The Men of Rangeman
M rating
Thank you once again Margaret for reading ahead as my Beta. :) I much appreciate :)
This takes place in current time. Books 1 through 19 may be referenced. The people you recognize belong to JE :)
Chapter 26
Ranger's POV
After we left our secluded beach, which was no longer secluded once the kayakers arrived, I ferried us back to the marina. José met us at the slip and promised to secure the boat for the night. I told him we'd be taking it out again in the morning and he was excited at the prospect of seeing Julie. Obviously Rachel and Ron kept her from my family.
The thought saddened me. I was hoping that by close proximity alone, Rachel would let my daughter see her great-grandmother and my family.
"Babe, would you mind having lunch with my grandmother tomorrow?" I asked as we got into the Cayenne. "We can sail over to her with Julie. I'm angry that Rachel is keeping them apart and I feel a need to change that."
"I don't mind at all. I really like your grandmother, but are we going to be truthful about the change in our relationship? And what are we going to tell Julie?"
"The truth; that we're going to get married. And we're heading over to Tiffany's, so with any luck we'll walk out with a ring for you."
I reached for her hand as I drove. I felt a need to keep her close and if there was a way to drive and kiss her at the same time, I would have.
I didn't want to say anything, but I had called ahead and they had some 2 and 3 carat rings in size 6 at the store. Perhaps one would strike a chord with her.
I parked in front and we walked over hand-in-hand.
Lucinda met us at the door. She was the woman I spoke with while Steph was in the bathroom at the marina.
"Carlos and Stephanie?" she asked.
Stephanie gave me a funny look. "I called ahead Babe," I said then acknowledged that we were who Lucinda thought we were.
"As you know, our rings are custom set, but we do happen to have a few on premises, that have been pre-set with larger stones. That's what you asked to see, isn't it Mr. Manoso?"
"I want this to be Stephanie's decision, but yes, I was hoping to be able to pick up a ring today. I'd like to present my fiancé to my family tomorrow."
"Let me show you what I have. Our Coral Gables store also has a few rings in their possession, so if you don't see anything you like I can send you over to them. It's only about 20-minutes away."
I didn't want to make two trips.
"Is it possible to have the rings they have brought here so we don't have to make another stop?" I asked. "It seems to me if you called now, they'd arrive while we're still looking."
"Of course Mr. Manoso, I don't know why I didn't think of that, I'll call right away."
She went over to one of the viewing desks and placed a call before going into the back room to bring out a few rings for us to look at.
Stephanie was quiet as the tray was placed in front of her. She took off the Roebling ring and gave it to me.
She first tried on a 2.5 carat Lucinda ring. It was a classic-contemorary platinum band with fluid lines surrounding a single stone. It was pretty but I could see Steph wasn't moved by it.
"Carlos, look at this one," she said timidly, reaching for a large cushion-cut stone surrounded by other small diamonds on a platinum band. It was a beautiful ring.
"That is our Legacy ring," Lucinda said in response to Steph's enthusiasm. "And it's unusual that we have this in the store. It's a little over 3 carats and it's a VVS1. A stone of exceptional clarity."
"This is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. Can I try it on?"
"That's why we're here Babe."
She tentatively put it on her finger. It looked stunning.
"Carlos?"
"You like it Babe?"
She shook her head yes while staring directly at the ring.
"We owe it to you to look at the others. We can come back to this if nothing else makes you happier."
While she was trying on the remaining ring, the courier from the Coral Gables store arrived.
He had a smaller carat Embrace style and a Round Brilliant of indefinite caratage, although it looked to be to be upwards of 3.5. I thought it was a beautiful ring with the cut of its center stone and bead-set border but Stephanie's eyes kept darting back to the one that originally caught her eye.
She put it on her hand again, and I had to admit she was right. It was the most beautiful of the five.
"Carlos?"
I took her hand in mine—with the ring on it—and I brought it to my lips.
"Marry me Babe," I asked her again.
"God. I love you more than anything and I've already committed myself to you—now I need to commit myself to a ring; I think this is the one."
I didn't care that we had an audience, I leaned over and brought my lips to Stephanie's, and in a not too chaste way my tongue followed.
"Mmm Carlos," she was able to get out. "God."
"Marry me tomorrow. God and Julie can be our witnesses."
I turned towards Lucinda. "Do you have matching wedding bands? For the both of us?"
"There's a simple diamond band that goes with Stephanie's ring or you both have the option of a simple platinum milgrain to match the edging in the Legacy."
"Show us."
"Carlos?"
"Let's do this Babe."
"What about Tank? Won't he be hurt that he's not your best man?"
"If I call him now he can be here for the ceremony. Do you want either Mary Lou or Lula?"
"They'll both have excuses. No I'm good with Tank, Julie and your grandmother."
"You sure? Val?"
"Nope. I'm good."
"We can have a justice of the peace meet us at a restaurant by my abuela's then. Are you sure you're ok with this?"
"Good to go Batman."
"Your mom?"
"Doesn't need to know. Trust me."
Lucinda went off to get the wedding bands while I called Tank and a justice of the peace who was a friend of the family. I had prepared the paperwork years ago. I wasn't sure if I'd be needing them for real or as part of an elaborate distraction but they were safely in a safe deposit box my lawyer had access too. All we needed were blood tests, which I knew I could accelerate.
"How fast can you get down here?" I said when Tank answered his phone.
"What's up? Does this have to do with the McCall case?"
"No. We need you to be our witness; Steph and I are getting married…tomorrow."
"Well congratulations. This is sudden, everything ok?" he paused. "If I fly corporate I can make it down there in a few hours. Is there an open apartment for me or should I make a hotel reservation?"
"Call Lynn. And thanks Bro. We're both happy you can be with us."
"So, you did this on your own? No added incentive, if you know what I mean?"
"No this is not another Rachel. Stephanie and I love each other. I had my head up my ass for a number of years, but thanks to something a certain 'big man' said to me not too long ago, I pulled it out in time."
"Good to know. You want to keep this quiet?"
"For now. Maybe we'll have a party when we get back to Trenton. Listen Tank, I have the paperwork we'll need already filled out. Richard Bloomer has access. Can you call him and tell him what I'm planning? He'll be able to retrieve the papers and give them to you. He'll know what else to do too. And thanks again Tank. I'll see you in a few hours. We can have dinner together."
"I should be able to get there by seven. Make a reservation for eight."
"I hope that's for eight o'clock and that you're not bringing five other people?"
"Smart ass. See you later."
Next I called the department of health and thanks to our Rangeman contacts, was told to come right over. We were still at Tiffany's, so I made an appointment for three o'clock. I then called the lab to make sure they'd be able to process the blood work same day. They were.
Lucinda came back out just as I finished my calls.
She had Steph's ring and three other bands on a black velvet tray. All the other rings had been put away and I must say Steph's diamond was absolutely beautiful standing by itself.
I saw Steph's eye go to the diamond band that matched, so we asked to try that on first. The two were striking together.
I picked up the larger of the milgrain bands and tried it on. It was a perfect fit. Looked like we'd be leaving here with rings after all.
I handed over my black Amex card and Lucinda took the rings to box them.
"No need to put Steph's diamond in a box. I'd like to see it on her finger," I said as she started to walk away.
She turned back towards us and handed the Legacy diamond to me. I took Steph's left hand and put the ring on it. There was no missing the symbolism and Steph looked like she might pass out or burst into tears.
"Tomorrow at this time, hopefully you'll be my wife," I whispered.
"Hopefully?"
"You can still back out Babe."
"Not on your life."
Junior's POV
I made reservations at the Delano. It was right on the beach and on a lark I though it seemed like a fun spot. Yes, it was expensive, but I owed Bonnie that much.
I was waiting at the baggage claim when I saw her come down the escalator with the rest of her flight. I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her, which was a very unfamiliar thing for us to do. But she hugged me back, then looked up and kissed my lips.
"Bon, I'm so glad you came down," I said and kissing her in turn.
"Long flight, we had a stop-over in Atlanta. Did you get a room?"
"Mmmm. Think you'll like it. We're right on the beach."
She smiled then pointed to the carousel that started to move.
"I'm a black bag with a plaid pink bow," she said inching us towards the moving platform.
I spotted it immediately. I pointed it out to Bonnie and when she nodded, retrieved it from its infinity circle.
"All you have?" I asked pulling the bag from its moving stage.
"Well aside from this," she said, showing me the bag on her shoulder.
That was when I caught sight of a familiar figure walking in the shadows.
"Bonnie, was Tank on your flight?" I asked.
"I didn't see him. Why…"
I didn't mean to cut her off, but I didn't want to lose sight of Tank either. I put her bag down and told her to stay put while I sprinted over.
"Tank?" I called to the big man trepidatiously. I didn't want to scare him and have him pull his gun on me. If he was wearing one, that is.
He turned and caught sight of me. "Junior? What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing. I was picking up Bonnie."
"I just came in on NetJets. I was cutting through the airport to pick up a rental. I'm staying at the…uh…Delano," he said pulling a folded sheet of paper from his breast pocket.
"So are we. And now that I think of it, I know why the name sounded so familiar when I booked the room; I think Slick and Michelle are staying there too."
"Where's Bonnie?" he asked, suddenly looking around.
"At the baggage claim. Her flight just got in."
He scanned the area and when he saw her, he walked quickly towards her. I followed; noticing he was carrying a small duffle bag.
Just as he was appraching, Bonnie spotted him and they ran to each other…Bonnie dragging her big bag behind her. He picked her up and spun her around, thankfully she freed herself from her suitcase or it would have made for a very strange visual. Not that Tank would have even noticed the additional weight.
"Baby," he said, calling her something I didn't even call her. "I'm so happy to see you. Are you ok?"
"Good as can be. Junior and I are going to figure out what to do about our unexpected source of tension," she said wrapping her hands around her non-existent belly, "and by Sunday, I hope to be feeling better."
Tank sent me a look that made me feel like a heel all over again. Shit.
Slick's POV
Michelle and I drove to the South Miami station together. I was going to let her go in alone, but I wanted to be there in case she needed me. I had volunteered to work the weekend with Michelle: she, to be there for Darcy; and me, to help find this "Moe" guy.
"It's ok Shaun, I can do this by myself," she said as I slowed the car to a stop in front of the precinct.
I knew she could, but I was hoping she'd need me for something. A guy always feels better when he's needed. But don't let one that out.
"Holy shit," I said reading the email that just buzzed my phone, "Ranger and Sheph are going to be involved as well as some of the core team from New Jersey. Baby, you going to be ok with this?"
"Steph? The lady we met at the restaurant?"
"Yeah that's right…you met her.
"She seems cool, no prob," she answered, slightly distracted.
"Michelle," I said softer, "are you ok?"
"I'm sorry. I was just thinking about Darcy. I can't even imagine all she's been through."
"Your job is just to be with her for her X-rays and MRIs, the mental stuff is the psychologist's problem."
"If it were only that simple to detach a head from a body."
She was right of course.
I took her hands in mine and leaned over the console to kiss her. She'd be just a couple of miles and a phone call away, but I was having separation anxieties already.
"I'll miss you Baby. Call me later and let me know how it's going. And let me know when you're ready to leave and I'll pick you up and bring you over to Rangeman. You can meet whoever they've shipped down."
"I'd really like to meet some more of your friends. They sound like a great bunch of guys. And good luck with your detective work," she added kissing me back. "Maybe I can help you with some of that later too."