The transfer takes a little longer than three weeks. Mariela and Marco drive to Trenton with their children and furniture. They want their children to thrive in their new environment. I think it's too much, but I didn't have children to consider while moving. Ranger claims his niece and nephew are happy to return to Trenton and want their house to look the same.
Mariela and Marco own a house a few blocks from Rangeman. A few of Ranger's employees currently live in the house and will have to relocate when Mariela's family arrives. The men will move into the onsite apartments the rest of us are vacating. Ranger's apartment will be the only inaccessible unit inside the Trenton branch. It's the same setup he has in Miami and Boston.
Ranger and I went to Miami for a few days after Bonnie's death. I felt horrible that I couldn't stay with Zack longer than the week. Tyler needs to learn a new routine, and I'm unwilling to interfere, especially when I need to keep my scheduled appointments in Trenton. The clients didn't want to push their meetings too long, and negotiating a contract with a new representative isn't ideal for improving Rangeman's reputation or maintaining their relationship with the companies. I set up the renewal meetings, so I had to meet the clients.
I'm skeptical about spending time with Zack's adorable nephew, Tyler. The boy has large blue eyes and curly hair. If people didn't know better, they would assume he was my child. I couldn't help falling in love with him. Nobody can replace his mother, and I'm afraid Tyler will resent me for trying to take her place. I've seen it happen in the Burg.
Brady, Tyler's father, is in jail for murder. To protect Tyler, the judge denied bail to Brady. It's for the best until Brady's case goes to trial and a jury of his peers finds him guilty of aggravated assault and murder. Would Brady sign away his parental rights for Zack to adopt his nephew? Does Zack expect me to adopt Tyler? I shake my head at the thought. I'm not ready to be Tyler's mother. Why? I don't know. My heart is open to the possibility of raising Tyler with Zack. It's my mind that I need to convince.
Zack is living in a house on the beach. It's one of Rangeman's safe houses. I love the layout and the size. The house is exactly what I want to own. Maybe Ranger will sell it to me when I move in with Zack and Tyler.
Someone knocks on my door as I'm putting on my last earring. "I'll be right there," I holler, hoping whoever is interrupting my process is patient enough for me to answer. I'm smiling when I exit my bedroom. Finding nobody sitting in my living room means the men get the hint that I would open the door when I'm ready to let them come inside. I open the door, finding Ranger leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He's wearing a black Armani suit, black shirt, and paisley tie. "I like the blues in your tie," I tease. Ranger gives me a half smile. "Are you accompanying me to the meeting?" I close the catch on my earring and wave an arm for him to enter.
"Babe," Ranger replies, earning an eye roll. He must be joining the meeting because Hal and Lester are unavailable today. Ranger examines me from head to toe. My black skirt and blue blouse fit perfectly, showing off my curves without being slutty or giving the wrong impression. He stares at my feet. "Are you forgetting something?"
I lift a foot to wiggle my toes. "My shoes are beside the couch," I reply, laughing. Ranger enters my apartment to collect my shoes. He sets them in front of me, making it easy to slide my feet into the comfortable three-inch leather heels. Ranger points to the leather messenger bag on the coffee table. "Yes, I do need that today. It contains the contracts and an iPad." I smile and accept the bag from Ranger, carrying it from the handle instead of pulling the strap over my head. He folds my jacket over his arm, knowing I will put it on when we arrive at our destination.
When I climb into Ranger's Porsche 911 turbo, he passes me a small gun with my jacket. I accept the weapon and tuck it into my waistband at the hip. The jacket will hide it from view. Ranger isn't aware I have a knife tucked away in my stocking. He can't see it because I have it on my inner thigh on the left leg. The thin leather sheath protects me from accidentally cutting myself. I never attend client meetings without my knife strapped somewhere on my body.
Ranger parks his car near the Rangeman cameras on the exterior of the law office's building. Someone in the control room will watch his car while we're conducting business with the firm's partners. I wait for Ranger to open my door. It gives him time to assess our surroundings to ensure our safety. One could never be too careful. I jump, unsheathing and holding my knife, when a car backfires. Ranger grins as I return the knife. "Babe," he growls.
"Did you honestly think I would go anywhere unarmed?" I ask.
"A knife?" he questions.
"It fits nicely in my stocking without feeling uncomfortable," I reply, shrugging my right shoulder. He holds my jacket so I can slip my arms inside. I bend over to grab the messenger bag from the floorboard. Ranger watches for threats until I close the door. He clicks the car's fob until the horn chirps, locking the doors and arming the alarm.
Our meeting starts with Ranger and I swapping seats. I don't question his intention, passing it off as always sitting to Ranger's left during meetings. Ben Connolly's assistant joins us, sitting across the table from me, which is the only seat available. Smiling politely, I say, "Thank you for meeting us today, Mr. Connolly."
"It's always a pleasure, Ms. Plum," he replies. Ben's hair is already starting to turn grey. He's my age and has two young daughters with his wife, Carol.
"Please, call me Stephanie or Steph," I remind him. He politely agrees to use my preferred name.
"Who is Mr. Dark and Handsome?" Ben's assistant asks under her breath. I didn't think Ranger and I were supposed to hear her question. She winks at Ranger. I'm wrong. Her behaviour is unprofessional and unwelcome. Ranger never mixes business with pleasure. He adds that line to every client contract to maintain Rangeman's reputation and reassures the clients we will not condone outrageous flirting from their employees or ours.
"Rhonda, can you retrieve the previous Rangeman contract from the file room?" Ben asks. Ranger knows I have a copy in my bag. It's standard procedure when renewing the security contracts. Ben wants a private conversation before we get down to business. Rhonda pouts and leaves the room. Ben ensures she isn't lurking behind the door. "I apologize for her unprofessional comment. She's Gary Smith's niece and Carol's best friend."
I inhale a sharp breath. Ben's stuck between a rock and a hard place. He can't fire Rhonda without it affecting his working relationship with Smith or his life at home. 'What happened to her last job?" I ask, attempting to get this conversation over before Rhonda returns.
"Fired for sleeping with a married senior partner at Williamson Barristers and Solicitors," Ben replies. "She's working here for Gary to keep an eye on her. I'm stuck having her as my personal assistant."
"Is Gary joining us?" Ranger asks while I remove the file folder from the bag and set it on the table. Ranger watches from the corner of his eye as I open it to remove three contracts. I'm unsure which one will catch Ben's attention. Mr. Smith is a penny pincher and expects the best security at the least cost.
"Unfortunately, he's in court today," Ben answers, explaining why I'm meeting him instead of Gary Smith.
"I'm sorry to hear that," I politely reply. "Is the firm satisfied with Rangeman's services?"
"We are. How much will it affect our price if I add cameras to Gary's and my offices?" he asks.
"Have you discussed this with Mr. Smith?" Ranger questions, resting his hands on the table.
"Gary and I are equal partners. I don't need his approval to negotiate a contract. He wouldn't want his office monitored, but having Rhonda as my assistant, she has full access to my office and files stored within," Ben replies. "I deal with a lot of wealthy clients."
"Which is a smorgasbord for gold-digging women like Rhonda," I say.
"Your current contract doesn't utilize all the equipment Rangeman provided for the office," Ranger says while reading the old contract. "We can omit the hardware in Gary's office and install both cameras in yours."
"I drafted a contract with those changes," I say, surprising Ranger. I slide the papers toward Ben. He reads them and signs his initials on the dash beside the paragraph. Ben methodically peruses the document, adding his initials upon agreeing with the terms. "When will the installation team handle my office?"
"After office hours tonight," I reply, messaging Hector and Manny. They will take a longer afternoon break before finishing their shift with the installation.
We have the contract signed when Rhonda returns with her blouse unbuttoned to her bra line. It's over the top and inappropriate.
Ranger and I stand when Ben slides Rangeman's copy across the table. "Thank you for meeting me today," Ben says.
Rhonda asks, "Where is everyone going?" She's undressing Ranger with her eyes.
He ignores her and shakes Ben's hand. "It's a pleasure doing business with you," Ranger says. "If you have any questions, call Rangeman. Someone will return your call immediately." Ben understands the hidden meaning that neither Ranger nor I will be in Trenton to handle any emergencies. Again, he thanks me for taking the meeting with him instead of passing it off to another client service representative.
I block Rhonda's path as she attempts to grab Ranger's arm. She inhales and exhales dramatically in anger, debating whether to gouge out my eyes or yank my hair. Maintaining my composure, I say, "It was nice meeting you, Rhonda. I hope you enjoy working at Smith, Connolly and Winston. Have a nice day."
We manage to exit the building without Rhonda getting in our way. I wait until we're inside the Porsche before laughing. The tinted windows prevent Rhonda from seeing us outside Ben's office. "Babe?" Ranger asks, turning the ignition to start the car.
"Rhonda couldn't have screamed "desperate" more," I laugh. "She reminds me of Barnhardt. I bet she wants to screw you silly and steal your money. Hopefully, you have an ironclad living will to protect you from that type of viper. Women like Rhonda would trick you into signing everything over to them. It's a shame we're leaving Trenton tonight."
"Why?" Ranger questions. His lip curls into a smile.
"We'll miss the dramatic performance when she realizes you're gone and can't sink her nasty, sharp talons into your flesh," I laugh.
"I can have the control room record her reaction," he offers.
"Nah. Rhonda isn't worth it," I reply, waving my hand dismissively. "I'm sure we'll encounter the same issue in Miami."
My watch chimes. "Babe?" Ranger asks.
"It's time for my injection," I reply. Ranger quirks a brow. "I have one more hormone shot before my doctor's appointment in the morning."
"Didn't you have viable specimens from last month?"
"No," I sadly reply.
"I could offer assistance," Ranger offers.
Rolling my eyes, I reply, "It isn't necessary. Zack and I have everything arranged."
"Proud of you, Babe," he says, laughing.