I do not own these characters. They are the soul property of JE. Ranger just came to my yard to talk today.

04Layers of Ranger

Previously:

Tomorrow I'll send chocolate covered strawberries.

Ok , flowers. Check

Chocolate. Check

Dress and shoes. Check.

Reservations, Check.

Limo. Check

Discuss meal, wine and dessert with the chef. Check.

Mission ready."

Rangers POV

The strawberries should be at her door about now. I know my Babe and she loves chocolate. The strawberries will make it a little healthier.

Babe,

Anyone can catch your eye but it takes someone special to catch your heart.

Anytime you are next to me I'm as close to heaven as I can be.

I am waiting impatiently for our date.

Love,

C

"I think the card says what I feel right now. I only hope Steph feels what I am saying with the card and gift.

Normal is the halfway point between what you want and what you get. I can tell you now that I don't want normal. I am hoping to get everything that I want. I want the passion, the fireworks, and the total love that we can give each other. I am planning for the spectacular, the fire that burns in our very souls. Looking at our lives we are not really normal in many ways.

I was telling you about my plans for our D-day. I like that, date day.

"Her dress and shoes have been delivered to the courier. The dress is a black silk halter top; fitted to just below the waist, then a flowing skirt; just right for dancing. I wanted to go to VS but decided that might be too much for a first date. The shoes are four inch FMPs with silver trim, very sexy. Just the kind of shoes she likes.

The card says, Babe, please honor me by wearing this for our date. Love C

I am focused on the goal. Only two more days until our date. At this point I'm not sure if I can wait. I'll call her today, just to talk. I've tried to stay busy and not go crazy, but I really need to hear her voice. Every time I close my eyes I see her in that dress and those shoes. Dios, there I go again. Please forgive me I can't seem to control my body when I think of her. Excuse me while I stand for a minute. There that's better; my pants aren't so tight now.

Where was I?

The core team banished me from the office today. Can you believe they told me I was driving them nuts with my nerves? Tank laughed and said he would be glad when it was Monday. I guess he thinks I will be calmer then.

If the date goes well I hope to take her to the beach for the weekend. I don't want to rush her so I booked two rooms at the B&B she likes. I can't say I don't hope we give up one of them, but that will be my Babe's choice.

Like I said I am going to go slow, I want her to fall in love with me not just in lust. I also want her to know it is love.

I am a patient man and the military has taught me phenomenal mind and body control. On a mission I can't afford to show emotion, that is why I am still alive. Every man dies. Not every man really lives. I think that is fitting. I could have died in so many ways through the years. But until I met Steph I never truly knew how to live.

She has given so much and I am greedy, I just want more. I want every part of her.

My body control does slip when I am with Steph. She knows that and I find it intriguing. I kid her about playing with fire. She knows how she tempts me.

I hope to be able to show her that fire very soon. I only have that kind of fire for Steph. I hope she knows that. I hope she knows how special she really is.

There I go again, sorry I need to stand up. Just thinking about her makes me so hard it hurts. I feel like I could explode. Please excuse me I shouldn't have said that to you. I certainly didn't mean to offend you.

Anyway, like I said I have two rooms booked and the meals planned, but first we have our date.

The date, I will pick her up in a black limo. Of course I will be wearing a black suit with a sky blue shirt and black on black silk tie. I plan to go to her apartment and give her flowers. I know I will give her an appreciative look. I can only imagine how beautiful she will look. I will gently guide her to the limo. A bottle of Cristal champagne will be chilled and waiting. We will sip our drinks and make small talk. I will have to keep control but I can do it.

I have reservations at a very private restaurant. I think you would like it. The setting is an old Victorian House with several rooms. Each room is private with a small sitting area and dining table; views of a lake and mountain through the large windows, very serene. Each room is very tastefully decorated with low lighting and period furniture. I chose it because it is private and secluded. They only serve about ten meals a night. They have an early and a late seating.

The chef will customize the meal for your taste, he is very accommodating. Lester turned me to this place the owner is a friend of his.

I'm not much for caviar so we will start with Baby Mushrooms stuffed with lobster. Followed by herb encrusted Fillet Mignon with sautéed vegetables and Pasta Verde. Dessert will be Steph's choice. She loves her dessert. The wines have been selected.

Between courses there will be music for dancing and each room has a small dance floor. I know my Babe loves to dance and I love to hold her so this will be perfect. After our meal we can walk in the garden by the lake.

After dining I have chosen a club that plays soft Jazz and Latino music. The dancing is lively and I want to show Steph a few moves, I guess I should say dance moves. Steph will be a natural for Latin dances. She has such fire and grace. I will never understand how anyone can't see how perfect she is.

I plan to spend the trip back to Trenton with Babe in my arms. My hands on her soft smooth skin.

She will probably go to sleep but OH, the feel of her in my arms. There I go getting excited again.

When we get to her door I will give her a gentle kiss and hope she asks me in.

You do realize how hard this is going to be for me. I am a man of action. Keeping myself from taking her will be like stopping a force of nature. I know I have to show her my want and desire without acting on it. Even if she tells me she wants it I have to stay true to the plan. I don't want to make love to her on the first date and take a chance she will think I only want sex. I want her to know that I want so much more.

Before I leave her I will ask her to go to the beach. Of course I will explain the accommodations. I want her comfortable.

By the end of the weekend I plan to make her mine. We will have a private beach at the B there is a hot tub on the secluded balcony. Plenty of places to spend time together, time to walk on the beach and talk, time for me to open up and answer her questions. Plenty of time for her to get to know Carlos, not Ranger

I have buried myself in Ranger the soldier for so many years it is hard for Carlos to come out. Carlos was there when I was younger but I have hidden that part of me away for a lot of years in the service.

You're looking at me like I have two heads. I really don't have a multiple personality disorder. I know I am one person. Steph thinks I have multiple personalities; Ranger, Batman, Corporate Ranger, and Carlos. But I know I am just one man. By the end of the weekend I hope she realizes there is just Carlos for her. The others are just covers to get through the day.

I can't believe there is still one day to wait. This week has gone so slowly with the waiting but I still feel like I am rushing to get things done.

After the weekend I will come back to talk again. You have been a great sounding board. I appreciate your time and letting me run my thoughts by you. The guys would laugh and make comments. They would definitely think I have it bad. As much as I appreciate them they are a little pushy. Being Brothers they might have too many comments if you know what I mean. We are tight but I'm not really ready to share everything with them."

Word count 1560

Babe-squad prompts 2

Perfectlyplum promts 1

TBC

Sorry my menu planning isn't great but Steph just cares about good food.