Color saturation. That's what he noticed. The sky was a brilliant cornflower blue, lighter than her eyes, but still beautiful and dramatic. And the leaves on the trees, they were so green, each leaf distinct and well formed. He'd never noticed that before. Every so often he caught a glimpse of red through the trees and knew it was a red barn so common in the countryside. The drive down from Newark was distracting in a way it had never been before. He couldn't get in his zone, as she called it. He slipped on his shades and found it helped, a little.

He lowered the driver's side window and inhaled deeply as the outside air rushed in. Had it always smelled so fragrant? He took another breath, enjoying the exhilaration of the fresh country air. When had he ever done that? He was always aware of his surroundings, but that meant looking for strangers, for tapping into his body's senses for danger, for threats, not clean air, green leaves and red barns. What made today different?

Later, walking into the control room at RangeMan, his men kept sneaking glances at him. He couldn't help checking out his attire, his hair, but everything was in place. He passed the windowed conference room and was shocked when he saw his reflection and the ear-splitting grin on his face. Quickly, he strode into his office and shut the door. The brightness of the sun pouring in the window drew him that way and as he stood there looking at nothing in particular, he felt the muscles pulling the corners of his mouth back up. He was still gazing out the window when Tank entered the office.

"Something going on outside?" Tank asked.

Ranger turned around and slid behind his desk, settling in his chair. "Sitrep," he barked.

Tank shrugged, sat down in a chair in front of the desk and began to catch his boss up on the business. A few minutes later, his brows pulling together, "Did I say something funny?"

"Huh?" was Ranger's not so witty response.

"What's with the smile? I didn't think the situation with the McConnell contract was all that amusing."

"I wasn't smiling."

"Yes, you were… you're doing it right now."

He consciously blanked his face, leaned over and turned on his computer. "Send me the changes to the McConnell contract." He looked up. "Have you finished the staff evals? I'll be ready to go over them this afternoon." Tank was frowning at him. "Anything else?" he asked in a dismissive tone.

"Your mother called. She said your phone was off. She wants you to call her." Tank paused, "She said, and I quote, you didn't give her much time and she needs some answers ASAP if she is going to pull this off." He stared at Ranger hoping for some answers himself, but Ranger just nodded and concentrated on the computer screen. As Tank reluctantly got up, he saw another slow grin spreading across Ranger's face. "You're doing it again," he yelled, pointing a finger at his boss. "What's going on? You never smile like that."

Ranger leaned back in his seat, his face blank again. "Nothing's going on. Evaluations, later today. Be prepared." He turned back to his computer. "Close the door on your way out."

As his office door clicked shut, he leaned back and that pesky smile came back, despite his effort to blank his face. Okay, he was happy. Was that a crime? He was due some happiness. His smile broadened. His mom was happy. She made that very obvious last night when he asked her to plan his engagement party. He'd surprised her, and surprised himself with the suddenness of it. So sudden that even the woman he was in love with didn't know. But he didn't want to wait. Once he acknowledged how he felt, he knew he didn't want to wait. He'd wasted too much time already, waiting for…what had he been waiting for?

He'd known for a long time that he loved her, but he kept telling himself that a woman in his life wouldn't work. Some of it was a holdover from working as a soldier, then as a mercenary. And then as he worked 24/7 to establish himself as a businessman. No time for a wife or kids, they would only be a distraction and possibly as a vulnerability because of his enemies. But those days were long over. So what had he been waiting for? Stupidity, that's what! He exhaled loudly.

With a final glance out the window and a smile at the sunlight flooding in, he picked up his phone and hit her number. "Stephanie…"