Disclaimer: These are Janet Evanovich's characters, and her world. I'm just borrowing them to have a little fun.

Chapter One

Sucky.....that's my life at the moment.

I'm sitting on my crummy couch alone, on yet another Friday night.

Joe and I had decided to call our dysfunctional relationship quits about a month ago. I hear he's already dating a nurse from St Francis.

Ranger hadn't made a move on me and I've only seen him a few times since my break up with Joe. Each time he seemed to be in a hurry to get away from me. What's that about? It's like he doesn't wanna catch Stephanie cooties.

So here I sit watching reruns of The Nanny, digging into my second tub of Ben and Jerry's. And feelin sorry for myself.

"Hmmm"

I heard the locks tumble and brace myself. Hoping its Ranger, then without turning around my wish is confirmed by the tingling sensation at the back on my neck which always occurs when he's around.

"Babe" his voice evenly calm.

"Ranger" I say without taking my eye's off the t.v.

"If your busy, I can come back later?" Ranger humor. Very funny.

I reached over and turned off the TV. Hoping this could be the start of something between us. I turn to look at Ranger making himself comfy on the other end of the couch. God, he looks delicious.

"So, What brings you by?" That's it Steph, play it cool.

"Actually I have an assignment for you, If your interested?" like I'd ever not me interested in anything Ranger.

"Sure, lets hear it."

"Well if you decide to accept, we need to leave a.s.a.p, our plane leaves from New York at 11.00pm.

"Plane?"

"Yeah, the assignment is for the Government and is in the Caribbean."

Caribbean, I've always wanted to go there.

"What's the catch?"

"You'd have to pretend to be my wife."

With that, my breath caught and my mouth was hanging open. Ranger reached over with his index finger and lifted my chin till my mouth closed.

"I recommended you to my Government contact, thinking that it would be easier to work with someone I was already acquainted with intimately. We need to be convincing as a couple. Also the idea of seeing you in a bikini was very appealing too."

The corners of Rangers mouth turn up into an almost smile.

What, Ranger thinks of our relationship is intimate.

"What would I have to do?" God, I'd do almost any thing to play Rangers wife.

"You'd act like my wife would. We need to befriend a couple on the island who are holidaying there and retreve information on there illegal activies."

"Illegal activities?" Oh, that's right, here I am think fun in the sun with Ranger, forgot it was for work. Dur.

"Yeah, our cover story is that we are professionals from New York who have been unable to conceive and your doctor suggested that we take a vacation and relax and hope nature takes its course." Doesn't seem to hard so far. This could even be fun.

"O.K, that doesn't sound to hard."

"Well this couple, John and Tammy Davies are from San Francisco, they are holidaying in the Caribbean for the next week. They run an adoption agency. On the surface they seem legit. But the government has reason to believe they have been selling babies on the black market. But they have no solid evidence and haven't been able to catch them out, People who are buying from them will not testify, its all in the report."

"So that's where we come in? We get friendly, get them to offer us a child and give the everdance to the government?"

"Yep, You in?"

"Hell yes!"

"Great, let's go." Ranger says as he leapt off the couch and over to Rex's cage.

"But I haven't packed?"

"All taken care of Babe, I had Ella shop for us this afternoon. I have your travel clothes ready at Haywood. You can shower and change there when we drop off Rex." Ranger explains while holding the door open for me.

"Wow, you were pretty sure of yourself that I'd say yes."

"No, But I was hoping. My alternative was to ask Jeannie Ellen Burrows." Well that got a full eye roll from me.