Steph's POV

I've been training with Ranger for a little over a week but it felt like longer…much, much longer. He had yet to teach me anything that I didn't already know, and I'd grown tired of his flirting and innuendos long ago. Despite the fact that I'd been able to do every single thing he'd asked of me or tried to teach me, he still refused to tell Vinnie that I was ready to be on my own. Instead he'd kept me close to him, often encroaching on my personal space and telling me that he could ruin me for all other men. I didn't even try to stop myself from telling him that Cal had already done that for me, but that piece of information didn't wipe the smug smile off his face.

I'd been given my first skip three days ago and had practically been with Ranger 24/7 since that time as he "taught" me how to track a skip. In reality, we hadn't gotten a single glance or a solid lead. Carl Costanza had been arrested on charges of solicitation and possession and had skipped bail. I suspected that the charges were false and he'd been set up, but Ranger wouldn't hear a word of what I had to say or my ideas for bringing him in. Carl was a good cop and I just couldn't see him doing what he was accused of.

I sighed as I checked my utility belt and tools of the trade to prepare for this afternoon's stakeout on Carl's known haunts. I glanced to my nightstand as I picked up my phone and couldn't help but smile at the picture that Victoria had given me a few days ago. It was Cal and I wrapped up in each other's arms at Sam's christening. God, I miss him. He's been gone for about two weeks. If the timeframe he thought was correct, he could be home anytime in the next two weeks.

My phone buzzed with an alert that I'd set up to let me know when Ranger was lurking in the shadows around my house – something he seemed to do often – and I walked quickly toward the front door in hopes of intercepting him before he could come in. I opened the front door and sighed in relief when I saw he was just parking. I was able to lock up and meet him before he was halfway up the walk. Score one for me!

"Babe," he said with an appreciative and not-so-subtle scan of my body. This man just didn't know when to stop.

"Ranger," I replied tersely. "Let's get the show on the road."

"All business this afternoon?" he questioned as we walked toward his Porsche Cayenne.

"I'm always all business with you," I shot back. That man just couldn't take a hint.

I walked past him and got myself situated and buckled into the passenger seat before he could take it upon himself to try to help me, a lesson I'd learned the first time he tried to buckle my seatbelt for me, and I sat in total silence while we drove toward Carl's parents' home.

We sat in front of the house for so long that my ass was numb, but Ranger was mercifully quiet for most of the surveillance. On the occasions that he did try to talk about anything personal, I just re-focused on the house in front of me and kept quiet. I knew going into this surveillance operation that we wouldn't find my skip, but I was up against a rock and a hard place until Ranger cut me loose to work on my own.

We finally gave up around 7:00 and I gratefully accepted Les's text invitation to dinner at Pino's as we drove back toward my house. As soon as Ranger stopped the car I made to get out, but his hand on my shoulder stopped me.

"Want to come back to RangeMan and regroup, Babe? I can have my housekeeper make us dinner and we can go over our intel at my place," he offered.

"Actually, I have dinner plans with Les," I informed him, hoping that he wouldn't keep trying to get me to agree since I had made a commitment. Thankfully it worked as I'd hoped and fifteen minutes later I was pulling up to my favorite restaurant for the best meatball sub in New Jersey.

I got out of my car and tried to skirt around an obviously inebriated Joe Morelli, but wasn't successful.

"Hey there, Cupcake. How's the hunt for Carl going?" he asked.

"How do you know who I've got files on?" I asked suspiciously.

"Please, it's all they're talking about at the station. Most of them don't think you can do it, but if you'll agree to a date, I'll get you some intel," he offered as he reached out to tug on a curl.

I slapped his hand away and glared at him. "What is it with you men?!" I ranted. "I'm very much taken, but even if I weren't, I would never want to be anyone's Babe or Cupcake! Touch me again and breaking your leg will look like child's play!"

I stomped off into Pino's and sagged into the booth across from Les.

"Hard day?" he asked.

"You have no idea. You drinking tonight?" I needed a beer badly.

"I'll join you for one," he agreed while the waitress approached our table.

We both ordered meatball subs, fries, and beers and I finally started to relax.

"Want to tell me what's got you in this state?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Everything," I sighed. "I miss Cal like crazy, Ranger is hellbent on hitting on me and trying to get into my pants and is completely wasting my time with his skip tracing techniques, and Joe Morelli just propositioned me in an attempt to get a date in exchange for info on Carl."

"The irresistible Steph," Les chuckled. "First things first, I got word tonight that everything is going according to plan and Cal should be home sooner rather than later." I barely kept myself from cheering out loud at that news.

"That's the best news that I've heard since he left!" I exclaimed happily. "Any idea when?"

"No, I probably won't know until he's on the plane from the base," Les answered, and I nodded. "Now, as for Ranger, I'm going to have a little talk with him and see if I can make him see reason. And I think maybe we can talk Vinnie into agreeing that you've had your unnecessary babysitter for long enough."

"You're seriously my hero!" I fake swooned, and Les and I laughed as we dug into our subs.

Les's POV

My cousin was up to no good and I wasn't going to stand by quietly and watch him try to wreak havoc in Steph's life any longer. I'd hoped that after a few refusals he'd get the hint, but he only seemed to become more intent on getting her into his bed. Women usually fell at his feet and offered themselves up on a silver platter, so Ranger wasn't used to hearing no. I'd never really taken him for the type who would try to move in on one of his men's women, but I guess I was wrong.

I fobbed my way up to the seventh floor and knocked on his door. When he opened the door I held out a beer as a peace offering and made my way into his living room. Once we were both situated on his couch and had a few sips, I leveled him with a hard look.

"I know what you're up to with Steph, and you need to back off," I warned him.

"Why would I want to do that?" he scoffed.

"Would you like a list? Because she's not interested in you, because she's told you no multiple times, because she's dating one of your men, because she deserves better than you'd give her. Is that enough?" I asked.

"Cal will get tired of her and move on; I'm just accelerating the process," he scoffed.

""You don't know anything about their relationship!" I practically yelled back at him. "They're crazy about each other and I've never seen Cal so happy. He's brought her home to meet his family and they're practically living together. I think they'll go the distance, but even if they don't, they sure as hell don't need your meddling."

"I don't recall asking for your advice," he growled out.

"I don't give a shit if you asked, you're getting it. Quit trying to get in Steph's pants, cut her loose in training, and act like the honorable man you claim you are!" I barked.