DIsclaimer: Again not mine..okay well technically Ashley is mine!

Author's Note: I hope you guys liked the previous chapter... Enjoy this one!

Still in New York & Confronting Ashley

"Okay Ram, I'll see your 4 chocolate chip cookies and raise you 2 Butterscotch Krimpets." Ram has his blank face on so I have no clue what kind of hand he has, but my hand is so good. I have a straight, so I'm going for it. Shay and Lex have already folded. Chickens!

"Alright, Lil Bit, I'll see your 2 Butterscotch Krimpets and raise you my last piece of pizza." I glare at Ram. That pizza we had for supper was so good. He was only the one that got more since well he is bigger but damn, I would love another piece. I nodded my head and he laid down his cards...oooo he has a full house. I win. I laid down my cards and his face fell. I jumped up and did a little happy dance. I walked over to Ram and give him a kiss on the cheek and take his pizza and his cookies. I eat my pizza and dance around the room, Lex video taping the whole time.

"I Won, I won, I won. Woo-hoo!" That was a big win for me. Ram has so far won every game we have played tonight and we have played probably 20 hands. It's Saturday evening and Sophie is already in bed. She had a very big day. We went to Build-A-Bear first where I bought her a little brown bear that is about her color and dressed it in a Cuban style dance outfit. It was so adorable. Then I found another bear with the same skin color but it was bigger so I dressed in black cargos with black boots and a black t-shirt and I had the lady put Rangeman in the upper left hand corner of the shirt. So now she has a Ranger bear. So cute.

Lex picked out a white bear with gold specks in the fur and she had brown eyes and she dressed her in pajamas. I love pajamas, I'm a pajama freak. It even had matching slippers. How cute is that? Shay picked out a lady bug and dressed it in a lady bug outfit. Since we call Sophie, Bug. I also got another one of the bears I got Sophie, the one with the black outfit on and dressed it in Batman clothes. Steph told me that they call Ranger, Batman and I couldn't resist. I can never have Ranger, he's way out of my league, but I wanted my own little Batman bear. I'll just stick it in my room and no one will ever see it. Lex and Shay don't know. They took Sophie outside and I hurried up and bought it. I told them I would dress it later. I don't want anyone to know I have a little crush on him. He might freak him out.

We then went to the American Girl store, where I got Sophie an American Baby with lots and lots of clothes and everything with it. I thought it would make a perfect 1st birthday gift. And when she gets older, I'll give her the outfits. It's a little Cuban doll. So adorable. I had no idea they made those now.

Shay's crazy self went and bought the American Doll, Josefina. It's a little Mexican girl who grew up in 1824 and then she went and bought every accessory for the doll plus Lex bought a lot of extra stuff for Sophie when she gets older. I tried to talk them out of it and I couldn't. I know Shay and Lex can afford it, but wow that was a lot of money for a doll. Okay so the American Baby was expensive too, but who cares, she's my kid. I told Shay and Lex I was going to have to put the doll up til she turned 21. They laughed at me. I don't want nothing to happen to the doll.

"Lil Bit, you wanna come?" I snap out of my thoughts and look up.

"What?"

"Shay wants to hit a gay bar. Wanna come?"

"No, you guys have fun. Get some numbers Shay!" She grins at me.

"Oh I will, Baby, I promise." She laughs and walks out the door with Lex. I turn to Ram.

"Are you having fun so far?"

"Yes I am. You and your friends are nice and fun to be around." I give him a big smile.

"Thanks. We like you too. You wanna watch a movie?"

"Sure."

"How about No Country For Old Men?"

"I've never seen it." My eyes got big.

"You have never seen it? Oh its a good movie. Come on. Sit next to me and we'll watch it." Ram came over and sat down beside me. He really has warmed up to us and for that I'm glad. He really is nice and really cute. He's built like a ...well anyway. He's just all muscles.

By the time the movie was over, Shay and Lex were back at the hotel. They came in laughing and giggling.

"Okay girls. How many numbers did you get?" Lex speaks up first while Shay walks over to me.

"I got 5 numbers. That place was crawling with well women. I told each one I didn't swing that way, that I was just with a friend and they still gave me their number."

"Cool. What about you, Shay?" She throws her arm around my neck and squeezes.

"Lil Bit, I got 23 numbers and 2 marriage proposals. I would shove the number in my pocket, grab my wallet and the show them your picture. I told 'em thanks but no thanks. I have a beautiful wife and daughter at home." I laugh at Shay. She's so full of it.

"What would they say?"

"Well Sweetheart, they would take one look at your gorgeous face and hot little body and ask for a threesome." I laughed harder. I know what Shay thinks of threesomes.

"What did you say, Shay?" She looks at me like I'm the crazy one.

"I would snatch my wallet back and tell them no, she's my woman." See Shay only shows them my picture when she doesn't want to get into a relationship. It's her "nice" way of telling people to back off.

"Did you show everybody my picture?" Shay blushes. Yes she does blush. She met someone she liked. I nudge her shoulder.

"Who is it, Shay?"

"Her name is Amberlyn. She was short and cute and very shy. I told her I was going back to Africa to take pictures on Wednesday and that I would be gone for 4 months. She asked me my full name and when I told her, her grey eyes lit up. She knows my work. She gave me her number and told me to call when I got back, no matter when it was." I gave Shay a hug and told her good luck. She smiled at me and said thanks. I can tell she really likes this Amberlyn. I hope it works for her.

"Alright guys. It is late. Let's head to bed. We have an early morning tomorrow!" We all said good night. I walked over to Ram after Lex and Shay went to bed. I kissed his cheek.

"Thanks Ram. You made this weekend fun." His eyebrow raises.

"How?"

"You were here as a bodyguard which you did so well, but you made it seem like you were more with us then here for us. Does that make sense?" He smiles at me.

"Yes, it does. Thanks Ashley." I give him a smile.

"You're very welcome, Ram. Good night."

"Good night, Lil Bit."

Confronting Ashley

It's Sunday afternoon I have been waiting for Ashley and Sophie to return from New York. I called Ram about an hour ago and he said they were about an hour away. I need to talk to Ashley about Morelli before I confront Morelli, which is a very good possibility. I know I poached with Stephanie, but Steph was never his. Ashley is mine. She just doesn't know it yet. Steph made me see the truth. I really like Ashley and I need to do something about it, before it blows up in my face.

I hear their vehicle pull up and wait. I hear laughing, giggling, and... singing? That's Ram's voice. The front door swings open and Shay is first, followed by Lex who has Sophie. Those two are singing Yakety Yak. Ram walks through the door and what I see makes me mad. Ashley is on Ram. Her front to his back, riding him piggy back. Her lean legs barely reach his front and her small arms wrapped around his neck. Both of them are smiling and laughing. Ashley is singing along with Lex and Shay and then all at once they point at Ram who sings, "Don't talk back." Ram sees me first.

"Hey Boss." My eyes narrow at him. Ashley then kisses Ram's neck before saying something in his ear. What have I done? Ram is normally such a hard ass when it comes to his job that I never thought anything about it. I should have known one weekend with my sexy ass little vixen and he's eating out of her hand. He lets her down carefully and kisses her cheek. I barely him whisper his next words. "Thanks, Lil Bit." She gives him one of her beauitful smiles. When did he start calling her Lil Bit? "You're welcome." Ram turns to me and nods and then turns to the girls. "Come on, I'll give ya a ride home." There is a company SUV out front along with my Turbo. He knows the SUV is for him and he knows I'm pissed off. He wants to get away as quickly as possible. Lex gives Sophie to Ashley. They all hug and kiss good bye before leaving. Ashley walks past me and puts Sophie in her exersaucer.

"Ranger, put that look away. He was completely professional and he watched over us like a hawk." Yea, like he was the man hawk wanting someone else's female hawk.

"We need to talk." She raises her eyebrow at me and once again I'm struck at how cute she is.

"About what." I take a deep breath gaining control of myself.

"How come you didn't tell me about Morelli?" She looks taken back, shocked. She shrugs her shoulders.

"He's doing a favor for my dad, and he's a cop, and I didn't think it mattered, and it's not a big deal. Take your pick. I don't care which one." She starts to walk away from me and I grab her arm.

"When it means that a man that not only do I not like nor trust being around you or Sophie, it matters." She shrugs off my hand.

"I get Sophie, but he was never around Sophie. And it is none of your business who I'm around." She again goes to walk away and I grab her arm and haul her to me.

"Wrong, Ashley. It is very much my business. I care deeply for you. It would kill me if something happen to you. Understand?" Her lips are thinned out in anger and she nods. I let go.

"He's only doing it for my dad, Ranger. There is no other motive for it." She walks out of the room and grabs Sophie. I change the subject. I know better.

"What is going on with you and Ram?" She looks surprised at the question.

"We're friends. He's super nice and so sweet."

"Did something happen between you two while in New York?" Please say no.

"Ranger, there was 2 other people plus a baby. We were never alone." She stops for a minute thinking. My heart jumps in my throat. "Okay well we were alone last night while Lex and Shay went to a bar, but no nothing happen. We're friends." I leave it alone for now. I change the subject again.

"Are you busy next Friday night?" She bites her lower lip and shakes her head.

"Not that I know of, why?"

"Go on a date with me?" She looks beyond shocked at the question. Why I don't know.

"Say what?" She puts Sophie in her high chair and I walk up behind her. My front touching her back. I lean down to whisper in her ear.

"A date, Ashley. Dinner, dancing, a movie maybe. We talk and laugh. Maybe share a kiss or two." My voice goes lower with each word until my voice is barely a whisper. I kiss the side of her neck. She's breathing hard. I smile. I find her pulse point and bite down hard enough to leave a bruise and quickly lick the same spot with tongue easing the pain. She gasps and lets her head fall back. "How about it, my little vixen. A date, just you and me." My voice snaps her out of whatever she was in and she quickly gets away from me.

"Um, can I think about?" She needs to think about it. Damn, what a blow to my ego. I smile.

"Of course you can. Now let me feed my kid." She smiles at me and hands me the jar of food.

Confronting Morelli

I walk into the cop shop and all eyes are on me. I need to talk to Morelli and I know that in front of these people I won't kill him. Hopefully. It has been 3 days since I asked Ashley about our date. She still hasn't gave me a straight answer. She seems scared. Of what, I don't know. It's now Wednesday and she said she wanted to talk to me, so once I get through with Morelli, I'm going to her place. I hope this is quick. I walk into Morelli's office and he looks up at me. The look on his face clearly shows he is not happy to see me.

"What do you want, Manoso?"

"You need to stay away from Ashley and Sophie?" He stands up to look me straight in the eye.

"And if I say no." I keep my blank face on and my voice even.

"You won't like it, Morelli. There is nothing for you with Ashley."

"So you can poach with Stephanie, but I can't even try to date Ashley. I know you two aren't together. I've asked her and she told me." My jaw clenches. That one statement has me fighting for control.

"This is the only warning, you will get. Stay away from her."

"Look, I'm just doing a favor for her dad."

"Fine, I can respect that, but have you found the assholes who robbed her."

"No, we haven't."

"When you do let me know and I'll be there when you tell Ashley. But understand this Morelli, I didn't like you around Stephanie, but for her I respected that because I knew that you two were never end up together. But I will not tolerate you being anywhere near Ashley or my daughter for that matter. Are we clear?" He nods his head in agreement and I walk out.