Yay! It was only a week this time! I'm getting better.
So it's my birthday and this is my gift to you. You can return the gift by reviewing. That would be better than Ranger dipped in chocolate... Okay, lets face it. Nothing's better than Ranger in chocolate... so it's a VERY close second.
But if you happen to see Ranger and chocolate... Send him my way.
Not mine. I just write it like I see it.
Lula came into my office a few minutes later. She was wearing a blinding pink spandex dress and five inch heels. "Holy cow," she said. "That man walked out of here like he just won the lottery! What did you two do? Did you guys bump uglies?"
"Ew! No! He was only in here for five minutes. We didn't have enough time." I shook my head to get rid of the cobwebs and the mental image of Ranger naked.
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Girl, please. One time, a guy got me off in less than three minutes. With your dry spell, you should definitely beat my record."
I sighed and rolled my eyes this time. Sometimes Lula could be a tad overdramatic. Now that my brain was finally working again, I moved behind my desk and started moving papers.
"Hello!" She said, leaning over my desk and getting in my face. "What happened?"
I looked up from my spreadsheet and was surprised at the amount of cleavage in front of me. It's a miracle her dress isn't popping off of her. "We're going out tomorrow night." I said, grinning.
"Holy crap. I think I just wet my pants." She paused.
I was surprised. I had never seen her stunned silent.
"CONNIE!" Lula yelled.
And… She's back.
Connie showed up a few moments later She looked like a mix of Betty Boop and Minnie Mouse today; big hair and a red polka dotted dress. "Jesus! I thought you were on fire!" Putting a hand on her hip and looked at us. "What's going on?"
Lula pointed a finger at me. "Our girl Steph here has a date with that hottie Ranger."
"Holy cats." Connie sat down in the other club chair. "When?"
"Tomorrow night."
"Wow." She got a dazed look in her eyes. "Wow."
"What are you going to wear?" Lula asked, taking over for Connie until she recovered.
I shrugged. "One of my dresses, I guess."
"Nuh huh. This here is a hot date. You need a hot dress. Now, I'm sorry to say this, but your dresses are not hot enough for this date."
"Hey!"
"Don't get me wrong, white girl. They make you look good. You need to look good."
I just rolled my eyes.
"You'll be taking the afternoon off to get ready. I have a feeling you'll need all the help you can get."
"Hey!"
"I'll call Magda." Connie said.
Uh oh. That didn't sound good. "Who's that?"
"She's great. She's my…hair removal specialist. She does a great Brazilian."
"I don't need a Brazilian!"
Lula raised her eyebrows. "Really? When was the last time you got laid?"
I thought about it and put my head in my hands. "Make the appointment."
"Good girl."
Connie returned a few moments later. "She can squeeze you in at 2. It'll have to be a straight wax. She's booked solid and doing me a favor. So no fancy stuff."
I didn't know what to say to that. So I just smiled and nodded.
"Good, that'll give her enough time to go to the mall. Macy's is having a big sale. I'll go with you and we'll get you a dress that he won't be able to resist you in."
"Don't you work tomorrow?" I asked.
"Nope. Only in the morning. I have a half day tomorrow."
"Uh huh."
"Would I lie?"
"Yes!"
"Hunh. We're helping you out and this is the thanks that I get?"
"I don't need your help!"
"Yeah, well when his jaw drops tomorrow, let's see who you'll be thanking."
She had a point. "Fine."
"Sweet. Pick me up at three."
"Okay."
Ranger's POV
"Do you know what you're doing?" Tank asked, his arms crossed over his chest. "She's not one of your normal women. She's a good one."
"I know that."
"You can't just throw her out when you're done."
"Got it. Why are you being so protective?"
"Because she's Lula's best friend. Whoever hers her, hurts me."
I looked at my best friend. "You've got it bad."
He stared at me. "And you've got it bad for Stephanie."
I looked back down at the work on my desk. "No."
"Yes you do. Usually you've slept with the woman and moved on by now. But you're still chasing her."
"So?"
"So you liked this one." He grinned now. "She's good for you."
I just rolled my eyes. "I'm late for a meeting."
"Who are you seeing?"
I walked past him. "A man about some flowers."
Taking the elevator down to the garage, I beeped my Turbo open. The purr made me smile. Stephanie would love this car. I think I'd pick her up in this.
Twenty minutes later, I arrived at the café. Setting into the back, I waited for my companion.
Tank was right. There was something different about Stephanie. After a few days, the woman usually caves and we have sex.
And then I lose interest.
But not with Stephanie.
I've tried just about every trick in my book and nothing. She continues on with her day as if I didn't try to pick her up. It was infuriating.
It was sexy.
I found it surprising that I wanted to take it slow with her. I didn't want to jump right into bed with her. I wanted to make sure she was properly wooed.
And then I get her under me and make her beg for release.
I grinned, thinking about her naked when my companion showed.
"Thanks for meeting me." I said.
"Sure." Mark said, sitting down. His blonde hair gleamed like the white shirt under the florescence. "What can I do for you?"
I had never done this before. I was acting like a jealous lover, making sure the competition was out of the way. If I didn't know any better, I'd say I was a completely different person.
Tank and Lester would mock me to no end if they knew what I was doing.
Mark grinned at my pause. "I think I know what this is about. You want to know if there is anything going on between me and Stephanie."
The man was good. "Yes."
"No."
"No?"
"There's nothing going on. I prefer the women I date to be interested in me. She told stories about you and she had this glow. She'd never glow like that for me. We're better off as friends."
"Good. I asked her out."
"I would've punched you if you hadn't."
I grinned. I could learn to like him. "Do you want to order?"
He picked up a menu. "What's good here?"
The next night, I was pacing my office.
"Dude, chill." Lester said. He was sitting in my club seat, watching me pace. I glared at him.
"Holy shit. You're nervous." He looked shocked. "I don't remember the last time I saw you this nervous."
I couldn't either. Looking at my watch, my stomach dropped. It was time.
He came up and stopped me. "She's not going to cancel."
I sighed. I was acting like a teenager going out on my first date.
Surprisingly, it was my first since high school.
And that hadn't ended well. Juvie or the army.
"I talked to Connie. She's excited for this. Don't worry."
I breathed a sigh of relief. I was overreacting. I needed to find my balls again.
"There's my man." Lester said, smiling. "Glad to see you still have gonads. I thought you became a woman there for a second."
"Shut up. I'm fine."
"Are you sure? Do you want a tampon for your purse?"
Then I punched him.
Man, that felt good.
I took the Turbo and drove to Stephanie's house. Taking one more big breath, I knocked.
The woman who answered the door wasn't Stephanie.
It was an angel.
Her hair was curly and tousled, like she had just rolled out of bed. Her face had minimal make-up, but it accented her big blue eyes and wide mouth. The silver dress made her eyes pop even more and hugged every curve perfectly and fell to her knees. The three inch black shoes made my mouth water.
I wanted to shove her back in, strip her, and show her exactly what 'fuck me pumps' they really were. My cock got heavy with arousal.
"Babe."
She looked a little nervous. "Do I look okay?"
"You look… fantastic."
She smiled a blinding smile. "Thank you. You clean up well too."
"Ready?"
She reached behind her for a purse and I saw her behind. I groaned inwardly.
"Ready." She said when she turned back around.
Stephanie's POV
"I love this car." I said, sliding into the Turbo.
Ranger grinned. "I had a feeling."
I shivered as he started the car. His grin grew.
"Wh… Where are we going?" I asked, changing the subject.
"I know a little Cuban restaurant. Is that okay?"
"Sounds good."
I couldn't look at him. He was distracting enough in the Rangeman uniform.
But in a suit?
I had a feeling I'd need to remind myself to breathe.
We pulled into the restaurant parking lot twenty minutes later. Ranger parked the car and got out.
He said, ducking his head. "Wait here."
"What?" I asked the closing door.
Confused, I watched him walk around the car. Then, he opened my door.
I was stunned silent. He grinned and held out his hand.
"Thank you," I breathed when I was upright.
Now he looked confused. "Don't men open doors for you?"
"Not usually."
He frowned now. "Well I'll make up for that." He tucked my hand in the crook of his arm. I smiled when he turned his back. He led me into the restaurant. It was warmly decorated with red walls and wood floors. There was a Cuban band playing and a few couples dancing. The tables had candles, giving the place a very romantic feel.
"Two, Manoso." Ranger said to the hostess.
She blinked, nodded and grabbed two menus. "Enjoy," she stammered out.
I smiled. "You have that affect on women."
"What?"
"You make them walk into walls."
He grinned. "Do I make you feel like that?"
"No." Yes.
His grin widened. "Liar."
"So why do you have people call you Ranger? Why not Carlos?" I was thinking about Marcia again and I gripped my fork.
"It keeps people from getting too personal in my business. I like having a line."
"So you only let special people call you Carlos."
His eyes darkened. "Yes."
"Ah." I lowered my eyes to a napkin.
Ranger grabbed my hand. "Marcia's husband was throwing us too much money. If I told her to stop, she would've made him fire us. We needed the money to start up. I never wanted her to call me Carlos." He made me look at him. "You, on the other hand, I want you to call me Carlos. I like the way it sounds."
I smiled and bit my lip. "Fine. But after we order, you take me onto that dance floor."
"Deal."
This was going to be a great date.
