Follow Up to 14 Ways to Leave:

I had such a great time writing that one that I didn't want to end it. The reviewers kept me on such a high and the characters are so fantastic that I just have to pick up where I left off.

Disclaimer: The characters are the invention of Janet Evanovich. While I would love to meet either Joe or Ranger in person, it's not bad to be able to write about them.

Chapter One

It seemed like only yesterday my life was pretty much in the toilet. I had broken up with my on-again, off-again Trenton cop boyfriend, had quit my job, and lost my roommate pet hamster. I went through a series of 'why me' jags and finally ended up in a better place. My name is Stephanie Plum. I think I am finally getting my 'happily ever after'.

I am currently working for a company called Rangeman Enterprises, a career choice I turned to after leaving my cousin Vinnie's bail bonds business where I worked as an Apprehension agent or bounty hunter. Compared to my previous stint as a lingerie buyer, the job of being a bounty hunter was more exciting and more dangerous than I ever imagined. At Rangeman, my task was to run computer checks and seek out information about both the clients and crooks that the company deals with. The job would be boring if it wasn't for the owner, Ranger Manoso. A former Ranger himself, he was skilled in military tactics and security. Despite the fact he looks more like a street thug at times, he is a successful businessman in his own right. Fortunately, for me, he is also currently my boyfriend.

I have known Ranger for years. He was my mentor when I started as a bounty hunter. He is incredibly attractive, with dark hair and eyes and that creamy mocha skin that clamors to be touched. He's built like a god, with a washboard stomach, incredible abs and muscular arms that make me melt when he holds me. I won't even go into his skill in the bedroom as he is getting ready to take a trip and I really don't need to deal with the hormones right now.

I'm standing next to his Porsche whilehe's talking to Vinnie. Ranger had decided a couple of weeks ago that he needed to take care of some business in Miami and was going to tell his daughter about our relationship. I wasn't too thrilled that he was leaving, or that he didn't invite me to go along. I have gotten used to sleeping with him over the past month and wasn't sure how it would be in his big bed all alone now. Sure, I had slept in that bed before alone, but that was before Ranger had decided to try to deal with our relationship. He was seriously trying to make it work between us and I, for one, was really grateful.

Lula saw me standing outside and was probably wondering why I wasn't coming in. I guess it was impolite of me just to be standing here waiting, so I decided to venture in.

"Yo, girl, I was wondering why you weren't at least coming in to say hello," Lula began. "Batman seems like he's on a mission."

I had to smile. We had always thought of Ranger as Batman, a mysterious crime-fighting hero. I was slowly learning that he was so much more, and I liked what I have learned. "Yeah, I'm dropping him at the airport in an hour. Guess he wanted to talk to Vinnie about something first."

As if he was listening in, Ranger came out of the back office, followed closely by Vinnie.

While Ranger silently acknowledged me and came to stand by me with his hand resting on the back of my neck, a now more than familiar gesture, Vinnie actually spoke to me.

"So Stephanie, are you going to be stopping by next week to help out with the FTAs?"

I didn't answer right away, looking up at Ranger's face to see whether or not the question would get a rise out of him. In the past, when I was with Joe, a question like that was sure to start an argument.

As if Ranger read my mind, he looked down at me and said, "Babe, it's your call. If you want to run the FTA files for Rangeman, fine by me. Just let Tank and Bobby know what you're going to be doing."

Wow, I thought, he trusted me with the FTAs that he usually handled. They were heavy duty, I usually only dealt with the lightweights.

"I'll have to let you know, Vinnie. I'll stop by tomorrow."

Ranger and I left the office and he opened the door to the Porsche for me. Nothing was said until we were on our way to the airport.

"Babe," Ranger began. "Don't forget that you have training every day. I want to make sure that you carry your gun as well as your Mace if you decide to work on the FTAs for Vinnie. The ones that are assigned to Rangeman are usually dangerous. You take a case, you tell Tank and he will have backup arranged for you. You do not try anything alone. Promise me."

This was actually the first time that Ranger asked anything like this of me in the entire month we had spent together.

"Sure, no problem. I promise to behave myself and attend those damned training classes." Ranger knew I hated to get up early and run, but even more than that, I hated target practice.

He didn't say anything, but he did reach over and hold my hand. God, I was going to miss him. He said he'd only be gone a week, but that was one-fifth of our new relationship time and I was feeling a little jealous. Stupid, yes, but I was like a schoolgirl in this relationship. Everything he said or did was major to me. I tried not to let him see how I was affected, but since he apparently had some sort of ESP ability, it was hopeless.

We arrived at the airport and parked in short-term parking. His flight left in an hour and there was still security to get through. Especially the female security agents usually inspected Ranger very thoroughly. While he looked dangerous, he was also damned sexy and no woman could let it pass if she had a chance to run her hands down those powerful legs. Yes, he would definitely be frisked today. He had worn the familiar black commando pants, but he was wearing a cream sweater and black leather jacket instead of the black tee shirt and bomber jacket. His hair was pulled back from his face in a ponytail, his customary way of dealing with it outside the bedroom, and mirrored sunglasses currently covered his eyes. While his body was certainly beyond belief, it was the way those eyes looked whenwe made love that was scorched into my memory. There's simply no way to describe the depth of feeling that they could convey.

We walked hand in hand to the concourse where he was flight was scheduled to depart. I noticed several women who stopped right where they were and stared. I realized that I would have to get used to it, but part of me wanted to slap them silly.

Ranger was smiling. "Babe, that would be assault and battery. You'd better let it go."

I smiled back. "You need to stop reading my mind. So, I don't like them staring at you. I'll get over it someday, like when you're 80 years old."

"So you think we have a future that long," Ranger grinned.

"I guess I'm hoping we have at least that long," I replied, taking in that smile and the fact that he had removed the sunglasses.

"I'm going to miss you, Babe," he whispered before the kiss.

Oh yeah, I'm going to miss you too, I thought, getting totally lost in the sensations kissing Ranger produced.

He pulled back. "Stay out of trouble and try to keep the Porsche in one piece. I like that car." He kissed me quickly.

"Sure, I will." He headed to the security gate. Sure enough, he was picked for a body search. Of course, the security person was a decent looking blonde. Ranger turned around and grimaced.

"Good Luck," I yelled over to him. It was going to be a long week.

So do I continue? Reviewers, let me know...