I want you all to know that I have had a wonderful time on my vacation, but unfortunately I have to go home tomorrow. I'm not sure I could get any tanner that I am right now. Seven of us came on this vacation, and I can tell you, without a doubt, that I spent more time on the beach than EVERYONE else put together. I'm not much for going deep in the water, but I took long walks, jogged a couple of miles, found a TON of shells, and read two books (one of them being Explosive Eighteen). So keep in mind that in my story, Stephanie and Ranger never spent time in Hawaii together. I hope you enjoy the chapter. As always, I look forward to gearing your feeback.

TRUST

I marched to the car, angled my way in, and slammed the door behind me. Joe came out of the house as I shoved the key into the ignition.

"Come on, Stephanie. Get out of the car."

"Are you going to let me go with Ranger tomorrow?"

"Fuck, no!"

I turned the key, slammed it into reverse and backed down the driveway. I drove blindly; the tears had burst onto my cheeks. "Jerk!" I said aloud to myself. I needed to figure out where I was going to go. I wasn't going to Ranger's. If I put myself in a vulnerable position right now, there was a chance that I might slip up and actually sleep with him, and that's that last thing I wanted to do. I couldn't go to my mother's or Val's. They'd just take his side. Why couldn't he just trust me? Before I knew it, I found myself driving toward my old apartment. Mattie. He'd let me in.

I pulled up to the apartment, and his car was in the lot. My emotions were high. I wanted to do this thing with Ranger, and I didn't want Joe to tell me I couldn't. I knocked on the door. As soon as Mattie opened the door, I flung myself at him.

"Oh Mattie, I need you!" I blurted out. I expected him to wrap his arms around me, and when he didn't, I opened my eyes. That's when I saw Joanna. Her jaw had dropped open, and she looked livid. I pushed myself away from Mattie. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you had company."

"Stephanie, what's wrong?"

"I should go," Joanna said, grabbing her coat off the couch."

"No! I didn't mean to interrupt anything between you two."

"It's okay, Steph. She was just here to talk about the kids."

"Oh, well, that's important."

"Yes, it is, but so is seeing my newly married friend at my door with tears in her eyes. Come in, will you?"

I stepped inside the apartment. "Can I use your bathroom?"

"Sure."

I shot a quick look at Joanna and bolted across the room. While I was in the bathroom, I could hear them talking. It was hard to tell if they were being cordial or arguing. Neither raised their voice. I sat on the toilet because I didn't want to disturb them. Finally, Mateo knocked on the door.

"Stephanie, you can come out now. She's gone."

I opened the door. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt anything."

"She just came over here to inform me that she was seeing someone, and she didn't want me to hear it from the kids."

"How do you feel about that?"

"I told her I've been seeing someone, too. I told her that the kids don't know because I haven't let it be known to them. Then you showed up at the door. She thought the girl I've been seeing was you."

"Oh my God! I hope you set her straight."

"I did." He paused. "So, what's got you all upset?"

"I'm upset because Joe and I have been wonderful these past two weeks and now, all of sudden, he's pissed off because I want to spend a day with Ranger before he leaves for Miami, possibly for good."

"Well, it's not as if you and Ranger don't have a history together," Mattie replied.

"It's not as if you and I don't have a history together," I reminded him.

"It's different. How is it different? I've slept with both of you."

"If I poured on the charm, would you sleep with me?"

"No! Of course not! You and I are very good friends."

"Would you sleep with Ranger?"

"No!" I meant it. "I am just pissed that Joe thinks that I could fall prey to Ranger."

"Maybe if you hung out with him and someone else, then Morelli wouldn't see it as an opportunity for Ranger to work his magic."

"True. I just don't know how big the plane is."

"Plane? What plane?"

"He wants to fly me to Florida for the day and take me to the beach."

"You can't be serious."

"Well, I am."

"Oh."

"What do you mean, oh?"

"Don't you think that's a little extreme?"

"I think it wasn't my idea. And I think I trust Ranger not to overstep his boundaries. And I think that my husband should know that I love him enough not to cheat on him."

My phone started to ring. It was Ranger.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?"

"Why are you asking?"

"Because your husband is here, and he's accusing me of hiding you in my building. Why would he do that, Stephanie?"

"Why don't you ask him? And while we are on the subject, you know where I am. Ask Tank. He can tell you exactly where I am."

"Babe."

"Tell my husband that if he can't trust me, then I don't want to come home."

"I'm sending him to you. You tell him. Call me in the morning."

I hung up the phone and drew in a deep breath. "He's coming."

"Ranger?"

"No, Joe."

"That's good."

"No, it's not! I don't want to fight with him on this."

"Maybe you are using the wrong approach. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."

"I started out sweet, and he exploded." I turned to the door. "I'm going home. When he gets here, tell him I'll do what he wants, but I hate him right now."

I drove home. I was angry. I stomped into the house, changed out of my clothes into my nightgown and climbed into the bed in the spare room. It was a half hour later when I finally heard the front door close. I was still angry. I knew he was going to confront me, and I was ready for a fight. I heard him call out to Bob asking him if he wanted to go out. I heard the back door open and close. A few minutes later, I heard the back door open and close again. A minute after that, I heard footsteps on the stairs. He went into our room first. "Shit." I heard him mumble. I had left the door to the room I was in ajar. He slowly pushed it open, but he didn't enter.

"Stephanie?"

"Go away," I said quietly.

"You want to go to Florida with Ranger, then, go head." With that, he walked away.

Shit, now what do I do? I lay in the bed debating if I should just stay there, or if I should go and kiss his ass for caving in. I mean, he didn't ask me to come to bed. Damn it! I slipped out of the bed and walked silently to our room. The lights were out, but the moon was shining bright and lit the room enough for me to see Joe lying in the bed with his arm draped over his eyes. Bob jumped off the bed and greeted me at the door. I pet the top of his head, and he wagged his tail. I leaned against the door jam.

"Nothing's going to happen," I said, breaking the silence.

"If it does, you had better marry him because I'll be divorcing you."

"Joseph, don't you trust me?"

"I used to until I found out you've been fucking Ranger probably as long as you've been fucking me."

"While I'll admit that there were times when you and I fucked, I thought there were more times when we made love—and for the record, we weren't exclusive then."

"You weren't exclusive."

"Joe, I married you."

He pulled his arm from his face and looked directly at me. "Then why do you need him?"

"Why does anyone need friends?"

He sighed and rolled with his back to me. I crossed the room and sat on my side of the bed. "I love you."

He spoke with his back to me. "Do you love Ranger?"

"Yes, but differently."

Now he turned and faced me. "What the hell does that mean?"

"It means I never want to have a day in my life where I wish that I could talk to Carlos and realize that I can't. I'd never want a day to go by where I couldn't depend on him if I needed him to protect me or my family, and I wouldn't want to disappoint him if he needed me." I paused. "Do you want to know how I finally realized that it was you that I couldn't live without?"

"That's easy. It was when you found out you were pregnant with my baby," he said coldly.

I did a mental eye roll. At least, he wasn't denying that the baby was his. "No. I had spent the night with Carlos, and as he got up to leave, he said, 'I want you to break it off with Morelli.' I swear to God, my heart stopped. I knew what he was alluding to, and I knew at that moment that there was no way in hell that I could ever break it off with you." I felt the lump rise up in my throat. "You know what sucks?"

"What?"

"That was the day you broke up with me." My voice cracked at the end of the sentence. I was about to break down, but I continued speaking. "Carlos actually thought that he had me. Then he found out that I was devastated." I curled up on the bed and faced him. "I wish you would just trust me. I won't hurt you, I swear."

"I'm hurting now."

A tear slipped from my eye and rolled past the bridge of my nose and across the opposite cheek to the bed. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to."

Joe reached out and pulled me closer to him. I buried my head in his chest. He kissed the top of my head and sighed. We lay in silence for several minutes before Joe's hand slid down the length of my torso.

"Take off your nightgown," he ordered.

I did as he requested. As I lay back down, Joe hovered over me and enveloped my lips in his. I was happy to have him want me. I stroked his clean shaven face as we kissed. He used his free hand to caress my breasts. Before long, his hand traveled over my baby bump and between my legs. He touched me in just the right spot, and I felt the heat course through my body. I wanted to open my legs, but I didn't. Instead, I let him force his fingers between my labia, and he stroked me searching for the entrance to my vagina. The rhythmic caressing of my clit made my whole body tingle. I hummed my appreciation. Joe lips left mine, and he moved to the nape of my neck. When his lips caressed my sensitive spot just below my ears, I moaned and spread my legs, inviting him in. I reached for his penis and stroked it. He was already hard. He left my neck and continued his journey to my breasts as he pushed his middle finger into me. My body arched with delight. I wanted him to mount me. I licked my lips to keep from begging. Instead, I yanked on his dick in an effort to give him the message that I wanted him to jump on. He understood and slowly slid his body over mine. Before he penetrated me, he asked, "Do you love me?"

I answered truthfully, "With all my heart."

I felt at one with him as he pushed his way deep inside of me. The moonlight was shining on his face, and he was beautiful. We enjoyed each other for a long time, and I began to worry that Joe was holding back. Suddenly, he pulled out and said, "Roll over. Get on your knees."

I didn't argue because I wanted him to come. I thought perhaps he had been going at it for too long, and a different position might be the answer. I flipped over, and he came up behind me. He grabbed a hold of my waist, so he could control me. He was deeper now, and it felt good. I knew I wasn't going to climax; I only hoped that he would.

Suddenly, I heard a buzzing sound. "What the hell is that?" I muttered in between the thrusts. Joe reached between my legs, and he touched my clit with a vibrator…at least that's what I assumed it was. The sudden sensation on my sensitive clit drove me to insanity. It took less than a minute before I had the-most-fantastic-orgasm-EVER! My whole body tightened up.

"Yeah, that's it," he growled like a big cat. My vagina had tightened up, and he was loving it. He began to pump me hard, and I saw stars. He was so fucking tight! I was groaning with each thrust. A minute later, his body jerked and he squeezed my hips as he released his fury.

Joe collapsed on the bed next to me. I rolled to my side and faced him.

"What the hell was that?" I asked.

He flashed a shit eaten grin. "It's called a bullet."

"Where did you get it?"

"There was a murder in the apartments above that sex shop, The Magic Touch. I figured what the hell? I went in and looked around. The girl at the counter was very helpful. I told her that my wife was pregnant, and I wanted to make sure I kept her happy. She told me a few things about a woman's body that even I didn't know."

"Like what?"

"Well, for one thing, she said you'd come within sixty seconds if I used that on you, and she was right."

"Maybe I don't want to come in sixty seconds."

"Fine, I'll toss it in the trash."

"Where is it?"

Joe rolled over and picked it up off the nightstand. He turned on the light as I examined it.

"It's got three speeds," he pointed out. I held it in my hand and turned it to low, then medium, then high. It hummed and rolled around in my hand. I didn't say anything. I turned it off, opened the drawer to my nightstand, and dropped it in. I rolled back to Joe.

"So, you like it?" he asked.

"Yes, I like it, and I love you." He kissed me and then lay on his back. I nestled into the crook of his shoulder and caressed the hair on his flat stomach.

"What time do you leave in the morning?"

"I don't know. I'm not even sure we are still going. Ranger sounded perturbed that you went to him and accused him of hiding me."

"Well, what the hell was I supposed to think? You said you were going to get laid."

"I went to Mattie's."

Joe lifted his head to look at me. "To get laid?"

"No! Silly! I needed a friend."

"I thought Ranger is a friend."

"He is, but the fight was because of him. I didn't want to drag him into your jealous insecurities. You managed to do that all by yourself."

Joe flipped over and came face to face with me.

"Look, I'll be jealous of any man who looks at you the way I do probably until the day I die. Just—please—don't give me a reason to leave you."

"I won't. Scouts honor." I held up three fingers.

He took my hand and gently kissed those three fingers before continuing. "You promise that eleven o'clock tomorrow night you'll be lying right here with me?"

"I promise." I paused as he caressed my hand. "You promise that you'll use that bullet thing on me again?"

Joe grinned. "Deal."

It was still dark when my phone rang. I reached blindly for the phone.

"Hello?"

"Are you up for the beach today?"

"Sure," I said, still half asleep.

"I'll pick you up at six."

"What time is it now?"

No answer. He had disconnected. I rolled over and laid my head on Joe's chest. I peeked over at his side of the bed where the clock sat on his nightstand. It was five thirty. The conversation suddenly registered in my head.

"Six o'clock! Shit! I have to get up!"

I tried to get out of the bed, but Joe grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back. "Maybe I should call in sick and stay here and make love to you all day."

"You know what? I would love it if you did that, but not because you were afraid I was going to sleep with Carlos." I leaned forward and kissed him. He released my arm. I jumped up and got into the shower. I dressed quickly in jeans and a sweater. It may be sunny and eighty degrees in Miami but it was cold, dark, and dismal here in Trenton. Joe got up as I was packing my bag.

"That's an awful lot of clothes for one day," he commented.

"I want to be prepared, just in case."

"Just in case you decide to run away?"

I ignored his comment. I was not about to get into a fight with him this morning. I pulled the bathing suit from the shopping bag, so I could cut the tags off.

"What's that?" Joe asked.

"A new bathing suit."

He pulled it out of my hand and held it up to inspect.

"It's a one-piece," I declared.

"I see. What was wrong with your other suits?"

"They are too small. In case you haven't noticed, Junior is getting bigger."

He placed his hand on my burgeoning baby bump. "I can't wait to see my little princess."

"How do you know it's going to be a girl?"

"Too many Morelli boys running around. We need a Morelli girl."

"You just have a thing for little girls," I pointed out.

"Maybe I do. You know we never talked about names."

"That's because I already have the names picked out."

"Oh, you do, huh?"

"Yep. If it's a boy, I'm naming him Stephen—after me."

"And what if it's a girl?"

"I'm naming her after you."

"Joseph?"

"Joey."

"A girl named Joey?"

I smiled. "Yep."

"Joey Morelli."

"It's cute, right?"

"Like you." He pulled me to him and kissed me passionately. "I'll be thinking about you."

"I'll be thinking about you, too," I reciprocated.

"Liar."

I smacked him playfully. "I will!"

The ringtone on my phone began to play. It was "The Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars. I put it on my phone the day I got back from my honeymoon because I had no reason to get out of bed anymore since I had no job. It was a dig at Joe for making me quit my job. I picked it up.

"Hello?"

"We don't have all day."

"I'm coming. Are you here?"

"Babe."

I hung up.

"Your chariot awaits?" Joe surmised.

"Yeah. Walk me down?"

Joe grabbed my overnight bag and followed me downstairs. I grabbed my coat and slipped it on as did Joe. At the bottom of the porch steps, I turned to Joe, and he placed the bag on the bottom step. He turned to me and zipped up my coat.

"Now remember, Cinderella, your fantasy ends at eleven o'clock."

"I'll remember."

He tugged on the collar of my jacket and kissed me. It was the kind of kiss that made me ponder whether I should just say, "the hell with it," and climb back into bed with him. As he pulled away, I mumbled, "Wow! I won't forget that kiss."

"Good," he replied.

"Joe?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for letting me do this."

He shot me a weak smile. "I love you, cupcake."

"I love you, too."

He picked up the bag, and I followed him to the car. The passenger side door was ajar when I got to the car. I suddenly realized that I didn't have my phone.

"My phone!" I said in a panic. "I left it plugged in, in the kitchen."

"I'll get it."

Joe hustled into the house and returned a minute later with the phone. I was still standing outside the car because I wanted to kiss him one more time to reassure him that I loved him. He handed me the phone. "Call me, okay?"

"Why do you think I wanted the phone?" I kissed Joe one more time. "I'll see you tonight." I angled my way into the passenger seat, and Joe shut the door. I waved to him as Ranger backed out of the driveway.

He didn't speak. I wondered what was going on in his head. I was hoping that he wasn't entertaining the idea of taking me to some South American country with the intentions of making me his concubine. The more I thought about it, I realized how ridiculous it sounded…or did it?

I decided I needed to lay down the rules, but I didn't just want to blurt it out like I had been under orders from Joe to do so. I needed a segue. Then it hit me.

"Joe and I talked about names for the baby."

He didn't answer.

"We are picking out names for both a boy and a girl because I don't want to know the sex until he or she is born."

"That's rather old fashioned, isn't it?" he replied.

"I'm an old fashioned kind of girl," I said in a syrupy sweet voice.

He glanced over at me. "Babe, there's nothing old fashioned about you."

"I know I want to be Mrs. Morelli till I take my last breath on this earth," I said boldly.

"Are you trying to tell me something?"

I paused, and then my mouth went into overdrive. "It's just that I didn't want you to think that I was going on this trip, so you could have your way with me. We are friends now, nothing more."

The corners of Ranger's lips turned up into a smile. He reached across the console and caressed my cheek.

"Although I would relish having my way with you, I have no intentions of breaching the vows you have set with Morelli."

"But yesterday—you crossed a boundary when you touched me inappropriately."

"True, and although I'm not proud of my behavior, I don't regret it. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"Thank you."

"Still friends, right?"

"Right," I said cheerfully.

We arrived at Teeterboro Airport a little after seven. Teeterboro was a small airport in Bergen County just outside of New York City that catered to privately owned jets and planes, many of which were owned by the rich and famous. Ranger carried both of our bags as he led me to a terminal at the far left of the buildings. He bade me to take a seat while he took care of business.

Five minutes later, Ranger took a seat next to me. "The pilot is finishing up a few things and will bring the plane around in a few minutes."

"I didn't know you owned an airplane."

"Technically, it's a jet, but it's not mine. It belongs to a client of mine. He lets me use it in exchange for services rendered."

A man appeared at the door located on the far side of the room. He was wearing a turban, and he was sporting a beard.

"Your jet is ready. Allow me to escort you." He immediately picked my bag up off the floor. Ranger handed his duffle bag to the man, who slung it over his shoulder. He summoned us to follow him. We exited through the same door that he had entered, and we walked across the tarmac to a small jet that had stairs leading up to it. Ranger encouraged me to go before him. I was in awe as I entered the jet. There were only eight seats; plush black leather chairs facing each other in two rows of four. They created a conversation pit in which parties could discuss business or pleasure. There were two large flat screen TVs hanging back to back from the ceiling. There was a laptop sitting on the coffee table located in the center of the seating area.

Ranger led me to the seats. "I'll be right back. I want to talk to the pilot."

I felt anxious. I was in a jet with my ex-lover headed to Miami for a day of sun and surf. Who the hell was I kidding? My anxiety turned to fear. When Ranger returned, I jumped out of my seat and picked up my bag. "I'm sorry. I can't do this," I blurted out.

"Why not?" he asked as he deliberately blocked my exit.

"I feel sleazy."

He drew in a deep breath. "Babe, if you don't want to do this, then I suggest you get off the plane now. You can take my car back to Trenton." With that, he stepped aside, allowing me to pass.

I took one step and stopped. "What about you?"

"I'm going to Miami. I can always send form my things."

"Do you hate me?"

He locked his jaw and folded his arms over his chest. His eyes were dark and serious. Finally, he spoke, "No, but I am disappointed. This was originally your idea."

"My idea?"

"You said you wished we could hang out at the beach."

Did I say that? I don't remember saying that.

"Okay—I'll go."

"Babe, you don't have to."

I tried to rationalize everything. He said he wasn't expecting anything except companionship. After today, I wouldn't see him until…

"You'll get me home by eleven o'clock tonight?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Babe."

"Well I need to know!" My voice was shriller than I wanted it to be.

"I'll do my best."

"I promised Joe. I don't want to go back on my promise."

His eyes grew bright. "I wouldn't want you to break your promise."

I smiled. "Let's go have some fun!"

I found the flight to be quite exciting. I got to sit near the window, and instead of soda and peanuts, we were served unsweet iced tea with lemon, which Ranger knew was my drink of choice, and little chicken finger sandwiches. Ranger worked on the laptop. I watched a bit of "Dirty Dancing" on the TV. I thought it odd that Johnny Castle was considered a mysterious guy, and here I was with Ranger, a man who was able to pull a private jet out of thin air at a moment's notice. Talk about mysterious.

Ranger looked up from his computer. "It's sunny in Miami and forecast to be in the mid-eighties."

"Shit!" I blurted out.

"What? You don't like sunshine?"

"I forgot my suntan lotion."

Ranger couldn't suppress his smile. "Don't worry. I won't let you burn."

"You're flirting."

"You said I couldn't touch. You never said I couldn't flirt."

I rolled my eyes. Deep inside I was happy if not still a little nervous.

The plane landed, and I had no idea where we were. All I knew was Ranger had arranged for a limo.

"I got us a room, so you would have a place to change and shower."

"A room." I didn't know what else to say. A room meant a bed and being anywhere near a bed with Carlos Manoso spelled trouble.

"I didn't want you to think that I had some ulterior motive. I'm just trying to make you comfortable. Considering you're pregnant, I thought you might need a nap before dinner."

"I sleep alone," I reminded him.

"I sleep in the raw," he joked. Only it wasn't a joke.

"You're impossible!" I ranted.

"On the contrary, I think I'm being rather easy."

Oh boy.

"So," he said, changing the subject. "Did you enjoy Jamaica?"

I thought about Joe and the intimate moments we had on our honeymoon. I wished, at that moment, that I could turn back the clock and do it again. I was lost in thought.

"You were thinking about Morelli, weren't you?"

I focused on Carlos. "I was."

"I guess you had a good time then. Would you do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Try to enjoy yourself today. Soon, you won't have the time to just relax and enjoy yourself."

I thought about what he said and realized that I had been rather evil all morning. I knew it was because of the guilt I felt being here with him—without my husband.

I took Ranger's hand in mine. "I think the limo was a nice touch."

He patted my hand with his free hand. "I think we should eat breakfast when we get to the hotel."

"Good idea. I'm starving."

The limo pulled up to the Marriott Hotel, and we got out. Ranger checked us in, and the bell hop escorted us to our room. We entered a small living room furnished with a faux leather couch, a desk, and an entertainment center with a mini-bar. The next room was the bedroom. It contained a single queen sized bed. The bathroom was situated between the two rooms. It was nice suite, not grand, but more than adequate.

I changed in to my suit. I put my shorts and shirt over it, so we could go eat. Ranger changed into khaki shorts and a charcoal grey shirt that was just tight enough to show the muscles in his abs. He was wearing brown leather sandals that resembled a flip flop.

I giggled when he came out.

"What?" he looked confused.

"I never expected you to wear khakis."

"Ella thought I should branch out with my personal wardrobe."

"Well, you look—normal."

"I can change if you want."

"No. no! But please tell me you have Raybans."

The brilliant smile that Ranger always kept at bay lit up his face. He reached into his bag and pulled out a pair of mirrored sunglasses.

I clapped my hands together. "I knew it!"

He placed the sunglasses on his head. He looked like a damn movie star.

"Come on, gorgeous." He held the door open for me and offered me his arm as we exited the elevator, which I graciously took.

The restaurant was on the first floor and faced the ocean. Since I was with Ranger, I tried to eat sensibly. I knew Ranger wouldn't go for the meat eaters' breakfast platter. Since it was almost eleven, he ordered brunch: fresh fruit and chicken salad on whole wheat toast with decaf coffee. I ordered the same, but I asked for a sesame seed bagel instead of wheat toast. Bagels are good, right? It was too hot for coffee, so I got unsweet tea with lemon.

At first, Ranger made small talk. Then he was quiet. He looked pensive.

"You look like something is bothering you."

He popped a piece of melon into his mouth and chewed slowly. He was obviously weighing whether or not he wanted to broach the subject. I thought for sure he was going to ask me something about where we stood as far as our relationship was concerned, which was stupid because I had made it clear that we were friends and nothing more. I bit my lower lip.

Finally, he spoke. "Tank tells me that you offered to help him out until he finds a replacement for Rodriquez."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah."

"You know, he's very excited about you working for him."

"And?"

"And I'm afraid that he won't try very hard to replace you."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I wouldn't try very hard if I were him."

"That's because you like to look at me."

"While that's true, the point is I'd have someone I trust and love working for me, and I'd know you were safe."

"Sounds like a good deal to me," I quipped.

"Only I'd be here in Miami."

"Sorry," I said sincerely.

He shot me a stern look. "And your husband is in agreement?"

The enthusiasm left my face.

"That's what I thought."

"Carlos, it's only a few weeks, tops."

"I need to hear it from Morelli."

"That's not fair! If I was some girl off the streets, you wouldn't question if my husband approved. As a matter of fact, it's against the law to ask those kinds of questions."

"You're not some woman off the street. You are someone with whom I have a past. You're husband is jealous of me and rightly so."

"You won't even be there! You'll be here in Miami!" I blurted out.

"Babe."

I realized that I had spoken rather loudly, and we were in a restaurant. I shot him the look of frustration.

"Stephanie, I would love to have you join my team, but under the circumstances, I need to hear from Morelli that he is okay with this."

I leaned forward in my chair and spoke in a low voice. "You didn't need his okay to put me on a plane and bring me here."

"That was my error, and he ended up in my face accusing me of hiding you in my building. I won't make that mistake again."

"Fine! I'll talk to him about it tonight, and I'll have him call you," I replied with just a bit of ire in my voice.

"Thank you." He wiped his lips with a napkin. "Now, are you ready to spend the day on the beach?"

I was looking past him at a couple carrying masks and snorkels. "Can we do that?"

"Do what?"

"That." I pointed to the couple. "Snorkel."

"Sure. There are shops all up and down the strip. I'm sure they sell snorkeling gear."

We went back up to the room, so Ranger could change into his suit. I took the opportunity to call Joe. He answered quickly.

"Hi, sweetheart. How's the beach?"

"We haven't actually gotten there yet. We just finished eating breakfast, and Ranger is in the bathroom changing into his suit. Then we are going to see if we can buy some masks and snorkels."

"Try not to overdo it. Remember, you are pregnant."

"I'll be fine."

There was an uneasy silence on the phone. "I miss you," I finally said in an effort to ease the tension.

"I miss you, too. I'm putting a lot of faith in you."

"I know. I'll see you tonight."

He hung up before I could say I love you. I considered calling him back, but Ranger emerged from the bathroom. We packed a bag for the beach, and Ranger slung it over his shoulder. As we stepped off the elevator, Ranger took my hand in his. We looked like the happy couple…too happy. As luck would have it, we stepped out of the hotel, and we ran smack into none other than Terry Gilman. She was with a relative who I recognized but couldn't place the name.

"Stephanie Morelli and Carlos Manoso together at last in Miami. I was wondering how long it would be before you and Joe hit the skids. Even I couldn't have imagined it would be this soon."

"It's not what you think," I said defensively.

She laughed. "Right. Well, you have fun. At least he can't knock you up!" She laughed again, and they continued on their way.

"Terry!" I called out.

Ranger tugged on my hand. "Forget it."

I looked back at her, and she had her phone to her ear. I just knew this would be bad…very bad.