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Realigning Destiny
By TT

Sometimes chance intervenes in our lives and causes destiny to jump the tracks. When this happens, fate steps in and realigns destiny’s course to bring us to where we need to be. But, as with the course of true love, the road of realignment doesn’t always run smooth.

Part 37: Cuddle

Stephanie woke up before her alarm, wondering at how warm she was. Her tired, muddled brain soon connected the warmth to the weight on her waist and the wall at her back. As her mind continued it's long journey to wakefulness, she felt the wall at her back moving ever so slightly and a slight breath of air brush over her neck.

Breath. That word triggered her coffee-deprived synapses into action and she realized the wall was Ranger, the warmth and weight on her waist was her arm, and that they were still cuddled together on her bed.

Scrambling to gather her wits about her, she tried to remember what had happened last night.

There had been the tape at Bob's house, dinner, the discussion, the idea and then she and Ranger had headed back here. They has spent some time in the kitchen with her cuddled in Ranger's lap, talking.

A smile flashed across her lips. Who knew Ranger liked to cuddle? Although, she had known he liked to touch her and be touched by her, they hadn't quite reached this level of touch in their relationship before...

She forcibly stopped those thoughts from progressing. She would not ruin this morning by thinking of those things in the past that caused her pain.

They had sat in the kitchen while he comforted her and helped her deal with the stress of the day. She had done what she could to return the favor, but mostly just enjoyed being with him.

A part of her had known what he mentioned – that both her life and Charlie's were in for a big change. She sighed as she thought of it and felt Ranger's arm tighten reflexively. That brought another smile to her face.

Ranger had promised that he would be there every step of the way through the change, that the three of them would go through it together and find a path, a way, that worked for all of them.

After she had her emotions in some sort of order, she had asked a few questions about that, but hadn't really wanted to spoil the moment with worries about the future.

In those few moments, though, Ranger had assured her that he was at a stage where he could do most of the work for Rangeman remotely if need be, so if she wanted to stay here in Montana, he could work with that. He also let her know that he would be happy to bring her and Charlie back to Trenton with him, especially since there were so many people who would be overjoyed at her return. He also mentioned the other Rangeman locations as options for living and, as if that wasn't enough, let her know that she would never have to work again unless that was what she wanted.

She smiled as she thought of that conversation.

“Trying to turn me into a housewife?” she accused, smiling slightly since she knew Ranger would never try to do any such thing.

“Maybe,” he teased back, a grin flitting at the corners of his mouth.

Unable to stop a giggle, Stephanie teased back, “Maybe we should turn you into a househusband.”

Ranger had rewarded her with a grin and a kiss before responding, “Frilly aprons just aren't my style, Babe.”

Pretending to be affronted, Stephanie railed, “And they are mine?” Her breath caught in her throat as she watched his eyes turn dark and smoldering.

“That could be fun,” he informed, his voice low and husky. “A cute little maid's uniform with a frilly white apron, or, better yet, an apron with nothing else on...”

Even now, Stephanie could feel her internal temperature rise at the heat in his voice. But, just as last night, it was too much too fast. Sensing that, Ranger had backed off. There would, hopefully, be a day in the not too distant future, where they allowed that aspect of their relationship to develop, but now was not the time for it.

“You're thinking too loud,” Ranger grumbled from behind her, his voice heavy with sleep.

Stephanie smiled and turned in his arms to look at him. Impulsively, she leaned forward and kissed him, amused that he didn't wake up completely alert. He'd done so in the past. “Morning sleepyhead,” she greeted in a sing-song voice.

Ranger let out a growl and drew her down on top of him, suddenly looking far more alert. “Sleepyhead?” he asked.

Letting out a giggle, she leaned down and kissed him again. “Something like that,” she assured him. “Now let me up so I can get ready for the day.”

As if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them, the playfulness seemed to drain from the room. The elephant in the room that they had successfully ignored for a few minutes suddenly made itself known again.

Lifting his head, Ranger gently kissed Stephanie's lips before releasing her and helping her stand.

She felt his eyes scan her body, despite the fact she wore her normal nightclothes. For some reason, she couldn't stop the faint blush at his attention, even as she lowered her eyes and mentally berated herself for the weakness. It had just been so long since she had seen herself as an object of desire, that she couldn't help reacting like a schoolgirl.

“You're beautiful, Babe,” Ranger assured. “We'll go at whatever pace you need to, but I'm not going to stop admiring you.”

“Thank you,” Stephanie managed to whisper before heading off to the bathroom. Stopping at the door, she turned around and looked at him. “I'll meet you downstairs for breakfast in a bit,” she assured.

“I'm looking forward to it,” Ranger said, offering a full smile.

Stephanie ducked into the bathroom and shut the door behind her, releasing a breath. She really needed to talk to Charlie about things and check into birth control options. Since she hadn't dated the entire time she'd been in Montana, there really hadn't been any reason for her to look into it, but with Ranger back in her life...

Before any of that, however, they needed to remove DiMarco and Campbell. Last night Ranger had assured her that the men wouldn't be a problem for them in the future. Somehow, Stephanie couldn't feel sorry for the eventual demise. She felt the firm conviction that the world would be a better place without Campbell and DiMarco.

After that situation was handled, then, and only then, could they start their life.

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