Rita smiled at him then asked. "Ah, Mr. Manaso. How is it that you know Ms. Plum?"

Without skipping a beat he added, "She's my girlfriend."

Eleven Days Later

Chapter 6

After picking my mouth up off the floor, Ranger ushered me out to his truck. We were halfway back to my apartment when I was finally able to speak.

"I'm your girlfriend?" I asked.

Ranger glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "Babe."

Obviously to him, that one word explained it all. I, on the other hand, was still in a state of shock. We made our way in silence to my apartment. Ranger guided me up the stairs with his hand gently placed on the small of my back. When we were inside and seated on the couch he began clicking through the TV channels. After 20 minutes of not talking, Ranger noticed something was astray.

"Babe?"

"Yeah?" I answered, not turning towards him.

"You've been staring at the wall ever since we sat down. What's up?"

"I'm your girlfriend?" I repeated.

Ranger remained still and silent for a heartbeat then quickly grabbed me by the shoulders to face him. "You're not kidding are you?" He asked.

I simply shook my head.

"You mean you really are that surprised that I consider you my girlfriend?"

Again, I shook my head.

"We've been together every day for over a month. How else would you describe this relationship?"

"We have a relationship?" I asked, now even more shocked than before.

"Jesus babe, what did you think was going on between us?"

I shrugged my shoulders then answered, "Having a good time."

Ranger stared into my face with no emotion. He didn't speak for a long time, and the only movement was the slight blinking of his eyes. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity he lifted his hand to my cheek. Gently he stroked my skin, letting his hand slide to the side of my head. He finally stilled after looping a curl of hair behind my ear.

"Stephanie, how could you think I was just out for some fun?" His emotions rolled across his face in waves. I wasn't prepared for this level of intensity and before I knew what was happening tears were streaming down my face.

I gasped between sobs as I tried to find my voice, "I knew you didn't do relationships, I knew that you thought your life was too dangerous. You've never really expressed any interest in my beyond the physical so I just assumed that's all it was to you. I guess I was just too afraid to hope for anything different."

Ranger took a deep breath then pulled me into his chest. I rested my head on his shoulder as he made soft patterns on my back with his fingers.

"Steph I never meant to give you that impression. I know what I said about relationships in the past, but something about you just made me forget why that was such a good idea. My life is dangerous but sometimes there are reasons to risk such danger. As for my interest in you, I thought I had made it pretty obvious. I just assumed you would eventually get the hint if I kept giving you cars and stuff. I guess I was too stupid to realize that a woman like you wasn't interested in the material things I have to offer."

I pushed away from his body in order to look in his eyes. "You weren't stupid. I appreciated the cars more than you will ever know. I just didn't know what to make of them. No one had ever given me anything for doing nothing before so I just assumed it was your way of asking for something in return. I was the stupid one. I was just so scared for so long, I guess I forgot that I really had no reason to be."

"So why were you scared?"

"Ranger don't." I said as I turned away from him.

Ranger grabbed my arm and gently turned me to face him once again. "Don't turn away from me now, not when we are finally getting things out in the open. Tell me why you were scared."

I slowly let me eyes meet his then started. "I was scared to admit how much I cared about you. I was afraid that if I let those feelings out I would get hurt. That's why you scared me so much Ranger. Not because you are rough and tough, but because you could break my heart more than it had ever been broken before."

Ranger placed both hands on either of my cheeks and said, "Jesus Steph. I had no idea you felt that way. I knew things were getting serious between us, but I didn't really get the intensity of that until now."

I took in a big gulp of air then went for the jugular. "Well, if I'm spilling my guts to you I might as well spill it all. Ranger, I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you. I've never felt this way towards anyone before, not even The Dick. So I'm giving you my heart so to speak, and all I ask is that you be gentle with it."

The corners of Ranger's mouth curved upward slightly as a smile crept into place. "That was probably the best thing anyone has ever said to me, so I'll make you a deal babe. I'll take your heart, but only if you take mine."

Tears slide down my face as I shook my head in agreement as I was unable to speak. He had literally taken my breath away, and it was only until he leaned in to kiss me did it return. When we finally pulled away we were both panting from desire.

He lifted himself off the couch then reached down to pick me up.

"Wait Ranger, where are you taking me?"

"To bed dummy." He said as he smiled down at me.

"I don't think so. Put me down, we have other things to do."

Ranger looked at me confused. "What things?"

I wiggled free from his grasp until I was standing before him. "You have to take me shopping."

"Um, can't that wait babe?"

"No! It can't wait. Don't you realize what's about to happen?"

"Yes, that's why I wanted to take you to bed."

"Not that Ranger. I'm talking about what happened at lunch. I can practically hear the grapevine now. You just told the entire city that we were a couple, so it's just a matter of time before we get ambushed."

"Oh come on Steph, it's not that big of a deal. Heck, you haven't even gotten any phone calls yet."

I threw my head back and laugh. "You really think so?"

"I think I would have heard the phone ringing." He explained.

"No you wouldn't have, because I turned the ringer off when we walked in the door. I knew it was going to get ugly so I was trying to get some peace while I still could. Here, let me show you."

I walked over to the kitchen counter and hit the flashing message button on the answer machine. A mechanical voice announced to the room, "You have 37 new messages."

Ranger's mouth hit the floor for a second before he pulled his composure together. "Ok Babe, so maybe things are stirred up. But what does shopping have to do with this?"

I smiled at Ranger. "You're going to go buy me a new answering machine, I'm afraid this one is about to get overheated." Then I pushed the button once more.

"You have 43 new messages."

"Shit. 6 messages in 15 seconds. Not possible." he sighed.

"Oh, but it is possible Batman. And this is nothing compared to what's going to happen tomorrow when that story gets published in the paper."

Ranger thought for a second then quickly pulled the keys from his pocket. "Let's get moving Steph, we'll run by the phone company and get your number changed as well."

I followed him out the door, laughing the entire way.