Chapter Four

Morelli pulled the ugly maroon Crown Vic into the parking lot of the mall. He figured he had twenty minutes give or take. Today had already been long and exhausting. They'd pulled a hooker out of a dumpster on Stark Street, and a couple of gang bangers had ventilated each other a couple of hours later. Homicide was alive and well in Trenton, and that kept him busy.

Morelli needed to get Steph something. Something to smooth things over from this morning. He knew he had handled things poorly. Between his sharp response about not wanting a baby, to the sleeping with other women part of the morning, it hadn't gone well, and he felt bad about that. He really did.

What Bella had done was batshit crazy and unforgiveable, but Steph wasn't the only one that was freaked out. What did she want him to do about it? What was done was done. Bella was his family, and she really did want the best for him.

The problem was she wanted what Bella thought was best for him, and Morelli wasn't so sure that marriage or kids were it. He kind of liked his life just the way it was. Anthony had taken the marriage and kids path, and look how well that had turned out. His brother routinely cheated, got kicked out, groveled, and then got his wife pregnant again. Their house was busting at the seams with kids, and Anthony was no closer to being faithful.

Morelli wasn't sleeping with other women, well at least he wouldn't be from here on out. God, he sure as shit hoped none of the other women he had been sleeping with were pregnant, but Bella had sworn to him that was the first time she'd poked holes in the condoms. Morelli just hoped she was telling the truth. He'd broken out in a cold sweat when he'd gotten the text from Steph along with the picture of crazy Bella. There were several women on the list, and he wasn't entirely sure he was out of the woods just yet. It had only been about a month since Steph had caught Bella.

He blew out a frustrated breath. He knew he needed to quit screwing around, and he was going to this time. He really was, but in his defense he and Steph had never said they were exclusive. Not after the last hell, fire, and brimstone argument. Morelli wasn't even sure what that one had been about. But really who was he kidding. Steph deserved better. It was time to get serious about a relationship with her. He loved her; he really did.

Steph was funny and easy going, most of the time. Sometimes she could be neurotic and difficult, but really what woman couldn't be. Women were just wired different. Besides she was cool when it counted. Steph didn't make a big deal that his job called him away at all hours of the night and day, or sometimes he even got shot at. Steph needed her own space too, which worked for him. She wasn't all clingy, needing to be with him every minute. She didn't care that he did boys night out with his brother and cousins. Besides she liked the Rangers, Pino's, and beer, and was happy just to hang and watch a game.

God knows her family was as screwed up as his. It wasn't like Steph didn't have her own crazy grandma to contend with or a secret alcoholic or two lurking in the family tree. All in, they were a pretty good match. Granted her domestic skills weren't the greatest, but once they had kids, she'd learn those things. Her mom, and his, could help her. The truth was, those things were not that high on his priority list anyway.

Morelli blew out a harsh breath. If Morelli couldn't make it work with Steph, he probably couldn't make it work with anybody. And wasn't that a depressing thought. Sometimes he thought Steph deserved a whole lot better than him. He was his father's son after all. Destined to fuck something up. He'd spent a long time working through the rage, learning to control his temper. Still, there were moments when he was deathly afraid it would get away from him, and he would do or say something he could never take back. Sometimes Steph could push all of his buttons, and that scared him.

He had no idea why she had even given him the time of day after the horrible way he had treated her. He'd been an absolute miserable shit to her, and he really wanted to make it up to her. He wanted to erase that horrible tasty pastry experience from her mind, but somehow, he never could do or say just the right thing. Steph didn't fully trust him, and on one hand he didn't blame her, and on the other, it frustrated the crap out of him. But then Steph had always had good instincts. It seemed like no matter how hard he tried, he always ended up balls deep in some broad, chasing his demons, promising himself that time would be the last one, and he would buy Steph a ring, and hopefully get her to wear it.

Morelli headed to Victoria's Secret. He figured some lingerie would be a gift that worked well for both of them. He could show Steph he as thinking about her, and maybe it would get her in the mood for something a little more adventuresome. Steph tended to be a little too vanilla for Morelli's taste, but he guessed it was all that Catholic upbringing and guilt. Maybe that's what a man should want in a wife and mother, and leave the other, darker desires behind. Morelli could do this. Plain vanilla sex. He could make that work, and he would because he loved her.

Bella was right. They were getting long in the tooth, and it was time to grow up and be adults. Morelli couldn't think of anyone else he wanted to be with more than Steph. At least nobody he could actually be with. A little tinge of sadness snaked through him. It was time to stop hoping things could be different, and focus on Steph.

A petite little brunette sidled up next to him and offered her assistance as he walked into the store. The way she pushed out her enormous tits, and giggled, suggested assistance could mean a lot of things. If Morelli was game for a quickie, so was she.

She was attractive. Nice breasts if you liked that sort of thing. Morelli wasn't overly picky. He preferred large and real, but in his experience, tits were tits. She had a perky ass, and he supposed an OK face. It wasn't really her face he was looking at. Morelli couldn't help but smile and flirt when she giggled and touched him. Really what man wouldn't. He was surprised, and maybe a little disappointed, she didn't offer to model the lingerie for him. Give him an up close, and personal touch.

"What can I help you with?" Came her breathy question as she batted her long lashes at him.

Morelli figured there were a lot things that she could help him with, but he kept that to himself. He was here to buy Steph something because he'd turned over a new leaf.

Her eyes did a leisurely stroll over his body, landing on the badge clipped to his hip. She gave him a sly smile. "You're a cop?"

"Yes." He confirmed.

When he'd decided to join the police department, it was about the only job he was qualified for when he got out of the Navy. Little did he know that it would also be a job that got him laid on a regular basis. So many women got off on him being a cop. He wasn't sure if it was the authority or the gun, and most the time he didn't care.

Ironically the job that got him plenty of tail, was also the job that kept him from the one woman he desperately loved. But that was just life, and they'd all picked their path. He shook that thought off and focused on the triple Ds instead. They really did stand straight out. No real movement. Morelli was pretty sure Victoria's secret was her tits weren't real.

"Do you like handcuffs?" She giggled.

Yeah, Morelli thought, he did. A lot. Of course, they weren't really Steph's thing. She always seemed to get all panicky at the thought of being restrained. It irked him sometimes. It was like she didn't trust him. Of course, after he'd plastered details of the tasty pastry all over the bathroom walls, he knew Steph had gotten a lot of unwanted attention. Attention only a bunch of horny teenage boys can give a girl they think is easy. Trying to get in her pants, and being none too subtle about it. Teenage boys running in packs, cornering girls behind the bleachers to get a little feel. He'd heard the rumors, some of them made him a little sick.

As far as he knew nothing too horrible had happened, but still, it was his fault they'd tormented her in the first place. It was bad enough he'd screwed her on the floor of the tasty pastry, but he hadn't stopped there. No, he'd bragged about it. Embellished it. Why? He wasn't even sure. He had been so angry at the world back then, so screwed up. It had made him mad that she'd liked him. That she'd shown him kindness. Didn't she know that good girls like her were supposed to stay away from the Morelli boys? Didn't she know he was just bad blood? Just bred to be that way.

He'd been angry that she liked him. And even more angry that he'd really liked her. So, he'd done what he always did. Fucked it up. Because Morelli didn't deserve a good girl. Morelli pushed those thoughts aside. They weren't teenagers anymore, and he wasn't that guy. Most of the time anyway.

Morelli just smiled at the sales girl as his eyes roamed around, not bothering to answer. His eyes landed on a sexy red lace halter teddy.

Little Victoria, or whatever her name, was watching his every movement like a hawk. She followed his gaze.

"Do you like this one?" She picked up the red teddy and held it in front of her drawing his eyes to her breasts. "It's one of my favorites." She murmured seductively.

Yeah, Morelli thought he did like that one, but Steph wouldn't. No Steph would blush and stammer and cross her arms over her chest, and they'd end up having missionary sex with the lights off.

"I do." Morelli said. His voice held just the right amount of growl to show his appreciation.

He blew out another frustrated breath. "But, how about the pink strappy baby doll." Morelli knew that would be more to Steph's liking, and he really wanted to get her something she would like. This was for her. Something she would actually wear for him, something she would feel sexy and confident in. Hell, maybe if he was lucky, she'd even go down on him.

The sales girl pouted, and batted her eyes at him. Morelli felt his balls tighten. The idea of a quickie with her, held some appeal.

"I'm due for a break." She purred.

And Morelli, needed to keep it in his pants he reminded himself.

"Just the baby doll." He gave her his best hands-off smile, which only resulted in her rubbing against him as she headed to the register causing his dick to twitch as he watched her perky little ass sway back and forth.

Morelli looked over at the red teddy. Fuck-it he thought and picked it up. The woman he pictured would love that teddy. It would be perfect on her sleek body, highlighting her big breasts and blonde hair. He could feel the familiar heaviness and ache. He was getting hard just thinking about her.

Morelli had been in love with Terry Gillman for damn near twenty years. They'd been each other's first lover, fumbling in the dark behind the high school bleachers. They had dated all throughout high school. He was a football star and she was the head cheerleader. They'd been crowned homecoming king and queen, and for just that moment it felt like that is what they were. He was a king and she was his queen. Then real life had set in. He had left for the Navy, because it wasn't like there were a lot of other options for a guy like him.

Still, he saw her every time he came home on leave. They would spend damn near every moment, holed up in a hotel. Gawd, the things that woman could do with her mouth should be against the law. Once he got back from the Navy they'd picked right back up. Morelli had been fucking Terry for twenty years, and he was probably going to fuck her for another twenty. No other woman made him feel quite the way he did when he was with her. Morelli would have married Terry in a heartbeat. The problem was Morelli was a police officer, and Terry had ties to the mob, and that was just that.

They couldn't be together, not publicly anyway. Sure, she helped him out on occasion, and for her cooperation the Trenton PD turned a blind eye to most things. Sure, they were basically an open secret at the precinct. That was one thing, but having a relationship, and getting married. Yeah, that wasn't possible. So, they both tried to make a go with other people, but invariably they'd end up back in bed with each other. No one else satisfied them.

Everything about that woman excited him. She was his equal in every way, and she was unattainable and that just sucked. Because Morelli knew, he was never going to feel about another woman like he felt about Terry.

So, he fucked around on Steph, just like he had on all his girlfriends, mainly because he was trying to fill the void. Trying to replace Terry, and no matter how hard he tried, no one else ever measured up. Not even Steph.

And that wasn't her fault. So, Morelli was going to make a go of it with Steph. He'd give up all the other women. As he looked at the red teddy in his hand, he just wasn't so sure about Terry. He told himself he would, but here he was buying this sexy red teddy for her, already thinking about what she would look like with it on. His balls were aching.

The sales girl rang him up and he paid.

"So." He heard himself say. "You're due for a break."

A grin spread across her face. "Yes." And she giggled.

The giggling was starting to grate on Morelli. But then he figured he could give her something else to do with that pretty little mouth, and giggling wouldn't be an issue.

He followed her into the backroom. Morelli was painfully hard, but not for her. No, his thoughts were of Terry and that damn red teddy.

Morelli turned the girl away from him and pushed her up against the wall. It was easier if he didn't have to look at them. Less intimacy and easier to pretend they were someone else. He placed her arms on the wall above her head and she shook her ass seductively at him. If he had more time, he'd take her up on that, he thought. Another thing that was always a no-go with Steph. He ran his hands down her body until he reached the hem of her skirt. He pulled her skirt up around her waist, and yanked down her panties, pushing his hand between her legs, probing her wetness. Testing her readiness.

He quickly pulled a condom out of his wallet and sheathed himself. Condoms he had bought just this morning, so he knew they were safe. He used his foot to nudge her legs apart, and pushed into her. He heard her breath hitch, and he knew she probably hadn't really been ready, but he only had a few minutes, and none to spare.

He reached around and squeezed one of her enormous breasts. If felt rock hard. Clearly implants. The feel kind of turned him off a little, but he pictured Terry so he wouldn't go completely soft.

He slid his hand between her legs and began to stroke her. He closed his eyes and pretended she was someone else. Morelli wasn't a monster, he wanted her to enjoy this too. He was relieved when she came quickly, because he was quickly losing interest. The little breathy squeals she made as he pounded into her were distracting. She reminded him of a piglet that had been caught in a snare. A few more hard thrusts and he felt his own release. His immediate need satisfied.

He abruptly pulled out of her and quickly disposed of the condom in the trash. He tucked himself in and zipped up.

She was standing there cheeks flushed with her panties hooked around one ankle looking at him, anxiously gnawing on her bottom lip.

"Do you want my number?" Her voice was less sure than it had been.

Morelli just gave her a bland smile. "I'm a cop, I can find it."

"What about my name." He heard her call after him as he exited the backroom into the service hall heading towards the parking lot. Fuck, Morelli thought. What had he been thinking? He would do better. He had to.

Morelli opened the door of the Crown Vic and slid inside, slamming the door with more force than was necessary. Was there just something wrong with him he wondered. Was he just damaged? Was it just in his genes to cheat and screw around? Morelli put his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes, willing himself to breathe. No, he wasn't doomed. He'd just made a mistake. His eyes cut to the Victoria's Secret bag on the seat next to him. Maybe he'd give them both to Steph. He'd talk to her, tell her how he felt. He'd brought things up before, but he'd never pushed the issue when she didn't seem interested. If things were going to work, they both needed to give a little. Maybe Steph would understand that.

Almost of its own volition his hand snaked inside the bag and ran over the silky material of the teddy. He pulled out his phone and texted Terry. He just wanted to check in. See how she was doing, that was all, he told himself.

Stephanie stood in line at the Starbucks, absently rubbing her throbbing elbow and thinking about the man that had literally knocked her on her ass. She resisted the urge to turn around and scan the food court looking for Mr. tall, dark, and dangerous. Nothing good could come from that. Two minutes with the man had left her edgy and restless, with a familiar ache pulsing through her body. It was nuts, absolute lunacy.

She didn't know anything about the man, but he had this crazy magnetic pull about him. When she'd looked at him it was like there was this recognition between them, like part of her knew him. Her soul had recognized him, which was crazy. Stephanie wondered if she was just as crazy as Bella. Nothing like that had ever happened to her before, and she was pretty sure it never would again. It had been disconcerting, and exhilarating.

It had taken a considerable amount of willpower not to jump him in the middle of the food court. The things she thought about doing to him, what she wanted him to do to her, made her blush. She pressed her legs together harder in a futile effort to stop the throbbing. Those hypnotic brown eyes that made her knees weak, and that rich deep voice that made her tremble. Seriously what was wrong with her, she needed to get a grip. She was standing in line at Starbucks having an erotic fantasy about a man she didn't know. If that didn't qualify as crazy, she wasn't really sure what did.

Stephanie thought she must be hallucinating when she heard that deep, rich voice say her name. She turned around and came face-to-face with him. Her head tilted up and her belly fluttered when she looked him in the eye. Even in heels he was taller than her. Just the perfect height to kiss her. Stephanie was staring at his mouth with the kind of rapt attention an addict might give an eight ball. She tore her gaze away and chastised herself.

Tall, dark, and dangerous had just called her by name. Stephanie narrowed her eyes at him. How did he know her name? Suspicion slithered through her. Was he some kind of crazed stalker? Boy wouldn't that just be her luck.

He gave her an apologetic smile and held up her ID badge. "I thought calling you by name was better than yelling hey you in a crowded food court."

Relief flooded through her. No, he wasn't a crazed stalker, he was just returning her ID badge.

Stephanie couldn't help but laugh. "You're right. It's like little kids yelling mom."

When he smiled at her it was a good one. One that reached his eyes. She felt a little tremble go through her. He was gorgeous. Stephanie reached out and took her badge.

"Thank you." Her voice trailed off. A little stab of sadness hit her. This was it. Probably the last time she'd ever see tall, dark and dangerous.

"Marc. Marc Pardo." Ranger gave her his alias, and held out his hand to her. For reasons he didn't even want to analyze, he had almost slipped up and introduced himself as Carlos Manoso. Unbelievably, he'd almost given her his real name. Clearly Ranger was slipping. He was beginning to think he might need to get a neurological exam. Maybe he was losing it. Why he even contemplated about telling her his real name or even Ranger, his street name, was a complete mystery.

Even though she was prepared this time, the little jolt of electricity went through Stephanie when she shook his hand. The hair on the nape of her neck stood up, she felt a tingle.

"Well, Mr. Pardo, it was nice to meet you, and thanks for returning my badge. Losing it would have been a hassle." Stephanie snapped her mouth closed to keep from babbling. "Can I buy you a coffee?" She asked. Stephanie figured that was the least she could do.

He was studying her. While his posture was relaxed something about his gaze made her mouth go dry. It felt like he was taking her heart rate and looking inside her mind.

"You could go to coffee with me sometime, maybe have dinner with me?" His seductive voice washed over her.

A little thrill went through her. Tall, dark and dangerous was asking her out. Stephanie really wanted to say yes, but the answer had to be no. She was in a relationship with Morelli. Sort of anyway. Or she thought she might be, eventually. She was pretty sure Morelli was going to ask her to move in with him, or at least be exclusive. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess.

Ranger saw indecision, and then regret pass across Stephanie's features. She was going to tell him no. It was written all over her face. A flash of panic swept over him. He didn't have a plan b. When had he gotten so bad at asking women out? Ranger was good at everything, except apparently getting a date with Stephanie Plum, and at that he got a big fat F.

This woman seemed completely immune to him. Something he couldn't say for himself. When he had been face-to-face with her in the food court, she'd stolen his breath. Those electric blue eyes. So beautiful and so full of life. He had contemplated reaching out and just pulling her to him for a kiss. Those lips had been so close, and looked so soft and kissable. But from everything he'd read in her file, Stephanie Plum was not a wild and crazy woman. Kissing a stranger in the middle of the food court wouldn't be a go to move for her, so he'd reined himself in.

The best he could tell she'd had two serious relationships. One with some jackass lawyer by the name of Dickie Orr. They'd even been briefly engaged, but she had called it off. The rumor was she'd found him bare assed screwing some high school classmate on the dining room table. The other with the cop Morelli, which seemed to be more an on-again, off-again booty call than a relationship. He'd give her one thing, she sure seemed to pick men with roving eyes.

No, Stephanie Plum was not exactly wild and crazy, at least not on paper. Ranger was pretty sure, given half a chance, he could change that. He pushed that thought aside. The last thing he needed to do was look at her like he wanted her for lunch. He was pretty sure she was gearing up to reject his offer of dinner already. If she saw even a hint of his thoughts on his face, she'd probably bolt out of the mall. It wasn't like she wasn't a smart girl, and it wasn't like his thoughts were all that tame. No, he was pretty sure the thoughts he was having about her, would make even a porn star blush.

Ranger saw her eyes narrow as she focused on something behind him and to the right. He didn't dare turn around, but he figured it had to be the cop. He'd seen Morelli when he walked in. Instead, Ranger watched captivated as a flurry of emotions passed across Stephanie's face. Surprise, anger, hurt. Yeah, Ranger was pretty sure she was watching the cop flirt with the bimbo with the fake tits that was twittering and looking at him like he was the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen.

Ranger figured the poor girl needed to get out more, if she thought Morelli was fascinating. Not that Morelli was necessarily a bad guy. Ranger had run across him a few times. He seemed to be a good cop. One that was interested in doing his job, not one that got off on the power of his badge. Morelli seemed to be a guy that wanted to do the right thing not just close the case, a rarity in Ranger's experience.

Stephanie heard female laughter. The kind that is unmistakably the result of male attention. Her eyes were drawn to the sound, and her heart did a little stutter. Morelli was giving some petite brunette his best panty dropping smile, and she was laughing and touching his arm. Morelli seemed to be enjoying the attention. Irritation washed through her.

The woman had enormous tits that she was practically thrusting in Morelli's face. Stephanie wondered if it was the miracle bra or implants. It was pretty clear either she had help, or she was a genetic freak. It looked like she had two basketballs on her chest.

Morelli seemed enthralled with whatever she was saying. Stephanie could only imagine it was Mensa worthy conversation. It took all her effort not to roll her eyes. Morelli was in Victoria's Secret buying lingerie, and practically pawing the sales girl with the ginormous fake tits.

Stephanie felt alternately hot and cold. What was Morelli doing buying lingerie?

She forced herself to take a breath and relax. She shouldn't jump to conclusions or automatically assume the worst. She and Morelli had gone several rounds over that one. Morelli always accused her of thinking the worst of him. She needed to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Maybe the lingerie was for her. Stephanie sighed or maybe it wasn't. The red teddy was definitely not her style. She watched as he shook his head and the sales girl put the red teddy down and picked up a pink baby doll he pointed to. OK, so that was more her style. Maybe she was overreacting. The girl with the enormous tits headed to the register, swaying her ass. If she kept doing that, she'd need a hip replacement by the time she was thirty. Stephanie let out another little sigh. The baby doll was probably for her. She marginally relaxed.

Then she watched Morelli pick up the red teddy and a look of longing crossed his face that was so stark she couldn't help but give a little gasp. Morelli headed to the register with it. Stephanie was pretty sure he wasn't thinking about her.

Anger flushed over her. How dare he stand right there this morning and tell her he wasn't sleeping with other women, making her feel like a guilty shrew. And a few hours later, he was busy buying lingerie, and drooling over fake tits. God, sometimes she was dense. Morelli was never going to change. The reason she didn't trust his dumb ass was because of shit like this. Stephanie realized her fist was clenched so tight her nails were digging into her palms, and she forced herself to relax.

She realized Marc Pardo was looking at her expectantly, waiting on an answer. Not only was she clumsy around him, but apparently, she was also mute. Stephanie had a feeling he was probably rethinking the dinner invitation about now. Stephanie's gaze focused on Marc. "I'd love to have dinner with you." She heard herself say. Because really why not.

Ranger nodded and held out a business card to her. "Call me. I've got to run. But I really hope I hear from you soon Stephanie."

When Stephanie took the card their fingers brushed, sending a delicious shiver through her. The sheer maleness of him overwhelmed her senses.

She watched him go. His movements powerful and graceful. He'd left the ball completely in her court, and it gave her a heady sense of power.

She placed her order, and looked around for Morelli. He must have left, because she didn't see him in the store any longer. She also didn't see the sales girl, and unease crawled through her, but she pushed it down. She was overreacting. Probably.

The lingerie was for her, and while the red teddy wasn't really her style, it was Morelli's. Maybe he had picked it out because he liked it. Morelli was always hinting that he wanted to spice things up a bit, and maybe sexy red lingerie was his misguided attempt to do just that. Stephanie wasn't opposed to that, not really. The problem was she never felt entirely comfortable around Morelli. She was always afraid he was comparing her to someone else, and somehow, she just didn't quite measure up. So many times, it felt like he was somewhere else, with someone else when they made love. The sad truth was, she didn't fully trust him.