I beg. I cry. I moan. But they're still not mine.

Warning: I thought about cutting down on the smut, but Ranger didn't like that idea AT ALL…

Chapter 30

During the next week, Stephanie found notes hidden randomly throughout her apartment. In her cookie jar on top of her gun was "You have the best instincts of anybody I know". In her makeup bag, wrapped around her tube of mascara, was a post-it with the words "You're beautiful"; under her pillow was "I'm thinking of you at this very moment"; stuck to her toothbrush holder was "Your smile lights up a room". She couldn't help but smile each time she found a new one. She even found a post-it reading "Seeing your face brightens my day" stuck to a pint of Ben and Jerry's in the freezer.

Ranger knew her so well.

A few days after she started work, Stephanie had sucked it up and gone to dinner at her parent's house. Her mother had been uncharacteristically quiet, but showed her support through the food she prepared. She heaped seconds of Stephanie's favorite dishes on her plate and sent her home with an entire chocolate silk torte that she had just happened to have had enough batter and mousse to make a second one.

To make one chocolate silk torte was love. To make two was the equivalent of begging for forgiveness.

Grandma Mazur had been her usual one-track minded self, asking if "that hot bounty hunter" was as well hung as he looked. Frank Plum was silent as usual, stepping out of his comfort zone only long enough to give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

There were no questions about her absence or about her depression. The only mention of Morelli was when Grandma Mazur announced that he was transferring to Chicago. Stephanie had been shocked by the news, but she was relieved. She didn't want to spend her entire life avoiding him.

The rest of the conversation strayed mainly towards the Burg gossip and Mary Alice's recent ear infection.

It had been the most enjoyable meal ever in the Plum household. Stephanie almost hated to see it end. When she left, her mother had hugged her tightly before handing her a huge bag of leftovers.

Her night had improved even more when she got home. She walked in to find her lights out and white candles of every shape and size lit and scattered all throughout her apartment. And the best part had been Ranger standing in her bedroom with a bouquet of lilies.

Needless to say, neither one of them slept that night.

Stephanie was relieved that, despite living back in her apartment, she still saw Ranger every day. He had spent the night three days during the first week and every morning, they went on their usual run, having breakfast together before parting ways. Even though she missed him terribly on the nights he wasn't with her, the knowledge that he would be there when she woke up made those nights easier.

She was proud of herself. She was doing well, better than she had expected.

And then Ranger called to ask her to join him for dinner at his parent's house that coming Sunday. And the fear and anxiety set in.

It would have been nerve-wracking to meet his family under normal circumstances. How would the Manosos react to her since she was the woman who put one of their sons in jail? Ranger assured her that they already loved her, that they felt horrible for what Raphael had done and that they were worried about her. But nothing Ranger said could stop the cold ball of fear from taking residence in her stomach.

What if they didn't like her because she wasn't Cuban? What if she wasn't pretty enough? What if she said something completely stupid in front of them? And what would they have to say about the cars she blew up, the funeral home, the stalkings and kidnappings and the garbage she'd rolled in? Would they think she was a golddigging whore like Raphael thought? Ranger had spent a fortune keeping her safe and taking care of her. He had taken weeks off from work to watch over her when she was at her worst. What if they thought that she wasn't good enough for their son?

She was going crazy with all the 'what ifs' repeating themselves in her head.

The familiar insecurity came back in full force. It didn't matter that she had been doing much better lately. It didn't matter that Ranger was back at work. All of a sudden, Stephanie felt like the old, incompetent version of her former self and it scared her.

Thankfully, she already had an appointment scheduled with Dr. Childress the day after Ranger invited her to dinner. She drove to Point Pleasant on autopilot, the worries and fears racing through her mind at breakneck speed. By the time she was sitting across from the doctor in his office, her hands were trembling and she was on the verge of a full blown panic attack.

Like the day in the emergency room, Dr. Childress was kind and considerate and the tone of his voice soothed Stephanie's frayed nerves. She talked about the upcoming dinner and about what had happened in Miami with Raphael. She told him about her fears that the Manosos would hate her, would think badly of her, and that eventually, Ranger would agree with them and decide he wanted nothing to do with her. By the time she finished talking, she was sobbing and gasping for breath.

Dr. Childress leaned forward in his seat and looked her in the eyes.

"Has Ranger ever lied to you, Stephanie?"

Stephanie choked back a sob at his question. "What? No! Why would you ask me that?"

Dr. Childress smiled and sat back. "He's already told you that his family already likes you and that they don't blame you one bit for what happened between you and their other son. If there was any chance of Ranger's family treating you badly, I honestly don't think he'd take you there."

Stephanie reached for a Kleenex and blew her nose. She couldn't help but agree with the man. For all that Ranger had done for her, for all that they'd been through and accomplished, she didn't think that he would intentionally lead her into a hungry pack of wolves. And if his family hated her, he wouldn't lie about it just to make her feel better. He would have never brought it up at all.

Stephanie groaned and managed a tiny chuckle. "God, I must look like a complete fruitcake right now."

Dr. Childress smiled. "Not at all, Stephanie. All those insecurities aren't going to go away. But I have to say, despite this, you're doing much better than I expected. Dr. Sandoval was most impressed with you and your achievements."

Stephanie felt the anxiety melt away, only to be replaced with a little pride. "I think I've done pretty well."

The doctor was pleased and the smile on his face widened. "It's wonderful to hear you say that."

Stephanie couldn't help but agree. It was wonderful to be the one saying it.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Ranger was more than a little nervous to introduce Stephanie to his family. He knew that they would love her. Hell, they'd been on his case ever since the first "Bombshell" story to bring her over to meet them.

He was worried that Stephanie wouldn't like his family. What if she was expecting the Batfamily and was disappointed to find out that the Manosos were as normal as any other large family?

Ranger wasn't used to that nervous feeling. For all that he had been through and all that he had seen, nothing seemed to scare him that much anymore. Unless it had something to do with Stephanie. He just couldn't shake the feeling that once the mystery was stripped from his persona, that she wouldn't be as interested in him as she had been.

Ranger sighed and leaned back in his chair. The paperwork in front of him was finally dwindling down and he found that he could no longer concentrate. He looked at his watch again, noting that Stephanie should be heading back from her appointment with Dr. Childress. He hoped everything was okay with her. She'd seemed a little off ever since he called to invite her to dinner at his parent's house. Deep down, he knew that it was from her fear of meeting them and his family not liking her. He couldn't help but worry, though, that she didn't want to meet them. He knew it was a silly fear. She had shown interest in his personal life ever since they met.

Stephanie had been doing incredibly well since coming back to Trenton. Ranger couldn't help but smile when he remembered her first day back at work. Eight skips caught in one day was incredible and he was tremendously proud of her for doing so well. She kept up with her workouts and had gone to the gun range with him a couple times already. She had gone to her parents' house for dinner and everything had gone surprisingly well. Ranger's groin tightened uncomfortably when he remembered that night. He knew she would be at her parents' house and thought he would surprise her with the flowers and candles. If dinner at her parents' had gone well, it would have been a celebration. If it had been rough on her, he would be there to comfort her and hopefully make her smile. It turned out to be one hell of a celebration.

Ranger had to admit that his happiness with Stephanie's progress was a little selfish as well. Of course, he wanted her to be happy and healthy. But besides that, he wanted her strong so that she could be in a long-term relationship with him. One that included a ring. One that possibly included children one day. If she decided that she never wanted children, he would be fine with that. As long as he had her by his side, he would be happy with anything. Living in Trenton, living in Miami, living in Cambodia, it didn't matter. She was all that he needed.

He grinned at the idea of proposing to Stephanie. She would no doubt be shocked. After his stupid comments after their deal, he knew that she would never expect a marriage proposal out of him. He hadn't been lying when he told her that his life didn't lend itself to relationships. That didn't mean, though, that a relationship wasn't possible. His life would always be dangerous, but now it wasn't as bad. His contract with the government would be over in less than a week and after that, he would be home free. He would be Ricardo Carlos Manoso, bounty hunter and security specialist. No more missions. No more leaving at a moment's notice. He would be free. Of course, there would always be some danger, but Stephanie had that in her life with or without him. And now, he was sure that she could protect herself if need be.

The ringing of his cell phone brought him out of his daydream. Blinking, he looked down at his phone, grinning when the word "Babe" flashed across the screen.

"Hey, Babe." She would be shocked that he didn't answer with a "Yo".

"Hey, Ranger," she answered after a pause. "Wow, you're changing your phone manners just for little old me?"

He laughed. He couldn't help it. Just hearing her voice made him feel so much lighter.

"I just wanted to surprise you," he replied. "What's up?"

"I'm heading back from Point Pleasant now. I was wondering if you had plans for dinner?"

"What did you have in mind?" He hoped she was planning a night of staying inside naked with him and a can of whipped cream.

He heard her chuckle over the line. "I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner at Casa Steph tonight."

"You cooking?"

Stephanie paused. "I'm gonna try. Is that okay?"

"I'd love to, Babe." She had turned into a pretty good cook while they had been gone. He was actually looking forward to eating whatever she made.

"Good." He could hear the happiness in her voice.

"How was your visit with Dr. Childress?"

"It was good." Ranger could tell that something was up, but he didn't want to push it. She'd tell him when she was ready. "I don't have to go back for two weeks."

"That's good." He sat up straighter in his seat. "What time should I come over?"

"It's three now…so five-thirty?"

"I'll be there."

When he hung up, he felt much better. Talking to Stephanie always had that effect on him.

Ranger sighed and got back to his paperwork, finally getting the rest of it done by five. He stood up, stretching his legs before heading up to the seventh floor for a quick shower. He had an important dinner to attend.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Stephanie was just transferring the steaks to a serving platter when she heard the knock on the door. Setting the pan aside, she grabbed a dishtowel, wiping her hands off on the way. She was surprised to find Ranger on the other side of the door.

"How come you didn't just come in?" She asked, leaning up to press a kiss to his lips.

"It seemed like a knocking occasion tonight," he teased, holding up two bottles of wine. "I didn't know what you were making so I brought red and white."

"So thoughtful," she teased, taking the bottles from him. She walked back to the kitchen as Ranger shut and locked the front door and followed her.

"It smells great," he said, breathing in appreciatively.

"Thank you." She took great pleasure in the complement. "I only hope it tastes okay. New recipe from the Internet. Chili-rubbed steaks with salsa."

"Wow, homemade salsa, too," Ranger grinned as she handed him a large bowl of salad. "Ella's gonna end up begging you to help her cook."

Stephanie snorted and carried the platter to the table. "I highly doubt that one, babe. But you can keep up with the compliments."

Ranger took a hold of her arm as she was walking past him toward the kitchen again. He pulled her against his chest and brushed a stray curl out of her face. "Good. Because I plan to shower you with compliments all the time." He leaned down and covered her mouth with his and Stephanie felt her toes curl at the sensation. It was long moments before they broke apart, breathing heavily.

A few minutes later, they were seated with loaded plates in front of them. Stephanie waited for Ranger to take the first bite, waiting for his reaction. She didn't want to admit how much she hoped he'd like her cooking. She had never really cooked dinner for anyone like this before all by herself.

"Babe, this is perfect," he said a moment later, and a huge smile graced Stephanie's lips.

"Thank God," she breathed, cutting into her steak. "I was worried there for a minute."

He grinned, taking a sip of red wine. "You have nothing to worry about."

They ate in comfortable silence and Ranger even had seconds. Stephanie was practically floating on air.

Afterwards, they both cleaned up and settled down in the living room, curled up in each other's arms on the sofa. Stephanie looked up at his face and grinned mischievously.

"I ordered our Halloween costumes yesterday."

His eyebrow arched and the corner of his mouth twitched. "Should I be afraid?"

She chuckled and snuggled further against his warm body. "Not at all. In fact, I guarantee you'll be the hottest guy there."

She melted in contentment as his hand started funneling through her hair. "You're not going to dress me in a fig leaf, are you Babe?" Stephanie moaned at the mental image that comment left her.

"No, but I wish I had thought of that before."

Her body vibrated as he laughed. "I wouldn't mind seeing you dressed like Eve. But not in public. I'd hate to have to kill so many men."

Stephanie glanced up at him through lowered lashes. "Any idea where I can stock up on fig leaves, then? I just might surprise you sometime."

Ranger growled and Stephanie suddenly found herself pinned beneath him. She giggled as he settled between her thighs and pinned her hands to the arm of the sofa. His eyes swept over her, stopping on her face. He leaned down to brush his lips against hers.

"Do you have any idea how much I love you, Babe?"

Her heart fluttered at how easily he said those words. Before they had gotten closer, he had to qualify the words. Now, he was open and wonderfully honest. Ranger saying "I love you" held so much more meaning than anybody else saying those words. When Morelli had said it to her, she could practically taste the underlying conditions. Not here. She knew that no matter what kind of mistakes she made, Ranger would love her regardless.

Nobody had ever loved her like that before.

"You could show me," she answered, watching as he returned her mischievous grin. He ground his erection against her and playfully bit her earlobe.

"I could do that," he murmured, running his tongue along her jawbone. She moaned at the sensation and wrapped her legs firmly around his hips.

In a smooth, fluid motion, Ranger sat up, bringing Stephanie with him. She adjusted her legs so she was straddling him as his hands moved to the hem of her shirt. Between the kisses that seemed to leave them completely breathless, they tore off each other's clothing, tossing them in all directions of the room. Ranger's arms slid behind her back, moving up to grasp her shoulders. Her head dropped back as his mouth ravaged her throat, his hot breath leaving a molten trail over her skin. She cried out, gripping his biceps as his lips and teeth wrecked havoc on her tender flesh, kissing and sucking and biting his way down to her full breasts.

A growl sounded in the back of his throat as his mouth closed over a taut nipple. Stephanie arched again, offering her breast to him and he took the bait. Her hands moved up and down his arms as he continued his tongue torture and she dragged her nails down his smooth skin, leaving long white scratches and drawing a little blood. God, but he felt so damn good…

Ranger shifted his body, turning so he could lay her back down on the sofa. Taking his time, he placed his hands at her throat, slowly gliding them down her body, alternating between rubbing and pinching and stroking. Stephanie arched and writhed beneath his hands, goosebumps popping up all over her body. When his fingers trailed down her navel and brushed against her wet center, she released the most intoxicating cry that Ranger had ever heard. Desperate to hear it again, he gently parted her thighs, stroking his large hands down her skin and back up until he was back where he belonged. He slowly parted her folds, gliding a finger over the wet heat, circling her clit before sliding back down to push inside of her.

Stephanie whimpered beneath him, tightening her internal muscles and pulling his finger further inside of her. Ranger moaned and added another finger, watching in fascination as he pulled them out, only to have her pussy suck them back in. With a deep groan, he leaned down to taste her. At the first touch of his tongue, Stephanie shrieked, nearly arching off the sofa. Ranger placed one hand against her belly, holding her down on the cushions as he fed upon her like a starving man. His other hand stroked her thigh, pinching the skin lightly, shooting sparks of pure pleasure all the way to her core.

Getting to his knees on the floor, Ranger gently pushed her legs up towards her chest, opening her more fully to him. He leaned forward, breathing in her scent before resuming his feast.

Stephanie thought she would die from the pleasure tearing through her. Her orgasm was so close, but his mouth continued to push her further and further, dangling her reward right in front of her face only to send her even higher. At this rate, by the time he allowed her to climax, she would shoot off the sofa and up through the ceiling. When Ranger rolled his tongue inside of her, though, all thoughts left her mind. A broken scream ripped from her throat as she came, her hands shooting down to tangle in Ranger's hair, holding him in place as she bucked up against his tongue.

Before she could come down, he dragged her to the edge of the sofa and thrust inside of her. She shrieked at the unexpected intrusion and her hands moved up to grip the back of the sofa. Her lower body was being suspended in air as Ranger, still on his knees on the floor, slammed into her repeatedly, coaxing the screams and sighs and gasps from her throat.

"Oh…God…Ranger!" She cried, arching her body, pulling him even deeper into her. He could only growl in response, leaning down to bite and kiss her breasts, quickly moving up to cover her mouth with his. His tongue mimicked their movements below and it was mere moments before she came again, his mouth swallowing her hoarse cries. The sound only pushed Ranger further, and he pounded into her with an almost bruising force, the sensations overwhelming and leaving him desperate for release. He could feel it building up, the tight, tingling pressure in his groin, growing more and more intense with each stroke, until finally, the pressure reached a fever pitch and exploded around him, drawing a deep, low cry from his throat. He felt the sheer pleasure of his release and sucked in a shaky breath as her clenching pussy forced everything from him.

Ranger collapsed bonelessly to the floor, taking Stephanie down with him, arranging her body on top of his. They laid there, both of them gasping for breath, his fingers working through her sweaty curls.

With the feeling of his hands in her hair and the warmth of his body below hers, Stephanie immediately drifted off to sleep.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Before Stephanie knew it, it was Sunday.

She stood in front of her bathroom mirror, staring critically at her reflection. Her hair was behaving pretty well, and hung down her back in loose curls. Her makeup was light, only a little blush, lip gloss, and four coats of mascara. She still needed her courage, after all.

It had taken her the better part of the afternoon to pick out an outfit for her dinner at the Manosos. She had gone through her entire closet, discarding everything too "distraction-like" and too black. Jeans and tee shirts were out. She finally decided on a white pleated skirt with a blue flower print and a sleeveless blue sweater. The skirt fell about an inch past her knees and was one of the more demure skirts in her wardrobe. She added a pair of strappy white Manolo's that she had brought back from Miami and the necklace that Ranger had given her in Salem. When she was finished dressing, she had to admit that she looked pretty good. She just hoped it was good enough for Ranger's family.

Stephanie had a few minutes before Ranger was supposed to arrive, and she spent her time pacing, giving herself a mental pep talk.

Ranger told you they already liked you. He wouldn't lie about that!

Yeah, but what if he was just sugarcoating it?

No! He wouldn't do that!

What if they lied to him just to get him to bring me over?

What if they blame me for Raphael?

No! Ranger promised they didn't!

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice Ranger walking into the living room. She was wearing a path out in her carpet when his strong hands caught her by the shoulders, forcing her to stop.

"You're gonna make yourself sick worrying so much," he said, reaching one hand up to cup her face. Stephanie blushed, caught in the act.

"Sorry. I can't help it."

"Babe, they love you already," he reassured her, pulling her into a warm hug. "You have nothing to fear."

Stephanie took a deep breath and stepped back. "Do I look okay?"

Ranger's eyes took her in, moving from the crown of her head to the tips of her Manolo's. "Babe, you're absolutely stunning."

She flushed warmly at the compliment, taking the time to check out his appearance. Ranger looked good enough to eat, rocking his Ralph Lauren in his perfect, ass-hugging tan chinos and a black cashmere sweater with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. His hair was loose and Stephanie had to resist the urge to grab a handful and drag him to the floor.

"You look great, yourself," she said, giving him another head to toe look before meeting his dark eyes. He smiled, touching the tip of her nose before nodding toward the door.

"You ready?"

Stephanie nodded bravely, reaching for her purse before leading him out the door. She locked up and they took the stairs down.

One of the Explorers was parked beside the Porsche but Ranger held his hand out for her keys. "I figured we'd take the Porsche tonight."

She handed them over and Ranger held open the passenger door for her before walking over to the driver's side. Stephanie sunk back into the buttery soft seats and let the Zen of the car soothe her.

"Al said my car should be ready by Tuesday," she said as Ranger pulled out onto Hamilton. She had found a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix for a reasonable price at one of the used car dealerships and had enough money put aside to pay cash for it. As much as she loved driving the Porsche, she knew she needed to get her own car. Ranger hadn't been too happy about it, wanting to buy her something better than a used Grand Prix, or at least have her keep driving his Porsche. But Stephanie was adamant about it, only caving to Ranger when he asked her to let Al look it over and add a few things to it. She knew that meant a GPS tracker and motion sensors on the undercarriage, but she wasn't going to complain. Ranger was only trying to keep her safe, and it would be silly of her to argue over it.

Ranger glanced over at her before turning his attention back to the road. "I still wish you would just keep the Porsche, Babe. You look good in it."

She grinned. "So I don't look good in the Grand Prix?"

Ranger chuckled. "You look good in everything. But you know what I mean."

"It's a good car," she argued playfully, reaching over to rest her hand on his thigh. "And I think red is my color."

"Everything is your color, Babe."

Stephanie sighed and squeezed his thigh. "I appreciate all you've done and all you've given me, Ranger, but I don't feel right keeping your car. We never know what could happen to it and I'd hate to destroy another Porsche. It's a crime against nature."

Ranger was quiet for a moment, but his hand moved down to wrap around hers. He loved her independent nature, but it made spoiling her very difficult. He wanted nothing more than to shower her with fast cars and expensive jewelry and designer clothing. All the money in his accounts was going to waste because she didn't want him to spend anything on her. It was frustrating!

Instead of arguing, he lightened his tone. "So you wouldn't accept it if I happened to leave a red Ferrari in your parking lot?"

Stephanie's head whipped around, her mouth forming a perfect "O". "Ranger, you'd better be kidding me!"

Forcing his blank face in place, he continued to tease her. "That's a shame. I already ordered it and it's being shipped here as we speak."

Her entire body twisted in the seat now as she faced him. She was about to start in on him when she noticed his face. Despite the blank mask, she could see the twinkle in his eyes. He was teasing her!

"You're such a jerk!" She laughed, smacking him on the arm. "Don't tease me like that!"

Ranger's blank look dissolved as he laughed with her. "I swear, you're the only woman who would turn down a Ferrari."

"I'm a simple girl," she declared, settling back in her seat. "For Jersey, anyway. I'm happy with the used cars I get as long as they run. As long as I can afford food and rent and the occasional pair of shoes, I'm good to go."

Ranger shook his head, grabbing her hand again and placing it back on his thigh. "I never thought it would be so hard to buy you something."

Stephanie fingered her necklace with her free hand and smiled. "You bought the necklace and the shoes I'm wearing. And there's a closet full of designer clothes down in Miami that I'm positive aren't for Jerome or Leo." She looked over at him, squeezing his hand at the same time. "I love you for you, Ranger, not for what you can buy me."

"I know that, Babe. But you're the only person I've ever wanted to buy things for. I like making you happy."

"You make me happy every day. Just by being there."

Ranger brought her hand to his lips, placing tiny kisses on her knuckles. "You're one of a kind, Steph."

That said, they settled into comfortable silence as the Porsche sped closer to Newark. The butterflies returned and Stephanie shifted in her seat, fighting the anxiety. She couldn't wait to get dinner over with so she could stop freaking out. She would hate to have wrinkles before she was thirty-five.

Ranger turned a corner and Stephanie took a deep breath recognizing the place where Ranger had brought her to canvas after Scrog took Julie. They drove through a few bad neighborhoods before he made another turn, pulling up in front of a modest two-story house. There were three cars in the driveway and a minivan parked at the curb.

"Is everybody here?" She asked, her voice small.

Ranger squeezed her hand reassuringly. "My parents', Abuela Rosa, my sisters Celia and Keila, and their families. Lilliana lives in New York and Alina is in Miami."

Stephanie just nodded. At least the entire Manoso clan wasn't there.

"No worries, Babe."

He shut off the engine and climbed out of the car, running to the passenger side to open her door. She felt a little better when his hand closed around hers and she got out, straightening her skirt one handed.

Two women were standing on the front porch and Stephanie had a sudden flash back to her parents' house. Looked like Ranger's mother and grandmother had the same traits as hers.

Scary thought.

"Carlos, it's about time you brought Stephanie to see us!" The younger of the women called out, walking down the steps to meet them in the yard. Stephanie tensed slightly and Ranger squeezed her hand again.

"Sorry, Mama. We've been a little busy."

"That's no excuse," she declared, smacking him upside the head. Ranger looked more than a little pained as he turned to Stephanie.

"Babe, this is my mother, Mariela. Mama, Stephanie Plum."

Stephanie studied the woman intently. She was maybe an inch or so shorter than Stephanie and very attractive. Her black hair was pulled back in a loose bun and she wore comfortable looking dress pants and a white sweater. Her skin and hair was the same beautiful dark color as Ranger's and her smile was just as stunning.

"I'm so pleased to finally meet you, carina," Mariela said, enfolding Stephanie in a warm hug. "I've wanted Carlos to bring you here for years!"

Stephanie was stunned by the warm welcome, but she hugged the other woman back. "Thank you, Mrs. Manoso. It's a pleasure to meet you as well."

Mariela laughed and the butterflies in Stephanie's stomach instantly vanished. "Please call me Mariela. No formalities here."

Before she could respond, Mariela had her by the hand and was pulling her toward the house. Ranger followed right behind them, but he stepped forward at the stairs.

"Hola, Abuela," he said, wrapping his arms around the tiny, birdlike woman at the door.

Stephanie watched him interact with his grandmother and she couldn't help but smile. Abuela Rosa might be a tiny woman, but she could tell that you did not want to mess with her. She had fire in her black eyes.

Ranger and Abuela Rosa began speaking back and forth in rapid Spanish and Stephanie looked at Mariela in confusion. Mariela chuckled.

"She's lecturing Carlos for not coming by more often," she whispered conspiratorially. "He's using work as an excuse and she's telling him that family is more important than a job."

Stephanie laughed. It was endearing to see Ranger in such a situation, being lectured by a woman a quarter his size.

Finally, he turned to Stephanie and held out his hand. "Babe, this is my Abuela Rosa."

Stephanie took his hand and walked up to stand beside him. Abuela Rosa stared at her for a moment before a bright smile lit up her face. She reached up with her tiny wrinkled hands and cupped Stephanie's face.

"Tan belleza! Bienvenida, querida mia." (Such a beauty! Welcome, my dear.)

Mariela translated and Stephanie blushed. "Gracias, Abuela Rosa."

Abuela chuckled and patted her cheek. "iVenganse adentro! iVengan! Tu debes encontrar los otros!" (Come inside! Come! You should meet the others!)

"She wants you to come in and meet the others," Ranger said, grinning down at Stephanie. She smiled back at him and nodded. They followed the older woman inside while Mariela brought up the rear.

The inside of the house was bright and cheerful. The walls were painted a vibrant cranberry color, with an occasional white wall to break up the monotony. The floors were a sparkling hardwood and made the place seem even bigger. Everything was in its place and so spotless that Stephanie guessed she could probably eat off the floor. Despite the cleanliness, the house looked lived in and cozy.

Stephanie was startled to find two women standing in the entryway, waiting for them to come inside. She could tell right away from their mocha latte skin, their perfect straight black hair and sparkling brown eyes that the women were Ranger's sisters.

"Stephanie! We're so happy to finally meet you!" One of the women exclaimed, stepping forward to throw her arms around Stephanie. "With all the stories we've heard about you, I feel like I've known you forever!"

"Babe, this is Celia," Ranger said, indicating the woman who was currently latched onto her. Stephanie hugged her back and laughed.

"It's great to finally meet you, Celia."

Celia stepped back and held out her arm to the other woman.

"Welcome, Stephanie," the woman said, her smile bright. "I'm Keila."

"Pleased to meet you."

Ranger released her hand and faced his sisters. "Does that mean you're not happy to see me?"

Celia snorted and smacked him in the arm. "You have some nerve, hermanito! You don't live across the country, you know! You could stop by for a visit more often!" (little brother)

Ranger rolled his eyes and gave her a one-armed hug. "That's because every time I show up, you hit me!"

"Because you only show up three times a year at best!"

"Quit your bickering!" A deep voice boomed and Stephanie nearly jumped out of her skin. A large, well-built older man appeared behind them, a huge smile on his face. "I get my kids out of the house and they come back to argue! It's not right!"

Stephanie's eyes widened at the sight of the man who had to be Ranger's father. He was tall and broad shouldered with the beginnings of a small gut. His hair was black, streaked with gray, but his eyes were still bright and youthful. And she could detect a hint of mischief in them as they turned toward her.

"And who is this lovely young lady? Have you brought me a girlfriend, Carlos?"

Stephanie blushed and everybody else laughed. Mariela smacked the man on the shoulder, but her eyes were twinkling.

"What would you do with a woman so young, Ricardo," she demanded, propping her hands on her hips. "You can barely keep up with me as it is!"

Ranger shook his head ruefully, wrapping his arm around Stephanie's waist. "Papa, this is Stephanie Plum. Babe, this is my father, Ricardo."

"Pleasure to meet you, querida," Ricardo said, taking one of her hands in his. He patted it affectionately and glanced over at his son. "It's about damn time you brought this girl home, Carlos. I was beginning to think you made her up."

Ranger sighed and hid his face in Stephanie's hair. "You see what I go through with them, Babe? And you thought your family was crazy."

Stephanie laughed and leaned closer to Ranger. "Thank you all for inviting me."

"It's our pleasure," Keila said, reaching out to pull her away from Ranger's side. "Come on in and meet everyone else." Stephanie found herself being led into the living room, where two men were watching TV with a teenaged boy and a group of giggling children were seated on the floor.

"Everyone, Carlos brought Stephanie over!"

Everybody looked up and Stephanie squirmed slightly. She was never fond of being the center of attention.

Keila pointed to the larger of the two men. "That is my husband, Antonio," her finger moved to point out two of the younger children. "And my children, Pedro and Pia." She pointed at the other man and the teenaged boy. "And that is Celia's husband, Mateo, and her oldest son, Mike. And those are her youngest, Marguerite and Ricky."

Stephanie looked down at Ricky and was stunned to see what had to have been Ranger's spitting image as a little boy. With his silky soft black hair and inquisitive brown eyes, he was Ranger incarnate.

"Hola, Stephanie!" Everyone greeted her in unison.

"Hello." She was at a loss at what to say next. Thankfully, Mariela spoke before she had to.

"Dinner is ready. Everyone in the dining room!"

The children stampeded into the other room, shouting and laughing as everyone followed them. Ranger's hand remained warm and solid on Stephanie's lower back and she relished the feel of him so close. All of her past fear had disappeared and she was finally getting to enjoy being around Ranger's family. She loved them already.

The dining room table was massive. It had to be to accommodate fourteen people comfortably, and Stephanie wondered how they managed to fit everybody when the other sisters and their families and Raphael had all been there. Even her own mother hadn't had to fit so many people at her table. It would have been a daunting task.

Stephanie sat between Ranger and Mariela at the table and once everyone was seated, everyone took hold of the hands next to them and bowed their heads. Pia spoke, then, in a clear, sweet voice.

"Thank you God for bringing us all together at Abuela's house. Thank you for all the food and thank you for finally bringing Aunt Steph'nie here for dinner so Uncle Carlos won't get into more trouble. Amen."

Laughter filled the room at Pia's prayer and Stephanie blushed slightly at being referred to as "Aunt Stephanie" by Ranger's niece. Ranger just squeezed her hand even tighter before they let go and began to pass the food around.

Dinner was absolutely incredible. Stephanie had never tasted such wonderful, intense flavors before. Mariela and Abuela Rosa even had Ella and Mira beat with their cooking and her own mother's food didn't even hold a candle to the spread that was laid out before her. Not that she'd ever tell her that.

The conversation was pleasant and thankfully, nobody mentioned Raphael. Stephanie was grateful for that. Instead, they talked about Mike's winning touchdown in his high school football game and the Halloween play that Marguerite was going to be in. Pia announced that her teacher had picked the picture she drew to hang on the blackboard in front of the class and Pedro grumbled about the "C" he got on his mathematics time test the week before. Ricky, who was too young to attend school, told everybody about the toy car he wanted for his birthday.

"It's black, like Uncle Carlos' car," he announced, forking a big piece of pork roast into his mouth.

Stephanie grinned at the look of affection that crossed Ranger's face at the sight of his youngest nephew. "It's a big responsibility to have a car, Ricky," he said, his eyes sparkling. "You have to take care of it and put it away every night so it doesn't get lost."

Ricky nodded, his little face serious. "I know, Uncle Carlos. I cleaned off a shelf in my room 'specially for my car. Alls I need now is the car."

From the look on Ranger's face, Stephanie knew that on Ricky's birthday, the little boy would be opening a shiny new toy Porsche from his Uncle Carlos. For all the times Ranger declared himself not to be family material, he sure was great with his nephew. Stephanie couldn't help but imagine him holding a baby, with his skin and hair and her blue eyes. Blinking furiously, she pushed the image out of her mind. She was definitely not ready to even imagine having children at that point in her life.

Dinner flew by and was followed by dessert, which consisted of the most sinful flan that she had ever tasted. When every last bite had been consumed and all the dishes were carried into the kitchen, everyone settled down in the living room. Stephanie sat on the sofa between Ranger and Pia, actually enjoying the family time she was participating in. Pia showed her the little sparkly stickers that she had on her fingernails and Marguerite kept coming up to her to touch her curly hair. Ranger was leaning back comfortably, his arm around Stephanie's shoulder as he chatted with his father and brothers-in-law about military stuff and business. Celia, Keila, and Mariela pulled chairs up to the sofa and convinced Stephanie to tell them a little about her job. They seemed to want to separate myth from fact and didn't quite trust Tank, Lester, and Bobby's versions of her mishaps.

Celia and Keila left with their families a little after eight thirty, stating that they had small children who had school the next day. Abuela Rosa left with Celia's family, who were going to drop her off at home on their way. After they left, Ranger and Stephanie sat around for a while, talking with Ricardo and Mariela. When eleven thirty rolled around, Stephanie was pleasantly exhausted and beginning to doze off against Ranger's side.

"I think it's time to head back, Babe," Ranger said quietly, running his index finger down her cheek. Stephanie nodded in agreement, sorry to see the night end. Mariela jumped up and ran to the kitchen to put together a bag of leftovers while Ranger said goodbye to his father. After hugging his son, Ricardo turned to Stephanie and pulled her into his arms.

"Don't be a stranger, querida," he said, patting her on the back. "You're welcome her anytime."

"Thank you, Ricardo," Stephanie hugged him back and was surprised to discover that it felt like hugging family. It was a terrific feeling.

"That's right!" Mariela exclaimed, rushing out with a large bag of food. "You make sure Carlos brings you back! If he doesn't, just give us a call and we'll pick you up ourselves."

Stephanie laughed as Ranger took the bag from his mother. "I'll do that, Mariela. Thank you for a wonderful night."

Mariela gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek before turning to her son. "And you don't be a stranger either, Carlos! Three times a year is not nearly enough time to spend with your family!"

Ranger sighed, but he was used to the banter with his parents. "I'll try, Mama."

"Try hard." Her face and tone of voice left no room for arguments, so he just nodded and placed his hand on the small of Stephanie's back, leading her out the door and toward the Porsche.

Ranger had driven only a few blocks before he glanced over at Stephanie, a huge smile on his face. "Have a good time, Babe?"

She smiled wearily, reaching out to place her hand on his thigh. "The best time. You have a great family."

He grasped her hand tightly, lifting it to his lips. "I told you they loved you."

Stephanie just smiled wider, sinking back into the seats. She was pleased. It had been a terrific day.

Thanks to everyone for the amazing reviews. I really appreciate it. And thanks again to Alfonsina d. for all the help. You really had your work cut out for you on this one, babe. I couldn't do it without you!

.