Previous Chapter Recap:

"If you say so. Anyway, I was wondering when you would be heading back to Haywood? You have been gone longer than expected and I have an update on Martinez's location."

Miguel Martinez is a very high dollar skip that would bring $200,000 into Rangeman and has actually managed to evade our capturing him once already, and that is one time too many. Not only is Martinez a danger to society and needs to be locked away for good in my opinion, but his bond expires in two days and I refuse to lose out on that kind of money...and chase!

"I'm on my way, Tank!"

I hang up my phone, return it to the holster on my belt and turn my head in the direction of my intrigued passenger. A slow growing grin begins to appear on my face as I say to her, "So, you have any plans for the day?"

Stephanie's POV:

Do I have plans for the day?

"Um, no not really. I mean there is nothing set in stone." Ranger's question catches me off guard. This is the first he's made conversation with me while driving and I can't help but wonder if it has something to do with the phone call that he just ended. With a slight tilt to my head and a furrow in my brow I ask

"Why do you ask?"

With what I sense to be a gleam in his eye and a 200 watt smile splayed across his face Ranger follows up with, "Good, because an important matter has surfaced back at my office and I am needed immediately. Besides, I think that you accompanying me will be of benefit to you."

Benefit me? Benefit me how? I wonder what he has in mind for me. Ranger must have noticed the questioning look on my face because he continued with his reasoning for why I should accompany him to his office.

"Relax Babe. All I meant is that I think you will find enjoyment and interest in the matter that requires my attention, plus when we are through I would like to show you something."

Boy have I become quite fond of the way he calls me Babe.

"Oh, ok sounds good then."

Oh my god! My insides are screaming with excitement and all of a sudden my Hungarian hormones are back and with full force they are indulging in a sultry tango number inside my body. I have to glance down at my lap to keep Ranger from noticing the heat that his risen to my cheeks. God, what this man does to me. I can't believe I am blushing.

Oh no! Looking down at my lap I finally become well aware of my attire. He can not honestly expect me to sport my booty shorts and skimpy work out tank to his office, can he?

"Ranger!"

Oops, I think that caught him by surprise. Good thing we are finally out of traffic and there are no other cars to either side of us because the jerk of his steering wheel may have caused an accident if there were.

"Babe, what's wrong?"

"Look at me! I can't go to your office in this get up. God, my ass is practically hanging out of my shorts…definitely not proper 'professional' attire. We have to go to my apartment so that I can change!"

"Babe, you look fine. Besides it's not that kind of business and we really don't have the time to go to your apartment first."

"I look fine? Ranger, have you even looked at me? If you will recall I was working out when you arrived to escort me in to the police station. My hair is probably a mess and my outfit…"

He cut me off with, "Yes, Babe, I have definitely taken a look at you and please believe me when I say that you are captivatingly beautiful!"

Wow! With that I turned my head toward the road while my face flushed crimson.

Five minutes later Ranger pulled the Porsche up to a tall brick building with a gated entrance. He waved a key fob over a black box and when it flashed green the gate opened and we headed to an underground garage. Ranger parked his Porsche in front of an elevator and in between a black supped up F-150 Ford truck and a black Mercedes S-Class 600…wow doesn't even begin to describe these vehicles…maybe I should indulge in something a little more…classy to drive than my Escape, I mean I do have the money and I love these cars!

Before I even realized Ranger had exited the Porsche, he was at my side with my door open and offering me a hand. I gladly accepted it and go to climbed out of the passenger seat when I get a little help from the sex on legs standing above me. A little tug of his arm has me inches from Ranger's chest. Looking up, I found Ranger's sultry, smoldering chocolate eyes, which were darkening with each passing second.

There is that staggering seductive tension again. Without breaking eye contact, Ranger slowly pulled our interlocked hands up to his mouth and pressed the softest and most sensual kiss on my knuckles. My lips parted with an aroused gasp and the muscles in my lower stomach clenched uncontrollably.

Ranger gently pulled my left hand from his lips and brought his up to my face and with the back of his finger tucked a loose tendril of hair behind my ear. He slowly began to lean into me and I instinctively closed my eyes and braced myself for what I anticipated to be the most bone shattering kiss I will have ever experienced…but it didn't come.

Nope, Ranger's damn phone went off and dissolved us of our most intimate moment. I could literally kill whoever is on the other line and judging from the anger and disappointment that washed over his face, so could Ranger.

Sighing deeply, Ranger snapped open his phone and answered with a stern and frustrated, "WHAT!"

"I'll be right up!"

Ranger ran a hand down his face and clasped it over his mouth for a second or two, almost as if to regain his composure, but that is just a guess. I sure as hell could use an ice bath to regain my composure.

Placing his right hand at the small of my back and looking intimately in my direction he says, "Come on, Babe, sounds like we are wanted upstairs."

We?

Ranger's POV:

I asked Stephanie if she had plans for the day for two reasons. One reason being that Tank was quite adamant that the Martinez matter needed to be addressed immediately and I fully agreed. The second reason was that I really wasn't through spending time with her. Though I know nothing about this woman who unexpectedly and quite literally kicked her way into my world this morning, I have a feeling that she will be surprised by Rangeman and that she will be pleased with its offerings…especially with what I want to introduce to her later today.

Aside from nearly being involved in a car accident, Steph's sudden outburst regarding her current clothing choice was quite humorous and I definitely had to stifle a laugh. Dios, I have never met a woman like her. She has me behaving in ways that have become foreign to me over the years. I assume characteristics and features such as laughing, smiling, need and lust to be prominent in the daily lives of most people, but I shut my self off from such emotions a long time ago.

In just one morning; a few hours spent with one woman, Stephanie Plum, and those walls and barriers that I engineered in myself to help keep me emotionally detached have begun to crumble. The uncontrollable reaction I am having to this woman, the woman I have referred to as being "mine" and "my Babe" is baffling to me.

Turning off the engine to the Porsche I notice Steph taking in her surroundings. It looks as if she is checking out the F-150 and the Mercedes. I think she approves.

I angle myself out of the driver's seat and walk around the car toward her door. I open it and reach out a hand to assist her in standing. As she does, I give a slight casual tug that has her upright and just inches from my chest. When our eyes lock I witness the most incredible sight I have ever seen, two bright pools of emerald staring into my brown ones and they are dancing with what I think to be desire.

I didn't think twice about the intimate moment the two of us were having and where we were having it. All thoughts were on the single most exquisite woman I have ever encountered. As I brought her hand to my mouth and placed a soft kiss to her knuckle I thought to myself, I have met many women in my past, beautiful ones, but no one as breathtaking and absolutely hypnotic as Stephanie Plum.

The touch of her slender hand to my lips had me yearning for more. The gasp that escapes her divine little mouth leaves her lips slightly ajar and causes my pants to grow a bit tighter than when I first stepped into them. I want, no need, to feel her perfectly pouty lips on mine. I notice a few strands of hair have come lose from her hair band and is lying softly on the right side of her face. I reach my left hand up and with a finger I slowly tuck it behind her ear. Who would have guessed that a simple gesture could be so intimate?

Keeping eye contact, I lean into Steph and am about to cower to the sexual tension that has been lingering around us all morning and my ever present phone rings. Dios, this better be important or someone is joining me on the mats at 0500 tomorrow.

"WHAT!"

"Hey, Boss, I see that you've returned. Didn't expect you gone so long…what ya been up to, eh?"

Santos, damn, I forgot he was covering on monitor duty this morning.

"So, uh, you gonna come on up so that we can get this meeting rolling. We're all in the conference room on five. Oh, and bring that smokin' hot little bombshell ya got with you on up too."

"I'll be right up!"

Running a hand down my face and holding it over my lips that yearn for hers, I try to clear my head and regain my composure. Son of a bitch, that cousin of mines gonna get his tomorrow!

Still heated from Santos' most inopportune phone call I turn to see Steph gazing at me through hooded eyes. I guess she's still affected by our interrupted closeness. Nothing I can do about it right now.

"Come on, Babe, sounds like we are wanted upstairs."

Author Notes: Ok, ok, I know I am cruel but I promise that the story is going to pick up again from here. I really, really wanted to put a lot of sexual tension between Ranger and Steph and besides, she's only known him for like half a day, not even, jeez! I have a fun chapter planned for next and it will involve some action…you will have to wait and read up on which kind. ;-) I will be out of town this weekend but will return Sunday and will work on the next chapter. Have a great weekend!