Everybody and anything familiar belong to Janet. Mistakes are mine. I saw the quote "He no longer has me, that's punishment enough" and this little story was the result of that.

At least Mary Lou waited until I had sat down, ordered, and then started in on my food before she pounced.

"What's going on, Steph?"

"We're having lunch. You called and asked if I wanted to meet you here, remember? I'm glad you did. I've been craving a Chicken Parmesan sub for three whole days."

"That's not what I mean."

"What do you mean then?"

I already know what she's getting at, but I'm going to make her have to say it. I'm done making things easier for people.

"It's been a full month since you found out Morelli was doing more than just flirting with people. And there's been no house fires, no broken bones courtesy of your car, no public flogging in the middle of High Street. Something's wrong here."

"Yeah," I agreed. "There is. He's yet another asshole who cheated on me."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Dickie and Joyce barely made it out of that house with their reproductive organs intact, but you don't even seem like you're plotting revenge against Joe. And I know you liked him a bit more than you did Orr."

"I've grown up a lot since then," I replied.

Her eyebrows made a break for her hairline. "No one's matured that much. What gives?"

"Morelli no longer has me for a girlfriend. That's punishment enough."

"I couldn't agree more, Babe."

I whipped my head around. "Jesus, Ranger! Make a noise, will you?"

"And miss out on intel I wouldn't have otherwise?"

"You make a good point," I told him, pushing a chair towards him with my boot. "Have a seat. What brings you to Pino's?"

"You."

"Awwwwww," Mary sighed in an annoyingly dreamy way.

"Don't 'aww', Mare. He means the trackers he stuck in my bag and on my POS told him I'm here."

"That's true, but that exclamation is also warranted," Batman informed us.

"Yeah? How so?"

"If you're officially through with Morelli, I'll tell you."

"Ooooh, this just got good," Mary Lou said, pausing in bringing a bite of Manicotti to her mouth. "Steph always says she's off men after a breakup."

"Ranger's a superhero, he doesn't fall into the standard 'men' category."

She took that bite of her lunch and smiled around it. "That comment makes this must watch viewing now. Maybe Ranger's here to sweep you off your feet … like he decided he's given you enough time to completely forget that jerk."

"He has muscles on top of muscles so he can lift me up, but I'm betting this visit has more to do with a job he has for me," I assured her.

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. Ranger got to his feet, slid his arms under my knees and around my back, and stood up.

"My sub!" Was what came out of my mouth first.

Whatever's happening here, I'm definitely gonna need some food fortification to get through. He kept his two-arm hold on my body and leaned forward so Mary Lou could hastily wrap my lunch up in a napkin and shove it into my hands. Then he was standing upright again and walking us towards the entrance of the restaurant.

"You'd better call me!" I heard Mary Lou shout at our backs.

I had more important things on my mind. "What are you doing?" I asked his neck, having clung to him despite ordering myself to play this cool.

"Sweeping you off your feet like Mary Lou wanted."

"My feet are pretty grounded these days, I don't need to be swept anywhere."

He put me down next to his Turbo. "I disagree. If anyone deserves a break, an escape, and a reward … it's you, Babe."

Knowing that arguing with him is pointless, I let him open the passenger's side door for me and waited until he was behind the Porsche's wheel before I tried to convince him that I really am okay. Better than okay since I kicked the Burg Bastard to the curb for good. It's been oddly freeing … knowing I'm single. I don't have to do anything to make anyone else happy anymore. I can focus on turning me into the person I've always wanted to be.

"I appreciate you wanting to help me save face here," I tried, "but it's not necessary. I'm alright. I'm actually happier than I've been in years."

"That's good to hear, but your good feelings don't need to end here."

"Look, I know you just did that to get the Burg grapevine off my back, so the 'poor Stephanie' gossip will be turned into a 'lucky Stephanie' version …"

"I didn't. My showing up here was a selfish move. I told you that I'd move in if Morelli was out of the way for any length of time. I wanted to publicly stake my claim and then get you away from this place until that news sinks in. But only if you're ready to give us the chance we deserve."

"Are you serious?" I had to ask. "After all the warnings you've given me about you and your life … you want an actual relationship with me now?"

He still hadn't turned the Porsche on, but my engine is definitely humming.

"Yes. I realized that if I don't take this opportunity to make my intentions known, some asshole will … and I'll have to kill him. Better to avoid a murder charge and skip the work that goes into burying or burning a body."

"That's actually weirdly sweet. If I'm being honest, I don't care what Joe does because I never cared about him the way a girlfriend should. Him finding someone else was actually a relief. I can go my own way now with no regrets."

"And will your way intersect with mine?" He asked, turning his body towards me as if his future depends on what I say next.

"Could be. Truth is, I was settling for Joe because I thought I could never have you. I hate admitting this but living with a human-shaped disappointment was easier than risking a total heartbreak from someone who means the most to me."

"Your heart and everything around it are always safe with me."

"You can't guarantee that."

His eyes flicked to the rear view mirror and to Cal who had been dropped off to drive my car back to my place. Only then did Ranger start his Porsche.

"I can absolutely guarantee that, Babe, and so much more. You willing to try me out?"

I smiled as I rearranged the sub bag in my lap. "I just decided that I have a new motto to live by … nothing risked is nothing gained."

"Brace yourself then, because you just gained more than you can imagine. And it starts with a relaxing and reflective trip out of town so everyone understands that you never needed Morelli for a single fucking thing. Ella will collect Rex and keep him alive in our absence."

He had my undying devotion for not only taking care of me but factoring in Rex's well-being too. Life just got so much better for us because he and I have always known that I've only ever loved him. I could barely tolerate Dickie, and Morelli was just a page holder in a book I never planned to finish. I smiled to myself at how proud my niece Angie would be of my analogy.

"What are you thinking?" Ranger asked, driving me further away from my old life.

"That I'm actually pretty lucky. My past has really sucked, but the future is dangling all kinds of interesting opportunities in front of me."