Chapter 51—Happy New Year

Ranger led me into a small, dim room with a half dozen tables. It had the same breathtaking view of the city as the ballroom above, but a nice feeling of intimacy.

"I'm surprised there aren't people using this room tonight," I commented. "And I don't think there's anyone in the Liberty Room across the hall, either."

"I was concerned about security for such a big family event, so I reserved the whole building. With you, Julie, my parents and the entire RangeMan staff in one place, I wasn't taking any chances."

He sat down in an armchair and pulled me into his lap, nuzzling my neck. When I moaned in response, his lips crashed down on mine and his hand slid up my leg under my skirt.

"Oh, God," I moaned as his fingers traced along the edge of my thong.

"Babe, I want you so bad I think I'm going to explode," he rasped into my ear.

His fingers slid underneath my thong, stroking through the wetness that had been building all evening beginning the moment I got out of the shower at the hotel. I was on fire for him, wanting him so much that I was shaking, my skin sizzling for his touch, my loins aching for him to fill me.

I leaned to the side and reached down to unbutton and unzip his trousers, his hard length springing free. Hoisting up my skirt and swinging a leg around to straddle him, I exhaled in a long, slow sigh as he shoved my panties to the side and glided into me.

Oh, God… That had to be the best feeling in the world, that stretching, soaring entry, filling me to repletion. I tipped my head back and closed my eyes, allowing myself to luxuriate in his hot hardness. After a few moments I opened my eyes again, looking deep into his dark chocolate ones, and began to move. He held my hips in both hands, helping propel me up and down with a slight rotational motion. I was suddenly reconsidering what the best feeling in the world was.

We'd both been feeling deprived since Julie arrived, and it was only a few minutes before we were pounding together. A moment, or maybe an eternity later our bodies were twitching and convulsing in unison.

oOo

"Omigod, Carlos," I said when my mind began functioning again. "To hell with the party. Let's just go back to the hotel."

"Whatever you say, Babe." But he knew I wasn't serious, that I wouldn't leave in the middle of our own party.

"Crap, I'm really dreading making this announcement. My mother is just relentless when it comes to weddings."

"Having second thoughts about marrying me, Babe?" Ranger smiled. He knew me so well, and my every thought and feeling was obvious to him.

"More like having second thoughts about waiting until October. Vegas is looking better and better." I brightened. "Maybe we can just take Julie to Vegas with us so she can be a bridesmaid."

"We don't have to wait until October, Babe."

"What do you mean? You mean Vegas?"

"No, Babe, I mean right here, right now. Tonight."

"God, if only we could. That would solve all my problems. But we need a license, and a priest …"

"Remember all those papers you signed for Jeff last week?" Jeff Griffin was Ranger's attorney, and we'd made new wills and signed a bunch of papers pertaining to RangeMan that I didn't even try to understand.

"Yeah?"

"There was a marriage license in there."

"What?! I didn't see a marriage license!"

"And Father Carolli is waiting in the Liberty Room, just in case."

"What?!" I was beginning to feel like Alice as she fell down the rabbit hole, looking about and wondering what was going to happen next.

"And," Ranger continued, "Ella ordered the flowers you liked, and the cake, and the photographer is already here, taking pictures upstairs."

"But… rings! What about rings?"

Ranger pulled a small black velvet box out of his pocket and flipped it open to reveal two rings, an eternity band of sparkling blue diamonds set in platinum for me and a larger plain platinum band for him.

Okay, maybe it wasn't Wonderland. Maybe it was Neverland. Because I sure felt like I was flying. Or Shangri-La. Oh, hell, I had no idea where the hell I was anymore. All I knew was that this was where I belonged. With him.

"Carlos, are you sure? It's so sudden…"

"Babe, this is all I've wanted for years, ever since the first time I made love to you—hell, ever since I met you. It's going to happen one way or another. We're going to fly together. Why not tonight?"

Why not, indeed? I thought. "Okay, I'm all in. Let's fly."

Now it was his turn to ask, "Are you sure, Stephanie? Positive? Because this is forever. I'm never letting you go."

I grinned at him and repeated something he once said to me. "We're going to do this, Soldier. It's going to be good."

His face lit up with the most breathtaking smile I've ever seen.

oOo

The Liberty Room looked beautiful, with rows of white cushioned chairs set up on each side of a center aisle and huge arrangements of white lilies and roses standing on white pedestals with pale blue ribbon accents. A string quartet played softly in the corner.

Ranger had some of his men direct everyone down the stairs to the Liberty Room, telling them that there would be a special event downstairs leading up to the midnight celebration.

While that was happening, Julie, Val, Connie, Lula, and Mary Lou joined me in the small gallery room. They screamed and jumped up and down when I broke the news, and then they made sure I had the requisite something old, something new, something borrowed, and of course my dress and jewelry were blue.

I looked at my three best friends and my sister, all dressed in black, and wondered if it was coincidence or they'd somehow coordinated it. And Julie's dress matched mine. It couldn't have been more perfect if we'd planned it that way.

Ella was with us, too, fixing my hair and helping me touch up my makeup. I pulled her away from the others for a minute.

"Ella, did you know this was going to happen?"

"I hoped, dear. Ranger told me what he wanted, and I was praying that you'd agree."

I hugged her. "Thank you so much for everything. Any time you're ready to sign the adoption papers, I'm all yours."

"I think Ranger might have something to say about that, dear. He seems to think you belong to him." She hugged me back. "Much as I love my sons, I've always wanted a daughter, and it looks like I've found one in you. I couldn't be happier for the two of you."

oOo

The evening had taken on a dreamlike quality, and afterward I could only remember flashes, little vignettes of happiness.

Julie walking down the aisle in her blue dress, holding a nosegay of white flowers and smiling…

The expression on my father's face as he gave me his arm…

Ranger, standing tall and straight and handsome with Tank, Lester, Bobby, and his brother Eduardo, waiting for me with that radiant smile…

Father Carolli. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…

Ranger's voice, deep and serious. I, Carlos, take you, Stephanie…

My voice, strong and clear. I, Stephanie, take you, Carlos…

With this ring I thee wed, and pledge thee my troth…

I now pronounce you husband and wife…

The sweetest kiss of my life…

And then Sally Sweet was leading the crowd in counting down the seconds… Ten… nine… eight… seven… six… five… four… three… two… one…

Happy New Year!

The shouts echoed around us, and the confetti flew.

"Happy New Year, Babe."

"Happy New Year, Soldier."

And the strong arms of my husband enfolded me.

And they lived happily ever after.

Nice long epilogue to follow.