Bad Decisions

Karen

The usual disclaimer applies – all Janet's, only playing, will return, except for you know who.

A/N: Thank you Lisa and Stephannie for your help and suggestions.

Rating: R – at least – language and smut for sure

CHAPTER ONE

I dropped the box of donuts on Connie's desk and threw myself onto the couch. I wanted to just dive into it headfirst, but was afraid of looking like Pooh Bear when he was stuck in the rabbit hole. All ass. Not a good look. I was especially happy I had made that decision when the door opened and my body tingled in response to the Entrance of Ranger. Really, there's no other way to describe it - the man has presence. And a kick-ass body, but I don't want to be too shallow.

"Ladies, Babe," his eyes touched them in turn and lingered on me. "Looking a little frazzled."

"The usual." I waved a hand and did a semi eye roll.

"The cop giving you trouble?" Lula looked over at me, peering through the masses of beaded cornrows that she was sporting this week.

I was so NOT discussing Joe in front of Ranger, so I remained silent. Turns out the Master of Silent doesn't like when other people use his tricks, so he walked over and sat down next to me, our legs touching, then he slid an arm around my shoulders. I could smell the shower gel and could feel my brain start to fuzz over. Oh, shit – I'm gonna get sucked into the force field and start babbling. I leaped up off the couch and walked over to Connie's desk to check my files. Ranger smiled, got up off the couch and walked toward the door.

"A minute of your time, Babe?" He arched an eyebrow at me inquiringly.

"Fuck," I thought. "Doesn't he have anything better to do? Catch a drug dealer? Save the free world? Invade a country?"

"Babe, I don't invade countries nowadays and I'm sure as hell not responsible for the free world."

"Hmm." I walked out with him and his hand came up around the back of my neck and guided me to the alley. He propped me up against the wall and pushed my hair back with his hand, tucking it behind my ear.

"So what's going on?"

I wish I could just say to him "why don't we give us a chance?", but of course I couldn't. Ranger had strict rules on relationships. At least with me he does. For all I know, he could be having relationships all over the greater tri-state area and I would never know. I frowned at that thought as a bolt of jealousy hit me hard. I checked to make sure I hadn't spontaneously turned green.

He touched my forehead, tracing the lines on my forehead. "Is it me? You're frowning."

"No, not you. Not specifically, anyway." I caved like he knew I would. "Joe is putting pressure on me. Less work, less you, time to step up, time to settle down."

"And that's a problem for you." He didn't phrase it as a question exactly, but left it open for discussion.

The idea of settling into a housewife role and the thought of that as my future when I "grew up" made my body go cold. The thought of not seeing Ranger filled me with pure panic. He was my best friend – different than Mary Lou, and harder to explain. But what else do you call someone that you place total trust in, who always supports and encourages you, who helps you anytime you ask, and for whom you would do most anything?

I think some of my feelings were showing in my eyes because he leaned in and wrapped his arms around me in a hug.

"Dangerous thoughts, Babe."

Yes, they were. They made me do what I did next – I felt dangerous suddenly and oddly powerful. I reached up and dragged his lips down to mine. He resisted for a second, and then with a muffled curse took over, sweeping his tongue inside my mouth and reaching up a hand to tangle in my curls. His other hand curved around my hips and pulled me to him. Our whole bodies were touching perfectly like we were made for each other and fireworks were going off inside me. Our lips clung to each other's desperately, then Ranger gentled the kiss, moving slightly away, dropping his forehead to mine.

"God, Babe."

"I know." I knew exactly what he was feeling. I waited for him to tell me he was rethinking Ranger's Rules of Relationships, but he didn't. I sighed and pushed my hands against his chest. I might have snuck in a quick feel, but who could blame me?

"I have to get to work. What do you have today?"

"Just found out that Gregory Suvajian is going to be down by the piers tomorrow night, so lots of planning and scouting."

"Big one." Gregory was a former Burger who had decided that dealing drugs was the way to a successful future. I pictured him in my head – short, a little chubby, but puppy dog brown eyes, curly dark brown hair and cheeks that were born to be squeezed. Because of his neighborhood connections, he was able to carve out a niche for himself without stepping on too many Family toes. It worked for a while until he had gotten caught with ten kilos of heroin and his fingerprints all over the briefcase. Oops. Normally this would have led to time in jail, probably a white-collar prison with cable tv and takeout dinners, but unfortunately one of his clients happened to be a Family member's daughter, who was now still in the hospital recovering from an overdose. His future looked sufficiently grim that he apparently decided that jumping bail and getting out of town was essential to his happiness. Enter Ranger. Gregory's happiness was about to explode right in his face.

Ranger threw an arm around my shoulders and walked me out of the alley. He stopped at my car and brushed my hair away from my face. "Better?" he questioned softly. And I was. It was amazing how he had the power to calm me, even with my hormones still on red alert.

"Yeah, you?"

Ranger hesitated for a minute and I could see a flash of indecision in his eyes. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to my lips – a very soft, loving kiss.

"You make me want more, Babe."

Holy shit, did Batman just say that? My eyes widened and my body froze in shock. Wait a minute, maybe he meant more kissing. Yeah, that must be it. But a little part of me was going to hold out a little hope that "more" meant something else. And so I grinned at him.

"I'm irresistible, haven't you heard?"

"That's the conclusion I'm coming to, Babe." Ranger stepped away, but kept one finger playing with one of my curls.

"Wanna help out tomorrow?"

"No, I got my own FTA's. Can't be ignoring the little guys."

Ranger laughed, dropped a quick kiss on my lips and disappeared into his truck. I love his truck. Big, black and lots of testosterone. I touched my lips and smiled, enjoying the view of tall, dark, muscled Ranger in his big, black truck. I shook my head to clear it, then I jumped into my Escape and went off to find my first skip.

A shadow separated itself from the doorway across the street and stood for a moment, staring blankly at the alley entrance. He didn't need a video camera to remember the scene he had just witnessed. And he didn't need a psychologist to tell him that this was more than just physical. Things were worse than he had thought and it was time for him to step up, be a man and make some decisions. If he didn't, he was afraid that he would be on the receiving end of the "It's not you, it's me" speech. He had staked his claim on Stephanie and damned if some muscled mercenary was going to walk in and take what was his. He needed a plan.

TBC