Wardrobe Overhaul
By TT
Disclaimer: The characters of the Stephanie Plum series belong to Janet Evanovich and are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Note: So, there was I hunting down a particular knitting pattern on-line and my muse tossed a plot bunny at me without warning. Muses really need to be better about warnings. So, here, along with a few of the knitting patterns I�ve run across listed at the end, is a short.
Rating: Suitable for people over 13
Feedback: Eamil TT
Wardrobe Overhaul
By TT
Stephanie took a deep breath as she looked at the house. It didn�t seem like the type of house that would instantly cause stress, hyperventilation and panic. In truth, the house itself was fine. It was what was in the house that terrified her.
It had been a full month since she had been home. Her reasons for not visiting were all valid, even if she knew it would worry her mother. She just hoped her mother had found enough to iron.
First there was the thing with Joe, then the stalker, then the kidnapping, another stalker, the thing with Ranger and finally another stalker.
Now, for the first time in a month, her life was calm and safe enough for her to see her parents.
As she exited her car, the front door burst open and a smiling Mrs. Plum stepped outside to greet her.
�Hi, Mom,� Stephanie greeted cautiously. Her mother had never come outside to greet her and certainly never hugged her, she thought as Mrs. Plums arms wrapped around her. Taking a deep breath, Stephanie couldn�t smell any alcohol on her mother and was baffled by what was going on.
�Stephanie, dear,� Mrs. Plum greeted, slipping her arm through Stephanie�s and hurrying the younger woman inside. �You�re just in time. You go on up to your room and get out of these things and into the outfit I have laid out. I�ll be up in a minute to check the fit and bring in your other outfits.�
Stephanie�s eyes were wide with shock. She had no idea what her mother was talking about. Maybe her latest adventures had sent her mother around the bend. Hopefully Ranger knew of a good asylum, though, Stephanie had to admit, she�d really miss the pot roast and pineapple upside down cake.
Still, being the dutiful daughter that she was, she climbed the stairs and entered her room.
There, lying on the bed were a bra and panty set (1), and a dress (2). If her eyes weren�t lying, both had been knit. What made the clothing even more remarkable was that it looked like something she might actually wear.
Remembering her mother�s instructions, she closed the door and quickly stripped off her jeans and t-shirt. She slipped on the panties, which were just a little snug around her hips, and the bra. Lifting the dress, she slid it over her head and turned to look at herself in the mirror. �Not bad,� murmured. �Maybe for a nice distraction with different underwear and four inch heels��
Her musings were cut off as a knock sounded on the door. Opening it, she saw her mother walk in with an armful of clothing, all of which looked to have been knit.
�Mom?� Stephanie asked, her worry evident in her voice.
Mrs. Plum turned, smiled at the sight of Stephanie in the dress and started checking here and there to make sure the fit was correct. �I though I had your size down pretty well, but I just wanted to be sure. It�s good to know I still have a good eye for sizes,� she chattered.
�Mom,� Stephanie tried again, her voice slightly louder and more firm. Once her mother�s eyes met hers, Stephanie asked, �Did you make all these?�
�Of course, dear,� Mrs. Plum informed, turning her attention to the pile of clothes and beginning to sort them.
�Why?�
Mrs. Plum smiled and turned toward her. �The iron broke and I didn�t have a car to go get one. Your grandmother got tired of my cleaning and pulled out her old knitting things. I�d forgotten how much I enjoyed it.�
�OK,� Stephanie replied, at a loss for what to say. Sitting on her bed she spotted several skirts, long and short, a few sweaters, shirts, what appeared to be a little black dress (3), several bras, a few more bra and panty sets, several pairs of pants, shorts and� was that a thong (4)?
�Now, you just need to try all this on,� Mrs. Plum began.
�Um, I really need to get back to work,� Stephanie deflected, fighting a blush as her mother picked up one of the bra and panty sets. �Why don�t I try these on at home and I�ll let you know if something doesn�t fit.�
�Oh,� Mrs. Plum said, sounding disappointed. �All right. If you have to go.�
�I do,� Stephanie assured, hastily gathering her clothes � old and new � before heading toward the door. �I�ll give you a call tomorrow.�
�All right, dear,� Mrs. Plum sadly agreed, following Stephanie out of the house. �Be safe.�
�Sure, Mom,� Stephanie replied, slipping into her car. She hadn�t completely lied, she did have to work. She had a distraction � in about six hours.
About 6.5 hours later
Stephanie sighed as she slipped out of her shoes. As odd as it seemed, the wardrobe her mother had knit had gotten the skip out in no time. A small smile played across Stephanie�s lips as she remembered the dark black of Ranger�s eyes when he saw her and the gobsmacked look on the Merry Men�s faces.
She�d chosen a plum colored skirt that laced in the back (5), and paired it with a white top with black beadwork (6). It wasn�t quite her normal barely there fare, but both items had been tight enough to make up for it.
Stripping out of her new clothes she tossed them in her clothes hamper and made a mental note to ask her mother how they needed to be washed.
As she was reaching for her standard panties and t-shirt sleepwear, the thong (4) and a nightgown (7) caught her eyes. Picking those up instead, she headed toward the shower to wash off the smell of the bar.
A while later, clean and smelling like the Bulgari that �mysteriously� appeared in her bathroom (honest, it must have fallen in her bag last time she was at Ranger�s and made it�s own way there�), she hummed took in her appearance in the mirror and smiled. It may not be her norm, but the nightie and thong made her feel very feminine.
Deciding she needed a drink of water before bed, she headed into the kitchen. She reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. She closed the door, turned around and gasped, nearly dropping the water. �Ranger!� she cried. �Make some noise.�
Ranger said nothing, just stepped forward until Stephanie felt her back pressing into the refrigerator. �Babe,� he seemed to purr.
Stephanie felt herself begin to flush with desire. Her breathing became quicker as her eyes took in the sight of Ranger�s face. It was enthralling. His eyes were dark as obsidian and burned with a passion beyond what she�d ever seen there in the past. Stephanie felt her body begin to burn with a responding fire.
Ranger�s mouth opened once, but he didn�t seem to be able to form any words. He leaned a little closer, lifted a finger and ran it along the neckline of her nightie.
Her eyes fluttering closed at his touch, Stephanie�s head tipped back, forcing her back to arch slightly. �Ranger,� she half-moaned. A true moan escaped her a moment later when his lips placed fiery kisses from her shoulder to her ear before his tongue traced the shell of her ear causing her to shiver with desire.
Sweeping her up into his arms, Ranger headed toward the bedroom. �I like this,� he said, his voice low and filled with passion. �Very feminine.�
Stephanie was currently nibbling on his ear. �My mother knit it,� she replied absently.
Laying Stephanie on top of her bed, he looked down at her, stripped off his shirt and said, �Remind me to thank her,� before he joined her.
End
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