Disclaimer: Janet Evanovich owns all characters, though if I could, I'd own Morelli. Ranger too.

Ranger's Porsche Cayenne was parked out front. I climbed in the front, not even caring that I was still in my bathrobe. Rex was snug in the backseat; his cage had a seatbelt strapped around it. Looking at it made me smile and I could see a hint of something flash in Ranger's eye. It took a lot to get a smile from him, it took even more to get a laugh, but I was lucky enough to be on the receiving end of both several times.

The ride to Rangeman was quiet which was both good and bad. It was good because I wasn't ready to talk about it yet, because that just made it all the more real. But it was bad because it gave me time to think about it. And everyone knows thinking is never a good thing.

"So," I bit on my nails as I tried to think of something to talk about. "How is everything going with Tim Stringer?"

"Fine. He stays at home all day. Never has any visitors and only gets phone calls from family. He did get a few odd messages in the mail, but there was nothing incriminating."

"Going through his mail? Isn't that a federal offence?"

"Only if you get caught."

Ranger didn't have the same moral code as everyone else. Hell I wasn't even sure if Ranger had a moral code at all. Deep down I was ninety nine percent sure he only killed bad guys, but honestly I was only fifty percent sure about my surety level. We pulled into the underground parking garage at Rangeman, and I gathered up my bag of junk. Ranger pulled out Rex's cage and a black duffel bag.

"What's in the bag?"

"The rest of your clothes. I wasn't sure if what you had at Morelli's was enough so I just gathered up everything from your apartment."

"Thanks."

We got in the elevator and Ranger hit the button for the seventh floor. "Where are we going?"

"You said you needed a place to stay, I'm providing you with one."

"I just thought you'd put me up in one of the apartments."

Rangeman employed a lot of people, all males. Along with Ranger's personal residence and the residence of his housekeeper Ella, and her husband, there were also apartments, offices, a gun range, and who knows what else in the building. It was a seven-story building that didn't stand out in any way, unlike Ranger who stood out and blended in all at the same time.

"All the apartments are full." A hint of a smile formed in his eyes, but it never reached his mouth.

Ranger's apartment was immaculate. It was always clean thanks to Ella, stocked full of fresh food, again thanks to Ella, and smelled like Ranger, thanks partly to Ella, partly to Bulgari shower gel. The furniture was simple and modern with crisp lines and solid colors. The whole place omitted testosterone, just like Ranger.

"I've got to get back to a meeting, but make yourself at home. Do you still have your keys to the place?"

"Yeah." Ranger had given me keys to his apartment and the rest of the building when I first started working here, and he wouldn't let me give them back.

"Unfortunately I'm having a little trouble getting your car back."

"Why?"

"Well no one, including me, wants to be seen driving it in the daytime. So you'll have to borrow one of my cars if you need to go anywhere today. Once its dark I'll send Tank to get it."

"I'm not sure Tank would fit in it."

"That's true."

"Maybe you could just have him park it at my apartment. That way if anyone looks for me, they'll just think I'm there. That is, if you don't mind me borrowing a car for a few days."

"You can keep any of the cars, you know that. If you decide to just give me plenty of notice."

"Why?"

"So I can make sure I add fire insurance on them." He left then, kissing me lightly on the lips as he went out the door.

I still had an hour before I needed to leave for my job at the mall so I dug through my bag, trying to find all my essentials. Once I found what I needed I did my hair and make-up, making sure to put everything back in the bag when I was done. It would seem rude to leave things laying around as though I just assumed I could move in. When I was rummaging through my bag trying to find something to wear there was a knock on the door.

Ella peaked her head in after a moment and then pulled in a cart of food. There was fruit and a breadbasket, as well as egg whites and oatmeal. I thanked her and asked if she by chance had any black pants I could wear. A few minutes later she returned with a pair of tight black slacks. Once she was gone I ate a piece of bread, but it wouldn't sit right in my stomach so I saved all the food by putting it in the fridge and got dressed.

Even with all my clothes I was still limited on choices. Sure I had five new pair of underwear to choose from, but my shirt options were black v-neck, white v-neck or nothing. I went with the white, and threw my black blazer on over it. Putting the keys in my bag I headed for the elevator, waving at the camera that was installed in the upper corner as I made my way to the garage.

There were four options waiting for me. Tank was standing by a black Rangeman SUV, unloading what looked like suit bags. Tank was just what his name said. He was huge and scary, but I knew for a fact his real name was Pierre and Lula was his biggest fear in life. They were engaged for a short time, mostly because Tank never actually asked her to marry him. She bought herself a ring and tricked him to believe he had asked.

"Which one would you like to take?"

My options were the Porsche Cayenne. That was out, I'd already destroyed one of those. The Porsche Turbo, which was also out because it was Ranger's favorite and if I destroyed it I'd be sleeping on the sidewalk. There was a new truck, but the last time I drove one of those it also met a horrible end. There was one option left. A shiny new black Ducati Superbike 848. I'd learned to ride a motorcycle a few years back, and always kept my license renewed.

Tank handed me a leather jacket and a helmet and I climbed on. The bike rumbled to life under me and I gripped it tight, feeling the vibrations run through my whole body. The exit gate lifted for me and I took off down the street.

Normally when I get on a bike I take time to feel it out, get used to it and familiar with it. Not today. Today I was feeling dangerous, and I wanted speed and adrenaline, and I wanted it now. I made it to the mall in record time, parked right up front and watched as men gazed at me. Probably they were looking at the bike at first, but once I took the helmet off, and pulled my shirt down to pop the boys out a little, their attention shifted slightly.

Against my better judgment and the pleading of my feet I wore stilettos today. It actually turned out to be less difficult than I thought to ride the bike in them. I was pretty sure that after a few hours of work I'd be cursing myself, but at least I would look good. When I walked in Barbie was in a happy fit about some new shipment that just came in.

"You will just love these new bras! They are the greatest thing ever!"

"Honestly, I can't afford a new bra right now, but I'm sure they're great."

"Oh no honey, it's free."

"Excuse me?" She was joking right? That couldn't be true.

"Yeah, come on back to the dressing room and I'll get you one. You'll wanna wear it all the time once you see it on."

It seemed she wasn't joking. A new product had just been released and as an employee I got one free sample. And Barbie was right; I wanted to wear it all the time. This bra wasn't just amazing, it was a miracle. The shirt I was wearing showed off just how wonderful this wonder bra really was. Somehow this fabric with its air pouches had added a full cup size to my bust.

After I got off work I took my new bra for a test drive, walking around the food court and picking up a snack. The food at Ranger's would be much better for me, but he didn't believe in dessert. And to me, dessert was the best meal of the day. Obviously the new bra was working because I got a free upgrade on my chocolate shake and extra cherries on top.

It was still early in the day so I decided to stop in at the bonds office. I only had one skip left in my possession, but I figured maybe something new, and easier had come in. Connie's eyes bulged out of her head when she saw me pull up on the bike. Then her tongue fell out of her mouth when I unzipped the jacket I was wearing.

"Whoa! Did you hit the lottery or something? New bike, new boobs, where can I get some of that money?"

"The bike isn't mine, but the boobs are. It is just a new bra I got today."

"Whose bike is it?" She looked it over again and then it hit her. "Is that Ranger's bike?"

"Yeah."

"Ohh."

"Ohh what?"

"First that kiss on the cheek, now the bike. Something going on there?"

"Nothing is going on there."

"How does Morelli feel about this?"

"Morelli can eat shit and die."

"Wow." She shook her head up and down and I was sure the puzzle pieces were fitting together inside her brain. "Well that explains why he's been calling every half hour looking for you."

"If you know what's good for you, you'll lie and say you never saw me."

"You expect me to do this without details?"

"For now. I'm not ready to talk about it."

"Oh this is gonna be good I can tell already."

"Huhn. Any new skips?"

"Nope. Just the one you have."

I left then. I was straddling the bike as I zipped up my jacket, and I was pulling my hair back so I could slid my helmet on without ruining my hair when a SUV drove towards me. It slowed down as it came to the bonds office and I saw Morelli in the front seat. Crap. Slamming my helmet down I punched the gas and took off. Turning to look behind me I saw him make a u-turn and floor it.

There were at least five car lengths between us and I took alleys and sidewalks to get away. Pushing the bike faster and faster I found myself on the other side of Trenton in a short period of time. Morelli was nowhere to be seen. After driving around a few more back roads I was sure I lost him so I headed for Rangeman.

Pulling into the parking spot I took off the helmet but left the jacket on, unzipping it as I made my way to the elevator. As was customary I did my little finger wave to the camera and I wished I could see the faces on the other end. The entrance way to Ranger's apartment was empty and instead of knocking I let myself in. The shower was on and there was a gun and a set of keys on the sideboard. I added my keys and dropped my purse in the empty space by the gun.

Plopping down on the couch I turned on the television and waited for Ranger to appear. A few minutes later he came out dressed in black slacks and a black t-shirt. He looked very casual, something he didn't do very often. I got up and walked to the kitchen, pulling two beers out of the fridge and handing him one.

"New job?"

"Sorta. I went in and applied to make my mother happy and somehow managed to get hired. I've been there a whole week."

"Personal best."

"Yeah. The thing is I still haven't told anyone about it. I'm a little worried if I do I won't have the job much longer. Kinda my luck."

"Babe, luck shouldn't even be in your vocabulary."

"Well it's something alright."

We made our way back into the living room and after not finding anything of interest he turned the TV off.

"Who were you trying to lose earlier?"

"Morelli. He showed up at the bonds office when I was checking in."

"How's the bike ride?"

"Like a dream."

"Maybe I'll have to take it out later."

"You haven't been on it yet?"

"You took it on its maiden voyage."

"Huh. Funny thing is, I just can't picture you on a bike."

"You of all people should know how well I ride."

Ranger's couch was plush and comfortable, but it was nothing compared to his bed. The sheets he used had to be about a thousand thread count, and were like sleeping on air. I tossed and turned on the couch, which was long enough, but not nearly wide enough to allow me to sprawl out. Probably the couch wasn't the problem. Probably the problem was my brain.

The clock read two a.m., which was exactly ten minutes later than the last time I looked at it. I could have slept in Ranger's bed with him; I could have slept in my own bed, or the one at my parent's house. Yet here I was on Ranger's couch, kicking myself for not picking a better option. Okay, so most of my worry wasn't about my location, it was about my situation.

Here I was again; jilted by the man I loved thanks to some whore. What was it with men? I mean why me? Didn't these women have anything better to do than ruin my life? And Morelli. If I was being honest with myself I was really hurt because of him. The way it was so easy for him to lie to me. The way he could sleep with me and then crawl out of bed in the middle of the night and into his car with someone else.

I had to get up. Making my way into the kitchen I tried to walk silently so I wouldn't wake Ranger up. It was enough that I had invaded his house, I didn't need to ruin his good night's sleep too. The fridge was always stalked with healthy food, and what I really wanted was cake. Of course there was no cake in Ranger's fridge, or his life. That was a problem.

Pulling out a carton of milk I turned on the stove and found a pan. I'd never actually tried warm milk but that's always what they did in TV shows when they couldn't sleep, so I figured it might help. Just as the flat top burner of the stainless steel stove turned red I felt a fire run down my spine that could only mean one thing. Ranger was behind me.

"I didn't mean to wake you up." I didn't turn to face him. Best not to tempt my hormones.

"Trouble sleeping?"

"A little." I blew out a heavy sign. "A lot. My mind can't stop thinking about it all. Honestly I'd probably be crying right now if my eyes weren't too tired."

He kissed the top of my head as he pulled me in tight. His hands clasped around me and the smell of him was enough to calm me down. When he went back to bed I tried the milk. It wasn't too bad, but I really didn't think it would help much. Ranger left his bedroom door open, which was a good thing because I suddenly had to pee. There was only one bathroom in his apartment and the only way to get to it was through his room.

Quietly I crept by him, waiting until the door was closed to turn the light on. Ranger's bathroom was clean and crisp, and smelled like heaven, just like everything else he owned. After I took care of business and washed my face I stood staring at myself in the mirror. What on Earth was wrong with me? Twice now I'd picked the wrong guy, and both times it had ended in disaster. I'd known Morelli since I was a kid and to say he was wild was an understatement, but it really seemed as though he'd changed. Maybe the old saying was true about not being able to take the country out of the boy. Maybe people really didn't change.

Turning the light out I opened the door. I had to stand there a minute to let my eyes adjust to the dim light filtering in through the open doorway. Ranger was sleeping on his back, with his head facing the opposite wall. The sheet he had was pushed down low around his hips, and he wasn't wearing a shirt. In fact it looked like he wasn't wearing anything. Gripping the doorframe I fought to keep myself standing. He stirred then, turning to face me and his eyes opened.

Before he could open his mouth to say anything I darted across the room. If I said I wasn't sure what possessed me I'd be lying. There was a rush of desire and a yearning flowing all through my body and instead of thinking I just acted. I all but jumped on the bed, slamming my mouth onto his. This didn't seem to surprise him and he was fast to react, kissing me back, his tongue brushing forcefully against mine. What did seem to surprise him was when I let my hands wander, reaching down to realize I was right. He wasn't wearing anything. His breath caught in his throat and he faltered for half a second before collecting himself and pressing forward.

Kissing me all over he moved down my body, making his way farther and farther south. Once he came to his desired location I hit a note reserved for the biggest of divas. There may not be security cameras or sound surveillance in the private apartments, but I was pretty sure everyone in the building knew at that moment just what was going on.

A/N

As always, thanks to my beta-ing mother, even though she never answers her cell phone.

Sorry for the delay this week, I had a very very busy weekend and with the holidays coming there is much to do. Of course.

Thanks always for all the reviews/faves/alerts and such. It means the world to me, well maybe not the world, but it's damn nice!