"I do not like the way Manoso looked at you," Joe said casually. His arm was draped over the back of the bench seat. Stephanie, realized she'd been staring in Ranger's direction and mentally shook her head.
"Why do you say that?" she asked. She and Joe had a deep history. He'd taken her virginity and never called. She'd gotten her own back when she hit him with her car and broken his leg a few years later. A few months before she'd helped him clear his name when he'd been falsely accused of murder and now he was coming around more. Morelli was not a place she intended to go again. He'd either toy with her affections and spread it around town as he had before or be ex-husband #2 and, in Stephanie's book, ex-husband #1 was enough.
"He looks at you like I do," Joe said, more seriously than he had before. Stephanie looked back at Joe and heaved a sigh at the lustful look in his eyes.
"It's not going to happen, Joe." She said, hoping her voice was more firm that she felt. Boy, he was nice to look at. Dark hair just a little too long, chocolate brown eyes, lean, firm, body. She mentally shook herself. She wanted and deserved more than just a pretty shell. She wanted depth and affection and sex. Lots of sex with someone who appreciated her as more than just a playground at which to burn time. Anthony Pino came over to the table with her lunch.
"Can you bag it for me?" She asked. Drooling at the Chicken Parmigiana and viewing it as one more strike against Morelli that he was driving her out of Pinos so that she would have to wait the 5 minute drive home to eat the delectable treat. No one made it like Pinos, not even her mother. She closed her eyes as she drank in the odor of tomato and cheese. There was a commotion by the bar and Stephanie watched as Ranger stood next to a drunk man as he fell off of his stool. Probably a skip. The man was about Ranger's age and fit and just generally yummy. Not as yummy as Ranger. Ranger was just so dangerous and intimidating in a thrilling way. She leaned her chin on her hand. Maybe her hormones were out of whack. She glanced at old Mr. Monticelli sitting in his usual spot next to the door and figured that, as he still wasn't look good to her, she was probably okay. Morelli was talking. She turned her attention back to him.
"….your mom likes me and can you imagine the talk? It's probably already to our parents now. Why not make everyone happy and go…." Morelli said. Anthony Pino came from the back with her bag just as Ranger hefted the drunk man over his shoulder.
"I'll see you, Joe," she said, jumping up and running over to take the bag from Anthony.
"But, Cupcake!" she heard him call after her. She didn't have the desire to sit around and argue. She also had no idea why someone like Joe who could have any woman in the Burg he wanted, he wasn't only hot, he was legend, would be so focused on her. She reached the door just as Ranger did and opened it for him. He gave her the private smile that sent shivers down her spine and dampness to her panties.
"Thanks, Babe," he said. His voice low and deep. She tried to say something intelligent but came out in a squeak and a woosh of air. Stephanie inwardly cursed. Thank goodness he barely noticed her. They might still work for Vinnie but maybe their paths wouldn't cross that often. She knew it was false hope but she prayed if they did, she'd suddenly be his living fantasy. Yeah right, like that ever happened to people like her.
She waited until Ranger pulled out before getting into her car and heading home. She suddenly felt ravenous. So empty. Being Stephanie Plum simply wasn't as easy as it looked.