Before I get started, characters belong to Janet Evanovich and all mistakes are mine.

Stephanie's POV

It was the f***ing unholy hour of 6:30 A.M. when my phone sang out waking me up. My first thought was someone better have died. My second thought was dear god don't let it be that. I saw it was from Rangemen, LLC. This was either really good or really bad. The owner of the company and my sometime lover had been in the wind for around a year and a half. This call meant he was either home or….. I couldn't even think about what could have happened to Ranger. When the phone stopped ringing I let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding and was about to roll over when it started again. Damn.

This could to be bad, better to face it I guess. I answer with a shaky, "Hi" my voice cracking.

Tank, Ranger's right-hand man, said, "Hey bombshell, it's Tank. What's up?"

I simply say what's running through my head. "Tank if he is dead I will kill him then you."

"Steph, he's fine. He's on his way over to see you now."

"Then why the hell am I talking to you at the god damned hour of 6:30 in the morning?" I asked

"'Cause you love me."

"Doesn't mean I'm not hanging up and killing you later."

"Steph wait. We need you to do a unique undercover security job for us. I called to warn you that you have about 20 minutes to shower and drink all the coffee you can."

"Care to elaborate?"

He answered, "Not one bit. Bye Steph."

"Bye Tank. I will get you back; mark my words." I hear his hearty laugh at the other end of the line and I growl and slightly swear under my breath before hanging up.

I had showered and finished half a pot of coffee when I felt my neck tingle. I turned around to find Ranger staring at me. Did he always have to look like a Cuban god? He started to walk over to me but stopped when we heard a little squawk I knew only a baby could make. I felt my jaw along with the rest of my face drop. Had he been with someone else having a baby, making a family? I felt the tears start to well up even though they had no reason to. Ranger and I were never a couple. I don't have any claim to him.

"Babe I see steam." Ranger said as he took an infant who was no more than a couple days old out of the carrier resting on the floor.

"Is is is this why you left?"

"Babe, no i left on a mission this is who we're supposed to protect. Her mother was killed in the hospital shortly after giving birth before she could even name her. Her dad has a price on his head and he begged us to protect her."

I said, "Tank told me I had to go undercover." Then I walked across the room to see the baby.

"I was hoping you would be willing to go undercover as her mom and you can pick whoever you want to go along with you as her dad or bodyguards."

"Babe, I know you're probably still pissed but this baby needs you." He put a finger under my chin, lifting it up so I was looking in his eyes. Everything but love and lust instantly vanished along with my bones as I turned into a puddle at his feet. I apparently was zoned out longer than I thought 'cause my thoughts were interrupted by Ranger's voice.

"Babe", he said with that pantie wetting grin that I love. What came next almost knocked me off my feet. "Babe, please not for me, for this kid; she needs someone."

"Ranger, I wasn't pregnant. How will people think I got my daughter?" "You haven't talked to anyone from around here besides by phone for over seven months Steph. You wouldn't be showing. They wouldn't have known even if you were."

I thought back to why I isolated myself in the first place. It has been exactly one year and three and a half months ago both Ranger and Morelli left me on the same day. At least Ranger had the decency to tell me to let him go. Morelli had sex with me in his car in the alley behind the bonds office where I work for my weasel of a cousin Vinny. And he said he'd compare it to when he got back.

"Babe." I swallowed and brought my attention back to the baby.

Just then the baby started crying. Ranger asked me to grab the diaper bag. I did and followed him into the kitchen. I put the bag on the counter and was about to ask what to get from the bag when he handed her to me. I hesitated then held her. She didn't deserve to feel unloved or unwanted. I couldn't help myself.

He made her a bottle and leaned back on the counter. I leaned against his chest. He had an arm wrapped around me helping me to support the baby while he fed her with his other arm. He rested his chin on my shoulder and if it was possible, I fell even more in love with him. And then again my thoughts were interrupted, this time by a door opening. Damn.