Preparing for dinner looked a lot like mindlessly watching daytime TV eating cheese puffs. That is how I do my best thinking though. I decided what I really needed to know was what he meant when he said he wanted to marry me. All he has ever told me was that he would never have a serious relationship and his lifestyle wasn't conducive to commitment. My relationship with Joe ended on its own accord, but before I could move on I needed to know what he meant. I couldn't see myself settling for anyone else, no matter how perfect they seemed, if Ranger was an option. Because that is what it would be, settling. Ranger had his issues, sure, but all other men paled in comparison to him.

He hadn't given me a time, but I knew he generally worked late and had Ella bring dinner up at 7:30pm. I planned to arrive around 7:00pm. I got in the shower at 5:00pm to wash off the cheese puff dust and shave. I spent a full hour trying to get my hair and makeup perfect. I was a little nervous so I kept applying mascara. The more mascara the more confidence, right? Once I was out of body parts to apply a beauty product to, I went into my room to get dressed.

I pulled the red dress out of the closet slipped it on. I was putting on my new silver shoes when I remembered Joe had requested I wear this same dress for dinner at his house and I refused. Ranger suggested it and I'm wearing it. I added one final spritz of perfume and one last coat of mascara, said goodnight to Rex, and headed out the door.

I pulled up to the gate and reached in my messenger bag for my Rangeman key fob. I pressed the button to allow me access to the garage and the gate opened. I parked in one of Ranger's spots and walked over to the elevator. I pressed another button on my fob and the elevator started up to the top floor. I waved at the camera to say hi to whoever was on security that night. I stepped off on floor 7 and walked over to the door to Ranger's apartment. I knew he knew I was here, he would've known the moment I pulled up to the gate. Still, it took me a minute standing in the hall to gather my courage to walk in that door.

I finally told myself I was being ridiculous and opened the door. Ranger was walking out of the office in his apartment when I let myself in. "Babe" he said smiling at me, taking in my whole outfit. Watching his reaction, I was very glad I had decided on the red dress. "Ella hasn't brought dinner up yet. I was starting to wonder if you planned on waiting in the hall."

I laughed and said "Just took a minute to gather up my nerve."

"Nothing to be nervous about" he said taking my chin in his hand and kissing me lightly on the lips. The kiss started to deepen and he pulled away. "We'd better not do too much of that or we won't end up talking." He walked into the kitchen and I followed. He picked up a bottle of wine he had left on the counter and poured it into the two waiting glasses. He handed me one and leaned back against the counter. "You said you wanted to talk."

I took a sip from my glass. "I said we needed to talk. That means you too." He just nodded so I continued. "I need to know if you meant what you said that night."

"Babe, you should know by now that I never say things I don't mean."

"Ok, but what does it mean? Was it an ego thing? That you didn't want to lose me to Morelli? Or you want to me to stay available for your entertainment?" I asked.

"I've told you before that I love you." He replied.

"And you've told me repeatedly that nothing could ever come of it because you were never going to have a serious relationship." I retorted.

He set down his untouched wine glass and walked around the counter to me. He ran his hands down my arms. "If this was just about my ego or my entertainment, I would've let you marry Morelli. Your happiness will always mean more to me than mine." He took the wine glass out of my hand, set it on the counter, and wrapped his arms around me. "You are a surprising woman and I never anticipated having someone like you in my life. But now that I have you in my life, I don't ever want to let you go. When I said I wanted to marry you, I meant that I want to have you here with me, every day, for the rest of my life."

I was silent as I stared into his face, trying to process what he was saying.

"It's your turn to talk now babe"

"I just don't have any idea what to say to that" I responded, my breath practically a whisper.

"You could tell me if that is something you'd want too" he replied with a tinge of stress in his voice.

Looking right into his eyes I confessed "It's something I've always been afraid to let myself want. You've always made it so clear that it wasn't an option that I couldn't even let myself fantasize about it. Because I knew if I ever let it enter my mind as a possibility I'd never be able to let it go. I didn't want to spend my entire life waiting for you, if it was never going to happen. But, if you are telling me that you want me too, then yes, this is what I want. But if you aren't sure about this, you have to tell me. I can't stay in limbo with you forever."

A rare smile crept across Ranger's face as I spoke. The stress that had been clouding face since I got to his apartment had evaporated. He kissed me quickly and left the kitchen. I could hear him in the living room moving something. I sipped my wine while I waited for him to return. The noises from the living room stopped and I expected him to come back into the kitchen. Instead, I heard Frank Sinatra start singing. Curious, I left the kitchen and headed into the living room.

I hadn't even glanced that way when I first entered the apartment, so I'm not sure what it looked like then. But now, it was filled with roses. Ranger was standing in the middle of the living room as I slowly entered, taking it all in. "What is all this?" I asked when I finally stood in front of him.

He took both of my hands in his and said "Babe" before he slowly lowered to one knee. I couldn't breathe as I figured out what was happening. "You are a remarkable woman. You are beautiful, smart, brave, determined, and caring. I don't want to spend a single day of my life without you. I want you to make me this happy for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?" He let go of one hand and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box. He opened it to reveal a beautiful antique ring. The center diamond wasn't extravagant but the detailed work surrounding the ring was amazing.

Without a moment of hesitation, I said "yes, yes of course I will, yes!" He slid the ring onto my finger and then stood pulling me into him and kissing me. This time he didn't pull away and he let the kiss deepen. My hands were under his shirt and he was kissing his way down my neck. One of his hands had slid down to my hip and the other was on my breast. Suddenly, my entire body tensed as I remembered that Ella would be bringing dinner up and we were very much standing where she would see.

"What's wrong?" he asked, pausing his gentle kisses along my throat. The bruise I expected hadn't shown itself but it was still tender where Nathanial had held me.

"Ella is bringing dinner" I said.

He resumed his kisses and told me "When I told her to prepare dinner for two I also asked her to hold it and that I would call when we were ready."

"Oh" I breathed as a respond. He moved his lips to my ear and again I said "ooohh."

"If you're hungry, I can call her right now" he teasingly whispered in my ear.

"Not in the least" I said, turning my head and finding his lips with my own. Reaching around me he found the zipper for my dress and pulled it down. He pushed the straps off my shoulders and let the dress puddle at my feet.

I reached down to start to take off my shoes and he stopped me. "Leave the shoes. I like them" he said.

"I thought you liked the dress too" I teased.

"I like what's under the dress better" he replied. He then scooped me up and carried me into the bedroom, setting me down on the bed. He started to undress, which is generally the most captivating site I could see. But tonight, I was distracted staring at the ring on my hand. He touched my hand softly "If you want something different, I'll buy you anything you want."

I shook my head "This is the most beautiful ring I've ever seen in my entire life. It's so delicate and detailed. It's amazing."

His hand found my face as he smiled again and said "It was my grandmothers. She gave it to my years ago, and told me to hold onto it until I found the right woman. I told her to give it to another one of her grandchildren because I would never use it. She told me she was giving it to me and she didn't care if I held onto it for 50 years, she wanted me to have it."

"I'm glad she insisted" I said as he kissed me again.