Ranger was pleased by the warm welcome that Tank, Bobby, and Lester had given Stephanie. Her visit had been very last minute so there hadn't been time to completely clear his calendar, but the meeting with the Core Team shouldn't take long. He directed her to the breakroom and was certain she'd spend some time with Cal, who'd been lurking in the background.
During the short walk to his office, he wondered again what kind of flak he'd get for springing Stephanie's presence on them. These men had been at his side for decades and knew most of his secrets. Yet he hadn't told them exactly why he was suddenly going offline Friday through Monday. He was expecting to get comments once the business items had been dealt with. But would those comments be positive, negative, or would judgement be reserved? Based on the display he'd just seen, his friends would be fine with Stephanie reintegrating into his life – and theirs. Mentally, he crossed his fingers that he was seeing what was there, not projecting what he wanted to see.
Settling into the chair at his desk, Ranger automatically turned on his computer. Tank shut the door and the men arranged themselves in their usual seats with Tank and Bobby in the client chairs in front of his desk and Lester ensconced in the big armchair by the wall. Ranger brought up the internal security cameras for the control hub, and docked the main feed in the corner of his monitor. He didn't have the sound on as it was, after all, a Core team meeting, but at least he could see how things were going between Stephanie and Cal. Judging from their expressions, it was going very well indeed.
The four of them whipped through both items on the business agenda in a matter of minutes. There was a lull in the conversation and he could feel their eyes boring through him. Then Tank slouched the tiniest fraction, signaling the start of the informal part of the meeting. Ranger should probably begin the next discussion on the obvious topic but couldn't seem to open his mouth. His confession to Stephanie about adding stupid to the mix after she left was ringing in his head, and he wondered if that's what his friends were thinking about him letting her back into his life now, after he'd been hurt so badly before.
Tank cracked first. "So. We're still getting over the shock of Steph popping up out of nowhere after fifteen years. Then Saturday evening, just a couple of weeks later, we get a group text saying 'Stephanie's in Miami. We'll be at Rangeman Monday' and nothing else."
"At least you got the text before you ran into her," muttered Lester. "I was back at home." Ranger gave him a look and he continued. "I know, I know, I messed up your plan when I wasn't where I was supposed to be this weekend. It's okay. Really."
Ranger knew from Lester's tone that he was sincere, but inwardly he sighed. "I owe each of you an apology. This thing with Stephanie was unexpected, and on the one hand it feels like we're moving too quickly, but on the other it feels like we can't move fast enough. She was really nervous about seeing you guys, or any of the Trenton men, again. In her mind, she's built herself up as the bad guy to such a degree that she expects to be vilified and shunned on sight, and that got her panicky and terrified.
"But we wanted to spend more time together, so she came down here. She did want to meet up with everyone face to face but, like I said, she'd worked herself into a state about it. She asked if we could keep her visit confidential, and then play it by ear for the reunions. I agreed with her reasoning." Turning to his cousin, Ranger said, "In fact, Lester, she told me later that she'd been about to ask me to arrange the meeting with you when you showed up at the beach house."
"No special meeting for the rest of the Trenton men here?" Bobby's face was neutral, but Ranger knew him well enough to hear the faint whisper of hurt feelings.
"Not this time," Ranger explained, "and only because she didn't think she could handle more than one emotionally charged reunion, and for this trip, that was reserved for Lester."
He'd been checking the camera feed on the corner of his monitor frequently, and had watched as Cal's hesitation earlier had led to him having his own impromptu special meeting. Ranger wasn't going to tell Bobby that since he was feeling left out already.
"Makes sense," said Tank. "I suppose Hector would be third on her list if he was in town."
"Well," said Ranger, "now that she's broken the ice in person, taken that first step forward, I know that she'd love to hear from you on a regular basis. Steph prefers texting because it gives her time to think before responding, and takes the pressure off. Sometimes we do video calls. She's willing to speak with anyone that wants to say hello. She's just hesitant to be the one to initiate it. Not until she knows for certain that she's welcome."
Ranger knew that the warm greeting his friends had given her was a good start, but he really hoped they were prepared to spend more than a few polite minutes with Steph. Bracing himself for telling them the most significant bit of news, he cleared all expression from his face and sent up a quick prayer.
"When I got back from Chicago I told you that Stephanie and I were getting reacquainted and working through some past issues. You should know that things have progressed to the point where we have discussed getting back together. We are talking things through, trying to set a better foundation this time, but ultimately, we plan to resume our relationship."
A quick glance at the monitor showed Steph by herself, heading to the breakroom. A quick glance at his closest friends showed neutral or thoughtful faces looking back at him, but none seemed opposed. He continued.
"I know that previously, our connection was somewhat volatile –" Ranger wasn't sure if that snort had come from Lester or Bobby "– but circumstances have changed since then. We've changed. I really think that things between us will be much smoother, and won't be disruptive to you guys or to Rangeman."
When he finished speaking, he half expected one of them to protest but, if anything, they seemed reflective.
Lester cleared his throat, then looked at Tank and Bobby. "I told you both about unintentionally crashing their party Saturday."
"You didn't give details," Bobby said, "beyond that it was good to see her, and you were sticking around the office today so that you'd see her again before she left."
"Exactly," said Lester. "Once I got over the surprise, I was glad that I had the chance to talk to her. Get some answers. I know that none of us are the same people we were back then, but I can tell you that it seems as if Stephanie's changes have been significantly for the better."
"In what way?" Tank asked.
"More self-aware," replied Lester, "and staying out of denial. And I've seen first hand that she's actually doing the hard work of explaining her actions, and trying to make amends." He looked directly at Ranger. "I'm happy for you two, and I'm glad to have my friend back."
Muscles that Ranger hadn't known he'd clenched relaxed at that. Lester vouching for Stephanie was more than he'd hoped for, and should go a long way toward convincing Tank and Bobby that it would be okay.
Talking over each other, Tank, Bobby, and Lester fired questions at him. He held up his hand and got instant silence.
"Guys, we haven't worked out any of the logistics at this point so don't ask who's moving where, when anything's going to happen, or about employment and such. Once we know, you'll know. Now, I may lose points on my BAMF Card for saying this, but if you'll excuse me," Ranger took yet another peek at the camera feed then gave Tank a significant look, "I need to round up my girlfriend and introduce her to my cat."
Tank let out a booming laugh, the fucker. Bobby and Lester laughed along with him, but at least they were quieter about it. Ranger shut down his computer with one hand and flipped them all the finger with the other, but he couldn't help smiling as he did it. Their laughter let him know that everything was going to work out.
They all stood, and when Bobby put a hand on the doorknob, they dropped back into work mode. Bobby opened the door and they scattered, each man heading to the next item on his Shit To Get Done list for the day. Ranger headed to the last place he'd seen Steph on the camera feed.
When he walked into the breakroom, she was introducing herself to Digger and Water Boy. She was also eyeing a basket of muffins.
She looked over at the door when she heard his footsteps on the tile and smiled at him.
He put his hand out. "You ready to roll, Babe?"
"Sorry to run," she said to his men. "It was nice meeting you."
They returned the social courtesies as she came over and put her hand in his. He kissed the back of it, knowing full well the men would see it and gossip. Good. Let them spread the word. He led her over to the elevator.
"So," she said brightly, "I finally get to meet the awesome Mr. Fluffy Pants in person?"
"You finally do." He leaned forward as if imparting a secret. "And you get to meet Lupe who will bring us lunch."
"She's the Miami Ella, right?" Stephanie asked as she stepped into the elevator.
Ranger followed her in, noting in his peripheral vision the heads turning their way and peeking up over cubicle walls. As he turned to face the doors, he aimed his Boss Stare at the control hub and instantly everyone went back to minding their own business. He slid his security badge over the sensor then hit the button for his floor. They stepped off the elevator into the hallway, he input his code on the pad next to the door then pressed his thumb against the biometric reader. The lock clicked open and he ushered her in.
He had barely gotten the door closed behind him when he heard the thundering feet of Mr. Pants racing toward them, mewing as he ran down the hall. It warmed his heart when the cat was obviously glad to see him. Murmuring gentle greetings, he bent over to pat the cat who was rubbing his face on his pant leg.
"Oh gosh!" said Stephanie. "He's really big! And fluffy! And so pretty."
As soon as she spoke, Mr. Pants chirruped and went to her. She put her hand down for him to smell, then he started rubbing his head over it.
"It's official." Ranger smiled at her. "He likes you."
"Well I like him, too." She ran her hand down the cat's back. "He's so soft!"
Having Stephanie and Mr. Pants approve of each other made him happy. It was certainly easier to foresee a time when all three of them would live together in harmony.
"Let me give you a quick tour," he offered. "Half-bath by the door here, then the kitchen, living room and –"
Stephanie interrupted, "That door is the office and that one's the bedroom, right?" When he nodded she said, "This is laid out just like Trenton, isn't it?"
"It is." He watched as she stood in the office doorway and peeked in.
"Except for the cat trees and the giant wheel. What is that? It almost looks like a hamster wheel."
Ranger laughed. "It kind of is, Babe. It's the feline equivalent. Mr. Pants likes to go for a walk or a run throughout the day."
"Of course, even your cat exercises." She rolled her eyes then continued her inspection of his apartment. "The furnishings and the color scheme look similar to Trenton, too. Did you use the same interior designer?" She moved across the living room to the bedroom door. "This is nice, but it has that same generic, temporary accommodation feel to it as Trenton. I like the beach house much better. That's the one your grandmother owns isn't it? The one you lived in as a teenager?"
"Yes, though I own it now. She deeded it over to me a long time ago."
Stephanie stepped into the bedroom and he followed her as she looked around.
"I can tell the beach house has been updated, but it still has the original character and warmth," she said. "That feels like a home. And not just because it has a closet full of fun ways to pass the time. I like the way it –"
She stopped abruptly and gasped as she saw the nightstand next to his bed. It had been a long time since he'd gotten butterflies in his stomach, but he had them now. She'd seen it. He'd wanted her to, and had left it there so that she would. He hoped she would see it and realize how much it meant to him. How much she meant.
Slowly, she walked over and picked it up with her left hand. Staring intently, she lightly brushed the fingers of her right hand over the glass. The frame was glossy black metal. He'd wanted something plain, so that all focus would be on the photo.
Rangeman had been hired to work security at a charity ball in Philadelphia. Ranger had approached Stephanie because they needed a woman dressed like one of the guests to shadow the society matron in charge of the affair. Someone who could surreptitiously check the ladies room or, heaven forbid, take charge of a female suspect if something went wrong. The venue was upscale, with a grand sweeping interior staircase, so Stephanie had to look upscale too.
Ranger and his men had been kitted out in tuxedos, the better to blend in. Stephanie had radiated elegance in a sapphire blue cocktail dress, diamond and sapphire accessories, and metallic silver shoes. Lester, or perhaps Hal, had snapped the perfect photo of Ranger and Stephanie standing together halfway up the staircase. Her hand was in his, and his lips hovered over the back of it. Their eyes were locked together. Her cheeks were pink, and the warmth in his eyes said everything that he'd never said out loud.
Leaning around her, Ranger opened the drawer of the nightstand and let her see the other photos. Setting the framed photo back on the nightstand, she picked up the stack from the drawer and flipped through them.
The collection was small, but Stephanie was in every photo. Some had other people with her, like Ranger, or one of his men, or people in general. Some were from security feeds, others were cell phone snaps. In some of them she was vamped up for a distraction, in others she was dressed for kicking ass.
Turning her head to face him, she whispered his name with a touch of wonder.
"Hector made the prints," Ranger said quietly. "That first year you were gone, I'd find one on my desk every few weeks." He picked up the framed one. "I change out the photo from time to time, but this one is my favorite."
Stephanie's free hand came up to his face, resting along the curve of his cheek. Leaning into him, she raised her face up to him. He lowered his face toward hers.
Three sharp knocks on the door to the apartment broke them apart. He put down the framed photo, then took the stack from her hand. Carefully, he placed the photos back in the drawer and shut it.
"That'll be Lupe with our lunch," he said, heading back to the living room. "Apparently she's vying with Lester for the Worst Timing Ever champion."
Stephanie laughed and followed him out.
Ranger opened the door to a woman in her late thirties, with long black hair, brown eyes, and tan skin. He held the door and stepped to the side so that she could push a serving cart into the dining room. As she transferred two large bowls to the table, Ranger grabbed utensils and napkins from the kitchen.
"Stephanie, I'd like you to meet Lupe Hernandez. She's a chef and nutritionist and takes care of designing and cooking all the food in Rangeman Miami. She works with Bobby to craft menus for the personnel under his care, and she'll work with anyone on staff who asks. Lupe, this is Stephanie Plum."
The women exchanged pleasantries then Lupe slipped out, leaving the cart behind. When lunch was over, they'd put the dishes on it and leave it in the hallway.
Lunch was a salad with mixed leafy greens, chickpeas, grated carrots, tomatoes, and diced ham. Stephanie's salad had twice the number of croutons and ranch dressing to his balsamic vinaigrette. During lunch he talked to her about the personnel in Miami, and some of their clients. Hoping to entice her, he also spoke of what it was like to live in the Miami area.
Mr. Pants joined them at the table, sitting in his usual chair and staring hopefully. Once again, he was destined for disappointment. Stephanie, however, kept sneaking heartfelt looks at the cat who had long since perfected his Pitiful Victorian Waif act. Sensing that the newcomer was a better target for his Imminent Starvation routine, Mr. Pants focused his attention on her. Ranger knew he'd have to keep an eye on the two of them, or Steph would be handing out tidbits at the first sign of woeful kitty eyes.
After they ate, they gave the cat goodbye pats then headed off, putting the cart and dishes in the hallway. Ranger hit the call button for the elevator. It must have been down on the lobby level because it took a few minutes to arrive.
As they stepped into the elevator, Ranger outlined his plan for the rest of the day. They'd return to the house in Surfside but instead of taking the mainland route like they did this morning, he'd head further south and take the MacArthur Causeway across Biscayne Bay. Then they'd follow A1A north, stopping at various parks along the beach and at any store that struck her fancy. Somewhere along the way, they'd pick a restaurant for dinner. He had several options already lined up.
Stephanie started to reply as, with a cheerful ding!, the doors opened onto the lobby. The bullet resistant glass wall faced south so, despite the heavy tinting, the area was brightly lit with sunshine. Lester was at the reception desk, talking to Picot, a Fedex box on the counter between them.
Ranger stepped out of the elevator before Stephanie, which he knew went against the expectations of polite society and the concept of Ladies First. However, he had often been required to take point when escorting an asset in order to keep that asset safe. And yes, he knew that the tactic was completely unnecessary at this time in so many ways. This wasn't a mission, he wasn't her bodyguard, there was no one after either of them, and, most importantly, they were stepping into the lobby of his own damn security business.
And yet.
Ranger found himself driven by the need to keep Stephanie unharmed. Maybe his subconscious was afraid of losing her again, even though the last time had been because she'd walked away, not because some outside force had taken her. You don't spend a career in special operations without developing a few habits. Apparently some were harder to leave behind than others.
Trying to pull himself out of that mode, he made a point of walking next to her as they moved toward Lester and Picot. Then he tuned back into what she was saying.
"–at home again instead of at a restaurant but this time I'll cook since you've been doing all the work in the kitchen." Stephanie smiled at him, "Which I really appreciate. We just need to stop at a grocery store, if you don't mind."
"Beautiful, you learned to cook?" asked Lester. "Let me guess. You got tired of being hungry for food, but opening the fridge to find nothing but ingredients."
Stephanie laughed. "Something like that. It's nothing fancy, though." She shrugged one shoulder. "Quick and easy cooking is one of the things I learned from Kevin."
'Kevin?" Lester's face went blank, eyebrows drawn together.
Ranger knew that he was searching for a shared memory of someone named Kevin. During their time in Trenton there had been several versions of Eddie, Angie, and even a couple of Joes, Zips, and Ziggys. Hell, there were multiple Lorraines and Lorettas scattered over several generations of Chambersburg women. But there had only been one Kevin.
Looking very uncertain, Lester tentatively said, "The giraffe?" The rising tone of the word showed that it was a wild guess which he knew was incorrect even as he suggested it.
Ranger suppressed a grin because Lester had done the same thing that he had. Except he'd done it in Chicago with no witnesses to tease him later. He knew that Picot, who had developed a brief what the hell? glitch in his blank face, was listening intently and would soon spread this little tidbit throughout the company. It would only make sense to the Trenton alumni. Dios knew what the Miami contingent would make of it. Considering Lester's innate charisma, though, this odd little tale would likely just add to his legend.
Stephanie rolled her eyes, "Yes, because giraffes are famous for their culinary skills," she deadpanned. "Kevin is …" her eyes darted over to Ranger then back to Lester, "a friend I met after I left Trenton."
In the fraction of a second that her eyes had met his, Ranger had seen guilt and something else. Remorse maybe? Self-reproach? He had the feeling that she felt bad that she'd mentioned Kevin in front of him. Did she think that he would get jealous, or insecure, hearing her talk about someone that she'd shared her life with after him? If that's what it was, he'd make it clear that she needn't worry. He wasn't going to pretend that those fifteen years didn't exist. In fact, he was curious and wanted to know more, but only if she was willing to share.
The afternoon went pretty much as Ranger had planned. He made a point of taking her down Ocean Drive, which took a bit of maneuvering now that it was one way, and that way was the opposite direction to where they were headed. But the iconic Miami Beach street had appeared in movies and television shows for decades, and Stephanie had been tickled pink to see the ocean front parks and the Art Deco buildings in person.
It was close to dinner time when they neared the house. Earlier, she'd called it warm and said she preferred it to the apartment. When she'd talked about altering his plan for dinner, she'd called it home. He liked the sound of that, and hoped that's what it would be for them very soon. He stopped at the grocery store a couple of blocks away. With the exception of telling her where to find things, he let her take charge.
From the meat department, Stephanie bought a package of raw chicken strips. The produce department yielded a bag with a fresh vegetable blend that had been chopped and packaged right in the store, plus apples, pre-cut celery, and walnuts. She double checked that he already had plain yogurt, lemon juice, and raisins at the house. She had seen a bottle of a spice blend in the pantry that she wanted to try, but ran it past him in case it was one that he didn't care for.
"I know you said that Lester and his family spend a lot of time there, so I wasn't sure if that was something that only they liked," she explained.
Ranger shook his head. "We all have the same tastes so whatever you're planning is good."
When they got to the house, Ranger carried in the groceries then stayed out of her way while she prepared dinner. He'd offered to make himself scarce, but she said she didn't mind if he watched so he stayed. He chatted a little but not enough to distract her. Mostly he showed her where to find the various knives, bowls, and other cookware.
The chicken strips were sprinkled with the seasoning blend and laid out on half of the pan he'd used for the zucchini their first night here. The fresh veggie blend – white onions, yellow bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes – got a light coating of olive oil, salt, and pepper and was spread out on the other half of the pan. Stephanie then slid the pan into the small convection oven on the counter to roast.
While that cooked, she diced the apples and put them in a bowl of water with a bit of lemon juice so that they wouldn't turn brown. She only needed two of the pre-cut celery sticks. Those she chopped very fine. The raisins he had were the small boxes that the kids, and sometimes the adults, had for snacks. She added one of those, drained the apples, then put all the ingredients into one bowl and added half the package of walnuts, a few squirts of lemon juice and enough yogurt to coat everything.
"That," Stephanie said, as she tucked the bowl in the fridge, "is Waldorf Salad. I got the recipe from Kevin. He said you can also make it with sliced green seedless grapes instead of raisins. It's a side dish, but I thought we could use it as dessert."
"It looks delicious," Ranger said sincerely. "All of it looks really good."
And it was. With his first bite of the main dish, he knew he'd make it again for himself, and made a point of telling her, as well as thanking her for making dinner.
"So, you got the recipes from Kevin?" He was hoping to ease into a more general conversation about the man as they ate.
Stephanie finished chewing before she replied. "Sort of. I did get a couple of recipes but basically, Kevin taught me that convenience foods are okay. Buying pre-cut ingredients is okay. It's not cheating somehow if I don't make everything from scratch. I don't have to make the dough, then bake the bread, in order to make a sandwich. Or buy a cow to make my own milk and cheese. He said that anytime you put a meal in front of someone that they didn't have to make themselves, the only thing they should say is 'thank you' even if it's take-out." She smiled and blew Ranger a kiss across the table. "And you already did that."
Keeping his tone somewhere between neutral and polite interest, Ranger asked, "How did you meet him?"
There was a pause, and she took another bite. He had the feeling that the delay was more because she was enjoying the food and thinking about her answer than any reluctance to speak. Good, it seemed like she'd gotten over whatever embarrassment or guilt she'd felt when mentioning him earlier.
"Well, let's see." Stephanie looked up over his head, gaze inward, as she dredged up a memory. "I'd been going to therapy for over two years by then, so it was a little over three years after I left Trenton and he was the first guy I dated." Pausing, she looked him over as if considering how to proceed. "You might need a little background first."
She took a sip of water then continued. "I couldn't bear to be anywhere near Pittsburgh after what happened. Grandma Mazur worked some kind of magic with the senior's network and lined up a job for me as a worker's comp claims investigator. It was like Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, only instead of actors it involved somebody's grandson's neighbor's co-worker who knew a guy who knew another guy. Anyway, she helped me move to Cincinnati where the job was, on the condition that I get a counselor right away, which I did.
"I stuck with the counseling but after a year with the insurance company, I switched to a better paying job at a small law firm. It was in the same highrise as the building design company where Kevin worked. We'd see each other in the elevators, or the lobby or the parking lot. Eventually we started chatting and after a few months of that, he asked me out. Our first date was about three and a half years after I left Trenton."
So, she hadn't been that much ahead of him in jumping back into the dating pool. That surprised him. Whether it was because her beauty would have attracted someone to her, or her passion had called her to someone, he had expected her to have started dating long before that. Then again, The Incident, as she called it, would have been enough to throw anyone off track.
Ranger finished his meal and set his fork down on the plate. "How long before you got engaged?" Again, he tried to keep his tone light, non-judgemental. Dios knew he'd like that same courtesy from her in a few minutes.
"About a year and half." She pushed the last forkful of vegetables around on her plate before finishing them off. "We stayed together for about a year after that before we split up. It was amicable. A mutual understanding that while we got along well enough, we didn't have that extra spark."
Stephanie got up and pulled the bowl of fruit salad from the fridge. Ranger cleared their dishes from the table and set them in the sink. He got small bowls from the cabinet while Steph grabbed spoons from the cutlery drawer.
As they dished up their dessert he asked, "Was there anyone after that?"
She made a face. "Not really. I dated here and there but honestly, it seemed like more trouble than it was worth so I don't bother any more. I'd rather go out with my friends." She took another mouthful of fruit and pointed her empty spoon at him. "You've already talked about Linda in Trenton. How about after her? I've heard the name Rosario, and since Lester's kids know her, I take it that she's here in Miami?"
"Mateo's the only one of the kids old enough to really remember her. Tonio and Esme get excited because he's excited," Ranger said. "She owns a catering company in Dania Beach, north of here. It was one of those family set up things. Her grandparents were friends with my grandparents. Our families have known each other for decades though we're not close. It seems that my mother kept in touch with her mother."
He began clearing the table of the empty bowls, careful not to disturb the puzzle at the other end. "Mama said she was worried that I wouldn't have friends after I moved to Miami and suggested we at least meet up. I guess it's kind of like you and Kevin. Good but no spark. We get along fine as friends and we've been friends-only for three or four years now. We don't see each other per se, but we still run into each other from time to time."
When Stephanie asked if he had dated anyone after Rosario, Ranger paraphrased her answer. "I made a couple of half-hearted tries but it didn't seem to be worth the trouble."
They shared a look of understanding. While they'd managed to screw up their first attempt at being a couple, they had been meant for one another and no one else would do.
As had become their routine, they cleaned up after dinner and worked on the puzzle. They'd been taking their time with the task, concentrating more on the chat and the time spent together. Tonight they swapped stories of takedowns and investigations. Stephanie told him about the different defensive training courses she'd taken, and how she continued to practice regularly. Ranger was proud of her for staying committed and told her so.
They headed to bed sooner than they wanted, thanks to their early departure time for the airport the next morning. They said their good nights at her door, where he gave her a quick kiss then shut himself in his room. He was in his black silk boxers when there was a timid knock on his door.
Curious, Ranger opened the door to see what Stephanie needed. She was in a short sleeved t-shirt and sleep shorts, but she looked as sexy as if she'd been wearing the tank top and short-shorts that she used to favor. She was nibbling her bottom lip, shoulders hunched, with her hands clasped tightly in front of her.
Concerned, he asked, "Are you okay, Babe?"
Nodding, she said, "Yes, but I was wondering …" She trailed off then stood up straighter. "I was wondering if I could sleep with you tonight."
He hadn't expected that, but parts of him were very much in favor of it. Unexpectedly, the part of him that was most in favor of this suggestion was his heart. However, she'd been adamant about keeping things platonic and he was determined to keep to his promise.
"When I'm asleep, I can't guarantee that my body won't touch yours. In fact, as I recall, we tended to wake up wrapped around each other," he reminded her.
Ranger had loved those mornings. It had been such a treat to wake up with her either in his arms or draped across him. That sense-memory had gotten him through many a lonely night.
Stephanie blushed and met his eyes. "I'd be okay with that," she whispered. "I'd be okay with more than that, because I really miss your touch."
He felt his pulse hammering in his throat at the thought of it. Stepping back, he opened the door wider and swept one arm to the side. In a matter of moments, they were under the covers. Stephanie was on her side, knees up, one hand under the pillow, the other resting on the mattress in front of her. Ranger rolled from his usual position on his back to mirror her. Their faces were inches apart and he could feel the warmth of her body. Softly, he ran the tips of his fingers across the edge of her face, pushing aside her hair and tucking it behind her ear.
"So, I have your permission to touch you?" His voice was low, almost more breath than sound, as he asked for what he'd been wanting for weeks.
Her breath caught on the exhale as she said, "Yes."
Ranger's hand slid from her face to her shoulder, the knit fabric of her top bunching under it. Then he palmed her spine, gliding his hand down to cup her ass. He took a moment to circle his palm over the sweet curve of that cheek, the cotton fabric of her shorts smoothing down against her skin, then ran his hand along the back of her thigh. When he got to her knee, he pulled it up to lay across his hip, her calf behind him, then pushed his leg in between hers. His hand slid back to her ass and he flexed his arm to bring her hips closer in. Oh yeah. Even with both of them still clothed, this was much better. He could feel the damp heat between her legs against the hard muscle of his thigh.
Stephanie's hand drifted down, slipping across the silk of his boxers as she repositioned his length against her in a way that would benefit them both. Shifting, she tightened her leg against his ass, pulling him even closer as her hand skimmed along the bare flesh of his torso until it cupped the back of his head. She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him.
He curled his hips up into her and she made a sound that reverberated through his groin, making his dick twitch and eliciting a deep groan of pleasure. She responded with a whimper and an involuntary thrust of her hips. From there they moved against each other in ways that were familiar and never forgotten. The rising pleasure of one enhanced the pleasure of the other. Eventually, they reached the peak as Stephanie clutched him tightly, her breathing ragged and hoarse, and Ranger quickly followed her.
For a long time afterward, they held each other. Ranger was drinking in the feel of her body wrapped around his, as if he had a thirst that only she could slake. From the way she nestled under his chin, and kept her leg across his hips, he thought she might feel the same.
Eventually, she stirred, dropping her leg down, but she kept her arm across his waist. He'd been wanting to broach the subject of where they would settle and thought now, while they were both relaxed, would be a good time. Stephanie got the jump on him, though, and spoke before he could.
"I know that you might be thinking that next time, it'll be your turn to visit Chicago, but is it okay, if I come back here instead? I mean, Chicago is so cold right now, it wouldn't be any fun for you up there and if you don't mind having me around here, I'd love to spend more time with you plus I still need to make amends with Julie and I don't mean to be pushy but–"
Elated, Ranger kissed her to stop the flow of words spilling out. "I would love to have you come back. Besides, we have to finish the puzzle."
Smiling at him, she sighed and looked relieved.
"First, however," Ranger said, throwing back the covers, "I need a couple of minutes." He grabbed a fresh pair of boxers from his dresser and went into the bathroom. Right before he shut the door, Stephanie also got out of bed.
"Same. Be right back," she said as she left the bedroom.
As luck would have it, they returned to the bed at the same time. They got back under the covers and, as before, they lay on their sides facing each other. Earlier, she'd given him the perfect segue.
"Now that we've sorted out the next visit," Ranger said, "I'd like us to consider the next step. I know we said we'd take this slowly but I think it's going well enough to discuss where we'll end up, whether that's here in Miami, where you are in Chicago, or some other place we both agree on."
Wide-eyed, she stared at him. "You'd move for me?"
"If that's what we need to do, then yes. You have a career that is just as important as mine. However we decide to move forward with this, any compromises should be equitable and not one-sided."
Mouth agape, she continued to stare. Finally, she blinked a few times, then said, "I guess I had assumed that I'd have to make all the concessions."
Shaking his head, Ranger said, "No. This is a 'we' decision, not a 'me' decision."
She gave him a lazy smile, then laid her hand on his cheek. He felt the weight of her leg as it dropped across his hips once more, then she pulled his face down to hers and gave him a slow sensual kiss. When she finally broke off she said, "This may sound weird, but valuing my opinion and making my needs equal to yours is really hot."
Chuckling, he said, "Weird or not, I'll take it as a compliment."
"Oh it is," Stephanie assured him with a sassy little smile. Then the smile faded and her expression turned serious. "I've been thinking this over. Your business is location based, whereas my work is mostly remote. I only need to be in the office two days a week and there is one in the Miami area. You own multiple properties here. I rent."
Sitting up, she stuck a pillow behind her back as she leaned against the headboard. Ranger followed her example then held her hand and tangled their legs together.
She continued. "You have family and good friends in Miami, including Lester who is like a brother and best friend rolled into one, and his family who call you Tio Carlos. You've got Bobby and Tank who've been your besties – don't roll your eyes at the word, you know it fits – for decades. Your daughter and soon to be grandchild are in Miami. I have a couple of friends in Chicago, all of whom are work-friends, and some acquaintances, and none of whom I've known for more than three years.
"It makes the most sense for me to do the moving," Stephanie concluded. "As for how fast we're doing this, remember what you said before I came down. This is us. We make our own rules. Besides, we aren't two people who met a few weeks ago. Even if you take out the time we spent apart, we've still known each other for years. And this time around not only are we aware of the mistakes we made previously, but we're actively avoiding making them again and we're better equipped to do so."
Madre de Dios. He was only going to ask her to begin thinking about what they wanted to do, and how quickly they wanted to do it. He didn't expect actual decisions for quite some time. Weeks, or maybe even months. He meant it when he said he'd be willing to move, and really didn't expect her to lay out compelling reasons to choose Miami. The way she went through the list, Miami seemed the only logical choice and, even more importantly, Stephanie seemed fine, even eager, with the prospect of relocating.
"You make a very convincing case," Ranger told her.
She gestured with one hand. "I've spent years working for lawyers. I guess I picked up a few things."
"Since you'll be the one relocating, we'll move on your timeline. You could move in here right now and I'd be happy, so don't move slowly thinking I need time to adjust. I don't. All I ask is that you remember that the cat will live with us. He normally comes here with me on weekends."
"Will we be at the apartment during the week and here on the weekends?" she asked.
"We can split our time between locations like I do now, or stay solely at one or the other. We can try out each schedule and see what we like best."
"Okay. That'll work itself out. When I get back tomorrow, I'll start the transfer process. Oh!" Stephanie looked up at him. "I think I need to apologize for talking about Kevin in front of your employee."
"Don't worry about that," Ranger said. "It really doesn't matter. After all, we both have history from our time apart. I know I'm not the only man you've been with. But I hope that I'll be the last man."
With that, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. Despite heading to bed early, they ended up getting very little sleep that night.