Ok so I'm sure you're tired of hearing all my excuses! Thank you all for sticking with me on this. RL is just well….yada yada yada…:P

Previously

"Oh Ella you're the best! Thank you so much for all your help. I guess I need to get off here and get some things done before I go pick up Rachael and Julie and I will see you at 3:30 for dress shopping. Ohhh I'm so excited Ella I can't wait for Saturday" I gushed as we said goodbye and hung up.

I am so excited after talking to Ella. I can't wait to be Mrs. Ricardo Carlos Manoso on Saturday!

Chapter 27

I Googled some different wedding dress sites but got overwhelmed so I decided to wait and see what Ella and Stella had in mind for me. My stomach growled so I took a break and went to see what Michelle had left for lunch. Oh yummy, chicken wraps with lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing. I took one and a bottle of water back to the office and finished making my to-do list for the afternoon. I looked up and saw it was 1:30. I gathered my list and my purse and headed towards the door to find Carlos and have him set up the GPS so I can pick up Rachael and Julie and then head to Stella's to meet Mac and McKenzie. I opened the door and ran into a hard, muscular body that smelled like Bvlgari Yum!

"Babe I was just coming to see if you were ready to head out" Carlos told me as he pulled me into a warm hug.

"Yeah I was just coming to find you to get my GPS instructions. I have your number, the office as well as Tank, Lester and Gabe's programmed into my phone. I also have Rachael, Julie and Ella on speed dial so I think between all of you and the GPS I can get around Miami pretty good" I told him as we stepped off the elevator in the garage.

"You'll be fine Babe, I have faith in you. Do you want to take one of the guys with you just in case" he asked as we walked towards the Cayenne convertible…ooh goody I get the hot car!

"Of course you get the hot car Babe, it matches the driver" Carlos growled in my ear. Oops guess I said that out loud.

"Do you think I should take someone with me" I asked him, biting my lip thoughtfully.

"I think you'll be fine on your own Babe, but if you'd feel more comfortable I'm sure I could find a willing man for Bombshell duty" he said with a grin as he pulled me in for a hug.

"Ass" I said as I raised up on my tippy toes for a kiss.

"Yes but you love my ass" he said cheekily as he handed me into the car and buckled me in. He showed me the GPS operated as well as a button I could push that would link me to the control room as well as his cell phone if I had an emergency.

"Babe do you have your gun and panic button on you" he asked as he kissed me one last time.

"Yep I'm ready to go find my dress so I can knock your socks off on Saturday" I grinned at him.

"Babe you always knock my socks off" he replied as he kissed me hard and fast. "So the GPS is programmed for Ron and Rachael's, then Julie's school and then Stella's shop. Call if you need anything or if you have any problems use your panic button. I love you and have a good time with the girls" Carlos said as I was backing out.

"I love you too" I replied as I blew him a kiss and headed out into the streets of Miami.

I was about 2 blocks from Rangeman when I noticed a car following me. It was a silver sedan with 2 guys in mirrored sunglasses and ill fitting suits. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out they were Feds. I decided to find out for sure if they were tailing me so I changed lanes a couple of times and sure enough there they were. I signaled for a right hand turn but went straight and they did the same so I hit the comm button on my GPS and got one of the guys in the control room.

"Yes Miss Plum how can I help you" asked a polite voice. Before I could answer I heard Carlos talking in the background then he came on and said "Babe are you ok? Is something wrong"?

I had to smile at his rapid fire questions. "I'm pretty sure I have a tail and I'm even more sure they are Feds" I told him. "They are driving a non descript silver sedan, mirrored shades and really ill fitting suits. I did some lane changing to see if they were tailing me and they stuck to me like glue. They were setting off my spidey sense and I didn't want them following me to Ron and Rachael's house. I wasn't sure if I should call you but after everything that has happened I want them off my ass so I can find a dress" I told him in a huff.

"Babe you know to always trust your spidey sense. It has saved our lives more times than I'd care to count. Do me a favor, reach up and mute the GPS cause I'm gonna take you on a different route. Is the car still following you?" he asked me as I heard him taking the stairs down to the garage.

"Yes I just changed lanes again and they are still back there. They either think I'm stupid or they want to get caught . Now the passenger is on the phone and is making lots of hand gestures" I told him as I heard him peel out of the garage at Rangeman. Ohh goody the calvary is on the way.

"Ok Babe help is on the way but until they get there I want you to follow my directions and I will be waiting for you at our destination. Are you back in the outside lane?"

"Yes I'm over here" I told him.

"Great you are coming up on Biscayne Blvd. I want you to take a right onto Biscayne and then get in the inside lane as soon as you can" he told me.

I followed his instructions and noticed Dumb and Dumber made the same turn.

"They made the same turn so I'm 100% sure they are following me" I said. I heard Carlos on the phone telling someone that I had just turned onto Biscayne Blvd and gave them a description of my car as well as the car following me. Carlos thanked them and hung up.

"Sorry Babe I was giving a friend of mine at Miami-Dade PD an update. They have 2 black and whites in the area and they will be intercepting your tail at any time. You are going to make a left turn coming up Babe. Do you see a Target on your left?" He asked me.

"Yeah it's about a ½ mile down" I told him. About that time I heard sirens behind me and looked up to see the 2 black and whites boxing the Feds in and easing them over to the side of the road. I got in the left turn lane just past Target and made my turn.

"I just made the left turn at Target, where are you?" I asked him as I got over into the outside lane.

"Do you see McDonalds coming up on the right?" he asked me.

"Yeah I see the driveway and I see you guys too" I told him as I turned in and parked a few spaces away. Carlos, Tank, Les and Gabe were standing by 2 black SUV's.

Almost before I got the car shut off Carlos had the door open and me unbuckled. He pulled me out of the car and into his arms. He pulled back enough to attach his lips to mine in a bone melting, panty ruining kiss.

"Are you ok Babe?" he asked as he ran his eyes and hands over me looking for any signs of injury.

"I'm ok Baby, just a bit shaken up" I told him with a tremble in my voice. "I'm damn sick and tired of people messing with my wedding plans. If I wanted shit like this to happen I could have stayed home and let my mother ruin my wedding." I told him feeling myself headed towards rhino mode.

"It's ok Babe it will be over with tonight I promise. I'm just sorry you have to go thru this shit because of me" he said rubbing soothing circles on my back.

"This is NOT your fault Carlos! You did everything the way you were supposed to and because some dick in DC can't take no for an answer we are suffering for it. Do not blame yourself for this" I pulled back and glared at him.

"Ok Babe your right, I'm just tired of all this shit. I just want it to be over with so we can move on with our lives" he told me as I was rubbing soothing circles on his back.

Just as we started to kiss I hear "Damn Beautiful we take you a thousand miles from home and you still attract crazies" Lester joked as he walked up and hugged me from behind.

"Thanks Les I hadn't thought about it like that" I said in a sarcastic tone.

Another black SUV pulled into the parking lot and Juan and Pluto got out and headed over to where we were all standing.

"Great instincts Steph, you were right about them being Feds and they were most definitely following you. They had orders to follow you but not to get caught. If they got caught they were to detain you until their boss arrive. It seems they received some bad intel on you Steph. According to Dumb, the driver, there was no way you would ever know they were following you because you aren't that smart. They started getting nervous when you started changing lanes and by the time you made a right onto Biscayne Blvd they were in a full fledged panic and on the phone to their boss. Then of course they got pulled over by Miami's finest. By the time we pulled up behind the scene they were both rolling over on their boss because it seems that this wasn't an "official" operation, it was a personal vendetta towards Ranger. We were more than happy to set them straight about how smart and beautiful you really are Steph" Pluto told us with a big cheesy grin on his face.

Just as I was hugging all the guys and thanking them for all their help, a dark blue SUV pulled up and a blond woman and a dark haired man got out and walked over to us. Carlos pulled me to his side as he smiled at the woman and did a complicated handshake with the man.

"Steve thanks for the quick response to my call" Carlos said to the man.

"No problem Ranger, if the tables were turned I know you would drop everything for Isabella and the kids" Steve said as he turned towards me.

"I am assuming this beautiful woman is the infamous Stephanie Plum that I have been hearing about for years" he said smiling at me as I blushed.

"Yes I am Stephanie Plum for 3 more days then I will be Stephanie Manoso on Saturday" I told him with a grin while stepping back against Carlos.

"Saturday huh? Well all I can say is it's about time Carlos got his head out of his ass and married you. We have been hearing about you for the last 3 ½ years so we were hoping this time would come" Steve said with a smirk towards Carlos.

Steve turned to the gorgeous blonde beside him and said "this is my partner Sydney Jamison, Syd this is Carlos Manoso, owner of Rangeman, his beautiful fiancée Stephanie, Tank and Lester from Rangeman Trenton, Gabe, Juan and Pluto from the Miami office."

Syd gave me a warm smile and turned and nodded at Carlos and the guys before turning back to me with a gleem in her eye. OMG is she eyeing ME?

Before I could open my mouth and say something stupid my phone started ringing. I saw that it was Rachael. I looked at my watch crap it was almost 2:15 and we were supposed to pick Julie up at 2:30. Carlos saw my face and took my phone and answered it.

"Hey Rachael, yeah we had a little problem but we are about to wrap it up. Can you meet Steph at school and I'll have one of the guys drive your car back to the house ? Not it's all taken care of, yeah she's good just a bit pissed that someone is messing with her wedding plans again. Yeah she can tell you all about it when you girls pick Julie up at school. Ok, thanks, bye."

"Babe Rachael will meet you at Julie's school so you'll be able to make your appointment at Stella's" Carlos told me as he handed me my phone back.

"Steve I hate to cut this reunion short but Steph has to pick up Julie and Rachael and get to her wedding dress appointment by 3:30" Carlos said with an apologetic look.

"That's no problem Ranger, but I hope you two can come by for dinner soon because Bella will kill me if you leave town before she gets a chance to FINALLY meet Stephanie" Steve said with a grin.

I looked up at Carlos and he gave me a slight nod and I turned to Steve and said "we are tied up tonight and tomorrow night but we could come Thursday night if that would work for your wife" I told him with a smile.

He busted out laughing and said "believe me Stephanie nothing short of a death in the family would keep Bella from meeting you."

I grinned at him and turned to Carlos "ok Baby program the GPS for Julie's school so we can get to our shopping trip. Ella gave Stella some suggestions as to what would look good on me so I can't wait to get there. Oh did I tell you Ella is gonna be on Skype so she can see the dresses and help me decide? I can't wait for you to see our cake. Ella is a godsend and I wish she was already here" I rattled off as I gave him a kiss and a smack on the ass.

His eyes lit up as he growled at me "you better run Babe, paybacks gonna be a bitch."

I squealed and headed towards the car. I got 2 steps before Carlos threw me over his shoulder and slapped my ass….ouch! I waved at the guys and hollered "nice to meet you" to Steve and Syd.

Carlos set me down on my feet and I reached back to rub my ass where he had smacked me. Dang that really hurt.

"Babe that was a small demonstration of how I plan to pay you back on Saturday night" Carlos told me with an almost feral look in his eyes….oh boy I think I'm in trouble!