DISCLAIMER: All characters are based on the characters developed by Janet Evanovich in her Stephanie Plum series. This short story follows the events between Smokin' Seventeen and Explosive Eighteen.

Chapter 6—Suspicion

I woke up the next morning tangle in the sheet when Ranger's watch alarm went off. He quickly reset it. "Go back to sleep, Babe. I need another hour." He didn't have to tell me twice.

An hour later, his alarm went off again. "What time is it?" I asked.

"6. I'm going for a run." He gave me a kiss and tucked me back in. "I'll be back in an hour."

As much as I tried, I could go back to sleep. My mind woke up and I started to panic. I was lying in bed, with nothing but a t-shirt on, after spending the night engaged in both sleeping and nonsleeping activities with Ranger. I am so screwed up. I have a boyfriend, I have Joe back home. Why am I doing this? Why am I being such a slut? It was almost as if I had vordo again. I just couldn't keep my eyes or my hands, mouth, body, off Ranger. This was supposed to be my romantic vacation and getaway with Joseph Morelli, not Carlos Manoso. Sigh. I didn't even know me. I looked down at the ring on my left hand. I was beautiful. No diamonds, but still, I loved it. I could imagine this ring being my wedding band. I could easily image being married to Ranger, being Stephanie Manoso for real. But, he wasn't an option. He had said many times that a relationship didn't work with his lifestyle. He kept pushing me back to Joe, while taking advantage of any opportunity to be with me. What did that mean? How does he really feel? These last few days it feels like we are in a committed relationship, just between us. I know that he is jealous. I know that he is possessive. I know that he would never put up with me going back and forth between him and Joe if I were his girlfriend. However, I am not his girlfriend. We are just friends with benefits. Part of me wants more with Ranger, but I know that Joe is the one who could be a husband. But Joe wants kids. I don't know if I do. I know Ranger doesn't. Maybe I should just ignore both of them when I get back.

At that moment, I noticed my phone. It was on the floor next to the chair where Ranger tossed it. I picked it up and turned it on. Two messages. One from Lula and one for Valerie. Wanting to know if I met some hot stud down here. If only they knew. I also had texts from Joe and Lula.

Hey Cupcake, I miss you. Bob misses you.—Joe

Girlfriend, I hope you're getting some. I need the details. –Lula

Please call me. I need to hear your voice Cupcake.—Joe

I can't sleep. I love you! –Joe

I was about to write back to Joe when my phone rang. I picked up.

"Hello."

"Cupcake! It's so great to hear your voice."

"Joe. I'm glad you called."

"Are you having fun there by yourself?"

"I'm having a good time. The beach is wonderful"

"It looks like I'll be picking up my suspect tomorrow. I can be there in two days. Do you still want me to stay home?"

"Joe, as much as I would LOVE for you to be here, two days is just not worth it. We would barely have time to enjoy any part of the island together."

"I only need you." He said with a laugh. He then started to tell me what he would do to me. I suddenly felt warm all over. While Ranger was magic, Joe was energetic, inventive, and passionate. Damn. I heard the door open and immediately put my finger to lips to signal to Ranger to be quiet.

"Cupcake, whose there?"

"Room service. I got breakfast."

"Are you sure you're alone?"

"Joe, who would I be with? You're in Trenton."

"Have you heard from Ranger?"

"Why?"

"Well, it's just kind of ironic that not even 24 hours after you left for Hawaii Ranger went into the wind. Vinnie is looking for him to pick up a high bond and he is nowhere to be found. Someone saw him at the airport catching a flight to LAX. The flight had a connection to Hawaii."

I felt myself starting to pale and panic. Joe suspected Ranger was here. "Well, it is just coincidence. Ranger is definitely not here." I said while I struggled to laugh.

"He better not be."

"Don't you trust me, Joe?"

"Cupcake, I trust you. But I don't trust Ranger. I know he wants you bad. I can see the way he looks at you. Are you sure nothing ever happened between the two of you?"

"Joe, this is not the time or place for this conversation. We are just friends. You know that."

"But I know he wants more. If he shows up, please don't spend time with him. This is supposed to be our trip." Joe said. I could tell he was upset and I think he knew I was lying.

"Joe, I'm here, like a loser, by myself because you had to work. As usual. Don't get all insecure because you had to cancel. Remember, I asked you to come. I bought you a ticket."

"I'm sorry, Cupcake. But I just can't help this feeling that Ranger is either in Hawaii or on his way there. And I know that if he is in Hawaii, he is on his way to you."

Damn it. He knows. I hate lying to him, but I have no choice. "Joe, I'll see you when I get home in a couple of days. Remember to pick me up at the airport."

"Bye Cupcake. I love you."

"Me too. Bye Joe." I hung up.

"Did you call him or did he call you, Babe?"

"He called me. I had just turned on the phone after finding it on the floor. He suspects you are here."

Ranger laughed. "If he only knew."

"I think he does. I feel horrible lying to him. If he finds out we are together, and doing this distraction, he is going to be angry. I should have called him first."

Ranger came over to me and started to rub my shoulders and neck, taking away the tension that had built up from my conversation with Joe. "He said the he is about to close his case. He keeps talking about coming here to meet me. If he shows up at the door, it will not be good."

"Well, we'll worry about that when and if it happens. Let me take a shower then we can figure out what we are going to do today."

"Do you want me to order room service for breakfast?"

"I'm hungry, but not for food." He said as he walked into the bathroom, stripping off his shirt. I heard the water go on, and decided it was a good time for me to shower as well.

An hour later we were dressed and heading to breakfast at the resort. We decided to try and find the Rug. I felt that if we could make the apprehension today, then I could justify my lying to Joe and get out of Hawaii without having the other shoe drop. I kept trying to figure out if Joe searched flights from LAX to Honolulu looking for Carlos Manoso on the flight manifest. "Did you fly to LAX and then here?" I asked Ranger.

"Yes."

"As Carlos Manoso?"

"Of course. Why?"

"Joe knows."

"So be it. He shouldn't have let you come here alone. He should have passed the case onto someone else and have come to Hawaii with you. Then I wouldn't be here."

"Ranger, it's not so simple. You could have at least flown under the radar. Vinnie's looking for you to catch a high bond skip. He was told you were in the wind. It made Joe look for you."

"Babe," He started. "I told Vinnie I had a lead on Ruguzzi. I told him I was travelling to apprehend him. I had to get the papers. I had to be able to fly with my cuffs, stun gun, gun, and vest. The only way was through Vinnie. I didn't tell him the lead was in Hawaii."

"Does anyone know you were coming to meet me?"
"Only Tank." Well, I knew our secret was safe with Tank. He would never tell where Ranger went unless Ranger wanted that person to know.

"So, Mrs. Manoso, why don't we go and visit Kilauea?" My eyes opened wide and my mouth dropped open. Ranger laughed at me. "What's the matter, aren't we wearing matching wedding bands?"

I shook my head and laughed with him. "Okay. That sound like fun."

"We meet the tour guide in 15 minutes." He already had it planned. Only Ranger would know and would plan ahead.

We spent the day during the tourist circuit. Snorkeling, surf lessons, and beach activities. We had dinner at a luau. We were "looking" for Ruguzzi. Who am I kidding, we were just enjoying each other's company. There was no active searching for our skip. When we arrived back out our suite, there were chocolate covered strawberries and champagne waiting for us. There were also chocolate free strawberries and whipped cream. I immediately ran to the table, put a huge amount of whipped cream on a chocolate covered strawberry, and indulged in the sweet goodness of dessert. I moaned and my eyes rolled up in appreciation of the food.

"If only I could get you feel that way with a kiss." Ranger stated.

"You do. All the time"

I saw his eyes change from amusement to desire. He came over to me and kissed me. He started off gentle and then went deeper with more passion. He was holding me in his arms. I would have collapsed on the floor if it was for him holding me up. My legs were weak and I was immediately filled with need and desire for him. I picked up the can of whipped cream and showed it to him as he pulled back from the kiss. He gave me a partial smile, picked me up, and carried me and the whipped cream to the bed.

His alarm went off at 8, which was welcomed being that we didn't actually go to sleep until about 4. I lost track of how many times we were together after 4, and I was a little sore. Once again, Ranger is magic. Where ever he learned his skills has to be a secret. Joe is an amateur compared to Ranger. We decided today was a day to spend together on our private beach. Bathing suits optional.

It was 4 in the afternoon and we were getting ready for an early dinner. We just finished some water sports in the Jacuzzi when we heard a knock on the door.