Disclaimer: Everything familiar belongs to JE.

Warning: Adult Language, Adult Situations, Smut

Metamorphosis

Chapter 1: Same Old Story

Stephanie's POV

Here we go again. Another one of my cars is going to car heaven, courtesy of the Bombshell Bounty Hunter, aka Stephanie Plum. Today, it is truly NOT my fault. Lula and I were on our way to pick up Marty Markowitz, who was FTA for public intoxication and possession. His bond was worth $1,000 to me, which in the grand scheme of things isn't a lot, but for me, it's food money. Everything was going great. Marty agreed to come with me without a fight. He was 65 years old and simply forgot the date. We were on our way to our car when some other car a block over backfired. Lula thought someone was shooting at her, so she fired her gun, into the gas tank of my POS Nissan Sentra. In seconds I had Marty and myself on the ground, while I watched my poor car go up in flames.

Less than thirty seconds later, my phone rang. "Hello," I answered.

"Steph, are you okay? It's Hal. Your car went off the grid."

"Yes, Hal, I'm fine. Lula shot my car in the gas tank, and it exploded. I have my skip, who for once agreed to come with me without incident, so I need a ride to turn him in to get my body receipt."

"Okay, Bomber. As long as you are not hurt, someone will be there soon to assist you."

I went to reply thanks, but Hal had already hung up the phone. No phone manners. I look up to see my on-again/off-again boyfriend, TPD Detective Joe Morelli pull up in his POS department-issued car. He takes one look at my car, then at me, before shaking his head, anger radiating off his body.

"Cupcake, when are you going to get a normal job? When am I going to stop getting calls about my girlfriend's cars exploding all around her? When are you going to quit this job that you are horrible at, so you can marry me and raise our children? Why can't you be like every other Burg woman? Huh? The next thing you're going to tell me is that it's not your fault."

"Joe, listen, let me explain."

"No, I will not listen. I'm tired of listening to you. All you do is make excuses for yourself, trying to justify why you are good at this job, why you have no reason to quit. One of these days, you are going to get yourself killed. BEA is not a job for a woman. A woman's place is in the home, keeping the house, having babies, and raising a family; not out in the streets chasing after criminals. That's my job, a job that I'm good at, as opposed to you."

I'm about to go all rhino on Joe. To think that we've been getting along well for the last two months. I guess that's all out the window now. I am about to respond when I feel the air pressure change and arms come around my waist from behind. I get the whiff of Bulgari and reflexively close my eyes while I lean against Ranger, placing my head back on his shoulder.

"Babe, are you okay? What happened?" Ranger asked, after kissing the top of my head. I turned my body, wrapping my arms around his waist in the process so that I could look at him in the eyes.

"Lula and I finished handcuffing Marty Markowitz and were walking to the car. Marty truly forgot his court date and agreed to come with me without any hassle. As we were walking to the car, Lula heard another car backfire and thought someone was shooting at us. She shot her gun and hit my gas tank. My car went boom about ten seconds after I got myself and Mr. Markowitz on the ground."

"Do you have any cuts or bruises?" Ranger asked.

"Only some bruises, no cuts." I sigh, placing my head against his shoulder as he absent-mindedly rubs circles on my back. "Now I have to get a new car. I won't have enough money for rent." I say to no one in particular.

"Which is why you need to quit this silly job to move in with me. I can support you fully. I own my house, free and clear. You won't need to worry about paying rent ever again. Agree to marry me, Cupcake. It's your only option for sanity." Joe replies.

"Give your paperwork to Cal and Ram. They'll take Mr. Markowitz in for you and will drop Lula back off at the bonds office." Ranger tells me.

"Okay. No problem." I hand over the paperwork to Cal. They gently take Mr. Markowitz from me, knowing that he was cooperative with me. Lula goes with them.

"Call me later, White Girl," Lula says before leaving.

Ranger then says, "Babe, you can always come work for me full-time. I can use your help with searches. I can have my men train you; then you can go after skips with a partner. You can pick whoever you want to partner with; you'd be an even better BEA if you had a little training. You need to learn self-defense, get on an exercise regimen, and train with your gun. If you let me help you, I can have you fully trained and ready for action in four to six weeks. You can use any of my cars until you save enough to buy a good, safe, reliable used car. What do you think, Babe? You'll be getting a steady paycheck, benefits, and vacation. If you need or want a better apartment, one's open on four that you can have. The choice is all yours." Ranger stated.

I pause to think about what both Joe and Ranger are offering me, while still encased in Ranger's arms, being held by him, being comforted by him. Joe wants to clip my wings, wants me to give up everything that makes me Stephanie Plum. Ranger wants to change me, but not by taking away who I am. He wants to make me a better version of Stephanie Plum. Ranger is offering to train me to make me better at my job. He's offering me a car to use so that I can eventually buy my car, but not a POS like I usually buy. He's giving me the chance to live in a place where no one can break in unless your RBLT (Ranger, Bobby, Lester, or Tank). Lastly, Ranger is offering me a chance to continue to be independent, to make my own money, to live the way I want to live without struggling month after month. At this moment, the choice is finally clear to me.

"Okay, boys, I thought about what you are both offering me, and I have made up my mind." I pull away from Ranger's embrace. I felt him tense up immediately. "Joe, as much as I love you, I cannot marry you, not now, not ever. You want to change me, to make me a different person. I am not a Burg woman, and I never will be one. I don't want to be that woman that stays home all day while her husband works and provides for her. I don't want to be that 24 hour a day housewife. I'm not even sure I ever want children. Maybe someday down the road, but not in the foreseeable future. You want that Burg dream, the little wife who is waiting for you at home every day, cleaning the house, washing the windows and clothes, cooking dinner, and popping out baby Morellis. I can't be that woman. I'm sorry, but I think it's time we end this charade of a relationship once and for all. It isn't fair to either of us to keep up a relationship where neither one of us will be fully happy."

I pause to gauge Joe's reaction. I can tell he's hurt, he's angry, and he's embarrassed. No one breaks up with Joseph Morelli in front of his colleagues and friends. "Cupcake, come on now. You can't be serious. You can't possibly want to spend your life alone doing this stupid job that is going to get you killed one day."

"Joe, believe or not, but yes, I do want to continue to do this job. I like my job, and with the proper training, I can become better at it." With that, I turn to face Ranger. I can see the ghost of a smile appearing on his face. "Ranger, I want to take you up on your job offer. When can I start?"

"How about now? I'll take you back to Rangeman so you can fill out the paperwork. I'll set up your training schedule while assigning you a partner. You'd be on probation for six months and will have to pass all of the same qualifications as the rest of my men. Don't worry, we'll hold you to the women's standard."

"Perfect. Can you give me a ride? My car seems to have made a trip to car heaven."

"No problem, Babe. Let's go." Ranger says, with a 200-watt smile. He places his hand on the small of my back as he escorts me to his Turbo. I get an idea that I know will piss off Joe. Yes, I know I'm petty and childish, but I can't help myself. He gets me so pissed off sometimes.

"Ranger, can I use the Turbo when I'm not chasing skips?" I ask him as he opens the passenger door to his Turbo.

Ranger looks at me, then smirks. "Of course you can, but if you want to drive a Turbo that badly, I'll buy you one. What color do you want?"

I was flabbergasted. Would Ranger buy me a Porsche? No way, he can't be serious, can he?

"You're going to buy her a fucking Porsche? Do you want to see your money go up in flames? Is that something that you normally would buy an employee, Manoso?" Joe asks, seething.

"Yes, Stephanie, I will buy you a Porsche if that's what you want. I am willing to give you whatever you want. All you have to do ask. So again, what color do you want or should I surprise you?" Ranger continued, addressing me instead of Morelli.

I finally realize what Ranger means by 'no price.' There is no price for the things we do for each other because we love each other. Everything I do for Ranger, I do it because I love him. I think it's the same for him, but I need him to say the words before I accept. "Ranger, why?"

He looks at me confused for a moment before realizing what I'm asking him. "Why would I give you whatever you want? Is that what you want to know, Babe? No price, remember, no price."

"Why?" I respond. Come on, Ranger, say the words I need you to say. Say the words that I need to hear to be yours. Please Ranger, say the fucking words.

I can see Ranger battling with himself. I feel bad for putting him on the spot in front of his men, TPD, and whoever else is here listening to our exchange. I'm about to give up when he finally answers in an almost whisper. "Because I love you, Stephanie. You are my world, my life, my heart, my soul. Without you, I don't exist. Babe, I love you. Plain and simple, no qualifiers."

I feel my heart come alive. I can't help the huge smile that breaks across my face. We are standing close to each other. I throw my arms around Ranger's neck, wrap my legs around his waist, and kiss him senseless. When we break away from our kiss, I say, "I love you too, Ricardo Carlos Manoso, and I want a blue Turbo."

"You'll have it tomorrow." He responds, kissing me again before placing me in his car. "Babe, we'll finish this at Haywood." I see the strain in his groin, and can't help but giggle. "Sorry, Ranger."

"Don't worry, your punishment for getting me in this state will be harsh." He says with a smile. I can't wait for my punishment. So much so that I decide to pull the tiger's tail.

"What do you have in mind?" I ask as I stroke his length over his cargos.

"A shower rod and a set of handcuffs, Babe," Ranger says. He grabs my hand and kisses the inside of my wrist, sending heat straight to my lady parts. Damn, he ruined my panties.

"Let's go," I say. Ranger gets up from his kneeling position and walks to the driver's side of the car. He gets into the Turbo, buckle's his seat belt, and pulls away. I glance at Morelli as we are leaving and he's standing next to his POS department car glaring at us as we drive away. Shit. I know I'm going to have to face Joe sooner or later, and I'm hoping for later.

Joe's POV

I am standing next to my car watching the woman I love jump into the arms of another man and kiss him like she's never kissed me before. I see that same man, one who I didn't think had any emotions, hold on to that same woman, kissing her back just as fiercely. I realize that Stephanie loves me as a friend, as someone she's known her whole life, but she's not in love with me. She's right; she'll never be what I want her to be. It's not fair of me to be trying to change her into something that she's not. I could never make her happy like Manoso could, which is hard for me to admit. I know I always told her that he was thug and criminal, but over the years, I have grown to respect him, especially where Stephanie was concerned. He's always done his best to keep her safe, even walking into a situation with a madman unarmed, willing to be killed to save not his daughter, but my woman, Stephanie. If I'm honest with myself, I've known since that day with Scrog that my Cupcake was in love with Manoso and that he was in love with her. Why he's finally willing and able to admit it now, I might never know.

I see Eddie look over at me, not sure what to say. I look him in the eye, shrug my shoulders, giving him a nod of my head. He understands that I'm telling him I'm fine. Then it hits me, the realization that I'm not that angry or that upset about Stephanie going off with Manoso. I guess deep down inside I'm not really in love with her either, more like in love with the idea of Stephanie. With that realization, I get back into my car to head home. My shift ended an hour ago. Maybe I'll go out to eat at that new place that opened up near St. Francis. I get into my car when my phone rings. I look at the caller ID. It's my mother. Fuck.

"Hello, Mom. Com'é sta?" I answer. (How are you?)

"Joseph, I'm fine, but I just heard the most disturbing news. Is it true that Stephanie Plum was seen kissing that thug and declaring that she loves him?"

"Yes, Mom, it's true. And Mom, before you go on, I'm fine with it. Let her be happy, let her be with him. She's not happy with me, and frankly, Mom, I'm not happy with her. She doesn't want to be a stay-at-home mom or a housewife. That's what I want. We'd never be happy together."

"Are you sure, Joseph? She comes from a good family, and you would make beautiful babies together."

"That may be the case, but she and I are only meant to be friends. Mom, don't give her a hard time over her choice. Manoso is a good man, and he's perfect for her. He understands her in a way I never could and never will. Mrs. Plum is going to give her Hell; please don't fuel the fire, Mom, for me?"

"Okay, Joseph. If you are sure that this is what you want, then I will support you. Why don't you come home for dinner? I made a nice pot of sauce with meatballs and sausage."

"Thanks for the offer, but not tonight. I'll come over tomorrow night. I have some paperwork to finish up at work."

"Alright, then. Bye, Joseph. Te voglio bene." My mother says before hanging up. (I love you.)

I hang up with my mother and drive to the new restaurant. While I drive the short distance there, I think back to what just happened. I was telling Stephanie to marry me, to leave that job, and to be my wife, then that thug showed up. He walked over to us and placed his arms around Cupcake's waist. I watched her melt against his body, her body relaxing at his touch. Then, she turns around to face him, wrapping her arms around his waist, like they were lovers. Then it hit me; they were lovers at one time. I saw the love they had for each other in their eyes at that moment. I knew Stephanie wasn't mine anymore, but I couldn't go down without a fight. However, considering I'm not angry or upset at our break-up, then I guess it means that I didn't love Stephanie anymore. It's a good feeling, a relief. I no longer have to keep up the charade, I get to pursue others. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise.

All too soon, I arrive at the restaurant. It's called "Rosa's" and is a Cuban restaurant. How ironic. Stephanie goes off with Manoso who's Cuban, and I'm eating Cuban food. I enter the restaurant, immediately overwhelmed by the aroma of cooking food. The restaurant has painted walls done in tropical colors, blues, greens, and pinks. I feel as though I am in Miami. There are some palm trees in pots near the entrance. A beautiful woman is at the hostess station, waiting to seat me. She has long, dark brown hair that is silky straight. Her eyes are a deep, chocolate brown with long eyelashes. She's about 5"5', maybe 115 lbs, with a C or D cup size. She has a slightly darker complexion than me, but that could be because she has a tan. I look at her name tag, Daniela.

"Hi, welcome to Rosa's How can I help you?" She asks me, with a lyrical voice that holds a hint of a Spanish accent.

"I'd like a table for one, please."

"Eating by yourself, tonight? Is your girlfriend working late?"

"No, I'm not attached at the moment. I'm a cop. I work a lot of hours. It's hard to maintain relationships."

"I understand. Working in the restaurant industry is difficult as well. My name is Daniela. I own this restaurant with my cousin Miguel. Is this your first time here?"

"Yes, it is. My name is Joe. What do you recommend?" I ask her.

"The Rope Vieja. It's Cuban-style shredded beef, made with bacon, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and various herbs and spices. We serve it with yellow rice. For dessert, I recommend the flan." She tells me.

"I'll take both with a coke, please," I respond.

"No problem, Joe. I'll let your waiter know."

Twenty minutes later the Rope Vieja is sitting in front of me, and I'm eating it. It is one of the best meals I have ever tasted. Daniela comes over to ask my opinion.

"Daniela, this is delicious. I can't believe I've never had Cuban food before."

"I'm glad you like it. It is one of my Abuela's best recipes."

I am smitten with this wonderful, charming woman in front of me. I decide to take a leap of faith. "Daniela, I know we just met, but would you like to go out with me?"

She smiles coyly before answering, "I think I'd like that. Would a Monday night work for you? On Mondays, the restaurant is closed, which makes it easy for me to go out."

"That's fine. I'm scheduled to be off Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday this week. How about I pick you up at noon? We can spend the afternoon together."

"That sounds good. You can pick me up here, it that's okay with you."

"That's fine. Thank you, Daniela."

"You're welcome, Joe."

Daniela returned to my table a short time later with a business card, showing that her name is Daniela Garcia. On the back of the card was her phone number. I gave her one of my cards with my cell number on it as well. It seems like things are looking up in my love life. Thank you, Manoso.

Ranger's POV

Wow. I can't believe how everything has changed in a few short hours. When I heard that Stephanie's car blew up again, I was frantic. I hate it when shit happens to her, and I'm not there. When I arrived, I saw the cop doing his usual yelling and arm waving. When I wrapped my arms around my Babe, and she turned into me, my world was right for the first time in a long time. I don't know what inspired me to place my arms around her waist as I did, I usually touch her back, but I needed to hold her at that moment, to feel her body next to mine, to confirm that she was alive and well. At that moment I realized that I am totally, head over heels in love with Stephanie Plum. Who knew that the bad-ass mercenary could be in love with a white girl from the Burg? When she challenged me to tell her why I would buy her a car, or anything else for that matter, I didn't know what to say. I was afraid to tell her that I loved her because I was afraid that she would reject me, but when I looked at her expressive face, I knew that was what she was hoping to hear. I wasn't lying. Her reaction to my admission was unexpected. That kiss! Babe has never initiated a kiss with me before, especially not one like that. If we weren't in the middle of the street in broad daylight, I would have fucked her senseless right there. Then, she had to go and tease me by running her perfect, soft hands along my cock. I couldn't wait to get her home. I don't know what inspired me to tell her that I was going to punish her, but she took it in stride, egging me on. When I mentioned the handcuffs and shower rod, I thought I was going to see fear. Instead, I saw lust. I saw a different side to my Babe today.

When we got back here to Haywood, I immediately dragged her to the elevator, sending it straight up to seven while jamming the cameras. I pulled her back against my front so I could assault her neck with my mouth while fondling her breasts and her pussy with the added benefit of hiding my raging hard-on from my men's critical eyes. I almost had her coming on the short ride up in the elevator. When the elevator opened, I jammed the cameras in the hall and quickly opened my door. The minute we were inside the apartment, I resumed what I started in the elevator, with her pushed against the wall. She exploded on my hand within minutes. I practically tore off her clothes in the entrance before placing her over my shoulder to carry her into the bathroom. I took my handcuffs, recreating the scene that I walked in on a few days after we met.

Now, I am a control freak. Everyone who knows me knows that. I enjoy bondage a lot; I enjoy being dominant. Not many women let me dominate them, especially because they were often one night stands, but when I could, the sex was great. Having my Babe cuffed to the shower rod was my number one fantasy, being able to dominate her is number two. I wonder if she'll let me?

I took one look at her body, from her gorgeous, hypnotizing blue eyes to her plump lips, swollen from our kisses to her perfect breasts, down to her amazingly long legs. Dios! She is beautiful. I stalk over to her to kiss her while slipping my fingers between her lower lips. I attack each of her perfect breasts with my mouth, sucking, kissing, and nipping her nipples until they're standing at attention. I get her good and worked up before I stop.

"Ranger, what are you doing?" She asked, clearly frustrated that I stopped.

"What do you want, Babe?"

"You inside me."

"What part of me? Do you want my fingers inside you?" I ask as I slip them between her lower lips again, before pulling them out. "My tongue?" I ask before licking and sucking her sweet tasting pussy. "Or my cock?" I ask before taking off my pants and running it against her pussy, teasing her entrance as she is panting and moaning in anticipation.

"All of the above."

I grab her hair and gently pull her head back. "Pick one. You have five seconds to pick, or you stay here by yourself for a while."

She looks at me like a deer in headlights. She's trying to decide. Finally, with a second left, she says, "Your cock."

"Play with yourself. I want to watch you make yourself cum. When you finish, then you'll get my cock."

I could tell she was embarrassed by me asking her to masturbate in front of me, but watching your lover get themselves off was very erotic. If I were to enter her now, it would be over too soon. I needed to hold back a little. I wanted to give her at least two orgasms with me inside her before I explode in her.

"Ranger, I can't."

"You can and you will, or you'll stay like that until I'm ready to take you down."

"Ranger." She whined.

I lightly slapped her ass. "Master, call me Master or Sir."

She gave me a look, between lust and fear, before going along with me. "Master, please, I don't feel comfortable doing that."

"Do you play with yourself when you are alone?"

"Yes, sir." She answers timidly.

"Then pretend I'm not here," I respond. Stephanie hesitated before starting to touch her clit with her fingers, rubbing it and pinching it. I hear her start to moan, watching her body react as she is building towards an orgasm. While watching her, I was stroking my throbbing cock. I could see that she was close to an orgasm. When I feel that she is about to cum, I grabbed her wrist and cuff that hand to the shower rod as well. She is in shock. "Master, why did you stop me? I was close, only seconds away." She states, pouting and begging at the same time.

"Babe, from now on, you will never need to masturbate again. I plan on keeping you satisfied, giving you orgasms every day for the rest of our lives." I answer as I take a condom out of the drawer and start to open the packet. "Ranger, no condom. I'm on the shot. I've been on it for two years. I'm good." She tells me.

I throw the condom down and wrap her legs around my waist before entering her. She lets out a cry that was one of both pain and pleasure. I know that I was larger than most men, so I need to give her a chance to adjust before moving inside her. Once I feel that she is good, I start to move slowly in and out of her. "Dios, Estefanía, you are so tight, you feel so good around my cock." I kiss her breast, continuing the slow torture. I feel her tighten around me before she cums. I didn't let her come down. Instead, I kept pounding into her. She has two more back to back orgasms before I realize that I am going to explode. I reach between us and pinch her clit. That is all I needed to do before I feel her explode with an orgasm once again as I shoot my seed deep into her womb. She cries out my name, then goes limp. I undo both cuffs from her wrists and carry her to my bed. I return to the bathroom to get two washcloths. One cool one to place on her forehead, the other a warm, soapy one to clean her up. I place the cool cloth on her forehead while I clean her legs and pussy. I then come back with another warm cloth to wipe away the soap. About five minutes later, she starts to come around.

"What happened? The last thing I remember is you giving me orgasm after orgasm."

"La petite mort, or the little death. You lost consciousness after the last orgasm. You've been out for about ten minutes." I reply.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I'm glad that I was able to do that to you." I say before asking, "Babe, did you mind what we did?"

"What do you mean? The handcuffs?"

"Well, the handcuffs and the role-playing. Having you call me 'Master.'"

"No, not at all. It turned me on a lot. I liked it."

I look at her incredulously. Here is my Babe, a woman who hates me telling her what to do, yet she liked to be forced to call me Master. "Really? You didn't mind me dominating you like that?"

"No, Ranger, I trust you. I know that you will never hurt me. I could tell that you enjoyed being commanding, being in complete control, which made it more enjoyable for me."

"Babe, would you mind if I brought some toys into our role-playing? I promise if there's something you don't want me to do, I won't do it."

"Carlos, I will try whatever you want me to try. I love you, I trust you, and I want to make you as happy as you make me. When you said that you were going to punish me, I immediately orgasmed at the thought of what you would do to me. If my punishments are going to result in orgasms like I just had, then I will make sure to be a very naughty Stephanie."

"You called me Carlos."

"Do you mind?"

"No, I love my name coming from your lips. Babe, feel free to call me Carlos all the time. However, I understand if you prefer Ranger while we're working."

"I think, at least for now, that you'll be Carlos only when we're alone." She said to me. Then, she moves her body so that she can wrap her mouth around my cock. She starts to suck and lick my cock. It feels great. Then, she stops, lays down on her side in bed, and pulls the sheet and blanket over her. "Night, Carlos. I think I need some sleep."

Oh Dios, I love naughty Stephanie. "I don't think so, Babe," I say before pulling the covers off her body and flipping her on her stomach. I lift her up and places a few pillows under her stomach before reaching around to play with her pussy while kissing her neck and spine. Once I felt she was wet enough, I enter her from behind.

"Oh my God, Carlos! You feel so deep inside me." She exclaims, while her body quivers. I began moving in and out of her, slowly building my speed up. When I feel like I am ready to explode, I once again place my hand on her clit, stimulating her to orgasm. We scream out each other names before collapsing on the bed next to each other. I pull her against me, so we are spooning before placing the covers over us. "Go to sleep, Babe. I'll set my alarm for dinner."

"I love you, Carlos."

"Te quiero, Babe," I reply before we both drift off to sleep. (I love you.)

Miguel's POV

The restaurant is fairly busy tonight. We've been open for two weeks, and word seems to be finally spreading. The original restaurant is in Newark. My cousin runs that restaurant. I decided to branch out. My favorite cousin Daniela decided to come to help me with my restaurant. She's hostess and manager, in charge of hiring the waitstaff and busboys. I'm in charge of the kitchen. Together we order the supplies, but Daniela takes care of the payroll. Tonight, though, she's distracted.

"Daniela, what's going on, you're not yourself," I say to her.

"Dios, Miguel. I think I met my soulmate tonight."

"Come on Daniela; let's be real, there's no such thing as soulmates. Isn't that what you said about Juan Garcia?"

"No, I never called my ex-husband my soulmate. But this man I met tonight, wow. He's good-looking, with wavy brown hair that needs a haircut, soft brown eyes, wonderful olive skin tone, and a great body. He's a detective for TPD, and he is single. He's asked me out on a date. We're going out on Monday. He's going to pick me up here."

"Daniela, don't you think you should meet him at the location of the date. I mean, you don't even know him. What would your brothers and father say?"

"Please, I'm 30 years old. I can protect myself. I'm not concerned. Besides, I don't go anywhere without my pepper spray and cell phone. I'll be fine." She responds.

"Well, I still think we should find out more about this guy. Does he have a name?" I ask my cousin.

"Joe."

"Well, Daniela, my dear cousin, I'm going to be here on Monday when he comes to pick you up. I want to make sure everything is cool with him. I want to know what he's driving and what he looks like just in case."

"You are too much like your brother, Miguel."

"Well, he's not wrong. Especially when it comes to you girls."

"Whatever, Miguel, but I'll be fine." Daniela answers.

"You better be, or it'll be my ass on the line," I respond.

"I'm going back out front to supervise the end of the night close out. If I'm not showing my face, they don't refill the salt and pepper shakers or anything else for that matter. Call me if you need any help." She tells me before going through the swing door to the front of the restaurant.

Author's Note: Thank you for all the reviews to the teaser for this story. It's great to know so many of you are looking forward to reading more. Here is the complete Chapter 1, because "The Night That Changed Everything" got 25 reviews…in less that one day. As for that story, due to your overwhelming demand, I will continue it, after I finish "Metamorphosis." I tried writing two stories simultaneously before, and it wasn't pretty.

Metamorphosis will be a Babe story, don't worry, but it will also be a Joe story where he will get an HEA after getting a few bumps and bruises along the way. Once again, thank you to my beta Susan, who continues to make sure my writing is understandable to readers as well as point out potential flaws/points of confusion in my writing. You're the best, Babe.

As always, please review, review, review. I'm addicted to your thoughts and check my e-mail at least once an hour to read your comments. Can we get to 60 reviews before I publish Chapter 2 on Wednesday, Sept. 26th?