It's occurred to me that I haven't given any kind of disclaimer for this story. It should go without saying that I'm definitely not getting paid for this, and all recognizable characters belong to JE.

Also, many, many thanks to those reading and following this story.

CHAPTER 3

Holy cats! The Batcave! The secret lair! Thoughts were flying through my head as I followed Ranger's Beemer. Every couple of minutes I would catch Ranger looking in his rearview mirror at me. Making sure I hadn't chickened out I guess.

About 10 or 15 minutes later we arrived in a very nice, upscale neighborhood. The houses were big, but not mansion sized, and the yards were perfectly manicured and beautiful. Some of the houses had gates and long driveways with houses set far off the road, while others were set up closer to the road. We pulled up to a big gate at which Ranger typed in a code on the keypad. I also saw him push an automatic opener button in his car. Keeping out the bad guys, I guess. Either that or he has a rabid following of ex-girlfriends he wants to avoid.

We continued on down the driveway and past the beautifully manicured lawn. Ranger pulled his Beemer into one of the many spots in his huge garage. I recognized the Porsche Turbo, an Explorer, and a couple of his other regular vehicles. A car I couldn't quite see was covered with a tarp. I stored that piece of information away in my brain for future use. Ask Ranger about covered up car. Yep. Got it.

I pulled Big Blue up to the garage and clambered out, taking stock of my surroundings. What I saw was daunting. It was a beautiful three-story house with a wide front porch and manicured beds. At this angle, I could see beyond the humongous garage to a beautiful infinity-edged swimming pool in the back. The pool had a slide, which I figured was for when his daughter came to visit him. When I looked back at Ranger I saw that he was grinning and watching me. "Like it?"

I smiled back. "It's beautiful," I said earnestly. While I surreptitiously wiped my chin for drool, Ranger put his hand at the small of my back and guided me up the walkway and into the house.

A little while later we were sitting in Ranger's kitchen eating some sort of pasta and going over my list. The pasta wasn't exactly the same as a pizza made by Anthony Pino but it really wasn't bad.

Ranger looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "It isn't all that bad, now is it?"

Damn! This ESP thing was really starting to get to me. How did he do it? Can I sign up for a course somewhere?

"No," I replied with a smile. "It's not."

"So what do you think?"

"About what?" I asked.

"Vinnie."

Oh. That. I gave a shrug. "We have more information than we did. You have any ideas?"

"A few," he said, watching me. "Not all of them have something to do with Vinnie though." His eyes darkened, and I felt like fanning myself. That man could send a zing straight to my doodah without breaking a sweat. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping a few of his ideas would have me singing the Hallelujah Chorus. He got up and took our dishes to the sink, then walked over to me and held out a hand.

"Want the tour?" he asked. I took his hand, rolling my eyes and smiling at him. "Duh. Lula and I have only been trying to find this place for months now."

As he led me through his beautiful house I wondered where exactly the tour would end. Downstairs? His bedroom? The truth is, I wasn't sure where I even wanted it to end. All my hormones were screaming for his bedroom but part of me was also wondering if I should unmask that part of Batman. Well hell, might as well let him decide. After all, I am a single adult.

Meanwhile, I followed Ranger through a maze of halls and floors. The house was extraordinary, with beautiful and expensive furniture and paintings. It was a masculine house, but not overdone. His daughter's room was on the second floor and it was any girl's dream. It had everything I'd ever wanted for my dream bedroom as a child. If the surplus of luxury vehicles outside didn't make the point, his house clearly said that Ranger was in no way hurting for money. I felt a moment of pride for the success of the extraordinary man beside me.

I was snapped from my reverie when we stopped at a closed door. Ranger paused with his hand on the door handle. He turned around, with a hint of a smile in his face. "Ready for this, Babe?"

"Yep." Gulp.

He opened the door and it was a huge bedroom. The king-sized bed was a dark, masculine wood with a matching dresser, chest of drawers, and two nightstands. The comforter was a tone-on-tone dark blue stripe, which struck me as unusual for the all-black Ranger that I usually knew. A group of framed pictures rested on one of his nightstands. One of the pictures was of his daughter and him, possibly in Disney World. Another photo was of a large family, which I was guessing was his. There was one more picture...of me. I looked up at him in surprise and raised my eyebrows.

He shrugged. "Grandma Mazur thought I needed a picture of you."

I blushed bright red from embarrassment. I'm going to kill her! "When did this happen?"

"Your Grandma decided to slip it into my hand during one of our chance encounters."

"Oh." Oh? This man had a framed picture of me next to his bed and all I said was oh? Gee, great answer, Steph.

"Yeah, oh." He smiled, and the next thing I knew he was right in front of me and his mouth was on mine. I was just starting to think that maybe it would be better if we just stayed here in the bedroom after all, when we heard a knock on the front door. We tried to ignore it but the person behind the knocking just wouldn't stop.

"Come on Boss, I know you're there." It was Tank, Ranger's right-hand man. We finally separated ourselves and went to open the door. When Tank saw me his expression immediately went from smiling to shocked as hell. I guess he didn't realize that I was in here with Ranger. Good for him.

"Yo," Ranger said, following some complicated handshake.

"Got some new information for you."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"Mario Rodriguez has been spotted." Tank smiled.

Ranger immediately went into work mode. "When and where?"

I stepped forward. Who the hell was Mario Rodriguez? And why did he matter? "Who the hell is Mario Rodriguez?"

Ranger looked at me. "He's FTA. Wanted for multiple murders, rape, carrying concealed. The list goes on."

Gulp. How did a guy like that get bail in the first place?

Tank continued, "The Work Place Bar over on Sloane. Last seen 30 minutes ago when he entered the building. I set up a couple guys to watch the building. No one's inside yet."

"How are you gonna get this guy out?" I asked. Even more, why would anyone even want to go after a guy like this?

I could swear that Ranger gave a little sigh. "Actually, I was going to see if you would to help us," Ranger said. I thought I saw the smallest glimmer of amusement in his eyes, waiting for my response.

"What? You want me to go after a murdering rapist that carries? Are you two crazy?" I was flipping out. Come on! I could barely handle the FTAs that I got, not to mention Ranger's! I totally didn't understand this man. A minute ago he kisses me like there is no tomorrow and now he wants me to go try to pick up a man like that? Uh-uh. I think not. Negative. Not happening.

Ranger turned to Tank, "We need to talk. Excuse us."

"No problem Boss," Tank said, grinning. He walked off in the direction of the kitchen. I guess you need to constantly keep your body sustained to live up to a name like Tank.

Ranger put his arms around me, drawing me close. "Babe, you should know that I would never send you into a situation where I know you would get hurt. I promise. Do you trust me, Stephanie?"

I thought about my response for a minute before I actually said it. If he was going to be this serious then I guess I did, too.

"I know that, Ranger. I do trust you, with my life, but you know that I can barely handle my FTAs as it is, not to mention yours. For God's sake, look how often I'm covered in garbage." This was mumbled into his shoulder since we were still in our sort-of hugging embrace.

He pulled back so that I could see his face. "Good," he said, smiling. I didn't quite know what was happening here, but I knew it was something. I was having big-time feelings for this man, more feelings for him than I'd had for anyone, including Morelli, in a long time. And he was right. I knew that he wouldn't let me get hurt. I had a feeling that bad things would come to anyone that caused me harm.

I blew out a gusty sigh. "Okay, I'll do it."

"Don't you even want to know what it is you have to do before you accept the job, Babe?"

"I don't need to know. I trust you, remember?" Watching Ranger's face, I saw surprise, pleasure, and desire. Maybe even a little triumph.

"Let's go get Tank before he eats all my food Babe."

It was too late by the time we got to the kitchen. Tank had mowed through just about everything in the kitchen except for the table itself. To my surprise, Ranger just rolled his eyes at Tank and all he said was, "You've got to stop doing that." I found the situation to be weirdly funny and chuckled.

"So, is she gonna do it Boss?"

"She's on."

"Um, hello? Right here," I said, rolling my eyes. "What do I need to do, anyway? Just the regular? Short dress, high heels?"

Ranger's eyes darkened a bit. "Yeah. I've got stuff you can wear here."

Did I want to know why he already had the clothes? Nope, probably not. That question might give me an answer that I'm not quite ready to hear.

"Follow me," Ranger said, walking out of the room.

Twenty minutes later I was appropriately "dressed." I had on a very short, tight black skirt with a matching black scooped-neck top. My shoes were black FMPs, my hair was fluffy, and my make-up was fresh. Look out world; Stephanie Plum is a woman with a mission. As far as I'm concerned, that mission was to get in there and then get the hell out.

I had never been in the Work Place Bar before, but it was just like any other low-end bar. I glanced around and made eye contact with Lester and Bobby, two of Ranger's men, positioned around the room. Then I spotted Rodriguez. He wasn't handsome but he didn't exactly look like murderer material.

Okay Steph, I told myself, just go over there and do your thing. So I did. I pulled the old stumble-and-catch-myself-on-the-guy routine and it worked, just like every other time. Men.

"Mario Rodriguez," he said, sticking out his hand.

I took the offered hand. "Stephanie." He held my hand a moment too long in his little rat paws and I almost gagged right there. Ew. Gross. Yuck. Note to self: disinfect whole body at first chance I told the bartender to get me whatever Rodriguez was having, which turned out to be some sort of vodka drink. It actually wasn't bad, and it went down pretty smooth. It must not be too strong, I thought to myself as I ordered another one.

I gave Rodriguez the lingerie buyer line while I finished my second drink and I was easily able to convince him to take a little trip outside with me, during which Ranger appeared like the wind and took him in custody. I realized that I might have had one too many drinks when I felt myself slightly swaying on my feet.

Ranger handed Rodriguez to Tank and then come over to me. "You okay, Babe?"

"Just dandy, thanks. And yourself?" Okay, I was definitely drunk. Damn. Who says "dandy?" No one I know. Certainly not me. Ranger was watching me and smiling.

"How many drinks did you have Steph?" I thought for a minute. "Umm...just two," I said with a smile as I leaned against him for support since I was starting to have even more problems keeping myself up.

"Who knows what they were," I heard him mutter. Then he spoke up. "Okay Babe, let's get you home."

"Home?"

"Yeah, home. My home. As in, my bed."

I blinked several times. Oh shit. Ranger's bed. Then I passed out.