CHAPTER 41

DAY 83

Saturday Evening

RANGER POV

I was working late in my office when my phone alerted me someone had used the code to disarm Stephanie's apartment alarm. Monitoring her security system violated my promise not to track her comings and goings, but she'd left me no choice. It wasn't financially feasible to station my men in her parking lot 24/7, especially since Hector and her parents said she checked in regularly.

I entered her apartment, carefully checking for intruders, and breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the shower running. While I waited, I looked around to see if I could find clues to where she'd been. There was some kind of kitchen tool with a hand crank on the counter that hadn't been there before. I picked it up and read the name on the front… spiralizer. It didn't make sense that Stephanie would have a cooking instrument. She hated cooking.

Knowing Stephanie's penchant for long showers, I took a seat in the dark corner of her bedroom. While I waited, I thought about the first time I met her at the diner. She was attractive in a girl-next-door way but not my usual type. The more we worked together, the more I became fixated on her, to the point of obsession. My MO had been to seduce a beautiful woman until I'd had my fill and move on. I liked the challenge, not the relationship. It was about physical gratification and ego. Stephanie wasn't the type to have casual sex, so I proposed the deal, hoping to sate myself and move on like usual. Once inside her, I knew I'd bitten off more than I could handle, but a permanent woman had never been in my life plan.

Steam wafted out when Stephanie opened the bathroom door, shrouding her in mist. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness, making it easy to see she had a towel wrapped around her and secured between her breasts. "Where have you been?"

Shrieking, she twirled around with a 9mm pointed straight at my heart.

This was new.

"Ranger!" She blew out a frustrated breath as her whole body sagged. "Don't ever do that to me again! I could have shot you!"

"Since when do you walk out of the bathroom with a gun?"

"Since now." She turned her back on me and placed the gun on her dresser before pulling an extra-long t-shirt from a drawer. "I guess this is what I get for forgetting to secure the bar across the door and the floor bolt," she muttered.

Even though I was angry at her for leaving town, watching her in the soft light coming from the bathroom had my dick getting hard. I needed to touch her. I got up and flipped the light on as I went to her. My blood ran cold when I saw the bruises on her shoulders and arms. I ran my hand over them. "What the hell happened to you?"

She looked up at me for the first time. "What do you mean?"

I let out a low growl when I saw her black and blue jaw and split lip. "It looks like someone beat the shit out of you!"

"No one hurt me. I mean… it hurt when I got the bruises, but I asked for it."

She wasn't making any sense. She pursed her lips and then opened her mouth to speak and then closed her mouth and seemed to think about what, if anything, she was going to say. I couldn't wait for her to make up her mind. I needed answers now. "You've been gone for three months. Where have you been? Who did this?"

"I can't say."

"Can't or won't."

She stepped back and glared. "What's with the third degree?"

"You're bruised all over and pulled a gun on me."

"I wouldn't have pulled a gun on you if you'd knocked liked a normal person and waited until I let you in."

"Babe?"

"You break into my apartment and expect me not to protect myself? Don't do that anymore. Learn to knock on the damn door!"

Ignoring her rigid stance and angry words, I carried on because I needed answers. "Are you going to answer my question? Who did this to you?"

"Are you going to tell me where you've been?" she asked. "I seem to recall you saying something about going away to take care of bad business. How'd that go? Did you get hurt?"

"I'm fine, and you know I can't tell you about where I went or what I was doing."

"Alright." She nodded. "I can respect your privacy as long as you respect mine."

She was standing up to me. I wasn't used to it, and I didn't like it, even if she did have a point.

"Look, I know you care about me, but I needed time to deal with what happened." She picked up a braided bracelet I'd never seen before and put it on.

"Understandable, but that doesn't explain the bruises."

She blew out a breath. "I got them from training. Are you happy now?"

"Training?"

"Yes, I've been getting training. Is that so hard to imagine?"

That hurt more than I could say. In fact, I was insulted. Didn't she think I was good enough to train her? "Why didn't you come to me for training. That offer has always been on the table."

"I feel guilty about how much time and money you spend keeping me safe. I didn't need to add training to the list of things I owe you."

My frustration level was rising. "Money doesn't factor into your safety."

"I appreciate you saying that, but it's not just about the money. I didn't want anyone laughing if I failed. I don't want to be your or anyone else's entertainment."

Again, with the fucking entertainment. When would that stupid line die? I hadn't meant anything by it. Now it wouldn't leave me alone. "No one would laugh at you."

She rolled her eyes. "Everyone laughs at me. Going away for training was the right thing to do."

"Who trained you?" If they were any good, I'd know them.

"I'm not getting into specifics; just know I did well. I'm proud of myself."

"I'm always proud of you, Babe." I pulled her into a hug. Instead of melting into me, she stiffened before relaxing only marginally.

"I'm tired. Can we talk later?" She pulled away far sooner than I'd liked.

"You're not going to run off again, are you?"

"I have no plans to leave town for a while, promise."

"Have dinner with me tomorrow evening? I'll have Ella make your favorites." She had regained most of her lost weight and even made new muscles. Her body looked better than ever. Her training routine must have been demanding.

"Ella doesn't need to go to any extra trouble. I'll have whatever you're having."

"You'll willingly eat twigs and bark?" I was trying to lighten the conversation.

"Yep." Her eyes twinkled, and she grinned. "Maybe she could throw in some grass?"

"Babe." I leaned in to kiss her but stopped when she stepped back. Apparently, she was still holding firm to the boundaries she'd set. There would be no more sneaking kisses or touches… and I'm guessing no getting naked, either. I'd hoped she'd forgotten. But I still needed to feel her, so I attempted another hug, and this time, she gave in for a few seconds before pulling away.

"Right now, I really need to sleep."

"Sleep well." Reluctantly, I left and waited outside her door until I heard her reset the alarm and bolt the door.

On the drive back to Haywood, I thought about all the changes I'd noticed. She wasn't the same soft Steph. She seemed tougher and more confident. I had no idea what this new Stephanie was capable of. I felt like I was knocked off balance and didn't like it. I wanted the old Stephanie back.

AN: Ranger invited Stephanie to dinner on seven. How do you think that will go? Will she stay firm in her resolve of friendship only or revert back to old patterns? Leave a review and let me know.