So after a long semester, all the hard work has paid off. I continue my streak of great grades and I passed the biggest test of my career so far to continue on in my program. Unfortunately, my brain took longer to bounce back than I thought. Then the muse went on vacation. Again. Go figure.

But I'm back. Plugging away at this story. And once we get more interaction between our two characters, it'll flow a lot more quickly.

So here's the next segment. Hopefully it doesn't take another month to update.

Not mine, but I'd love a night with Ranger...

We just stood there, staring at each other. Finally, I caved.

"Uh, can we talk?"

This startled Joe out of his trance. "Right. Sure." He moved back and let me into his office. The room was cluttered with files, files and more files. Jeez, he needed a secretary.

"What's up?" He asked me after he took a seat behind his desk.

"Don't you ever clean up?" I asked.

"What?"

"Your office. It's a mess."

"I've got some big cases going on. I don't have time for cleaning." The or this was implied by the slight glare he gave me. Or because you drive me so nuts that I have to work 24/7.

I could see it both ways…

Right, time to get back on track. "Do you know a man that goes by the name of Ranger?"

Joe stopped fiddling with the pile of files he had in his hand and looked at me. "Why do you want to know?"

I shrugged. "His name has come up a lot in my calls and I was wondering what kind of business he ran." I lied.

His eyes narrowed. "You're lying."

"Why would I lie?" I almost shrieked. If I had, he would've known for sure. I need to work on my poker face.

"Because of whatever is or isn't going on between us. You're up to something. Are you in trouble?"

"No. Why?"

"Because Ranger is a nutcase. He's not stalking you, is he?"

"No!" More like I'm stalking him.

This seemed to relax him. "Good. Look, stay away from him. He's bad news."

I bit my lip. I didn't get any bad feelings from him any of the times that we were together.

In fact, if I had to put a feeling towards it, I'd say I'd felt… safe.

"Why?"

"The guy is a gang banger and a killer. He roams the streets looking for trouble and would eat you up like dessert."

I don't know why, but my mind went to a completely different type of eating. I blushed. "Look, I don't want to date him, I want to ask him a few questions."

"What for?"

I paused. I had nothing. "Official business." I blurted out.

"Uh huh."

"My boss felt bad so she's giving me little pet projects. Get my feet wet so to speak." I looked straight at him.

This time, Joe blushed. I knew he felt bad about lying to me about the job and I was going to use it. "What do you want me to say?"

"How about… sorry?"

"I am sorry."

Somehow I feel like he's sorrier that he got caught than the action.

"I miss you. A lot."

This made me pause. Talk about blindsiding a girl.

"We had a bad fight and I'm sorry about the things that I said. If you're not ready for marriage and babies, then I shouldn't push you."

"And if I'm never ready?"

His mouth tightened. "Then we'll talk about it when we get there."

"See I don't believe you. You can't just bide your time with this. I don't want kids right now and I may never want them. I'm not my sister, Joe."

He didn't respond for a minute. "I know. Let's just take this day to day. I promise I won't push you anymore."

I bit my lip. Things with Joe were nice and easy. We got along great. But I couldn't help but think that this problem wasn't going to go away as quickly as he thought it might.

"You want the information? Give me another chance. Let me take you to dinner tomorrow night. I'll show you that I'm ready to talk about this as adults."

"That's blackmail!"

"It's more graymail, but yeah, essentially. I don't know what you're up to, but I trust you. You want the information? Go out with me."

I sighed. He had me in a corner. If I wanted to find Ranger and tear him a new one, then I needed to go out with him.

There was only one option.

Ranger's POV

I lifted the last piece of paper on my desk. One more thing to go and then I could go upstairs. I liked to keep my office clean and orderly. Mostly because clients are in and out of here so much, I don't want to make it seem like we can't do our job.

Just as I was finishing, my phone rang. Morelli. I answered, but waited for him to speak first.

I didn't have to wait long. "How do you know my girlfriend?"

"Who?"

I could hear him grit his teeth. "Stephanie. How do you know her?"

Immediately, the curly haired beauty came to the front of my mind. Over the past few days, I made sure that she didn't pop in. In my line of work, distractions means death.

"Work."

When I didn't elaborate, Joe sighed. "That's it?"

"We're not dating. I don't have to tell you anything."

"Look, I trust her, but I don't trust you."

Smart man

"Just answer her questions and then forget her. She's my girlfriend."

"Noted." I was surprised that she was trying to find me. I told her that I'd be in touch. The woman needed to learn patience.

My dick twitched at the usual ways I teach patience. I shook the thoughts off quickly. That was another man's woman. After a few more threats, I hung up.

This was all kinds of fucked up. I didn't understand why this one woman was making me crazy like this.

I was lost in thought for a few more minutes until there was a knock on my door.

"Enter."

Jeanne sauntered in. "Working late?"

I glanced at the computer. It was a little after six; I had been lost in thought a lot longer than I had realized.

I just shrugged. She came over and sat on the edge of the desk. "Looks like you need to relax." Her foot slowly worked its way up my leg.

And for the first time since our relationship started, I didn't stir. "Maybe some other time." I rolled away from her wandering foot.

Jeanne looked shocked. This was the first time that I had ever said no. Even when I had two broken ribs, I let her climb on top and do all the work. "I… I… don't…"

"Just tired Jeanne. Not the first time."

"But the first time with me." She pouted. But it didn't deter her. "I'm sure I could wake you back up."

"Pass. I still have a lot of work to do."

"I see." Jeanne jumped off my desk. "Well, if you're too busy… I'll just go find my own fun."

"Happy hunting." I said, looking at my computer screen.

Jeanne glared at me until she got to the door.

And somehow, I feel a little lighter. Smiling, I pick up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Babe. Heard you're looking for me."

Stephanie's POV

The next day, I met Ranger in the small diner on the outskirts of the Burg. He had naturally beaten me there to make sure that his back was to the wall. I breathed in a sigh. Joe had come through for me.

And now I had a date to go on.

Ranger looked up from the menu and found me. I made my way over to him, the tingle on the back of my neck getting stronger. I sat down and ordered from the waitress that was idling nearby. Part of Ranger's charm.

"I've been waiting for two weeks. If you knew me, you'd know that was a big deal."

Ranger gave me a hint of a smile. "I've been working."

"On my case?"

"Not exactly."

"Then what?" I asked, taking a sip of my coffee.

"Government business." He said vaguely."

"Pencil pusher?"

"Something like that."

"I feel like you're hiding something from me."

Full on smile. Jeez.

"I have something for you." He said, pulling a file out of the black messenger bag next to him. He held it out to me, but when I tried to take it, he pulled it away.

"Hey!"

"What are you willing to give me?"

"Not you too…" I groaned.

He looked confused.

"Joe. He wrangled a date from me to find you. Don't worry about it. What do you want?"

Ranger looked me up and down. For a few moments, I felt completely naked. And I may have liked it.

After a moment, he held out the folder. "Take it."

My eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"

"Nothing."

This shocked me.

"It's your case. I've had my guys on it. I could use your input. Make notes, cross shit out, do whatever you need to do. You're closest to the case and the most knowledge."

I took the file. "I doubt that…"

"Don't doubt yourself, Stephanie. Ever."

Our eyes locked and held. All of a sudden, the tingle started to return. I had never felt that with Joe, so I had to wonder, what was so special about this guy. My hand was still tingling from where we briefly touched.

"Look it over and in a few days call this number." He slid a card across the table. "It's my work line. We'll set up a time to meet about your notes."

I nodded. We finished our meal and parted ways. Instead of going back to work, I went home.

I had a file to get through.