A Night To Remember A Night to Remember Chapter 4, a janet evanovich fanfic

A/N: Thank you for all the warm fuzzy feeling reviews! So heads up, this won't be a fast story, but I'm not going to drag it out forever either. Hopefully you guys enjoy! Fyi: this is rated M for a reason. ;) just a warning! Also if you are a tart fan check out my other stories, one is complete the other is on process.So this chapter kind of went on and on! I made the executive decision to cut it in half after I couldn't stop writing. Hopefully it flows ok!

Chapter 4

Stephanie's POV

I woke up the next morning curled up in my bed with an arm hanging over me. It took me a second to remember the previous night, and why I had someone in bed with me. I rolled over and saw Joe's face, soft and comforting. I got lost looking at his features when he spoke without opening his eyes.

"I smell a fire burning. What are you thinking about so hard Cupcake?" he opened one eye and smiled at me.

"Nothing." My face burned with embarrassment that he caught me staring at him. Joe and I don't have anything romantic or sexual going on at all, but it didn't stop me from admiring his face and body laying next to me in bed. Sue me, it's been a while! He made a noise like he didn't believe me and was about to say something when his phone buzzed. He reached across me to pick it up and sighed.

"Duty calls. Can I grab a quick shower?" he asked like he needed to or I would say no and got out of bed.

"Of course. Extra clothes are in your drawer." He leaned down and gave me a kiss on the nose before grabbing items out of the drawer and going to the bathroom. There were too many nights that he would stay over and be called in to work early so I just gave him a drawer here. I have one at his house too, although we hardly ever stay there. I try and keep that place for him and his girlfriend, even though she and I are friends I doubt she would like seeing me there in the morning. I heard his phone ding and on instinct I grabbed it to check the message.

I thought about what you said, and would like to set up a meeting with Stephanie if you could arrange it. Let me know- Ranger

What the hell? I remember Joe saying he told Ranger to contact him if he wanted to see me, but what was this about "I thought about what you said"?? This seems business like, not friendly. I heard Joe turn the water off so I set the phone back down and start pulling out clothes for the day. I feel him slip behind me and his hands at my waist. When I turn around I see him dressed, hair wet and a puppy dog look in his eyes. I had to laugh. "Let me guess, you want coffee?" He grinned at me and nodded so I padded off to the kitchen to start a pot. When its done I bring him the cup and start to get changed.

"Uh… Cupcake did my phone ding when I was in the shower?" I couldn't stop the redness from creeping onto my cheeks.

"Yeah. I checked to make sure it wasn't an emergency…" I trailed off as I sat on the bed pulling on my jeans. I felt him sit next to me and put his hand on my arm.

"Steph, stop. It isn't what you think." I heard him hiss as I glared at him.

"Really Joe? Its not? Cause to me it seems you're bargaining with a stranger about me. What's he want with me huh?" I could feel the Rhino mode coming in full force. Joe could too, so he wrapped his arms around me tight and pulled me into his lap so I couldn't move.

"I mentioned to Ranger how I thought you were an excellent BEA, but that Vinnie did you a disservice by not giving you any training. Cupcake you don't carry your weapon, you hate to run and you have been hurt before when I wasn't with you." I struggled against him so he would let me go but he just held tight. "I love you Stephanie. I don't want you injured, and I think if you worked with Ranger he could help you become an even better bounty hunter." His words caused me to stop struggling and I sat back against his chest thinking.

He was right. I was pretty good at my job, even with the minimal training I received (by training I mean Connie his office manager explaining what I had to do) but I could become great. Joe finally loosened his grip on me and I started gnawing on my thumbnail as I put together a plan. "Okay Joe. Tell him I'll meet with him." I stood up and grabbed a shirt from my closet, slipping it on and then bent to grab my shoes when I heard him make a noise. I straightened and looked at him. He had a big grin on his face and his phone in his hand.

"Done. Now I gotta get to work, I sent him your number okay?" he stood in front of me and gave me a quick kiss before turning around and leaving. He was already out the door before I realized he hadn't even grabbed his coffee. "Three… two… one…" I counted down and sure enough he came back in, grabbed the cup from my hand kissing me again and was back out the door. I grinned and finished getting ready when I heard my phone ding. Checking it I saw a message from the man in black himself.

Good morning Stephanie. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. Please put this number on your speed dial and know that whenever you need back up my men and I will be happy to assist you. If you are willing I would like to meet with you today. Please come to our office around 11. Look forward to seeing you again. -Ranger

The tone of the message was completely professional, so why did I have a major hot flash when I read it? He followed it with the directions of their office building and I recognized the address as a building I walk by a lot but never noticed. I guess that was the point. Checking the time I decided I had enough to get to the bond office, pick up my check and hit the bank before meeting him so I stopped to drop Rex a few cheerios to enjoy and headed out.

Ranger's POV

After speaking with Morelli at the precinct, I went back to my penthouse on floor 7 of our office on Haywood and took a long cold shower, then met with my three core members in my office on 5. They all agreed it would benefit both Stephanie and our company to have her come work with us, although I'm not sure if their decisions were made on what she looked like in her distraction outfit and how she affected them, or them actually believing it was a good idea. Either way I was adding their answers in the plus column for us hiring Stephanie. Not that there was a negative about the situation at all… maybe one.

The woman could turn us to stone without a second thought. Would I be okay with my men thinking about her like that every day? Seeing her in her distraction get ups, sitting near her in meetings… now that I knew her and Morelli were nothing but friends my jealous steak had died down a bit, but I knew it would flare up again as soon as she met the rest of Rangeman … would I be alright with it? What the hell is wrong with you? She hasn't even agreed to work with us, and I'm mapping out our future together. I shook my head and decided to call it a night.

I woke up the next morning to find my hand around my dick absentmindedly stroking myself. It was obvious I has been thinking about my blue eyed babe all night long, I could hammer nails with my cock. I jumped up and decided a cold shower was exactly what I needed (again) before trying to function the rest of the day, but not before I sent the detective a message.

I thought about what you said, and would like to set up a meeting with Stephanie if you could arrange it. Let me know- Ranger

After my shower I decided to make my way down to our gym when I heard my phone ding and a message came across from Detective Morelli. I grinned as I read it.

Steph has agreed to meet you. Call or text her at this number and set it up. And no need to worry about Rhino mode, I already was privy to it. Good luck, and take it easy on her. She's the most important thing in the world to me. -Morelli

She agreed!! Yes! My inner child was doing backflips on the thought of her showing up at Haywood. I thought about my message to her while doing a few miles on the treadmill, and when I was done I made my way back upstairs to my apartment and sent her the message.

I took a quick shower to rinse the sweat of the gym away and got redressed in our standard uniform of all black before calling my team to the conference room again. I gave them the update on Stephanie, that she would be coming by and when, and to make sure they were available at that time. I didn't want her to be overwhelmed , but also figured I would need all four of us there for any questions or concerns she might have.

After a bite to eat and a few meetings the time came for her to be here, and I heard my phone buzz in my office.

"Yo."

"Ranger there's a woman named Stephanie Plum here to see you? Says she has an appointment?"

"Bring her up to 5 Hal, we will meet her there." I hung up and gathered my other three core members, and we all made our way to the elevators to meet our newest prospective employee.