All characters belong to J.E.

Chapter 10

Ram watched the scene from the other side of the room. "Visualization seems to be the key to get Bomber to shoot like that. Some people channel anger or frustration to increase their aim, but she seems to take it a step further."

Ranger shot him a look that would have lesser men peeing themselves. "Whatever works best. Keep this up, Babe, and you'll be able to shoot as well as I do."

"Well, I've got plenty of time to kill. Why don't you show me what I have to compete against? Ram's the best shot at Rangeman other than you, and I've almost got him beat."

Ranger seemed a little surprised at her brashness. Without a word, he took out his Glock and put on his eye and ear protection while Ram sent out another paper target. Stephanie expected him to stop at one clip, but he went through four before he finished.

With a grin on his face, Ram held up the target for her to see. Instead of his normal swagger of one hole for an entire clip, Steph saw the Batman logo on the torso.

She narrowed her eyes. "Smart ass."

Ranger leaned down so that only Steph could hear him. "But you love my ass."

Steph watched him leave the room. Who knew the man of mystery had a sense of humor?

The rest of the afternoon passed with no more interruptions from Ranger. Steph worked steadily at her desk putting the finishing touches on a few client contracts. Lula called as she was finishing the last one for the day.

"You got plans for supper? My date for tonight cancelled. I'm all dressed up, and I don't want to waste all this hotness."

"I don't think it's a good idea for me to leave the building, but you can come here. We can find something to watch on Netflix."

"Damn. I guess that'll work. Maybe I'll see some hot muscle men on the way in to your apartment. What you want me to bring?"

"How about Thai food? There's a new place on the way to Haywood. Bobby said they've got good noodles."

"Works for me. Call it in for me. I want some chicken ginger stir fry and coconut soup. And some spring rolls. And some of those little dumpling things too."

After hanging up, Stephanie called and put in Lula's order, plus some pad Thai and lemon grass soup for her.

Twenty minutes later Lula and Stephanie were stretched out on the couch, surrounded by take out containers, and arguing over which movie to watch. Lula wanted Walking Tall. Steph was more interested in Casablanca.

"How can you want to watch a movie with a bunch of dead actors in it instead of The Rock? That man is so fine a nun would break her vows to get a chance with him."

"The story line in Casablanca is so much better though! I mean, c'mon…in love with one man she can't have and staying with another out of duty? I'm not saying The Rock isn't hot, but Casablanca is the best love story ever!"

"I'm not gonna go into why I think you like that movie so much. Besides, you got all the hotness you can look at around here. I ain't so lucky. I gotta take every chance I get to see a fine man."

Steph gave Lula her best Burg death glare. "Fine! I can always watch it later."

It was almost time for Operation Horse Hockey by the time the movie was over, so Steph left with Lula. Les was already waiting for her in the garage, leaning against a SUV with her bullet proof vest in one hand. When she stopped a couple of feet in front of him, Les grabbed her, pulling her against him, and gave her with a toe curling kiss.

"Damn, girl. Looks like y'all have become more than friends. How come you didn't tell me about it earlier? I want details!"

Stephanie turned a deep shade of pink. "It just happened in the last couple of days, Lula. I'm still getting used to it. And I'm not sharing any more details about Les than I did Joe or Ranger."

"It's all right, Beautiful. You can tell her what a big personality I've got," Les said with a wink.

Lula just stared the two of them. Steph braced herself for some embarrassing questions, but thankfully the elevator doors slid open and Tank, Hal, and Bobby stepped out. With a last look that promised more prying later, Lula got in her car and peeled out of the garage.

When Steph tried to bury her head in his chest, Les tipped her head up and kissed her again. She was beginning to forget why she was embarrassed, hell, she was forgetting her own name, until Tank cleared his throat. With her face burning again, Steph laid her head on Les' shoulder and took a deep breath.

"As soon as Ranger gets down here we'll load up and head out. Bomber, you're going to ride with Ranger, Les, and me in the first SUV. Hal, Hector, and Bobby will be in front of us, and Ram and Vince will bring up the rear. We're going to drive out to a safe house a few miles west of Newark. After we've made a show of moving you inside, we're going to make sure the area's clear before coming back here. Did you bring your disguise Steph?"

"Yep, it's already in the truck. I don't know who picked out that wig, but they must have watched Joe Dirt one too many times."

Bobby looked sheepish. "That's my fault, Bomber. I thought going for something completely unexpected would throw them off."

"I'm still not convinced that wig is necessary. I can just pin my hair under a hat. That'll be more believable than that wig. I can't see a Merry Man sporting a rug like that. Passing me off as one of you guys might be believable with that Halloween muscle suit you found, but that hair is ridiculous."

"Just use your best judgment, Babe." Ranger had finally found his way downstairs and was leaning against one of the other SUV's, watching her and Les with an intense gaze.

Ranger shifted his gaze to the rest of the group. "Any other questions or concerns?" Silence. "Load up, then."

They made it to the safe house with no trouble. As expected, they were followed until they hit the Newark city limits. The convoy split up, and the tale followed Ram and Vince as they rode around downtown Newark.

Once they were at the safe house, Steph locked herself in the master bedroom with Hector. She tried the mullet wig on first, and couldn't stop laughing at herself once she saw her reflection in the mirror. Hector just grinned and handed her a Rangeman baseball hat.

Thirty minutes later, Steph re-emerged dressed in a muscle suit that completely hid her figure. She wore the standard Rangeman uniform of a tight black t-shirt and black cargos, and her hair was pinned under a hat. Up close she looked comical, but from a distance she could pass as a Merry Man. A short Merry Man, but shoe lifts could only do so much.

Everybody managed to keep a straight face, but Steph could tell the effort was costing them. With a grin, she said, "It's all right, guys. You can laugh. I know how silly I look."

Tank was the first one to break ranks. "Little Girl, you make a fine-looking woman, but you are one sissy looking man."

That did it. The dam broke, and the room was filled with laughter. Even Ranger had a grin on his face.

"Babe, Tank's right. It's too bad nobody has a camera."

Steph heard the clicking sound of a cell phone camera being used. Bobby was standing off to the side, taking her picture in profile. "Sorry, Bomber, but I couldn't pass it up. This one is definitely going up on the notice board in the break room."

"You just wait, Bobby Brown! I'll figure out a way to get even, and it won't be pretty."

Les was standing to Bobby's left. "If you're going to put something on the notice board, it might as well be worth looking at," he said as he pulled Steph into a dip and planted a loud, wet kiss on her lips.

Wolf whistles could be heard along with the sound of another picture being taken. After standing her back up, Les helped straighten her shirt and hat.

Steph decided she'd given the guys enough fodder for more 'Bombshell' stories. Turning towards the door, she tossed over her shoulder, "Shall we get this show on the road?"