Stephanie's POV:

I turned slowly, expecting to see some buff man dressed in black, or the cops. Either way I was doomed. Instead, I had to look down, and a small Cuban woman with short dark hair and familiar eyes...

"Well, are you Stephanie Plum?" She asked again.

I swallowed loudly. "Yes ma'am."

"Oh, don't ma'am me. I get that enough from my son." DING! Her son? OMG, this was Ranger's mother!!! Did she know there her son was here in Miami and that he was looking for me? She had to know, mother's know everything. At least my mom does.

"You are more beautiful in person then that silly grainy picture he showed me." I must have looked black because she raced on to explain. "Oh how silly of me. I didn't even introduce myself. I'm Carols' mother Maria. " She held out her hand to me. I was sure my jaw was on the floor. I shook it numbly. Just my luck. " Are you here with my son? He never mentioned that you were coming down here."

"Ummm, well. I'm kinda on the run." I thought I would go with the truth. Plus, don't mother have eyes in the back of their heads or something?

"Oh dear." She sighed. "What did he do now?"

"Um...what?" She already assumed it was Ranger's fault. I was beginning to like her.

"Stephanie, my son is not so good with his emotions. His actions speak louder then words, but actions can be interpreted many different ways. I wish that boy would just come out and tell you he loves you. Everyone else can see it." She smiled up at me. I couldn't believe I was having this conversation.

"L-l-lov-" Good grief, I couldn't even get the damn word out. I tried again. " He loves me?"

"Ahhhh, I see the problem. I am going to have to give that boy a good whack on the head when I see him" I was really beginning to like her. "Does he know you're here?" I nodded.

"I just missed him."

"And I am guessing that is a good thing?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Oh boy, here we go again.

"BecauseIlovehimbutI'msuchascrewupandIdon'twanttolosehimasafriend. AND HE IS SO DAMN MANLY AND FRUSTRATING." There it was out.

Maria just laughed at me. And took my arm again.

"Come with me dear. I think you and I need to have a good conversation so I can properly educate my son in the art of understanding women." She lead me back out to the parking lot to her car, which just so happened to be a STS, wonder where she got that from?

Maria's POV:

What luck running into Carols' Stephanie. I could easy see why he was so enchanted by her. She was wonderful, and she didn't even know it. I waited as she sat down in the passager side of the car before I pulled out my phone and dialled.

"What is it mom?"

"Is that any way to talk to your mother?"

"I'm in a business meeting." I'm sure you are.

"That's fine. And when you're done lying to me, dinner will be served at six. I expect to see you there."

A/N: Does anyone actually know what Ranger's mother's name is? Or is that still an unknown?