2,476Disclaimer: All characters belong to Janet Evanovich, except the ones that are mine. I'm only playing with them and I promise to send them home unharmed, although Ranger may be a bit dehydrated.
Warning: Language, Smut Alert, Quotes from all 18 books, Bad writing, Absent Muse, Writer's Block, Real Life! You know the drill … Also Taking literary license here! I've given Quakerbridge Mall a few upscale stores that they don't really have.
A/N: Thank You to Miranda, Comma Correctionista and Hyphen Houdini, for Editing, and Beta-ing Love, to Kashy, Friend Extraordinaire, and to Lisa, Burggirl, Maggie, Di, Kat ,Katbaby … you know who you all are! Without your laughter and friendship, pep talks and support, as well as encouragement and letting me rant, I'd be living under a rock someplace.
And Thank You to Everyone who has read and reviewed Love … Love wouldn't be Love without you.
And a special 'Thank You' to the Cupcake who inspired this story.
What I Did For Love
Stayce
(XJerseyGirl)
Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart.
William Butler Yeats
I read once that the ancient Egyptians had fifty words for sand and the Eskimos had a hundred words for snow.
I wish I had a thousand words for love, but all that comes to mind is the way you move against me while you sleep.
And there are no words for that.
Anonymous
Chapter 38: Everlasting Love!
It was early afternoon when Ranger slipped into the bedroom from the garden. He'd snuck back to the house after his little "chat" with the FBI by climbing over the wall and sneaking in through the French doors. Of course, the Merry Men on monitor duty knew he was here. Mom and Ella were clueless. They were too busy facing off in the kitchen … and in the living room, and in the den, and in the hall, and in the dining room, and in every other room in the house for that matter.
I thought we had laid the Great Tomato Soup Smackdown to rest, but no. Neither Mom nor Ella was willing to go home and leave the other one in charge. Their constant dirty looks and sniping at each other had gotten on my last nerve, and they were driving me, and everybody else in the house, absolutely crazy.
Even in the master suite, as far away from them as I could get, I could still hear their nonstop bickering. The house was a battlefield, with neither woman willing to give an inch, and I just couldn't take it anymore! Since I seemed to be the prize they were vying for, I'd even locked myself in the bedroom. I refused to open the door or even talk to them. Did they get the hint? Oh, hell, NO!
Ranger came into the bedroom, and I rushed him. "OMG! Ranger! They're trying to kill me!" I sniveled, grabbing him by the front of his shirt in desperation. "You have to make them stop!"
"They who?" He moved to pull his gun. "Where are they?"
"Mom and Ella!" I pointed toward the kitchen.
"Jesus, Stephanie! Are you trying to give me a heart attack? I thought you were serious!"
"I am serious!" I shouted at him.
"Stephanie," he took me by the shoulders, "you're over-reacting. Really, how bad could it be?" Obviously, Ranger never had to deal with people intent on driving him crazy. And no, I didn't count!
"They're driving me nuts with this competition! They each cooked me a different breakfast," I griped. "And then they stood there, watching like hawks, waiting to see which one I'd choose."
"Two breakfasts … well that must have been hell!" Sarcasm … from Ranger. Humph! I made a pissy face, but he just kissed me, toed off his boots and stretched out on the bed. "So what did you do? Eat both?"
"No! I was afraid to eat! I didn't want to set off their next round, so I skipped breakfast … and lunch!" He reached up to loop on arm around my waist and hauled me down onto the bed next to him.
"Why didn't you just make yourself a peanut butter and olive sandwich?" he asked. "I made sure we stocked everything you needed."
"I tried, but they wouldn't let me have a knife," I whined. "They said I'd cut myself!" I grabbed handfuls of my hair and yanked it. "Arrrggghhhhhhh!"
Ranger, the rat, actually belly laughed. I tend to forget how entertaining he thinks I am. "Ah-hah!" he chuckled. "No wonder you're in such a foul mood. The beast hasn't been fed!"
I gave him a half-hearted smack on the arm. "Not funny!" I snarked. "I'm starving!"
Ranger reached for his phone and punched a number. "Zero, you in civvies? I have a top secret mission for you.
"Top secret?" I mouthed.
He nodded. "Food run," he said to Zero. "Get enough for everybody and bring it to the pool house. Mrs. Plum and Ella cannot find out."
Ranger looked over at me. "So, what are you hungry for? Chinese? Italian? Deli?"
"Yes!" I jumped up and did a happy dance on the bed.
He smiled and shook his head indulgently. "Choose one."
"Chinese!" I snagged his wrist and pulled the phone close so Zero could hear me. "Ranger will have wonton soup, jumbo shrimp, brown rice, and veggie stir fry. I want eggrolls and lettuce wraps and special fried rice and Mongolian beef and potstickers and honey-ginger chicken and … and … and fortune cookies!" I could barely talk for the saliva pooling in my mouth.
Ranger cocked an eyebrow at me. "Dieting, are we?"
"Oh, har-de-har-har!" I stuck my tongue out at him. "Got all that? Thanks, Zero!"
Ranger dropped his phone back on the bed table and yawned. "Come here!" Eyes closed, he held out his arms and I snuggled right into them.
"Do I want to know how it went with the Feebs?" I asked.
He snorted. "We've reached a mutual understanding. I'll share my information with them, and they'll stop pestering me about where that information comes from."
"Do they know I'm alive?"
"They suspect."
"Are they going to keep looking for me?"
"Oh, yeah!"
"But why?"
He opened his eyes and looked at me. "Stephanie, even if the whole Abruzzi Family agreed to rat each other out, you're really the only credible witness to Little Paulie's murder. You're the only one who has nothing to gain by testifying. To the FBI, you're the Holy Grail of witnesses."
"Great!" I sighed. "Why can't we just tell them I'm alive and willing to testify, and that you're hiding me out?"
"The Feds like to think they're in control. They'd want you in their protective custody."
"Isn't that what this is?" I waved my hand around at the safe house.
He barked a laugh. "Not hardly! They'd probably slap you in some federal prison for safe keeping, incommunicado and in solitary confinement."
"Swell!" I shuddered at the thought.
"Look, their motives may be self-serving, and their measures may be extreme, but they do want to keep you alive. If word gets out that you aren't dead, you'll be a target for the Abruzzis again. Malvolia Abruzzi may have wanted to kill you to avenge her son, but the rest of the Family will want you to disappear so you can't testify against them. They can't afford to let you live."
This was getting scary and I blew out a shuddering breath. "This just keeps getting worse and worse, doesn't it?"
Ranger tightened his arms around me. With a hand on my cheek, he tipped my head back so he could look into my eyes. "We just have to be careful, not take any chances, and get you out of town."
"You make it sound so simple," I said.
"It is. You'll be protected every step of the way by men you know and love, every one of them willing to catch a bullet for you."
"Right!" I sighed, remembering how many other times we'd been in this same situation. "And we know how well that works," I muttered under my breath.
Ranger must have heard me. "It will," he said firmly. "If you take some responsibility for your own safety. That means cooperating with all the security measures we've put in place."
"What are you talking about?" I think Ranger just insulted me. "I always cooperate!"
He cocked that damn eyebrow at me. "And that's why you stunned Hal, right?"
I cringed. "Well, that was a long time ago and there were extenuating circumstances. I've learned a lot since then."
"Look, I know you hate rules and regulations, and being ordered around, and told what and when and how to do things. But in this case, that's what's going to keep you alive!"
"I know." I'd heard all this before.
He gave me a little shake. "I mean it, Stephanie. No dumping your trackers, panic buttons, or cell phone. No ditching your gun or bodyguards. No sneaking out anyplace! No going it alone because you have cabin fever or need a Tastykake fix, or because there are extenuating circumstances. This isn't a game. Breaking the rules can get you dead."
"I get it! I get it already!" I snarked. "I'm not stupid!" Pulling out of his arms, I rolled off the bed and stormed across the room to look out the French doors at the covered patio. I did … get it, that is, and as much as I hated to admit it, I knew he was right.
I stood with my back to Ranger, my arms wrapped around myself. I just hated having my nose rubbed in the fact that I hadn't always taken my own safety seriously. I hated that Ranger had bled money to bail my sorry ass out of trouble more times than I could count. I hated that he didn't trust me to follow orders, and it really pissed me off that, suddenly, I was all weepy about it.
Ranger came up behind me and circled his arms around my shoulders, hugging me back against him. Leaning his cheek against mine, he whispered "I'm not trying to make you angry, Steph." He pressed a gentle kiss against my temple, where the barrel burn from Joe's gun still flamed, red and angry and sore.
"I know," I whispered, and rested my hands on his forearms.
"I have to be able to trust that your safety is as important to you as it is to me. It can't be a one-sided deal anymore. I keep you safe because I love you. You have to keep yourself safe because you love me."
I sighed in resignation and raised my right hand. "I swear that I will obey the rules, follow orders, be aware of my surroundings, and not bitch, piss, or moan about being held in captivity." Folding down all my fingers but my pinky, I turned my head to look at him. "I do so solemnly Pinky Swear!"
He did his silent laugh thing and linked his pinky with mine. "Pinky swear, smart ass," he said affectionately, and we sealed the deal by kissing our linked pinkies. Turning me in his arms, he kissed me, long and soft and gentle. "Thank you, Babe."
"You're welcome, Batman," I replied, and kissed him back.
When the food arrived, we snuck across the big backyard to the pool house, crouching behind shrubs and running tree to tree like kids playing hide-and-seek. It felt good to have a little fun. Of course, after I gorged myself on enough food to fill up a whole Chinese buffet table, I could only waddle back to the house.
Ranger was dead on his feet, so we climbed into bed for a power nap. Well, he napped and I watched him. Relaxed in sleep, he looked younger, almost vulnerable, and the scruff on his cheeks made him even sexier, if that was humanly possible. I resisted the urge to brush back the lock of hair that had fallen on his forehead, knowing that if I did, he'd wake up.
All too soon it was time for him to head back to Trenton and the pretend search for me. After he'd showered and dressed and loaded up his personal arsenal, I walked him to the bedroom door. He kissed me good-bye, a couple of times, promising to be back in time for a late dinner.
He came back to kiss me again, and stopped a hair's breadth away from my lips when we heard a crash come from the direction of the kitchen. I whimpered, he chuckled. "I'll have Binkie and Junior take them home later on. That way, you won't have to deal with them anymore," Ranger said.
That earned him my 200 watt smile. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I wanted to jump for joy but settled for looping my arms around his neck and giving him a big, fat, smacking kiss on the mouth. "Have I told you lately how much I love you?"
He seemed to consider that. "Hmmmm," he said thoughtfully, "No, I don't believe you have." I caught the twinkle in his eye.
"Zo, instet of tellink you, vat iff I zeeduce you, Bik Boy? Den I vill haf my vicked vay vit you …" I said in my best "Natasha, the Femme Fatale" voice. I ran my hand up and down his chest and batted my eyelashes at him. "You vill tell me all your zee-krets!"
"Yes, my little sexpot … I can't resist you!" he laughed, playing along with me. Bending me back over his arm, he kissed me … hot and hard and hungry.
Ranger had been very gentle and protective since the kidnapping, loving, but not at all sexual. He'd treated my scrapes and bruises with antibiotic ointments and arnica gel, careful not to hurt me. He'd massaged my aching muscles when I was stiff and sore, and bundled me up when I just couldn't get warm enough. He'd treated me like I was fragile, so fragile that I might break at any moment.
Even though we'd slept and showered together, played footsie under the dinner table, and cuddled and kissed, aside from one brief episode designed to help me relax enough to fall asleep, there hadn't been any sex. Mostly, he'd just watched me. I guess to make sure that I was healing, both physically and emotionally.
Now, he gave me his wolf grin. "You'll need to get some sleep while I'm gone," he murmured, kissing his way along my jaw and pulling aside the neck of my sweatshirt to access that sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder. He laved it with the tip of his tongue and I hummed in pleasure. "I have big plans for tonight and I want you well rested."
He got a little more aggressive and sucked on the tender flesh, biting gently. I shivered under his mouth. My nipples went hard and my panties were goners.
I returned the favor, nuzzling his neck … gently, of course. It wouldn't do for a man looking for his missing and supposedly dead girlfriend to show up sporting fresh hickeys on his neck. And then the reality that I'd been denying finally sneaked into my consciousness … Ranger would be staying here, running fake searches for me, and I'd be in Miami without him.
"This is going to be our last night together, isn't it? I mean until this whole thing is over," I asked without looking at him. I knew the answer before I even asked the question. "You won't be coming to Miami at all, will you?"
Ranger didn't say anything, just hugged me tighter.
"How long, do you think?" I leaned my forehead against his shoulder so that he wouldn't see the tears that collected in my eyes. I loved the idea of going to Miami, but I just hated going to Miami without Ranger.
"No idea," he said softly, his lips against my forehead.
I took a shaky breath and pushed back to look in his face, forcing myself to smile. "Well then, I guess we need to make the most of tonight. Make some memories," I said. "I don't want you forgetting me while I'm out of town." I knew my false bravado wasn't fooling Ranger at all, but I didn't want him to see me all weepy.
He put his hands on either side of my neck and ran a thumb over my lips. "Never happen," he said softly, looking deep into my eyes. "You are absolutely unforgettable." He brushed the tears off my cheeks, and kissed me until my toes curled and my bones melted.
"I think we need to start making those memories right now," I whispered breathlessly, plastering myself against him from chest to knees. I needed him with a desperation I'd never known before, and I rubbed against him like a cat in heat.
I'm pretty sure that he needed me, too. He slid his hands down my back to my butt and pulled me tight against his growing erection. I heard his sharp intake of breath as I moved against him.
"You're killing me here," he groaned, eyes closed. "The sooner I leave, the sooner I'll get back."
"What if I don't want you to leave? What if I need you now?" I breathed.
I fused my mouth to his and kissed him for all I was worth. Edging backwards, toward the bed, I brought Ranger with me. I let myself fall onto the mattress with him on top of me, and wrapped my legs around his hips so he couldn't escape … not that I thought he wanted to.
Ranger rose up on his forearms and looked down at me. "You are a bad influence, Stephanie Plum!" he said sternly. "You make it difficult for me to focus on the goal!" He took a sharp breath as I arched my hips against him.
"That's because I'm focused on a different goal!" I ground my pelvis against his and his eyes slid shut as he moved with me.
"You fight dirty," he breathed.
"Only applying a little pressure." I was pretty breathless myself as I arched against him again. "Just like you taught me."
"You learned your lessons well, grasshopper!" he gasped, and his hands tightened on me.
"Didn't realize you were giving information to the enemy, did you?"
He opened his bedroom eyes and gave me a wolf grin. "The enemy?" He grabbed my wrists and pinned my hands above my head. "I conquer my enemies."
"Then let the battle begin!" I grinned back at him.
I squealed with laughter as he flipped us over and slid his hand up under my sweatshirt to pop open my front-closing bra. Cupping my breasts, he stroked and kneading gently. "You're so soft." I pressed into his hands, hungry for his touch. Before I knew it, I was naked to the waist.
I moved my hips in a circular motion over his erection. "And you're so hard!"
His talented fingers plucked and teased my breasts. My laughter turned into a moan when he pulled me down and closed his lips over my nipple, sipping at it, sending electric shocks through my body. When he sucked me into his mouth, I could feel the pull all the way down between my legs and I rocked against him.
We were both breathless and laughing as he flipped us again. He shoved my sweats and panties down over my legs and I kicked them off. I tore at his belt and unbuttoned his cargos, then held my breath as he lifted my hips and poised to thrust into me.
Bang! Bang! Bang! I froze, but Ranger instantly grabbed his gun off the night table. Bang! Bang! Bang!
Who the hell was pounding on the bedroom door? At the same time someone tapped on the outside of the French doors. We looked from one set of doors to the other, then back at each other. Nooooooo!
"Stephanie!" Ella's voice.
"Stephanie?" My mother's.
I swallowed hard. "Yes?" I called, my voice shaky. What I really wanted to shriek was, "Get lost! We're having wild monkey sex here!"
"I've brought your favorite dessert," Ella said brightly from outside the bedroom door. "Cheesecake!" she announced.
Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap! We turned and looked at the French doors. My mother stood outside in the cold, trying to peer through the one way glass, holding a plate of pineapple upside-down cake, loaded with whipped cream. "Stephanie? Dessert!" Mom called. "Your favorite!" she wheedled.
"No, thank you!" I hollered, "I'm ... uh … I'm in bed!" Well, that was the truth! But the knocking and tapping continued. "See what I mean?" I whined to Ranger.
Ranger muttered a curse under his breath and rolled off me. He stood to tuck and zip himself back into his cargos while I pulled myself back together.
"I'm sorry, baby," he said, helping me up off the bed.
"Forget Miami! They're going to drive me crazy! I'm gonna need to go to a loony bin!" I started to tear up. Now I was hot and horny and weepy. I smacked my forehead against his rock hard chest … in time with the knocking on the doors. "Wait! Gimme your gun!" I demanded, sounding a little maniacal even to myself.
Ranger chuckled and brushed a kiss on my forehead. "Looking a little crazed there, Babe. I'll take care of them!" Phooey! I just wanted him to take care of me!
He stalked over to the French doors and yanked them open. My mother's smile vanished and her eyes got big at the sight of half-dressed Ranger. "Kitchen, now!" He growled at her. She let out a squeak and scurried off. Shutting the door firmly, he crossed the room and delivered the same message to Ella, who had pretty much the same reaction.
He pulled on his shirt and yanked his phone off his belt. Punching a number, he barked, "Binkie, garage, two minutes!" Taking my hand, he tugged me out of the bedroom and through the house into the kitchen where Mom and Ella had squared off … again!
"Kiss Stephanie good-bye!" he announced to the two surprised women. "Time to go!"
"She's leaving already?" My mother asked.
"No, Helen," Ranger didn't even crack a smile. "You two are."
Mom and Ella were so stunned they were actually speechless. I took full advantage of their silence and quickly hugged and kissed them good-bye, thanking them for taking care of me while I shoved them into their coats and stuffed their purses into their hands.
Ranger sent me a big grin and then practically dragged my protesting mother and an equally irate Ella out of the house and into the garage, handing them over to Binkie. I practically skipped along behind them.
With his arm slung over my shoulder, Ranger and I watched Binkie load the ladies into the SUV and climb into the driver's seat. He shot us a look of pure terror, and I had to hide my face in Ranger's shoulder so poor Binkie wouldn't see me laugh.
"I'll call you when I'm on my way back," Ranger said, tucking my hair behind my ear. Sadly, there were no PDAs in front of his men, so he just slid on his mirrored sunglasses, folded himself into the Mercedes, flew out of the garage and down the driveway. Binkie followed, lost in Ranger's dust. And me? I let out a whoop and did my happy dance all the way back inside.
With Mom and Ella gone, the Merry Men came out of hiding. Sybo built a roaring blaze in the huge stone fireplace in the den. Hector brought me a giant mug of hot chocolate, with cinnamon and whipped cream, and Zero slid Ghostbusters into the DVD player while I curled up in a comfy, oversized chair. I didn't last through the opening credits before I conked out.
I woke up covered with the pricy cashmere afghan that Tank and the Merry Men brought me right after the kidnapping, when they heard that I was always cold and just couldn't get warm enough. Eddie Gazarra must have spilled the beans about my ice skating mishap back when I was seven years old.
Okay, so I guess the blanket was really a bribe. And so were the genuine Uggs, the fur lined slippers, the fuzzy socks, the flannel-lined satin pajamas, the big, fluffy velour robe, the electric blanket, the hand warmers and the life-time supply of gourmet hot chocolate. Do we see a pattern here?
It turns out the Merry Men all felt guilty that they hadn't found me sooner on the night I was kidnapped. For some strange reason, they decided that it was their fault I'd almost frozen to death. I tried to refuse the goodies … cross my greedy little Jersey Girl heart. But they insisted I keep all the stuff.
Hey, if it made them feel better, who was I to argue with a guilty conscience? I thought of it as a good deed. Just kidding! Honest to God, I had no idea why they'd feel responsible, especially since they were only following RangeMan protocol.
Anyway, according to what Tank told me, here's the straight scoop on what happened that night. Lula and Connie, and Ramon and Hal, all called RangeMan from the Mall as soon as Little Paulie showed up in the dressing room. Since Ranger was in meetings in New York City, and the weather was going to slow down his trip back to Trenton, Tank was in charge of the whole situation.
Even though RangeMan beat the cops to the Mall, I was already long gone by the time they got there. Paulie and his flunkies had shot up the whole place, had stunned me and carted me off. Since I had no trackers on me, the Merry Men had no idea where I'd been taken.
Once I managed to press that panic button, though, RangeMan hit the ground running. But again, by the time they got down under the Route 1 Bridge, there was nobody there. The high winds and heavy snowfall had wiped away any sign that I'd even been there, much less that I was stashed in the trunk of one of those snow covered old cars. So, the Merry Men did what they were supposed to do … they followed the signal from my panic button.
As the signal moved downriver, so did the guys. Of course, they had no way of knowing that I wasn't the one with the panic button. Plus, they couldn't tell if the signal was coming from a vehicle following the river road, a boat going downriver, or if it was in the water.
The State Police from both New Jersey and Pennsylvania provided search teams on their respective sides of the river. Still, it took hours to locate the panic button … miles down the river, in the water, on Little Paulie's body.
By then, Ranger was back in Trenton. Eddie and some of the other off-duty cops teamed up with RangeMan to start the search for me from "ground zero", the spot where the panic button had been activated … under the Route 1 Bridge.
It was my friends, not cops, who searched for me. It was my friend Eddie, not Sgt. Gazarra, who found me. No police report was ever filed. And it was a private ambulance that took me to a private hospital. Everyone involved in the search and rescue understood that my life depended on secrecy. Stephanie Plum just disappeared.
I guess that's another reason why the Merry Men felt guilty, they hadn't found me themselves. All I knew was that somebody found me, and it didn't make any difference to me who it was. So what if I felt cold all the time … I could feel! That meant I was alive! And let me tell ya, alive was a whole hell of a lot better than the other option!
I hauled myself up out of the chair and headed for the kitchen with the afghan still wrapped around me. If this was going to be our last night together, I needed to make it special, for both Ranger and me. We had memories to make, and I needed to set the stage.
I checked the fridge and found that Ella, bless her heart, had left a chicken, wild rice, and artichoke casserole, salad makings, and a bowl of big, fat, juicy strawberries. I'd have to remember to thank her. There was a bottle of Ranger's favorite wine in the wine cooler, and a loaf of French bread on the counter. Perfect!
What? I can do salad. And even Paula Deen can't reheat food better than I can!
In the bedroom, I hauled a small round table and a pair of wingback chairs over in front of the fireplace, and set the table … crystal, china … candles even. In fact, I went through the whole house and collected every candle I could find.
I showered, shampooed and shaved, buffed, puffed, exfoliated and moisturized. I did my hair and makeup, spritzed on perfume, and laid out the black silk and lace nightgown and matching robe that Ranger had me wear the night I moved into the penthouse. I'd put them on just before Ranger got back.
By the time he pulled into the garage, I'd opened the wine, tossed the salad, and brought the casserole to the table. Sexy jazz played softly, the fireplace gave the darkened room a warm glow, and the candles twinkled like stars. The scene was set for some serious love-making.
He knocked on the bedroom door, and I unlocked it to let him in. Stopping short in the doorway, he looked around and a smile split his face as his eyes settled on me. "You never disappoint," I could hear the pleasure in his voice.
"I wanted tonight to be special," I replied with a shrug.
His smile faded as he turned serious and he cupped my cheek with his hand, his thumb tracing over my lips. "Every night with you is special, Stephanie," he said softly and lightly kissed first one corner of my mouth, then the other.
I had to smile. Ranger didn't give idle compliments. He always meant what he said, and what he said warmed me down to my toes.
"Are you hungry?" I said, nodding toward the table.
His wolf grin appeared as his eyes raked my body. "Starving!" He kissed me hard and pressed against me so I could feel just how "hungry" he was. "You look delicious," he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. "Good enough to eat!" and he sank his teeth gently into my shoulder.
I couldn't help the shiver of anticipation that ran through me.
"Cold?" he asked, concerned.
"Not anymore!" I pressed myself against him.
That made him smile. "Go sit by the fire. I'll be right back," he said and headed for the bathroom, stripping as he went.
I followed him, enjoying the show. Leaning against the door jamb, I watched him slather shaving cream on his face and throat.
"How long do we have?" I asked
"I'm off the roster for the rest of the night," Ranger said with a smile that matched my own. He hit the shower and I poured the wine and served the salad.
He came to the table bare-footed and bare-chested, wearing only low slung black sleep pants. Forget the food … he made my mouth water.
We ate, we drank, we laughed. Then Ranger took my hand and tugged me to my feet. "Dance with me, Stephanie," he whispered, untying my robe. Slipping his hands under the silk, he slid it off my shoulders and down my arms to puddle on the floor.
Pulling me close, he kissed my forehead and wrapped his arms around me. I sighed in contentment and rested my head on his shoulder … and we danced … eyes closed … lost in each other.
His hands drifted lightly over my back and arms, down over my butt and up my sides to my breasts. Sliding a finger under the braided silk of the nightgown's delicate strap, he slowly eased it off my shoulder.
His lips brushed back and forth across my bare skin and he found that sensitive spot beneath my ear, tasting it with the tip of his tongue. Every nerve ending came roaring to life, and my body hummed with pleasure and anticipation.
I returned his attentions, kissing along his jaw-line. I fused my mouth to his, my tongue tangling with his, while my hands slipped beneath the waistband of his sleep pants and stroked him in time with my tongue.
He made a sound, deep in his chest, like a growl, and he swept me up into his arms. Carrying me across the room, he laid me on the bed, then stretched out on top of me. I reveled in the feel of him pressing me into the mattress. We'd been made for each other, a perfect fit.
Each time we made love was like the first time. Ranger raised love making to an art form. He knew my body so well, what made me sigh, gasp, or moan. He was a master of foreplay, touching, tasting, exploring. With the sweet torture of his magic mouth and fingers, he brought me to the very brink of orgasm, then pulled me back to Earth. And he'd start all over again.
We kissed, long and slow and deep, until I swore I could feel the blood flowing through my veins. We touched and tasted each other until we both trembled. My beautiful nightgown was lying in shreds on the floor, tangled with Ranger's sleep pants. I was breathless and begging when his phone started to vibrate, dancing across the night table. Tank's ringtone filled the room.
Noooooo! One more minute, and I would have come my brains out! This couldn't be happening … not now! Not again! Stunned, I rose up on my elbows and glared down my body at Ranger, who looked back at me from between my thighs. Our eyes met. His held regret and resignation. I'm sure he could see bloody murder in mine.
Okay, so we both knew it had to be important for Tank to call, especially since he knew that this was our last night together. But that didn't help any. And we both knew that Ranger would take the call. "Go ahead," I snapped. "Answer it!"
I shoved away from him and sat with my back against the headboard, my knees hugged to my chest and my forehead resting on them. I wanted to laugh and cry and scream, all at the same time. The universe hated me! These were not the kind of memories I'd planned on making tonight.
Grabbing his phone off the night table, Ranger sat on the edge of the bed, his back to me. "This better be good, Pierre!" he practically snarled.
I couldn't hear the other side of the conversation. I didn't need to. Ranger's side said it all.
"Now?" Ranger ran a hand through his hair. "Son of a bitch! Load up the team. I'll call you back."
Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees, tossing the phone from hand to hand. "That was Tank."
I didn't say anything. I mean, what was there to say? I knew the call was from Tank, and I knew that Ranger would be leaving.
He looked down at the floor. "The FBI wants me to pick up two of the Abruzzi soldiers you identified. Looks like they came into some big money, and now they're blowing it in Atlantic City."
I didn't raise my head. "So? Why you? Why don't the Feebs just go arrest them?" I know I sounded snotty, but come on!
"The FBI doesn't want to give the Abruzzi Family a heads up that they've been connected to Little Paulie's murder or your kidnapping." Ranger reached for my hand, but I pulled away from him. "These two guys hung out with Paulie, and Paulie kidnapped you. If I pick them up, it'll look personal, not connected to the Family or the FBI."
As much as I didn't want to admit it, that made sense. "Is there big money involved?"
"The Feds want to make sure RangeMan plays ball."
So that was a yes. "Then you have to go." It was a statement, not a question.
"Do you think I'd choose money over you?" There was a definite edge to his voice.
"No." I shook my head. "But it'll help defray the cost of all this." I waved my hand around at the room.
Ranger grabbed my waving arm and hauled me halfway across the bed until we were eye to eye. "No price, Stephanie. Cost doesn't matter," he snapped, obviously pissed.
"It does to me!" I shot back, just as pissed. I yanked my arm away from him and got up off the bed, heading for the dressing room.
"Stephanie," he called after me, but I just kept going.
Ranger was bleeding money, again, because of me. There was no way I could let him miss the opportunity to collect a big fee from the Feds. It didn't make me feel any less guilty that Ranger said there was no price for what we gave each other. When it came to money, he was always the one paying.
Was I angry and disappointed that he was going to leave? Oh hell, yeah! Horny, too. But clearly, there was no good choice here. It was time for me to pull up my big girl panties and act like a grown up, a team player, a partner … not like a spoiled brat. I rummaged around the dressing room until I found everything I was looking for.
Ranger was pacing back and forth, on the phone with Tank again, when I came back into the bedroom. He stopped short when he saw me, or rather, what I had in my arms. His eyes widened microscopically. Woo-hoo! I had managed to surprise Ranger!
I carried his full uniform, boots and all, and his fully loaded utility belt. I dragged his hundred pounds of body armor behind me. I dumped it all on the bed. "Here ya go!" I said.
He studied my face for several long seconds. "Are you sure?"
I just tsk-ed and rolled my eyes.
"I'll be there ASAP!" he said and tossed the phone onto the night table.
He came around the bed and wrapped me in his arms. Okay, so it was hard to look indignant when I was stark naked and had Ranger's massive erection pressed into my belly, but I tried. I think my mood lasted about ten seconds before I wound my arms around his neck.
He kissed me softly, and I tasted myself on his lips and tongue. I think he whimpered. Well, no. Probably that was me.
He brushed his lips across my shoulder. "I can't leave here with your scent all over me." He kissed me hard and deep.
I could feel my brains scrambling. "Yeah, Dolce Vita doesn't exactly scream 'bad ass'!"
He laughed softly. "Not the scent I was talking about."
"Oh!" I pressed my bright red face into his neck.
He tipped my head back and licked across my lips. "And I'd drive myself crazy, tasting you all night."
"You can't afford that kind of distraction." I nuzzled the side of his face. "You need to take a shower." I kissed my way to his mouth.
"You mean, 'We'."
I dragged him into the bathroom and under the pounding water. One minute our soapy hands were moving over each others' bodies, the next, my legs were wrapped around his waist, my back pressed against the tiles, and he was pounding into me like a madman. Let me tell ya, we packed a hell of a lot of sexual gratification into that shower.
Thirty minutes later, we were both weak-kneed and boneless, sappy, happy, and sated.
We got dressed, and I took Ranger's personal arsenal, his two guns and a knife, out of the night table drawer. Before adding them to the gear on the bed, I dropped the ammo clip out of each gun, making sure it was fully loaded and that each gun had a round in the chamber.
Ranger watched as I slammed the clip back into his Sig. "You have never looked sexier than you do right now," Ranger said, his eyes hot and hooded. "And I have never wanted you more!"
I smiled at him. One more little piece of "information to enemy" to file away for future reference.
While Ranger inspected his body armor, I checked through his utility belt for extra ammo clips, cuffs, zip ties, Mace ... all his usual toys.
Ranger watched me for a minute, then smiled and shook his head.
"What? It's not like I can watch your back!" I said with a shrug. "I have to do something to make sure you're safe!"
"That's because you love me," he kissed me, and I gave him a "well, duh!" look.
"Any chance you'll be back before I have to leave for Miami?" I already knew the answer, but I still had to ask.
He was silent for a beat. "Probably not."
I nodded. "'K." I knew Ranger didn't make promises he couldn't keep.
He held his arms out to me and I went into them, burying my face in his neck and squeezing my eyes shut so I wouldn't cry. I just hung onto him for a long minute. Blowing out a shuddering breath, I stepped back. "Better get going." I forced a smile. "Everybody's waiting on you."
"Let them wait," he said and pulled me back into his arms.
Tipping my face up to his, he kissed me, long and hard … once, twice, three times. He seemed to have as hard a time letting go of me as I had letting go of him. He kissed my cheeks, my eyes, my forehead.
He pulled back and looked at me closely. "Are you okay? You feel a little warm."
"I'm probably still a little overheated from our shower," I said and kissed him for all I was worth.
"Love you," he said as he tucked my hair behind my ears.
"Love you back," I whispered, my voice cracking.
"Walk me out?"
"Sure," I said, looping my arm around his waist. He kissed me one last time, then slung his arm around my shoulders, and we went out of the bedroom and through the house to the door that led to the garage.
Sybo and Hector were in the kitchen, trying to be unobtrusive. Ranger stopped, "I'm trusting you to take care of her," he said to them.
"Mi vida para ella," Hector said. Sybo, his arms crossed over his chest, gave a single nod. "Ditto!"
"What'd he say?" I asked Ranger when we got to the garage.
"His life for yours," Ranger replied.
"Really?" I was stunned. "Wow!"
He quirked an eyebrow at me. "Why are you surprised?"
"I guess I'm not. Their loyalty to you says an awful lot about the kind of man you are." I gave him a squeeze.
Ranger snorted a laugh. "Not me, Babe. That's how loyal they are to you!"
"Me?" I squeaked. "Oh!" I was so overwhelmed. I mean, I knew they liked me. But being willing to give their lives for me? That was a whole different level of like.
Even though we were being watched on the monitors, Ranger broke his own rule about PDAs and moved close to me. "I'll call as soon as we have these guys secured."
I didn't trust myself to be able to speak without bursting into tears, so I just stared at his chest and nodded.
With his hands on either side of my neck, he used his thumbs to tip my face up to his. He kissed me gently, then wiped away the single tear that snuck down my cheek. I stood on my tip toes to hug him hard. "I miss you already," I whispered.
"Try not to get too crazy," he said into my hair, hugging me back.
"Yeah," I said, my voice cracking. "And you should try not to get shot."
It had been a disturbing good-bye when we'd originally said it to each other during the Slayer mess. Now it was an affectionate parting for us, although we both still meant what we said.
One final kiss and a glance back at me as he got into his car, and then he was gone.
I wiped off my tears with the sleeve of my shirt, sniffed hard, squared my shoulders, and went back into the house. Ranger's woman had to at least look like she deserved the loyalty his men had to her.
Back in the bedroom I poured myself a full glass of wine and sucked down half of it, then refilled the glass. "Liquid Courage" my ass! All I wanted to do was cry. What the hell was going on with all the tears already? I hated crying, but I just couldn't seem to stop! I'd have to check my calendar … I was probably due for my period.
In an effort to keep myself busy, I loaded our dinner dishes into the dishwasher, moved the furniture back to where it belonged, and returned all the candles to where I'd found them. Even though Ella had done her usual perfect job, I unpacked and repacked my suitcases. Then with nothing to do but wait for the phone to ring, I polished off the rest of the bottle of wine and passed out on the couch.
I have no idea how long I slept, but it wasn't long enough. I squinched my eyes shut at the sun streaming in the windows when Tank woke me by rapping on the bedroom door and yelling cheerfully, "Rise and shine, Bombshell! Time to go to Miami!" I hated Tank.
I groaned and held my aching head as I stumbled to the door to let him in. "Peace offering!" he announced, holding up a MacDonald's bag in front of my face. "Ranger said you'd probably need this."
"Uggghhhhh!" I felt like death warmed over, and I clutched at the bag like it was a life preserver, which, pretty much, it was. Tank took me by the shoulders and steered me over to a chair where I proceeded to stuff my face with fries and Coke. Thirty minutes later I felt like I had rejoined the human race.
"Your bags are in the car, Bomber," Tank said. "You sure you got everything?"
"I guess," I said, checking my phone for missed messages. "You heard from Ranger?" I asked Tank. "He said he'd call … but he hasn't yet. Did the takedown go okay?" I scrolled through my calls again.
"Oh, yeah, like clockwork. They just had to make a quick stop at the Atlantic City General Hospital ER before they all headed to DC to drop those guys off."
My eyebrows flew up to my hairline! "Was Ranger hurt?"
"Nah! Apparently those two bozos were real … ah … clumsy, and kept running into … um … doors and walls and stuff."
Oh yeah, right! I'll just bet that the "stuff" they'd run into was Ranger's fists!
"Anyway, now Ranger's in DC, surrounded by the Feds, so obviously he can't call you." Tank chuckled. "You know how much he loves those Washington stuffed shirts. He's gonna be a bear when he gets back!"
"Good luck with that!" Probably a good thing I was getting out of Dodge. I wouldn't have to put up with snarky Ranger. "Guess I better get ready to go then."
Tank gestured toward the dress bag and tote that lay on the bed. "This is what you're supposed to wear."
"Oh, goodie! Another disguise." I looked at the bag like it was filled with snakes. "Please don't tell me Lester picked it out!" I whined.
The last time I'd worn a disguise Lester chose was in Baltimore. He dressed me up as a waitress, and that's how I managed to find myself in the middle of Eddie Abruzzi's suite, surrounded by his whole psycho Family. Eddie tried to behead me with a sword, but accidentally killed himself instead. Which is why his mother had me kidnapped and wanted me dead. Needless to say, I haven't exactly trusted Lester's choices since then.
"No, no!" Tank swallowed a laugh and held up his hands in a "stop" gesture. "It's all good! Ranger chose this one himself."
"Well, that's a relief!" I sighed. "I'd hate to have to beat Lester to a pulp."
Tank's face lit up. "Hey! We could sell tickets. I know a lot of people who'd pay big bucks to see that. We'd make a fortune!" Tank chuckled all the way to the door. "Call me if you need me!" He waved over his shoulder.
I made quick work of the cute highlighted blonde wig, brown contacts, and makeup to go along with my new hair and eye color. The dress bag held black tights, very pricey black, spike-heeled, knee high boots, and a short, deep burgundy sweater dress with a cowl neck, and a black wool swing coat. Something told me that Ranger hadn't actually picked this stuff out himself. He'd probably sent Ella for it all.
There was a black leather Coach purse which held a makeup bag, wallet with ID for Samantha Pardo, pictures, credit cards, cash, tissues, sunglasses … all the usual. A small velvet pouch held big, hammered gold, hoop earrings and a real Rolex wristwatch. Guess Mr. and Mrs. Marc Pardo had hit the big time.
At the bottom of the pouch was a ring box holding "Samantha's" wedding ring. It was a wide, chunky gold band with a humongous diamond perched on top. It just couldn't have been real. I mean, who in their right mind would let me wear a rock the size of an old fashioned glass doorknob? Still, it was a knockout, even if it was only cubic zirconium.
Everything fit me except the dress which was awfully loose, and I dug around in the bottom of the dress bag, looking for a belt. I found something else instead and put it on.
Looking at myself in the mirror, it crossed my mind that Ranger could have arranged to be called away last night so that he wouldn't have to face me and my "disguise" this morning! But I'd never thought of him as a chicken-shit coward, so I dismissed the idea. However, when I got my hands on him, he was definitely gonna pay for this!
I threw open the bedroom door so hard that it slammed into the wall. "Tank!" I bellowed. My voice echoed through the house. "Ta-a-a-ank!" It came out more of a shriek this time.
I heard the thundering footsteps of Merry Men hauling ass down from their rooms upstairs, and up from the monitor room downstairs. Six of them, guns in hand, skidded to a halt in front of me, stunned expressions on every face.
Tank pushed his way through the group and looked me over, a big grin on his face. "Ranger warned me you wouldn't be happy. But I gotta tell you, Bomber, you look good pregnant!"
"Bite me, Tank!" I looked down at the baby belly the pregnancy suit gave me. "I can't even see my feet!" I whined.
"Holy Cow! Would ya look at the gozongas on her!" Junior, obviously channeling Lester, clutched his heart. "They stick out more than her belly does!" Tank reached out and smacked him upside the head. "Owwww!" Junior rubbed the back of his skull. "Just sayin'!" He glared at Tank before turning his attention back to my chest.
"Dismissed!" Tank barked at the Merry Men, who all had a tough time dragging their eyes away from my belly and boobs. Junior actually walked into a wall and almost knocked himself cold. He deserved the beaut of a shiner he was gonna have.
Tank ushered me back into the bedroom and closed the door. "Look, Steph, you may not like the getup, but think about it. If someone's out there hunting for Stephanie Plum, the last person they're going to look at is a pregnant woman."
"I guess," I said with a sigh. I knew he was right, but I still didn't have to like it one little bit.
Resigned, I picked up my coat and purse, hugged and kissed all the men good-bye, even Junior, and followed Tank outside. I slid on my big movie star sunglasses and got into a limo, where Sybo and Hector, both wearing suits, waited for me. Somebody must have warned them because neither one so much as batted an eye at the sight of pregnant me.
Once on the plane, I relaxed a little. I knew I wouldn't have any problem trading in my winter coat and boots, and pregnancy belly, for a bikini and flip flops, or strolling through sand and surf for slogging through slush and snow. Just thinking about baking on the beach, and not being cold anymore, made me downright giddy, and my thoughts turned to ocean waves and sun screen.
It had taken me … what? … a nano-second to agree to let Ranger send me to RangeMan Miami. Especially when I thought about what I'd have to deal with if I stayed in Trenton. I mean, really! I was killing three birds with one stone. I'd be escaping the Abruzzi Family, and the FBI, and my mother, all in one fell swoop. Brilliant!
Of course, when it came right down to it, I was going to Miami without Ranger. I guess the brilliant plan really wasn't so brilliant after all, and by the time we landed, I was feeling pretty depressed about the whole thing.
And wouldn't you just know it? The weather reflected my crappy mood. Miami welcomed me with black storm clouds, thunder, lightning, wind and torrential rain. Just friggin' swell.
By the time I settled into the apartment at RangeMan Miami, I was exhausted, and all I wanted to do was sleep. But every time I closed my eyes, the whole scene with Morelli putting the gun to my head played on the inside of my eyelids. If I dozed off, Mama Abruzzi morphed into Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother and swung her dragon-headed walking stick at me. I'd wake up shaking. How bizarre was that?
And even though I knew I was safe, surrounded by Merry Men that I loved and trusted, I was jumpy and nervous. I couldn't seem to relax or calm down. I didn't even feel like me; I'm not the anxious or emotional type. But every noise startled me, and every time I looked at the burn mark on my forehead, I started to cry. I couldn't eat without getting nauseous, couldn't sleep without nightmares. I had a constant headache, and sometimes it actually hurt to take a deep breath.
I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when I woke up two days later with body aches and a fever to go along with the massive headache. By noon, I was barking like a seal. Ranger's orders overrode my objections, and three o'clock found me in a private clinic with a thermometer stuck in my mouth.
Two shots, a bunch of chest ex-rays, and three prescriptions later, I was on my way back to RangeMan, too sick to even look at the beaches we were driving past. I guess this is what that doctor in the hospital tried to warn me about.
I know, I know. I've lost count of how many times I've been bruised, battered, bounced around, and concussed. I've rolled in garbage, had my cars blown out from under me, jumped out of windows, and fallen off fire escapes. I've been threatened, chased, kidnapped, shot, tortured … you name it, and I've always bounced right back.
But I couldn't even remember the last time I got sick. I'm talking chills and fever, aches and pains, coughing, barfing sick! I was a mess. At least it explained why I'd been feeling so weird and weepy. I mean, that was a relief, right? Sort of.
Let me tell ya, pneumonia isn't any fun, and being sick really pissed me off. If I ever got my mitts on Morelli, that was one more thing I owed him payback for. They say that payback's a bitch, and Morelli had no idea what this bitch had in store for him!
Anyway, I spent the next two weeks sleeping and coughing my brains out. The only positive thing was that I lost six pounds. It wasn't a diet I'd recommend to anyone. Okay, maybe Morelli. And his mother. And his brother Anthony. And Rinaldi and Malfitano. And … well, you get my drift.
I'd been in Miami for four weeks when I finally broke down and talked Marco, Ranger's second-in-command, into letting me take over Silvio's position, doing background checks and research. Talk about desperation! I was bored out of my skull! Silvio needed to escape the Dummy Desk and spend some time in the field, and I needed something, anything, to do besides watch the clock, waiting for Ranger to let me come home.
I'd pinky sworn that I'd follow orders, which I had, and that I wouldn't bitch, which I hadn't. But let's face it, I've never been known for my patience, and what little I had was almost all used up. Sure I got to go to the beach and shopping and out to dinner, but that stuff's just not much fun when you're all by yourself, so I was lonely and bored.
Don't get me wrong, Hector and Sybo and all the Miami RangeMen were great, but bodyguards don't count as company. Not when they're on the job. They're so busy guarding your body, they can't even carry on a conversation. Plus, they tend to make people just a teensy bit nervous. In case you didn't catch it, that was sarcasm.
Six weeks into my exile, I went to get my hair trimmed and some gold highlights put in to go along with my new tan. Jimbo and Sanchez, Miami's version of Halosaurous and Steroidasuarus, Hal and Cal, went with me. The poor little guy who was supposed to do my hair took one look at them and passed out cold. After the ambulance carted him off, I was asked to leave and not come back.
The mani-pedi was another disaster. The nail techs freaked at the big, bad ass, heavily armed guys, who stood over them, watching every move they made. I mean, come on! What did they think the techs were going to do … drown me in the foot bath? Nail polish me to death? Big surprise, I'm not welcome at the nail salon anymore either.
I couldn't even imagine what would have happened if I'd gone for a bikini wax!
I was really starting to hate Miami. As big a pain in the butt as they were, I missed my dysfunctional family. Even my Mom. I missed my girlfriends. I needed somebody to giggle and gossip with. And most of all, I missed Ranger. I hated sleeping alone and eating alone and living alone. And I really hated being celibate. The "alone" time I spent with my shower massager couldn't compare to a Ranger induced orgasm.
Yeah, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself, and the pity party was in full swing.
"So, what's new?" Ranger asked during a lunchtime SKYPE session almost two months into my exile. He seemed distracted by the paperwork he was looking over.
"Nuthin'," I said with a shrug.
"What did you do today?" He didn't even look up at me.
"Same old, same old."
"Which is?"
"I run background checks, and I talk to you. Just like every other day."
"That's good." He said absent-mindedly, flipping through his papers.
"Oh, yeah. Peachy keen." He totally missed the eye roll but must have heard the sarcasm because he finally looked at me.
"Something's wrong," Mr. Observant said. "What?"
I sat slumped in my chair picking at my nail polish. "Not that I'm complaining, mind you, but I've been here forever! I'm bored and I'm lonely! I miss my life! I miss my friends. I miss you! And I'm missing that big charity thing we were supposed to go to tonight," I said with a wistful sigh. "I'm just bummed."
This was the big shindig that started the whole kidnapping mess. If I hadn't been out, scouring the stores for the perfect dress to make that witch, Jeanne Ellen Burrows, fall off her broom with envy, Little Paulie Giamatta would never have gotten his grubby paws on me.
So really, when you thought about it, my being kidnapped and almost killed was all Jeanne Ellen Burrows' fault! I just knew I could figure out a way to pin it on that bitch! Go me!
Ranger would be going to the social event of the year without me. And you could bet your sweet ass that Jeanne Ellen was just waiting for an opportunity to glom onto him! Just because she blew her first chance didn't mean that she wasn't gonna try again.
"Look," Ranger said, "I'm going to walk in, shake a few hands, then leave." He actually grimaced. "You know that if this wasn't the Governor's charity fund raiser, I wouldn't be going at all."
Ranger hated all these fancy-dress events. I'm pretty sure he only went because he knew how much I loved them. "You're just snarky because you have to go alone," I said.
He thought about that. "You're probably right. Maybe I should find myself a date." Was that a twinkle in his eye?
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Unless you plan on dating Tank, you better be joking."
"I never joke," he said seriously. Did the corner of his mouth twitch? "Actually, I was thinking more in terms of Jeanne Ellen," he said nonchalantly.
My jaw hit the floor.
"She already called to ask if I wanted to take her, just so I wouldn't have to go alone." He was looking at his paperwork again. "Nice of her, all things considered."
"NICE?" I screeched and launched myself at the computer screen. "You think she's being NICE? After everything she's pulled, everything she's said, trying to sabotage us and … and …"
"There's my girl!" Ranger gave me his full-on 200 watt smile. "I knew that'd snap you out of your funk." He looked rather proud of himself, the ass.
I growled at him. "Maybe you two deserve each other."
He just laughed. "I'll give you a full report on the party in the morning."
I perked right up! "I want to know everything … the food, the music, the decorations, who sat at your table, who you talked to, what celebrities were there … all the important stuff!"
"Steph! I'm not staying for …" I didn't even hear what he said.
"And the silent auction … that's always the best part!" I was really getting excited now. "I wanna know what they auctioned off and what you bid on and who won what and how much it was." Ranger was pinching the bridge of his nose. "Oh, and if Bruce Springsteen or Jon Bon Jovi are there, you have to get me autographs, and take pictures! And … and …"
"Steph …" I was on a roll here.
"… what everybody was wearing, " I pointed my finger at him, "And you better steer clear of Jeanne Ellen Burrows! I don't trust that cow as far as I can spit! She's got a stalker mentality and she's never gotten over you. I guarantee that she's gonna make a play and ..."
"Stephanie!"
"Wha-a-at?"
"Gotta go." He tapped his watch. "Meeting in five minutes. I'll tell you all about it over breakfast." And he was gone.
The next morning, Ranger texted that something had come up, and we'd Skype at lunchtime. So, being the patient soul that I was, I pulled up the Trenton Times on my laptop to see if the gala had made the paper. It sure had! Right on the front page was a lovely picture of Ranger, drop-dead gorgeous in his tux, in front of the Convention Center … helping Jeanne Ellen out of his Mercedes.
Son of a bitch!
There were lots more pictures on the inside of the paper … a shot of the dinner table with the Governor and Joe Juniak, their wives, and Jeanne Ellen, leaning against Ranger. There was another of couples dancing, the Wicked Bitch plastered all over Ranger like Cling-Wrap, and the one that really chapped my butt, Ranger, with Jeanne Ellen's arm linked through his, chatting with Bruce Springsteen. That was supposed to be me, dammit! For the rest of the day, I did a slow burn.
I trusted Ranger. Really, I did. Jeanne Ellen, on the other hand, was a whole different story. I wanted to scratch her eyes out and snatch her baldheaded for putting the moves on my man. I mean, what the hell? I wasn't even dead two months and that crazy bitch wouldn't even let Ranger grieve in … Oh Jeez! Forget I said that. Being a held in captivity was starting to drive me nutty! Okay, nuttier!
Ranger postponed our lunchtime Skype session until that night. And no, I didn't think he was out whooping it up with Jeanne Ellen. I'd actually considered not letting on that I knew they'd gone to the event together, but I didn't want Ranger to think that I was setting him up, trying to catch him in a lie.
"You have a good time with Jeanne Ellen at the gala last night?" I asked him.
"No," he said.
"What made you decide to take her up on her offer to go with you?"
"I didn't."
"So the Trenton Times photoshopped those pictures of you two?"
He shot me his "badass" look. I just rolled my eyes. "I was flagged down by a driver with a flat tire. Turned out to be Jeanne Ellen's car. Much as I was tempted, I couldn't leave her standing on the side of the road."
I harrumphed. "She probably ice picked that tire herself! You shoulda let her hoof it to the Convention Center!"
"Sounds like something she'd do. I couldn't shake her for the rest of the night."
Well Du-uh! "You stay for the whole thing?"
"Yes."
"Oh, poor baby!" What? I was sympathizing. "At least you got to meet Bruce Springsteen!"
"I've known Bruce for years. Running into him again turned out to be good for business. I met with him over breakfast this morning. He's looking for a new company to provide personal security for himself and his family when they're here in New Jersey."
"Great! Did you get me his autograph?" Well, that was the important part.
"Steph, I couldn't very well ask the man for an autograph for my dead girlfriend, could I?" He actually cracked a smile.
I made a pissy face. "I'll bet Jeanne Ellen got one."
"Yes, but she asked for it herself. And, as she kept reminding me, she's very much alive."
"Excuse me?"
"She said that while she sympathized with my loss, even if it was only you, she doubted that memories of a dead woman would keep me warm at night. She offered, as a friend, of course, to step in to make sure my sexual needs were met."
Grrrrrrrr! Must. Kill. Jeanne. Ellen! Oh, wait! The louse was baiting me. Okay, Ranger. Two can play that game.
"What a pal!" I smiled sweetly. "But she's wrong, you know." Payback time, Ranger!
"How so?" he asked.
"Even from a thousand miles a way, I'll bet this dead woman," I put my hand on my chest, "can warm you up … with four little words," I said.
"You think so?" He leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and folded his arms over his chest. "Go for it!" he said with a smug smile. Oh, I love a challenge!
"Ready?"
Ranger gave me a condescending nod.
I looked straight into the camera, my chin propped in my hand, and whispered, "I'm wearing crotchless panties!"
Ranger's reaction was immediate. His pupils dilated, his nostrils flared, his lips parted, his hands gripped the arms of his chair. Just the thought of my crotchless panties went straight to his crotch!
"Well, looks like I win 'cause you sure look nice and warm to me!" I smiled in satisfaction. "Night, Ranger! Sweet dreams!" I gave him a little finger wave.
I heard him yell "No! Wait! Babe!" But I just blew him a kiss, exited out of the session and happy danced all the way to bed. Hmm, maybe I should give some thought to Skype Sex!
The very next day, Ranger grounded me from leaving the RangeMan building, and I had to wonder if it was payback for tugging the tiger's tail the night before. Turned out not. The FBI had informed Ranger of a possible threat to the Miami RangeMan. One of Mama Abruzzi's henchmen had been spotted at the airport in Miami.
Marco called me down to his office and asked me to view footage from the security cameras mounted on the roof to see if I recognized anyone. I watched a couple of hours of pedestrians walking by, vehicles driving by, and birds flying by before the sight of Joe Morelli strolling by made my heart lurch painfully in my chest.
He'd driven past a couple of times, parked across the street, walked around the block, then lounged against the side of his car as if he was waiting for someone to come out and confront him. No one did.
Ranger was convinced that Morelli was looking for me. Since my "body" had never been found, probably he was trying to make sure I hadn't miraculously survived to testify against him. I had no problem staying inside the building, away from the windows, just in case Joe was looking to finish me off.
Three very long, and even more boring weeks later, I was trying to entertain myself by printing out the background checks on different colored paper, hot pink, violet, lime green, rainbow. I used silly fonts and different, neon colored highlighters, and peppered my findings with emoticons. I put smiley faces on the files that passed muster, and frowny faces on the rejects.
When I brought them to Marco, he took one look and sighed. Then he suggested that maybe we needed to find me a different job. Woo-hoo! Even if it was inventorying widgets and wing-nuts in the parts department, at least it'd be something different!
Anyway, Ranger had gone to Washington, D.C. again and I hadn't heard from him in days and days. I was beyond lonely and bored, not to mention horny as hell; I think I was officially depressed. I mean, I was actually considering hitting the gym! What does that tell ya about my state of mind?
I was watching my printer spit out background checks when a jolt, so intense it almost knocked me out of my chair, hit me. I was still conscious, but my whole body tingled like I'd been zapped with a stun gun. I stepped out of my cubby and looked around to see if somebody could have snuck up and given me a little buzz, as a joke, but there was nobody close by.
Then the tingle localized to the back of my neck, and I knew exactly what it was. Ranger was in the building, and I took off to find him.
I ran down the hall and dodged Marco coming out of his office. "Where is he?" I demanded on my way past him.
He looked surprised. "Garage," he answered. "But how did you know?" he called after me.
I gave him a palms up shoulder shrug thing as I turned a corner. "Bat signal?" I hollered back. Marco just looked confused.
I sprinted for the elevator and mashed the call buttons, but the car didn't move fast enough for me. If Ranger came all the way to Miami without calling me first, I was afraid that meant something bad had happened back home. Shoving open the door to the stairs, I hit them at a dead run. If I hadn't held onto the railing, I would have gone ass over teakettle down all four flights.
By the time I got to the bottom of the stairs, I'd worked up so much momentum that when I hit the door to the garage, it flew open and bounced off the wall with a bang that sounded like an explosion! I practically fell out the stairwell and stumbled across the garage floor. Nothing like making a grand entrance!
Ranger, dressed in full corporate mode, and the Rangemen he was talking with, dropped into defensive crouches and swung toward me, guns drawn.
I froze, my hands raised, eyes on Ranger. "What's wrong? What happened? Why are you here?" I gasped, breathless from the race down the stairs.
"Jesus, Stephanie," Ranger said, standing and sliding his gun back into his shoulder holster. He cross the floor to me and put his hands on my shoulders.
Oh God! "Who died? Grandma? My Dad? Rex?" I just knew something awful had happened.
"Nothing's wrong, Steph," he said gently. "It's all over! I came to bring you home!"
I looked at him dumbly. "Over?" I was having trouble processing that information.
Ranger smiled. "The entire Abruzzi Family is in Federal custody. You don't have to play dead anymore. You can come home now."
"Home?" I couldn't seem to get past the one word questions. "Now?"
"Well, we have to make a quick stop in Washington so you can give the FBI a sworn deposition, but after that, home."
"Oh!" I said on a sob. Too many emotions to name washed through me, and I had to turn away, my hand pressed over my mouth, trying to collect myself.
Oh my God! Finally! I was going home! I was going to get my life back! And suddenly, the sob became a giggle, and the giggle turned into a laugh. Before I knew it, I was doubled over, laughing so hard that tears streamed down my face.
"Stephanie, are you all right?" Ranger took my arm and turned me to face him.
I couldn't speak, only laugh, so I just nodded and flapped a hand to let him know I was okay. Hysteria wasn't a normal reaction to good news, but I just couldn't stop.
I'd start to calm down and catch my breath, and then I'd start laughing all over again. I laughed until my sides ached and I had to lean against one of the black SUVs for support. I hiccupped and wheezed and mopped the tears from my face with the handkerchief Ranger had handed me.
"Schedule that meeting for 8 am," Ranger said to Marco, who'd joined the group. "We'll be upstairs."
All the guys watched as Ranger escorted me over to the elevator with his hand at the small of my back. I wanted to throw my arms around his neck and kiss him stupid, but this was another official "No PDA Zone".
"You sure you're okay?" he asked again when the elevator doors closed on us.
"Yeah," I'd finally caught my breath. "I guess I've kept everything bottled up for so long, fear and loneliness and anger and frustration and resentment and sadness, I just had to let it all out. Now I feel like … I don't know … dancing in the streets, shouting from the rooftops," I threw my arms up in the air. "Celebrating!"
"Good idea," Ranger said as the elevator rose to the penthouse. "What would you like to do? Dinner? Dancing? Or do you want me to take you to the clubs in South Beach? Just name it!"
Mindful of the security cameras, I slid him a sideways glance and a sly smile. "Actually, I'd like you to take me to bed," I said under my breath.
Ranger kept his blank face firmly in place, but I caught the gleam in his eyes. "I think that could be arranged," he said in his most business-like, Corporate Ranger tone of voice. When the elevator doors pinged open, he ushered me into the apartment and shut the door behind us.
We stopped in the foyer, my back to the door. Ranger braced one arm on the wall, above my head and leaned in close. "Hi, Babe," he said affectionately, trailing his fingers down my cheek.
"Hi, Ranger." I tipped my face up to his, angled for the perfect fit, and he slowly, thoroughly, kissed me hello.
"Umm, you taste good," he said, licking his lips.
"You're tasting my very last Butterscotch Krimpet," I said mournfully.
"I'll buy you a whole truck load when we get home!" he laughed, pinning me against the wall with his body.
I curled my fingers into his butt cheeks and pulled him hard against me, kissing him for all I was worth. "You sure know the way to a girl's heart!"
"You've got a couple of other body parts I'd like to find my way to," he said against my mouth. His hands slid up my sides and cupped my breasts, his thumbs brushing over my nipples.
"You, too!" He groaned as I let my hand glide down the front of his pants.
Ten weeks was a long, long time for us to be celibate and, suddenly, we practically attacked each other in a desperate effort to get naked.
Pulling me away from the door, Ranger peeled my windbreaker off my shoulders and down my arms. He toed off his shoes and stripped his socks. I worked on his shirt buttons as we stumbled down the hall, headed for the bedroom, leaving a trail of clothing behind us.
With one firm tug, he yanked my shirt out of my waistband and I pulled my arms out of the sleeves as we staggered through the living room, me hopping on one foot, trying to get rid of my other boot. I tore open his belt and unzipped his pants while he did the same to my cargoes.
Laughing, we ricocheted off a wall and backed into an end table, sent a lamp crashing to the floor, tripped over the ottoman and fell through the doorway into the bedroom.
Ranger's suit jacket hit the floor in a heap and his dress shirt lost some buttons in my frantic attempt to get to his bare skin. My t-shirt caught on my earring when Ranger tried to strip it over my head, so it wound up wrapped around my neck instead. I peeled his shirt off his shoulders, but one cuff wasn't open, so his shirt hung, inside out, from his arm, but neither of us cared.
Ranger tumbled me onto the bed and we rolled to the middle, tangled in our clothes. Ranger tried to strip off my cargoes and panties, but I still had one boot on, so the clothes got caught up on my foot. I shoved Ranger's pants down over his beautiful ass before I took him in my hands.
"Stop, Baby! I won't last," he groaned. "I want to be inside you."
"Oh, God! Hurry!"
He hooked his elbow under my knee, lifting my leg, and I cried out when he filled me with one hard thrust. My back arched off the bed and I saw stars on the inside of my eyelids … and I hadn't even had an orgasm yet!
"God Almighty! You feel so good," he murmured, his eyes closed, savoring the sensations. "Hot and wet and tight …"
I grabbed the silk tie that Ranger still had around his neck and pulled him down into my face. "Now! I need to come … now!" I panted.
He growled and tunneled his fingers into my hair, angling my head for the perfect fit with his mouth. He pressed his lips to mine, and ever so slowly, his tongue slipped into my mouth. His hips followed the same slow rhythm and he pulled out of me, trying to prolong the sweet agony.
But I didn't want sweet and slow. I wanted, needed, hard and fast. "Now!" I demanded, my fingernails biting into his back. I raised my head and sank my teeth into his shoulder. Ranger's breath hitched and his hands tightened in my hair. He drove back into me, matching my own hunger and need, each thrust harder and faster, pushing us both closer to the edge.
Neither of us lasted and a minute later we both came so hard, I swear the whole building shook. We collapsed in each others' arms, boneless, gasping for breath, our heart rates somewhere in the stratosphere.
Sometime later I whispered, "I missed you so much, Batman."
"I missed you, too, Babe," Ranger murmured.
"Yeah? What did you miss most? Other than the sex."
He rose up on his forearms and brushed my hair off my face, looking at the scar the muzzle burn had left on my temple. "I missed the way you hog the bed, and steal the covers, and the adorable way you snore at ni…"
"I do not snore!" I said in mock outrage.
"… and that little line of drool …" he touched the corner of my mouth.
"Sto-o-p!" I whined.
He chuckled and pulled out of me, rolling off onto his side, turning me in his arms to face him. "I missed this. Just lying in bed with you."
"Me, too!" I said, surprised. My head was on his shoulder, my hand on his chest. His heartbeat telegraphed through my whole body and I felt safe, and warm, and loved. There wasn't any place else in the world I'd rather have been.
We finally untangled ourselves from our clothing and made love again, sweet and slow and tender. Later, there was a more enthusiastic round of play in the shower, and again later, in the middle of the night.
I woke to the sound of the shower running, and the smell of coffee, and feeling pleasantly sore in all the right places.
I stretched like a cat and rolled out of bed. Picking up Ranger's shirt off the floor, I held it to my face, breathing in his scent, contented and happy as I buttoned myself into it. It would do to wear for breakfast.
I picked up Ranger's suit pants and folded them over the back of a chair, then retrieved his jacket. As I shook it out, a folded newspaper fell on the floor. I carefully laid the suit jacket on the chair, picked up the paper and tossed it into the waste basket.
I'll never know what it was that made me stop and pick up that paper again … but something made me unfold it. It was yesterday's edition of the Trenton Times.
A single picture filled the whole front page. A smiling Mayor Joe Juniak, with his hands on the shoulders of two other smiling men. Men I knew all too well. Joe Morelli and Vincent Malfitano.
The headline read: "Hometown Heroes Bring Down Crime Family". The floor tipped under my feet.
"Stephanie …" Ranger stood in the bathroom doorway, a towel wrapped around his waist. "I didn't want you to find out like this."
I turned the paper so he could see it. "Did you know?" My voice sounded so small and childlike to me. "Did you know it was all a set up?"
"Steph …"
"Did. You. Know?" I shouted at him.
He didn't answer.
TBC …
A/N: Only one more chapter … swear to God! I've tried to answer all the questions you've asked. Every time I think I've included them all, another one crops up. If I've forgotten anything, please let me know quickly and I'll try to work it in. Cross my heart, I'm never writing another epic!
I know that every chapter has had "Love" in its title, but the only thing I can come up with for the final one is "Joe Vs. The Volcano!" 'cause that's what it's gonna be.
Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed, I hope I haven't forgotten to thank everyone who sent a review. If I have, I apologize … Love wouldn't have 2000+ reviews without each and every one of you fabulous readers!
Stayce