For LilyGhost, who loves Tank as much as I do. Thanks for the description of the dress you wrote for me. How many does that make now? Writing about clothing is clearly not in my skill set. ;)


Ranger and Stephanie got engaged early on a Thursday morning, in the middle of June, inside The Velvet Box, a jewelry store on ocean drive in South Beach, Miami.

And by early, I mean 1:43am, to be exact.

The high-end store was a client of Rangeman Enterprises and its perimeter alarm was triggered at 1:25. A team was immediately dispatched to the scene and since the three of us were in town to attend Julie's graduation ceremony, we rolled out with them and arrived on site in under ten minutes.

A brick had been thrown through the front window, allowing complete access to the store and the expensive jewels inside its walls. Ranger stood by my side, surveying the damaged glass. "Alejandro will be pissed," he remarked. "The new windows were just installed last week."

Alejandro Cortina was the owner and jewelry designer of the establishment and a long-time friend of Ranger's. "Yeah," I agreed. "But he didn't listen to you about the titanium bars you suggested he install with them."

Ranger's lips tilted at the corners. "He informed me it wasn't a pleasing aesthetic for this neighborhood."

"Will he change his mind after this?" Stephanie inquired from Ranger's other side. I'd been surprised at her appearance in the garage when the call came in. Normally she sleeps like the dead, according to him, and wouldn't want to wake up in the middle of the night unless it was an emergency, which this was not.

"I doubt it," Ranger replied. "But he might concede to the shatterproof glass, which I also recommended. Let's see how much damage was done inside. Diego, get the door open."

We could have gone through the broken window but there were large pieces of jagged glass still protruding from the frame so we took the less treacherous option. Diego retrieved the emergency set of keys all of our clients are required to provide from his pocket and turned the locks on the door. He entered first, followed by his partner, Ryder. Ranger, Stephanie and I brought up the rear and Ranger found the light switch. When they flickered on, our heads swiveled around the space, taking in the destruction.

All the display cases holding the merchandise had been destroyed, and the thieves had even tipped one over; the remains lay scattered across the marble floor. "Smash and grab," Stephanie stated. "Assholes." She used the toe of her boot to push around some of the debris.

"Check the office," Ranger instructed Diego, who was already heading in that direction.

"Looks like they didn't get everything," Ryder muttered while he inspected the cases still standing. "There are a lot of pieces left in these."

"They went for the most expensive first, or what they thought would be easiest to sell. And they had to be quick, knowing an alarm had been tripped." Ranger's eyes were scouring the mess on the floor while he spoke. "Did they breach the back?" He asked of Diego as he reentered the showroom. Ranger dropped into a crouch next to the toppled display case.

"No," Diego replied. "The door wasn't tampered with and the safe is secured. The surveillance cameras are all working so I'm making a copy of the footage from the hard drive now."

"Good," he said and slid his hand into a pile of rubble. A second later he was on his feet and holding an enormous diamond ring in his fingers. "Make a second copy for Miami PD and get them down here. We'll need a police report for the insurance company and call Alejandro. He'll want to take inventory immediately to determine what's missing."

Ranger pivoted on his heel to face Stephanie and held out the ring. "Marry me, Babe," he said softly and her wild blue eyes widened with shock.

Mine did too, to be honest. Ryder whispered, "Holy shit," as Ranger took her left hand and slid the diamond onto her finger.

Diego shot me a 'what the fuck?' look but I could only shrug.

They stared deeply into each other's eyes for several extended beats of silence before Stephanie finally managed to ask, "Are you—are you being serious right now?"

"Deadly," Ranger answered with a full smile.

She glanced down at the rock on her finger and when her eyes met his again she was smiling too. "Yes," she declared, the hesitation gone, and Ranger yanked her against his chest, crashing his lips to hers with a kiss that quickly made the rest of us uncomfortable—and maybe a little envious.

I had to clear my throat loudly three times to get them to stop and breathed a sigh of relief when Ranger reluctantly released her mouth.

"This seems a strange spot and time to propose but I guess congratulations are in order," I told the couple.

"Thanks, Tank," Stephanie said with a grin. She was radiating joy and it was infectious. I grinned back.

Ranger was one lucky sonofabitch. I didn't know of a single woman in the entire world who would appreciate such an unplanned, unromantic, unconventional proposal but he'd managed to find the one who did. And she was crazy about him.

After their unusual engagement, I really shouldn't have been surprised this afternoon when Ranger mentioned casually, while he had his knee on the back of our wayward FTA and was yanking his arms back to secure the handcuffs, they would be getting married tonight.

"Seriously?" I questioned before I could stop myself. I knew he wasn't kidding. Ranger rarely said things he didn't mean. "When did you decide this?"

He flashed me all his teeth as he hauled Dan Decker, who'd gone up on two counts of grand theft auto, to his feet and answered, "This morning at breakfast, and I need a best man."

I cut my eyes to Hector and Zip for confirmation and found them both smiling. "You look a little stunned, Tank. Bet you're sorry you skipped going to the Waffle House with us," Zip said, showing me the dimple in his cheek.

The bride-to-be sidled up to me and hooked her arm through mine at the elbow. "Cut him some slack. This isn't really a traditional way someone would expect to be invited to a wedding."

She had that right but as I've learned over the years, tradition wasn't their style. "We're in nowhere Iowa after chasing this asshole through half a dozen states, in the middle of a fucking cornfield, sweating bullets because it's about a million degrees, but it's you two so I would have been shocked if this wasn't where you decided to get hitched."

Ranger handed off the skip to Lester who never could keep his mouth shut. "I think if you'd tried harder you could have laced that with a little more sarcasm, Tank."

"Fuck off, Santos," I grumbled and peered down at Stephanie. "Where's the blessed event taking place, in this cornfield?"

Stephanie's eyes slid to her fiancé. "I told you Tank can be funny when he wants to be."

"You're right, Babe. He's hilarious." I held back the eyeroll. Everyone including the boss had a smart mouth today. "Well, what's it gonna be, Tank? Are you my best man or do I have to settle for Lester?"

"Uhhh, settle? What the fuck?" Santos pretended to be offended.

"And what about me?" Bobby whined. "I've known you longer and I'm a way better choice for best man than this prick," he added, jerking a thumb at Lester.

"Neither of you are the best choice for anything and I'm the only one who will ever be your best man," I said, meeting Ranger's dark gaze.

"I wouldn't want it to be anyone else, Tank," he assured me.

"Great, since that's settled can we get the fuck out of here?" Hector wanted to know. "It's hot as hell and Steph and I need to find a mall so she doesn't get married in swat gear."

I glanced down at Stephanie again but she had her eyes glued to Ranger's and the expression they were both sporting told me they'd probably like to get naked right here in the cornfield if the rest of us weren't around. I didn't think she cared at all about her outfit. She'd marry him anywhere, anytime and wearing any kind of clothes.

"I don't have to be talked into the mall," She admitted, and moved from my side to Ranger's.

"Let's roll," Ranger ordered. His hand went to the small of her back, guiding her toward the SUVs we'd abandoned on the road when the FTA thought he could ditch us by running into the expansive field.

When we made it out of the six-foot tall stalks of corn, Zip asked what I'd been thinking. "What are we doing with the latest stolen car?"

We all glanced at the tricked out red Chevy Camaro the skip had stolen just this morning. He'd driven it into the ditch along the road and left the driver's side door open in his haste to try and escape from us.

"Bobby, put a call into the PD when we get back into town. They can deal with it and get it back to the owner," Ranger instructed.

"Copy that," Bobby said and he and Lester loaded our prisoner into one of the Land Cruisers and the rest of us piled into the other. After we secured our seatbelts, Ranger hit the gas and we headed back towards the city, and I assumed to our hotel.

"You haven't said where you're having this last-minute ceremony," I commented, a couple miles down the country road.

Stephanie glanced at me over her shoulder from the front seat. "At the hotel. They have that beautiful little courtyard. It's the perfect spot."

We were staying at a boutique hotel (Stephanie's idea) near downtown Des Moines and I vaguely remember her mentioning the courtyard when we'd checked in two days ago but hadn't bothered to retain any details. "And you somehow got a marriage license and found a willing judge this morning too?"

Ranger caught my eyes in the rearview mirror. "I took care of the license."

"And I'll be performing the ceremony," Zip announced from my right.

My head whipped around to Hector's husband and his golden eyes were filled with amusement. "What?" As far as I knew, Zip was not a judge or a pastor. "How?"

"Stephanie asked me to get ordained after they got engaged and I couldn't say no, could I? So, thanks to evenyoucanperformweddings dot com, I can legally marry them."

My eyebrows shot up as I turned my gaze back to Steph. "I was pretty sure our wedding was going to be…spontaneous," she told me. "I planned ahead, just in case."

"So, what's left to do?" I asked, feeling a little useless and decided to never skip breakfast again since apparently that's where plans get made.

"I just need a dress."

"There's a mall close to the hotel," Hector chimed in, consulting google maps on his phone.

After a quick stop at the hotel to dump our swat gear and secure the FTA in Lester's room, we left for the mall. Steph went with Hector and Zip and the rest of us rode with Ranger.

Ranger and Lester, being of average size, didn't have trouble buying suits off the rack but Bobby and I weren't average and had to hunt for something to fit. We managed to find some decent shirts and pants that weren't overly tight and added ties to make up for the lack of jackets. I'd always needed suit jackets custom made and there wasn't time for that.

There wasn't enough notice to get them a gift either but I wanted to do something I thought they'd both appreciate and left Bobby and Lester hunting down lights for the courtyard to seek out what I had in mind.

I made my purchase and met them all at the car. Ranger made two stops on the way back and we arrived at the hotel just as Steph and Hector and Zip turned into the parking lot.

We hauled all the bags inside and Ranger relinquished their suite to Stephanie so she could get ready and I gave him my keycard so he could use mine. I commandeered Bobby's bathroom to change clothes, checked that Lester had the skip under control and following Ranger's orders, went to talk to the concierge about getting some champagne and glasses for a toast after the ceremony. With that mission accomplished, I took the stairs to the top floor to deliver the gift he'd picked up for her on one of the stops we'd made.

I knocked on the door of their suite and Zip swung it open a beat later.

It obviously wasn't an issue for him to find a suit off the rack either because he was dressed in a black one that looked like it had been professionally tailored. He stepped aside to let me enter.

"They're in the bedroom," he said with a tilt of his head.

I nodded and took a step in that direction before pausing to ask, "Are they decent?"

Zip tried to hide a smile. "Everyone is fully clothed, if that's what you mean."

My brow lifted. "I'm not stupid enough to mean something else. Bobby and Lester are down in the courtyard trying to hang all those fairy lights they got at the mall. Maybe you should go give them a hand."

A laugh rumbled out of his mouth. "I was just fucking with you, Tank, but I'll go help."

I didn't hold back the eyeroll this time. When he left, I continued to the bedroom and rapped on the door twice.

"Come in," Stephanie called from inside.

I twisted the knob and pushed it open. She and Hector were standing face-to-face in the small sitting area and it looked like he was brushing blush onto her high cheekbones.

"You do make-up?" I blurted before I could curb it.

Hector cranked his head in my direction. "I have many talents, hermano."

"He's really good at it too," Stephanie gushed. "Look." She turned to me and I tried to keep my eyes on her face but the dress she'd chosen to get married in garnered my full attention.

I'd known she wouldn't pick anything traditional, but I thought the black material flowing over the length of her body would be more suitable for here in the bedroom than a wedding. The amount of chest on display from the deep V, where more dress should've been, could be distracting if a man was feeling suicidal enough to let his eyes linger. The white lace edging the barely-there neckline and the thin straps over her shoulders holding the whole thing in place did nothing to add innocence to the image she created. Her arms were bare, her heels were high and she seemed ready for what came next.

"Very nice," I said, forcing my gaze back up to hers. "You look stunning, but not even a white dress?"

Stephanie smiled. "There's white right here." She skimmed her finger along the neckline. "Do you think Ranger will like it?"

"There isn't a man alive who wouldn't," I confessed.

More than Hector-applied blush tinted her cheeks. "Thank you," she said softly. "You look handsome too. It was sweet of all of you to dress up, but you didn't have to."

"Yes, we did, Chica," Hector told her, taking the words right out of my mouth. Hector's suit was a twin of Zip's.

She grinned at both of us and then noticed what I was holding. "What's that?"

I presented a small bouquet of black and white roses. "We found a bridal floral shop on the way back from the mall. Ranger got these for you and asked me to bring them up."

"They're beautiful," she said, taking the bouquet and briefly lifting it to her nose. "But I was referring to that." She gestured to my other hand.

"Digital camera," I replied. I thought you might want something better than cellphone photos."

Her eyebrows hit her hairline. "I hadn't even thought about photos. Brace yourself, Tank, because you're about to be hugged."

She launched herself into my arms and smacked a kiss on my cheek. "You really are the best man. Thank you!" I wasn't big on hugs, finding them embarrassing, but she thankfully released me quickly.

"Will you start with a couple pictures of me and my matron-of-honor and make-up artist?" She cut her eyes to Hector who let out a laugh at the titles she bestowed on him.

I took a few of the two of them and then asked Hector if I could have a minute alone with Steph. There was something I'd been wanting to tell her for a long time and today seemed like the right moment.

Hector obliged without question and she focused her attention back on me after he was gone. "Uh-oh. That's your serious face. Is this where you tell me you'll kill me if I do anything to hurt your best friend?"

I knew she was kidding but there was a better chance of me killing him for hurting her.

"No. I wanted to say thank you."

Her eyes narrowed, knitting her brows together in confusion. "Thank me? For what? I haven't done anything to warrant any kind of gratitude, not today anyway."

She's done more than she'll ever know. For Ranger, for me…for all of us.

"You don't know this, mostly because Ranger is highly adept at hiding that part of himself, but before you met, he was steadily inching toward a very dangerous and destructive path. I did my best to keep him from completely falling over the edge but eventually even I wouldn't have been able to stop it. He's seen a lot of bad and done even worse and I feared he'd get so far into the dark the light would never find its way back into his damaged soul."

Stephanie's eyes were filling with tears so I rushed to finish before they started to fall.

"But then there was you and it was like a switch was flipped. The pain, the anger, the shadows always clouding his heart were being held at bay. When he looks at you…I see a peace in his eyes I didn't think he'd ever have again so thank you, Steph. Thank you for dragging him back from the abyss. Your support, your loyalty, your love…it's everything to him. And to all of us. I think you saved an entire building full of men who probably don't deserve it but will always be grateful for it."

"Tank," she whispered, emotion clogging her throat. "I don't know what to say."

A single tear escaped and I grabbed some tissues from the box on the end table and shoved them into her hand. "Don't say anything," I commanded. "And don't cry, you'll ruin Hector's make-up."

That made her chuckle. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes and I changed the subject. "Lester and Bobby will be up in a few minutes to get you. Are you ready?"

She blinked away the last of the moisture and nodded. I knew she didn't have any doubts but after my little speech, I had to ask. "No second thoughts?"

"Not one. I love him, Tank. The good, the bad, and even the dark and dangerous. All of it, all of him. Always."

"I know. And I'm happy for you both. I'll see you downstairs." I made my exit, leaving her to whatever finishing touches she wanted to do and headed back to my room to check on the groom.

I'd given him my key so had to knock when I reached the door. He let me in and stared at me for long enough I had to ask him if there was a problem.

"No, I was just trying to remember the last time I saw you wearing a tie."

"Ten years ago," I replied, tugging at the knot around my throat. I knew the exact day. "Celia's quinceañera." He had his own tie in his hand and moved to the mirrored closet doors, peering at his reflection as he slid it around his neck.

"That long, huh? Well, you look good, but you know Steph wouldn't have cared if you wore your Rangeman uniform."

"True, but my mother raised me right. This is proper wedding attire."

Ranger smiled. "How is she?"

"Gorgeous and way too good for you. But for some reason she's glowing with happiness about being your wife. Unless that's a pregnancy glow," I added, to see how he'd react. He did not disappoint, spinning around with no attempt at hiding the flare of annoyance.

"That sounds like something Lester would ask, not you."

I lifted a brow. "It would explain the haste of this wedding. You've only been engaged for a couple of months, what's the damn rush?"

"There's no reason to wait, and she's not pregnant, Tank."

"I know," I said with a grin. "Come here, your tie is crooked." I'd distracted him with my comment and he hadn't finished tying it properly.

"Be careful with her Ric," I warned as I adjusted the knot.

He pushed my hands away. "Meaning?"

"Stephanie reminds me a lot of glass." I put my fingers back to his neck to finish the job.

"She's not a delicate, fragile woman, Pierre."

"I know, but if you break her, you'll end up being the one bleeding." I smoothed down his tie, brushed a speck of lint off his shoulder and checked my watch. "It's almost time, you ready?"

He fixed his intense gaze on mine. "I won't ever do anything to hurt her, Tank."

I clapped him on the back. "I know that too. Just thought you could use a reminder."

"Or a threat," he said, lifting his phone off the table by the closet and sliding it into his pocket.

"Maybe a small one," I admitted. "Let's go get you married."

We arrived in the courtyard ten minutes before the agreed upon time of the ceremony and interrupted an intimate moment between Hector and Zip. The two men were standing in front of the gazebo, locked in an embrace and deep in the middle of a kiss bordering on inappropriate for a public setting.

They didn't seem to be cognizant of our presence and Ranger turned away to allow them privacy but I lifted the camera. The sun had just set, leaving the late summer sky a dusky purple and the fairy lights Bobby and Lester had weaved through the gazebo and surrounding trees and bushes were twinkling all around them. I'm man enough to admit the whole affect was absolutely magnetic. When Zip ended the kiss and rested his forehead against Hector's, I snapped a photo.

"Gonna need a copy of that, Tank," Hector said, proving he was always aware of his surroundings, even if it appeared otherwise.

I smiled and clicked the camera again. "I'll make sure you get one." I remember a time Hector would have rather been eaten alive by fire ants than engage in any type of public display of affection but Zip has softened some of his harder edges and though it's still a rare occurrence, he doesn't avoid it any longer.

I captured some more photos of them, the scenery and of Ranger before Bobby and Lester arrived with Stephanie between them. Ranger's breath caught the second she came into view and he didn't take his eyes off her while she traversed the make-shift aisle, arm in arm with her two escorts.

When they stepped up into the gazebo, Stephanie handed her bouquet to Hector, and Ranger pulled her into his arms, unable to keep from kissing her.

I left my spot at his side so I could get a good angle for pictures of the ceremony just as Zip exclaimed, "Hey! That part's not till the end!"

We all laughed and though he clearly didn't want to stop, Ranger separated their lips and put a small amount of space between them.

"Okay, that's better," Zip said. "Now we can begin. We are gathered here today to join these two—"

"I think we can skip to the good stuff, mi amor," Hector interrupted.

"Alright, alright. I've been informed you have your own vows so the floor is yours." He gestured to Ranger to go first.

He took her hands in his before saying, "I knew I loved you the day you destroyed the first of my cars and many, many cars later, that love has only grown stronger. You are everything and our bond is one not even death will be able to sever."

Stephanie swallowed and fought the well of tears before she could speak. "I knew I loved you the day you rescued me from being chained naked to my shower curtain rod and many, many rescues later, I know you will always come for me. I will love you beyond reason, beyond time and even beyond death."

"God damn," Bobby whispered from beside me and I think I detected a hint of moisture in his light brown eyes.

Zip had to clear his throat a couple time before he continued. "Okay, I think I am legally required to say some things, so Ranger," he started. "Do you promise to honor and protect and love this unbelievable woman for the rest of time?"

"I do," Ranger agreed, lifting her hand to his mouth and brushing his lips across her knuckles.

"And you, Steph. Same question about this guy."

"I definitely do."

Damn right you do," Zip said with a grin. "Okay, It's ring time."

I pulled the diamond studded circle out of my pocket and handed it to Ranger while Hector did the same with the Stephanie.

"These rings are a symbol of the respect and endless love you share and the commitment you've made to each other," Zip recited as they slid them on their respective fingers. "And by the power vested in me, I pronounce you legally bound to each other for all eternity. Now you can kiss your gorgeous wife," he added.

Ranger didn't hesitate. He snaked an arm around her waist, pulled her flush against his chest and covered her lips with his. I snapped photos of the kiss while everyone clapped and Lester wolf whistled. This time, no attempts were made to try and stop it.

The concierge came through with champagne and we all toasted the couple before Ranger kissed his new bride again and told her he'd be right back. "You four, with me," he said, pointing a finger at Hector and Zip and Bobby and Lester.

"Wait, where are you going?" Steph wanted to know.

"It's a surprise. Don't worry, I'll be back in five minutes."

She watched them walk away and whipped her head around to me. "Do you know what this is about?"

"I know a lot of things," I said. "Let's go sit." I led her over to one of the many small tables surrounding the gazebo.

"Are you going to tell me?" She asked as I pulled a chair out for her.

"Not a chance."

She made a face as she sat. "Will I like it?"

"Have you ever not liked something he's done for you?" I asked and sat across from her.

"Touché," she said and I took another swig of champagne.

"You look happy," I told her.

"Deliriously."

"How pissed is your mother going to be about this?"

Stephanie tipped her head back and laughed. "It's probably at the disowning me level, but do you know what I discovered?"

"What's that?"

"My life got a whole lot better when I stopped giving a shit about what might offend my mother."

I tilted my glass to her in a mock salute. "Good for you."

"You know Tank," she said, reaching across the small table and covering my hand with hers." "You deserve some happiness too. You deserve what Ranger and I found together."

"What are you talking about? I'm happy all the time." I flashed her a grin.

She raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Did I tell you I ran into Winnie last week?"

The abrupt subject change made my stomach and the smile fall. Why the hell did she have to bring up Winnie? Tall, funny, stunningly beautiful…and completely out of my league, Winnie. I cut my eyes away from the knowing look on her face and checked the exit, hoping Ranger would return and save me from this unwanted conversation.

"She asked about you. Again."

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose with my thumb and forefinger. "We've been over this, Steph."

"Yeah and you're still being an idiot about it. Weeks, you've had her number for weeks."

"She's Woody's sister," I tried.

"And? Woody is the one who gave you her number so I think he's okay with it," she reminded me.

"Sisters are off limits," I tried again. "It's an unspoken rule."

"Ram," she countered instantly. "He's married to Marisol. You know Marisol, Ranger's sister. I think that invalidates your argument."

Jesus. She was an annoying, tenacious pain in the ass sometimes. "Why are we talking about this? It's your wedding day, you should be focused on that. Have you thought about a honeymoon destination?" Hopefully one that starts immediately and will take her far, far away from me and my pathetic lack of a love life.

"Call her, Tank," she ordered, ignoring me.

I opened my mouth to reply but Lester called out, "Dinner is served!" rescuing me from Stephanie's badgering. My shoulders slumped in relief as the guys returned carrying multiple bags of food.

They dragged a couple more tables and chairs over to where we were sitting and started unloading the bags. There were multiple containers of various types of Italian food, including Stephanie's favorite, lasagna. There was also Caesar salad, fresh garlic bread and Ranger saved the best for last, pulling out a homemade pineapple upside down cake.

"Oh my god!" Steph exclaimed, "How did you do all this?"

"I bribed the chef at the restaurant next door with an obscene amount of cash," he replied.

Stephanie fisted a handful of his jacket and pulled him down for yet another kiss. "I love you," she said after the lip lock. "But how are we going to eat this? There aren't plates or silverware."

"Right here," Bobby answered, holding up the last bag.

We dished out the food and the concierge arrived with wine and water. We enjoyed the feast and each other's company and after Stephanie took her last bite of cake, Ranger announced his final surprise of the night.

"Which one of you wants to drive us to the airport?"

"Airport? Where are you going?" Lester questioned, like the idiot he is.

"They just got married, dumbass," Bobby said. "Where do you think they're going?"

"How the hell should I know? These two don't do anything the way normal people do."

"We're going on a Honeymoon, Lester," Ranger said with way more patience than I had.

"Oh, well I guess that's pretty normal. Where to?"

"Fiji. For two weeks, and I do not want to hear from any of you the entire time." That explains the same day express package which arrived from Rodriguez an hour ago. I can't even imagine what a last-minute trip to Fiji is costing him. Probably as much as the giant diamond on her finger.

"Zip and I will drive you," Hector offered.

"Thank you," Ranger said. "Let's head out, flight leaves in three hours."

We said our goodbyes with handshakes from Ranger and Stephanie hugged each of us, saving me for last. She whispered, "Call her," in my ear before she released me. The woman would not let it go.

When they were gone, Lester announced he'd seen a red head in the hotel bar who really needed him to buy her a drink and Bobby and I stayed out in the courtyard to clean up the remains of dinner.

He sat beside me after we were done and handed me a beer the helpful concierge procured for us. "That was one of the better weddings I've been to," he said, taking a sip of the amber liquid.

"Agreed," I replied as I scrolled through all the photos. There were some great ones and I'd make sure to get prints made for them. I got to my favorite and showed it to Bobby. I'd taken it while the champagne was being poured, right after the ceremony. Ranger and Stephane were standing in front of the gazebo, facing each other. Ranger's arms were around her and her hands were resting on his chest as she stared up into his face. Their adoration and love for each other was unmistakable, even in the tiny screen of the camera.

"Damn," Bobby breathed. "They really have something great, don't they?"

"Yeah," I replied with a long sigh.

"I'm jealous as hell," he admitted.

"Me too."

He finished off his beer and set the empty bottle on the table. "I'm gonna hit the bar and make sure Santos stays out of trouble. You wanna come?"

"No, you go ahead. I think I'm gonna crash, it's been a long day."

"Alright, see you in the morning." We bumped fists and he headed out.

I stayed for a while nursing my beer and enjoying the solitude but before long, dangerous thoughts started creeping into my head. I silently cursed Stephanie for starting it as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. She just had to stick her nose in and now all I could think about was Winnie.

Scrolling through my contacts, I found her number and stared at it for way too long, my thumb hovering but not pushing the call button.

"Fuck it," I said out loud and drained the rest of my beer. I slammed the bottle down and pressed my thumb to the screen.

She answered after the second ring. "Hey, it's Tank. Are you free Saturday night?"