My name is Stephanie Plum and I'm currently caught in a constant state of daydreaming. My job sucks, my love life sucks, my life in general sucks. My boyfriend Joe Morelli is going to be home any moment and I have to find a way to tell him that I'm going to be working for Ranger, for a while.

Morelli and Ranger are like night and day. Morelli has known me forever, never orders salad, and sends make-up pizza instead of flowers. Ranger has only known me for a few years, never eats junk food, and has only given me a flower once. Joe and Ranger have a work relationship. They both tend to try to stay out of each other's way. Their paths have occasionally crossed and it's worked out okay. Problems only arise when I'm involved.

Mr. Italian Stallion and I share a bed most of the time and the thought of me working with a guy who gives women orgasms just by looking at them, does not appeal to him. I've had my share of orgasms with Ranger and when he said he was going to ruin me for other men, he wasn't lying.

"Steph? Steph?"

It was Joe.

"Joe, you scared me."

"What are you doing?"

"Staring at the ceiling."

"Why?"

Sigh

"I took a second job today."

"Then why are you home?"

"I start tomorrow."

"Doing what?"

Another sigh.

"Don't say a word till I'm done."

"You're working with him again aren't you?"

"Hear me out before you go all Ricky Ricardo on me. Ranger is working a bunch of cases right now and can use the extra help. I'm only going to be doing desk work in the office, so there's no need to worry about my safety."

"There is no safe when you are with him."

"Joe, let it go, okay? I've had a long day and don't feel like fighting."

"This isn't a fight."

"Let's keep it that way. What's for dinner?"

Morelli looked at me on the couch and then at his dog, Bob, on the floor next to me.

"Pizza?"

"Goody."

Tomorrow came too soon for me. I rolled out of bed to an empty house. There was a note by the coffee pot from Joe saying that he had to work late and for me to take Bob out one last time before I left. I had a cup of coffee and walked Bob, then headed upstairs to put on my uniform. Ranger's housekeeper Ella kept uniforms in my size and Ranger had given me one yesterday when I accepted the job, as he knew I would. His ESP really gets on my nerves sometimes. The top was tight and black and had Rangeman sewn over my breast. The pants were black cargo (at my request since Ella seems to think I'm a size smaller than I really am) and against my better judgment, I went ahead and put on the black bra and panties that also had Rangman sewn onto them. I knew Ranger had thrown them into the set to piss off Joe, but he was the boss and I didn't want to be caught out of uniform.

It was a hot summer day and I was beyond glad to enter the air-conditioned office. My desk was in a cubicle that provided no distractions from the outside world. Too bad my mind couldn't be tamed into focusing. I knew that Morelli and I were just going through a rough patch. He felt threatened and I couldn't blame him. Ranger was always one to push boundaries. I felt a chill go down my spine and knew that Ranger had entered the room. I glanced around the wall of my cell and sure enough, there he was, in all his gorgeous glory. He caught my eye and started my way. I leaned back into my cubby and tried to look busy.

"Hey, Babe."

"Man of Mystery, what's up?"

"Just stopped in to check in with Tank and then I'm off to deal with clients."

"I'm just working hard at this paperwork and research."

No I'm not.

"Great. Are you busy tonight?"

"Why?"

"I was thinking that we might get together to discuss some cases. I'd like to get your input. You may be the Lucy of bounty hunter world, but your hunches are usually on the nose."

"Gee thanks, but I probably shouldn't."

"Morelli?"

"Yea, he's slightly less than thrilled about me working here. If I were to go out with you, all hell would break loose."

"Who said anything about going out? I just wanted to discuss work."

He's smiling on the inside, I just know it. Insert bitch glare here.

He half smiled and walked away. I sighed. I knew he was right. Ranger didn't generally use work as an excuse to get a date out of me. Besides, Morelli was working late. I paged Ranger and got a call back in two minutes.

"Yo."

"I'll help you later, but it has to involve dinner. I don't mean your kind of dinner either. I want something more than salad and I want dessert."

"I'll tell Ella."

It was almost eleven when I finally pulled up in front of Morelli's house. I'd thought about going home to my apartment, but Rex was at Morelli's and so was most of my stuff. The lights were on downstairs and so was the TV. I knew he had waited up for me. Sure enough, when I opened the door, I could see the back of his head just over the top of the couch.

"You worked late."

"Yea, had some stuff to go over with Ranger."

"Is this what it's gonna be like?"

"What?"

"You staying late every night with him?"

"Oh my god, it was one night."

Let the games begin.

"You know how I feel about him."

"And?"

"He's bad news. Do you want to be mixed up in whatever he's doing?"

"He has a legitimate business."

"But he's a shady character, there is no such thing as legit with a man like him."

"I can use the extra money."

"So get a real job."

"I have a real job."

"One that gets you shot at and another that might be illegal."

"I don't get shot at that often and you are only upset because you are jealous and Italian."

"I'm not jealous."

"Right and I'm a natural blonde."

"Why don't you give up both jobs?"

"And live how?"

"I can support you…or you could get a normal job at the bank, or something."

"Get married?"

"Why not?"

"So you can feel like you have more of a reason to try and control me?"

"I don't want to control you, but I want to protect you."

Liar.

"Not a good enough reason to get married. I'm beat, I'm going to bed."

It was around three in the morning when Morelli's phone went off.

"What?" he demanded, his voice heavy with sleep.

I opened my eyes at the sound of his voice, but didn't move.

"Oh geez, alright, I'll be right there."

I sighed internally from relief that we wouldn't have a chance to fight in the morning.

"No, later," he said as he threw off the covers.

I stayed still so he'd think I was asleep. He got up and got dressed and left. I rolled over into his spot and didn't wake up until the alarm went off.

The office was quieter than usual when I arrived. I headed straight for my cubby to give the illusion that I was actually intent on working.

"How are you doing?"

I turned around, it was Lester, one of Ranger's Merry Men.

"Okay, how are you?"

"I didn't expect to see you here today."

"Why not?"

"Well, because of what happened…" His voice trailed off when it hit him that I had no idea what he was talking about.

My eyes got huge as my mind started racing, "What's going on? "

"There was an accident last night…"

"Oh my god."

"Ranger and Tank went to check out a property that had been broken into and there were guys waiting for them. The perps started shooting as they approached."

"Are they…"

"Each had a vest on, but these guys were shooting crazy and Ranger and Tank were hit. They were both in surgery for most of the night."

I paled, "Why didn't anyone call me?"

"Morelli responded with the police so Hal and I figured that he'd told you. Lula showed up at the hospital so I thought for sure that you knew."

I went from pale to red in 0.2 seconds. That bastard Morelli hadn't told me what was going on. I jumped out of my chair and grabbed my bag.

"I'm going to the hospital."

"Okay, I was just heading over there, do you want a ride?"

"Yea."

Lula was the first thing I heard when I got to the ICU floor. She was arguing about visiting restrictions. She stopped when she saw me.

"Girl, what took you so long?"

"Nobody told me."

"But Morelli was here."

"Yea…"

"Dog."

"Yea."

She glanced back toward a room.

"My honey is doing better this morning. He gave me a scare last night. I haven't seen that much blood in a long time."

"Is he gonna be okay?"

"Oh yea. The doctor said he'll be as good as new in a few weeks. They are going to move him outta the ICU later today."

"Good. How's Ranger?"

"I don't know. I haven't heard anything, but then again, I've just been so worried about my big honey man, that I haven't thought of much else."

I nodded and looked at Lester. He walked over to a nurse and I saw Hal come out of a room. He saw me and came over.

"Hey."

"How is he?"

"Still out of it. The doctors say he lost a lot of blood and might be out for a while, but that he will recover."

Lester walked back over, "Wanna go in?"

I nodded and felt my throat close off. I turned to Lester as we approached the door, "Can you do something for me?"

"Sure."

"Can you go to Morelli's and get my stuff?"

"Roger."

"I have a laundry basket of clothes in the bedroom and Rex is in the kitchen. Here I'll give you my keys."

He gave me a blank look.

"Yea, yea, I know, you don't need the keys, but for my own peace of mind, take them."

He nodded. I handed him my keys and he and Hal walked off. Lula looked at me sympathetically as she began to walk back into Tank's room. I stopped. I wasn't ready to see Ranger vulnerable yet. I walked down to the gift shop and bought some flowers. Then I walked back and decided to check on Tank first. I poked my head into the room. Lula was sitting on a chair next to Tank's bed. He was lying down, but as I approached, I saw that his eyes were open.

"Hey," I said.

"Hey." His voice was weaker than usual, but at least he still sounded like Tank.

"I brought 'Get Well' flowers"

"Thanks. How's the boss?"

"I don't really know. Lester said the doctors said he'd be okay eventually. I haven't been in to see him yet."

Tank sighed and Lula put her hand over his. I set the flowers on the nightstand and tried to hold it together. I leaned over and hugged Tank and tried to smile. I went to the other side of his bed and hugged Lula. She smiled sadly at me and then I went out into the hall. I knew I had to be brave, but I was scared.

I approached Ranger's room and almost collapsed when I saw him lying there not moving. The beeping of the monitors were enough to make a person crazy. I felt a hand on the small of my back.

"Hey Cupcake, I figured I'd find you here."

"What do you want, Morelli?"

"Are you okay?"

"Am I okay? Am I okay? Do I look okay?" My voice got squeaky.

"Cupcake…"

"Don't Cupcake me, you, you, you…"

I couldn't think of anything to call him.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but you were sleeping and I didn't want to disturb you."

"That's no excuse. He could've died."

"He was gonna be okay."

"How could you not tell me?"

"Let's go home and talk about this. I don't want our arguments to make it back to our parents."

"What home? As we speak, my stuff is being taken back to my apartment."

"Why?"

"You know why. My mother was right about you. You are scum, Morelli."

"Who's moving your stuff? You didn't let some weirdo in did you?"

"I sent Lester and Hal."

His pager beeped.

"I have to go. We'll talk about this later."

"No, we won't. I don't want to talk to you."

"But you will."

And he walked off. The anger I was feeling counter acted the fear and I was finally ready to see Ranger. I walked into Ranger's room. I could feel the tears burning my eyes. I reached out to touch his hand, but couldn't. I sat down in the chair next to his bed. I took his hand in mine and burst into tears.