Weekend at Ranger's

By Dayoh

Chapter Three: Sunday

Sunday morning found Stephanie curled next to Ranger yet again. His warm breath showered the back of her neck as he spooned her body, cocooning her within his broad frame. Stephanie's muscles were screaming for a long soak in the bathtub, but her mind was content on staying in bed with Ranger for as long as she could. Their weekend together was slowly coming to a close. Tomorrow, she'd be hunting FTA's, and Ranger would be doing what he does best, running his business and hunting bad guys.

He'd taken the whole weekend off, choosing to spend his free time with her instead of checking in at the office. And for all intents and purposes, this was a sacrifice for Ranger. He was a workaholic who usually never took a whole weekend off from work. Stephanie was grateful that he was showing a willingness to spend quality time with her. And she hoped the positive pattern would continue.

Stephanie smiled to herself, thinking about the unorthodox way they'd approached a romantic relationship. Sex had preceded their first date, and she'd spent a whole weekend with him, after just one night on the town. Most women dated for weeks, even months before delving into a two day sexual tryst with a man. But Stephanie had always marched to the beat of a different drummer.

However, there was a plus side to their new found relationship. Stephanie and Ranger had been friends before sex ever entered the picture. And they'd also shared experiences that most couples with 20 years of marriage under their belt hadn't shared. In the three years they'd worked together, there had been enough excitement to fill the pages of an adventure novel. Stephanie and Ranger's Amazing Escapades: The Bounty Hunter's Guide to a Crazy Life.

Truth be told, most women would be scared to sit and eat at the same table with Ranger. Yet, here she was, moving into a romantic relationship with him. But, as mysterious and scary as he seemed, there was a quality about him that inspired trust. And Stephanie trusted Ranger with her life.

Ranger stirred behind Stephanie, his arm tightening around her waist, his skin warm against her naked body. And for a quick second she envisioned her clothes hanging in his closet, her shoes next to his, lining the shelves. But just as quickly, the vision faded from her mind. One step at a time, Stephanie thought to herself. You don't want to move too fast and scare him away.

Then, another thought crossed her mind. Ranger had not once asked her about birth control, and he hadn't even broken a seal on a condom wrapper. Stephanie hadn't been on the pill since college, but she knew enough about the Rhythm Method, a technique she'd trusted for the last couple of days, to know that she was within a safe zone in her cycle. But, Ranger didn't have any knowledge of where she was in her cycle. The subject had not come up at all.

And while he'd made it perfectly clear that he wasn't ready for another baby just yet, he had mentioned that he would probably father her first born child, one day. Stephanie made a mental note to discuss birth control with Ranger later.

Lost in her own thoughts, Stephanie flinched when Ranger's cell phone chimed, interrupting the peaceful silence in the room. His arm moved slowly from around her waist as he was roused from a comfortable sleep.

Grabbing his cell phone off the nightstand, Ranger glanced at the caller ID.

"Manoso," he said into the receiver. His voice was husky from sleep, yet professional.

Stephanie couldn't hear what the person on the other end was saying, but it must have been important, because Ranger was out of the bed and at his computer desk within seconds. She shifted onto her back, feeling a chill from the vacant space Ranger had left. She watched as he took notes, writing words down on a yellow, note pad while he listened intently to the caller.

Stephanie thought it would be a good time to run a hot bath, leaving Ranger to continue his conversation in private. In the bathroom, while waiting for the tub to fill, Stephanie emptied her bladder and brushed her teeth. She sprinkled a handful of bath minerals into the water and checked the temperature, making sure it wasn't too hot. And just as she settled into the steaming water, Ranger ambled through the door, in all his naked glory.

"Just in time," Stephanie said, smiling up at Ranger. He smiled back lazily, looking like he wanted to crawl back into bed and sleep a few more hours.

"I'll let you enjoy your bath without interruption this time," he said, leaning down, kissing her lips lightly. He walked to the small space housing the toilet and closed the door.

"Thank you for closing the door this time," Stephanie said, loud enough for Ranger to hear.

"Babe, you're weird," Ranger said behind a chuckle. "You can still hear what I'm doing."

"Yes, but it's not as loud and imposing with the door closed. Some things need to be done in private."

She heard Ranger bark out boisterous laugh and flush the toilet. Closing her eyes and sinking down into the water, Stephanie felt her muscles unwind. While she relaxed, Ranger brushed his teeth and took a quick shower. And then he left her alone to soak for a while.

About an hour later, Stephanie stepped out of the bathtub, pulled on her robe, and joined Ranger in the bedroom. He was lying face down on the bed, his taut ass on full display. He had a pillow under his head, and his eyes were closed. Throwing herself on top of his body, she put her mouth next to his ear, inhaling his clean scent. She whispered, "Are you asleep?"

"Not at the moment," Ranger mumbled into the pillow. He gave her a playful shove, and she fell off his body, landing on her back next to him. He threw his arm over her chest and trapped her left leg beneath one of his muscular thighs, his manhood resting against her hip.

"You smell good," he said, sniffing her hair, the damp curls fanned out around her head.

"So do you," she said. "And, you have a really nice ass."

"Do you want me to show you what I think of your ass?" Ranger asked.

Stephanie smiled at the way Ranger's eyes grew dark with passion within seconds. "You look all worn out. You sure you got more to give?"

"I am all worn out," Ranger replied. "You're killing me."

"I'm killing you? I'm surprised you gave me an hour to relax in the bathroom. You're a beast."

A mischievous grin spread across Ranger's face. "I gave you fair warning, babe. You entered my lair at your own risk."

"And you've shown me no mercy," Stephanie said, laughing softly. "And, you've shown absolutely no concern about birth control the past two days. What's that all about?"

Stephanie studied Ranger's face. His eyes widened just a fraction; a questioning look covered his face. "You're not on the pill?"

Stephanie shook her head in reply.

"I just assumed…," Ranger started.

"Ranger, don't worry," Stephanie interrupted. "I'm in a safe place in my cycle this time. But we need to discuss what we are going to do about birth control going forward."

"I'm sorry, babe," Ranger said quietly. "I didn't mean to imply that birth control is your responsibility alone."

He pushed his hand through Stephanie's hair, twirling a curl around his finger. "I don't mind wearing condoms, but I really think you should consider getting on the pill, or something similar. That way, we won't have to worry about an unplanned pregnancy every time we make love."

"Okay," Stephanie agreed. "I'll make an appointment with my doctor next week. I'm not really excited about getting back on the pill, but there are a lot more birth control options now than there was when I was in college. I'll figure something out."

Ranger looked at Stephanie carefully, as if trying to read her mind. "Babe, when the time is more appropriate, I would love for you to carry my baby. But, I love and respect you too much to rush into marriage because of an unexpected surprise. I told you this before, and it bears repeating. I want to get it right this time."

Stephanie appreciated Ranger's honesty. His first marriage had failed miserably. And he wanted a second chance to do the right thing. She had to respect that he didn't want to make the same mistake twice. Stephanie had also failed at marriage the first time around, and while she dreamed of walking down the aisle again, she had no desire to do it in a maternity dress. She'd watched her sister struggle through that kind of drama, and it had been stressful on everyone involved.

"I understand. Really, I do," Stephanie assured Ranger. "And I'm not in any big hurry to start a family, either. So we're cool."

"Good," Ranger said. "And while we're in a serious subject mode, I should tell you that I have to leave the country for an assignment. That was what the phone call was all about."

Stephanie looked at Ranger regretfully, silently wondering if she was truly ready for this. Blowing out a sigh, she turned away from him and stared at the ceiling. "How long?"

"Babe, you're not going to make this hard, are you?"

"How long?" Stephanie repeated.

"One month at the most," Ranger answered, never taking his eyes off Stephanie.

"When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow afternoon."

"That soon?"

"Yes," Ranger said. He didn't bother with details. He'd warned her that he wouldn't.

"And after this assignment, you'll have a few more weeks left on the contract, right?"

"Correct. There will probably be one more assignment after this one. And then I'm done."

They were both silent, not sure what to say next. Ranger touched his lips to her face, showering her skin with soft kisses. He moved his lips down her neck, finally stopping at the opening of her robe, just above her breasts.

Stephanie grabbed Ranger's head, pulling him back up to meet her gaze. "I hate this," she admitted. "It was easy to deal with your absence when I didn't know what you were up to, and I had someone else to occupy my time. But now that I know what you do, I'll be worried sick until you come back home."

"Stephanie, I know this is hard for you. But you're going to have to be patient for a little while longer, okay? I'm one of the best at what I do, and I'll be fine."

The thought of something bad happening to Ranger made Stephanie's stomach feel nauseous. But he'd been honest about his job, and she'd made the choice to be with him, regardless of what he did for a living. And now she would have to suck it up and deal with her decision.

Stephanie crushed her mouth against Ranger's lips. She wanted to taste the words 'I'll be fine' on his tongue, as if the words alone could make the situation better. Ranger climbed on top of Stephanie's body, deepening the kiss. His hands fumbled with her robe until her nakedness was exposed. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he slipped inside her warm opening. They moved together slowly, savoring the precious moments left of the weekend, comforting each other's fears and doubts.

****

Stephanie had slipped back into the dress she'd worn two days ago, the material wrinkled from the abuse it incurred in Ranger's foyer. It was after four in the afternoon, and she had to get home to change into something more comfortable. Ranger was going to drop her off at her apartment, stop by the office to update Tank on his travel plans, and then meet Stephanie at her parent's house by six o'clock. This would give Stephanie a few minutes to explain her new relationship with Ranger to her family. She wanted them to accept his new role in her life, as well as theirs.

Grandma Mazur was waiting at the door when Stephanie pulled into her parent's driveway at five thirty. She'd changed into a pair of jeans, a form fitting purple, sweater, and sneakers.

"Well look at you!" Grandma Mazur quipped as Stephanie reached the door. "You're all aglow."

Stephanie smiled at her grandmother's pink, hot pants and matching pink hair. "You're the one glowing, literally. You'd probably glow in the dark."

Grandma Mazur led Stephanie into the kitchen where her mother was putting the final preparations on dinner. "Well, I have to keep up appearances, you know. I can't let the young folks out do me."

"Of course not," Stephanie said to her grandmother. She kissed her mother on the cheek, and yelled "Hello!" to her father sitting in front of the television in the living room. He grunted something that sounded like hello back.

Helen Plum passed Stephanie a stack of plates. "You're glowing. What's going on?"

"Am I?" Stephanie asked innocently. "I guess I had a restful weekend."

Grandma Mazur stepped up close to Stephanie, inspecting the skin on her face. "Boy, if I didn't know you were single again, I'd swear you've been getting some hot sex. You know what they say; hot sex is like a moisturizer for the skin."

Stephanie's mother did the sign of the cross on her chest. "For God's sake, all this sex talk is just ridiculous."

Stephanie rushed out of the kitchen with the stack of plates. Buying time, she slowly set them down in their designated place on the dining room table. She walked back into the kitchen and grabbed a gravy dish from the cabinet. "Ranger will be joining us for dinner tonight," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. "And, he'll probably be doing the weekly dinner thing from now on."

"Ranger's hot!" Grandma Mazur said. "Are you two an item now?"

"Something like that," Stephanie replied. She didn't want to go into too much detail just yet. The Burg's gossip mill was churning with enough chitchat to last the rest of the year. "We're taking things slow," she explained, looking at her mother who'd suddenly stopped stirring the gravy to stare at her daughter.

"Slow?" Her mother repeated, as if she didn't fully understand what the word meant. "You think you have time to take things slow? I was married with kids when I was your age. You're running out of time, kiddo."

Stephanie hadn't expected that reaction from her mother. Here she was worried about her mother freaking out over the fact that she was dating Ranger, and instead, she was more concerned with Stephanie's biological clock. Or maybe she just wasn't surprised at the news. Whatever the reason, Stephanie guessed that Ranger's transition into the family might be easier than she'd expected.

Stephanie lifted the pot of gravy off the stove, transferring the rich, brown liquid to the gravy dish. "I start classes next week," she said. I have things I want to accomplish before I get married and start a family. And Ranger supports my decision."

"Grandma Mazur raised her hands with enthusiasm. "Good for you! A young woman should have her own life and a career. It's a new generation and a new time for independent women like me and Stephanie. You know, these days a man wants an independent woman by his side."

Grandma Mazur popped an olive in her mouth and smiled wide. "And now we know who's been giving you hot sex! That Ranger's the one, I tell ya. And he's got a great package, too!"

Stephanie's mother eyed the cabinet holding her liquor stash. "I'm not sure your father's going to be happy about your new boyfriend, Stephanie. We all like Ranger; he seems to be a nice young man, maybe a little strange, but nice nevertheless. But…."

"But what?" Stephanie interrupted. "He's not Italian? Well, Dad's just going to have to accept Ranger for who he is. I love him, and that should be enough."

Grandma Mazur chimed in, "I love black people, too. That Lula is a pip. I've been thinking about dating a black man myself. You know, broaden my horizons. I'm going to join one of them Internet dating sites. I bet I'll find a nice black man through one of those sites."

Stephanie's mother broke for the cabinet, pulling out a small, silver flask from behind a stack of dishes. She took a long pull from the bottle, tucked it back into its hiding place, and took the pot roast out of the oven.

"You can date whomever you want," Stephanie said to Grandma Mazur. "But you need to be careful with on-line dating. It can be dangerous. And for the record, Grandma, Ranger's not black, he's Cuban-American."

"Well that's even better!" Grandma Mazur said happily. Those Cuban's can do the Salsa like nobody's business. You think Ranger will teach me?"

"I don't think Ranger is the dancing type. We'll see, though."

"Let's eat," Stephanie's mother said, moving towards the dining room.

Stephanie's father was sitting at the table, fork in hand when the women tumbled into the dining room. The doorbell rang and Stephanie went to the door to let Ranger in.

"Well isn't this a pip?" Grandma Mazur said. "Frank, did you hear the good news?"

Ranger plastered a rigid grin on his face, nodding politely at everyone. He was wearing a dark blue, sweater, faded jeans, and work boots.

Frank nodded back, staring at Ranger's clothes. He said, "Looks to me like the good news is Ranger has finally stopped wearing black all the time?"

"No," Grandma Mazur replied, as everyone took their seats at the table. "He's wearing weekend clothes. Isn't that right, Ranger?"

"Correct," Ranger said, giving Grandma Mazur a genuine smile.

Grandma Mazur continued talking as the food was being passed around the table. "Ranger is going to be your new son-in-law pretty soon, Frank. On account he and Stephanie are having hot sex now."

There was a hint of a smirk on Ranger's lips as he picked up the glass in front of him, taking a long sip of water. Stephanie closed her eyes, saying a silent prayer, her fair skin turning a deep shade of red. When she finally opened her eyes, she saw that her mother's chair was vacant. She was probably in the kitchen taking an emergency tipple from her flask.

A few seconds later, her mother returned to the dining room. "The roast might be a tad bit dry," she said, her eyes glazed over from alcohol. "Use extra gravy."

Stephanie's father remained silent, filling his plate with beef, stabbing the meat a little too forcibly; probably wishing Grandma Mazur was on the platter. Giving Ranger a side glance, he passed the roast his way. "You got any Italians in your family?"

"None," Ranger answered, taking the platter of meat from Frank. "Do you have any Cubans in your family?"

"None that I'm aware of," Frank said, shoveling food into his mouth.

Ranger put a slice of meat on his plate and smiled at Frank. "I'll have to see what I can do to change that."

Frank mumbled something unintelligible, forking up a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

Grandma Mazur buttered a roll, grinning at Ranger. "I've decided to do the Internet dating thing, Ranger. I'm going to find me a nice black man with lots of money. Maybe we can get our own place if things work out."

Stephanie's father lifted his head from his plate. "If an alien from outer space could get you out of this house, I'd be all for it."

"Be nice, Frank," Stephanie's mother said. She seemed almost too relaxed at this point.

Ranger raised an eyebrow and looked at Stephanie. She shrugged her shoulders, chewing on a piece of beef smothered in gravy. She was pretty sure Ranger's grandmother never occupied her time with on-line dating services.

"Have you looked into the Single Senior Citizen'sprogram at Saint Paul's Cathedral?" Ranger asked Grandma Mazur.

"I tried that last year," Grandma Mazur said. "What a bunch of loser's, that group. I need more excitement in my life."

"Well," Ranger said, "You won't have any trouble finding excitement through on-line dating, that's for sure."

"How's everything?" Helen asked numbly, the alcohol working like a charm.

"Great," everyone said, almost in unison.

The rest of evening went well, all things considered. Ranger stayed through the whole meal, and he even indulged in a small slice of pineapple upside-down cake, passing most of it to Stephanie after only a few bites.

Grandma Mazur continued to fill everyone in on the latest gossip in the Burg as Stephanie helped her mother clear the table. Frank excused himself from the table to perch in front of the television, and Ranger softly cleared his throat, a signal that he was also ready to be excused. He'd endured the dinner for Stephanie's sake, and he was ready to make an exit. Stephanie felt a pang of sadness, knowing that it would be a while before she saw Ranger again. "I'm going to walk Ranger out," she said as Ranger stood.

Stephanie's mother came out of the kitchen hauling a plate full of food wrapped in foil. She pushed the plate into Ranger's hands and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Will we see you next week?" she asked Ranger.

Ranger smiled at Helen, giving Stephanie a quick glance. "I'll be out of the country on business the next few weeks. But I'll join you all when I get back. Thank you for a lovely meal."

"See ya next time, Ranger," Grandma Mazur yelled from the kitchen.

"Have a good evening, Grandma Mazur," Ranger replied.

Stephanie grabbed Ranger by the hand and they walked to the front door.

"Goodnight, Mr. Plum," Ranger said to Stephanie's father as he relaxed in front of the television.

"Might as well call me Frank," he mumbled, never taking his eyes off the television screen.

Ranger and Stephanie looked at each other, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"And you thought you'd have to leave your gun in the car," Stephanie said when they reached Ranger's truck. "Outside of Grandma's usual antics, I thought dinner went well."

"You should really discourage your grandmother from dating on the Internet, babe."

"I'll do what I can," Stephanie said. She's a live wire, you know."

Ranger smiled. "I'm more concerned about the welfare of the poor bastard she'll find on-line. The guy's in big trouble."

Stephanie gave Ranger a playful punch in the arm. "You could only wish that your grandmother was this exciting. You know, one day our grandmother's will have to meet face-to-face. Grandma can be a bad influence on other senior citizens."

"Babe," Ranger moaned, probably trying hard to keep the image of his little Cuban grandmother wearing pink, hot pants out of his mind. "I need to mentally prepare myself for that day."

Stephanie smiled and stepped closer to Ranger. "This has been one of the best weekends I've had in a long time. Thank you."

Ranger smiled wickedly. "I should be thanking you. But I'll save up all my appreciation for when I get back."

"Can you at least tell me what country you'll be working in?" Stephanie pleaded.

Ranger studied Stephanie's face for a beat, and then he sighed lightly. "I'll be in Mexico. I'll call you when I arrive, but after that, you probably won't hear from me for a while. And when I'm able to get in touch with you, I won't make the call from my cell phone. I'll always use a secure line, so the number will be unrecognizable."

Stephanie's mouth rounded into a pout, and a troubled look spread across her face.

"Babe," Ranger said in a cautious tone. "Don't do that."

"I can't help how I feel," Stephanie said, trying to keep her voice from quivering. I don't know how I'm going to focus for the next few weeks."

"Steph, I'm sure Connie has a folder full of skips for you to find. And you'll be starting your classes next week. You'll be so busy; the time's going to fly by."

Stephanie searched Ranger's face for any sign of emotion. "This is too easy for you, isn't it? Packing up and taking off at a moment's notice."

"Not anymore," Ranger answered honestly. "I'm going to miss the hell out of you. But, I'm under contract with these people, and I always finish what I start. Two years ago, if you would have been in my life this way, I would have made a different career choice."

Stephanie pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She didn't want to burden Ranger with emotional drama, nor did she want to come off as excessively needy. So instead of continuing to complain, she said, "You're right, Ranger. I'll stay busy, and you'll be home before I know it."

Ranger stared at Stephanie, knowing she was only saying what she thought he wanted to hear. He said, "If you need help with anything, contact Tank. And try to stay out of trouble."

"And you try to stay alive, she said, wondering how many more goodbyes would include this kind of warning. They really did lead crazy lives.

Ranger grabbed Stephanie by her wrists and pulled her against his body. He kissed her deep, tasting the sweetness of pineapple on her tongue. After a few minutes, he broke the kiss, and Stephanie untangled her fingers from his hair.

Grandma Mazur stuck her head out the front door, a big grin covering her face. "Boy, you two are going to start a fire on the lawn! I'll get the fire extinguisher, just in case."

"Not necessary," Ranger said. He gave Grandma Mazur the peace sign, angled into his truck, and drove away.

Stephanie watched as the tail lights of his truck disappeared into the darkness. She blew out a sigh, thinking how much she'd enjoyed spending every minute of the last 48 hours with Ranger.

"You can do this, Stephanie," she said in a whisper, giving herself a pep talk. She would try to get through the next few weeks without losing her mind, even though her sanity depended greatly on Ranger's continued existence in her life. However, they'd certainly made it through worst situations and come out just fine. She loved him, and she was in it for the long haul.

Pulling her cell phone out of her back pocket, Stephanie punched the button programmed with Ranger's cell phone number.

"Yo," Ranger answered after the first ring.

"You know, with all the stress I'll be taking on the next few weeks, I'll probably need a good soak in your tub once in a while. And I doubt Tank would be willing to help me with that?"

There was a few seconds of silence, and then Stephanie listened as Ranger laughed softly. "I left a spare key in your cookie jar," he said. "I love you, babe."

And then he was gone.

EL ULTIMO!