I do not own these characters. They belong to Janet Evanovich. This is a separate story from my previous venture. Of course the characters are the same (Main characters that is), but you might say I am wiping the slate clean. This is a revision of this story. I published it a while ago. I am going back and fixing things, and then continuing. I am so sorry for the delay. Life has been crazy. I really have missed writing. I hope you enjoy the story. Please be patient as I fix the already published chapters. New chapters will be coming soon.-Dana

Best Laid Plans

Chapter 1

Stephanie's POV

I woke up with my sheets sticking to me. Now if it had been because of activities performed between them, I would have been a happy girl, but sadly that was not the case. It was August and at 8:00 am it was already 78 degrees. We hit a record high yesterday of 110 degrees and I was melting. I had fans running in every room of my apartment, and a small air conditioning unit in my bedroom window, but last night it decided to have an attitude and caught on fire. It was now a charred carcass on my fire escape. My only relief was at work, and even there my temper usually had me worked up so much that the A/C in Rangeman didn't even help.

I kicked the sheets off of me and lay in my thinking position. I was sure that I could stay in Ranger's apartment if I wanted to, put I refused to give him the satisfaction. I was pissed at him. He had been in the wind since April with not even a quick phone call or email. He left without saying goodbye, but he still had time to check in everyday with Tank. I'd overheard some of the conversations. I'd heard a few "She's staying out of trouble" from Tank's side of things, so I can only assume that was Ranger showing interest, but really how busy was he that he couldn't at least just give me a "Yo" every once in a while. As I continued to think about it, I just got more upset. To be honest, it all came down to the fact that I missed him like crazy and I was sexually frustrated. Joe and I had decided back in May that we wanted different things out of life. Well a pregnancy scare confirmed it for me. When he was disappointed and I was relieved, it caused a huge fight and forced us to be brutally honest with each other. I loved him enough to let him go and he loved me enough not to pressure me to stay. We are working on a friendship, but it will take time. He is dating a paralegal and seems to be happy.

And me, I was wondering how long I had to wait to be considered revirginated. I hadn't had sex since the week Joe and I split, and I hadn't even had so much as a suggestive remark from anyone since. To be honest, I was starting to get a complex. I sighed and turned on the radio to help me get my mind off things. Unfortunately the radio Gods had a since of humor and the song made me flop back on my sheets and stare at the ceiling. Justin Timberlake sang out "Gone" by Nsync and I couldn't help but feel sorry for myself. I normally don't even listen to this station, but last night I wanted something to lull me to sleep and so I turned on the easy listening station. I let out a sigh and trudged into the bathroom. I took a lukewarm shower and started to get ready for my day.

I was going to stop by the office and see if there were any files for me. It had been slow lately. I think everyone was enjoying the air conditioning in jail and they had been taking advantage of it. After that I would go to Rangeman and work on searches. I had become pretty anti social lately. I knew all the guys by now, but the ones I was closet too, seemed to be MIA. Lester and Bobby left with Ranger, leaving Tank. I liked all the other guys, but none of them were really great conversationalists. Cal actually used a two syllable word yesterday and I think I about had a heart attack. Tank checked on me every day, usually a quick "Bomber" and then my reply of "I'm good". He and Lula were still dating and he got most of his information through her.

I dressed in black denim shorts and my black Rangeman polo. I pulled on my cross trainers, went back into the bathroom and pulled my hair into a high ponytail and put on extra makeup. I was going to have someone make a pass at me today damn it, even if it was the last thing I did. I went into the kitchen and looked in on Rex. He gave me a look that suggested he wished he could take his coat off and I gave him one of the grapes I had stuck in the freezer for this occasion. I grabbed my bag and checked to see if I had all my gear. The next question was gun or no gun. I stood there for a minute weighing my options. Ranger would want me to take it, but it was really heavy. Screw it. I was pissed at him anyway, so why do what Ranger would want me to do. I said a quick goodbye to Rex and headed out the door. When I got to the parking lot, I made the long walk to my car, which was of course parked in the last spot in the lot. By the time I got there, I was really glad that I had not left my hair down. I unlocked my car of the moment, a 1992 Ford Taurus. It was light blue and looked like it was on its last leg, but it was paid for and the air conditioning worked, most of the time. I stopped for some Boston creams and an iced coffee before going to the office.

I was able to get a parking spot right in front and looked in the window before getting out of my car. I couldn't help but laugh at the visions that were Connie and Lula. Both of them had their hair piled high on their heads, Connie's her "natural" color and Lula, hers' was fire engine red today. Connie had on a white halter dress that had her cups running over. Lula had on a silver sequined tube top and neon pink hot pants. Well at least it put me in a better mood. I was going to have to see if anyone wanted to bet whose boobs would be exposed first. I grabbed the donuts and headed inside.

"Morning Ladies." I set the donuts on Connie's desk, grabbed one and plopped onto the couch.

"Morning Steph. I don't have anything for you, but I do have two for Rangeman. Would you mind taking them with you?" Connie's perfectly manicured nails carefully grabbed a donut.

"Sure. Still slow huh?" I was actually beginning to miss picking up skips. I figured I could at least work out some of my stress on one them instead keeping in bottled up.

"White girl, I'm even considering going back to my corner so I can get a good night's sleep in the comforts of the jail. It is a sad day when low lives have it better off than upstanding citizens. I think that there should be a law that we all get air conditioning. I think I'm going to write my congressman." I suddenly had a vision of Lula, dressed as she was right then, testifying before Congress. I laughed to myself and took another bite of my donut to stifle my giggle.

"Well I guess I better get going. I'm sure my in-box is over flowing." I grabbed the files from Connie and another donut for the road before heading towards the door.

"Tell my Tankiekins I said hello." Lula called before the door closed behind me. I could only imagine what Tank would do to me if I passed on the message verbatim in front of the rest of the guys.

I pulled into the Rangeman garage and gave my usual finger wave before taking the elevator to five. I looked over the files Connie had given me during the ride and both were big baddies that I didn't want to have anything to do with. The elevator dinged announcing my arrival and I exited, telling the guys at the monitors hello before crossing to Tank's office. I knocked and heard "Enter" before I opened the door. I quickly walked in and waved the files at Tank.

"Here you go big guy. Special delivery." I smiled and set the files on his desk and started to leave when he stopped me.

"Bomber, can you close the door and take a seat please?" He had his blank face in place and my spidey sense went to Def-con 1.

I hadn't realized he was on the phone until I saw him hit a button and place the handset in the cradle.

"OK, Bomber is here." Tank said, glancing at me from his peripherals.

"Babe."

I let out an audible sigh and had to fight the tears that just the sound of his voice brought to my eyes. I took a deep breath and managed to respond in turn.

"Ranger"

"Babe I have a distraction assignment for you. I will warn you, it is a long term job. I don't know how long it will last. And it is deep undercover. You would be working with Lester, Bobby and me. It's dangerous, but trust me when I say the world will be a much better place when we are done."

So now he needed me. I was having a full on battle between my heart and my head. My heart was doing somersaults because I had an opportunity to be with him, and my head was telling me, that the only reason he wanted me around was because of the job. But to be honest, what did I have to lose. There really was nothing holding me here. And I would be working. A change of scenery would be nice, and maybe it would be someplace cool.

"When do you need me?" I wasn't going to let him hear any excitement in my voice. This was going to be all business. My head was going to be the one in control this time.

" You will get all the details tonight. Just tell you parents and Morelli that you will be out of town on business." Was Ranger fishing for information, or did he not know that Joe and I were over? Only one way to find out.

"Joe's not involved in my life that way anymore, but I will tell my parents. Anything else I need to know?" Good. I could make this just about work. No problem. Of course right now he was just a voice on the phone. Being in the same room with him probably would be a completely different story.

"Tank, could I speak to Stephanie in private." Tank nodded and exited the office. I crossed to sit in his seat.

"He's gone." I wanted to say, "I've missed you. I can't wait to see you." But I was silent.

"It's good to hear your voice Babe. I've missed you." There was something different about his voice. It didn't seem as hard as I remembered.

"It's good to hear your voice too. Are you okay?" My heart just hit my head with a one two punch.

"I will be once you get here. This is going to be a difficult mission Babe. I'm going to need you to trust me. Can you do that?"

I smiled slightly. Ranger is the one person in the world that I trusted completely. "You already know the answer to that. I wouldn't have said yes if I didn't."

"I've gotta go Babe, but I'll see you soon." I heard the phone disconnect and slowly stood. Tank was waiting by the monitor bay when I came out of his office.

"Take the rest of the day off; get your affairs in order." Then he did something he had never done before. He pulled me into a strong hug. I pulled back from him and smiled.

"I don't even know what to pack." I giggled.

"You just have to bring yourself. The rest will be taken care of. Make sure you're home tonight, you will get all the tech ops and your itinerary then." I stood on my tip toes and kissed him on the cheek.

"See you soon Big Guy." I crossed to the elevator and as the doors closed I took the room in. I didn't know when I would see it again.

As I started my car, I decided that I would call my parents and tell them I was going to be gone. It wasn't that I was afraid to tell them, I just would have to lie more it I did it in person. Much to my relief, my Dad picked up the phone.

"Hello." I could tell he was upset that his TV watching had been interrupted.

"Hi Dad."

"Your Mom's not here, she had to take your Grandmother to the beauty parlor." I just loved these warm and fuzzy conversations with my father.

"I was just calling to let you know I will be out of town for work for awhile. If you need me for anything, you can get a hold of me through Rangeman." I gave Dad the number and there was a long pause.

"I'll see you soon. Tell Mom not to worry." Like that would happen.

"Stephanie. Take care of yourself." I felt the real emotion in his voice. More than I had heard in years. "I love you pumpkin."

"I love you too Dad. I'll call when I can." Then he hung up and I would like to think that he didn't want to hear me say goodbye.

I called Connie to let her know I would be gone and then made my way to my apartment.

I took another shower, because it was hotter than the hubs of Hell, and put on a yellow sundress and wedge sandals. I assumed I would be traveling by plane, and I wanted to look good when I saw Ranger again. Not that I was going to let anything happen. I was still pissed at him. At least that is what my head was trying to convince my heart. I put on a movie, Sweet Home Alabama, and turned the fan so it was pointed directly at me. The next thing I knew, I felt a hand lightly brush across my face. I slowly opened my eyes and at first I thought I was dreaming.

Ranger was kneeling in front of me. His hair was cut very short, but other than that I saw no change in his face. The rest of his appearance was a different story. He had on tan linen shorts and a white linen button up shirt. I couldn't help but smile when I realized he was real.

"You're even more beautiful than I remembered Babe." He just looked into my eyes and gently ran his fingers across my cheek.

"I thought I was meeting you where ever you were." I started to sit up, but before I could, Ranger's lips were gently on mine. His hand moved to the back of my neck, holding me to him. As the kiss deepened, my heart was dealing the final blow to my head. When we finally broke off our kiss and we were both short of breath, Ranger slid his arms under me and lifted me so I was cradled in his arms.

"I wanted to be the one to explain everything to you, and apologize for being out of touch for so long. But we have a long way to go. We need to get going now. Are you ready?"

"Will Tank come and get Rex?" I had forgotten to make sure he was taken care of. Bad hamster mommy.

"He's already on his way to Rangeman. Tank came and got him while you were sleeping." Ranger's arms tightened around me and I put my head on his shoulder.

"Can you tell me where we are going?" Ranger had walked us out of my apartment and Cal was standing outside my door, which he proceeded to secure behind us. Ranger remained silent as he carried me down the stairs; he just kept placing gentle kisses on my forehead. We crossed to a black SUV and as we got closer, I saw who I thought was Lester get out of the passenger door. His hair was bleached and he looked like a surfer.

"Welcome to the party Beautiful." Ranger slid me into the seat and crawled in beside me. Bobby was driving and he was sporting a mustache.

"Well, will you tell me now where we are going?" I was getting excited. They all looked so different. Logically I should have been nervous, but my life had been boring for awhile now, so I was looking forward to the adventure.

Ranger put his arm around me and pulled me into his chest. He kissed my neck, sending a shock to parts of my body that had been dormant for too long. He gently bit my earlobe and whispered in my ear, "Cuba Babe. We are taking you to Havana."