407THIRTY-TWO
I sank into my new couch, wiggling around in an unsuccessful attempt to find a comfortable spot. No matter how hard I tried, the furniture I'd picked out still didn't feel like mine. The odor of fresh paint permeated the space, even a week after I'd moved back in. I hoped that with time, the space would return to feeling like home, but deep inside I worried that my two months spent living with Ranger had shifted my allegiance. What if his place never stopped feeling like home? That would be one bitter piece of humble pie, after my insistence that I needed to move out to feel independent.
Resigning myself to the fact this sofa would never feel as comfortable as Ranger's, I flipped open the manila folder on my new coffee table. Inside were stacks of resumes for the recently posted Rangewoman positions. I'd promised Ranger I would have a narrowed down list of women to bring in for interviews when he returned from his business trip tomorrow. It still seemed surreal to consider myself running half of Ranger's company. After so many years, the idea of a steady paycheck seemed even stranger. It also meant my days as a bounty hunter were numbered. Even though Ranger insisted I could keep tracking skips on the side, I knew that once I jumped into my Rangewoman duties, I'd have no need, and no desire, to continue rolling in garbage and getting shot at.
I also knew it was only a matter of time before I caved and moved back in with Ranger permanently. At least my role in Rangewoman made me feel like I had some skin in the game, something to contribute in exchange for my posh living arrangements. Though, I remained determined to hold out as long as possible, for the sheer principle of it.
My phone rang, the screen lighting up to reveal my mother's number.
"Hi Mom," I answered, putting the phone on speaker so I could keep perusing the resumes.
"Stephanie, have you heard?"
I knew she was being vague on purpose, so I'd have to ask, "Heard what?"
"Joseph Morelli is dating Ashley Hampton!"
I sensed my mother expected some great reaction from me. Well, she wasn't going to get one. "Umm, okay."
A sigh came over the line. "Stephanie, this has gone far enough. You need to patch things up with Joseph, before he gives up on you forever."
"Mom, I am dating Ranger! And that is that. I'm glad Morelli is moving on. He deserves to be happy." I knew Ashley Hampton. She was a year behind me in school, and last I'd heard, she'd divorced her cheating husband and re-started her life as a single mother of two. She had a respectable job at the Trenton Bank. From what I recalled of her, she seemed nice. And exactly what Morelli always wanted me to be.
Consternation oozed through the connection. "Stephanie, for goodness sake, do you really want a man who goes by just Ranger to be the father of your children?"
"I think, what you meant to say is, you don't want the father of your future grandchildren to be a man who goes by Ranger. It doesn't bother me in the least." Especially since there would likely be no children, but my mother didn't know that. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm dating a good man who served his country and runs a successful business. I'm proud of him. I don't understand why you can't accept that."
"Don't forget incredibly sexy," a voice said from behind me. I yelped, jumping to my feet. Ranger stood at the entrance to the living room, an amused half smile on his lips.
"What was that?" my mother asked.
"Ummm, nothing," I lied. "Gotta go. Bye." I ended the call, spinning to face Ranger. "Would it kill you to knock?"
Ranger's half smile grew as he walked over to me. "We're going to have to do something about your new door, Babe. It's only got one deadbolt."
"Would more have forced you to knock?" I asked dryly.
"No," he grinned. "But it would stop most others."
I shook my head. "What are you doing here? I thought you weren't getting back from Miami until tomorrow night?"
"Business concluded a day early," he replied, leaning in to give me a quick kiss. "So I thought I'd surprise you with your apartment warming gift. It's in the kitchen."
Curious, I walked into my unrecognizable kitchen. The modern appliances, cabinets, and faux marble counters didn't seem right for the space. Even Rex looked out of place in his customary spot. Again, I suspected that was because I'd grown too used to his position on Ranger's kitchen counter. Looking around the kitchen, I immediately spotted the new addition. A large ceramic cookie jar sat in the same space occupied by its predecessor.
I laughed, picking the jar up to better examine it. "This feels too heavy," I remarked. "I don't suppose you filled it with cookies for me?"
"Those you need to supply yourself," Ranger replied with half a smile, his arm snaking around my waist as I pulled off the lid of the jar. "I told you I'd get you a new one," he added as I extracted a silver, five shot Smith and Wesson .45 revolver, identical to the one melted in the fire.
I grinned at him as I spun the barrel, devoid of bullets. Carefully placing the gun on the counter, I reached back into the cookie jar and retrieved the box of bullets. That explained why the jar weighed so much. I loaded the gun under Ranger's attentive eye, but he stopped me as I moved to put it back into the cookie jar.
"There's one more thing in there," he advised softly.
Raising my eyebrows at him, I reached into the jar. At the very bottom, my fingers closed around a small smooth box. I pulled it out, giving it a curious look. Rich dark wood comprised the square box, with mother of pearl inlay forming tight clumps of blossoms in the lid.
"It's beautiful," I told Ranger. "But I don't understand. You gave me earrings for Valentine's Day. What's this for?"
Ranger took the box from my fingers, carefully removing the lid. Gasping, I stepped back, as if he'd revealed a venomous spider instead of a beautiful silver ring with a square diamond mounted amongst delicate filigree. I grabbed for the counter to steady myself, my eyes darting to Ranger's face in confusion.
"If I get down on one knee, do I need to worry about you fainting?" he asked, a smile tugging at his lips.
Pinching myself, I ascertained this wasn't a dream. "You can't be serious?" I finally managed to squeak.
"Babe, you should know me better than that by now," he replied.
Omigod, he really was serious. "Are you sure?" I asked instead, still clutching the counter for dear life.
"I thought we got past the trust issues," he said with a laugh. At least he seemed to find my reaction amusing, rather than offensive. "Trust me, I'm sure. This was my grandmother's ring. She fled Cuba with it hidden in this box, wrapped in rags. You're the only woman I've ever wanted to give it to, and also the only woman worthy of wearing it." Ranger closed the distance between us, resting his forehead against mine. "Now, will you let me propose?"
Without much conscious thought guiding me, I felt my head nod. Fluidly, Ranger sank to one knee and the air caught in my throat. It took a few tries before I remembered how to inhale. A force stronger than gravity held my eyes to his.
"Steph, I want to wake up next to you every day for the rest of my life. And however long that life is, I want to know I walked through it with you by my side. I might have regrets at the end, but I don't want that regret to be life without you. Marry me?"
Something wet slid down my face and only then did I realize I was crying. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I croaked, "Yes." Forcing each finger to release the edge of the counter, I presented my very shaky left hand to Ranger. With a thousand kilowatt smile, he plucked the ring from the box and slid it onto my finger. It fit perfectly. Then he slid it back off.
"Just making sure it won't get stuck," he explained, tone teasing, before pushing it back over my knuckle and into place. "Though, I hope I never give you a reason to want to take it off," he added seriously.
I turned my hand, the ring glittering in the light from overhead. I shot Ranger a crooked smile as he rose, his hands circling my waist as I continued to admire the engagement ring. "I don't know. I think I might have liked the style of the Walmart one better."
A playful light filled Ranger's eyes. "I'm sorry you're disappointed," he told me, pulling me against his chest. "I guess I'll just have to buy your wedding band from Walmart."
"I suppose that will make up for it," I returned, struggling not to laugh. A giggle escaped just as Ranger crushed his lips to mine. The temperature in the room shot up several notches.
"Do you know the only thing I like more than seeing you wearing this ring?" he asked huskily, pulling away so we could both catch our breaths.
I shook my head.
"Seeing you wearing only this ring," he growled, eyes growing darker by the second.
I shrieked as he swept me up into his arms and carried me into the bedroom.
My engagement ring sparkled in the early morning light. Talk about bizarre. I looked over at Ranger sleeping peacefully beside me. Being engaged to Ranger felt even more bizarre. My brain still struggled with that concept, which was why I found myself awake before Ranger for once. As quietly as I could, I slipped out of bed and into the bathroom. After freshening up, I wandered into my kitchen and studied the new coffee maker. Once I'd figured out how to get it to brew, I fed Rex then leaned against the counter to wait for my first cup of caffeinated goodness. My apartment seemed more like home this morning, but I highly suspected that had to do with the man sleeping in my bed.
Carrying a steaming mug of coffee, I settled onto the sofa. It still felt off. I flipped open my laptop and somehow found myself browsing Vegas wedding chapels.
"Thinking of eloping?"
I jumped, my heart rate spiking at Ranger's abrupt entrance. "Jeez. Make some noise, would ya? It's my apartment, not an enemy stronghold."
Ranger went into the kitchen and soon returned with his own mug of coffee before settling down next to me. "Thinking of eloping?" he asked again.
"Maybe," I replied with a noncommittal shrug. "I don't really want to do the big expensive wedding thing again. Unless…you do?" I'd never stopped to consider what Ranger might like. With a sudden surge of nerves, I worried he might want to see me walk down a long aisle in a fancy white gown. Or worse, get married with a priest, and mass and communion, and the whole to-do.
"I'm not exactly one for a huge spectacle," he replied and I breathed a sigh of relief. "Babe, I don't care if we walk into city hall one day and say our vows in front of the justice of the peace. Just as long as I get to marry you."
"I thought marriage was just a piece of paper," I teased, throwing his words from Miami back at him.
"It is," he agreed. "And everyone gets the same piece of paper whether they spend ten thousand dollars or ten getting married. But I need that piece of paper to officially introduce you to people as my wife, and that is a title I very much want to use."
"A trip to Vegas might be a little more than ten dollars," I said slowly.
"If you want to run off and get married in Vegas, Babe, I'll take you to Vegas. I'm just happy you don't want to drag me through an entire mass at St. Boniface."
I laughed. "Me too," I agreed. "So, Vegas?"
Ranger nodded. "Whenever you want," he raised my left hand to his lips, kissing the ring gently.
I scrolled through one of the chapel's websites. They did weddings on the hour, offering online bookings. "They have an opening at three," I joked.
Ranger pulled out his phone. "There aren't any flights out to Vegas until this afternoon," he informed me.
"Tomorrow at four?" I jested, finding the next available booking.
"Just give me the word and I'll buy the plane tickets."
"Wait, we're not seriously considering doing this, are we? My mother would kill me."
Ranger grinned at me. "And since when has that stopped you from doing anything? Besides," he scrolled farther down the page on my laptop, "they stream the ceremonies online and record them. Everyone could watch from home."
"My mother would most definitely kill me for that."
"Makes it that much more appealing, doesn't it?"
I laughed because he was right. I could just imagine the fit of ironing that would overtake my mother if she learned I'd run off to Vegas to marry Ranger and sent her a link to watch it. "Let's do it."
Ranger gave me a once over. "You're sure?"
"Yes," I replied, growing more confident by the second. A drawn out engagement would likely just lead to me getting cold feet, and too much intervention by my mother. Ranger and I were going to do this our way, regardless of the hell I'd have to pay when we got home. "But are you sure?" I asked him. "I mean, I know you want to marry me. But you're okay with eloping? Do you want your family there? Your mom?"
"Babe, my family will understand. And I think my mother will be pleased just knowing I'm married, no matter how."
I laughed. "It's about time you stopped thinking about work, work, work and settled down."
Ranger rolled his eyes. "She's going to take a lot of the credit for this," he admitted with a chuckle.
"She did end up being rather prophetic," I agreed. When Ranger shot me a questioning look, I continued. "The night she invited me over for dinner, while we were doing the dishes, she asked me not to give up on you. Told me that you wanted me in your life, but you were only now realizing it."
"And that's what she asked you to remember when she said good-bye to you," he finished.
I nodded. "I'll understand if you want her there to witness the product of her meddling," I said with a laugh. "We can do something small, with family. I'll get a white dress."
"No, I want to elope," he still insisted, but I sensed he held something back.
"The truth," I demanded.
He gave me a half smile. "I have to admit, I like the idea of peeling you out of a white dress on our wedding night."
I rolled my eyes. Of course he did. "It's going to be hard to get a dress before our flight leaves."
"Impossible?" he asked.
I sighed. "Connie has a cousin in Newark who owns a bridal shop."
Ranger pulled out his wallet and handed me a black credit card. "Get whatever dress you want. I'll book our flight."
I looked down at my computer screen, mouse hovering over the "book now" button for the four PM wedding tomorrow. I've completely lost my mind, I thought, as I clicked it.
"You look beautiful, my dear," remarked Maggie, the older woman who co-owned the wedding chapel. She fluffed out the short lacy train behind me as I gazed in awe at my reflection in the full-length floor mirror. Connie, Mary Lou, and Lula had all rushed to my side yesterday. Connie's cousin pulled all kinds of strings, selling me a dress off the floor and doing the minor alterations needed right then and there. The gown fit perfectly. From scalloped strapless neckline and slightly flared skirt, to corseted back that would allow Ranger to practically unwrap me like a present, white lace hugged me like a glove.
Maggie fitted the shoulder length veil over my simple up do and I finally accepted reality. In a few minutes, I would marry Ranger. My breaths immediately began to accelerate.
"Don't be nervous," Maggie offered with a wrinkled smile. "I've seen a lot of couples come through here. Not many look at each other the way you two do. Shall I go tell them you're ready?"
Taking a deep breath, I nodded. Maggie slipped out the door, leaving me alone in the small dressing room at the back of the chapel. Plucking my cell phone out of my purse, I opened Facebook on the browser. Quickly, I typed out a post: It's for real this time and copied the link to the chapel's streaming webcam. Finally, I updated my relationship status to married.
Just in case the Burg rumor mill failed to carry the news to my mother in time for her to watch, Mary Lou should already be on her doorstep. It was a testament to our friendship that she'd volunteered for that mission. I knew I might suffer the loss of pineapple upside-down cake for the rest of my life for this, but Ranger was more than worth it.
I pressed the power button, shutting down my phone before the first call from my mother could come through. I'd already changed my voice mail to say, "Relax Mom. Ranger makes me happy. Call you when I get home."
Dropping the phone back into my purse, I ran my hands along the silky lace as the first chords of Wagner's Bridal Chorus rang out. Maggie opened the door. "That's your cue, my dear."
I stepped out into the small chapel, gripping a simple bouquet of white roses for dear life. Just a couple rows of pews stood on either side of the short aisle. Ranger looked up as I appeared, sexy as hell in a black tux. He smiled, his face practically glowing, and all my nerves evaporated. I met his gaze as my feet moved toward him of their own accord. Just like gravity, I didn't stop to question the attraction. A law of nature, bringing me exactly where I was meant to be.
The End.
A/N: I hope, if you got this far, it means you enjoyed Hot and Bothered. I'd really love one last review from you letting me know your thoughts.
I also have a Babe short story (6 chapters, complete) called Blindsided. Please check it out. And if you haven't already, add me to your author alert, because I've got another wet and wild Babe fic in production that you won't want to miss.
If you enjoyed Hot and Bothered, please consider visiting my website or social media pages for information about my original romantic suspense publications. I promise they are just as exciting, smutty, and dramatic as Hot and Bothered. You can find the links in my profile. Thanks!