Chapter 2

When I got back to my cubical I did some searches at 5 I thought it was a good quitting time, I finished up the search I was on then shut down my computer and walked to Ranger's office.

"You coming up?" He looked busy.

"In a little bit, I have a lot of paper work to do." He looked a little bummed.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" I walked over to him and started to rub his shoulders he was so tense.

"That feels good." He moaned with pleasure. I continued to rub his shoulders while he worked. At 7 he stopped working and looked at me for a second. I had stopped rubbing his shoulders an hour ago.

"You ready to go upstairs?" I nodded I put down the bridal magazine I was reading. He smiled at me.

"What?" I asked I am pretty sure I didn't blow something up, or embarrass myself lately.

"You really want to marry me?" He started walking towards me.

"Of coarse I do." I went to hug him but he got me first.

"Let's go get dinner."

"Ok." We started to walk towards the elevator.

"Do you want to go to Pino's or have Ella's cooking?"

"Pino's." He pushed the button for the garage. We got into his Turbo. He opened his hand asking for my ring. I shook my head no.

"Babe?"

"I want people to know now. We will be in Florida for 2 weeks, and I am marrying you. So I don't care now."

"Glad to hear it Babe." He gave me a quick kiss and we were off to Pino's. I took about ten minuets. Ok I was a little scared now Joe's SUV was there. I must have looked scared because Ranger started rubbing circles on my leg.

"You don't have to do this yet."

"I know I want to. I just hope he will still be my friend. I love him and ll but as a friend and I don't want to lose him."

"I know Babe. Let's go in and get a seat. Maybe if you get some pizza in you, you might feel a little better."

"Ok that could be good." We got out of the car and walked into Pino's all conversations stopped everyone looked at me and Ranger. Ranger put his hand on the small of my back and kindly pushed me towards the back booth. We sat down and ordered. When I thought I was going to make it, Joe Morelli came up to our table.

"Hey cupcake, how are you feeling?"

"Fine Joe, how are you?"

"Not so good see, Bob misses you." You have got to be kidding me.

"No Joe not anymore ever, you see after I figured out that I love you but I am not IN love with you, I started seeing you as a friend. I am sorry Joe I would like to be friends though."

"Yeah cupcake, I was actually thinking the same thing. I just didn't know how to tell you."

"Ok Joe, umm I want you to be the first to know." Outside of Rangeman. "Ranger and I are getting married." Joe looked slightly pained but a little happy.

"Congratulations cupcake. You too Manoso." He shook Ranger's hand and kissed my hand. "Can I at least see the ring?"

"Sure Joe." I showed him my ring.

"How much was it Manoso?" Ranger shook his head.

"I didn't look at prices."

"Ok, have fun I'll see you around cupcake." When Joe left I let out a sigh of relief I didn't know I was holding. Ranger was just looking at me.

"What?" De Jà Vu.

"Nothing just thinking."

"About what?"

"Why you choose me over him." This got me thinking.

"I don't know. I guess it's cause Joe wants me to be something I don't want to be. You let me do what I want. He tried to control me. If someone is after me he locks me up. You do to but when you do if I get out I count on you to send a guy with me."

"You do huh?" He looked amused.

"Yes because you love me to much to let me get hurt. So when I want to get out I always keep it in the back of my mind that you'll send someone with me. You don't tie me down. You try but you go with the flow when I get out, and I thank you very much that you do."

"Welcome, you know you could just say 'I want to get out if you would send some guys with me it will be much appreciated'." I was dumbstruck. All I had to do was ask. Now I feel sorry for the guys I stunned trying to get out. Oops.

"Really?"

"Yes." Before I could say any more our pizza came. I had slipped a note on top of the menu to the waitress canceling Ranger's salad. When our food came Ranger was going to ask where his salad was when I shoved a bite of pizza in his mouth. The waitress just smiled and walked away. Ranger finished chewing.

"Babe, why didn't I get a salad?"

"I gave the waitress a note to cancel it." I just smiled at him. He gave up and took a slice of pizza and ate it. Yea, I made Batman eat pizza. Mental note don't tell Lester.

"Babe stop staring I have eaten pizza before."

"I know but you just gave up."

"I was to hungry to argue plus we are due at my parent's house tomorrow night." Shit, oh well no family can be worse then mine. "Don't be so sure of that Babe." Damn ESP. I gave him my best 'Burg Glare and kept eating. We finished our meal and then Ranger drove to the grocery store and gave me a twenty.

"Go get ice cream Babe." Yea, Ranger will eat ice cream with me. Because Ranger ate pizza for dinner I decided that getting a low fat ice cream. But I got the worst low fat ice cream. I chuckled evilly to my self. The check out lady looked at me like I was a freak, but she didn't know what I was thinking. Thank god, that would be some bad ' Burg gossip on my ass.

I walked out to the car and told Ranger how good I was.

"Look I got low fat, so you must eat it."

"I don't think so Babe."

"Please!" I whined. Ranger did his version of an eye roll.

"Fine, just for you Babe. But you owe me." Oh boy. Now it was Ranger's turn to chuckle evilly.

We drove home in silence. Ranger went into his zone. I personally couldn't take it anymore I had to break the silence.

"So are you looking forward to…" Just then my phone rang my mother's new specialized ringtone, Darth Vader's theme song. Ranger just silently laughed, while I rolled my eyes.

"Hello mother."

"Stephanie Plum why did I just hear that you are going to marry that thug Ranger?"

"He is not a thug and yes I am going to marry him." I told my mother sternly. Ranger started to rub circles on my upper thigh to calm me down.

"Well then I guess you should bring him by to dinner. Tomorrow night?"

"We are going to Ranger's family first."

"What? Your were going to tell them before us?" She sounded appalled and slightly pained.

"No mother I knew by keeping my ring on at Pino's it would get back to you somehow. I am sorry that I didn't tell you personally but I wasn't' up to hearing you lecturing me about marring Joe. So I didn't. I love Ranger, so I will marry him. I love you mom but you push me to far sometimes." I heard a voice in the background.

"Helen, I knew that Carlos was going to ask Stephanie before he even bought the ring, he asked for my permission. Leave them alone it's their life. It's what she wants." I heard the phone being passed. "Pumpkin, don't listen to her do what you want to do. Have you set a date?"

"Not yet daddy I was going to be completely healed before we do anything. But we will be going to Florida for 2 weeks starting Friday. Tell mom and add that I will call when I get home."

"Have fun Pumpkin. Don't worry about anything, I'll make sure your mother doesn't start planning your wedding while your gone."

"Thank you so much Daddy, I love you. See you soon. Bye" and I hung up. Ranger looked over at me indicating he wanted to know what it was about.

"My mother is in denial and my father will keep her from planning our wedding while we are gone." He smiled. "and that you asked for permission to ask me."

"Yeah I did. I am a classy kind of guy. Did you get the plane tickets yet?"

"Yep I did it today. We are all set up to leave Friday at 12:35 pm."

"Cool Babe, lets go eat your ice cream so we can get to bed." He gave me his wolf grin. Yikes.

We got back to Haywood and went up to 7. I went to the kitchen to get bowls and spoons while I told Ranger to take a seat in the den.

When I got back he had turned on Vantage Point. So we had ice cream and watched a movie for a quite night at home. It was nice.

When I woke up I was in Ranger's bed. I must have fallen asleep on the couch because I didn't remember going to bed. I got up answered nature's call and then went into the kitchen. There was a note on the tray of food. It was Ranger's handwriting.

Babe, Be back at noon. Went to get skips for Vinnie. Do you want to work for him still or Rangeman full time? I can help get skips for Vinnie if you quit. Call me when you wake up. Love, R.

I called Ranger while my coffee brewed. He answered on the third ring.

"Yo."

"Yo yourself."

"Morning Babe."

"Morning, hey I would like to keep helping Vinnie, but work for Rangeman mainly."

"Sure thing Babe. Want me to tell him?"

"No I have to go there today anyway, Connie and Lula will have my neck if I don't tell them I'm getting married."

"Ok Babe, see you later." And he hung up. With that I went and got ready to face the wrath of Lula and Connie. Oh boy.

Thank you all who loved my stories. I am also thanking the ones who were giving me building criticism. I hope you are enjoying this story. I love writing it. Thank you. I would like to ask what is a normal size for chapters? I am asking those who have published stories as well as those who have not. I am using Microsoft word to write my stories, so about how many pages would be normal? Z101