A/N: This is it! The chapter I've been excitedly leading up to ever since New Years Even when my bestie gave me the idea while we were on our way to a party.
Chapter 20
Ranger
I knocked on the door and waited, listening for movement from within. Her car was still in the lot downstairs and it was before the time she would need to leave to get to my parents' house on time, even if she was catching a ride with my cousin, which was apparently her habit when I wasn't taking her, so I thought the chances of her still being home were good. As I strained my ears, trying to pick up on even the slightest movement from inside the apartment, though, I began to wonder if she might have left early. Maybe I should have gone straight to Mama's house instead. It certainly would have saved driving time since I'd driven to Trenton from Newark airport only to drive back to Newark once I picked Steph up.
A logical choice would have been to catch a later flight and go straight to family dinner, but I admit that my legendary logic often falls by the wayside where Stephanie Plum is concerned. All that had been on my mind was the disappointed tone of her reply when I'd cancelled our cooking class last night. I wanted to make it up to her, and the growing need to see her would not be assuaged by waiting around.
I thought I heard a sigh from somewhere inside, a tiny sign of life where before there had been none, and I knocked again, louder this time as visions of what horrible things could have happened to her to prevent her from hearing or answering the first knock filled my thoughts, a heavy dread sinking in my gut.
Footsteps, but not heading for the door. I was fairly certain it was Steph moving around within, but I couldn't be sure without a visual. The urge to pick the lock and make sure she was okay was strong, but I settled for banging the side of my fist forcefully three times against the door instead. This was Steph, afterall, and she could be woefully oblivious to her surroundings when she was focusing on something.
My patience and respect for her privacy was rewarded a moment later when the footsteps changed course, stomping toward the door, and as she approached, I could hear her grumbling voice growing louder, more agitated.
"For Christ sake, Lester," she was saying as the locks tumbled. "I told you I'd meet you in the parking lot at- Carlos." Her words died away, tone softening abruptly to accompany the widening of her eyes as the door swung open and she caught sight of me.
I tucked my hands into my pockets, leaning back on my heels to prevent myself from pulling her to me and crushing my lips to hers. God, I'd missed her.
"Babe," I said, letting my lips tip up into a smile as my heart rate settled back into a reasonable tempo, relief washing through me that she was okay. In fact, she looked better than okay. Her normally riotous curls were falling around her shoulders in soft waves, no doubt the result of at least an hour of work on her part. She had on blue jeans that hugged tightly to her curves, a black, scoop-neck top with puffy sleeves that reached her elbow, and hanging from her left hand was a pair of ankle boots with a three-inch heel that I knew would put us perfectly at eye level. The way she shifted under my scrutiny, one socked foot rubbing on top of the other, was sexy as hell, and the way my thoughts faded away to nothing when our eyes locked cemented the decision I'd made on the flight.
"I thought you weren't coming back until Monday," she said.
"I got things wrapped up early," I explained, which was slightly on the false side of the honesty scale, but she didn't need to know that by 'wrapped up' I really meant that I'd read Hugh - the Boston Manager - the riot act to get his shit together, and threatened to send Lester in my place next time. Hugh hated Lester. And Lester, being aware of this fact, went out of his way to be extra annoying whenever they were in proximity. Not to mention the fact that Lester could kick Hugh's ass on the mats six ways to Sunday. "I know how disappointed Mama gets when I miss family dinner," I added, stepping through to her small entryway when she stepped back, gesturing for me to come in.
"And you already missed last month because you were in Miami," she added, nodding. "Good plan coming back early." There was a pause while she closed the door behind me, and then she was looking from it to the boots in her hands, to me, and then to the hall that led to the living room and beyond. "I should let Lester know I don't need a lift anymore, then," she said, a hint of a question to her voice, like she thought I was just stopping by and not here to whisk her away. I'd whisk her further than Newark, but I thought Tank might have objections if we both suddenly didn't turn up to work on Monday.
"I can do that while you finish getting ready," I offered, retrieving my phone from my belt. "What time were you planning to leave?"
"Give me ten," she requested, shooting an appreciative smile my way before hurrying off. "Thanks Carlos!" she called over her shoulder, and I could have sworn there was a little more sway to her hips than usual as she walked away.
I shot off a quick text to my cousin, informing him I was back in town and would be driving Steph to Mama's house, so his services were no longer needed, then made my way into the kitchen for a glass of water while I waited.
Noting that Rex, the hamster, had emerged from his soup can home and scurried over to the glass wall of his aquarium closest to where I leaned against the counter, twitching his whiskers at me suspiciously, I retrieved a baby carrot from the bag in the fridge and dropped it into his cage the way I'd seen Steph do a couple times during our FaceTime calls. Bending over, I made eye contact with the little rodent and held it for a long moment until he scurried over to the food I'd offered, snatching it up, stuffing it into his cheeks, and retreating back to the soup can.
"Good talk?" Steph asked from the doorway, having arrived in the room just as I was bending to meet Rex's gaze.
"We weren't talking," I defended. No way would I be caught dead making conversation with a rat. Not even if it was the rat that Steph considered to be her fur-baby.
"Mmm," she hummed, adjusting the bracelet she wore so the charms lay just right. "But you came to an understanding, though," she pointed out, like it was a truth universally acknowledged. "You and Rex have a lot in common."
I straightened, sending her a raised eyebrow. How could I possibly have anything in common with a hamster, aside from the fact that I was fairly certain we both loved the woman smirking back at me.
"You're both the strong and silent type," she explained, crossing to retrieve her purse from the counter beside me. Her smile widened as she paused to hold my gaze then. "And you both spend a lot of time working out."
The laugh that escaped me was quiet, but the lack of volume didn't disguise the fact that it crept up on me, my usual, legendary control having wavered just enough to allow the mirthful sound past my lips unchecked. That was the kind of effect this woman had on me. She lowered my defences, broke down the walls I'd built around myself, and shone her light in through all the gaps in my armour she'd found. Reminding me what it was like to be human, to be vulnerable, to be… loved. And since I couldn't push aside the potential danger that created for her and myself, I had no choice but to strengthen my resolve to protect her. To hold her so close that nothing else could get to her.
I just had to make her mine first.
"Come on," I said, shaking my head at her assessment of both me and her pet. "We don't want to be late and invoke Mama's wrath."
On the drive, I listened to Steph break down every detail of how dinner at the Plum's had gone the previous night and tried to ignore the guilt that seeped into my lower stomach at knowing that my cancelling our cooking lesson was the reason she'd made the decision to eat with her parents, even knowing that she was condemning herself to the torture and ridicule her mother had been laying on her her whole life.
I'd tried to point out that the ingredients I'd had her buy contained every she needed to make at least one, if not two of the dishes she'd already learned, but she'd just shrugged it off, explaining that she was hoping we'd have a make-up call and didn't want to have to rebuy any of the ingredients.
"I did try to tell her I already have a boyfriend this time, though," she added as I pulled to the curb outside my parents house. "But she didn't believe me. And I think that's what hurts the most, you know. The fact that my own mother doesn't think can I land a guy without her help, that she needs to keep shoving these men in my face or risk me becoming an old spinster."
"Men is a bit strong a word to describe them, don't you think?" I countered, removing my seatbelt even as an unidentified fear sliced through me. Helen Plum was wrong on so many levels about her daughter's abilities and attractiveness. I know. I saw the way my men looked at her when she first started working at Rangeman three months ago. I'd had to take a number of them to the mats for making bets over who could land a date with her first. But honestly, I couldn't blame them for wanting to try. My gut clenched with longing everytime I looked at her. She could bring my entire company to its knees if she so desired. And there wasn't a single thing I would do to stop her.
What I did need to do, though, was get my ass into gear before I missed my opportunity.
"You're right," she agreed with a sigh, grimacing as she leaned her head against the headrest, peering at me. "Sorry I ranted about my mother the whole drive. It's probably the last thing you wanted to listen to after the week you've had."
"Rant all you like," I assured her, pushing open my door. "I don't mind. In fact, I think I know just what you need to feel better about how your Mom treated you."
Her eyebrows rocketed halfway up her forehead. "Oh?"
"Everyone gets a kick out of Mama taking me to task," I reminded her, reaching over to unbuckle her seatbelt too. "And it just so happens that I've let her calls go to voicemail no less than six times in the last twenty-four hours."
She hissed in a breath through her teeth, sending me a look of pure sympathy. "RIP Carlos Manoso," she said, grabbing up her purse from the footwell and opening her door. "Let's get the funeral started, shall we?"
I met her on the sidewalk, pausing briefly to steel myself as a zing of electricity ran up my arm when she tucked her hand into mine before we started forward together.
"At least the food at your wake will be good," she quipped, grinning up at me as I opened the front door and twin cries of 'Tio Carlos!' heralded my arrival, immediately followed by the sound of running feet heading our way.
Eduardo and Zelia rounded the doorway into the hall and I lowered my stance, ready to catch them when they inevitably launched themselves at me across the last few feet. The impact of two small bodies colliding with my own never arrived, however, as Steph stepped in front of me at the last second, intercepting them both by grabbing them around the waist and hugging them tightly to her as they struggled to get free.
"Woah, woah, woah," she said, laughter in her voice as she resisted their attempts to tickle her, instead retaliating with a tickle attack of her own. "What's so great about Tio Carlos? Every month you come running for Tio Carlos, but I'm here too. What about Aunt Steph?"
"Tia Steph," I corrected her, because keeping all the honorifics the same was simpler. And I planned on making her an official part of the family some day, which would give her the title of Tia to my nieces and nephews anyway.
"Tio Carlos is funny!" Zelia exclaimed through her laughter, flopping this way and that in Steph's hold. I was ready to catch all three of them at a moment's notice if any of them went too far and caused their precarious balance to topple.
"Funny?!" Steph questioned, her face and voice showing the kids exaggerated surprise as she looked between them and me. "This man doesn't have a funny bone in his body! I think you're mistaking him for Tio Lester. Lester is the funny one."
"Funny looking," Fi agreed, appearing in the doorway to the living room with Mama and Papa right behind her.
Mama gasped, hand to heart, and quickly closed the distance between us, skirting easily around Steph and the kids to wrap her arms tightly around me, burying her face in my chest. The tender moment was just that, though: a moment. In the next second, she'd pulled back and whipped a wooden spoon out of nowhere, whacking me once, twice, three times about the head and shoulders. "I thought you were dead!" she exclaimed. "You don't answer my calls, you don't call me back! Madre de dios!" She switched to Spanish then, berating me even more in her mother tongue as she herded me into the kitchen.
"See?" I heard Eduardo giggle as I uttered what must have been my tenth apology, crossing the threshold. "Tio Carlos is funny! He's big and tough like a superhero, but when Abuela's angry at him he's like a little baby."
Baby! I thought, standing straight and tall in front of Mama so she could inspect me and see for herself that I wasn't injured or dead. That did it, Eduardo was officially not my favourite nephew anymore. He may be my only nephew, but that didn't mean he had to be my favourite.
As Mama finished inspecting me, she moved to the stove, stirring the pots simmering there, then checking on the food in the oven as well as she continued to rant at me in that soothing slate of Spanish insults and admonishments I remembered fondly from my teens. I just took it all in. Not only had I endured much worse during my time in the army, but I knew worrying about me was how Mama showed she loved me. She'd finally paused long enough for me to properly apologise and explain the reasons for not answering her calls when Elena appeared in the doorway.
"Disculpame, Mama," she apologised for interrupting. "Papa needs Carlos's help with something."
My favourite sister coming through with the assist she owed me after the number of times I took the blame for her fuck ups in our youth. The likelihood of Papa actually needing my help with something when my brothers-in-law were all over at the house multiple times a week was slim, which made this a clear excuse. I looked from Elena to Mama, letting a question show on my expression until Mama threw up her hands.
"Go, go," she acquiesced, shooing me away with a few flaps of her hands. "A mother can't have a moment's peace around here without someone stealing it away."
To make up for the abrupt end to our time alone together, I rounded the counter she'd put between us, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek and assure her I loved her before following my sister out of the room.
"Thank you for saving me," I sighed, rubbing a hand over the back of my neck as she led the way down the hall, past the living room to Mama's sun room.
"Don't thank me," she said, turning to cross her arms over her chest as she eyed me with just as much intensity as Mama had a few minutes ago. "Steph was the one who mentioned you needed rescuing." She settled herself onto one end of the little lounge chair Mama liked to read in when it was nice out and eyed me even more critically. "And speaking of which, how are things going with you two?"
Us two. She spoke like Steph was already mine, like I was hers. And by god, I didn't want to blab about my feelings to anyone, especially not the woman who had proven extremely proficient at using such details as blackmail further down the track, but I also wanted a second opinion on the plans that were forming in my head. I dragged the footstool away from the lounge and sat down on it, facing Elena and trying to keep my breathing, heart rate, face even as I contemplated what I was about to do.
"I've been thinking of asking her," I admitted. "But I wanna make it special. I know she likes Italian food the best, so I was thinking of taking her to -"
"Isn't it a bit soon?" Elena interrupted, her brows winging into her hairline in alarm.
"Too soon," I questioned, my own brows heading in the opposite direction as they furrowed in confusion. "We've been working together for three months now," I pointed out. "And we met more than a year ago. You should know, you were there."
Despite the surprise still clear in her eyes, Elena let the corner of her lips tip upward in an expression that was so similar to the suggestive smirks I was used to seeing on Lester's face it was uncanny. "Working together," she repeated, inflicting some kind of meaningful emphasis that I didn't understand on the words. "Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"
"What are you talking about?" I demanded. She wasn't making sense.
"What are you talking about?" Elena countered, mirroring back my confusion now. Apparently we were on very different pages of this conversation.
I shook my head, frustration filling me up. I hated not being on the front foot. And I especially hated when Elena made me feel off-kilter. "I wanna ask Steph on a date," I gritted out.
Elena's body went very still, her expression slackening for a moment before slowly widening, realisation dawning. Finally she was getting it! Now she could help me plan the-
"Carlos," she whispered, leaning in close so that our faces were less than a foot apart. Her tone was the same one she'd used to call me an idiot time and time again, and I suddenly wasn't looking forward to whatever words she had lined up on her tongue. "You and Steph have been dating for, like, three months already."
What the fuck?
"I've been WHAT?!" I all but yelled, only managing to keep my voice down because of the last minute recollection that the rest of my family was beyond the door and I definitely did not want them all bursting in and demanding to know what was going on, especially with Elena sprouting off nonsense like that. "No I haven't."
She nodded slowly, leaning back a bit to glance over me. "Yes, you have," she assured me seriously. "Steph was telling me about it at my birthday drinks last month. You took her too Rossini's and that club you like. You went to the movies together. You have a weekly date night in your apartment." She was ticking them off on her fingers as she listed them. "She was even gonna introduce you to her parents until you got called away for work last week." And then her expression changed, realisation dawning a second time as she started to laugh. "Oh shit, that's why you haven't kissed her yet!" she exclaimed. "She thought you were just taking things slow, but I know you. Slow has never been your MO. Holy crap, just wait until I tell Fi and Celia! They're gonna flip!"
"You can't tell anyone," I commanded, reverting to the tone I used on my men because I was freaking the fuck out and I really needed to gain some control. Steph thought we were already dating. Elena thought we were already dating. How many people in this damn family thought we were already dating. Lester? Bobby? It would make sense given how close Steph is with them.
I ran a shaky hand through my hair, staring at my sister as I tried to figure out how to fix this. I couldn't believe it. It was like the Marco thing all over again. How the hell did I manage to live with these assumptions and not verify the facts? I was a fucking strategists for Christ sake. "I need to talk to Steph," I announced, surging to my feet and heading for the door.
"I'd say so, yeah," Elena agreed, still chuckling as I laid a hand on the door knob and wrenched it open.
"Don't breathe a word of this to anyone or I'll-"
"Pretty sure Mama would have your balls in a vice if you laid so much as a finger on me, Carlito," she reminded me. "But you don't have to worry. I'll keep quiet until you can talk to Steph. God knows we don't want another incident like Christmas on our hands."
I held her gaze for a long moment, weighing the truth and sincerity in her statement and for once not finding it lacking. There was a reason she was my favourite sister. She'd always had my back growing up, and apparently, just because I was a Special Forces soldier didn't mean I didn't need my little sister to back me up from time to time. "Thanks," I uttered, taking a deep breath and trying to gather as much calm around me as I could on the short stride to the living room.
Elena followed, patting me on the shoulder as she slid past me into the room and over to where her husband was chatting with Fi's boyfriend. Like they didn't have a care in the world. Lucky bastards.
My gaze landed on Steph almost immediately, her head snapping up to meet my eyes as I approached. "Can I talk to you outside?" I asked, trying for a casual tone and failing miserably as I jerked my chin toward the glass sliding doors that led out onto the patio.
Steph launched to her feet, abandoning the game she'd been playing with Poppy and Zelia, concern washing over her features. "Of course," she agreed. "Is everything okay?"
I shook my head, but I wasn't sure if it was in answer to her question or if I was just trying to tell her I didn't want to talk about it until we were outside. Mama had specifically told me I needed to start actually talking to people, having real conversations and real relationships, and I thought I'd been doing so well at it. Right up until about a minute ago when Elena dropped the bomb that I'd be blind to a very significant occurrence in my own life.
Once outside, I guided Steph over to the corner of the patio where we were mostly out of view of the living room, and took a deep breath. The only way out is through, I reminded myself. "It has come to my attention that I may have missed some social cues," I stated flatly, holding her gaze resolutely. "And after the events of last Christmas I thought it would be better to check sooner rather than later."
The concern on her face was coupled with a hint of fear now, and I wanted nothing more than for the ground to swallow me whole and save me from the rest of this conversation. "Sure," she said slowly.
I sucked in one last breath, and dived right in. "Are we dating?"
