Category: CITW: Main Story

Chapter 122: Love is a Choice

Steph’s POV

“OK, I think that’s everything,” Mari says, crossing off the last item on her list. We have multiple Christmas trees, lots of wrapping paper and boxes, decorations for the tree, and enough flour and baking supplies for me to have a cake every day for a year.

“Whew!” Lourdes says, smiling. “Thank goodness! My feet are so tired.”

“Same here,” I reply.

The Charlotte RangeMen with us are moaning. “Yeah, you ladies are super shoppers,” Luis says. “Can we go home now?”

“Yes!” Continue reading →

Chapter 121: Chance Encounters

Ranger’s POV

“Babe?”

“No.” Steph stretches and buries her face under the pillows. “You’ve woken me up at hours not known to me for the past few days. Go explore. I’ll be here when you get back.”

There’s a thought to make me smile.

“Should I ask for a room with two beds from now on?”

She sighs in obvious relief. “You don’t mind?”

“No.”

I kiss her and leave. I’m off to investigate Charlotte.

She’ll be there when I come back.

Hopefully.

Well, I’m taking her car. Where could she go?

Sigh. I grab the keys and leave before my brain starts calculating the possibilities. Continue reading →

Chapter 120: This Feels Like Deja Vu

Mando’s POV—Monday

I’m staring out of the window, contemplating a quick jog, when Chase walks in.

“Sir?”

1100. Never mind. Time for my standing meeting with Chase. I motion for him to come in.

“Thanks for covering me this morning.”

“No problem. How was Miami?”

“Good. Atlanta?”

He grins. “I’m so glad my cousin does not schedule health checks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

I laugh. “Same here.” Continue reading →

Chapter 119: Star Signs

A/N: DragonFly Friday, the car horn is just for you. 🙂 Hope everything is OK.

Ranger’s POV—Sunday Night

“Where are we going, Carlos?”

I smile and hold her hand. “Come on. You’ll see.”

We keep going until we reach the top of the hill. “We’re here.”

“Where’s here?”

“The top of the hill.” It’s pitch black around us. Perfect. I take the basket from her hands and drop to the ground.

Steph rolls her eyes. I can’t see it but I can feel it. “Got that, Carlos. Why are we here?”

“To stargaze.”

She looks over at me and her mouth drops. “Stargaze?”

“Bad idea?”

“It’s freezing! It’s the middle of the night, we hiked fifteen minutes to get here, it’s … it’s …” She beams. “Wonderful, Carlos! So romantic!” Continue reading →

Chapter 118: Perhaps I Should Explain . . .

Ranger’s POV

Boston looks good, as always. I’ve confirmed Mark went after Hospitality contracts. Nice healthy ones too. At the moment, his ass is grass with me, but Steph kept him for some reason. I’m waiting to hear why because it’s the only thing saving him from time on the mats with the entire LC before I dismiss him.

We return from the downtown office and I go in search of Mike again. He’s in Mark’s office, watching the monitors and reading.

“Problem?”

His head jerks up. “No, sir. Reading through the information Mark left for me. He left a series of articles for me to read, one each day, to teach me how to be an XO.”

I motion for the binder. He hands it over and I look. Good job. Detailed, broad range of topics, perfect to teach someone new to management how to perform his duties. “Useful?”

Mike barks a laugh. “Somewhat.” I wait. “I mean, it’s the difference between reading about how to drive and driving.” I nod, amused. “That binder is factually correct in everything it covers, but until you sit in this seat with twenty different things flying at you, you don’t understand the brilliance and the limitations of that book.” Continue reading →

Chapter 117: Surprise Me

Ranger‘s POV

I’m staring at the trunk of the Miata.

My personal choice? A Porsche 911. I wanted my Babe to match me but I knew not to buy that. I bought her a Miata and I heard she cried. I’d gotten the right thing.

I’m glad, because this car has shit for storage. Babe overpacked for a weeklong trip and nothing I said could get her to remove clothes. I wish Ella had been here, but she was in Newark with our family for Thanksgiving.

Les said it was the usual speculation on my life. Mom is worried about me. She and Abuela have worn a rosary away praying for me and Papa is praying that I come home safe and sound. My siblings had the usual comments, complaints and digressions.

He and Bobby enjoyed laughing at how wrong they were. Continue reading →

Chapter 116: Brown has lost his fucking mind

Bobby‘s POV

Occasionally, I have a really good, and really scary, thought.

I had one last night. It was so good I got out of bed to do some research. After two hours of searching, one hour of plotting, and ten minutes thinking of a co-conspirator, I’m ready.

“Candace?”

I move swiftly to catch her cup of coffee. Hal appears and I wave him off.

She smiles. “Sir. Sorry. Good morning.”

Extra glow. Good job, Hal.

“I need your help.” I wait until she opens her office and gets comfortable. I’m in no hurry and I tell her to take her time. Once she’s ready, I detail the plan to her and sit back. She’s smiling.

“You guys really like to meddle in other people’s lives, don’t you?”

I shrug. “No. But will we help our brother when we see he needs it? Yes.” Continue reading →

Chapter 115: Business and Pleasure

Steph‘s POV

Ranger is red and panting. “Babe.”

“Ranger.”

I’ve never seen him this aroused and it looks a little painful.

Smack!

He grips the door frame harder and clenches his teeth. His muscles are knotted and tense, his face carefully blank. He’s been holding this position for thirty minutes, determined to allow me to explore my kinky fantasies.

Problem is, I don’t have any. I’m making this up as I go. And I like it. Continue reading →

Chapter 114: Your Words vs. My Actions

A/N: I got playful with Mañoso in this chapter. Because I know you might be confused:

Ranger: The military trained soldier, who thinks of things in military terms.

Carlos: The closest approximation of Ranger’s core self. The part of him that only Steph gets. The vulnerable side of Mañoso.

Ric: The ‘normal’ side of Ranger. The side the guys know, the side people might be allowed to see. Mañoso’s ‘normal’ train of thought.

When you see brackets [], the personalities are arguing.

This should be fun.

Ranger‘s POV

She’s staring at me.

“Babe.”

“Carlos.”

I open my eyes, a smile curving my lips. Steph’s looking at me, a happy smile on her face. “Hey.” I kiss her.

“Hey.”

“Kinda cold for bikinis, Babe.”

“Damn.”

I laugh. Steph. The one and only. She leaves to hit the bathroom and I roll over onto my back and stare at the ceiling. She climbs back in and settles on my chest.

“Ranger?” I don’t answer. “Ranger?” She looks up. I’ve raised an eyebrow. “Carlos?”

“Babe.”

I get poked. “More than one word.”

“What’s up, Babe?”

“We need to talk.”

What does that mean? What did I do? “About?”

Continue reading →

Chapter 113: Welcome Home

A/N: Roscommon: Thank you for all your help!

Steph‘s POV

I drop my purse on the side table and kick off my shoes. I have ice cream, a blanket and a blank TV.

RMSA was a disaster.

I’m not even sure how it happened. I went expecting to have a great trip. I was going to get the guys for the manipulation, I was going to point how bad they were at managing their company, and I was going to help Lula plan her wedding.

Well, I kinda helped Lula.

I stare at the apartment I’ve spent the past month decorating for me and Ranger. It looks great, but Ranger won’t see it until Tuesday when he comes back.

I check the time. 5 p.m. If I hurry, I can make dinner. Continue reading →