations of it. You have to realize that all people are capable of good and of evil and it's the choices that we make that make us who we are."
"Have you made good choices," he asked softly.
"I have made some bad choices," I smiled. "Most of my bad choices have to do with men.
He smiled, "have I been a bad choice?"
"No," I smiled and took his hand in mine. "I'll never regret you Ranger. I promise you that I never will."
He smiled and leaned over to kiss me softly, "and I'll never regret you Stephanie."
"Come on you two lovebirds," Grandma giggled. "It's time to leave this Shangri-La. They're taking us by the new shiny mall on our way back to the ship."
"Hot damn," I grinned and jumped off the rock. "There may be a way for you to redeem yourself soon Manoso." I reached for his hand and dragged him with me.
"I have a bad feeling about this," he said with a smile.
We didn't have a lot of time at the mall when we got there we only had a couple of hours before we had to be back on the ship. They did have a couple of food shops, but there was nothing there that I had to have.
To make it up for me, ranger instead chose to buy me a dress. It wasn't a cheap dress either. It was a little above knee length and royal blue and strapless. I already had shoes to wear with it and more than that…it was Calvin Klein. I sighed as the silk touched my skin.
"You could wear it tonight," he whispered as his lips moved over my bare shoulder. "You could wear the sapphires with it. They would be beautiful with this dress."
I swallowed. He could seduce me in a busy shop in front of dozens of customers. It was just maddening. "Ranger…don't," I whispered.
"Whatever you wish," he said and stepped away. He was contemplating me under his hooded eyes. He was contemplating what I don't know. It was impossible for me to guess what he was thinking. That's one thing I've never been good at, reading Ranger. I can read when he desires me. I can read when he's mad. I've never been very good at reading him when it's about me. He's…his thoughts are elusive to me. Sure, I can catch a murderer. I can feel when someone is not quite right, but I can't read Ranger... at least when it's about me. I suppose it's some way that God protects a little bit of us from each other. I wish I was as protected as he was.
"How about some ice cream," he asked as we passed the kiosk on the way to the bus.
"Sure," I agreed.
"What kind do you want," he asked watching me study the menu overhead.
"I think I'll try the Chocolate Marshmallow," I smiled at the girl behind the counter.
She fixed mine ice cream cone and handed it me before turning to get Ranger's order.
"I'll just have vanilla," he smiled.
"Vanilla…still, just the vanilla," I raised a brow and licked my own with a moan of delight.
He took a deep breath, "it never disappoints Babe. I know what to expect. It's dependable."
"And dependable is good," I smiled.
"It's good."
"I wouldn't say that I was dependable," I said as we walked toward the exit.
"I'd say that you're very dependable," he said with a smile.
"How can you say that," I laughed.
"You never disappoint," he said pushing the door open.
The heat from the hot Costa Maya day reached for me and circled pushing under my light cotton blouse and warming me all the way through in seconds. But Ranger's words had warmed me more than any sunlight or fire. He had faith in me. Sometimes, that's all a person needs.