AN: God, I'm on a spree! This is 5 chapters in a week! Of course, don't get your hopes up too high, I'm likely to stop writing for a while after about chapter 6 or 7…but eventually get back to it and hope you guys are still reading. Lol. I know for a fact that 6 won't be out until Monday, at the earliest, because, in my tradition of forgetfulness, (and the fact that my last class is no where near my locker, and my bus is over-capacity so I have to stake a claim on my seat early, because if I don't I'll end up squished between a dotty Freshman and that annoying girl who wants to talk to you even though you've told her she's annoying and that you hate her…) I left my favorite part of the chapter (and the freaking meat of the story!) in my English binder. Yeah. I know. You hate me. Well, as of July of next year, I won't have to worry about pimply freshman and that annoying girl anymore. So…talk to me in 7 months.

And, I apologize in advance for the way I've made Morelli. This is the first time I've made him a total prick (am I allowed to say that in a T story? Maybe I should change the rating.) But for the purposes of the story, I had to do it. I promise he'll get better. Eventually. The only thing I can say is, blame TG. I do actually have a reason for the sudden change from Not Wearing Pantyhose to this, and I hope NWP will be finished before I start to get into it here.

Disclaimer: Janet Evanovich owns everything but the plot.

Bine2889: Stop eating? Are you kidding me? I have metabolism up the yin-yang! And I can eat and write at the same time!

tippex-groupie: God, who doesn't love Ranger's little possessive streak? I've still got his little "For future reference, I wouldn't understand," bit on the mind. I loved it. Glad to know that it isn't just crazy American's reading my story. And yes, we do get pretty psycho for Turkey Day. I mean, closing down half of New York to parade clowns, Santa, and huge balloons that look like our favorite TV personalities; football games with the stadiums overflowing with fans covered in face paint and lots of times shirtless; families congregating in one house to swap insults, trade stories, and eat the bird that was almost the national bird? Even now it sounds crazy. But I got stuffing. Lots and lots of stuffing.

wanttowrite: Oh believe me, the desert will be good. Of course, because I'm still squicky about writing my own smut, it'll just be the suggestion of desert. But it'll be there. Hope TD was good for you.

eleanor: hehe. I love awkward kissing moments. And believe me, I'm raring up for an awesome finish to NWP.

Disagreement

Hands intertwined, Ranger led me through the restaurant. Even at the late hour, El Jardín del Cielo was swimming with people still waiting to be seated. It was a lot different experience this time through. I'd hugged Miranda goodbye, and she'd slipped the phone number into my clutch, grinning as she kissed Ranger on the cheek. The eyes had still followed me, but this time, I felt impervious to their glare. All that mattered was Ranger's hand in mine, and the look Antoni had given me when he finally came out of the kitchen, and the following look he'd given Ranger.

For the first time in a while, I was really and truly happy.

Then at the door we encountered the one thing that could possibly ruin my high. Joseph Morelli. He was with Terry, and as we moved toward the door, he shot Ranger a look of utter loathing.

Terry smiled plaintively at me, but it was entirely too cold for my taste. I turned my glance to Joe.

"Hi Joe."

"Stephanie."

Terry laid a hand on Joe's shoulder, speaking softly. "I'm going to go find out table."

Joe nodded, sill staring at Ranger. He shook his head in bemusement. "Just friends."

"Not anymore," Ranger said, and I felt his hand squeezing mine.

Joe turned his gaze to me. "Blown up the Turbo, yet?"

Beside me, I could feel Ranger tense; feel the coiled energy that was so catlike turn to anger.

"I haven't, actually," I said, trying to keep tempers cooled. "Sorry if you lost the pool."

I smiled a pseudo-beatific smile at him, and I watched his eyes fall to my legs. I smoothed the dress again, and could see the thought process he was going through. I certainly hadn't dared to wear a dress this revealing when Joe had bothered to take me out.

He lowered his voice, bending closer to me. "You're really putting faith in this? In him?"

I stared at him as he shifted away again. My voice was hard, and I made sure Ranger heard every word.

"If it wasn't for Ranger, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"Some fuck up of a bounty hunter?"

Ranger interjected, "Hey!"

"Because that's where you are, Stephanie. You can't actually do your job."

"Morelli." Ranger, again. His voice was warning.

Joe ignored it. "The last time you brought a skip in, he was naked and you were covered in rotten food."

I made a noise of dissatisfaction low in my throat, watching Ranger's hands out of the corner of my eye as they curled into fists.

Joe stared between us, then turned his eyes to me. "You're warming his bed now. I get that. But when he realizes he doesn't want you anymore, don't come running back to me. I don't take sloppy seconds."

Ranger's fist connected with Joe's jaw before I'd fully processed the words, and Morelli's head swung sideways.

With his head still turned sideways, he spat out blood, massaging his jaw. I was still staring in shock at him, not quite believing he'd actually spoken the words.

But the insecurities were creeping in, already. Was I just a nice lay for Ranger? I hadn't thought so. He'd been sincere in the idea that we were going to date. He'd made it seem like he wanted more than a few stolen kisses from me. Now I wasn't so sure. I turned my head, staring at Ranger in hopes I would get confirmation that Morelli was wrong. All it took was a look. He shot the words he couldn't speak to me, eyes telling me that in no way was Morelli even remotely correct in his assumptions, and then turned his gaze back to Morelli.

Morelli set his eyes on mine, the glare he had giving me chills. "Keep your lapdog away from me, you fucking whore, or I'll arrest him."

He made to move past me, but Ranger caught the collar of his shirt and dragged him backward, in a quick motion turning him and pushing him against a nearby wall. He lifted Morelli easily off the ground, and his voice was soft and threatening. 'I ever hear you talk like that to Stephanie again, you'll wish you'd arrested me. I've got the dirt on you, you slimy rat. I could ruin your life in an hour. I haven't said anything before for Stephanie's sake. But you're out of her life. All I'd have to do is walk into that police station and tell them that you let Abbruzzi run free just long enough for someone to shoot him and make it look like a suicide. That's your badge. If I added Sanchez to it, you'd be looking at jail time. And if you make one more naked skip crack, I might send in the memo's to Vito." Joe's eyes widened. "Yeah. You forget, I've got people everywhere. Security isn't just for the drug dealers and gun runners. Working with a mob boss? That's time and a half."

Joe made a choking noise, coughing, and Ranger dropped the hold on his collar, letting Morelli crumple in a heap at his feet.

Joe slithered away, standing up and rubbing his throat. You're honestly telling me you have faith in Stephanie's skills? She can't catch a guy without ten of your men."

"She caught you."

"Because I went to her."

Ranger's grin widened. "How do you know that wasn't the plan?"

He. Because I would be that smart. I was getting an almost sick joy in watching ranger tear into Joe.

I'd missed something. It was obvious, because I caught a whisper of a last word and ten Joe's fist was careening toward Ranger's face. It connected, Ranger pounced back, towards Joe, and they rolled out the open doors, continuing to swing at each other. I moved outside the doors, yelling at them both. In the chaos, Terry and Miranda appeared, followed closely by Antoni. Women inside were plastering themselves to the windows, squealing and shrieking. Men were watching silently, doing the macho thing, cringing at each hit but otherwise uncaring. Then it started to rain.

Miranda was muttering in Spanish again.

Terry was yelling, trying to keep under the overhang to keep dry.

And I was mad. I was standing in the middle of the rain, letting it wash over me, debating my options.

Marching forward, I kicked my way between the two, pushing them away from each other.

Terry came running, her heels clicking against the pavement. She gave me a hard look, her hand resting at the small of Joe's back, staring at me like somehow, this was all my fault. Joe made a face, spitting to the side again, then, with one last glance in Ranger's direction, turned around and made his way through the crowd with Terry.

"Nothing to see here, people! Just go back inside!" Miranda yelled, moving through the throng with a death look on her face. She surveyed the damage, and with her hand at Ranger's elbow, steered him towards the restaurant, moving behind the counter, leading us through a door. Once in the room, a small storage space complete with a sink and supplies, she bit out at him. "What's wrong with you? You haven't been in a fight since you were sixteen, and now, all of the sudden, you're having it out in a parking lot with some mob girls cop boyfriend?"

Ranger flexed his fingers, rubbing his jaw. "I've been meaning to hit him for a long time. I hate that guy."

Miranda threw a rag at him, and I reached for it, soaking it with warm water.

"He's a cop, Ricky. He could have you thrown in jail."

"He won't, though."

Miranda threw her hands up.

"Fine! Okay. But didn't I say no body fluids?"

Ranger put his palm to his cheek, staring guiltily at the floor.

"You're just lucky you didn't get any blood on the floor, you jerk." She started to walk away. "Punching a guy on a date! Men!" She disappeared out the door, then, a moment later, poked her head around again. "Stephanie, it was nice to meet you. I hope I'll see you again."

I smiled, dabbing at Ranger's lip with the rag. "A little blood couldn't scare me away."

With a nod, Miranda disappeared.

I continued to clean Ranger's face, sighing once in a while. His eyes followed my every movement, but he seemed afraid to speak.

I stopped, opened my mouth to speak, and then closed it, going back to his face..

His hands curled at my waist, pulling me closer. "Sorry," he said, turning his eyes up to mine.

I smiled, cupping his cheek. "Thank you for defending me, at least." I slid the cloth across his cheek again, then dropped it into the sink, rinsing it. "How long have you wanted to hit him?"

Ranger grinned. "Even before I met you, Babe."

"Do you remember meeting me?"

The smile widened. "You were in that piece of shit Nova, and I remember thinking you didn't stand a chance."

"But you decided to help me anyway?"

"Mm." The grin turned to something that was not quite a smirk. "You were determined. I like determination. And I wanted to be Henry Higgins."

"You've never been Professor Higgins before?" Jeanne Ellen came to mind.

He pulled me closer, breathing into my hair. "You're my only Eliza."

"Well, as long as that's cleared up."

"Afraid you weren't the only one?"

"Hm."

"Jeanne Ellen had her skills long time before she met me."

"Jeanne Ellen sucks."

Ranger chuckled. "Jealous, Babe?"

"No." I told him, indignantly.

"Jeanne Ellen's got nothing on you, Babe."

"She has something."

"And what's that?"

"She had you first."

Ranger smiled a brilliant smile, and lead me towards the entrance, his hand at the small of my back. "She never had me."

We stood under the umbrella outside, watching the rain patter onto the sidewalk. Ranger looked to me. "You want to run for it?"

"I'm in heels!"

"You want to run for it?" He had an almost juvenile glint in his eyes.

I giggled, nodding slightly, and he took my hand and took off at a run for the car. I shrieked and laughed the entire way there, and he opened the door for me and ushered me in. When I was situated, dripping wet and freezing, he bent down so that he was level with my eyes, and brushed back soaked hair, his eyes warm and caring. Then he shut the door, moving off to the drivers door, and slid in, a smile on his face.

AN: Because I'm cool like that, I'm giving you a sneak peek at chapter 6, because this line is awesome, and it's totally Stephanie Plum. And, I kind of ripped it from JE herself.

"What's going on out here?" Someone asked, farther down the hall.

"Sex in the hallways," answered Mrs. Karwatt, and the door slammed shut behind her.

Also, to anyone who's interested, I am hereby requesting a beta. To give me suggestions, to tell me it's crap, and to pick up those stupid mistakes I never check before I update. I spelled "also" wrong in chapter two. As a bonus, you also get to read my chapters before everyone else. And you can tell me it's crap without flaming me. Lol.