A/N: Sorry, no smut today:( At least I'm making progress again…

Disclaimer: Not my characters, just having some fun.

Chapter 10

By the time we climbed out of the chair my legs were wobbly and barely held my weight. So I grabbed one of the huge towels and plopped down on the grass to 'get some sun.' Much to my surprise, Ranger joined me, spreading a towel beside mine and stretching out on his back with one arm behind his head and the other across his eyes. After a few minutes, without moving, he murmured, "You're not going to get much sun with that shirt on."

Busted.

I'd been busy feasting my eyes and entirely forgot about the huge shirt, but my stomach saved me from explaining, choosing that moment to growl piteously.

Ranger smiled. "Sounds like you need fuel."

Come to think of it, I was a little hungry.

Ranger put his towel back around his waist and pulled me to my feet, and I was happy to find my legs worked again. I followed him back into the kitchen, carrying our coffee cups while he brought in the towels and dropped them on a bare expanse of the granite countertop. Then he headed for the door we'd entered and picked up a black duffle bag that was sitting against the wall.

"I didn't think you'd wake as early as you did, or I'd have brought this in sooner," he apologized. "If you want the bathroom first, I'll see if Tank keeps any food here."

I took the bag and headed for the bedroom, wasting no time in plopping it on the bed to investigate the contents. I was quite surprised to find some of my own clothes inside - jeans, a few shirts, a short black skirt, a pair of shorts and a swimsuit, as well as my favorite pair of sandals. Even more surprising was a big floral zipper bag that held new containers of not only my hair and shower stuff, but an array of my favorite makeup, still sealed.

Ranger had planned this a lot more seriously than I'd thought. I thought his comment about kidnapping me had been a joke…

Snapping out of my stunned stupor, I decided not to waste any more time. Grabbing clean underwear and the zipper bag, I headed back to the shower.

I was running conditioner through my hair when Ranger stepped into the shower with me with a rueful smile.

"There's a couple cans of stew and a sad-looking frozen pizza," he said. "Looks like we're going out."

So he hadn't planned everything…

The shower lasted a little longer than I intended, since Ranger washed my back and I returned the favor. He helped me rinse my hair and sneaked a kiss, and then I reluctantly got out. It always took women longer to get ready than men so I needed a head start.

I toweled off quickly and pulled on my underwear and bra, then grabbed the bag and worked the leave-in conditioner from Mr. Alexander's through my hair. I found myself grinning that Ranger had even remembered this. I quickly slathered on the bare minimum of makeup and was looking around with dismay when Ranger got out of the shower.

"What's wrong, Babe?" he asked as he reached for a towel.

"Tank doesn't have a hairdryer."

Ranger frowned, then chuckled. "I guess he wouldn't. Just let it dry, or pull it back. I have an extra tie."

I frowned at him in the mirror. "My hair will go wild and I'll look like a poodle."

Ranger stepped closer and one arm slid around my waist. "I like your curls," he said, pulling me back against him in a quick hug. His hand looked large and dark splayed against my white stomach, and remembering what he could do with it made my toes curl. I thought about the warm hard body against my back and forgot all about food until my stomach growled again.

Ranger grinned and dropped a kiss beneath my ear. "Food," he said, and he went back to the bedroom.

I had to take a deep breath to get myself together again. I ran a comb through my wet hair and a critical eye over my face, decided it would do, and took the comb with me to get dressed. I'd borrow his hair tie.

The closet door was open, and Ranger was getting dressed. He'd pulled on comfortably loose faded jeans and a short sleeved khaki shirt, as yet unbuttoned. He pushed the door shut and started pulling his hair back into its tie.

He had clothes here? Well, duh. Tank is his best friend and Ranger has probably spent time here.

"Is it okay if I wear shorts?" I asked, and he smiled.

I picked a shirt - a short sleeved pale blue tee with a scoop neck - and started dressing. I was sort of watching Ranger out of one eye just from curiosity and still almost missed it when he tucked a small gun into the back of his jeans. I hid my smile and pulled my tee-shirt on, thinking that's my guy -- and almost lost my balance.

What was I thinking? I shot a look at Ranger and was relieved he'd missed my wobble, occupied with pulling on socks and a pair of running shoes. I reminded myself that this was temporary, he wasn't mine, and hoped I'd remember it.

I found my evening bag on the dresser and pulled my lip gloss, phone, and ID from it, sliding them into the pockets of my jeans. I slipped my sandals on and turned to see Ranger picking up his wallet and keys. I was ready at the same time he was, which had to be a major first. Of course, my hair was still wet, but…

It turned out we were close to the outskirts of Philadelphia and Ranger took me to a pancake house for brunch. I was surprised when Ranger ordered nearly the same combo breakfast I did, with bacon, eggs, and French toast. I caught the twitch of his lips, though, when he asked for fruit topping instead of syrup on his French toast, and wisely decided not to tease him.

As we walked back to the car Ranger asked if there was anything in Philly I'd like to do, or if I'd like to see a movie. I countered by asking what he'd like to do. I was curious. He seemed to work all the time so I wondered what he did on his downtime. After a brief haggle, he admitted there was an action movie out he wouldn't mind seeing on the big-screen. We got the theaters and times from the internet via Ranger's phone, and headed toward one the mall theaters. There was an early show, and we could wander around until it was time.

I hadn't been to this particular mall before. It was fairly new, and had three levels. There was a huge fountain in the atrium in the center of the mall that rose through both lower levels and into the third, made of large copper leaves that let water cascade from leaf to leaf. There were coins all over in the fountain basin and on the leaves, and I soon saw why. All around the upper level were people tossing coins, trying to land them in the top-most leaf.

Fascinated, I towed Ranger up the escalator to the top level, and we found a spot by the railing to watch. So far there was a lone penny in the top leaf.

"Can you hit the top leaf?" I asked with a grin.

"Never tried."

"Got any pennies?" I wanted to try.

He pulled some change from his pocket and offered it with an almost-grin. I picked out several pennies and Ranger guided me in front of him to the railing.

My first try bounced off the second leaf down and fell into the large basin below. Okay, at least I was in the right range. My second try was higher but overshot the leaf, and I didn't see where it landed. The last penny landed in the second leaf.

Ranger reached around me and offered me two nickels.

The first nickel bounced on the second leaf and landed in the fourth. The second nickel just missed the top leaf and landed in the second, and I heard several people around the railings groan with me at the near miss.

Ranger was trying to hand me a quarter. I shook my head and turned to grin up at him. "You try."

The corners of his eyes crinkled. "What will you give me?"

The playful challenge startled me into laughing. "In public? A kiss."

He pulled the remaining change from his pocket and selected three quarters, dropping the rest back. I scooted over to give him room at the rail. He eyed the target for less that a heartbeat and sort of shot a quarter out of his hand with his fingers.

The coin arched high, tapped the edge, and dropped into the water of the top leaf. Before the first 'Ahhs' were out he launched the second, then the third. Both landed solidly with satisfying plops, splashing water out of the top copper leaf.

Spontaneous applause broke out as I turned to look up at him with a grin. More applause and some laughter followed as Ranger claimed his prize. Only lips, and a touch of his fingers on my cheek, but I had to grip the rail to keep my balance. By the time he lifted his head I was blushing like a teenager. He was smiling but there was something more in his eyes when he reminded me I still owed him two more.

There was a renewed round of coins being pitched as Ranger put his arm around my waist and led me away from the fountain and the crowd.

TBC…

(There really is a fountain similar to this in one of the malls in Kansas City. Its been a while and I can't remember which mall-- but I sucked at pitching pennies!)