Okay, I meant to get this out earlier, but I've been studying. Five tests in three days is no fun. I hope you enjoy this one and I'll try to get the next one out ASAP!
Not mine.
"This is silly." I told Tank.
"Come on. Bombshell has been working hard on this. It's the least you could do to make her happy." He replied.
It's been a week since the accident and a week since Stephanie walked back into my life. She hasn't left my side for more than a few hours at a time, which I was grateful. I don't think I would be able to make any type of recovery without her.
Tank was currently weaving a black silk shirt around all of the wires. Thankfully he let me put my own pants on.
"You know I would, but this isn't fair to her."
"She doesn't care. You wished you could take her out and now you are."
I sighed. My babe has been recruiting the staff and my men for a secret plan and even she hasn't spilled her guts about. I sighed again when Bobby brought in the wheelchair.
"I can walk you know."
"We know." That was all the argument I got.
When I was situated into the wheelchair, Tank and Bobby wheeled me to the elevator. We went down to the third floor and when the doors opened, a breathtaking Stephanie waited for me in a knee length black strapless dress.
"Thanks guys," she said with a smile. They nodded and went a head of us.
"Hi," she said, leaning down and kissed me on the lips.
"Hey Babe." I smiled at her. "What's going on?"
"Well," she started as she drove the wheelchair. "We are going on a date."
"Babe, I want to do this right. You know, not in a hospital?"
She didn't answer me. We went through the doors and if I was a man that let my mouth hang open, it would've been one of those moments.
The cafeteria was lit by small candles on each table, which were covered in nice linens and silverware. It looked like a real restaurant. A few of my men were there along with some of their girlfriends or nurses from the hospital.
"Babe…"
"I know you wanted to take me out and now you can. A local restaurant is cooking all the food and we're using their tablecloths, silver ware and music. Thanks to Rangeman, we bought out the restaurant for the night and brought it here."
I looked up at her. She never disappointed.
"Table for two," she said to the Maître D', "under Manoso." She smiled at me.
I couldn't help but smile back. Somehow, even if she had made all the plans, I was still some way taking her out.
When we were seated (my back in the corner) I grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles. "You never disappoint."
"I hope this is okay." She whispered.
"Babe," I pulled her chin up gently with my finger. "This is better than okay. I didn't think I'd be able to take you out for at least for a few more weeks. This is much better than okay."
She smiled at me.
"Babe, I'm so sorry."
Her smiled faded a little.
"I've caused you more pain than anyone should have to go through. The fact that you're sitting here with me is a miracle I don't deserve."
"Ranger…"
"What I'm trying to say is I'm sorry." I repeated stupidly. I wanted to smack myself in the head. 'You already said that, stupid,' I said to myself.
"I'm sorry too." She said.
"Babe, you…"
"No, if I had been honest with you, then we would've gotten here three years earlier."
"I could've said something too."
"I guess fault is with both of us and our lack of communication skills."
I wolf grinned. "I remember we have great communication skills."
She blushed. "I never wanted your marriage to end."
"Babe, it…" I sighed.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you do it?"
"I thought it was best for you."
"What?"
"Babe, my life is crazy. There will always be someone who wants revenge. And that could be me dead or the ones I love dead. I didn't want to put you in that position where it may not be able to leave the house."
"Ah ha!"
"Babe?"
"I was right."
I raised an eyebrow.
"You love me too much to let me get hurt so you figured that this was the only way to keep me safe. With you married, your morals wouldn't let you cheat. You'd never cheat on anyone."
I was shocked. Apparently I didn't need to talk, since she knew me like a book. "Looks like we don't need communication skills."
"So, do you still love her?"
"Maria?" She nodded. "Babe, I'll always love her, but she's just a friend. We grew up together. Lester is the one that will love her like I love you."
"So she's like your Joe?"
I smiled slightly at the simile. "I guess you could say that. She was fighting for us every step of the way."
She nodded. "So that's why she came to Montana."
"What?"
She blushed. "Um, you didn't know that?"
"No, I didn't." Not that I wasn't surprised. Maria liked to butt in and get her way, no matter what.
"She came right before mom got sick and tried to get me to come back. For you."
"What."
She blushed some more. "I thought you sent her."
"I didn't."
"Oh." She got quiet.
"Babe?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you sad that I didn't send her?"
She looked up from her menu. "What? Of course not. I was just curious why she came and now I know. What I don't know, is what I'm getting for dinner." She smiled at me.
My heart melted. "I don't know either, Babe." I wasn't sure if I believed her that she was dropping the issue, but I didn't want to press my luck.
Dinner was great, but anything to do with my Babe is great. We talked, laughed, and had silences that were filled by just being together.
"Babe, come on." I said.
"No, I can walk."
"You're tired and can barely walk a straight line. Come on."
She sighed. "Fine, she said. Tank?"
"I got you guys."
Tank was standing behind the chair, waiting for Stephanie.
"Well?"
"I'm trying to figure it out a way not to hurt you."
"I was hit in the head, not my leg. Get on."
She sighed again and sat down on my lap. Tank pushed us forward, chuckling.
"This is nice." I said, nuzzling my face into her curls.
"Mmm, very." She replied.
I played with her hand and waited for her to fall asleep. When we got back to the room, I got up, carried her to the bed and followed her down. I was exhausted. She instantly curled up next to me and I brought her closer to my chest, her heart beat lulling me to sleep.