As you know, Janet Evanovich owns her characters, I do not. I absolutely love her Plum Series and decided to play with her characters on my own. This story is told by someone I've made up; Rachel Manoso. I hope you enjoy it, it's my first FanFic. ~ Maia

I was at a red light talking on my cell phone about an FTA to an employee when a large, black SUV pulled up next to me. Deciding giving him any attention would be a step in the wrong direction, especially when you were trying to live a Ranger-Free sort of day, I chose to ignore my husband and put the pedal to the metal when the light turned green.

Unfortunately for me, this didn't faze Ranger in the slightest. He stuck to my tail all the way to my townhouse, parking his big, black monstrosity across my driveway after I'd shut off the Carrera's engine.

Getting out I eyed Ranger warily then ended my phone conversation. "Change your mind?" I asked him as he approached. Ranger just smiled. Figures.

"I hear you had some trouble in the park this morning."

I'd just gone to the grocery store and was busy with the bags in the trunk of the car. Grabbing a couple of them I inwardly stewed. "I didn't realize you'd already put me under surveillance." And godamnit why hadn't I?

"You're slipping." He said taking one of the bags from the car and closing the trunk. If my hands hadn't already been full I would've yanked the bag from him and punched Ranger square in the face.

"You know, I couldn't care less." The corners of his mouth lifted slightly and I rolled my eyes as I walked past him. "Just leave the bag there. I'll get it in a minute."

"So rude." He said following along.

"I learned that from the best as well."

"Baby, I'm always a perfect gentleman."

"Mm. Even when you're stealing another man's woman." He reached out a hand and spun me around.

"Whatever Morelli told you don't believe it."

"Sorry. Sounds like the same old story, just a different day to me."

"You know better."

"I know he's worried about you, and if he's worried there's got to be a reason." Ranger stared at me a quietly a moment.

"Stephanie and I work together."

"Among other things, I'm sure." I said turning away.

"You're jealous."

"In your dreams, Manoso." I mumbled, pulling my key from my pants pocket. "The little I've learned about Stephanie Plum tells me she's a train wreck on a daily basis. If you're attracted to someone like, whatever. I wish the both of you nothing but fucked up happiness."

"Liar." The look of indifference I shot him riled Ranger so he advanced on me as I went into the townhouse.

"Shut the door behind you!" I called out cheerfully. He followed me into the kitchen and watched as I deposited my grocery bags, clearly amused when I was forced to take from him the one he'd carried inside.

Removing an apple out of one of the bags I took a big bite then pointed towards my desk. "Papers are right there."

"And there they will stay."

I shrugged my shoulders and continued to chew my apple as I put groceries away. "Suit yourself. I'm not leaving until you sign them."

"That breaks my heart." He replied, approaching me as he did, moving in really close. "Maybe if you stick around for a while you'll see again that I'm really not such a bad guy." He peeked into my grocery bag and I crumpled it closed.

"No amount of time is going to change my mind or how I feel, Ranger. I want that divorce."

"We can't have everything we want."

"You bastard." I said trying to shove him away. He grabbed my wrist gently, took my apple and bit into it. "Ugh." I grumbled letting him have it. "You know," I said, an idea coming quickly to mind. "I could always start charging Rangeman for my stay here. I have been running up quite the bill," my matter-of-fact tone didn't seem to faze him. He continued to chew my apple, watching me. "Renting this place is expensive. Add the car and everything else…" Ranger smiled, unfazed.

"My money has always been your money, sweetheart. You know that." I narrowed my gaze. That'd been a waste of my time.

"I don't need your damn money."

He nodded. "You've made that abundantly clear."

"And I don't need you." He said nothing. "I don't." I reiterated.

"Babe, you need me more than you realize." He was so cocky and infuriating!

"I hope a stray bullet catches you in the head on the way home."

"Now that's not nice." He said taking the last bite out of my apple and tossing it in the trash. "I was thinking we should go out to dinner sometime."

I turned towards him and gawked. "Like on a date!? Ha! I think I'd rather poke my eye out with a stick."

He walked over, turned me to towards him and hooked his fingers in my jeans, pulling me close. "Don't joke like that. I die every time I look into your eyes."

"Could be because of the daggers shooting out of them." He flashed me a very sexy grin, one brilliant enough to stop my heart.

"It's the love I find there."

"You need glasses."

He bent close to me, his lips a whisper from mine. "I need you."

"If you needed me so badly you wouldn't betray me time and again with countless women." He froze, the change in his body telling me I'd hit a cord. "I know you're involved with Morelli's girlfriend. You can't honestly believe I'd let you eat your cake and have it, too."

"Like I said earlier, whatever Morelli said to you –"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Blah, blah, blah." I replied shoving him away. "I'd rather take him up on his invitation for coffee than your idea of dinner any day."

"Excuse me?" He said grabbing my arm, his fingers biting into flesh.

"You heard me."

"He invited you to coffee? Does he know who you are?"

"Of course he knows."

"Did he ask you to coffee before or after learning you're my wife?"

I smiled. "After." Ranger's eyes darkened. "He's a good looking guy, that Joe Morelli. Good enough to eat."

"I'll kill you both."

I made a tsking sound with my tongue as I shook my head at him. "Turn about is fair play, big boy. You fucked his girlfriend so maybe Morelli wouldn't mind some payback." As soon as the words were out of my mouth I knew I'd gone too far.

The air in the room changed then to violent. Ranger advanced on me, pushing me back against the refrigerator with enough force that I hit my head. I'd closed my eyes and started to count the stars there when I felt his hands come up on either side of me, trapping me as he glared fiercely down into my face.

"You even think about taking Morelli up on that coffee invitation and I'll kill him."

"You don't scare me."

"Honey, lets get something straight, you should be very frightened right now." And I could see it in his eyes. Ranger meant business. "Stay away from Morelli."

"Who are you trying to protect?" I asked tipping my head to the side. "Stephanie or me?"

"That answer should be obvious."

"Always protecting the wrong one." He looked like he wanted to strangle me.

"Joke all you want, babe. I'm only going to issue the warning once." My eyes met Ranger's and held. "You're mine. I don't care what's been going on between us. That simple fact remains the same and always will. If you go near Morelli, if you encourage him in any way, shape or form, I'll see to it he's moving through life in a wheelchair. Just for the fun of it."

"You can't tell me who I can talk to, what I can do."

"I believe I just did."

"Doesn't mean I'll listen."

"It's his funeral." I stared at Ranger quietly and listened to my heart beating wildly in my chest.

"I hate you."

"No you don't. That's your problem. You wish you could, but no matter what you tell yourself you just can't wrap your heart around hating me."

He left soon after that, his warning still vibrating through the air leaving me cold.

I knew Ranger meant business. And while I'd teased him about protecting Stephanie, I knew that wasn't the truth. He wasn't the kind of man to issue idle threats. Nor was he the type to share what belonged to him, and I was pretty sure Morelli wasn't either.

So what kind of person was this Stephanie Plum? It was obvious she had Morelli and Ranger wrapped around her little finger. But, what did that mean? How serious was Ranger's relationship with this woman, the one who pretended to be a bounty hunter.

Running my fingers through my hair I glanced over at the phone and worried my bottom lip. Picking it up, I dialed Morelli's number and waited. He answered up on the second ring.

"Are you alone?"

"Just me and Bob."

"Do you know who this is?"

"Of course." He replied, and I could hear a smile in his voice.

"I need some information from you."

"Okay."

"And I've got to warn you, Ranger's not happy that we've met or that you've invited me to coffee." Morelli chuckled.

"Can't imagine he would be."

"He's threatened to cut your legs off at the knee caps."

"Painful."

"I just wanted you to know this before we go any further." He was quiet.

"I can handle Ranger." I wasn't sure he could, and I was pretty sure Morelli wasn't sure he could either, but we both needed something from each other and were willing to sacrifice whatever it took for that help. "What do you need, Rachel?"

"Not over the phone. But you've got to understand, he's got me under surveillance."

"That doesn't surprise me."

"Why?"

"Ranger's very protective of what he considers his."

"Including Stephanie." Joe said nothing and I closed my eyes. "So you understand the risk if you meet with me?"

"Sweetheart, I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" I questioned, my voice very quiet as I continued to worry that bottom lip, concerned not only for Morelli, but myself.

"You're worried about me." I smiled at the phone.

"I wouldn't want him messing up that handsome face of yours."

"He only mentioned my legs."

"That was after he mentioned killing us both if we…" and I trailed off.

"If we…" he repeated and I grinned. "Well, that might be worth dying for." I gave him my home and cell number then disconnected. I wanted to rush off and meet with Morelli right then and there, but knew that'd be too risky. There was a pretty good chance that Ranger was parked outside my door.

Watching, waiting and preparing for whatever it was he was brewing…

Thanks for all the positive comments! I'm glad you're enjoying the story. Stay tuned for more!