Okay. It's decided. I'm quitting my job.

Sorry it took so long for me to update. You know about me working way more hours than I'd feel comfortable with (mostly because it takes away from my napping and writing time...) but now I've started volunteering and have less time. That being said, here are a few things you need to remember.

1. I will update ASAP. I can't promise anything, but I WILL finish this. Promise.

2. I did not write this chapter try to kill you guys. Remember to breathe, read the whole chapter and please don't curse me.

3. Still not mine. If there are mistakes, please chuckle at them and move on.

Please enjoy.

Looking at the clock on the dash before I got out, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was three minutes early. No guilt for Stephanie tonight!

Chambersburg, or the Burg to people who grew up there, sat on the outside of Trenton. It was a small community with large mouths. If I tripped up the stairs to the door, by tomorrow, the whole neighborhood would think I was an alcoholic. The houses were small and comfortable and the neighbors spent their days mowing the lawn and washing windows. As my mother likes to say, presentation is everything.

I looked up at the house and saw my mother and grandmother were waiting on the other side of the front door, arms crossed over their chests. When you have children in the Burg, you gain a sixth sense. You always know when one of your children is coming over for dinner and when they will arrive.

"Hi, mom. Grandma." I said as I came up the steps. "What's for dinner?"

My mother opened the door. "Spaghetti and meatballs. We have chocolate cake for dessert. Come on in before dinner is ruined."

Grandma and I rolled our eyes at each other.

The house always felt warm and comfortable inside. The furniture is worn and well loved and the air always smells of cookies. My parents and I might not have always gotten along, but they always made sure that we felt loved when we were here.

"Hi daddy." I said as I entered the family room. Dad grunted from the chair. He was watching the division championship baseball game with the focus of a jaguar running after its prey. "Sorry about the Phillies."

He grunted again as I kissed the top of his head. "They wouldn't have made it far anyway." He glanced at me. "You look pretty."

I looked down at the dress shirt and slacks I had put on for work. "I just came from work."

"Sure, but you never go that dressy."

I shrugged. "I like to dress up every once in a while." And it had nothing to with the man that was working in my store. Nope. No way.

"It looks good on you."

"Thanks daddy."

Mom came back into the room. "Dinner's ready."

Dad quickly rose from his chair and headed towards the dining room at a fast pace. Mom rolled her eyes heavenward and followed him.

Grandma stopped me in the hall. "So? How's it going with the Security guy?"

"W- what do you mean?"

"Is he doing a good job setting the system up?"

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah, he's great. Really professional."

"Hmph. Professional is boring, don't you think?"

I rolled my eyes. "He's hired to do a job. How else would he act?"

"I was hoping like a man." Grandma mumbled as she walked away.

Before I could ask her what she meant, the door bell rang. Oh no. Who did my mother invite now? If it's Joe, I'm leaving. Cake be damned.

I opened the door. Thankfully it wasn't Joe. The man was handsome. He was tall, broad, and had blonde hair and green eyes. They were warm and he had an easy smile.

I had no idea who he was.

"Hi Stephanie." The man said.

"Um, hi?"

"Oh there you are! I was getting worried about you!" My mother came up behind me. "Stephanie, move. You remember Mark Lorobowski?"

"Sure." I replied slowly. "We went to high school together." Then it dawned on me. "You had glasses and buck teeth!"

"Yes, but with the wonders of contacts and braces, I got that under control."

"You look hot!"

He grinned. "Thanks, you're looking pretty good yourself."

I smiled back and blushed. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw mom smile. I knew what she was doing, but I couldn't seem to care. At least it wasn't Joe again.

For some odd reason, Ranger popped into my head.

"Come, sit. We were just about to start dinner." My mother said politely. She pointed to the dining room and headed off to the kitchen.

"Sorry about the ambush." Mark said.

"I should be the one who's sorry. Stay away from my Grandma. She's a pincher."

"It's true. I can't help it." Grandma said as she came into the room. "Your mother said there was a hottie in the foyer. I had to see for myself." She looked Mark up and down, frowning.

"Mom said that?"

Grandma kept looking at Mark, frown flat on her face. "No, she said something else, but I thought this was more appropriate."

We stood there in silence.

"Well, I guess we should go eat." Grandma said, not waiting to see if we were following.

I narrowed my eyes. Something was bugging my Granny.

"After you," Mark said.

I guess I'll think about it later.

After dinner, I was standing next to my car with a big bag of leftovers.

"Are you sure you don't want any?" I asked Mark.

He smiled. "I'm sure. You really enjoyed dinner tonight."

I knew that he was talking about the food, but surprise, I actually did have fun. I never have fun, considering my mother wants to marry off to someone. "It's my mother's cooking."

"Eat out a lot?"

"Whenever I can."

He looked down at his shoes for a second and then looked back at me. "Well how about we have dinner out together sometime."

I paused. "Are you asking me out? After having dinner at my parents?"

"Yes."

"Brave man."

He grinned and waited. "Well?"

I bit my lip. I was single. He was single. We had a few things in common. He had survived my family.

But something was stopping me. My mother would approve of him and I had a feeling that we would make a good couple, but…

Sensing my hesitation, Mark went on. "It doesn't have to be anything serious. Just something light and fun. More friends than date."

"No pressure?"

"No pressure."

I bit my lip again. "Okay."

He smiled.

Ranger's POV

"The house is pretty much done except for a few more mechanisms that Hector has to replace and the store needs a few more cameras and the system install, but other than that…" Lester said to me. His eyes drifted briefly to the merchandise hanging daintily behind me.

I glared at him. "Focus, Santos. Or I'm banning you."

"You can't ban me! This is Steph's store and she likes me."

I ignored him. "Finish up at the house so I can do the final run through and then come back here with the smaller cameras. We want to protect the store, not freak everyone out."

"Gotcha." He mock saluted me and was on his way.

I sighed internally. Why did I hire my cousin again?

Stephanie was in her office, working on some paperwork. The store was slowing down and she kept the door open so her friends could come in and chat while making sure everything was status quo. Lula and Connie were both busy at the moment which gave me the perfect view of Stephanie.

Talk about distractions.

She was leaning over some papers, biting her lip. Whenever she did that, a wave of heat rolls through my body. I wanted to bite that lip while I thrust myself…

"Hola." Hector said when he came in. He was going to help with the system when I had finished the wiring.

"Hola. Que pasa?"

We caught up for a moment, but I tuned him out when a man came into the store. He was tall, blonde and broad with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. His eyes were only for Stephanie.

I felt the pencil in my hand snap when he gave her the flowers.

"Que?"

My heart stuttered. "Nada." I said. I motioned for him to go on. He continued giving me the update on the system he put in her house. It should be simple enough for her to learn.

I was listening, but my eyes kept going over to Stephanie and him. I wanted to punch him. He was making her smile.

He was making her blush.

He was kissing her.

"Carlos, no." Hector was holding me back. Fuck punching him.

I was going to kill him.

She was mine!

He smiled at her one last time and was gone. Stephanie smelled the flowers and took them into her office. She came back out and saw me staring. And grinned.

I raised my eyebrow and steeled my reaction as she walked over to where we were standing. I told Hector to beat it when she became closer.

All of the preparation I had done couldn't prepare me for what she said next.

"Are you going to ask me out, or what?"

Remember! No cursing! You guys know me well enough that I don't do this to torture you but to motivate me. I'll update as soon as I can!