Disclaimer: Characters do not belong to me, except the one's you don't recognize. JE gets the credit for creating such an amazing cast of characters for me to play with. I'm not making any money from my ramblings either.

This is not a Babe or a Cupcake story. Both men will be present in this story, but are not made out to be villains. Stephanie gets to play with a Merry Man for a while. This is rated M for language and smut later on. : )

I want to thank my Beta for this story, Rangergirl1234. Without her wonderful help and guidance, you all would be reading dribble. I hope you all enjoy!

Lifetime of Love

Chapter 1

My life sucks. I can't believe that I let it get to this point. What the hell happened to me? I didn't always used to be this pathetic. I used to be outgoing, crazy, enthusiastic, pretty, happy, goal oriented, and I had a career that I loved. I used to be unstoppable. I used to be Stephanie Michelle Plum, lingerie buyer extraordinaire. I loved my job, I had friends, I had dates with guys who found me desirable. I went out and sung karaoke on Friday nights. I was fun to be around. Now...I'm just pathetic. I'm in a slump and have been for quite some time.

My life started to go down hill when I met and married Dickie Orr. He was a lawyer and I thought I would be happy with him. Once we got married, I stopped going out with my friends. I tried to be the "house wife" that Dickie wanted, but I failed. My marriage lasted a whopping 5 weeks. I came home from work early one day to find my new husband banging the town slut on my freshly waxed dining room table. Needless to say, the marriage was over. Our divorce is still talked about in Trenton, my hometown. It was one for the record books.

After my failed marriage, I tried to get back into my single life but didn't have the heart for it anymore. I had my job and that was fine with me. Then I lost my job. I got fired when the company went out of business. So now my pathetic life gets even worse. I had to move out of my posh apartment in Newark to a tiny place not too far way from my parents. I lived off my savings while I tried to find a job, but couldn't find anything. My car got repossessed and I was about to be kicked out of my crap apartment. I refused to be reduced to moving back in with my parents so I was desperate to find work. Here's where my life takes another down turn.

My cousin Vinnie owns a Bail Bonds office and he was looking for a file clerk, so I went to talk to him. Come to find out that the file clerk position was filled, but I learned from his office manager, Connie, that he needed a bond enforcement agent, or a bounty hunter. I was willing to do anything to keep from losing my apartment so I blackmailed Vinnie into the job. It's good that I had some major dirt on him.

My first file was Joseph Morelli. Shoot me in the face now! Joe and I had been in and out of each others lives since we were kids. We played a very adult version of choo-choo when I was six and he was eight. I should have never followed him into that garage, but live and learn. You would think after that experience that I would stay away from him. I didn't, and at age sixteen, he talked me out of my virginity on the floor of the bakery where I worked. After we were finished with the humiliating experience, he walked out of my life. He left soon after for the Navy, but left me a goodbye present before he left town. Poems detailing what happened at the Tasty Pastry were written in bathrooms across town. Thanks a lot, ass!

The next time I saw Joe Morelli was two years later. I got to see him bounce off the hood of my dad's Buick as I ran him over. It was a good reunion for me, but not for Joe. I guess my little welcome back present broke his leg. Oops! Joe and I stayed away from each other after that. It was easy because I was living and working in Newark and he was in Trenton working as a cop. Fate brought us together once again. Joe was arrested for murder and skipped out on his bail and I was charged with bringing him back to jail. Not an easy task, let me tell you. BUT, I did it and thus started my new relationship with Joe Morelli.

We dated off and on for the past three years. Joe was looking for a wife and mother for his children, I was just looking for good sex. We tried to make it work, but we both finally gave up about a month ago. After a very long and very emotional talk we both decided to walk away friends. I love Joe, and I know that he loves me, but sometimes love isn't enough. He wants me to be something that I'm not willing to be right now. It was hard to walk away, but we did the right thing.

The other man in my life was Ricardo Carlos Manoso. He goes by the street name Ranger, but I call him Batman. He's dark and mysterious and doesn't let anyone get close to him. He started out as my mentor when I first became a bounty hunter. He owns his own security company and is really good at this BEA stuff. He's showed me the ropes and helped me whenever I needed it. Our relationship quickly turned from teacher/student, to friends, and then eventually to lovers.

Ranger is sex on legs and I was amazed that he wanted me as much as I wanted him. We shared some amazing nights together, but sadly that is all we will ever share. Ranger doesn't "do" relationships. He has told me on more than one occasion that the only place for me in his life is in his bed. Sounds good right?

I thought so too, and I tried to do the casual sex with Ranger after Joe and I called it quits. Problem is, I love Ranger. I'm hopelessly IN love with Ranger and I can't emotionally distance myself from him when I'm staying in his bed. So after about three weeks of hot and heavy sex, I told him that it wasn't working. I was brutally honest with him about my feelings. I begged him to give us a chance, but he just wouldn't do it. Apparently he loves me too much to put a target on my back. He thinks his life is too dangerous.

Since I couldn't do the sex anymore, we called our pseudo relationship quits and went back to just friends. Walking away from Ranger was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I know that he loves me, but he's just unwilling to give me what I need. Hmmm...sounds familiar.

So here I am, in a terrible slump. My job sucks. I'm still bringing in skips for Vinnie, but I'm not very good at it. I have the instincts, or so Ranger says, but I have terrible luck during the "takedown". I'm constantly rolling in garbage or other unmentionable substances. I'm the laughingstock of the Trenton Police Department. My auto insurance is outrageously high because of all the cars that I've sent to the junkyard. Bad car karma seems to follow me. I don't know how it happens, but I've destroyed more vehicles than a weekend at the monster truck rally. It's pathetic.

My job isn't the only thing pathetic. My mom is on a rampage about me and Joe breaking up. She claims that he was my last hope for a happily ever after. She wants me to be married with kids. She doesn't listen when I tell her that I don't want her life. She's happy that way, but I know I wouldn't be.

I've been staying away from her for a while now. I make excuses when she invites me to dinner. She is trying to find me a new Joe and keeps inviting single guys over to share dinner with her, my dad and grandma. I got tricked into a few of those horrible dinners before I stopped going over there altogether. I think I'm done with men for a while. Can you blame me?

The last two that I've been in love with haven't been the best experiences. I wasn't good enough for either one of them. Joe wanted to change me into someone else and Ranger didn't love me enough to make our relationship work. It's okay. I am happy being alone. Denial is my friend.

SO...back to my pathetic life. I'm currently laying on my bed staring at my ceiling. It's Valentine's Day, and I have zero plans. Not even a hint of a date. I let out a sigh and go back to my self-proclaimed pity party. I tried setting up a girls night out with Connie and Lula, but they both have dates. Lula and Tank, Ranger's second in command and best friend, have been dating again and were going out to dinner tonight with a group of guys from RangeMan. Connie was dating an accountant and they had plans tonight too. I was the only one of my group of friends that didn't have anything going on.

I knew about the RangeMan group date. Lester Santos is one of the core members and partner in the business. He has been a really good friend to me the past couple of months and told me about the plans for tonight. He and some of the other guys have the back room reserved at a romantic restaurant in New York. They even rented a Hummer Limo to drive everyone around. There were six of the guys going with their dates tonight. Last I heard Ranger was even going with a girl he met while surveying a new clients building. I didn't expect him to stay single for long, but it hurts that he was able to move on so quickly.

I felt the first tear fall and closed my eyes to stop the flood from falling out of my eyes. I hated to cry. It made me feel weak and made me look ugly. Two things that I hate with a passion. Unfortunately, I couldn't stop it tonight. I was too busy thinking about my life and crying over stupid men to hear the locks click open on my front door. It wasn't until I felt a presence in my bedroom that I had any clue that someone else was here.

I sat up quickly to see Ranger leaning on the door jamb. He was wearing a gorgeous Armani suit. He looked incredibly sexy and sadly he wasn't mine. He had a date tonight, so why the hell was he here?

"Can I help you with something?" Spiteful Stephanie was talking right now. I'm not sure where she came from, but she wasn't going away anytime soon.

"Just wanted to make sure you're doing okay, Babe." I scoffed and plopped back down onto my bed. Why does he pretend to care?

"I'm fine, Ranger. Enjoy your date." I felt the tears swell in my eyes. I heard him sigh and then cross the room to sit on the bed beside me. He reached a hand out to wipe the tears off my face but I pulled away before he could touch me.

"What do you want from me, Ranger?" I stood up off the bed and glared at him. I was done being the yo-yo in his games. The constant push-pull that he does with me is making me crazy, and it was going to end.

"I understand that you don't want me. I understand that I'm not good enough for you, but please don't torture me. You know how I feel about you and having you here right now when you're going out with someone else is killing me. Please just go and enjoy your night." I saw the pain in his eyes, but it was quickly masked.

"You have no idea how much I want you, but you are the one that said I can't have you. Don't get pissed at me for your choices." Ranger stood and started to approach me, but stopped when I held up my hand.

"You only want my body. I can't give you that and protect my heart. I love you too damn much. It's all or nothing. You've made your choice, and I have to learn to live with it. Please just give me time to learn how to deal with this." I was pleading for him to go. I couldn't stand to see him all dressed up for another woman. We stared at each other for a few seconds before he nodded and his blank mask slammed into place.

"As you wish, Babe." He got close enough to kiss my forehead and then walked out of my room. The last thing I heard before he slammed the front door was a tense, "Happy Valentine's Day."

Yeah, happy fucking Valentine's. I collapsed back onto the bed and cried. What a wonderful freaking holiday this has turned out to be. I never used to be this dependent on someone to make me happy. I used to be content with myself and found joy in doing things for me. Where had that person gone? Where had the fun, frisky, adventurous Stephanie Plum disappeared to, and who is this crying mess that is here now? I was tired of this shit. It's time to get my life back. It's time to stop being so damn pathetic and it's time to start living again. It starts tonight.

I rolled off of bed and decided to go out for the evening. Just because I'm single doesn't mean I can't have fun. I was going to get sexed up and go dancing. Maybe even find a new guy to have some fun with. It was time for the old Stephanie to come out of hiding.

I spent an hour showering, shaving, plucking, buffing, and waxing. I needed a distraction from the men who have recently vacated my life, so I was going out to find someone to fill some of my needs. I wasn't looking for Mr. Right, just Mr. Right Now.

I found the sexiest dress in my closest and put it on with thigh highs and my best pair of fuck-me-pumps. I pinned my hair up and left a few curls falling around my face. I went light on the make-up and was ready to go. I took one last look in the mirror and decided that I looked damn good. I felt like I did back in my college days and was looking forward to having some fun.

I took a cab to the hottest club in Trenton. I knew RangeMan was doing security tonight so I felt safe going there. I've worked for Ranger off and on and have become close to the guys that work for him. I call them my Merry Men. They have protected me and become much more to me than just friends. I love each of them in different ways, and I would do just about anything for them. They are a great group of guys who don't seem to think they deserve to be treated respectfully.

Most of them have had bad luck with women and have recently decided that it's just not worth it to keep dating. Les told me one night that most women that he's interested in are either scared of him or only interested in him because of the money that he makes. It's sad and I'm trying to help them see just how great of guys they truly are.

When I stepped out of the cab, I sighed at the line of people waiting patiently to get in. I glanced at the bouncer at the door and recognized him as one of my Merry Men. I smiled and knew I was getting in that door soon. Once he saw me, his mouth dropped and his eyes bugged out. I knew I looked damn good.

"Ms. Plum?" Good lord, why did the Ms. have to come out? It makes me feel old.

"Zip, how many times have I told you. It's Steph. No, Ms." I decided to flirt to make damn sure I got inside. I slid up close to him to close his mouth with my finger then trailed it down his jaw and neck. He smiled at me and removed the rope for me to enter. I stood up and kissed him on the cheek and entered the club. I heard the groans from the people standing in line, but I didn't care. I was only thinking about myself tonight.

Once inside the club, I stopped for a minute to let my eyes adjust to the lighting. There were people everywhere. The bar was packed and so was the dance floor. I finally found an empty stool at the bar and plopped my sexy ass down. I ordered a Malibu Rum and Diet Coke. Yum!

It didn't take long for the vultures to start circling. It seemed like they came from every direction. I danced with so many random men. Never the same one twice. Many of them were sexy and obviously interested in me, but not one of them even peaked an interest with me. They just weren't up to the caliber that I am used to. After sleeping with Joe Morelli and Ranger, you have some pretty high standards.

I decided to take a break from dancing so I was sitting at the bar again nursing another drink. I felt someone come up behind me close and lean into me a little bit. I could feel the heat radiating off them and could feel their breath on the top of my head. I recognized the smell as one of the Merry Men, but I couldn't place which one. I slowly turned around to see Zero standing there.

Now, all of the guys who work for Ranger are sexy as hell. I think it's part of the job requirements or something. All of them are muscled and all of them look dangerous. Zero was no different. He was around 5'11" and, per RangeMan protocol, had the body of a Greek God. His skin was a few shades darker than mine from spending time outside in the sun. His dark brown hair was short on the sides and longer on the top, styled into sexy spikes. His hazel eyes were gorgeous and they sparkled when he was joking around. My favorite part of this man though was his crooked smile. The left side of his mouth crooked up when he was smiling and it made me weak in the knees to see it on him now.

He was wearing the standard RangeMan uniform and his tight T-shirt exposed his muscled tattooed arms. I wondered where else he had tattoos and tried to picture the rest of his unclothed body. He was smiling that sexy smile at me and I suddenly felt very flirtatious. I blame the alcohol.

"Hey sexy, what brings you here?" I smiled sexily and sucked on my straw in my drink. I can work a straw like a pro so I watched his smile disintegrate. His eyes were fixed on my mouth and what it was doing. I chuckled as he shook himself out of his stupor.

"Uh...I was just going to ask you if you're having fun. I watched you dance with about every guy here." There was a flash of something in his eyes, but in my inebriated state I didn't recognize it.

"Well, I'm just a single girl trying to have some fun. Nothing wrong with that, is there?" I smiled again and set my drink down. Another guy began to approach me, but turned away when he noticed the glare he was getting from Zero.

"Thanks for that! I think I'm done for the night. I guess I'm not going to find the distraction I was looking for." I laughed trying to make joke, but the disappointment in my voice was clear and the I couldn't stop the sadness from creeping into my eyes. Zero noticed both of them.

"No problem. I'm off in about forty minutes. Will you wait for me to finish my shift? I'd like to take you home." He smiled that crooked sexy smile and I knew I would wait for him.

"Sure. I can dance to a few more songs." Zero tucked a curl behind my ear and turned to head back to his post by the back door. I watched his ass as he walked away and had to wipe the drool from my face.

I didn't know too much about Zero, but he was one of Ranger's guys so I knew that I could trust him. I caught him watching me as I danced with a few different guys. It was like he couldn't take his eyes off me and he didn't look happy when the guys hands started to wander below the boundary line.

I recognized Hal walk up to him and them do the stupid handshake thing that they all know how to do but I'll never comprehend. Zero crooked his finger at me in the "come here" motion and I left the loser I was dancing with to join him at the back door. He paid my tab for me and then with a goodbye to Hal, we were outside. He led me to his RangeMan SUV and helped me into the front seat. He seemed nervous when he got into the driver's seat.

"Steph, will you have dinner with me? I mean...I know it's late, but I haven't eaten and I know you are always in the mood for food." I should be offended, but I wasn't. I was actually really hungry and what better company to have dinner with than a Merry Man?

"I would love to." I smiled at him and we took off toward a nearby diner. Just what I needed - greasy burger, fries and dessert!

Zero and I sat together in a back booth and placed our orders. Neither of us quite knew what to say, so we remained silent for a while. I've never been one to ignore my curiosity so I had to ask the question that was plaguing me.

"So, you don't have plans for the rest of the night? I thought you had a girlfriend. Won't she be mad if you're out with me?" Once I saw the pain in his eyes, I knew I asked the wrong question. Les had told me about him and his girlfriend getting serious. The guys even had a pool on the proposal date.

"Megan broke up with me last week. Apparently I wasn't what she wanted." Well I feel like shit now.

"I'm so sorry, Zero. I didn't know that. Well, if you want my honest opinion; it's her loss. You deserve someone better." He smiled a little, but I could still see the pain in his eyes.

"What are you doing all alone on V-day? I figured you would be out with the group in New York. I thought Ranger was going with them." I laughed. The guys all thought that Ranger and I had a "serious" relationship. If they only knew the truth.

"No. Ranger took someone else and I wasn't asked to go." I tried not to sound bitter, but by the look on his face I think I failed.

"Damn! I'm sorry Steph. I thought you and the boss man were seeing each other."

"Nope. Sex was all I got from the boss man. He wasn't willing to give me more and I couldn't settle for just that anymore. I ended our sex only relationship and now he's out with someone else." I let out a long sigh and hung my head. "The man I love is out on a date and I went to a bar to find a cheap replacement for him. How fucked up is that?"

I blame the alcohol once again for my blunt truthfulness. The shocked look on Zero's face was priceless and I started to laugh, and once I started laughing I couldn't stop. The laughing soon turned to tears and then before I knew it, I was sobbing.

Zero moved to my side of the booth and took me into his arms and let me cry into his well muscled chest. He stroked my hair and whispered calming words into my ear. I couldn't understand what he was saying, but I picked up on idiot and stupid enough that I guessed he was talking about Ranger.

Once I got myself under control he let me go and moved back to his side of the booth. Our food was delivered and we fell into comfortable silence to enjoy our food. I was just about finished when I felt I need to say something to him.

"Thank you for letting me fall apart on you. I thought I was okay when I left my apartment, but I guess I'm not." He took my hand that was lying on the table and squeezed it with his warm hand.

"It's okay, Steph. I could tell something was up at the bar. You didn't look happy and that's not the Bomber that I know." I smiled at him and cocked my head to the side.

"How are we alone? I mean we're attractive, fun, kindhearted people and yet here we are alone on the most romantic holiday of the year." I was honestly curious. Zero laughed and shrugged.

"I don't know about you, but if spending time with you is considered 'being alone' then I am happy about my current relationship status." He smiled at me and my heart sped up. Was he flirting?

I smiled back and finished my burger. We continued to chat about everything. His job, my job, old relationships, plans for the future, our families. We sat there for hours after our dinner was done and just talked. I learned everything there is to know about him.

He grew up in California. His parents divorced when he and his younger brother got out of high school. They are both happily remarried now. He showed me pictures of his brother and two half-sisters. His brother lives in Oregon and is married to his high school girlfriend. Their first child is due to be born later this year. His half-sisters live with his dad and are still in school.

He joined the army after he graduated and met Ranger, Les, Tank, and Bobby on a mission about five years ago. He joined RangeMan when his time in the military was over and never looked back.

I couldn't believe all the information that he was sharing with me. All the guys at RangeMan knew my life story like the back of their hand and most are too scared to open themselves up to me, but not Zero. We laughed and talked until our voices were hoarse.

"What's your real name? I feel like I know so much about you, but I don't know what to call you other than Zero." He smiled and shook his head.

"I've been called Zero for so long that I don't usually answer to my real name. I was born Allen Noah Wilson, but I went by Zero growing up. My dad's name is Allen too, so it was just easier to go by the nick name or my middle name."

"Can I call you Noah?" I asked tentatively. He smiled brightly at me.

"I would be honored if you called me Noah. Can I call you something other than Steph or Bomber?" I was shocked that he asked. Most of the guys called me by different pet names. I was Beautiful to Les. Angel to Cal. Angelita to Hector. All the rest of the guys called me either Bombshell or Bomber and of course Ranger called me Babe. I was impressed that he asked permission.

"What nickname are you choosing? I have so many to pick from." I laughed.

"How about I call you, Breá." I looked at him confused. I didn't recognize the language, but liked the way he said it.

"What does it mean?" He looked away from me and then smiled.

"Once you figure that out, come find me and we'll talk." I liked a good challenge. I smiled back at him and nodded enthusiastically.

"Challenge accepted!" Zero smiled and shook his head. We decided that it was time to go and he paid the bill and escorted me out to the car. We drove to my apartment chatting the entire way. I thought we would run out of things to talk about eventually, but that didn't happen.

Once we got to my apartment, Zero escorted me up to my door and did a security sweep to make sure there were no big bad monsters inside. He stopped in front of me before he walked out of the door.

"I had a great time tonight, Breá. I wasn't counting on having fun when I heard that I had to work tonight, but now I'm glad that I drew the short straw for V-day duty." He smiled and tucked a curl behind my ear. I found myself wanting to keep his hand there. I wanted him to stay longer, but knew I wasn't ready for that kind of problem yet. I was attracted to him, but I knew Ranger would have a whole herd of cows if he found out he stayed here.

"I had a great time too. Thank you for everything, Noah." I stretched up and placed a kiss on his cheek and then touched the same place with my finger tip.

"It was my pleasure, trust me." He smiled, kissed my forehead and then walked out the door. I stood there for a few minutes with the door wide open before I shook myself from the stupor. I closed up and locked the door.

I showered quickly, washing the bar smell off me. I put on an old T-shirt and fell into bed. My thoughts were on Zero and our dinner. For the first time in a long time, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

A/N - What do you think? This story is completely written, but I still want to hear your thoughts and ideas! I love reviews! : )