Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, they belong to Janet Evanovich. I just like to play with them for a bit.

I've recently become a bit of a Tart lover (Merry Men! Yum!) and this is my contribution to what I'm hoping will become a more popular pairing/s in the Plum universe. I hope you enjoy!

Thank you to the people who reviewed the last chapter - all feedback and encouragement is welcomed.

Warning: this fic is not Babe or Cupcake.

What Comes Next?

Chapter Two

So, as I said before, life was going great. Or was meant to be.

Which brings me back to my sighing.

Putting my now empty coffee cup down on the counter I shook my head. That's enough thinking about the past now. No more sighing over my lack of love life or the fact that I've become best friends with my shower massager. Honesty – being around all those fine looking guys nearly every day takes its toll on a woman. Just because I don't let my hormones show these days, doesn't mean they aren't on full throttle. I mean, just the other day Lester's favourite pen rolled behind his desk, and he spent a good five minutes on his hands and knees under the desk looking for it. And there I was, with a perfect view from behind.

Hmmm... Yum.

I shook my head again; this was no time for fantasies either. I had to get to work. I grabbed my purse, strapped in my gun into its halter on my hip and scootered downstairs to my car.

I had a half day shift teamed with Bobby watching the Rangeman monitors and needed to be in the right headspace for it, not to mention also being on time. While I had been doing normal fieldwork for about a month now, it was split up evenly with the work in the office, something I didn't mind too much. At least Bobby was good company – and it was only a five hour shift.

I pulled into the underground car park at Haywood and parked. Realising I only had four minutes until my shift started, and that the elevator would take at least five, I flung myself into the stairwell and sprinted to the fifth floor. When I burst through the door leading into the hallway, I turned a sharp right nearly running right into Tank, and raced down to the hallway where the glass door to the monitoring room stood.

Pushing through the door, I looked at the clock, "Whoo, right on time," I managed to pant out while doing a small happy dance. Cal and Ram, who Bobby and I were taking over from, just grinned, while Bobby shook his head with a small smile on his face. It was the same every time Bobby and I were working together. Honestly – I'm always ready on time, I just like to see his reaction. It's pathetic, but it gives me a bit of kick. And he still hasn't caught on that it's intentional.

I slid into the chair that Ram had vacated and Bobby sat down next to me. He had obviously gotten here earlier to fix us both a cup of coffee and snacks for the shift. God bless him. I sipped my coffee while training my eyes on the monitors. Thank god this was only for five hours – I much prefer putting my newly found computer skills to work if I'm in the office.

I was sitting at the monitors by myself. Bobby had gone for a bathroom break and to stretch his legs. When he gets back, I got to go. It had been a quiet shift so far. Nothing had happened at all, and the guys in the field were all doing preliminary surveillance work, so it was quiet out there as well.

I was surprised when a body sat down in Bobby's chair, he still had five minutes of his break left, and nobody – and I mean nobody, comes back from their break five minutes early. So I knew it wasn't Bobby straight away. Quickly sliding my eyes across and off the monitors I wasn't surprised to see Lester sitting there.

The odd thing was, instead of his usual 'Beautiful' and bear hug, he was looking quite nervous. Lester never looked nervous; I wonder what's up...

"Hey Steph," Lester said while fiddling with his hands, "Can I talk to you privately when Bobby comes back?"

I smiled, my curiosity piqued, "Of course Lester. I'll meet you outside once my break starts."

He gave me a weak smile and hauled himself up from the chair, "Thanks Steph, I'll be waiting outside."

Bobby came in a few minutes later and plopped back into his chair, "Your turn Steph." I stood and stretched, my back clicking satisfactory. "Thanks Bobby, I'll be back in ten." And walked outside to where Lester was pacing the hallway.

He stopped when he saw me. Lester was even more nervous than before, and I was thrown off by it. He was always so confident and outgoing.

I gestured to the stairwell, and he nodded his agreement. While there were still cameras in all of the stairwells, there wasn't any sound. When we had positioned ourselves so that the cameras couldn't catch our lips, Lester let out a long breath.

"I have something to ask you Steph. And I'll completely understand if you shoot me down. Not to mention if you stun gun me..."

I interrupted the beginning of Lester's ramble, "Just ask me Lester and let me decide whether I shoot you down or not," and shot a soft smile with an inquisitive eyebrow to him.

"Ok. But I know you're not going to like it..."

I was starting to get impatient and my foot started to tap, "Just tell me what's up already!"

Lester sucked in a big breath of air, "I told my aunt that we were engaged four months ago and now she's coming to visit and expects me to have you as my fiancé, living with me and she's started to talk about wedding plans, and I need you, am begging you to-"

I couldn't help it. I started to laugh. This was ridiculous and Lester must have been put up by the guys to prank me, "Wow Lester, this is a hilarious prank, you can tell the others that I'm not falling for it," I started to open the stairwell door; "It was a nice try though. Maybe next time you'll make it more believable."

Lester moved to in front of me, and I looked up into his face. It was serious and his eyes held an emotion in them that I couldn't place.

Oh bugger.

Lester was bloody serious. It wasn't a joke. If it had been he would have cracked by now.

"Steph – I'm being serious-"

Shit, the time, my break was about to end, "Lester my break is ending, like, right now, so I have to go." I opened the door again, "Come round to my place tonight and bring dinner. Then you can explain yourself properly."

He just nodded, and I walked, quickly, back to my desk.

Well at least I have a lot to think about for the next two and half hours...

Like: Why on earth would Lester make me his pretend fiancé?

It wasn't until I was in the shower at home after my shift that I started to feel nervous. Curiosity had kicked in as soon as I sat down again in front of the monitors, and my thoughts had whirled. For once Bobby didn't have to tell me to stop fidgeting when it came to the final hour of monitoring.

All sorts of questions had gone through my mind. Such as, why on earth would Lester lie about being engaged? Why would he pick me as his pretend fiancé? Who is this aunt that Lester has never mentioned before (or at least to me)? Does he really expect me to pretend to be his fiancé? If I did agree, how would we make it believable?

That last question was a real doozy to think about. Everybody in Trenton knows about the Bombshell Bounty Hunter, and more often than not, in bad or amusing way. Not to mention the Burg gossip would be running hot if I were actually engaged...

I sighed as I nibbled at a donut. I still had most of the afternoon before Lester arrived. Perhaps a nap would be a good idea – just to clear the cobwebs away from my mind.

I sat up in bed, startled. What was that noise?

Looking at the clock I realise it is 6:30pm. Oh right – the door. Knocking. Lester.

Dear god, I am almost afraid to hear about how Lester has gotten into this...

I walked out of my bedroom and headed towards the front door. At least he isn't letting himself in like most of the guys would.

And I suppose it will be interesting to hear how Lester got himself into this situation.

It's almost reminiscent of something I would inadvertently do.

I opened the front door for Lester, and the wonderful scent of Chinese takeaway started to fill my apartment, instantly making my mouth water. Though, even if Lester wasn't holding Chinese takeaway, I still might have drooled at the sight of him in dark denim jeans and a t-shirt with a motif on the front.

"Hey earth to Steph. Are you going to let me in? Or are we eating dinner in the doorway?" I looked up from the bags holding the takeaway to Lester's face. He had a slight smile and his eyes were sparkling. Well – that was a change from the last time I saw him.

"Huh – oh right, come on in. I'll grab some dishes and cutlery."

When I returned from the kitchen, also cradling two beers, Lester had already set up the food on the coffee table. And, damn, it smelt and looked amazing. I didn't really want to try and have what was potentially going to be a serious conversation while trying to eat...

Lester snatched the plates and cutlery from me, and set about serving the food. I popped the tops off the beers, and handed him one, as he handed me a plate.

Smiling Lester said, "How about we eat first, drink our beer, then talk?"

Perfect.

"That sounds good Lester, this food looks amazing and I don't want to ruin it by having to talk."

He just smiled again at me.

What a change from back at the office, when he was actually displaying nervousness. Something must have happened between us talking in the stairwell to now...

Maybe his aunt isn't visiting anymore, and has cancelled her trip or whatever? Or maybe Lester has just told her the truth, that he doesn't have a fiancé? Either way – something has changed, and I need the whole story...

Lester and I both put our plates down simultaneously. Suddenly, Lester was all nerves again, fiddling with a cushion on the couch. I turned to sit sideways, so I could face him, pulling my legs up underneath my body, "Ok Lester. It's time for you to tell me what's happening."

He sighed and slouched back into the couch. "Yep. It is." He sat forward and turned around to face me, "But I want you to try not to judge or interrupt me while I'm telling you the whole story." His eyes pleaded with me.

I had to fight the soft smile that was threatening to appear on my face. He looked so... Vulnerable. Completely unusual for Lester, but not in a bad way.

"Ok Lester – I promise to try."

He nodded as his eyes drifted away from me towards the window, slightly glassing over. Hmm... This is going to take awhile. I settled back into the armrest and waited for Lester to start talking.