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Not mine, all Janet's.


I woke up the next morning feeling rested and relaxed. It was the best sleep since I slept on Ranger's bed last. I sighed and relaxed deeper into the luxurious mattress and sheets. Looking to my left, I saw a white rose and another note.

Good Morning, Stephanie-

I hope that you slept well. Don't worry, Mark dropped off the gift waiting for you in the living room. Go ahead, I'm sure you're curious to see what it is.

I was. I didn't know who this guy was, but he knew what I liked. I jumped out of bed and raced to the living room, stopping dead in my tracks.

"Oh, my, God." I said.

Every corner of the room was filled with vases of white roses. Beautiful white roses. I looked back at the letter.

White roses are a symbol of purity, sympathy, innocence and spirituality. Everything that you bring to my dark world.

They also symbolize true love. Each rose is to show how much my love is true.

Tonight, I would love it if you joined me for dinner tonight. Mark will pick you up at seven.

I'll see you soon.

I was speechless. I stood there gaping at the flowers. I was so shocked, I didn't even hear the door open.

"Babe."

"Jesus, Ranger, don't you knock?"

He smirked at me. He looked at the flowers. "New stalker?"

"Nope."

He raised an eyebrow.

"New guy."

"He sent you a room full of flowers?"

"Shut up. It's sweet."

"Maybe he's trying to make up for a lack of something." He wolf grinned at me.

I nudged him in the stomach. "Stop."

"So who is he?"

I turned and smiled at him. "I don't know."

"Babe, are you sure it's not a stalker?"

I sighed. "It's not. There was a charity auction and they were auctioning off dates and this is my suitor…for lack of better word."

He smiled at me. "Has he been treating you good?"

I smiled widely. "Like a queen."

"Good. Cause you should be treated like one."

I blushed and looked away. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I just wanted to see how you were. Nothing has blown up in a while."

Great, Ranger humor.

"Yeah, I'm good."

He smirked at me. "Good to hear. Later, Babe."

"Bye Ranger."

After Ranger's visit, I showered and headed to the bond's office with my offering of donuts.

"Hey white girl. What's up?"

"Not much. You?"

She was glowing. "Tank and me are working it out."

"That's great." Connie said. I nodded in agreement.

I turned to Connie. "How was your date?"

She blushed a little. "Great. Me and Woody are going out again."

Wow, everyone was doing well.

"I heard that Joyce got herpes."

This day keeps getting better!

"What about your mystery man, white girl?"

"I'm meeting him tonight."

"Where? Details, girl!"

"I don't know. He sent me white roses this morning."

"Wow." Connie and Lula said.

I nodded, still pretty speechless about them.

"What are you going to wear, white girl?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"Need a shopping trip?"
I shook my head. "I went shopping yesterday."

"Without me?"

"It was an impromptu thing. I didn't know I was going."

"What do you mean you didn't know?" Connie asked, clearly confused.

"I had a little impromptu shopping spree courtesy of my mystery man."

"Wow," they breathed.

I smiled. I knew what they were thinking.

"Do you have any idea who it is?"

I did, but I wasn't really ready to share my thoughts. If I kept my suspicions in the dark (even to myself), then I wouldn't get disappointed when I found out his true identity. My spidey sense told me it was one of the Merry Men and my heart was telling me it was Ranger.

God, what if it was Ranger? Was his life now available for a relationship?

A girl could dream.

You see after my last and final break up with Joe, I realized that I was completely in love with Ranger. No matter what he had done, it didn't tarnish what I felt for him.

He was my one.

Great, now I was hoping for Ranger. I mentally rolled my eyes.

"You coming Lula?"

"Right behind you."

We went out and got most of my skips. Granted, most of them were repeat offenders and went quietly, but it was still nice to make some money.

"Do you think that you and Tank will get back together?" I asked Lula while driving back to the office.

"Maybe. I don't know." She sighed.

"Do you want to?"

She was quiet for a moment. "Yeah. I miss him."

It was the first time I had ever heard Lula say that.

"He really loves those cats. I guess it wouldn't be so hard to take some meds."

"I know that he misses you."

"Really?" She looked at me with hopeful eyes.

I nodded. "You need to take it one step at a time this time."

"I know. I just didn't want him getting away."

"He wants to be with you. He's not going anywhere."

She smiled. "Thanks, white girl. For what it's worth, I think this guy is your one."

I smiled. "I think so too."

"Good luck tonight!" Lula yelled as she walked to her car. I saw Mark right away.

"Hello, Miss Stephanie. Good day?"

I nodded. "The best. What are you doing here?"

"You have an appointment at the salon."

"What?"

He nodded. "No note, but he told me to take you to the salon and make sure you're not late."

"I haven't picked out my dress yet."

"We have some time. I'll follow you back."

I nodded and I drove off.

"How much time do I have?" I asked Mark as we rode the elevator to my apartment.

"About an hour. That's enough time?"

"It should be."

"You just need to pick out what you're going to wear and bring it with you. You can change there."

"Great," I said. After opening to the door, I headed straight for the closet. I stood there for at least a half hour thinking about what I was going to wear. In the end, I chose a deep purple strapless dress with matching bra and panty set with nude thigh highs and black FMP's. I found a purple clutch to go with it. Thank God for the shopping trip yesterday. I grabbed the necessities (keys, money, ID, credit card) and met Mark out in the living room.

"I think this will go nicely with your outfit." He said, holding up a beautiful white rose wrapped in tin foil to keep it fresh. I smiled and nodded. The driver came and carried my bags and we followed him out.

I was surprised when we ended up at Mr. Alexander's. He waved us in and sat me down to get to work on my curls.

"I swear, they've grown." Mr. Alexander sighed. I glared at him through the mirror.

"They have not."

"I think so, honey."

"Just make them look pretty."

"I can't promise anything, but I can try a miracle."

I rolled my eyes as best a burg girl can.

An hour later, he was done. It was beautiful. Mr. Alexander had managed to get my hair into tame, soft curls that was in a half ponytail with the flower and a bunch of bobby pins holding it together.

"Looks like we have a miracle." He said, admiring his handiwork.

"I'll say." I looked natural and un-New Jersey. My make-up had also been done in a light fashion with only a few swipes of mascara. I was going in without my armor and feeling a little scared.

"You look devastating." Mark said when the look was complete.

"You think so?"

He smiled. "Very much." He looked at his watch. "We need to be on our way."

This was it. I was meeting the man that had bought me for fifty-two hundred dollars. I was nervous and excited.

We pulled up to a huge house. I think it was somewhere between mansion and castle, leaning more to mansion.

I stepped out and saw him standing there.

Here we go.


Sorry! I'm writing as fast as I can! I didn't want the chapter to be too long!