Chapter One

Welcome Home

I don't own anything, I am not making any money. I am just trying to get my Ranger fix on, since Janet doesn't seem to be cooperating.

I was standing in my bathroom wrapped in a towel, putting the finishing touches on my make-up, when I heard the locks turn on my front door. I looked at the clock, 6:30. Tank was picking me up for a distraction job tonight and apparently he was early, he wasn't supposed to be here for another half hour.

I pulled my bedroom door almost closed and yelled, "Hey, your early. Watch TV or something while I get dressed." With that I slammed the door the rest of the way shut and started throwing clothes on. No way was I giving any of the merry men an opportunity to see me naked. The clothes I wore for these distraction jobs were bad enough.

Tonight's outfit actually wasn't too bad. We were after a skip that was expected to be at a bar/restaurant close to the government district. It catered to politicians and office workers. I was going for the sexy secretary look with an outfit left over from my days at EE Martin. The black skirt was fitted to make my butt look smaller and my legs longer, coming to an end three inches above my knee. The jacket was cut to accentuate my meager assets, with the help of my Victoria's secret push-up bra. Under the jacket I was wearing a red wrap around shirt. It was cut low in the front to show as much cleavage as possible without being too obvious. Top it off with four inch FMP and I should be able to attract some attention. Since it had been lightly raining all day, I pulled my hair up into a messy bun, leaving a few locks loose to frame my face. Hopefully this will control any frizzing caused by the weather.

Normally Ranger would be picking me up, but he has been out of town for the last three months on a government job. I always worry when he is gone this long, but Tank keeps assuring me that he is checking in on a regular basis and should be back soon. I hate to admit it, even to myself, but I really miss him when he's not around. Aside from the scary physical attraction we have for each other, Ranger has become one of my best and most trusted friends. He has even told me that he loves me, but always qualifies it with "in my own way" or "there are different kinds of love". When Edward Scrog shot Ranger I realized that I loved him too. I still wasn't sure what kind of love it was, but there is no denying the bond we share. I can feel his presence in a room without seeing him, and he always knows what I'm thinking (even when I don't want him to).

With a big sigh and a shake of my head I looked at myself in the mirror. "Come on Wonder Woman, time to take another bad guy back to jail."

I turned to open my bedroom door only to find it already open and Ranger lounging against the frame. His mouth was tipped up in an almost smile.

"Shit, don't you know how to knock" I screamed," You almost gave me a heart attack."

"Don't worry babe, I know CPR." Ranger humor.

Wait a minute here. Ranger? Ranger's back! Without thinking I flung myself at him and wrapped my arms around his neck. I felt his chest rumble as he chuckled.

"I take it you missed me." He had a smug look on his face. He knew I always missed him when he was gone.

I tried to take a step back, but his arms came around my waist pulling me closer.

"Don't worry Babe, I missed you too." Then his lips were on mine. The kiss was soft and sweet, telling me that he really did miss me.

We pulled back and just looked at each other. "When did you get in?" I asked softly.

"Just now. I wanted to see you before I got bogged down at the office." He stepped back and looked me over from head to toe. "Looking good Babe, Hot date?"

"I guess you could call it that." Ranger really hadn't checked in at the office yet. If he had he would have known about the distraction job tonight. I could have some fun with this. "I'm meeting someone for drinks; it's sort of a blind date."

Ranger had his blank face on, but I noticed his eyes narrow slightly. "What does Morelli have to say about you dating other men?"

I snorted," Morelli hasn't had the right to say anything about anything for over two months." Hmm, Ranger was out of the loop. I guess that's what happens when you spend three months in a third world country.

"The two of you off again?" He said pulling me closer.

"Yeah, permanently."

"If only I could believe that." He whispered. His hands came up to frame my face as his lips crashed down on mine. Unlike the earlier kiss, this one was hungry and demanding. He pushed me back against the wall and pinned me with his body. My hands were fisted in his T-shirt pulling him closer. His tongue plundered my mouth as his hands explored. Sliding from my neck and cupping my breasts. One hand found its way inside my shirt. I moaned as he lightly pinched my hard nipples. Everywhere his hands had touched was on fire. He reached around and grabbed my ass pulling me flush with him. I could feel how hard he was and couldn't hold back another moan that rose from my throat. He kissed a trail along my jaw and down my neck. When he reached my pulse point, he sucked the skin into his mouth and gently bit down. "Oh God, Ranger" I moaned.

I lost all coherent thought. The only thing that existed at this moment was Ranger and what he was doing to me.

Suddenly he pushed me behind him as he pulled his gun, pointing it at something in my living room. I peered over his shoulder to see Tank with his hands up, grinning from ear to ear.

"Got to be more aware of your surroundings boss." Tank laughed as he dropped his hands to his sides.

"Shit" Ranger muttered, still glaring at Tank. He reholstered his gun and snaked an arm around my waist, pulling me up to stand beside him. "Don't you know how to knock?"

Hey, that's my line.

"I did knock; when no one answered I let myself in." Tank laughed even harder, "Man, I had to clear my throat three times before you even noticed me. Thought I was gonna have to throw cold water on you two." By this time Tank was doubled over laughing. I could feel my face getting redder by the minute.

Ranger pulled me closer and buried his face in my neck. "We're never going to hear the end of this Babe."

"Oh God," I groaned.

Tank heard me and collapsed on the floor. I think the whole building shook from the impact. "Oh God, Ranger!" He yelled in a falsetto voice.

"Alright this is getting embarrassing." I was starting to get pissed.

Ranger gave me a peck on the lips, and then pushed me toward the bedroom. "Go fix your make-up Babe. I'll take care of laughing boy here."

I did as I was told. When I returned to the living room Ranger was seated in my one good chair looking over the file on tonight's skip. Tank was on the couch, looking like he just lost his best freind.

"What did you do to him?" I asked Ranger, jerking my thumb toward a rather depressed looking Tank.

"I told him if he didn't stop laughing, he would be escorting you to mall tomorrow. Feel free to invite Lula, and Mary Lou." I couldn't help but laugh out loud, all the merry men hated going to the mall with me.

"That's cruel man, real cruel," Tank grumbled.

Ranger sat back with a 'don't fuck with me' face on. He turned his attention to me. His eyes scanning from head to toe. I could feel myself blushing from his scrutiny.

"Ready to go? Time to take another bad guy back to jail." He had an almost smile on as he repeated my words from earlier.

I gave him a big smile,"Yup, are you coming along?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

The ride to 'Poppa's Pasta' was silent as always. Ranger was in his zone. I pulled the file on tonight's skip out of my bag and looked over it one last time. James Wilson was an accountant, accused of embezzling close to a million dollars from the save the children organization. Scum bag! Fortunately he was a first time offender and non-violent. Wilson was 42 years old with thinning blond hair; 5'10" and weighed 160 lbs. He kinda reminded me of my ex-husband, Dickie, the horse's ass.

This should be a pretty routine operation tonight. Woody would be the inside man. Cal and Junior were covering the back door. Tank and Binkie on the front.

Ranger parked the turbo about a half block from the restaurant. He turned in his seat giving me a strange look. Usually at this point he would kiss me senseless as he slipped the wire into my bra. Tonight he just sat there watching me. I tried my best not to fidget, he was making me nervous.

"What? Do I have food stuck in my teeth or something?" I said louder than I intended.

He looked like he was thinking of smiling. "Babe got a job for you."

"Okay, what did you have in mind? Distraction, surveillance, background searches?" In the past I had done a variety of odd jobs for Rangeman LLC. They were usually pity jobs for when I was short on rent money, but occasionally I would fill in when one of the guys were on vacation or injured. As far as I knew none of the guys were hurt, and my rent was up to date.

"All of the above."

"Huh" I really need to expand my vocabulary. Ranger's lips twitched into an almost smile. Great, He thought this was funny.

"I'll buy you dinner after we're done here, and we can go over the details."

My face lit up. 'Woo Hoo, free food!'

I must have said that out loud because Ranger gave a bark of laughter," I guess that means yes?"

I could feel my face turning red," As long as you don't make me eat salad." I pouted. A girl had to have some boundaries.

He reached across the seat and pulled me to him. "You can have anything you want." He whispered just before he kissed me. I felt his tongue outline my lips and I sighed as I opened them, granting him access. He took his time exploring every inch of my mouth. I wonder if Ranger was on the menu. Yum. One hand was at the back of my neck and the other was making its way into the front of my wrap around shirt. I moaned when his hand cupped my breast. His thumb was making slow circles over my hard nipple.

Then Ranger pulled back. I had to shake my head a few times to clear the hormone induced fog. Ranger was talking so I tried to concentrate on what he was saying.

"Woody's your inside man, Cal and Junior are outback and Tank and I will be at the front door. Your skip is already inside." He gave me a peck on the lips, "Go get em tiger."

I gave him a big smile, "Piece of cake."

Ranger and I climbed out of the car at the same time. He headed toward the SUV that had pulled up behind us. I could see Tank in the driver's seat with Binkie riding shot gun. I gave them a little finger wave and sashayed my way into the restaurant.