Okay, so here's the deal. I am having serious block with this story. Either I can't get anything on the screen or if I get something, it's like pulling teeth to get it out. I wonder if it has something to do with the long pauses between chapters because of the long and busy semester. I know it bothers you readers and it makes it harder to read a story when you're never sure if it'll finish, but really, I appreciate whoever is still reading this. I don't write for myself (its a stress reliever, but that's about it for me), I write for you guys. I'll keep saying it and it will still be true, I WILL FINISH. Please, just bear with me.

I wanted more R/S, but that'll definitely be in the next chapter.

None of this is mine, only the mistakes and the plot.

Ranger's POV

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I asked Jeanne after she closed the door to my office.

"The idea was stupid and reckless. If she actually tried that, we'd all get killed!"

"You're overdramatizing the situation." I headed around the desk towards my chair.

"And you're letting your cock do all the thinking."

That statement made me stop. "Excuse me?"

"I said that she's leading you around by your cock."

"You are way out of line, Jeanne. Watch it."

Jeanne's face went from confused to shock. "Oh, well this is new." She said, chuckling. "You haven't fucked her yet."

I got in her face. She at least had enough sense to back into the door. "And jealousy is an ugly color on you, Jeanne."

"Jealous? Jealous of what? Smurfette out there?"

"She had a good idea. And it kills you that I'm listening to someone other than you."

Jeanne scoffed. "Get real."

She could try to tell herself that she didn't believe it, but I could see her face. She was seriously jealous. I grinned. "You think that I don't want you anymore that it's going to stop me from fucking other women? Oh Jeanne," I chuckled. "How positively vain of you."

I watched as her eyes narrowed. I was going to show her who was alpha in this room. "You have three days. I suggest you hop to it."

She straightened. "Yes sir."

Jeanne left the room, but I had a feeling that this wasn't over.

Stephanie's POV

"I appreciate your time." I said to the person on the phone. "Would it be okay if I stopped by in a few days to go over this again?" I listened for a little while longer and then gave Lula the thumbs up. She grinned and did a little dance in her chair. "Thank you again."

"Shit girl, we are on fire!" Lula said, high fiving me.

I looked at the clock. "It's almost dinner time. Feel like celebrating?"

"Sure thing, white girl. I think I can bribe one of the guys to order us a pizza."

"Sounds good. Meet you downstairs in ten?"

"Got it." Lula stood and waved as she left. I smiled and wrote out a report on the computer before I forgot everything. When Ranger gave us the greenlight, I wanted to be ready.

I wasn't alone long, before a new person entered my cubicle. "I don't think we've been properly introduced."

I turned and my stomach dropped. It was the blonde woman from the meeting.

"I'm Jeanne." She said.

"Stephanie."

"It's nice to meet you. How long have you been working here?"

"A few weeks."

She nodded encouragingly. "And do you like it?"

I wasn't sure what everyone was talking about. She seemed like a very nice woman. We chatted for a few more minutes and then I asked her.

"Oh, I've been here a little over six years. I do anything that Ranger needs me to do, if you know what I mean." She said with a wink.

I felt confused for a second, then it dawned on me. "Oh." I smiled. "I don't see him that way. I have a boyfriend."

"Isn't that sweet. What does he think of you being here?"

"He's not thrilled, but knows it's for my own good."

"Must be nice. To be that close."

I shrugged. "Sure."

"The thing about Ranger is that he likes shiny new toys. He chases them and plays with them, but eventually… Eventually, the toy loses its luster. Suddenly the shiny new thing is old and dull. He moves on from the old toy and finds a new one. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

She was trying to keep me away from Ranger. Not that it was a big deal, since I had a boyfriend but she was doing it all the same. I couldn't blame her though. Ranger is one sexy beast.

"I do have one question: Am I the shiny new toy and you're the lackluster one he's tossed aside?" I tilt my head to the side.

Her mouth tightens. I see that I've hit a nerve. Good. She hit a nerve when she assumed I'd just cheat on Joe. Even though I'm not even sure where we stand.

Goody. More thoughts for later.

She opens her mouth, but I stop her with a hand. "I love Joe. I'm not going to mess it up. So you can take your petty threats and shove them…"

"Oh dear, sweet, innocent Stephanie. What you don't understand is that eventually, all women sleep with Ranger. He's nice and flirty in the beginning, to soften you up. Think about all the interactions you've had. It's his pattern. He uses the shiny new toy and when the toy least expects it, he bolts. And Cupcake, he will come back to me. He always does. So save yourself the heartache."

"I can't believe that she said all that to you!" Lula exclaimed when I told her about the conversation.

"I mean, I get it. She wants to protect what she thinks is hers."

"And then she called you Cupcake? Doesn't Joe call you that?"

I shivered. "Let's talk about something else. How did you get the pizza in here?"

She blushes. "Tank."

I'm surprised. "Wow. Not who I expected."

"Yeah, well he blackmailed me into a date."

Now I was floored! "Way to bury the lead! Are you excited?"

"Nervous is more like it."

"It'll be great!"

She bit her lip. "I hope so."

"So what else is happening around town?" I asked Joe when I get back to my apartment.

"Not much. Mom's lighting candles for your soul. She worried that you're going to do something… bad."

I rolled my eyes. "Grandma Bella can't give me the eye, right?" His grandmother gave me the willies.

I could hear him chuckle. "She's in New York visiting family. I don't think it can travel across state lines."

"Thank God."

"So you're being good, right?"

"Subtle, Joe." I snarked.

"Just checking on my girl."

"Well I do have a lot of underwear parties in my apartment. That seems to be a big hit."

Joe was silent. "What."

"Yeah, me and Lula run around in our underwear. Sometimes it gets a little warm in the building."

He sighed. "Not funny."

I smiled. "Little funny."

We were silent. "I miss you." He said.

"I miss you too." And I was. I still wasn't sure where we stood, but I missed him and the intimacy we shared.

"When can I see you?"

"Soon, I hope."

"Good. We need to talk about things."

"Yeah," I sighed. "We do."