Wine and Roses

Chapter Two

It was the middle of the afternoon by the time Stephanie and Ella wrapped up their shopping trip. After a couple of hours of shopping, the ladies had stopped by Pino's for a bite to eat before heading to Rangeman to set up the banquet room for the dinner party.

Unfolding a burgundy tablecloth with tassels trimmed in gold, Ella handed a corner to Stephanie, and together they draped the material over a long table sitting in the center of the room.

"I can hardly contain my excitement," Ella said brightly, running her hand over the material. "I still can't believe you're hosting a dinner party with Ranger."

Smoothing out her end of the decorated cloth, Stephanie chuckled. "I doubt Ranger will be sharing the hosting duties. I'll be lucky to get him out of the apartment."

Ella waved her hand in the air dismissively. "Just getting him to agree on a dinner party with both families is half the battle. Besides, I think he'd do just about anything for you, Stephanie. I've never seen Ranger this content with a woman."

Stephanie pulled a burgundy cloth napkin from a plastic bag, folded it neatly, and then pushed it through a fancy, round holder. "You've never seen Ranger with a woman at all, not until I came around."

"That's my point. I knew you were special when I saw you in his apartment for the first time. Ranger had never brought a lady friend home. And suddenly you were around all the time, spending the night with your hamster. From the first time I did your laundry, I knew Ranger had finally found a woman he could trust."

Stephanie smiled, remembering the freshly laundered clothes that always seemed to be on hand at Ranger's apartment. The Rangeman logo had been sewn on every piece of clothing, even her panties. But these days, Stephanie was the one taking care of the laundry. Seeing as she was a legitimate part of Ranger's household, she didn't expect Ella to clean up behind her. It just didn't seem right. What would her mother think? Over the last few months, Ella had become more than just a housekeeper; she had kindly taken on the role as friend and confidant.

"You know," Stephanie said thoughtfully. "Ranger has really surprised me. We've had our share of disagreements in the past, but here lately, he's been very accommodating. I hardly know what to think."

Ella pushed a few napkins into their holders and looked at Stephanie through inquisitive eyes. "You hardly know what to think about what?"

Stephanie glanced around the room, waving her hand for emphasis. "All of this! Last year this time, I had no idea where Ranger and I would be right now. But here we are, living together and throwing a dinner party. It's all so bizarre. I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone."

"Stephanie, I've known Ranger for a long time, and I can tell you one thing for sure. He's doing all of this because he loves you. A man in love will do things he's never done before, and that man has it bad for you."

Stephanie followed Ella around the table, placing elegant silverware beside the napkins.

"I had a feeling you were the one," Ella continued cheerfully. "And when you moved in with Ranger permanently, I knew you were the one."

Stephanie's stomach did a flip as Ella's words washed over her like a tsunami. "The one for what?"

Ella threw her head back and let out a boisterous laugh. "Don't freak out, Stephanie. Matrimony is rewarding when you're with the right person. Think about it, you're already doing some of the things married couples do. You're throwing a dinner party for God's sake!"

"Yeah, but married couples also have a bunch of snotty nosed kids that cry all night."

"Honey, snotty nosed kids come with the territory. But just because you're married, it doesn't mean you have to rush into having a family."

Stephanie blew out a sigh. "You're right. But I have a biological clock ticking in my ear. It has taken me 33 years to get over my fear of marriage, and now I have to worry about the baby thing, too."

Ella took a few pieces of silverware from Stephanie's hand, setting them in their rightful spot on the table. "Do you really want to have kids, or do you just feel pressured to have children because it's what's expected of married women?"

Stephanie didn't have to think about that question for long. "I would love to be a mother…someday."

"Have you discussed the issue with Ranger?"

"Marriage and children don't often pop up in our conversations. We joke about it sometimes. And you know Ranger isn't much of a conversationalist."

"His actions have always spoken louder than his words," Ella agreed.

"After tomorrow night, marriage might not be an option," Stephanie said, only half joking.

Pulling fine china out of a box, Ella placed a stack of gold trimmed plates on the table, admiring the dishes. "It's going to take a lot more than a bad dinner party to get rid of Ranger, Stephanie. Besides, he's been through a lot worse."

Truer words had never been spoken. Ranger had survived a special operations stint in the Army, a Mexican drug cartel, and a numerous bullet wounds; surely he could handle of few hours with Grandma Mazur.

Appreciating the newly set table, Ella put her hand under her chin and stared thoughtfully at the flower arrangement resting in the center of the table.

"Wine and roses," she finally said, as if she were talking to herself.

"What?" Stephanie asked, her eyes following Ella's.

"You should replace that arrangement with a dozen red roses. You can never go wrong with a beautiful red rose and a bottle of vintage wine. Wine and roses will make any occasion special."

"Okey dokey," Stephanie said, not really buying into that concept. "I'll buy a dozen fresh roses tomorrow morning."

Ranger walked into the apartment at 6:30 Friday evening to find Stephanie curled up on the couch in the living room, watching television. She had a small piece of a Butterscotch Krimpet poised in front of her mouth.

"I hope that's not our dinner, babe."

Stephanie plopped the sugary treat into her mouth. "Just a snack. Dinner's almost ready."

Stephanie had Ranger's favorite dish simmering on the stove. Chicken Cacciatore had been the first meal she'd prepared for him when they'd first began to date. She'd prepared the dish while he was recovering from a bullet wound he'd endured while working a dangerous side job in Mexico. And it was a recipe she had perfected.

Ranger threw his keys in a dish and flipped through a stack of mail resting on the sideboard. "I'm starving."

Stephanie turned the volume down on the television and looked at Ranger. "Rough day?"

"Long day. We had three apartments to clean out at the Blue Ridge Condominiums on Stark."

Stephanie knew the area well. The crime infested community was being overrun by drug dealers, pimps, and prostitutes. The landlord had hired Rangeman to help evict the bad guys. On several occasions, Stephanie had been a first-hand witness to Ranger's eviction procedures, and it usually included a body being tossed out a window.

"Did you save the neighborhood?" Stephanie asked, checking on dinner.

Ranger followed Stephanie into the kitchen and pulled her in for a soft kiss.

"I did my part."

Heading to the bedroom with Stephanie hot on his heels, Ranger said, "What kind of damage did you and Ella do today?"

"Not much. The banquet room looks great. You'll love the colors." A coy smiled covered Stephanie's face. She knew Ranger could care less about the décor in the banquet room.

"Are you ready to host the dinner party tomorrow?"

Kicking off his work boots, Ranger raised an eyebrow at Stephanie. "I'll show up, you'll host."

"Showing up, hosting, same difference," Stephanie said, watching Ranger peel out of his T-shirt and cargo pants.

"Do you want to know what's on the menu?"

"Surprise me," Ranger said, stepping out of his black boxer briefs. "I'm going to take a shower, care to join me?"

Stephanie pondered the invitation for all of one second. And Ranger had her out of the silk boxers and cotton tank top before they'd even reached the bathroom door.

An hour later, Stephanie and Ranger were sitting at the island in the kitchen, filling their faces with Chicken Cacciatore, tossed garden salad, and baked potatoes. Ranger had changed into a black wife-beater and a comfortable pair of running pants. And Stephanie had pulled Ranger's silk boxers back on, along with the tank top that he'd taken off of her, just before their spur-of-the-moment shower.

"My mother is bringing pineapple upside down cake, and you mother is bringing a couple of apple pies."

"I though we were having the dinner catered," Ranger said around a fork full of salad.

"We are, but our mothers insisted on making the desserts."

Ranger nodded and kept eating.

Stephanie continued, "The caterer will start setting up the food around five-thirty. If we're lucky, everyone will be gone by nine-thirty."

Ranger chewed the last bite of his chicken and looked at Stephanie with as much humor as he could muster. "Sounds like you have it all planned. What about mood lighting and music?"

Stephanie narrowed her eyes into slits. "Don't be a wiseass. I've never done this before and I'm nervous. And since you asked, yes, there will be mood lighting and music."

Ranger let out a bark of laughter and pushed his bar stool back from the island. He stacked their empty plates and put them in the sink. Then he planted himself in front of Stephanie as she sat on the stool, his slender hips resting between her knees.

"I'm proud of you, babe. Planning a dinner party is way out of your league, but you seem to be completely invested in the process."

Stephanie raised an eyebrow at Ranger as a hesitant smile formed on her lips. She was dying to prove to Ranger's family, and her own, that she was capable of throwing a successful dinner party.

"Are you looking forward to seeing your family?"

"Yes. I don't often get the chance to hang out with my family. It will be nice to see everyone together."

"Too bad all of your sibling couldn't make it," Stephanie said.

Ranger had two sisters who'd regretfully declined the invitation to the get-together. One sister was in the military, stationed in Afghanistan, and the other sister was married and had an out-of-town obligation with her husband. Ranger also had two younger sisters and an older brother, and they all had accepted the invitation to attend the dinner.

"It's hard to get all of us together in one place these days," Ranger said.

And then he gave Stephanie and inquisitive look. "How much is this dinner party going to cost me?"

Wrapping her legs around Ranger's waist, Stephanie said, "You might want to jot this one down in your tax book as an entertainment expense."

Ranger pressed his mouth against Stephanie's neck, slowly dragging his lips along the sensitive skin under her ear.

"That's not a good sign," he said, his hand working its way beneath Stephanie's cotton tank top. He softly caressed her breast, feeling the nipple harden under his touch.

"Let's just hope Grandma doesn't burn down the banquet room," Stephanie said breathlessly.

Ranger halted his ministrations and stared at Stephanie through hooded eyes.

"Babe, that's not funny."