Disclaimer: All you recognize belongs to JE I've just tweaked it for my enjoyment!

AN: Hey guys, things might get a little more spread out here, trying to find a new place! I'll update when I can! Thanks guys!

Hitched to Stitch

Chapter 11

Jesus, It's Joe

"Well, hello gorgeous. I don't believe I've seen you before." No it couldn't be... Joe Morelli.

I groaned internally wanting to thunk my head on the bar in front of me. But then I had to laugh, he didn't recognize me. I was still laughing when I turned towards him.

"Guess that's too bad now isn't it Joe?" The look on his face was incredible. I heard cameras clicking away in the background so I'm sure I could get a copy.

"Cupcake, is that really you. I didn't recognize you, you look good, damn good." His eyes roamed my body as he said this. I may have had romps with Morelli in the past but he was giving me the creeps now.

Joe used to be every girls wet dream, hell I could see where he still could be. From what I could tell he was about 6' of lean, hard, Italian muscle. There was a small scar over his eyebrow that wasn't there before I left. He had developed his half smirk to a panty dropping level. One that he was trying to use on me, but I was not falling for it. I fell for the underdeveloped when he was a senior and I was a sophomore in high school and ended up letting him talk me out of my virginity behind the Eclair case of the Tasty Pastry. I found out the next day that he had signed his papers for the NAVY and taken off early that morning. I was livid, I hated men, I wanted to kill him, I wanted to torture him first. He came back when the summer after I graduated and I promptly hit him with my Grandpa Sandors Buick. I only broke his leg that night, but I should have thrown "Big Blue in reverse and ran him over again, hell maybe three of four times would have done the trick. Needless to say I felt better and Joe steered clear of me long enough for me to leave town for boot camp. That had been the last I had thought of Joe Morrelli until now.

Now that asshole was sitting in front of me, trying to get my attention and all I could feel was the hurt and the rejection that his leaving did to me. As soon as the waitress put my food in front of me, I stood up and walked away from Joe. I had paid when I ordered, so I didn't bother with anything else. I was almost to my truck when Joe caught up to me. I unlocked my door and put my to go bag on the floor board.

"When did you get back in town Cupcake, do you have a place to stay?" Joe had that damn look in his eye again.

"First off, get your hands off me Joe. Second, I just rented my own place and thirdly, leave me the hell alone. I was done with you when I ran you over that summer. Stay out of my way Joe or I will make that broken leg look like a love tap, and remember I drive a truck now!"

I hopped in my truck and moved the bag to the passenger seat. I drove back to Rangeman, after making sure Joe wasn't following me.

Pulling into the garage I hopped out and questioned how I was going to get all the bags back to my 5th floor apartment without multiple trips. I stood and stared at my full back seat until i heard the stairwell door open. Cal popped his head out "Stitch, need some help with some bags?"

"How did you know, Cal?" I was honestly curious now.

"Ranger happened to be standing behind the monitor guys when you pulled in and stood looking at your backseat. Told me to come help you! So here I am, at your service M'Lady." He bowed as he said this, and I couldn't help the giggle that burst out of my throat. I loaded Cal with bags and grabbed my dress, shoes accessories, and my bag from Pino's. Cal sniffed the air like a bloodhound "Awwwww man, you got Pino's and didn't bring me none?" He pouted out hi lower lip and gave me the puppy dog eyes. How did he know that I can't resist the puppy dog eyes.

"Cal, aren't you my next partner in rotation?"

"Yes Ma'am"

"Oh good Lord, don't not call me Ma'am. Stephanie, Steph, Stitch, anything but Ma'am. Makes me feel old." Call nodded sheepishly, "Next week Pino's is on me for lunch one day! But only if you promise to show me the best digs in town!"

Cal nodded his head and pushed his key fob for the 4th floor. After pausing in the hallway to let me fob my door open, he set the bags on the my couch and gave me a quick one armed hug before reminding me that we were meeting downstairs at 9. I had met my team that morning, and was glad to see plenty of familiar faces that I had performed with in the ARMY and felt secure with them watching my back. Intermixed were a few new faces, but ones that I had recognized from my "induction."

I felt confident, now it was time to dig into my own personal piece of heaven. It had been years, and I was about to dive head first into the delicious sub sandwich Pino calls his meatball sub. I sunk my teeth into the lightly toasted bun, through to the delicious marinara sauce and the incredibly juicy meatball. There was sauce falling all over and I could tell I was moaning and there was going to be no stopping it. I finished the sandwich before I realized it and put my tiramisu in the fridge until later. I got the feeling I might need it after tonight.

I headed to the bathroom will all my gathered beautification supplies and headed to the bathroom. I hopped in the shower, and let my Jersey girl out. I lathered, rinsed, shaved, and buffed. Then got out and rolled my hair into rollers. While waiting for those to set I did more buffing, some plucking and lathering with lotion (my favorite shimmery body lotion that I hardly ever got to wear). I pulled on a bra and spandex and started putting away all my clothes and shopping trip items. I plucked tags and folded, organized and made sure not to get too spread out, I would after all be moving out shortly.

By now it was about time to start getting ready. I headed to the bathroom again with my replenished make-up kit. I pulled my best smoky eye, dark, thick, long lashes framing my clear blue eyes. I pulled the rollers out and sprayed enough hairspray to kill a moose in my hair. I was happy with how my hair turned out, big bold curls accented by plenty of teasing. I applied some shimmery pale pink nail polish to my fingers and toes and walked back out into the living room and switched into the lingerie set that Betty had pulled for me. She was right, it was absolutely perfect. Jumped my meager B's up to a C in no time, the straps would fit perfectly in the almost useless sleeves, while still having a dip almost designed perfectly for this dress. I looked at the tag on the underwear and saw

Laces

by Betty

Oh she's good, I would most definitely be back. I knew the tag on the dress and shoes would read the same. they were too perfect of a match not to have come from the same designer.

I slinked into the almost obscenely tight dress and almost failed to get the tiny strap, that sat just below my shoulder blades, together. It was after all the only thing holding the back of this dress together. The dress was backless to the top of my ass. I would have to be careful of the motions I made. At 8:55 I slipped on my shoes, slapped on some deep red lipstick and double checked my make up before picking up my shoes and walking to the elevator. I put the FMPs on in the elevator and threw a little more sway into my hips than usual. I knocked on the door to the conference room. The result was just as I had hoped and more.

AN: Leave me some love! Pwease!