Disclaimer: I love Janet's books but sadly don't own any of the characters. I just like to play with them...

I surfaced slowly, fighting to ignore the pounding in my head. After a few minutes the fog in my brain started to clear and I realized that some of the pounding was not in my head - someone was pounding on my door. I groaned, trying to bury my head into the pillow but it was too hard. I had to make the pounding stop. With effort I lifted my head up slightly, only to find the hard pillow…was an arm. A bare, male, well-muscled arm the color of mocha latte. Oh my god! I didn't…!

Turning my head slowly to minimize the pain, I forced myself to follow the arm to the shoulder and beyond, and found myself looking at Ranger. His face was relaxed and his eyes were closed, and he was bare at least to his waist where the sheets lay tangled. His hair was loose around his face. I'd never seen him with his hair long and loose before, and it momentarily fascinated me. It was just slightly wavy – and it made him look younger.

The pounding increased in volume, and I heard Morelli calling my name from the hallway. He still has my key. If I don't answer the door he might decide to use it, and I have no idea if the chain is on or not. Not that a chain would slow Morelli down long. I don't think I can cope with the scene that could likely erupt if Joe found Ranger in my bed. Not with the way my head felt right now.

As I lay frozen, weighing my options, Ranger opened his eyes. He was completely awake, of course. If I'd been able to think I'd have known there was no way he'd sleep through that much noise. He tilted his head toward the front door and gave me a slow, sexy smile.

"If you don't get the door he's going to break it down, babe."

His hand smoothed up my back and I got a one-two punch. One, a flash of heat at the familiarity of the caress; and two, relief that I wasn't naked. I had on a T-shirt. The relief was short-lived, though, when I realized it was one of Ranger's black T-shirts. I had black T-shirts, too, but they didn't feel like this.

I untangled my legs from the sheet and got up, swaying. I was wearing panties but I had no idea if they were the same ones I'd had on the night before. In fact, I couldn't remember much past Morelli leaving around midnight and dancing with Ranger.

Ranger was watching me from the bed, silent, his face giving nothing away. Head pounding, I steeled myself to ask. "Did we…?" Predictably, Ranger just grinned. Morelli pounded again, and I jumped, one hand going up to hold my head on. Ranger's smile faded and he sat up.

"Are you okay?"

"Just…stay in here and be quiet, okay? I don't want him to see you."

Ranger gave a faint nod, his okay. I left the bedroom door ajar because closed would have looked suspicious, and staggered to the door on legs that felt like rubber. I unlocked the bolt but left the chain on, opening the door only a crack.

"Jesus, Morelli, are you trying to wake the dead?" I complained before he could speak. He lowered his fist from its pounding position and frowned at me and the chain barring the door.

"Aren't you going to let me in?" he asked. "What's wrong with you?"

"I have a hangover, and some idiot is pounding on my door. No, I'm not letting you in. I'm going back to sleep."

Morelli wasn't listening; he was squinting at me through the crack. "Is that Ranger's shirt?"

I looked down before I could catch myself, then scowled at Morelli. "It's just a black T-shirt, Joe."

"He's in there, isn't he," he growled. Before I could do anything he thrust his hand into the opening and shoved the door, pulling the screws holding the chain out of the door facing. He pushed his way in, brushing me to one side, turning to sweep the living room with his cop's eyes, looking for signs of Ranger.

Oh hell no.

"What do you think you're doing?" I stepped in front of him to head him off and get him out. Joe just picked me up and moved me out of his way, heading for the bedroom. I was hot on his heels, cursing.

The bed was empty.

The sheets were more than a little mussed, and the pillows were both crumpled, but there was nothing to indicate Ranger had been there only moments before. For a second I stopped and gaped, wondering if I'd imagined waking up with him in my bed, but I snapped my mouth shut and slapped my scowl back in place as Joe turned back toward me. "Happy now?"

Evidently not. He passed me to check the bathroom, then came back and went to the window that led onto the fire escape. I held my breath as he swept the curtain back, but the window was locked. Even that didn't satisfy Joe. He unlocked it, opened the window and stuck his head out, looking up, down, and craning his neck from side to side, looking for any sign of Ranger or one of his vehicles. Giving up, he shut the window and relocked it.

I was so mad I was seeing red spots. "What the hell is your problem?" I shouted as soon as he turned back around.

"I thought Ranger was here," Joe yelled back.

"Why would you think that?" I didn't yell this time because my head felt like it was exploding. I really wanted Joe to leave now so I could go back to bed.

"Because he was being overly familiar with you last night before I left the bar, that's why. What happened after I left?"

I screwed up my face and my courage and gave Joe what I hoped was a killing look. "I got drunk, obviously. Past that I don't remember."

"Jesus, Steph—" Joe began, stepping toward me, but I backed away, still mad.

"Don't touch me. Just go home, Joe. I'll talk to you later." I all but shoved him out the door and relocked it, contemplating the now-useless chain for several minutes. Then I turned and let out a small squeak when I found Ranger directly behind me.

"Where did you come from? Never mind," I waved the stupid question away. Ranger was made of smoke and magic. He was mostly dressed, I noticed ruefully. He was unshaven, his hair was loose, and he was bare-chested still, but the rest of his vaguely military 'uniform' was in place. Of course, his lack of shirt was probably because I was still wearing it.

"Are you okay?" Ranger asked softly, gently stroking my face with the back of his fingers.

"I need some aspirin, but I'll live," I said, fighting the urge to lean into him. "I suppose you need your shirt back…"

Ranger gave me a faint grin. "Not right now."

"You can't walk around in this building without a shirt," I snorted. "If one of the old ladies gets a look at this body they'll have a coronary…" Then, because I was still too impaired to heed caution, I let myself slide my hands up Ranger's chest and laid my aching head over his heart.

His arms came up to cradle me, one around my back and the other at the nape of my neck. "Cheap talk. Come on, babe, I'll get you back into bed. We can continue this when you're back to normal."

I snorted even as Ranger lifted me into his arms. "Define normal." I felt his chuckle as he carried me back into the bedroom and slid me back into the bed. He disappeared into the kitchen and brought back a glass of orange juice and a bottle of extra-strength Excedrin. I was pretty sure neither one had been in my kitchen yesterday and it wasn't The Cure, but I didn't argue, just took the dose he gave me. I don't think my stomach could have handled French fries the way it felt right now, anyway.

"Where did you leave your car? Joe didn't see it."

"I drove your Jeep here. I'll call Cal for a ride."

"Not Tank?"

Ranger grinned. "I'm not entirely sure Tank will be up to driving this morning. He took Lula home."

It took me a minute to digest this, then I began to giggle. It hurt my head but I couldn't stop. "Oh, jeez, she's been dying to get her hands on him! Poor Tank!"

"He wasn't complaining when he left," he said, shaking his head. "I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens."

Ranger tucked me in then bent to kiss me, a nuzzling kiss between my temple and ear. It gave me the shivers and a vague deja-vu feeling, but before I could ask him anything else he was gone and I slipped back into sleep.

finis