Chapter 6

Three weeks later

Ranger POV

I made my way off the jet and down the steps onto the runway of the Trenton Mercer Airport taking in the fresh cold air. Parked at the front a Black SUV with Tank, Lester, and Bobby. standing at parade rest in their Rangeman uniforms waiting for me. I walked up to Tank coming face to face with him. He was half a head taller than me but I was still able to command over him. We stared at each other down blank faces in place for a minute before I pulled him into a hug.

"Welcome Back Rangeman" Tank said returning the hug. I then turned to Lester, Bobby, and Hector and repeated the same process.

"You're looking good cuz how was the trip?" Lester asked as we got into the first SUV.

"Long, Hot, and Successful" I responded the only other way to describe it might have been lonely considering it required me spending 4 months alone in a south american jungle tracking another drug cartel in order to take out their top leaders before returning home. I was just lucky that it didn't go FUBAR and I was able to attack at night so I only suffered a few bruises and cuts. This was my last year under contract so there was likely only to be one or two more missions before my time was up and I had to consider if I wanted to resign.

The rest of the trip was made in silence with me and Tank coming to an unspoken agreement to read me back into the company starting Monday. We made it back to Rangeman and since it was a Saturday there was a skeleton crew on for the day. So I headed straight up to my apartment to shower, eat the wonderful welcome home dinner made by Ella which included all of my favorites, and eventually sleep. I woke up at 0500 and decided to forgo the gym and go for a run around Trenton.

I was about 3 miles from Rangeman when I passed the Food Bazar supermarket and decided to stop and get some water and a protein bar before continuing. Normally I wouldn't need to stop but I was still in a recovery stage from my mission. I was standing in the aisle looking at the different protein bar options when a gorgeous curly haired blue eyed brunette collided into me before she fell to the floor. I felt a spark of electricity run down the back of my neck as I grabbed her hands and helped the woman stand up.

"Oh gosh, are you okay? I'm so sorry. I'm such a klutz." The last part was whispered to herself making me believe I wasn't meant to hear it. She was carrying a basket and a few of the items had spilled out so I helped her pick up her items.

"No worries Babe accidents happen." I gave her my 200 watt smile just to assure her it was alright and placed the items back in her basket.

She started to return a smile of her own when her face dropped and she frowned after looking down at my arm "Oh you're bleeding! We should" She didn't finish her sentence before pulling me a few aisles over to the first aid and taking gauze, rubbing alcohol, and wrap tape off the shelf and opening them. "I'm Stephanie by the way." she said as she cleaned up the blood with the alcohol and some of the gauze.

"Carlos" I replied, wincing as the alcohol made contact with the wound that had managed to reopen from my mission. She placed some fresh dry gauze over the area and then used the tape to secure it before cleaning up the mess by stuffing the used bloody gauze and stuffing it back in the package before placing all of it in her basket. "Well it was nice to meet you Carlos. I'm sorry it couldn't be under better circumstances. I hope you have a nice day."

"Where do you think you're going, Stephanie?" I asked, grasping her elbow and pulling her back.

"Oh um well I have a few more things that I needed to get and then I was going to check out." She replied as her face turned an adorable pinkish color.

"I can't let you pay for those." I said reaching to grab the items from her basket but she shifted it away from me. "Babe"

"Sorry Carlos this was my fault I can't let you pay for them." She argued.

"The wound was already in existence." I countered. She scrunched up her nose contemplating what to do next before she sighed.

"I'm not gonna win this am I?" she asked. I shook my head letting her know I wasn't going to back down. "What if we split the cost?"

I contemplated for a minute before deciding that neither of us were about to back down so a compromise would have to work. "Okay" I finally responded.

We picked up some chocolate chips and sugar from the baking aisle and we were on our way to check out when she stopped briefly after noticing the flower aisle. It was almost valentine's day so the displays were filled with displays of love. She sighed but didn't say anything before quickly moving on. She placed her items on the belt and moved to bag up her items at the other end. I took that opportunity to slip the cashier my credit card and already completed the purchases before she noticed.

"Carlos!" She scowled at me but I could tell that she was also fighting the urge to smile. "You shouldn't have done that." she said as we started the walk to her car after I picked up two of her bags and she took the third from the belt.

"Don't worry about it Babe."

"But now I owe you."

"Is that such a bad thing?" I flashed another smile at her.

Her face blushed again as her eyes looked everywhere but my face before she answered. "I guess not but how can I repay you?"

"Go on a date with me?" I offered. I surprised even myself as I wasn't normally someone who dated but I just couldn't help it. I wanted to get to know this bombshell of a babe standing in front of me.

She contemplated a moment before responding. "7:30 next Friday you pick the place." she replied.

"Where should I pick you up?"

"The three story apartment building on the corner of St. James and Dunworth apartment 202."

"See you then Babe." Then I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek before opening the door to her car so she could get in. As I watched her drive away I could only laugh at myself that I hadn't gotten any of the things I originally entered the store for. I quickly walked back in and picked out a granola bar and some water before continuing my run.