Disclaimer: As usual, all characters are the property of JE. I am making no money yada, yada, yada

WARNING: For Adult Content & Language. Not Cupcake Friendly. I don't know why, but even when I don't intentionally try to hurt Joe I still manage to rip him to shreds. Sorry!

CHAPTER 3

SPOV

"Thanks for the warning!" I yelled as Joe walked out the door.

"Stephanie Michelle Plum! How could you talk to your fiancé like that? He's your last chance at a family; your last chance at happiness. He's your last chance, Stephanie!" My mother complained.

"If that's my last chance at happiness, Mother, then I'm going to be unhappy either way. I'd rather be unhappy alone, thank you very much." I snarled.

My mother gasped. "Stephanie, you don't mean that."

I heard my father snort as he started laughing. "I hope to hell she does." He mumbled, causing my mother's mouth to drop open in shock.

My grandmother smiled at me and said, "There you are, baby girl. I wondered where you've been hiding."

I looked at her strangely. "What are you talking about, Grandma?"

"Honey, just remember this when you get your memory back. Somewhere over the past four years, you lost this part of yourself. You've been too busy trying to make your mother, the Burg, and everyone else happy. Hold on to this part of you. It's the part that makes you, you." She told me with a wink and patted my cheek before she turned around to face my mom and dad.

"Helen, Frank, I think Steph's had enough excitement for today. Why don't we head back to the house? There's going to be an early viewing for Bernie Simmons and I'm dying to get to it. Mabel is going to pick me up so let's get home so I don't miss my ride." She explained as she herded them out the door.

As the door closed, I realized that I was all alone in the room with the hottie and although he screamed bad guy, I wasn't even a little scared of him.

"I'm sorry I don't remember you. What's your name?" I asked him.

He smiled a little. "You call me Ranger, but my name is Carlos Manoso. It's what I hope you'll start calling me soon." He told me cryptically.

"Why?"

"Why what?" He asked a little confused.

"Why do you want me to call you something different?"

"It's complicated. It would probably be better if I explained it once you actually remember who I am." He told me.

I figured he was probably right so I didn't push the subject.

"Do I make you uncomfortable? I can leave if you don't want me here. It won't hurt my feelings. I know you don't know me and I don't want to scare you or make you uncomfortable." He told me.

I looked at him and saw nothing but sincerity in his eyes. Thinking of how he stepped in between Joe and me when Joe started yelling at me, I felt safe in his presence for some reason, even though I didn't know him.

"No, you don't need to leave unless you have somewhere else you need to be." I told him.

"No, I can honestly say for the first time in years, there isn't anywhere I need to be. You can't even understand the irony." He laughed.

I felt like he wasn't telling me something, but I figured that I wouldn't be able to understand whatever it was without my memories anyway, so I didn't push.

"So Ranger, tell me a little about myself. What am I forgetting from the past four years? " I inquired.

"Well, you're a bounty hunter. That's actually how we met. Connie asked me to give you a few tips when you first started out. I own a security business and do bounty hunting as well. I admit that you do have some unconventional methods, but they work for you. You have some of the most incredible instincts I've ever seen and I've worked with some of the best of the best. I'm not just talking about in the bounty hunting business. You're one of the most tenacious, hard working, and stubborn people I've ever met. You never give up. No matter what your skips or stalkers throw at you, you just keep going until you get your guy or escape, depending on your goal at the time." He said with a shake of his head and a smirk on his face.

My stalkers? Have I had more than one? I don't know if I even want to remember.

His eyes seemed to shine with pride as he continued. "The past six months you've been working and training with my guys and you've taken your game to a whole new level. I would trust you to have my back anywhere and anytime. You're amazing. You should be so proud of yourself, Babe, because I know I'm proud of you." He told me and my eyes filled with tears. I couldn't believe this man that I thought of as a stranger would say such wonderful things about me. I'd never had anyone believe in me like that.

I started to speak, but had to clear my throat. "So what are we to each other?" I asked curiously.

His body seemed to sag before my eyes. "I've made many mistakes where you and I are concerned and I've spent the past year trying to make it possible for me to make it right between us. Unfortunately, it seems like I might be too late for that, but I'll always be your friend, Stephanie. I consider you my best friend and that'll never change. I'll always be here for you – whatever you need, whenever you need it." He vowed while gazing into my eyes intensely.

I stared into his eyes, losing myself momentarily, but the spell was broken when I yawned loudly.

"I better let you get some rest. Would it be okay if I came back and visited you later?" He asked uncertainly. "I could bring you some Pino's for lunch."

Unbelievable! Joe just assumes I'll be up and ready to do what he wants. This man asks if he can visit and offers to bring me Pino's. I think I'm in love.

"Yeah, that would be really nice. Thank you." I approved.

He smiled, looking relieved. "Get some rest. I'll see you in a few hours." He turned to leave, but paused as he added, "Oh, just so you know, I have two men outside standing guard. It's only a precaution. The type of work you do can leave you with enemies and you aren't physically capable of protecting yourself right now. Is that okay?" He asked again.

Since I didn't remember being a bounty hunter, the gesture made me feel a little safer so I nodded my head in appreciation.

RPOV

I stared into her eyes, wanting to stay lost in them forever, but the moment was broken when she yawned. Her car accident had happened around 5:00 pm the previous night and she'd been in and out of consciousness all night, but hadn't really woken up until I walked in the door after getting coffee at 5:00 am this morning. She had to be exhausted.

"I better let you get some rest. Would it be okay if I came back and visited you later?" I wasn't sure she would want my company when she didn't remember me, so I tried to sweeten the offer so I could see her again. "I could bring you some Pino's for lunch."

I didn't want to push myself on her, considering her memory loss, but not being able to touch her or be near her was killing me. I couldn't believe that Joe had gone to work while she was lying in the hospital.

"Yeah, that would be really nice. Thank you." She agreed.

I felt myself relax a little and smiled. "Get some rest. I'll see you in a few hours." I turned to leave, but thought I should warn her about my men. "Oh, just so you know, I have two men outside standing guard. It's only a precaution. The type of work you do can leave you with enemies and you aren't physically capable of protecting yourself right now. Is that okay?" I asked, praying she wouldn't fight me on it.

Fortunately, she just nodded her head.

I walked out of her room and took a deep breath. I nodded to Ram and Junior who were keeping watch outside her room.

I was trying to keep from completely breaking down. The past twelve hours had stretched me to my limit. First, the accident and then walking into the room and finding out that she had no idea who I was. I thought my heart had been ripped into a thousand pieces when she didn't recognize me.

Walking into the waiting room, I found Tank and Lester waiting patiently. I wasn't surprised so I went over and sat down beside them.

"How's she doing?" Tank asked.

"Physically, she's fine." I said trying to steel myself for what I had to say next.

"What's that mean?" Lester asked knowing that I always said things a certain way for a reason.

"She has no memory of the past 4 years." I told them.

They both just stared at me blankly.

"You're kidding, right?" Lester asked incredulously.

I just stared at him. I was too exhausted to even attempt to banter back and forth with him.

"Shit, man. What are you going to do? You've spent the past year doing everything you can so you can actually have a relationship with her. Now what?" Tank asked.

I glared at him. Even though that was exactly what I'd been doing, I'd never told anyone that was my plan.

"Oh, come on, man. Lester and I figured it out when you refused to resign your government contract. Then when you told the government agencies you weren't going to do any other undercover assignments for them we were positive you were making it possible for you to have a relationship with Bomber. And we both thought it was about time."

I just looked at them both for a second and shook my head. "The doctor seems to think it isn't permanent; and even if it is, then it doesn't change anything for me. She's still Stephanie. She's still the woman I lo..." I stopped and looked at my two best friends smiling widely at me and realized my mistake. Damn, I was tired.

"No worries, Ranger. We've known you were in love with her since the Stiva incident. It's about damn time you admitted it." Lester said.

I just rolled my eyes, which got a snort out of Tank. "Damn man, you've got it bad. You're even emulating her bad habits." He said laughing.

I went back to glaring. "Sorry, man." They both grumbled.

"Anyway, like I said, she'll either get her memory back and I'll see if she'll give me a chance; or she won't and I'll have to start over. I don't care either way. All I care about is that she's okay. The only real problem is that Morelli is claiming to be her fiancé again so it's possible that I waited too long and it won't matter anyway." I told them dejectedly.

"And where is Morelli?" Lester asked, spitting out his name like it left a bad taste in his mouth.

"He went to work." I told them.

"You're joking, right?" Tank asked incredulously. "His girlfriend gets hit by an eighteen wheeler and he goes to work! He can't even bother to stay at the hospital with her?"

I just shook my head.

"That man is an ass." Lester muttered.

Figuring enough time had passed for Steph to fall asleep, I stood up to go back to her room. "Tank, you mind running to Pino's and getting Steph some lunch?"

"No problem, RangeMan. You go take care of your woman."

If only. "Les, you mind calling Lula, Connie, and the usual suspects and explaining the situation about her memory? I don't want Stephanie overwhelmed by people she won't recognize right now."

"No problem, Ranger. I'll take care of it."

"Thanks." I said as I headed back to Steph's room.

Slipping silently into the room, I observed that she was sleeping peacefully, so I made myself comfortable in the reclining chair on the far side of the room and just sat and watched her sleep.