Disclaimer: Everyone but Tessa belongs to Janet Evanovich and I'm just playing.

Warnings: Language, All 12 books.

A/N: There needs to be an award for editors, because Karen has earned it! Thank you to all of you wonderful readers and reviewers. Please keep the reviews coming, Ranger and Steph and I love them … Don't forget to read and review Akasha's Living on a Prayer ... It's wonderful!

The Name Of The Game!

By Stayce (XJerseyGirl)

Chapter 12: Need For Speed!

Niko stood, tossed his napkin on the table and smiled down at Stephanie. He took her hand and gently pulled her up out of her chair, leading her out onto the dance floor again. He was taller than either Ranger or Joe, yet when she stepped into his arms, they fit together perfectly. He moved them across the floor effortlessly, and Steph had to admit that she was really enjoying herself. It had taken her a long time to get to this point, of being able to have fun again, and it felt really good to be happy.

It had been a couple of weeks since the take down at the St. Francis Hospital Fund Raiser and tonight, they were at Nick's Place near Princeton again. It had become a favorite spot for them to hang out, with great food and wonderful music. It was far enough from the Burg to prevent gossip, and close enough to Trenton that they could run over whenever they wanted.

Steph always had a good time when she was with Niko, he made sure of it. He was funny, charming, drop dead handsome and totally unguarded when it came to her. One of the first things that had appealed to her about Niko was that he had an expressive face, especially where she was concerned. He made no effort to mask his emotions, a huge difference from the two stone faces she had been involved with. Right now he was looking at her with a mixture of affection, humor, and mischief as he twirled her around, then dipped her low over his arm and she laughed out loud.

Niko had been a comforting presence in her life since her breakup with Ranger. He always seemed to know when she needed some company and would show up on her doorstep to bring her food or drag her out to a movie. He took her to the beach to lie in the sun, or to Deal to visit with Alexander, or into New York City for dinner and a show. He was her self appointed morale booster and he had done an excellent job. He was always there for her and she had come to depend on his calm, quiet support.

For her part, Stephanie accompanied Niko to all the hospital functions that he was required to attend. Like the fund raisers and charity events that raised money used to support the Doctors Without Borders program that was so important to him. He hated the rounds of boring small talk and rubber chicken dinners. Begging for donations and sucking up to the big bucks contributors was his idea of Hell. Stephanie made it all bearable; just her presence could make those evenings enjoyable for him.

Now, as they danced with her head on his shoulder and his fingers drifting up and down her bare back, she wondered exactly what is was that he wanted from her, and more importantly, what it was that she wanted from him. What had started as friendship, now felt like something more, but she just didn't know what. She definitely wasn't ready to rush into another relationship, but 'Ohhhh, she thought, 'being in his arms, with his warm hand on her back felt so good.' He had kissed her that once, but that had been months ago when she was so lost and in so much pain. She found herself wondering what it would be like if he kissed her right now.

The music ended and he held her hand as they made their way back to their table. Once seated, the waiter came with the dessert menu and Niko looked it over, feigning great interest.

"So, what would Miss Plum like for dessert," he said to himself with a grin. "Does she want crème brulee?" He looked at her and shook his head 'No'. "Cheesecake with cherries? No. White chocolate mousse with raspberries," he stopped reading and handed the menu back to the waiter. "The lady will have the mousse with extra raspberries and coffee, please."

Steph looked at him quizzically. "How did you know that I would want the mousse?"

"Magic!" he whispered. She narrowed her eyes and when he saw her expression he chuckled. "I watched you as I read the choices. Your pupils dilated when I got to the mousse, the hands down winner." He smiled, clearly pleased with himself.

"That's cheating," she laughed.

"No, that's attention to detail, an essential requirement in a care giver."

Steph wondered if there was more meaning in that statement than the words conveyed.

They danced again, both relishing the physical contact that it brought. When they finally returned to the table the waiter brought their coffee and dessert. Steph's eyes drifted closed and she moaned as she savored the first spoonful of the delicious concoction. She licked her lips with the tip of her tongue and when she glanced at Niko again, found that his blue eyes were riveted on her mouth. 'What was it,' she wondered, 'with men and her mouth?' She could feel the heat of the blush that stained her cheeks.

Steph was careful not to moan or lick her lips again; she didn't want Niko to think that she was playing games. Still, when she offered him a taste of her dessert, instead of taking it from the spoon, he leaned over and brushed the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip, putting it to his own mouth. Their eyes locked and Stephanie held her breath as Niko leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. "Delicious," he murmured against her mouth, and Steph knew that he wasn't talking about the dessert.

Oblivious to the other diners in the restaurant, Niko splayed his hand on the side of her neck drawing her to him, and kissed her again. The kiss was warm and soft and sexy and spoke of his attraction to her. It sent a shiver of pleasure through her and she found herself kissing him back. He broke the kiss and moved his mouth close to her ear, whispering, "Just in case you were wondering how I felt about you." She looked into his eyes and smiled at him as he gently ran his fingers down the side of her face and traced over her lips. She was drawn to this man, and she was trying to figure out if she was more thrilled or scared that he was so openly expressing his feelings for her.

She was sitting there, trying to analyze her feelings for Niko, when out of the blue she felt that old familiar tingle run down her spine and she froze, her breath catching in her throat.

She looked around slowly and found Ranger out on the dance floor with Tessa. They were standing stock still while the other couples moved around them. He was staring at her and for once Steph could see, as well as feel, his eyes on her. His black eyes bored into her and something, some emotion, flashed through them, but far too quickly for her to identify. Steph fought the urge to turn away. That's when the thought suddenly it struck her that the man she was looking at was a stranger, not someone she had ever met before. She calmly returned his gaze, looked into his face, silently praying that she could convey the same cool indifference that he usually viewed her with.

Tessa turned to see who Ranger was staring at, then wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head down so that he was forced to look away from Steph, and the moment was gone.

Niko had laced his fingers through Stephanie's, bringing her attention back to him. He had been speaking to her, but she hadn't heard him.

"I'm sorry," Steph said, flustered. "What did you say?"

"I asked if you wanted more coffee." He looked at her closely. "Are you all right? You look a little pale." His voice was filled with concern.

She took a breath and smiled at him ruefully. "I'm afraid we had an audience. Ranger and Tessa are here." She tipped her head, slightly, in their direction.

Niko nodded. "Then I think it's time for us to leave." He squeezed her hand reassuringly and signaled the waiter for the check. He gave Steph a knowing smile and raised her hand to his lips, brushing them over her knuckles. When they stood, they slipped their arms around each other's waists and headed for the door. She could still feel Ranger's eyes on her and wondered what kind of game he was playing. 'It's almost funny,' Steph thought, 'the old saying really is true.' The opposite of love wasn't hate, it was indifference, and she realized that she really couldn't bring herself to care anymore. She smiled up at Niko as they walked out of the restaurant into the rainy night and she never looked back.

The valet had Niko's Aston Martin waiting at the curb. The car, a gift from Alexander, had been the source of a lot of friendly teasing and laughter between them. Steph had fallen in love with the speed and power of the vehicle, deciding that it was the perfect mode of transportation for the intergalactic princess that she had never gotten a chance to be.

Niko smiled at Steph before tossing her the keys. She looked down at the key ring in her hand and they turned to look at him, wide eyed. "Are you serious? You'd let me drive your James Bond car?"

"Only if you'll agree to be my Bond Girl!" he said with a laugh.

"Ohhhh, do I get to choose which one? I love all their names Tiffany Case and Vesper and Jinx."

"Hmmm, I was thinking more along the lines of Holly Goodhead or Pussy Galore." He laughed as she gasped and swatted him playfully on the arm before she ran around and slid into the driver seat of the sleek silver car.

Steph moaned in pleasure as she turned the key and felt the raw power of the engine throb through her. Running her hands over the steering wheel and gear shift, she sighed as her eyes drifted closed and she could swear that she came closer to an orgasm than she had in months.

Turning to look at Niko, she found him staring at her, his eyes dark and his want written all over his face. Steph licked her lips, then gave him an evil grin as she slammed the car into gear and flew out of the parking lot and down the deserted street.

The rush of 0-80 in four seconds was almost more than she could bear and when they finally came to a light and pulled to a stop, Steph was almost panting. Without even thinking, she turned to Niko and hauled him to her by his lapels, kissing him, tongue and all, for all she was worth. His hands fisted in her hair and when the kiss ended, they still didn't let go of each other, just staring, stunned, into each others eyes.

Niko came back to Earth first, grinning at her. "If I had known you'd have this kind of reaction, I would have given you the keys a long time ago!"

Steph was still breathless, "I'm sorry, I don't know what …"

Niko put his fingers over her lips; his voice was husky when he spoke. "Do you know how sexy it is to watch a beautiful woman handle a stick the way you do? I love a woman who likes to drive." He said in his best James Bond accent, and then bent his head to kiss her again.

Within seconds they were both laughing against each other's mouths. "Has that line ever actually worked for anybody?" Steph giggled.

"I doubt it!" He laughed. "Out loud it doesn't really sound very James Bond, more Austin Powers, huh?" He gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Come on, Miss NASCAR, let's see how fast you can get us home."

"Yes Sir!" Steph replied as she peeled off from the traffic light.

Neither Steph nor Niko noticed the car that had followed them from Steph's house to the restaurant, that had pulled into a dark corner of the parking lot to wait for them to leave, or that had followed them down the street, idling at the curb as they had sat at the light. Neither of them noticed the window roll down, or the telephoto lens trained on them. Neither of them heard the click, click, click of the photos as they were snapped. Neither of them could hear the driver speak softly into the cell phone, "Ich habe sie gefunden."

TBC …

A/N: I'm sorry that this is so short but Real Life has kicked my butt this week, between being sick, doing volunteer work, playing mom, etc. I haven't had time to do a real chapter justice, but I figured that something was better than nothing … so here it is. Steph needed to have some fun anyhow. I promise that I'll make it up to you next week. Thank you for all your wonderful reviews … You'll find out what's going one very soon now … just be patient a little while longer. Oh, and don't forget to read and review Kashy's 'Living On A Prayer' … it's sensational.

So, do you still think that Steph and Niko should get together?

"Ich habe sie gefunden." "I found her."