Boxes of Red
Thanks to my friend Margaret for daring me to write this challenge. I was initially posting it as a one shot but it became too many words as my muse ran off with it at a galloping pace. Thank you for all the favourites, follows and guest reviews but especially those of you who take the time to write one. I appreciate each and every one so much.
^^^V^^^
He promised to take me to Atlantic City when he gets back. Before he left he asked me to consider leaving my apartment and moving in with him, on seven. I didn't hesitate to say yes and I've packed most of my things and have marked the rest for charity or the dumpster. I know there wasn't much to pack but it was so much more alone without him in his apartment when there are so many things to remind me of him … his bed with that exquisite high quality linen, his shower, his shower gel and all the places where we had been intimate. So I am ready to go and I feel quite light and liberated. I hope he is back soon, with no new holes or scars.
Chapter 2
So this envelope. If Ranger is still in the wind, it must be my Merry Men. I grinned. They're up to something. But deep down, it still felt all Rangery. There was no scent … slightly disappointed. I love that Bulgari. Mmmm …
My phone rings breaking my drift to lustier Bulgari thoughts. It's Hector.
"Chica. Have you opened the envelope yet? … It is safe." And he chuckled as he hung up knowing my silence when he paused was all the proof he needed. See, Merry Men confirmed. They know me so well. Have they monitored inside my apartment? Nah, they wouldn't. Hector would not allow it. Ranger certainly would not allow it. But that means one of them brought it inside. Okay. It's safe so let's find out. I'm really curious now.
It's an invitation, a very fancy invitation.
Hmm. Friday 13th, that's this week. This week! Oh shit! Fuck!
Formal, black tie; a red, black and white theme. Oh, yeah, like I just have a spare ball gown hanging in my wardrobe.
A masked ball.
Mask?! Where am I going to get a mask? How can I possibly buy a mask at this short notice? Bounty hunting has been a bit slow. Okay, so slow that it's almost at a standstill. This sudden cold snap hasn't helped. They feel the cold and are bringing themselves in. Conscience they say. Bullshit, I call it. They get a nice warmish dry cell and a meal. Thankfully I don't have to venture out into the freezing cold when I am doing searches.
So, back to the mask. I have no excuse. I have time. I don't really want to take Lula shopping for a mask but she would insist and just take over as she usually does. She will assault my ears with relentless loud questions and I prefer to keep the air of mystery that already prevails. Besides, she will demand details and sometimes her speculations and conjectures are more than a bit wild and crazy, always leaning to the sexually provocative. That girl is so fixated on sex and innuendo that sometimes it's over the top Okay, lots of times … Most times … Oh, alright. Who am I kidding? It's frigging all the time. Once she gets a sniff of this there is no stopping her. Nuh uh! Don't need that. Not on this one. With her right-out-there-in-the-open remarks, Subtlety is not her middle name. I don't need to hide when I'm shopping especially with her not so delicate voice.
I considered looking on-line to order a mask. I can afford that. My internal debate was interrupted by a knock at my door.
I peek through the peephole. I pull the door open to the chain and a delivery guy dressed all in black, with muscles, stands there, his mouth agape. Hmmm, I wonder.
"Well?!" I say firmly but politely as he seems to be a bit … shy?
"Sorry, Ms Plum. Parcel delivery. You need to sign for it. I am to tell you that it's safe and it is from Rangeman. Sorry ... er … you caught me by surprise." I undid the chain and he blushed. Oh God. My jammies! I signed quickly, grabbed the red box and the business card with the Rangeman logo and closed the door. I forgot how cold it was out there since I have central heating now but cute, blushing young delivery guy got both on high beam. Oopsie. I flipped the card over. Not a bomb, Bomber. Bobby's writing and I smiled. The Os were made into old fashioned ball bombs with a wick. Very funny and clever. They know me so well. They trained me so well. I set the box on the bench next to my now empty coffee cup. He must have been a Rangeman newbie given the tight black t-shirt, black cargoes and boots, yeah, and those muscles. Young and cute and he blushed. I smiled. I'm not dead and not a cougar but having seen the Rangemen up close and personal, one of the criteria has to be a hotness scale because they all hit the high bar and over, some more than others, I thought rather wistfully, one in particular … and lustfully. Oh, boy. My mind keeps drifting all the time and I can't seem to help myself so why fight it?
So what's this all about? I carefully undid the black bow and opened the box. Black tissue paper revealed an exquisitely delicate, Venetian filigree mask worthy of any masked ball. It was black, with a beautiful forehead bejewelled feature of white crystals and a tiny bit of red. The crystals captured the light and sparkled. Swarovski crystals. I daren't ask. It was beautiful, better than anything I was visualising briefly earlier. Sophisticated, elegant and oh so intricate that it would emphasise my eyes. Now how was I going to match that with a really stylish dress? Another card was under the mask, a Rangeman card again. My curiosity was piqued. Bomber, something elegant and sophisticated for you, for your eyes only. I smiled. These guys, my Merry Men, are so good to me.
After clearing up the breakfast things, I went to the bathroom, had a shower and dressed in jeans, boots and a long sleeved t-shirt. I was just finessing my curly hair, which for once was behaving itself, when there was another knock at the door. I left it loose and rushed to look through the peephole. Same cutie and he's already blushing. Probably should cut him some slack.
I opened the door and once again he greeted me formally as Ms Plum. "Please sign here and once again, I am to inform you that it's safe," as he handed me another red box, a shoe box sized box. I signed the tablet quickly relieved that I was dressed and decent this time but he still blushed.
"You're a new Rangeman? What's your name?" I tried to distract him and break the ice.
He nodded and stuttered momentarily and then rallied as he replied, "Bear, Ms Plum."
"Well, it's nice to meet you Bear but please call me Stephanie, or Steph. Is Bear your real name or your given Rangeman name?"
"My real name is Bernardo, Ms Stephanie. My grandfather has always called me Bear and in the army that's what everyone called me."
"Okay. That's nice. Thank you, Bear. Now. Something's going on. Do you know what this is all about?" He grinned and then smiled a gorgeous dimpled smile.
"They warned me that you would try to ask me for details. I have not been privy to anything, Miss Stephanie. All I know is that I get to deliver the goods and you have to sign. And I have orders to return immediately." He grinned, checked his watch, turned and walked away. Cute ass too. As I closed the door my inquisitiveness got the better of me. I placed the red box on the counter and carefully undid the black bow, lifting the lid to reveal neatly folded black tissue paper. Another Rangeman card and I smiled. Beautiful. Something special for your beautiful feet. He had drawn a little caricature which definitely had the eyebrows waggling. So Lester.
"Oh my!" I drooled. Inside the tissue paper was an exquisite pair of red stilettos with four inch heels. They had a sexy, delicate ankle strap and a delicately bejewelled T-bar. The ankle strap was finished with a tiny pendant of teardrop crystals which swung gently in two little strands that sparkled brightly below a small pearl. Oh God, they were so beautiful and heavenly light. I took my boots off to try them on and they were perfect, so light and dainty making my feet look fabulous. They were absolutely gorgeous! The note at the bottom of the box said, Perfect for dancing. Oh, Lester. You know my feet. Oh boy. So I guess that I am wearing red, a beautiful bright, vibrant red. I will have to wear them a bit each day just to break them in. The bejewelled T-bar was so delicate and fine and I was flabbergasted. I replaced them in the box and put them with my other red box. I changed into my Rangeman black gear, boots and added a scarf, my gloves and my thick red coat. I carried the red boxes and another bag down the stairs and placed them in the trunk of my car.
I drove to work feeling quite excited and as I arrived on five everyone greeted me with a knowing smile or a wink. There was a buzz in the control room and I knew from that alone that Ranger wasn't back yet. I went to my cubicle and started up my computer as I surveyed my in box. There was another red box hidden under the first request. I found the expected Rangeman card and in Tank's distinctive writing was So we know you are dressed. I undid the black bow, lifted the lid and slowly parted the black tissue paper to reveal a sexy thigh holster with a bit of black lace and a little red bow. Phew! Is it hot in here? For that something essential was written on another card with an illustration of a small gun and a wink smiley. Putting the lid back on, I quickly started up the first three searches and went in search of Tank. I knocked on his door and Lester swept it open with a flourished bow.
"We've been expecting you, Beautiful." He gave me a kiss on the forehead and a gentle shoulder squeeze leading me to the small conference table where Tank and Bobby sat smiling. Each of them stood up and hugged me with a grin.
"Thank you, so much. But you guys …"
"Little Girl. Wait, before you get up a full head of steam, yes, we bought you those items and it was our choice. We love you and all that you do for us. Think of it as brotherly appreciation. This is a special occasion. You will need them and we wanted to get you something special, something personal," and here Lester waggled his eyebrows with a mischievous wink. I couldn't help but smile and laugh. He pouted before saying, "I really wanted to get you some sexy lingerie but my cousin called dibs!" Bobby promptly hit him upside the head. It was water off a duck's back. Lester seemed pleased to make that confession. "But if you change your mind … let me know." And he leapt out of the way of the swipe from Tank.
"So let me get this straight. This was planned some time ago, while Ranger was here, before he went into the wind?" They all nodded. O-kay …
There was a knock on the door and with the "Enter!" command from Tank, Bear walked in with a two small red boxes and headed towards me. He grinned that gorgeous dimpled grin.
"Miss Stephanie. You know the drill. Sign here."
"Oh … Getting brave now, Bear?" I teased.
"Yes, Miss Stephanie. I feel safe with Tank, Lester and Bobby here, too." This was met with a chorus of laughter and mutterings of, "He's got a lot to learn."
"Are you wearing Kevlar?" I asked suspiciously. "And it's Stephanie or just Steph." He gave a curt nod. Strange. I wonder if these deliveries are part of his induction, a kind of hazing. Let's see where this goes.
He put the two red boxes with the black bows on the conference table in front of me and stepped back, without turning around, standing in a military pose, waiting. At ease, but I don't think he was at ease. One box was heavier than the other which seemed to have a number of items in it so I opened that one first. Always be prepared was my Rangeman card message. Inside the box and under the tissue paper was a pair of cable ties for light weight, discreet handcuffs; a mini pepper spray and a red mini lipstick stun gun. Bombshell, we like you when you're dressed. Ah, yes, I smiled. These must be from Hal and Cal given the caricatures of a wink smiley above a blushing stun gun and the flaming skull tattoo. Cute. Poor Hal. He has obviously recovered from that time when I stunned him in the elevator when I was trying to escape the building. They have had me practising defence moves and escaping holds.
The heavier box had Tank leaning forward eagerly and Lester waiting with bated breath. Bobby's arms were folded and he too was waiting with more than a bit of interest. I glanced over my shoulder at Bear and I detected a distinct degree of discomfort not only given away by his anxious intent eyes but by the small beads of sweat near his temple and he adjusted his Kevlar just a bit. Hmm. I slowly lifted the lid and inside the message read Never be afraid again to be fully dressed. Of course, as I revealed a Beretta Nano 9mm with a cute pink marbled finish. I picked up the card, For our hot shot. I smiled. Ram and Woody. I checked the magazine and the sights and as I felt the grip and the weight of it, I looked directly at Bear. He stared right back at me but breathed a little more deeply through his nostrils.
"You know, I used to hate my gun," as I caressed this little baby. "I think I have the perfect place for this … don't I Tank?" Tank grinned his beautiful big white smile and Lester feigned a swoon muttering in Spanish.
"It's alright, Bear. I only shoot paper men. I bet Lester Santos has been yanking your chain." And I eyeballed him like he was prey, stalking towards him, removing the magazine from my Nano for all to see. I ran the barrel slowly down the side of his face.
"You've been verry naughty, Lesterr Santos," I half whispered with my sexy husky voice, trilling the Rs. He fell off his chair, clutching his heart and then I stunned him with my new Lipstick and the guys just lost it. Tank gave a very shocked Bear a nod and he left the room a little more relieved but now full on grinning. I winked at him which he accepted with a nod.
"This has been a truly surreal day. It's not even my birthday and Christmas has passed but I am absolutely blown away with all these gifts, so beautifully wrapped. I … I …"
We could hear a roar of laughter erupt from the control room. I guess Bear was made to declare how things ensued. We all smiled, except for Lester, he groaned.
"Bomber, it's all part of a plan and we are all, each and every one of us, willing mortal participants. All will be revealed soon enough. You will know. Just go with it and don't fight it. We've got your back."
"O-kay. Now you're making it more confusing but I love the surprises so much. I'm guessing that I'm wearing red?"
"I wanted to wear a red suit but we need to blend with the guests." I could just visualise Lester in a red suit. He is already such a chick magnet and red will make him all the more attractive and easy on the eye.
"Well, on a different note, I have everything all packed and ready to go." The guys high-fived and suddenly went off to make arrangements for the move leaving me with my boxes and bows and my new loot. Bobby poked his head around the door and warned me that Lester was putting dibs on my lingerie and underwear drawer.
"Don't worry, Bobby. I've already packed them and they are in the trunk of my car. Let's not tell him just yet. Then I'll let you carry that box of goodies up to seven for me. Deal?" Bobby laughed heartily.
"I just left him some post-it notes to tell him what colours were where, just some, not all, thongs, bras, corsets, negligee … I couldn't resist." Bobby hugged me and escorted me to my cubicle and left me with a parting kiss to continue my searches. The day went fast after such an eventful morning.
Later that afternoon I supervised the placement of my few meagre things on seven and Ella helped me put my clothes in the wardrobe which already had some beautiful outfits, tops, dresses and some shoes, nice shoes. We chatted for a while, over a cup of coffee, about clothing in general and I told her about the men and my beautiful boxes of red. She laughed and shook her head when I told her about Lester's shenanigans and stunning him with the Lipstick stun gun. Ella wasn't going to elaborate either. I tried. She was part of it. It's like a conspiracy, a nice, sweet conspiracy.
"Oh, Ella. I can't wait for Ranger to be back. I hope he's back, back before, you know …"
"Don't worry, my dear Stephanie. Tank has allowed me to inform you that he is stateside. It won't be long. You'll see. Will you be needing anything else?"
I shook my head and thanked her with a hug and a kiss, promising her I would be alright. I then had a quick shower to freshen up, using that luscious Bulgari shower gel, before going to bed, in that luscious 1000 thread count bed of luxury. I lay there reflecting on my eventful day. I am the luckiest girl. Oh sweet dreams to me.
^^^V^^^
I hope you enjoyed this instalment. There is some more to come. Let me know what you think.
