Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, they belong to Janet Evanovich. I'm just playing because I like too, I'm not making any money, etc.

Chapter 1

Steph's POV

I've been doing a lot of surveillance shifts with different Merry Men lately. I've been training with the guys in the last few months so it seems like I can be trusted to actually be back-up instead of merely entertainment. Bobby had been working with me on my physical training. I still hate exercise but do feel stronger and better so I suck it up. Lester and Tank work with me on self-defense and while I'm still pretty weak I'm holding my own better than ever. Everyone tells me there's only so much I can do with my size but I'm learning to maximize everything I can do. I'm never going to be able to take down a man of Tank's size on my own, but I can protect myself better than ever. Ram has been working with me on using my gun, too. These days I can fight well enough to hold someone off until I can get my hands on my stun gun, real gun, and panic button. Working almost exclusively for RangeMan has meant that I'm having less run-ins with crazy skips or stalkers in a while.

Ranger left for Miami four months ago right after I agreed to take RangeMan training and hasn't been back. I took that as a giant clue that he wasn't interested in having a someday with me. I had broken up with Joe right before he left and forced myself to stay away. I don't know why I had such a hard time staying single while simultaneously fearing commitment. A few month break from both Ranger and Joe gave me much needed clarity.

That clarity allowed me to move on and become better friends with all of the Merry Men. Ram and I had grown especially close in the last six weeks. We hadn't really talked about what we were doing or what kind of relationship we were building, but the kisses we were sharing had us moving away from the just friends category. Ram was comfortable, his life outside of work was calm and I found that I enjoyed spending time with him whenever I could. He welcomed me and seemed to find ways to let me into his life constantly.

Tonight, I was sitting in a black Explorer with Evan, the newest Merry Man, watching a run down apartment building for a skip. Evan had been on staff for about a month but I hadn't worked with him much. He'd been back-up on a distraction job about two weeks ago and I'd seen him the gym but hadn't talked to much before tonight. Now that we were going to be spending three hours sitting in a car together I guess I would get to know him.

Evan and I spent the first hour chit-chatting about general stuff like where we grew up, college, and good places to eat in Trenton. He seemed pleasant enough and he actually gave me full sentences instead of just one word answers. Halfway through our shift, I shared a Tastycake with him which he accepted. That earned him a few points, any Merry Man who shared sugar with me was instantly elevated in my eyes.

We finished our shift and Evan drove me back to my apartment. He cleared it when we arrived, this was still RangeMan policy no matter how much training I had. I dropped a carrot into Rex's cage after Evan declared it all clear. He didn't seem in a hurry to leave despite several hints that I was tired and ready for bed.

He stood with his back leaning on the counter a few steps from me when I started to get the creeps from the way he was eyeing up my body. "I figured there was reason all the guys fought over doing shifts with you. I didn't expect to be dismissed so quickly." His blue eyes were cold and piercing.

"Excuse me?" My voice went up an octave as I neared rhino mode. I wanted to tell him that I was dating Ram so that maybe he would back off, but wasn't sure if that was something Ram wanted out to the rest of the guys yet.

He moved quickly, wrapping his arms around my waist and leaning in close to my ear. "The guys said you were fun to work with and with your hot little body I assumed they meant more than just sharing Tastycakes. Considering how much they all fight over shifts with you, I figured you must be one of the many RangeMan perks."

"Let go of me and get out." I gathered as much nerve as I possibly could and shoved him off me. Despite all the training the guys had given me, I still had a hard time functioning through fear and this confrontation was making me more than a little afraid and humiliated.

He backed up, his hands in the air. "I guess I was wrong or maybe I just haven't been around long enough for you to show me just how fun you are. Hopefully I'll be able to change your mind."

I stood in my kitchen in shock unable to move for a few minutes. I couldn't figure out what had just happened. Evan's words and actions made me wonder just what kind of conversations the guys had about me behind my back. I had a hard time imagining the Merry Men making up stories about me and was hopeful that Evan had just confused me with my distraction persona.

I slipped into the shower hoping to wash the day and my thoughts down the drain. Unfortunately it didn't work as once I crawled into bed, I still couldn't shut off my thoughts or anxiety. I did the first thing that came to mind, I drove to Ram's house. I knew he was working a late night with Tank and Lester but figured I could just crash on his couch until he got home. He was the only person I wanted to talk to about this fiasco. I knew he'd tell me the truth about what the guys said about me behind my back and I also knew he'd help me deal with Evan.

Ram's POV

I was doing a little redecorating job with Tank and Lester tonight. We'd already kicked several junkies out of a warehouse but were hanging around watching for more when my phone let me know that my house's alarm system had been turned off. I looked at the screen and could tell that Steph had let herself in and turned it back on. I couldn't help but beam with pride that my girl had made herself at home in my house.

I'd given Steph her own entry code a month ago when she took care of my dog, Caramel, while I was in Boston for a week. I came home to find that she had not only checked in with Caramel but had stayed in my house not wanting to leave the dog alone. I came home late at night, Rex's cage was on my kitchen counter and Steph was sleeping in my bed with Caramel snuggled up at the foot of the bed. The sight hooked something in me making my heart skip a beat and my cock twitch at the idea of her in my bed.

I slept that night in the guest room not wanting to wake her. My dog didn't so much as acknowledge my presence choosing to stay with the woman in my bed. I couldn't blame him after all, given the choice I'd stay with her too.

Sharing breakfast with her the next morning, the dog under the table and Rex spinning in his wheel on the counter was a scene of perfect domestic bliss for me. I'd been slowly trying to worm my way into Steph's heart because she had blown her way into mine a while back. I asked her out on a real date that morning and she said yes.

Ever since then we've been going out a few times a week and the relationship has been growing at a slow, steady pace. We've shared a few amazing kisses but hadn't moved much beyond that physically yet. I was trying hard to be a gentleman and she was worth every cold shower I had to take.

I'd told her that she could come to my house anytime she wanted that her security code would always work no matter the time or reason. Until tonight she hadn't taken me up on that offer. It made me worry a little wondering what happened to make her go now. She was working a surveillance shift tonight and I would have heard if anything had gone wrong.

We wrapped up our redecorating job with little fanfare. There was a little fighting, but with junkies it doesn't take much to throw them out and convince them to move elsewhere. It was about two in the morning when I pulled out of the RangeMan garage to head home. Thinking of Steph waiting for me there only served to increase my speed.

I found her asleep on the couch in her pajamas, a skimpy little white tank top with tiny butterflies dotting the surface and matching shorts. I could see a pair of jeans and t-shirt tossed over the stool. I figured she threw them on for her drive over and the trip back home in the morning.

Caramel was stretched out on the floor next to her. She was on her side, her wild curls everywhere. I knelt down on the floor next to her sleeping head. I brushed a few curls away from her face while repeating her name softly trying to wake her. Her eyes opened and she smiled at me, her sleepy eyes gorgeous and twinkling. "Hi," she sighed and stretched as she woke.

Cupping her cheek I leaned forward and kissed her lips gently before resting my forehead on hers. "Everything ok?"

She nodded but something in her eyes changed, "Everything go alright at your redecorating job tonight?"

"It was fine. Steph, what's wrong? I'm glad you're here but something seems off with you."

She reached out her hand and I helped her sit up. "I needed to see you. Can I talk to you about something?"

I took my gun belt off placing it on the coffee table before sitting next to her and drawing her into my side. "Sure, anytime, sweet pea. What's up?"

She told me the story of her evening with Evan. Her body curled up into mine, she was humiliated at the notion that the guys lied about the fun they had with her, horrified that she was the object of office tall tales. I knew that wasn't true, knew the guys wouldn't disrespect her like that and assumed that Evan read more into the stories than he should of, regardless he shouldn't have approached her with such force. His only other experience with Stephanie was at a distraction and I was pissed that he might have confused the role she played on those jobs with her real personality.

"Did you tell him that you had a boyfriend?" We hadn't really talked about our relationship what exactly we were to each other but before I talked with Evan I wanted to make sure I didn't say something that would upset her later.

"No," she shook her head. "I didn't want to say that in case you didn't feel that way. I didn't know if you wanted what was happening between us out to the rest of the guys yet. I guess I wasn't sure what was happening between us." She was talking fast obviously nervous about this discussion.

Neither of us were very good at talking about our feelings. "Steph, I'm yours if you want me. Heaven knows I want you to be mine." I had pulled back to look in her eyes wanting her to see the truth and emotion in my eyes. "I'd like us to be committed to each other and see where this relationship goes."

She smiled, "I'd like that very much, too." She leaned forward and kissed me, her hands wrapping around my shoulders. Her lips were incredibly soft against mine, her bare arms soft under my calloused fingers. When she opened her mouth I couldn't help but tighten my arms around her as my tongue swept inside.

I pulled back my fingers curling around her neck. "Will you tell Tank about this tomorrow?"

Her eyebrows furrowed at me, "I don't want the guys to see me as some kind of tattletale running straight to the boss the minute I have a problem."

"This isn't a little disagreement among co-workers Steph. This is sexual harassment at a minimum. None of the guys would be happy to know that Evan treated you so disrespectfully. I plan on having my own chat with Evan but Tank should do it too so that he understands what kind of behavior is expected at RangeMan."

She sighed but I saw acceptance in her eyes. "Will you go with me to talk to Tank?"

"Sure if you want me too." I pulled her into a hug. "Let's talk to him after the morning meeting."

"Ok." She looked at me and I could see exhaustion on her face. I stood up and pulled her with me.

"You can take my bed with Caramel and I'll sleep in the guest room again." I kissed her forward and tried hard to control my body at the sight of her in those sexy pajamas.

She giggled, "You take your own bed, I'll sleep in the guest room and we'll let Caramel choose where he wants to go."

I tucked her into bed with a kiss to her forehead before walking into my own bedroom. I watched as Caramel trotted down the hall to be with her. The dog couldn't help it, he might have been loyal to me, but he was drawn to that curly haired brunette just like I was.

I slipped into my own bed and thought about the beauty sleeping down the hall. She said she wanted to be committed to me and that thought had me grinning as I drifted off to sleep. I'd make sure Evan understood just who she belonged to tomorrow morning, but even thinking about him couldn't lessen my smile about exploring a relationship with Stephanie.