A/N - I don't own anything you recognize, JE does.

No beta-mistakes are my own and I apologize in advance.

Warning - These are adults and grown men who may use offensive language and have offensive view points. There will be sex, as these are adults in adult relationships.

Chapter 2

Lester's POV

It's been over a week since Ranger and Steph's wedding and I haven't had the chance for once decent hook-up since that night.

Ranger decided to take a six month sabbatical after the wedding. That's right: he's touring the world with my Beautiful, while we're all pulling extra shifts to cover for him until we get all the new guys up to speed. Bitter doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of how I'm feeling.

I was sitting in the conference room with Tank and Bobby discussing a high bond FTA.

"He's elusive as fuck. But we got word that he occasionally appears at O'Brien's," Tank said.

"That's just a few blocks from here. At any given night at least a few of the guys are down there having a drink. What did Matty say?" asked Bobby.

Matty was the owner/head bartender of O'Brien's. He was also a good friend to everyone at RangeMan considering how much business we brought in.

"Apparently, our darling skip has a bit of a crush on one of Matty's regulars. Fletcher Cohen only shows up when this regular is there," Tank explained.

"What's the deal with the regular?" I asked.

"Twenty-eight year old female named Keira Morgan. All we found on her was an address and a driver's license. She's new in town, meets with her boss in these strange clandestine meetings about once a month at O'Brien's," Tank said reading his notes.

"She fucking him?" I asked.

"Not according to Matty. He said they have a strange relationship. He describes it as a mentor/mentee, father/daughter, best friend relationship. Whatever the fuck that means," Tank said as he sat back.

"What's the plan?" Bobby asked.

"Cohen's hard to pin down. But if he's really following this chick around, we get a line on her, we get him," I said.

Tank gave me a nod of approval. "Matty said she and her boss are due for another meeting next week. Let's record their conversation and see if we can slip a tracker in her car or in her purse," Tank said.

This wasn't the worst assignment. Hanging out a bar next week, waiting for the signal from Matty. The only tough thing is we have to appear like we have a reason to be there without getting too shitfaced. This also means I can't hit on women there, because I'll be working.

We broke from our meeting and I headed down to my apartment on four to get ready for the night. A bunch of us were going out and I really really need to get laid. Stephanie is gone, I've had a shitty week at work, and I'm going to have to spend all next week at a bar where I couldn't really drink and can't pick-up.

I just need a drink.

I showered and changed and met the guys down in the garage.

"Where you wanna go tonight?" Cal asked.

"Any place but O'Brien's," I laughed. Bobby just grinned.

We headed out to some club that I'm sure I've frequented before. The music was loud and I was mainlining vodka.

"Girls night, ten o'clock," Bobby said.

Our focus immediately went to a group of scantily clad women who were dancing with each other while casually glancing around the room to see if anyone was looking at them.

"I call the blonde," said Vince as he surveyed the group.

We made our way over to them, introduced ourselves and bought them all drinks. It took less than 20 minutes for us to pair off. I was dancing with a tall redhead who had huge tits and a tongue ring. She was clearly down to play considering the way she was grinding her hips into me. She draped her arms around me and then ran her tongue down the side of my neck. Yeah, it's time to go.

I led her to a dark corner of the club where we began to make out. I groped her ass and her breasts to gage her reaction. She responded well to all my touches.

"Why don't I take you home?" I suggested in between kisses.

She nodded and grabbed my hand to lead me out. I caught Bobby's eye as he was flirting with one of her friends and he nodded that he knew I was leaving.

We hopped in a cab to her place and once we were inside the door I was on her. There was the usually routine of kissing, foreplay than sex. Sex is always good, but I've become bored and jaded. Mostly because each time I'm with a woman, she pops into my head. It's distracting and rarely allows me to live in the moment. Man, I really am fucked-up.

Stephanie Plum is single handedly ruining my sex life.

I rolled over and looked at the woman lying beside me. She was sleeping, that's my cue. I know I could stay and initiate another round but I just don't feel like it. I don't want to stay here and I most certainly don't want to wake up next to this woman in the morning. We barely spoke at the club. It was just too loud. I don't even remember her name. I know she gave it to me, but I couldn't hear her when she said it.

I dressed quickly and quietly. I didn't even glance back as I walked out the door. I never do.

I took a cab back to RangeMan and went to my apartment on four. I grabbed a beer out of the fridge and sat on the couch. I heard my door open and close. Bobby came in and sat down with a beer in hand.

"Successful night?" he asked.

"Yep, she had a tongue ring. She was fun but efficient," I said. "You?" I asked.

"Chick told me she had cats, multiple fucking cats. I hate cats. I settled for her going down on me in the car," he said.

I chuckled. "Isn't she too young to become a cat lady?" I asked.

"Someone should tell her that," he responded with a shake of his head.

Vince and Manny then walked in and grabbed beers.

"Any luck?" I asked them.

Vince nodded and Manny responded. "Mine had a boyfriend," he said.

"Sucks, dude," I said.

Manny shrugged. "I still got some, we just had to do it in the bathroom because we couldn't go back to her place and there's no way in hell I would bring her here," he said.

We all nodded our silent agreement. We don't bring women back to RangeMan. It's like an unwritten rule for all us single guys. The only two guys who have girls are Tank and Ranger. Stephanie and Lula have been here multiple times, but no one else has gotten serious enough to bring a woman here.

Manny calls this place "a skank free zone." We all try and respect that.

A few of the other guys showed up to compare hook-up stories. We drank a few beers then everyone went back to their prospective apartments to sleep.

I showered and threw on some boxers to head to bed. I lied down and shut my eyes. All I could picture was Stephanie Plum on some Italian beach holding Ranger's hand. I groaned and rolled over.

Why can't I just let her go?