Disclaimer: This a Stephanie Plum FanFiction Story. All recognizable characters belong to the fabulous Janet Evanovich. I am just borrowing her amazing characters for a while. I'm grateful she allows us to play with her characters.

A/N: One-shot based on an impromptu dialogue challenge in the Facebook group Janet Evanovich Fan Fiction.

Challenge: "Feel free to use kisses as a method to shut me up anytime."

Warnings: Adult language, adult situations.

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Ranger Never Lies

I swiped an extra coat of mascara on my lashes and stepped back and stared at my reflection in the mirror. All in not too bad. I tamed my dark brown hair from unruly curls to cascading waves, artfully applied make-up, and slicked peachy nude lipstick on my generous lips. The mascara highlighted my blue eyes, courtesy of the Hungarian side of my family.

I might not know how to cook, have a great job, or a boyfriend, let alone a husband, but I looked bitchin' and tonight that would work just fine.

"You can do this Stephanie." I told my reflection. "You are a Plum." I heaved out a big breath.

Yeah, whatever that meant. I wasn't sure what it said about my family tree that the most successful person in our family was my cousin Vinnie. He owned Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, and I worked for him as a bond enforcement agent. Not that he wanted to give me a job mind you, but I had blackmailed him. Vinnie was lower than pond scum and I knew his secrets. Secrets that had gotten me a crappy job and made him a pretty good bail bondsman.

I spritzed on some perfume and finished getting dressed. A black pencil skirt, cream silk blouse and four-inch fuck me pumps completed the outfit. Not that I thought the FMPs were going to live up to their reputation tonight, but I put on my good underwear just in case.

Against my better judgement, I was doing a distraction job for Ranger, otherwise known as the completely blank book called Carlos Manoso, owner of RangeMan. I rolled my eyes. I'd have passed on the job, but rent was due and no one was skipping bail these days, at least no one I could catch.

Ranger and I had a complicated relationship. Well, at least I thought it was complicated. I doubted it was complicated for Ranger. He kept me at arm's length, emotionally anyway. I'd gone and done something stupid again. I was beginning to think I might be a world record holder for that. Good judgement and common sense had never been my strong suit, but I'd out done myself this time. I'd slept with Ranger. Again.

Ranger and I had tangled once before, and the problem with Ranger, he was the kind of lover that could make a girl forget she valued commitment, and probably even her name. That man was fire and magic. But that was the thing, fire burned hot, but deadly, and magic was just an illusion.

I had absolutely known better. The first time I'd slept with him, it had been fireworks and hear a heavenly choir good. Right up to the point, he'd gotten out of my bed, gotten dressed, and walked out without so much as a backward glance. He'd told me in no uncertain terms, he didn't do emotional and he didn't do relationships.

I'd told him, in no uncertain terms, that didn't work for me, and that had been the end of that. Until he'd worn me down. Ranger helped me, he protected me, he mentored me, and I think in his own way he kind of loved me. Ranger had made it clear. He'd be in my bed any time I wanted him, and god help me, I really wanted him. The man could kiss me senseless and damn near make me orgasm just by looking at him.

I'd tried to stay strong and that had worked, right up until I hadn't. Morelli, my on-again, off-again cop boyfriend, and I had long since broken up, and I was feeling a little desperate. My battery-operated boyfriend wasn't cutting it anymore, and in a moment of weakness I'd talked to Ranger. He was a silver-tongued devil that one.

He'd caught up to me in the alley by the bonds office. He had been dressed in his standard RangeMan uniform of black shirt and black cargo pants. The t-shirt had stretched across his broad shoulders and showcased his washboard abs. I'd gotten damp just looking at him. His skin was flawless, his hair was soft and sexy, his eyes dark and unreadable, but that didn't stop me. Nope, I'd blown right past the glaring warning signs. The crisp, clean smell that I'd forever associate with him had tickled my nose and stirred my body, and I'd been lost. Putty in his very talented hands.

One thing led to another, and we did it. Again. This time was twice as good as the last. I wanted to pretend it meant nothing to me either, but I'd failed. Lucky me, we got to have 'the talk' again. It had been humiliating. Again.

So, I'd been avoiding him like one might avoid the plague. I'd escaped out the back of the bail bonds office when I saw him pull up, but he'd caught me in the alley. Wise to my escape. He wasn't Vinnie's primo bounty hunter for nothing.

Ranger needed help with a distraction, and I'd caved. Mostly just to get away from him, so I didn't crawl up his perfect body and beg him to take me right there. I had pride. Somewhere.

I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs to meet Ranger. I didn't have to wait long. I heard the deep growl of the Porsche 911 Turbo as he pulled into the lot of my apartment building. The sleek, black car fit the man. It was gorgeous, graceful, had a big engine, and rode just a little rough. I squeezed my thighs together at the unexpected flutter. I needed to find a boyfriend and fast or I was in real danger of doing something stupid, like begging Ranger.

I slid into the buttery leather seat; my senses assaulted by the sheer male perfection of him.

"Babe." His voice sounded like a silky purr that vibrated straight through me and settled between my thighs.

Babe meant a lot of things. Tonight, it seemed to just be a greeting. I tried not to read anything into it, even though I thought his voice sounded a little deeper, and maybe a little rougher than usual. I was immune to his charms. Maybe if I kept telling myself that, eventually it would be true.

Ranger had that eye of the tiger thing going, and the little hairs on the back of my neck stood up and took notice.

I gave him a tight, polite smile. "Ranger." I greeted him. Two could play the one-word game. I had learned from the best.

His gaze flickered over me and then back to the road. He handed me a file

"Brian Stump is your target. Picture is in the file."

I took the file and opened it. Brian Stump looked like a linebacker that had gone soft. He had a short blond buzz cut and a broad nose. I checked the basic data on him. He was six two and about two hundred and fifty pounds. He had a penchant for high-end escorts and cocaine. He'd started embezzling from the law firm he worked at to fund his lifestyle and drug habit. One night, he'd gotten a little too high and beat an escort nearly to death. Because he was on the inside of the so-called justice system, Stump had never been charged.

"What do you need?" I asked.

"Just tag him. We'll take him after he leaves the bar. I don't need eyes on this one."

A flutter of apprehension went through my belly. I wondered who Brian Stump had pissed off. If Ranger didn't want any witnesses, it couldn't be good.

"Why are you going after this guy? He didn't skip bail."

Ranger just shrugged. "Paying a debt."

I looked over at him. Clearly, he wasn't going to tell me anything else.

I just let out a slow breath and looked out the window. Ranger was a mystery, and always would be. He had a murky past and played his cards close to the vest. The only thing I was sure about with Ranger was his future didn't include marriage. Of course, right now, it wasn't the future I was worried about. It was the present. Sitting in the cocoon of the car, his features illuminated by the dashboard lights, I realized I'd done a lot of stupid things, but none more stupid than falling in love with him.

"Babe." This time babe was a question.

A flash of anger washed over me. "Just gearing up to be pawed on by a psychopath." I snapped.

His eyes assessed me for a second before turning back to the road. "I won't let him hurt you."

I gave an inelegant snort.

Ranger took my hand, and I tried not to flinch at the contact as a bolt of electricity went up my arm.

"Have I ever lied to you?" Ranger asked.

"No."

It was true. Ranger had never lied to me. He might not tell me things, but he never lied.

"I won't let him hurt you." Ranger repeated.

I shook my head. "I know."

Ranger would kill for me. In fact, I was pretty sure he had. No, the danger to me wasn't Brian Stump. The danger was sitting right beside me.

"You don't have to do this. I can get someone else." Ranger's quiet voice caressed me. I felt his hand move to my leg, and I flinched away from him. My traitorous body reacting at his touch.

"Let's just keep this professional. I told you I'd do it and I will. I need the money." I would have sworn I saw hurt flash across his face, but I knew better.

Ranger just nodded.

We pulled up a couple of blocks from the bar where Brian Stump routinely found his evening entertainment.

Ranger pulled out a tracker and a wire that would allow him to hear. He handed me an earpiece.

Ranger reached for me, his hand on my blouse. "Let's wire you up."

I was no stranger to that little party. "No." My voice came out sharp and Ranger dropped his hands, giving me a questioning look.

"I'll do it myself."

I saw Ranger's brow go up a fraction, but he handed over the GPS tracker and the wire. I turned away from him and slipped the GPS tracker in my bra and taped the wire between my breasts. I re-buttoned my shirt and turned back towards him as I put in my earpiece.

"Babe, we need to talk."

I gave him an eye roll. "No, we don't. I'm clear."

I reached for the door handle and opened the door. Ranger captured my wrist and tugged me back in the car.

Ranger locked eyes with me. "I don't think you are." He brought my wrist to his lips. "Let's talk after."

"Sure."

I got out and headed to the bar, focusing on not twisting my ankle as I picked my way up the street. I could feel Ranger's eyes boring a hole in my back.

Our latest talk had been different. When Scrog had held Ranger's daughter, Julie, captive, Ranger had admitted he wasn't emotionally distanced from me. It had seemed like something had shifted in our relationship, but in the months since, nothing had changed. The latest talk had been different, but the outcome was the same. Sometimes Ranger thought about sharing his closet with me, just not enough to alter his life plan. I was a distant second. Period, the end.

Anger made my cheeks burn. Poor stupid Stephanie. Always with the unattainable men. Morelli had freely admitted he loved me, but he didn't want to marry me. In fact, he'd said those exact words. Ranger loved me, in his own way, but didn't want a relationship.

Yep, I was done. Someone could just stick a fork in me. I might be a slow learner, but I'd finally gotten the message, and this time, Morelli hadn't even had to write it all over the bathroom walls.

I blew out a breath and focused. I needed to plant a tracker on Brian Stump. Then my job was done. Maybe I'd have a drink and enjoy myself. It was time to look outside the Burg for a date. It was slim pickings otherwise.

I squared my shoulders and pushed inside the bar. I took a minute to adjust to the dim lighting and let the cool air wash over me. The bar was dark wood with hunter green leather bar stools and booths. It was well appointed and had an upscale feel to it. The bar was located close to the financial center in Trenton, and catered mostly to finance guys and lawyers.

I made my way towards the bar, scanning for Stump. I noticed a couple of women dressed similarly to me mingling. My guess, they were escorts like the ones Brian Stump liked to pick up. There were a few women in the bar, but it was easy to tell the lawyers from the escorts. The lawyers had on severe suits, mostly in navy or gray, and all seemed to have the exact same shoulder-length bob.

I sat down at the bar and ordered a vodka gimlet. Not because I knew what was in one, but because I thought it sounded sophisticated. Somehow, a fuzzy navel didn't seem to fit with this crowd. I scanned the bar and spotted Brian Stump. He was coming from the direction of the restroom and rubbing his nose. He'd probably just snorted a hundred bucks in cocaine. Stump sat down at the far end of the bar and signaled the bartender for another whiskey.

I grabbed my drink and made my way towards him.

"I have a visual." I whispered.

"Roger that." I heard Tank's voice in my ear. I wondered where Ranger was and then immediately pushed that thought away. I didn't care where Ranger was. This was a job. Nothing more.

Stump perused my body as I moved towards him, putting a little extra swing in my step. His assessment was downright indecent. I was pretty sure his eyes never made it past my breasts. I could probably rob Brian Stump, and the only description he could give would be of my tits. No doubt they'd be a little too small for his taste, even with the miracle bra and the extra padding that looked suspiciously like chicken cutlets. I suppressed an eye roll and palmed the tracker in one hand and held my drink in the other. I wanted to get this done and then go have some fun of my own. I was done with emotionally stunted men, and I was done with being cautious. The prime of my life was passing me by and what did I have to show for it. A crappy apartment, a shitty job, and a cute hamster.

I stopped a couple of barstools away from Stump and took a drink of my vodka gimlet. Gawd that thing was awful. I sat the drink on the bar and watched Stump ogling me in the mirror. Three, two, one I counted. Stump made his move and sidled up next to me.

"Hey, I haven't seen you here before." Stump's breath smelled like whiskey, his eyes were glassy and his pupils were dilated. Stump was definitely high. He also scored low on the originality scale.

I made my voice all breathy, and I looked at him demurely. "It's my first time here." I confessed.

I forced myself not to flinch when his hand landed on my leg and he started stroking the inside of my knee with his thumb. His eyes were glued to my breasts.

I reached up and ran my hand around his collar, placing the tracker. I leaned in close. "Can I tell you a secret." I breathed.

"Yes."

"I'm pretty sure you can't afford me." I sat back and smiled at him. It took a minute and then a dark look flashed over his face. I hopped off the barstool and headed away from him.

"Bitch." I heard him mumble. To his credit that seemed to be the end of that.

"Target tagged." I whispered.

"Roger that." I heard Tank's voice again.

I noticed a man sitting at the bar. He'd been checking his phone, but then looked directly at me. He was well dressed. Navy blue suit, white shirt, red tie. Definitely a lawyer, I decided. He had chestnut hair and kind eyes. He was attractive enough, and when he smiled at me, I smiled back.

He got up and walked towards me. With my four-inch pumps we were the same height.

He stopped in front of me. He seemed nervous, and I thought it was a little endearing. He seemed unsure of what to do now that he was in front of me. I just waited.

"I'm sorry, I really suck at this." He laughed.

He held out his hand to me. "I'm Devon, and clearly my mother didn't raise me right." He was smiling at me. He had a friendly smile and good teeth.

I shook his hand. "I'm Steph."

"Babe." I heard the warning tone in Ranger's voice.

"Can I buy you a drink?" Devon asked cautiously, eyeing my nearly full gimlet.

"Yes, anything but a vodka gimlet." I told him.

Devon eyed me for a minute. "You look like a cosmo kind of girl."

"That will work."

"Babe, get out of there. I'm at the curb." Ranger's tone was clipped, his authoritative tone unmistakable.

Yeah, screw Ranger. When Devon turned away from me and headed to the bar, I pulled the ear piece out and dropped it in my bag. The last thing I needed in my head while I tried to flirt was Ranger. I turned towards the booths along the wall.

"You go on, I'm going to stay for a while. I'll catch a ride." I hoped the meaning of that statement was clear. With that, I yanked the wire out and dropped it in my handbag.

I sat in a booth and waited for Devon to return with our drinks, studying him. He was fit and trim, but not overly muscular. He seemed like a guy that rode a bike, maybe. He might not be a Cuban sex god, but he seemed pleasant enough. And that was the thing. I needed to forget the fantasy and focus on reality. Devon didn't have a ring on and no telltale tan line. I thought it was a good bet he was single.

I saw Brian Stump give me a dark look and grab his suit jacket and leave. Good. Now Ranger would have something else to do other than order me around. I'd done my job, now Ranger could go do his.

I relaxed into the booth and gave Devon an encouraging smile as he headed my way, two drinks in hand. I knew deep down I was playing with fire. Giving Ranger a big middle finger, but I couldn't help myself. I was done being rejected.

Devon slid into the other side of the booth and handed me my drink. I took a sip and smiled.

"That is so much better." I sighed.

Devon smiled back and took a drink of his whiskey.

"Do you work downtown?" I asked.

Devon nodded. "I do. I'm with one of the law firms."

"You?"

OK, so this was the tricky part. "Not usually. I had a meeting downtown." I told him, hoping the vagueness of the answer wouldn't be a giveaway.

Devon didn't seem to notice, and I let out a little relieved breath.

"I don't mean to be rude or anything. But you're not an escort, are you?" He gave me a sheepish look.

I was stunned for a second and then realized it was a legitimate question. "No." I took another long swallow of my drink.

"Oh good. It's just you don't have on the same boring suit as most lawyers." He laughed. I narrowed my eyes a little. "It's just the last time I talked to a woman here, she wanted twelve hundred bucks." He stammered.

I wasn't sure if I should be mad he thought I was an escort or intrigued by the fact they made twelve hundred bucks a night.

"Twelve hundred bucks. I think I'm in the wrong business."

Devon laughed. "I'm sure you could charge much more." Then he blushed, and I thought it was kind of cute.

"What kind of law do you practice?" I was finding myself actually liking Devon. Warming to the idea there were men other than Ranger or Morelli in the world to choose from.

"Mostly criminal law." Devon responded.

I saw the door open out of the corner of my eye, but kept my gaze on Devon. He brushed a shock of hair off his forehead.

"Did you grow-up in Jersey…." My voice died in my throat.

A very pissed off Ranger was standing by our booth glaring at me, and then his gaze swung to Devon. I watched all the color drain from Devon's face. His eyes darted between me and Ranger.

He put up his hands. "Look, I don't want to be in the middle of anything here."

"You're not." I said sweetly and then glared back at Ranger. "My friend was just going."

"We're leaving." Ranger gritted out between his clenched teeth.

His eyes locked with mine as he took me by my upper arm, tugged me out of the booth, and frog marched me out of the bar. I could feel the tension coming off of him in waves.

I was so stunned all I could do was go with him. My mouth opened and closed with righteous anger, but no sound came out.

When we got to his car, I yanked my arm away from him and whirled to face him.

"What are you doing?" I shrieked.

Ranger was standing with his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at me. His expression anything but unreadable. Ranger was pissed and it was written all over his face.

"You took your comms out." Ranger's voice had a hard edge to it, I hadn't heard before.

"Yes." I swallowed past the lump in my throat, surprised my voice didn't crack.

"Instead of picking up Stump, I'm here mollycoddling you."

I scrunched my nose up. "Mollycoddling?"

The look Ranger gave me sent a shiver through me.

"I didn't ask you to mollycoddle me." I snapped.

Ranger's eyes narrowed. "So why did you take your comms out and ignore me." I could tell Ranger really wanted to yell at me and it was taking a monumental effort not to.

"Because I was." My voice trailed off. What was I doing? Picking up a guy, flirting, trying to bait Ranger. "I was talking to someone, and that is exactly none of your business." I glared at Ranger for good measure.

I could see the vein throbbing at his temple.

"What is the matter with you?" I hissed.

"With me?" Ranger asked incredulously.

The muscle ticking in his jaw was a dead giveaway he was mad. His eyes glittered with anger. I took a step back until my back was touching the car. I don't think I'd ever seen Ranger quite so mad, at least not at me. The full force of his anger hit me head on.

"Do you know who that was?" Ranger snapped. A little of his legendary control slipping.

I tilted my chin up defiantly. "Yes."

Ranger raised his eyebrow at me and waited.

"Devon." I drew his name out.

"Devon who." Ranger asked, his voice low and vibrating with fury.

I raised a shoulder. "We didn't get to that part yet."

"And just what part did you want to get to." Ranger barked.

I was already pressed against the car or I would have stepped back farther.

"That's not fair." I hissed at him, feeling my anger rising, even though a petty part of me was pleased he felt something, even if it was anger.

"That's Devon McAllister. He's a mob lawyer, Steph. He's in deep. The man knows where the bodies are buried. Literally. You told him your real name, and you were about to tell him a lot more. One check on you by his buddies and they would know you were a bounty hunter. They would have disappeared you."

Ranger blew out a frustrated breath. "You have to be smarter than that."

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh. What are you trying to prove? I thought you had better taste than that. If you were that hard up, all you had to do was ask." Ranger snarled.

I might be half Hungarian, but I was also half Italian, and unfortunately, I have an Italian temper, which often gets me into trouble.

"Better taste?" My voice went up about an octave. "I fucked you, now didn't I."

The minute it left my mouth, I immediately regretted saying it. It might have meant nothing to Ranger, but my time with him had been special and magical. It had been anything but cheap, which is what I was making it. I was hurt, and I was lashing out.

Ranger was on me like a cheetah on a gazelle. His arms caged me on either side. He pressed his body against me, and I felt desire skitter low in my belly. His eyes were dark and flat with anger, and something else that looked like hurt.

He leaned down and his mouth was mere inches from mine. "Is that what it was for you?" His voice was deceptively soft. "Was it a turn-on to fuck the bad boy?"

I swallowed with an audible click. "No, but I'm pretty sure that is what it was for you. The meaningless part. Not the bad boy part." Even I knew, I was babbling.

My hands were resting on his chest and I could feel the steady beat of his heart under my fingers.

Confusion flashed across his face. "Babe, no. That's not true."

"Then what was it?" I was searching his face, my heart suddenly hammering in my chest.

"Everything, Steph. It was everything."

Ranger looked up like he was praying for patience or maybe just wishing for a natural disaster so he could end the conversation. In my defense, he had started it.

"That's what I was trying to tell you, but you've been avoiding me."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You were jealous tonight."

"Yes."

"Liar."

"When have I ever lied to you?" Ranger challenged.

"Never." I admitted.

"I told you, I think about sharing my closet with you. Well, here is the thing. I already do. Your clothes are in my closet, you have access to my apartment any time you want. Why do you think that is?"

I just stared at him. Stumped, but hopeful.

"You're already in my life and past my defenses. We're already together. Your clothes are there, the only thing I'm missing is the girl."

Ranger reached out and traced a finger down my temple. "I don't know where this all leads, but I'd like to find out."

I didn't know what to say. I was sure it was just a dream, and I was about to wake up, so I just kept staring at his perfect features and flawless skin, drinking him in. I could feel the heat of his body, his hardness. If it was a dream, it was definitely a good one.

"Look babe, I know I'm not that easy to be around. I know there are a lot of things you don't know about me, and maybe if you did, you wouldn't want to be with me. I have a past. I have a child. But the guys all love you, and."

"Ranger." I barked, stopping his rush of words mid-sentence.

"Shut-up and kiss me already."

Ranger grinned. "Yes ma'am."

Ranger leaned in and his mouth covered mine. It was not polite or restrained, it was pure magic and fire, just like Ranger. All the frustration, the desire, and the possession, was conveyed in the way he kissed me. The way his arms wrapped around me, and pulled me close. His lips teased my mouth open, and his tongue was like a conquering invader. If I'd been uncertain or confused by his message, I wasn't any longer. I kissed him back with equal force, conveying how much I wanted this. How much I wanted him.

Finally, we broke from the kiss, the world spun around us, out of focus and irrelevant. It was just the two of us standing on the street, contemplating a leap of faith. We were both panting, and a little dazed. We'd had our first fight, and I was pretty sure Ranger had asked me to move in with him.

"Babe." Ranger whispered against my lips.

"Um hum." I murmured as I nipped along his jawline.

"Feel free to use kisses as a method to shut me up anytime." Ranger growled against my mouth.