Any Man Of Mine - sade meeks (top young adult novels txt) 📗

of me, glanced to see that they were my approximate size and said, "I need to use the dressing room please." I shot Tank a glare, making it clear, he wasn't going to be welcome to guard my body back there.

"Hang on a second and I'll go back there with you," Lula said, reaching for a few pajama outfits herself.

Once in the dressing rooms, Lula and I got down to the serious business of lingerie shopping. I managed to block out most the images coming unbidden to my mind with Lula's initial chatter about Tank's man-panties until the topic finally shifted around to what really mattered – color choices, and styles. After a few trips in and out of the dressing room, we had made our selections. Lula had chosen a hot pink eyelet camisole pajama set and a glamour pink babydoll sleep shirt.

With the help of the Rangeman accountant, I had filed my taxes electronically and very early. As a result, I had extra funds in my account, so I indulged and bought several items; a black pleated babydoll, a pink romance mesh halter babydoll, a lace-trim baby doll in a beautiful aqua shade that was labeled 'sea breeze', an eye-shadow blue eyelet camisole pajama set similar in everything but color and size to Lula's hot pink one, and a boy short pajama set in a shade of aqua that was distinctly different from the lace babydoll. Never mind that I didn't have anyone to wear them for; I only splurged like this once a year.

At the checkout counter, I was digging in my black shoulder bag for my wallet when out of the corner of my eye I saw Tank slide a credit card across to the sales woman. I fixed her with a look that froze her hand half way to it and turned to Tank. "What do you think you're doing?" I asked trying really hard to not sound too pissed.

"Ranger's orders." Tank pushed the card closer to the clerk, whose eyes followed our continuing exchange like she was watching a tennis match. I'm sure she was wondering who would be more dangerous to upset—Tank or myself.

My eyebrows shot into the stratosphere. "Oh really? And just when did he issue those orders?" I asked through clenched teeth, my face frozen in a fake saccharine smile.

"Just before we came in here." Well, that explained some of that conversation then. He'd obviously paid attention to my answer after all.

I lowered my voice somewhat. "I can't have him buying me lingerie, Tank. It's not right."

"Got an issue with it, take it up with him. I'm not breaking orders for anyone, not even you. You want to be responsible for my death?" Once again, he pushed the card at the sales woman and fixed her with a look. She finally picked up the card, hand trembling slightly, and processed the payment.

"Go with it Girlfriend. Free. Victoria's Secret, free." Lula elbowed me in the side. I winced and glared at her. She leaned in closer and, voice lowered, said, "Maybe Batman wants to see you in some of it, ever think of that? Hmm…" She mimed fanning herself briefly before turning to link her arm through Tank's, who was now done signing the slips for my purchases and theirs.

Great idea, problem was, I had thought of that, resulting in a rush of hormones and emotions I didn't want to deal with at the moment. I settled for rolling my eyes and turned to walk out of the store ahead of them.

The ride back to my apartment was uneventful. I found out that Tank had the evening off because he and Lula were going to a concert. As we made our way out of the elevator – I had insisted to Tank that I'd had enough exercise walking around the mall – I was feeling pretty good about the day. There hadn't been any sign of my stalker and it wasn't so bad having Tank as my babysitter with Lula around as well. And that's when I saw it…

I stared in horror at the bracelet hanging on my doorknob. All the blood in my body drained to my feet, and I felt lightheaded. I barely registered the movement to my left as Tank slipped his gun out of its holster.

"Babydoll, get her and yourself back over there," Tank ordered, pointing down the hallway, "and use her phone to call Rangeman control – speed dial 5. Tell whoever answers to send back up STAT, situation undetermined."

Lula grasped my upper arm firmly as she led me down the hall. I offered no resistance, too focused on the realization that my home had been invaded once again to care. Distractedly, I half-listened while she called control.

"This is Lula; we're at Steph's. Tank says to send back up STAT, situation undetermined," She paused momentarily. "Some sort of necklace or bracelet is on her door. I don't know. I just told you what my man said. Oh, you also need to send over some Butterscotch Krimpets. No, I'm not kiddin' you. Do I sound like I'm kiddin' you? Hey, listen up, when you're feeling down, nothing can cheer you up like a Krimpet."

The irony of Lula ordering Tastykakes via Rangeman delivery jarred me back into reality, my sense of helplessness diminishing. In its place indignation and anger descended. Good, I'd rather be pissed than helpless any day of the week.

Tank leaned over, read the note that I hadn't noticed was attached to the chain, and looked in our direction. "In that case, you might as well have whoever deliver several dozen or a large birthday cake," he said dryly.

"Yea-" Lula choked on her words as we both stared at Tank, each of us do award worthy imitations of landed fish. Lula just closed my phone and handed it back to me.

"T-Tank," I started, faltering a little as my powers of speech came back to me. I swallowed forcibly, "What does the note say? It's from Shapiro, isn't it?"

"Yeah Steph, I'm pretty sure it is," he hedged. "You and Lula stay over there while I secure your apartment."

"Tell me what the note said, Tank." I narrowed my eyes at his half answers.

"Stephanie, I need to secure the apartment NOW. We'll deal with the note later. Lula, you keep her there, even if you have to sit on her. Got it?" Tank didn't wait for Lula's response before heading into my apartment.

"He has got to be kidding; you aren't going to sit on me. I need to know what that note said," I fumed at Lula, trying to move towards the door to my apartment. "Joe thinks he can run my life; sometimes Ranger runs a close second. Another man thinking he can run my life is something I don't need!"

Lula tightened her hold on my arm. "Listen, if Tank says we need to stay here, we're gonna stay here. You know he's not trying to run your life; he's trying to make sure some dead-flower sending nut isn't in there waiting for you."

"Hunh!" Okay, so it wasn't a brilliant response but it was all I could come up with at the moment.

Tank quickly secured the apartment, then allowed Lula and I into the living room. My apartment didn't look like anyone had entered while we were gone; at least the parts of it I could see from the couch seemed to be how I'd left them this morning. Relieved that Shapiro apparently hadn't actually been in the apartment, I turned my attention back to Tank, who had positioned himself so he could monitor both the apartment door and the fire escape.

"Okay Tank, the apartment is secure. Now tell me what the note said," I ordered, fixing him with a death glare. When Tank didn't answer, I continued, "Tell. Me." Tank remained standing there as though he hadn't heard me. It reminded me a lot of the first job we worked together as security for a building we'd just helped 'redecorate' – at the time, I wasn't sure if he was still alive; now I knew he was and I also knew that unless he had to protect me, he wouldn't move until back-up arrived.

Thankfully, I didn't have to wait long; back-up arrived mere minutes later in the form of Ranger and Ram. Some silent communication went on between Ranger and Tank, and then Tank handed the note and the bracelet to Ranger. Ranger set them on the kitchen table, much like the card that came with the first set of flowers. I went and stood next to him. As much as I wanted to know what the note said, my eyes were drawn to the silver charm bracelet of their own accord. On the chain were two charms, one a G clef, the other an eighth note.

I focused in on the note. Ranger, Tank, and Ram were conversing softly in the main part of the kitchen, but I had effectively tuned them out. I read the note once, and then a second time to make sure I had read it correctly the first time. "Oh. Hell no! Is he nuts? Of course he's nut, but he must really be nuts if he thinks I'm doing that. No way. Huh uh. No sirree."

Ram looked in my direction, a slightly apprehensive expression on his face. I really couldn't blame him. He'd only been around me once before and it was an embarrassing situation for both of us as it involved him finding me on top of Ranger in the stairwell of Rangeman when I had tripped. He wasn't used to my rambling at the drop of a hat. Tank and Ranger were both accustomed to it by now and pulled his attention back into their conversation.

Lula got up off the couch and read the note aloud, "'Stephanie, my love. Voice of an angel, my heart beats for thee. Just one more time, won't you sing for me? Same place, same time, I'll let you know what day. Until we are one, accept this token of my love.' Damn girl, you sure know how to find them, don't you? So this guy wants you to sing for him again?" Lula started to laugh. "Hey muscle man," she said to Ram, "you bring those Krimpets or what? I guess my man knew what he was talking about when he said she'd need cake after reading that."

Ram startled slightly and handed over the bag I hadn't noticed he was holding on to. Lula grabbed it, flashed him a brief smile, and ripped into it. She handed me two butterscotch Krimpets and a lemon Krimpet, then took two peanut butter Kandy Kakes for herself.

"I'm not singing again. I'm not. There's no point in trying to change my mind. It's not happening." I shoved the first of the Krimpets into my mouth, barely tasting the butterscotch flavor. "He can't make me. Of course he can't make me." The second Krimpet went down, this one slow enough for me to actually taste. I took a deep breath. My heart rate began to approach normalcy again as I dove into the special edition lemon Krimpet. Of course, Lula had to open her big mouth and start my blood pressure rising again.

"Well, it might be a way to bring him out of hiding. A chance for Batman and Co. over there to catch him. Get him out of your hair. One little song. How hard could it be?"

"Lu-," Tank started and then stopped mid-word.

"Why the hell not, Big man? Not like you all haven't