They are not mine!

Chapter 5

Stephanie POV

Ranger picked me up into his arms and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He carried me all the way into the bedroom and laid me down on the bed. I watched him take off my shoes and socks then rub my feet. My head fell back and I moaned. I swear I heard him chuckle. He repeated the same torture to my other foot. I felt him unsnap my jeans and tug them gently off my legs along with my panties. I sat up and allowed him to tug my t-shirt off and unclasp my bra. I watched him step back from me and strip also. He reached behind him and pulled his shirt over his head in a sexy way. I licked my lips at the sight of his sexy sculpted body as he pulled off his pants. As I expected he was commando.

"See something you like?" Ranger asked as he climbed onto the bed like a panther stalking its prey.

"No," I said smirking.

"Oh babe I'm hurt." Ranger said kissing the spot in between my shoulder and neck. "I work so hard to keep my body like this just for you." My moans were swallowed by his kiss.

"I don't like your body," I said smiling. I felt him tense. I pulled his face to mine and whispered in his ear. "I love it, more than you will ever know." We laughed and shared a passionate kiss. After laughing I winced and it wasn't lost to Ranger.

"Babe, I don't think we should continue what we started." Ranger laid down next to me and pulled me to him. "I don't want to hurt you; this should special and not rushed. I love you Stephanie." He pulled the blanket over us and I snuggled into him. My ribs were aching and my wrist was beginning to throb. I drifted off into sleep cuddled with the love of my life.

RS~RS~RS~RS~RS~RS~RS~RS~RS~RS~RS~RS~RS~RS~RS

I woke up to the annoying sound of an alarm clock and groaned. I flipped onto my stomach and buried my head under the pillow. I heard chuckling and someone struggling to remove my pillow.

"Babe, Bobby is here to look over your injuries." Ranger said kissing my cheek. I sat up and quickly realized I had no clothes on. Ranger realized my dilemma and gave me the shirt he was wearing and a pair of boxers. I took in the unique scent of Bulgari and essence of Ranger that I loved so much.

Once situated on the bed Bobby came into the room and unwrapped the ace bandage from around my torso and gasped at the awful bruising that had set it. "I'm not gonna lie to you Bombshell. This is pretty ugly and will be a very painful recovery. I want you off of field duty for a while until you're safely healed. Knowing you and your luck with skips you'll break even more bones rolling around in garbage."

I looked at Bobby stunned. How was I going to pay my rent if I couldn't work? Plus I'm not good with house arrest! I'd go crazy! What about Rex? He needed a proper home and I'll be on the street if I can't work. Oh shit! I was so busy wrapped up with Ranger that I forgot about Rex! My poor baby must be starving.

"Babe," Ranger said raising one eyebrow. "First of all I would never let you be homeless and before you go off about how you hate me bleeding money I would like to offer you a better job at RangeMan. And second of all I had Tank and Bobby pick up Rex on their way home last night."

I smiled at Ranger and hugged him. "You didn't have to do that for me."

"I know, but I wanted to. I love you and it's in my nature to take care of everything I love." Ranger said setting me in his lap. "Ok, now that we have that settled we need to get going. I have a meeting in a few hours and we need to discuss your new position on the RangeMan team." I looked at him worried.

"Oh boy, what now?" I asked rolling my eyes

"Before you got back together with Morelli the last time I was going to offer you a bigger position at RangeMan." Ranger said smiling. "I want you to handle the clients and the in depth searches because you're the only employee who knows exactly what I am looking for. Plus you can still work for Vinnie catching skips but the only difference is you'll have a RangeMan partner."

"I'm not sure I would be the best choice to deal with clients." I said worried.

"Babe you make friends with the scummiest skips and you're afraid of some rich people looking for a security company?" Ranger said raising an eyebrow.

"It's not that I don't want to do this it's just that I feel like my life is speeding forward way too fast. Only yesterday Morelli and I broke up and I was injured and you confessed how you felt about me and now here we sit discussing me being in a bigger position at your business." I said working myself up to a near panic attack.

"Calm down Steph, Just breath." Bobby said breathing deep so I could mimic it.

"Babe, if I felt like you couldn't handle my clients believe me, you would not be doing it. But I have watched you make friends with murders and rapists and sometimes even turn their lives around. I want you as a part of my business because I love you and know others love you too. It's hard to have someone sign a contract for a new security company when all they see are buff guys in black. I want a beautiful face to back us up."

I stared at him with my mouth agape. "I think you used up all your words for the year."

"Babe,"

"Oh so now you go back to one worded sentences." I said laughing.

"Steph, I think you would be a wonderful addition to the company and think about it we would see you every day!" Bobby said smiling.

"Oh yea, you guys only want me around because you'll be able to skip out on the RangeMan diet and for the chance to see me work out in skimpy clothes." I said looking at Bobby with raised eyebrows. He was stunned. "Because if I accept this job offer, I'm guessing, I'll have to be in the gym and gun range at some time every week." I looked at Ranger pointedly and he kissed me.

"I love when you can read my mind without trying." He said standing up.

"But your company is like the royalty of all security companies and I don't want to mess that up!" I said looking at Ranger questioningly.

"Babe, every king needs his queen." Ranger said kissing me. I was just stunned.

"When you put it like I guess I can't refuse." I said laughing.

"You are so pussy whipped." Bobby said putting a hand on Ranger's shoulder.

"Not pussy whipped enough to ignore what you said. Mats, 1300 hours." Ranger said using his blank face.

Ranger went with Bobby downstairs while I got in the shower to get ready for the day. I had to cover my cast with a plastic water proof bag that was a pain in the ass to deal with. Once done in the shower I wrapped my ace bandage back around my torso, took off the water proof bag, and wrapped a towel around me. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to wear since I had no clothes here with me. While trying to handle the unruly curls on top of my head I notice there was a note card attached to the mirror. It had Babe on it in Ranger's hand writing.

Babe,

I know I have been distant the many years I have known you and I am sorry. I was just scared you wouldn't choose me and that my life would make it impossible to have you in it. I pushed you to Morelli because he seemed casual for you, a familiar relationship that would make you a wife and mother. I would only dream of you being those things with me. Now that I have admitted how much I love you I want you to know the truth about this house. I chose it with you in mind over three years ago. I know you are standing there wondering what you are going to wear since you didn't bring any clothes with you and I have instructions I want you to follow. Walk out of the bathroom and turn to your right.

I walked out of the bathroom and did exactly what was written. In front of me were a pair of frosted window French doors.

Now open the doors and find your surprise

Love you,

-C

Ranger signed it with a c? Did he want me to call him Carlos now? I opened the doors as I was told to and gasped. Ranger was adjusting his tie in front of a full wall mirror. He was business Ranger in a light grey Armani suit and light blue tie that was the same color of my eyes. I looked around the large room and noticed that one side was full of clothes for me and the other was full of clothes for Ranger.

I was going through my selection of office wear when I felt Ranger wrap his arms around me. "I know I must seem crazy to have bought clothes in hopes that you would one day be with me and have a chance to wear them."

I turned in his arms and looked into his eyes. "It took a while for us to be together and now that we are I feel like I am on top of the world. I love You Ricardo Carlos Manoso." I kissed him sealing every doubt I had about not ever being able to love the man I have in my arms.

"Te amo tambien (I love you too) Stephanie Michelle Plum." Ranger said in my ear. "Now, no more sappy shit, it'll make me look soft." I let Ranger out of my grasp and got to looking for a sexy yet in charge outfit. I would need a lot of courage today.

I found a drawer full of bras and underwear organized and picked out a set that were baby blue and lacy that oddly matched Ranger's tie. I put the bra and underwear on and continued to look for an outfit when I came across a rack. The rack had an endless array of shoes. I chose a pair of light blue heels and decided to model my outfit around them. I found a pair of light gray suit pants and a light blue cotton shirt that had layers of lace and solid blue ruffles. I topped the outfit with a cute light gray suit jacket. I was just applying my mascara when I heard an intake of breath.

"Babe, you look stunning." Ranger said holding his arm out for me to take.

"Thank you Carlos. You look very handsome yourself." I said being led out the door and into the awaiting SUV.

"I love it when you call me Carlos." Ranger said as he helped me into the backseat and sat next to me. "I would love it if you would call me that from now on."

"I would love to," I said and kissed him. "Carlos."

We made our way to Haywood and took the elevator to the conference rooms and we sat in our seats. Rang- oh Carlos handed me a folder full of the couples info on what they want and what was suggested for me to study. I noticed that the couple were first time parents and wanted a security system to protect themselves and their twin daughters. I looked over the initial security review and noticed that although all the doors are secure and video cameras in every crevice of the home not a single window has an alarm which could pose as a weakness. I suggested this to Carlos right as the couple was walking through the door and he smiled.

"Welcome to RangeMan" Carlos said holding out his hand out to shake hands with the young couple. "I'm Carlos Manoso and this is my colleague Stephanie Plum." I held out my hand and shook hands with them.

"I'm Kyle and this is my wife Nicole. We have looked into multiple security companies and none of them have what we are looking for or they push us into something we don't want. You see we are kinda on a limited budget and every penny saved counts." Kyle said holding his wife's hand.

I knew exactly how they felt about a limited budget. I had to go without food to have a roof over my head. I looked at Carlos and he rubbed my hand. "Well, you have come to the right place. I know exactly what you mean about a budget."

"I'm glad someone does." Nicole said smiling. "If you don't mind me asking are you two engaged or married?"

I looked at Carlos and he smiled. "As much as I would love Stephanie to be my wife we are still dating and taking things a day at a time."

The meeting continued to go like that as we discussed money and security options. I felt comfortable working with these clients and thought maybe I can do this. After the meeting Carlos and I went into his office for a private lunch break and to talk.

"Babe you did great as I knew you would." Carlos said eating his usual salad with grilled chicken. Ella was so generous to make lunch and bring it down to us. I still wanted her to adopt me. I was eating some broccoli and cheese soup she made and moaning with every bite.

"Thank you. I was a little nervous at first but I could connect with them and knew exactly what to suggest to protect their family. God only knows how many times someone has broken into my apartment either through the locked front door our through my fire escape." I said smiling.

We shared an awkward silence when the phone started to ring.

"Yo…eating lunch…when? I'll be right there." Carlos said hanging up and throwing away his garbage. "Babe there was a break in at one of the bigger contract client's location. I have to head over there. How do you feel about going out to dinner tonight?"

"Like a date?" I asked nervous.

"Yes, exactly like a date." Carlos said smiling. Damn I could get used to that smile.

"Um, I guess, what do I wear? Casual, sexy, sophisticated?" I asked really unsure of myself.

"Sexy and sophisticated," Carlos said looking into my eyes questioningly. "Babe what's the matter?"

"Oh nothing I'll be ready by seven." I said going to stand up. Carlos grabbed my arm before I could walk out the door.

"Something is bothering you and you won't tell me. How am I supposed to solve it if you won't tell me what's the matter?" Carlos asked with a frown.

"It's really nothing. It's kind of embarrassing is all." I said shaking my head. I looked into his pleading eyes. The last time I was on a date was a while ago and I didn't want him to know that. Of course his ESP had to be in perfect working order.

"Babe, when was the last time a man took you somewhere special?" He just had to hit the nail on the head.

"The last time I was on a date Dickie put the engagement ring on my finger and said 'well, it looks pretty and it fits. Let's go celebrate.' If you count that as a date and the countless time Morelli has taken me to Pino's then yea I've been on many dates." I was close to tears thinking about the men who have screwed me over and couldn't help but think when Carlos would do the same.

"Babe, stop right there. I would never call those dates. You deserve to be treated like a queen and that's what I plan on doing. Let's have dinner on seven tonight because I have some ideas for tomorrow. I can't believe you would think that I would eventually treat you like those two assholes have. Have I ever lied to you?" Carlos asked with our lips inches apart. I shook my head no. "Then believe me when I say if I only had enough breath to say one sentence my last sentence would be 'I love you'." I hugged him tight and felt a few tears leak from my eyes.

"Now, I have to get going before Tank has a temper tantrum. Go relax upstairs, and if I don't come home in time for dinner don't wait up for me. I'll be there as fast as I can. It doesn't matter where we sleep here, the house, or your apartment but I don't want to spend another night without you in my arms." Carlos kissed me and was out the door.

Did I ever say how much I love that man?

Please R&R, What do you think? Is it as bad as i think it is?