For Fortune and Love
Chapter Ten
When I got to my apartment there were more pervy pictures taped to my front door. God, I was such a loser. I took them down and shoved them in my bag. No wonder Morelli had moved on.
I needed to hurry or I would be late meeting Ella. I looked at Rex running on his wheel. "Don't get any ideas about living with Ella" I said. I thought someone should probably tell me the same thing about getting ideas of living with Ranger but I let that thought slide.
I pulled on my short black skirt, black thigh-high nylons, and four-inch FMP. I topped it off with a cream-colored silk blouse and short matching black jacket.
I curled my hair and did full face make-up. I spritzed on some perfume and rubbed it in strategic spots. I stepped back and eyed my reflection. For a woman whose life was in the toilet, I looked pretty good.
I packed Rex into the car and drove to RangeMan. Ella was waiting for me when I got to Ranger's apartment. She had several garment bags of clothes and boxes of shoes.
She started pulling them out. They were high-end and gorgeous. An emerald green sheath dress, sapphire blue silk trousers with matching blouse, a couple of sundresses. One in coral and one in a soft yellow. There were shoes and high-end lingerie to match. Most of the clothes fit and didn't require much alteration.
Ella pulled out two scraps of back fabric and handed them to me. I blankly looked at them until I realized they were the bikini Ranger picked out. My faced flamed red and Ella just smiled.
After about an hour there was just one garment bag left. Ella picked it up and unzipped it. My breath caught in my throat. Inside there was the most beautiful, elegant wedding dress I had ever seen. It looked exactly like the dress I had dreamed of my whole life. It was a silk cowl-neck column dress that dipped low in the back with a chapel train.
I smiled at Ella. "You have wonderful taste" I said.
Ella shook her head and said "No, I didn't pick it out. Ranger did. He worked with his tailor to design it. He said when he pictured you as a bride that is what you looked like".
For the third time in three days, I was gobsmacked.
Tears rushed to my eyes and I blinked rapidly to keep them from falling. I reached out and stroked the gown. "It's perfect" I whispered and slipped it on.
It mostly fit like a glove. This wasn't surprising since Ranger knew every inch of my body. He had literally touched and licked every inch of it on more than one occasion. Ranger was nothing if not thorough. The bust was a little big and had to be altered. I figured that was either wistful thinking on Ranger's part or the miracle bra had thrown him off.
Ella and I had just finished when I heard the lock tumble and Ranger walked in. Our eyes met and I smiled at him. He smiled back. It was a nice smile that reached his eyes.
He spoke to Ella and she left.
He went to the safe opened it and pulled out two jeweler's boxes and brought them over to me. He opened the first one. Inside were two diamond studs. He took them out and handed them to me.
"These have GPS trackers. They don't transmit, just provide your location. I want you to wear them until this is over" he said.
They were beautiful. Wearing them wouldn't be a hardship. I took out my small gold hoops and put them in. Ranger had that eye of the tiger quality going already. I'd seem him stalk prey before and his focus always made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Right now, the focus was on me and I was starting to squirm. Between that and the knowledge he had designed a perfect wedding gown I was feeling very vulnerable and confused.
Ranger took the next box and opened it. Inside was a two-carat emerald cut diamond surrounded on either side with smaller graduated baguette diamonds. It was breath-taking.
He took the ring out and picked up my left hand. I'm pretty sure my heart stuttered to a full-stop. He slipped the ring on my finger.
The moment was intense. I was afraid I might pass out so I tried for some levity. "What kind of James Bond stuff does this do" I asked pointing to the ring.
Ranger gently held my left hand and ran his finger over the back of my hand down my ring finger. His eyes locked with mine. "Nothing" he said "it was my Grandmother's". He smiled. "It looks good on you".
I've tried to keep my distance from Ranger. I know being with him long-term isn't an option and the only thing waiting for me is heartbreak. At the moment I just didn't care. My hands reached out and slid under his shirt over his perfect abs. I reveled in his sharp intake of breath. I felt him instantly harden against me. I reached up and pulled his mouth down to mine and kissed him.
The explosion of passion was intense. He deepened the kiss and cupped my ass pulling me up and against his erection. I was rubbing against him and frantically trying to unzip his cargo pants when I felt him capture my hands and pull them away. I heard myself make a sound of protest. I wanted Ranger and I wanted him now.
He leaned his forehead on mine and I heard him drag in a ragged breath. "God woman, the power you have over me is frightening. We have to rain check this. Tank will be here any minute". Like magic with Ranger's statement the doorbell chimed.
"Shit" I said "I need a minute". I knew I looked like a woman that had just about been fucked on the dining room table. Eyes bright, face flushed, lips swollen.
Ranger nodded and looked down at the enormous erection straining against his pants. "Yeah" he said "I think I might need a minute too".