Disclaimer: I own the piece of paper with the shirt ideas on it, although where it currently is, I'm not sure. (Don't worry Ally, I shall find it. We haven't lost the card idea!) I also own some really yummy soda that I'm drinking. I also own a watch, which I haven't a clue where it is. And I own a piece of paper that smells like Ranger. But that's pretty much it. Everything else is Janet Evanovich's.

Oh, and btw, I changed the ending of chapter 2. It's not a lot better, and it's not very different, so you don't have to go back and read it, but the original sucked. I changed the wording, but the plot is the same.

Also, any time the characters are ooc, I'm sorry. So…yeah, just ignore the ooc-ness and carry on. :)

Chapter 3

Wrapped in a towel, Stephanie looked down at the clothes on the bed. Black shirt, black pants, black socks. Normal. The black bra and black underwear? She just hoped Ranger had had no input on the matter (the fact that he'd taken off all her clothes once before didn't mean she wanted him picking them out).

Sighing, she just towel dried her hair and then quickly got dressed. Pulling on her shoes, which luckily hadn't gotten turned condiment-ified earlier, she slung the towel over the towel rack in Ranger's bathroom so it could dry, then left. If the clock on Ranger's wall was correct (and she was sure it was), she had about ten minutes to get to Pino's to meet Joe.

As she left the elevator and walked towards the door, she heard the security guard chuckle. She looked behind her at him but he just grinned, not saying what was so funny. She rolled her eyes and then got into her car (currently the Buick, since her car up until two days ago had blown up).

Walking into Pino's ten minutes later, Stephanie was aware of laughter and gasps from people behind her as she walked towards Joe. She looked behind her and couldn't see anything wrong. Resolving to ignore everyone, she slid into the booth across from Joe.

"So, what's up?"

Joe was quiet for a moment, then he began. "I know we're on a break, but I love you, Cupcake. And I know this isn't the most romantic place, but—"

The room was, other than Joe, silent. However, someone now spoke up. "Save it, Morelli. If you need her answer, look at her back."

Stephanie and Joe both froze for a moment, then both stood up. Stephanie tried to look at her back, but, obviously, failed. Joe grabbed her shoulders, turned her around, and moved her hair away. The more he read, the angrier he got, and by the end, his grip on Stephanie was painful.

She winced and pulled away. She saw his face as she turned around. "What is it?"

He glared at her. "I was going to ask you to marry me, but I see you'll obviously say no. But you could have just told me, you didn't need to publicly humiliate me." Turning, he strode away, his movements showing that he was furious.

Stephanie, after standing speechless for a moment, turned to the nearest person to her. "What does it say?" She presented him with her back.

After a moment's hesitation, he read it. By the time he finished, Stephanie, too, was angry. Going to her car, she jammed it into drive and headed towards RangeMan.

As she drove, she thought. It was true that she'd have said no to Morelli, because she didn't really love him. She had, in fact, realized shortly after the Stiva incident that she loved Ranger, which is why she'd broken up with Morelli to begin with. However, she'd rather have told him herself than had all of Pino's read that shirt and then someone interrupt Morelli's proposal. Even if she didn't love him, she had known him for a long time and she still wanted to be his friend.

By now, she was at Rangeman, so she parked, went into the lobby and, not even approaching the security desk, went to the elevator.

"Wait! Oh, never mind." The security guard had recognized her, clearly, and didn't try to stop her.

Stephanie went straight to Ranger's office, noticing as she went that a great deal of the RangeMan staff (possibly all of it?) were wearing the shirts. She knocked on Ranger's door and, when he said she could come in, she did. She closed the door behind her and glared at Ranger.

Both were silent a moment and then Ranger stood. "So, you didn't like the shirt?" He had a tiny smile on his face.

"Of course not! Morelli just proposed to me in Pino's and, thanks to your shirt, he just got totally humiliated in front of a lot of people. And, of course, the news is going to spread."

"You should be more aware of your surroundings. I never made you wear that shirt, I just put it on the bed." Stephanie just glared at him, and he continued. "Anyway, it's not my shirt. Lula and Connie made it. I just had everyone wear it because I fully support the idea of you and Morelli breaking up for real."

"Why! Why should it matter to you at all?"

Ranger raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?" Once again, Stephanie was silent, although this time there was confusion mixed into her angry expression. Ranger swore. "Babe, I love you. I've even told you that. You think I want you marrying Morelli?"

Stephanie stared at him, but recovered quickly. "You love me? How? 'In your own way.' What is that supposed to mean?" She didn't give him a chance to respond, just continuing even as he opened his mouth to respond. Judging by the look he gave her, he didn't appreciate being cut off. "And if you didn't want me to marry Morelli, why'd you send me back to him? That seems like a very 'marry Morelli' encouraging action!"

Ranger gave her a 'are you done?' look and then, once he was sure she wouldn't cut him off again, spoke. "I love you completely. Forget that I ever said in my own way. It was dumb. But of course I sent you back to Morelli. I told you! My life—"

Stephanie rolled her eyes, joining in and reciting it with him. "doesn't led itself to relationships." She paused and then continued. "But if that's true, why are you so opposed to it now? You can either do a relationship, or you can't. But don't try to make me relationship-less, too."

Ranger gave a resigned sigh. "Fine! Do what you want. Go marry him. I suggest changing your shirt first, though. You can blame it all on me. Maybe he'll come murder me and then you won't even need to worry about my input."

Stephanie groaned. "Ranger, you are such an idiot! This is why we even get into this situation! Because you make stupid comments like that. If you weren't always saying stupid things, I'd have told you I loved you a long time ago and we wouldn't even be having this conversation. I don't want to marry Morelli, or I'd have run after him and explained the situation and told him I loved him and all that, instead of coming here and yelling at you. And obviously I don't want him to murder—"

Ranger interrupted. Somehow, during her rant, he'd gotten way closer without her noticing, so that he was now about an arm length from her. "Babe. You love me?"

"Of course. I should think that would be obvious."

Ranger smiled and pulled her to him for a kiss. When he pulled his head back, he smiled. "I see I can tell Connie and Lula the follow-up shirt won't be necessary."

Stephanie took a deep breath in an attempt to steady her breathing. "Follow-up shirt?"

Ranger grinned. "10 reasons why Stephanie and Ranger should get together."

A/N: Ok, so that's the end. I hope you liked it. And, btw, I know that 'get together' has several meanings. I mean it in the 'being girlfriend and boyfriend, with marriage possibly in the future' way, not the 'have sex' way. Just to clarify. :) Please review.