Chapter 10

I pulled my phone out and called my mom to tell her Carlos and I were coming by after lunch.

She said her and dad were eating at 1pm since he was driving the cab this morning and we should eat with them.

I told her we'd see her at one and hung up. I called Mary Lou to see if she was home.

She was getting ready to head out to the mall so I told her I'd swing by and pick her up.

I wanted to tell her about the engagement and show here my new ride. I also wanted to tell her I'd be gone the rest of the week.

She immediately noticed my glowing face and said, "Damn girl! Has he let you out of bed at all since Thursday?" I laughed and said, "Barely but it's ok cause I'm enjoying every minute of it."

"Lucky bitch," she said with a smile.

"That I am. A lot has happened Mary Lou. Lets get some coffee and I'll tell you all about it," I told her as we drove towards the mall.

"Sounds good," she said.

We stopped at the Starbucks next to the mall and got a cup of coffee and a muffin. We found a booth in the back and I sat with my back to the wall. Hmmm guess my future husband is rubbing off on me in lots of good ways.

"Ok Steph, spill. I'm guessing the time must have been right," she said with a huge smile. She knew that we were waiting to make love until the time was right.

"Yeah, the time was right Lou!" I said as I began telling her about the last four days. I ended with laying my left hand on the table casually.

She spotted the ring right away. "OMG Steph that is a freakin' rock," she shouted. I shushed her and looked around to see if there were any Burg spies lurking around.

"Lou I need you to keep this to yourself until I tell my parents at lunch today. Heaven help me if she finds out from somebody else. You and the A-Team are the only ones that know right now. We're eating lunch with my parents and then I'll go by the Bonds office and tell Connie and Lula."

"No problem Steph; just let me know when I can blab. Oh and congrats girl, I've never seen you this happy," she said as I laughed and hugged her.

"Thanks Lou, I am happy. I think this is the first time in my life I have been happy. Now let's hit the mall." "Hell yeah," she said as we headed back out to my truck.

I found a parking space right outside of Macy's. Huh, guess the parking karma comes with the cars. It was 9:15 and the mall was almost empty. My phone buzzed as we walked in the door of Macy's. I smiled when I heard the batman theme.

"Hey Baby what's up?" I asked as I saw Mary Lou smile and shake her head.

"Me Babe, I keep fingering your pink panties in my pocket and I have been hard since you left," he told me in a husky voice. I whimpered into the phone and heard him chuckle.

"Now you know how I feel, Babe. I called to tell you I left a present for you in your wallet. Please use it without worry or guilt. We have more money that we will ever be able to spend in our lifetime, so let me spoil you. Now open your wallet and let me know when you find it."

I pulled my wallet out and immediately saw what he was talking about. I sucked in a breath as I slowly pulled out a black, no limit, AMEX card. It had my name imprinted on it. Damn how'd he get that done so fast?

"Breathe Babe," Carlos chuckled thru the phone.

"OMG Steph do you know what that is??" Mary Lou squealed.

"Babe you still with me?" he said starting to sound concerned. "Uhhh, yeah I'm here," I said in a squeaky voice.

"Babe please don't freak out on me or over think this. I know you aren't after my money. You have proven that many times over the last four years. Please Steph, just use it. Don't question it. Promise me you will use it."

"Carlos I know you feel it's our money but I haven't done anything to earn that money. Over the past four years you have bled money for me. I don't want you spending all your money on me," I told him practically in tears.

"I know you have your own money but this is OUR money. You are a vital part of my life Babe. All of it. Personal as well as professional. Steph you have helped me in ways that can't be measured monetarily. You've believed in me and trusted me unconditionally. I've told you there is no price on our friendship or our love. Please Babe do this for me," he begged me.

"Okay," I said.

"Ok?" he asked in a shocked voice.

"Yes Carlos, I will take your card and I will use it to the best of my ability," I told him in a shaky voice.

"Thank you Babe, it makes me happy to spoil my girl. I have a feeling you and Julie will enjoy it while we are in Miami," he said laughing.

"Oh you got that right Batman. You may regret giving this to me," I told him trying to sound serious.

"Of all the regrets I have when it comes to you this isn't even a blip on the radar," he told me lovingly.

"I love you Carlos. Thank you for spoiling me. Now I gotta go cause Lou is about to pass out and I want to shop," I laughed.

"Love you too Babe, be safe. See you at 12:30," and he was gone.

"OMG Steph I can't believe how lucky you are. You're engaged to the hottest man on the planet, he lets you blow his cars up on a regular basis and he spoils you rotten. Plus he loves you, just the way you are, baggage and all. I'll say it again: you are a lucky bitch," she said with a smile and a hug.

"Now let's go do some damage to your man's bank account."

She turned me towards the door to head out to Victoria's Secret but I told her Carlos and I had already been there. She laughed and headed towards the ladies department here in Macy's.

I hit the jackpot finding several cute sundresses, shorts and halters all perfect for Miami and they were on sale too.

Lou laughed at my excitement over the sale prices. "Steph, you do realize you don't have to shop the sale racks now don't you?" she said.

"Lou I'm not going to change just because my fiancé happens to have money. I may splurge every now and then but I'm not marrying Carlos for his money" I told her starting to get worked up.

"Oh Steph I'm sorry I didn't mean it that way. I was just teasing you. Please don't be upset. Anybody that knows you, knows you're not after Ranger for his money," she told me while wrapping me in a hug.

"Thanks Lou, I'm not sure if I will ever feel comfortable with Carlos' money," I told her in a wry voice.

"Well Steph is there anything else you need for your trip?" she asked as I paid for my purchases. It felt really strange signing my name to the credit slip without having to worry about going over my limit.

"Actually I'd like to look at some evening dresses. Carlos said we would be going out to dinner and dancing as much as we can while we are down there," I told her heading over to the evening wear.

I immediately spotted a beautiful red silk halter dress with an asymmetrical hem. I found several others and headed for the dressing room.

The red dress was a Burg girls dream. It fit me like a glove and the hem hit about 3" above my knee. It swirled when I walked and I knew I had to have it.

"Oh Steph, that dress was made for you. You look absolutely gorgeous," Mary Lou said as her jaw dropped when she saw me.

"Thanks Lou. I feel the same way. I HAVE to have this dress" I told her as I twirled around in front of the mirror with a huge grin on my face.

"This will be perfect for dancing. Carlos told me he planned on us going dancing at least 2 or 3 nights while we are there," I told her as I twisted and turned in front of the mirror.

I tried on several others before settling on a black spaghetti strap dress and a strapless midnight blue. I knew my future husband would very much approve of my choices. I must have had a strange look on my face because Mary Lou looked at me and said, "What's that look for?"

"I'm just thinking about my man's reaction to these dresses," I told her with a smirk as I headed for the register.

"He's going to think they were worth every penny," Lou said as the clerk greeted us.

"Did you find everything okay?" the woman asked me with a smile.

"Yes, thank you. I've decided on these three," I told her as I slid my credit card across the counter to her. When she slid the receipt back for me to sign I about fainted.

OMG $1,300 for three dresses? Shit I'd never spent that much money at one time in my life. I swallowed and tried not to allow my hand to shake as I signed the credit card receipt and slid it back to her.

"Thank you Mrs. Manoso we appreciate your business," she said with a smile. I started to tell her I wasn't Mrs. Manoso yet but Mary Lou interrupted.

"Thank you. C'mon Steph we need to find you some killer shoes to go with these hot dresses," she said while dragging me away. "Steph you have to learn when to talk and when to just nod your head," she laughingly told me.

"You need to get used to this Steph. Being Ranger's wife comes with some fantastic perks girl," she told me while fanning herself.

"I guess you're right. It's just hard for me to get used to," I said wryly.

"I know it is sweetie but you have to realize when Ranger does something for you it's because he loves you, not because he is trying to change you or manipulate you," she said gently.

Wow when she put it that way it hit me hard I was so used to the men in my life trying to control me that I couldn't see what was right in front of my face. I know Carlos loves me unconditionally but now I realize everything he did for me or bought me was truly without a price. Just like he had been telling me for years. Hey nobody said I was a quick study.

I smiled at her, "Thanks Mare that was exactly what I needed to hear. Now let's finish our shopping so I can go thank my man for all he does for me."

She busted out laughing and we went off to find some FMP's that would rock my future husband's world.

We also stopped at Victoria's Secret on the way out. What? A girl can't have too many pairs of panties, especially with a man like Carlos in her life. I dropped Mary Lou off and headed home.