I'm proud to say that this is my longest chapter now, yay for me! Read and enjoy this chapter as long as you'll review after!

Chapter 12

"What a Day"

Jeremiah's POV

I spent a week in New York City in business meetings and I was just returning to Stephanie's apartment. I bought a customized royal blue Ferrari while I was in New York thinking Steph would like it better than her Honda accord. I can hear the water running in the shower as I entered and started making coffee and pancakes, after I had changed into a pair of jeans and a shirt. I'm finally having a day off.

During her three month stay in my home in Texas, I started to develop soft feelings for her. No wonder she had two men crazy for her here. Well, now she really had one man left here. She is outgoing, friendly, intelligent and beautiful. God, she is incredibly beautiful. I can't help but want her to be mine, too.

I started thinking back to when she would accidentally fall asleep on the couch in the living room after watching a movie or she'd fall asleep after a business dinner on the way back to the house. She would mumble Ranger or Carlos in her sleep quite often. Never Joe Morelli but always Ranger/Ricardo Carlos Manoso. I believe she's in love with Ranger and not Morelli; she cares for the cop, but didn't fall in love with him like Manoso. Don't know what the hell she sees in him. During the business dinner, when I met Ranger and Tank, they both seem to be boring lifeless people, Ranger especially. Good business man and very physically fit for his train of work, but a bore. Sure he is good looking and very wealthy (by the price of the suit he wore, right down to the tie), but in around the same amount of quantity as I'm in looks and money. Pretty equal, except I wasn't boring.

Stephanie is a good friend, better than most people; she has this charm that hauls you to her. I wouldn't change that, even though I have some small feelings for her, I care about her and she really loves this boring man, God only knows why, so if he comes through I won't stop it… but I will have too. I need a wife and bad. After all, 7 months and a week will fly by fast and I'm not going to ruin my late father's company, even if it means hurting her. Selfish? I know.

Steph got out of her shower and stepped out to her bedroom wearing only a towel. I smiled at her when she smelled the coffee's aroma and popped her head out of the bedroom door.

"Hey there sweetie pie."

"Hey Jeremiah! Back already?"

"Yeah, get dressed and I'll have breakfast ready for you." I watched as she closed the door before turning back to the pancakes I was in the process of cooking.

After breakfast, Steph left to the bond office and I would stay at the apartment and watch a few movies before catching up on some sleep. I started to flip through the channels before plopping myself down on her grungy couch when the phone started to ring. I couldn't find the cordless phone anywhere, so the answering machine picked it up.

"Stephanie, this is your mother. I…" Her mother left a long message. Jesus! This non-stop talking lady was going to be my mother in law! I felt like deleting the message because of the nagging voice and so I pressed the delete button. She's a mom. She'll call back, unfortunately.

Right after deleting the stupid message, Steph called my cell which I answered and I agreed to escort her to Lula's birthday dinner tonight. I learned that Lula was Tank's girlfriend so there was a likely chance Manoso would be there, and I not letting him get a chance with Steph while I'm here, of all times.

Half an hour later, the phone rang again. I still never located the phone. "Steph? It's Mary Lou. I just got back and I got a load of gossip and news to tell you which you probably know already anyways. Call me back." I remember Steph mentioning her best friend Mary Lou. After, Steph's mom kept calling every fifteen minutes so I got annoyed and unplugged the goddamn phone from its circuit. I'm starting to hate that lady.

Steph's POV

I drove to the office. I didn't expect Jeremiah this morning, but I also didn't know when he would be back, just that he was gone for a week. I walked in the office to Lula and Connie talking about dinner tonight, since it was Lula's birthday. Crap. I didn't realize the possibility that Jeremiah would be back. I handed in the body receipts for Mooner and Dougie, whom I picked up as FTAs yesterday. Connie handed me three FTA files as I turned to Lula.

"Jeremiah came back this morning. Is it ok if he comes tonight? I don't think he'll let me go alone with the fact he's bored in my apartment for the whole day," I asked her. I felt rude to ask but it was the truth.

"Damn girl. I was hoping me and Connie would do some… magic with you and a specific someone, you know and all. It's okay, I guess, for him, that is Jeremiah, to come along," Lula said. Uh? Was she trying to be evasive? And failing miserably I mite add.

Connie answered my unasked question. "Vinnie's back." She nodded towards the office door behind her. I nodded in response.

"Thanks Lula," I said as I reached into my purse and pulled out my new cell, the latest and most expensive model, which he got me while we were in Texas. I called Jeremiah's cell and told him about the birthday dinner/party tonight.

I sat down and started flipping through my files. First FTA, Lorena Scasollini, first time offender for a public fight at the burg's best pasta competition. She was a few years older, a stay at home mother and lived a few blocks away from my parents' house in the burg, shouldn't be so difficult. Second, Eric Blackburn arrested for yelling and running through city hall and public profanity. He seemed to be a senile, 76 year old man and he lived in… my apartment building, third floor, apt 3E. Huh, didn't expect that. Finally, John Lustbader, arrested for carrying a 9mm Glock concealed. Around his mid-thirties, very skinny and creepy eyed. The address written was his brother's house on Phines Street because Lustbader had been kicked out of his apartment for late bills after losing his job.

"Alright, I think I'm going to try to get these FTAs in before five so I have enough time to get ready for tonight. You want to tag along?" I asked Lula.

"Damn straight, it's my birthday! I'm not spending it here, need some excitement and bad ass kicking to do," Lula exclaimed. She was so bouncy today. Couldn't sit still. At least she got energy with the enthusiasm. "Who we going after first?"

Once we got into my car I asked, "You excited about tonight? You didn't tell Connie about Tank proposing to you sometime today?"

"I didn't tell her because I think he's doing it during the party and I want to see everyone's surprised face, yours included please? I told Jenny that her husband and her got to look surprised too. Tankie don't know that we know. I'm so deck out for that moment and tonight, nervous and excited at the same time."

"Okay, will this do?" I did an imitation of a surprised face and Lula nodded.

We took in Lorena Scasollini with a few small problems. She was having problems with taking care of her six kids after school while her husband was always at work and her sister couldn't help either, both busy. The way she explained the situation, it was impossible not to see that her husband was cheating on her with her sister. At least I'm not the only person who can live in denial. Of course, I didn't say anything but that didn't stop Lula from saying so and put Lorena in a hysterical state that she refused to be brought to the police station so she could plan to kill them. Lula ended up stunning her with my stun gun and we carried the unconscious FTA away.

I decided to go after Eric Blackburn next. I called Jeremiah letting him know that I would just past by to check on him. After doing so, Lula and I walked up to the third floor and knocked on Blackburn's apartment door. He came with us with no problem because he forgot his court date, but as long as we stopped by the pharmacy to pick up a few of his meds along the way. After getting him to the police station and bonded out again, we stopped for lunch at Pino's.

I drove down Phines Street and stopped in front of Anthony Lustbader's home. The file said John would be staying at his brother's until he got a new job and apartment. Lula and I got out of the car and started to head towards the front door when it suddenly opened and John Lustbader ran out crazed. His hair was a mess and his clothes looked no better.

"I won't go to jail," he screamed as threw something that looked suspiciously like a bomb high into the air over our heads and began to run down the street. I pulled out my gun from the small of my back and quickly shot him in the leg almost instinctively when he was almost two houses away. The bomb hit the top of my car and exploded.

BOOM! Lula and I were lunched slightly forward from the impact and fell into the grass unhurt.

I got up quickly and slowly walked towards John who was holding into the wound on his leg and cursing. I was beyond comprehending the situation. Then something snapped inside me. I liked that car… I was mad, no I was furious pass insanity this time. "You crazy mother fucker! Shut the fuck UP!" I screamed at him. I was tired of my cars exploding, and FTAs trying to run. I was too pissed off at everything to car what exactly I was originally mad about. I took out my gun and pointed it at him as I screamed, "I liked that freaking car, asshole! You're like every other lazy ass mother fucking bastard who won't just shut up and take your punishment from the fucking stupid law! What are you, a bitch, a baby?! Can't take the fact your shitty toys are gone?! Huh, you ass wipe dickless baby?! Creepy pure ass bastard! Don't you ever think?! There are worse mother fucking paranoid idiot assholed bastards in this world that the government wouldn't give two shits about your carrying concealed ass than them stupid fucking freaks! You just blew your fucking chance with blowing up my car, you dick sucking son of a bitch! Your shit face loss your fucking mind you dumb bastard! You-" I felt a hand on my shoulder and it spun me around to face Ranger. He was standing to close and I felt like I couldn't move, stunned. I could hear the sirens of the police cars in the area behind us.

He took the gun out of my hand and placed it back to the small of my back, leaving his hand to linger there. "I think you got him enough babe," he said and looked far too much amused. Way too much amused. He's a fucking bastard too!

I placed my pointed accusing index finger on the middle of his chest and backed slightly away. I held my protective and mad stance and shouted at him, "You think he had enough! Well, listen here, babeee, I don't think so. And neither have you had enough, you controlling bastard! This fucking world hasn't had enough! I-"

Ranger cut me off by hugging me. He didn't let go and whispered, "I love this little temper of yours babe. By the way, you're playing with too much fire there when you're all riled up." I relaxed in his arms and he let go slowly and kissed the top of my head. I turned to find Tank and Lula about four feet away grinning like fools at us.

"God damn girl," she exclaimed, "you told his damn ass off and then you went ahead and called Ranger a controlling bastard." I did what?! I thought back to what I said to Ranger. Uh Oh. I felt my eyes widen at my surprise and looked at Ranger's blank face. Please tell I didn't call him that? I don't want to be sent off to a third world country.

"Babe," Ranger said softly. He looked at me for a moment and gave me the softest small smile. Guess I'm off the hook? His smile got a little wider. I'll take that as a yes.

Ranger's POV

Tank and I were doing a surveillance watch on a FTAs home when I got a tighten feeling in my gut. I felt myself tense up and whispered, "Babe," and I finally knew. Tank looked at me and quickly dialed for the control room. I turned the car on swiftly and drove like a madman towards south. Tank dictated directions about two minutes after I started driving from the control room. I turned on Phines Street and saw Lula and Steph walking towards a house about a block away. NO! my mind screamed as a man ran out with a bomb in his hand. Tank and I watched as the bomb was thrown in the air and Steph take out her gun and shoot the running FTA. My heart couldn't take in the scene as I saw the bomb hit the car and explode. I jumped out of the car towards the girls with Tank following swiftly behind me about five houses away.

I reached them as I saw Steph walking towards the FTA, her back to me. Tank helped Lula to her feet. I slowly walk towards Steph and saw her point her gun at the man. I froze. She's not going to kill him is she?! then she started yelling, "You crazy mother fucker! Shut the fuck UP!" I felt my spine tingle and straighten at the tone of her voice. "I liked that freaking car, asshole! You're like every other lazy ass mother fucking bastard who won't just shut up and take your punishment from the fucking stupid law! What are you, a bitch, a baby?! Can't take the fact your shitty toys are gone?!" Oh my God! She's losing it. I stood directly behind her now. "Huh, you ass wipe dickless baby?! Creepy pure ass bastard! Don't you ever think?!" Police, firemen, and an ambulance were starting to pull in. "There are worse mother fucking paranoid idiot assholed bastards in this world that" I saw Lula and Tank from the corner of my eye staring right at us. "the government wouldn't give two shits about your carrying concealed ass than them stupid fucking freaks!" She had a point there. The crime makes a difference on the price of their bond. "You just blew your fucking chance with blowing up my car, you dick sucking son of a bitch! Your shit face loss your fucking mind you dumb bastard!" I looked over at the guy and he looked very pale. I think he's had enough. "You-" I placed a hand on her shoulder and turned her around.

I took the gun out of her hand and placed it back to the small of my back, leaving my hand there. I saw the EMT start to tend to the FTA and bring him to the ambulance. "I think you got him enough babe," I said amused watching her and she looked thoroughly annoyed. Her face expression was sexy when she was annoyed.

She backed slightly away and placed a pointed accusing index finger on my chest. She shouted at me, "You think he had enough! Well, listen here, babeee, I don't think so. And neither have you had enough, you controlling bastard! This fucking world hasn't had enough! I-" I couldn't help it, she was so attractive yelling at me. And only her would have the guts to yell at me like that.

I reached out and hugged her to me. I bent my head over to her ear and whispered, "I love this little temper of yours babe. By the way, you're playing with too much fire there when you're all riled up." She relaxed in my arms. I let go of her slowly and kissed the top of her curls. She turned and looked at Tank and Lula grinning at us.

"God damn girl," Lula shouted amused, "you told his damn ass off and then you went ahead and called Ranger a controlling bastard." I plastered my schooled blank face on.

I did what?! Steph's voice whispered softly in my head. Uh Oh. Her eyes widen and she looked at me. Please tell I didn't call him that? I don't want to be sent off to a third world country. I wanted to laugh but kept my expression blank.

"Babe," I said. I tried to keep the blank face but I couldn't and gave her a small smile. I wouldn't send her off to a third world country. Guess I'm off the hook? I felt my smile get slightly bigger at her thought. I'll take that as a yes. I wanted to laugh again. She's my babe, doesn't change a thing. Of course she wouldn't have to worry about me ever doing that to her. I love her. And I got to love this ESP thing too.

Police officers took Lula and Steph's statements. Morelli had shown up and left when he heard but didn't cause anything of the usual yelling between Steph and him. Just as I was about to lead Steph and Lula to the black truck with Tank, a royal blue Ferrari pulled up and Jeremiah got out. Anger and jealousy boiled through me. Steph was still engaged to him, I thought incontinently. I looked to see Tank and Lula frowning.

"When did you get this Ferrari?" Steph asked him.

"I bought it for you when I was in New York. Thought my fiancé might like it," he grinned at her. I wanted to beat him to a pulp.

My babe didn't disappoint me. "Its too expensive for me to be driving. I can't take that car," she said to him dead panned. I knew she admired the car but she was practical and knew that with her car luck, it would only last two days.

"You can borrow one of my cars, babe," I said stepping up. She is going to refuse my offer but it was more than that. I was letting Jeremiah know I was poaching. He looked me straight in the eyes.

She turned to me and said, "Your cars are too expensive, too." Jeremiah's face began to look smug.

"Come on sweetie pie, let's get going so you can get ready for Lula's birthday dinner. We'll see you guys later then," he nodded his head at Tank, Lula and me as he walked and climbed back into the car. Steph locked eyes with me. I love you, she thought. I love you, too, I thought even though she couldn't hear my thoughts like I could with hers. Shesmiled at us while giving us the finger wave and followed him.

Lula's POV

I'm so nervous but happy and excited. My 29th Birthday! Its my day and whatever I say goes, just kidding. I wish because then Tank would've proposed already and we would be having celebration sex in his grand bedroom upstairs. I'm so damn happy. His house is the coolest and I couldn't believe it. Four bedrooms and two and a half full bathrooms excluding his grand master bedroom with a huge bathroom I swear I could live in!

Tankie took me here around right after Steph's car exploding and gave me the grand tour. The dinner wasn't supposed to start until 7:30 and it was still only five or so. I was getting in the mood for some love action, if you know what I mean but his parents had to come early because they were 'so anxious to meet me'! Help?! I was only so into the damn engagement rings and wedding proposals I forgot that his parents were showing up. Good thing they called before showing up so I had fifteen minutes to get ready and dressed for tonight. What if they don't like me? Will Tankie marry me then? I excused myself to the bathroom and speed dialed Steph. She wasn't much help. She told me to be myself. I think you could've tell I was nervous but Tank held my hand the entire time while we were with his parents, it was somewhat reassuring until my nervousness doubled when his younger brother arrived and nearly tripled when his sister did soon after. They were all two hours early!

His younger brother looked just like the skinny version of my man, no muscle seem to be anywhere on the dude, and he was an accountant. He's single, which his mother kept nagging him about dumping poor Ashley, and two years younger than me. His sister came with her husband, JD, and their two year old son, Damien. She was pretty like a model and she was quite attractive even at five months pregnant. She was a secretary and her husband was a writer and publisher. I got it figured out that she was at least a year or two younger than Tank because she was the middle child. It was plain to see that Tank got his size from his father although Tank was an inch or two taller and far more built from all that army things. His mother was much like his sister. She was pretty even with gray streaks running through her dark hair because I couldn't find a single wrinkle. At least our children will come out looking fine, I thought. Wait! Why did I think that?! I can't have kids?! Oh lord, I need a drink.

Around seven, guest starting pouring in. Grandma Mazur, Connie, Sally Sweet, four of the Merry Men guys, Mooner, Dougie, Joe Morelli and his girl, Jenny and her husband (Tank looked sharply between Jenny and me, and I think he recognized her from the jewelry store), finally as a huge group at exactly 7:30, Ranger along with two more Merry Men, and Steph and Jeremiah.

What a day it's been. And tonight has just begun… Ranger better make a move with my girl! And I want my engagement ring! What should I say anyways, 'yes' that's too plain 'yes, Nigel' no he would kill me for using his first name 'yes, I will marry you' simple like the first 'yes! I love you!' Too dramatic… huh….

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