Disclaimer: Yet again I say I still don't own these characters. Well some of them. If you can't recognize them as JE's then they're mine. Not making any money doing this.
"You cleaned. I'm not saying thank you because you made the mess," I told him dumping my pocket book on the counter. I looked in the fridge hoping that the beer fairy had come. I looked back at Morelli.
"Did you buy this beer?" I asked him. He nodded. I took one out and leaned against the counter.
"It was a mean thing you did to me. Stunning me in front of everyone at Pino's. The guys at the station will never let me live it down," Morelli said coming towards me. I shrugged.
"You wouldn't come willingly so I had use some force," I told him. Then I got a phone call. I answered it.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Steph? It's Lil. Look with all you guys gone I haven't gotten enough replacements. Do you think you could come down this Thursday? I know it's tomorrow and it's short notice but I'll pay for your flight and you could crash at my apartment. It would only be for a little while. I also have a friend in Trenton that owns a bar like mine. If you wanted you could probably work there sometimes," Lil explained.
"Sure Lil. I'll be there on tomorrow and that might not be a bad idea. In my job now it's not a regular pay. Not that bar work pays regular but at least it's more money coming in," I told her. I wasn't sure if I'd take the job though, I was kind of tired of the club scene.
"Okay, great! I'll see you Thursday. That way on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday when it's the busiest you'll be here," Lil said.
"Bye Lil, see you tomorrow," I said. She said bye and then I hung up. Morelli was standing right behind me.
"So, Cupcake about that date you owe me," Morelli said his hands hovering close to my hips.
"I don't owe you anything," I told him, "now get out I have to get ready for my date." Morelli's eyebrow went up.
"You have a date with someone who's not me? That hurts," Morelli said with a fake hurt voice.
"Well why don't we go on one right now. Come on," I said pushing Morelli towards the door. I pushed him out and then shut the door and locked it. I then went to my bedroom and took a shower. I picked something that was dressy casual. I put on my make-up and extra mascara. I then went to the perfect pair of shoes. Once I finished that the doorbell rang. I grabbed my purse and went to open the door. I looked through the peep hole and Ranger stood there. I opened the door and he smiled his 200 watt smile. He stepped forward and kissed me.
"You look good. Are you ready to go?" he asked me.
"You don't look too bad yourself. I'm ready," I told him. I shut and locked the door. We walked down the hall and his hand was hovering near my lower back. We got in his car and he started driving.
"So where are we going?" I asked him. He looked at me and smiled.
"It's a surprise," he told me.
"Fine," I grumbled crossing my arms. His hand settled on my thigh. We got to the restaurant and he hooked his arm in mine. We walked in and the host smiled.
"Mr. Manoso, welcome. We were expecting you. We have your seat ready," the man said. The guy showed us to a secluded booth.
"Your server will be here shortly," the man said laying our menus down. I flipped through it.
"What do you suggest?" I asked hoping he wouldn't suggest rabbit food.
"There is a lot of good things to eat. Let's see…," Ranger said looking down the menu, "the Lenguada A La Madrilena is good. It's a filet of sole in lemon and wine sauce."
"I don't eat fish. I'll go with the Solomillo A La Sevillana, filet mignon prepared with Brandy and Mushroom sauce," I told him looking at the menu. He looked at me in amazement.
"You're going to eat all that?" he asked.
Ranger's POV
She told me she was going to eat a filet mignon. I was skeptical that she would eat it all. We ordered red wine while we were waiting for our food.
"Carlos, a friend of mine from Miami called earlier and I'm flying out on Thursday, which you know is tomorrow," she told me.
"How long will you be gone?" I asked. I didn't want her in Miami with me in Trenton.
"A couple of days. Three at the least," she told me taking a sip of her wine. I nodded.
"What will you be doing there?" I wondered out loud.
"You know where we met. Lil needs me because she couldn't replace us, all of the bartenders. Mary Lou, Connie, Lula, and I we moved back when Vinnie needed help. So now she wants to know if I can come back till she can find a replacement," she said right before our food came.
"I have an office in Miami. That's why I was there that night. I was also there visiting my daughter. Maybe I should take a trip again tomorrow," I told her digging into my food.
Steph's POV
He had a daughter. I had no idea. In fact I didn't know much about him. He wanted to come to Miami with me tomorrow. Of course he was planning on working while there.
"You have a daughter?" I asked as I cut up my steak.
"Yeah. Julie she's ten," Ranger told me. I nodded and started to eat.
"This is soooo good," I moaned taking another bite. I closed my eyes. This food was really good.
"Glad you like it Babe," Ranger said his eyes darker than usual. He was smiling.
"How is yours?" I asked taking another bite. He looked up at me.
"Good… it's…uh…really good," he said in a husky voice. I nodded.
"Do you have an siblings?" I asked him.
"Yes, I have two sisters and one brother. My brother manages RangeMan in Miami. My sisters are interior decorators," he told me, "do you have any siblings?" I nodded.
"One sister. Valerie. She lives in California with her perfect husband. Her nickname is Saint Valerie. She can never do wrong in my mother's eyes," I told him. I took another sip of my wine.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked me. I looked up in those chocolate brown pools.
"It means my sister, Saint Valerie, who has two little girls a husband who is perfect and then there is me, the one who is divorced is a bounty hunter who snuck out when I was a teenager does everything wrong," I griped.
"Babe, you are wonderful. I don't know what's wrong with your mother because you are beautiful, sexy, and you would put your life on the line to save someone else," he told me putting his hand over mine. I smiled.
"Thanks," I said as I finished the last piece of my stake.
"Wow, you must have been hungry," he commented. I shrugged. I could go for some dessert now but I could settle for just having him for dessert.
"Babe," was all he said when he saw my look, "let me get the check." He got the check and we left. He drove to my apartment. We got out of the car and we were up the stairs. I had my apartment door open and his lips on mine before we were all the way in the apartment. I threw my purse on the counter and Ranger had me in the bed in the blink of an eye. His lips were warm against mine and his hands were kneading everywhere.
Ranger's POV
In the morning I found myself lying next to Steph. Usually I was gone before morning but Steph was different. I liked watching her sleep. I liked her a lot. I had only known her for a little while though. She sighed and snuggled closer to me. I smiled. I slid out of bed trying not to wake her. I went into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee. A few minutes later she padded into the room her eyes still half closed.
"Coffee?" she asked and I poured her a glass. She took it gratefully and drank. Then a few seconds later she put the empty cup down and smiled.
"Are you good now?" I asked with a smirk.
"Now all I need is some doughnuts," she said with a smile. She wrapped her arms around me and leaned up and gave me a kiss.
"You taste like coffee," I told her with a grin. She smiled back.
"I should get packing. Going to Miami and all," she said not moving an inch.
"Yeah. What time are you leaving? Maybe we can fly together. Of course I have my own personal plane and it wouldn't make sense if we're going to the same place that you couldn't ride with me. What do you say?" I asked her. I could tell she was considering.
A/N: What do you think? Still want more? Once in Miami the action starts. She's Stephanie Plum you all knew it was coming. =D Thanks for reading. Please review and I'll update faster.