And some more, because I'm feeling generous! Please let me know what you think! – Heather x

There was a rapid knock on the door, but before Ranger and I could pull apart, I heard the noise of the door opening.

'Well,' said a familiar voice, 'isn't this cosy? Glad to see I didn't break your heart for long Cupcake.'

Chapter 11

I met Ranger's eyes, 'It's not supposed to be this way.' I whispered, 'we're supposed to be naked, having hot sweaty sex on the dining room table when he walks in on us.'

Ranger grinned, 'I'll try and do better next time.' He promised.

'I didn't say it wasn't good this way too.' I said, smiling cheekily.

'Only good?' he protested. Then he leaned up and gave me a bone-melting kiss that emptied my mind of all thoughts except, 'yum.' Eventually he drew back and met my eyes. His wolf grin drew across his face as he saw the state I was in. What this man can do to me.

'Cupcake!' Joe said from behind me.

'I told you not to call me that anymore.' I said in a flat voice, my high from kissing Ranger rapidly disappearing, dammit.

With an irritated sigh I got up. Ranger did a neat little back flip thing and got to his feet, 'Show off.' I murmured to him. He laughed softly and wrapped his arms possessively around me, my back to his front.

'What the fuck?' said Morelli. 'How long has this shit been going on for? You been fucking him the whole time? You're nothing but a goddamn whore!' Ranger stepped away from me, his hand clenched in a fist.

'Easy tiger.' I said to him, gently tugging on his arm, pulling him back to me. The captain had entered behind Joe, and although he liked me, I'm not sure he'd stand by and watch one of his officers get beaten up.

'What's this? A present from your beau?' Joe started towards the box on the conference table. Before I could protest the lid was up and he was staring at the mass of skin and dried blood. 'Shit.' He swore. 'Another psycho already? Jesus, Steph, you're such a fuck up.'

Ranger glanced down at me, and I could see that he connected my earlier conviction that I'm a fuck up and Joe telling me I'm a fuck up. His jaw clenched and his eyes were furious.

'Babe.' Ranger said in a perfectly level voice, 'go on up to the seventh floor please. Captain, would you escort her up there, as she has another psycho after her?' Ranger handed me his car keys with the clicking thing for the lift.

'Of course.' Said the captain.

He and I exited, but I didn't shut the door completely. I turned to the captain with a raised eyebrow, he nodded and we stepped closer to eavesdrop on the conversation neither of us were supposed to hear. We're from the Burg after all.

'A whore?' Ranger's tightly controlled voice said. 'Do you really believe that?'

'You've slept with her.' Joe yelled angrily, 'I believe that!'

'You were on a break.' Ranger said. 'She would never cheat on you. Cheating is the one thing she will never stand for, and if you don't know that then you don't know her at all.'

'You think you know her?' Joe sneered, 'you don't know shit. What's her favourite holiday? What's her favourite movie? What's her favourite band?'

'Halloween, Ghostbusters, and she doesn't have one.'

I would've given a lot to see Joe's face.

'What's her second favourite movie?' Ranger asked Joe, going on the attack.

'What? I don't know! Who cares about the second favourite?'

'She does.' Ranger said. 'It's The Wizard of Oz. What does she eat when she needs real comfort food?' Ranger continued persistently.

'Donuts.' Morelli answered in a well-duh voice.

Nuh uh, wrong answer Joe.

'Macaroni cheese.' Ranger corrected. 'What's her favourite book?' He asked.

'She doesn't read books.'

'The Karma Sutra,' Ranger stated. 'She says if she's reading books, she might as well learn something useful.'

I'd told him that during our night together – after he expressed surprise at my repertoire of positions.

I bit my lip to stop myself laughing, I didn't really use Karma Sutra with Joe; mostly we did it missionary…or if he was feeling really kinky maybe we'd do it doggy style.

Don't get me wrong, the sex wasn't bad, it just wasn't any way near Ranger level. I was getting flushed just thinking about Ranger level.

'Why does Stephanie love room service?'

'Because she doesn't have to cook?'

'Because room service provides all the things her mother does, but without the guilt.'

'Birthday cake or sheet cake?'

'Birthday cake.'

'Sheet cake.' Ranger corrected. 'She loves birthday cake, but you get birthday cake at least once a year - her mother only makes sheet cake for really special occasions like weddings.'

This is fun.

'What's her favourite page in magazines?' Ranger asked.

Joe hesitated before answering, 'the shoes page?'

'The embarrassing moments page. She says it makes her feel better.'

It's true: although, the vast majority of my embarrassing moments completely outweigh those in the magazines.

'What excuse does she use to the cops when she smashes a window doing a little B&E?' continued Ranger relentlessly.

The captain looked at me reproachfully, I shrugged and gave what I hoped was an innocent smile.

'That's a trick question.' Joe protested, 'she doesn't do B&E!'

Ranger burst into laughter, 'sure, Joe.' He said in a patronising voice, 'of course she doesn't.'

'Jesus. I mean I know sometimes she's a little unorthodox, but actually breaking the law?'

'She says it was a boy with a baseball bat, or better yet, there was no boy, and the window was already broken when she got there.'

Ranger knows me far too well.

'Where is Steph now?' Ranger asked Joe.

'On the seventh floor.'

'No.' Ranger contradicted, 'she's outside the door, eavesdropping,' he paused, 'aren't you Babe?'

I exchanged rueful glances with the Captain, and we walked back inside.

'Oops.' I said to Ranger.

'Your bad.' Ranger replied.

I laughed, 'yeah.' I walked over to Ranger and put my arms round his neck, 'I name thee, Ricardo Carlos Manoso, winner of the Stephanie Plum Quiz.'

'What prize do I get?' He asked, smiling.

'A kiss.' I replied, then in a lower voice I said, 'seeing as how you already have my panties.' Then I stood on tiptoes and kissed the living daylights out of him.

When we pulled back, Joe was gaping. 'You said you were friends!'

'We are friends,' Ranger answered for me, 'but we're not just friends.'

'This is ridiculous! I'm the one for you, not him!' Joe protested, 'you think Rambo's going to take you out on dates?'

'You didn't take me out on dates!'

'Babe?' said Ranger.

'Yo?'

'Wanna go out to dinner with me?'

I smiled, 'like a date?'

'Like a date.' Ranger agreed.

'I'd love to.' I said happily.

I turned to Joe, suddenly weary of him, 'you're not the one for me Joe, maybe you never were, but sleeping with the skank was the last straw. We're done, Joe.'

And looking at the shock, hurt and confusion on his face, I think I just got my payback.

I felt my fury at him dissipate. He wasn't what I wanted any more. But I was beginning to get an idea about what I did want.

And it rhymed with manger.