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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →