I am not receiving money or property off of anything submitted here. I am only borrowing the characters Janet Evanovich created. My use of JE's characters will be different than her use of them and they will change and be considered by many to be OOC. The characters I own are mine and may be borrowed here by anyone for their use here. I will return JE's characters when I am finished with them and they will be in the same pristine condition as when they were borrowed...no matter what their fate is in my fiction. Thank you for reading.
Once the party was over Ranger and I drove back to the ship and Manuel was waiting for us just as he promised.
"We could have driven to you," Ranger grinned.
"Yea well, this party is on me," he laughed. "You two have your passports and your disembark and embark paperwork."
"Sure," I shrugged. "Where are we going Manuel?"
"We're going to a little local place that not many of the tourists know. I think you'll be pleased."
"Sure," I nodded.
The bar was loud and everyone in it was friendly.
"My table's over there," Manuel shouted and pointed to a corner. "Go on over there and I'll get us some drinks."
We headed for the booth and collapsed in it. We weren't left alone for a second. The moment we sat down in Manuel's booth, we were surrounded by his friends who were protecting his turf. When they found out who we were they all seemed to talk at once. They wanted confirmation about every story Manuel had ever told them. Manuel returned with a couple of pitchers and three glasses.
I'll be honest as we talked to the people and laughed a lot and drank I didn't notice how much I'd had to drink. I didn't even realize that I might be in over my head until I stood up to go to the bathroom and the room started spinning. I giggled and righted myself and one of my new friends took me to the ladies room. When I returned I just slid back down beside Ranger and kept on talking and drinking. It was so relaxing. There was no wedding to worry about and no murder to solve. It was just me and Ranger with Manuel and all his Cayman friends and I had a ball.
"So how long have you two been together," one of the girls asked gazing at Ranger as though she'd like to take him out back and bounce on him till she passed out.
"Er…"
"Four years," Ranger said with a smile.
"Why aren't you married?"
"She has commitment issues," he grinned.
"I don't have commitment issues," I laughed. "You're the one with commitment issues. I love you. I'd marry you right now."
"Right now," he raised a brow.
"I think you should tell her to put up or shut up," Manuel grinned.
"She's drunk," Ranger laughed.
"So are you," Manny chuckled.
"Yea…so," he grinned.
"So…tell her to put up or shut up Ranger," he said. "I dare you. She says she's doing so damn well in therapy and she's in love with you and she'd marry you today! Make her walk the walk man."
"Okay," he laughed. "Stephanie Michelle Plum…will you marry me?"
"What," I blinked at him and tried to focus.
"Will you marry me," he said with a laugh.
"When," I said and I'm not sure I blinked.
"Right now," he laughed.
"Okay fine," I blinked.
"Okay fine," he howled with laughter.
"Er…Judge Mendosa," Manuel said with a grin. "This is the couple I was telling you about. Did you bring the paperwork?"
"Yes…did they bring their paperwork," the man said seriously.
"Yes they did," he agreed.
"Let me see your paperwork," the Judge said with a smile.
"Paperwork," I frowned.
"Give me your purse," Manuel said.
I handed him my purse and he dug out my paperwork as Ranger handed his to the Judge.
"So this is legal," Ranger said.
"Completely legal," the Judge said. "You'll be married in the eyes of God and the world."
"All right," Ranger nodded. "Let's do this thing."
"You have to sign some papers first."
The Judge pointed and we signed for a few minutes and then they took us out to the beach and the Judge's wife. Manuel stood by Ranger and the Judge's wife stood by me.
"We are gathered her to join Ricardo Carlos Manoso and Stephanie Michelle Plum in marriage. Marriage is a holy bond and is not to be entered into lightly. Do you understand what I'm saying to you Ricardo and Stephanie?"
"Yes," I nodded.
"Yes," Ranger agreed.
The bar patrons joined us on the beach and they made no sound at all. I thought that was a little odd, but I just went with it. Manuel had the weirdest sense of humor.
"All right, Ricardo repeat after me, 'Stephanie I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage.'"
"Stephanie I love you. You are my best friend and today I give myself to you in marriage," he said softly.
"I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle."
"I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle," he said taking my hand in his.
"I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort," the Judge said.
"I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort," he repeated softly.
"I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life," the judge finished.
"I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life," Ranger said keeping his eyes on mine.
"Stephanie…you will please repeat after me those same vows. Ricardo, I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage."
"Ricardo, I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage."
"I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle."
"I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle," I said softly and fought the choking tears that threatened my voice.
"I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort," the Judge said.
"I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort," I managed to whisper keeping my eyes on Ranger's very serious black ones. His eyes were so black. His passion always showed in his eyes.
"I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life," the judge finished.
"I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life," I swallowed and finished and fought the dizziness.
"Do we have rings," the Judge asked.
"I er…I do," Ranger said digging rings out of his pocket. He emerged with two perfect gold rings.
I blinked and realized they must be Tank and Lula's rings. Somewhere in the distance I could hear Steve Perry belting out Faithfully. You have to love a bar with 80s rock playing in the background.
"Good…put the ring on Ricardo's finger and repeat after me Stephanie," the Judge said. "I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my husband this day and forevermore."
"I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my husband this day and forevermore," I said softly as I slid the ring on his finger. It fit perfectly and that made me frown because I was pretty sure Tank's fingers were bigger. Tank was bigger.
"Ricardo…put the ring on Stephanie's finger and repeat after me," the Judge began, "I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my wife this day and forevermore."
"I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my wife this day and forevermore," Ranger said softly sliding the ring on my finger to the perfect fit.
The Judge smiled, "For as much as Ricardo and Stephanie have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and these witnesses, and thereto have pledged their faithfulness each to the other, and have pledged the same by the giving and receiving each of a ring, by the authority invested in me according to the laws of the Country of Grand Cayman I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those that God has joined together, let no man put asunder." He smiled, "Ricardo you may kiss your bride."
Ranger leaned down and kissed me gently. "Well Mrs. Manoso…how about those commitment issues?"
"What commitment issues," I blinked up at him.
We went back inside and continued to drink and party after we signed some more papers. The Judge gave us some other paperwork to take with us.
I continued to drink and laugh with the other patrons of the bar. Manuel and I danced. Ranger and I danced. It was fun and a big laugh. But this time, it came with a lot of kissing.
Finally at about 3AM Manuel drove us back to the boat and Ranger carried me up the gangplank and into the cabin.
"Hey," I said grabbing him as he dumped me on the bed, "aren't we supposed to have a night of wedded bliss?"
"I'm all for it," he laughed stripping and reaching for me and my clothes.
"Come here," I said pulling him down on top of me and latching onto his mouth with mine. "I love you," I murmured wrapping around him.
He couldn't say anything because I was kissing him…right? That's what I told myself. But then…I was drunk.