A/N: Thanks for all the love in the form of reviews and private messages. They are appreciated more than you know. Thanks to SassySaint for the advice and reassurance-your writing is bomb. I hadn't planned on posting today since I worked a fifteen hour day, but I couldn't get the characters out of my mind all day. Here's a short chapter, but hopefully something to appease everyone. All the best! -J

I sat in Ranger's team meeting, sandwiched between Lester and Hal. Lester was listening, but constantly whispering jokes in my ear. Hal was staring daggers at Lester between furiously typing notes into his Microsoft Surface. I was doing my best to take notes in my girly notebook, memorize maps, and mentally catalog as many potentially suspicious behaviors as possible before we broke for dinner. Ranger was an exceptional teacher, and I found myself compelled by the information he was sharing. I had helped with Rangeman operations in the past, but I'd never been part of an operation of this magnitude. I had rarely been included on meetings like these, and I appreciated feeling like a legitimate part of the Rangeman team here in Atlanta.

"After dinner tonight, our team will drive the race routes several times. Commit it to memory as best you can. Tomorrow during the day, our team will assist Ximena's tech team with the installation of surveillance monitoring systems along the course," Ranger explained. "We will set up several mobile monitoring stations Friday evening, and we will drive the route again several times to familiarize ourselves with the terrain. While you're out, please keep your eyes peeled for suspicious persons or behavior, suspicious vehicles, and homes or businesses you think could pose a threat. Be cognizant of changes you see along the race route or at the start& finish areas between tonight at Saturday. Our latest intel indicates this threat is most likely from a foreign terrorist organization, but we're remaining open minded about potential threats. A bomb is the most likely danger, so as we discussed before, stay vigilant in your watch for suspicious backpacks or packages, or vehicles that seem modified, suspicious, abandoned, or out of place. Any questions?"

Ranger looked expectantly at the crew. No questions. He looked at the clock.

"We're going to break for dinner. Some food is available in the break room on the second floor, or you can explore Atlanta. Take this opportunity to check into your hotel rooms. Room assignments are posted in the hall on the bulletin board. Most of you will be rooming with your partner. Reconvene in the garage at 2000 hours. Be prompt. We will drive the race routes as four teams. Your team assignments are on the dry erase board. You will be working with your partner, plus another set of partners. Dismissed."

I searched the board for my name and found it next to Ranger's.

Team 3:

Hal & Lester

Ranger & Stephanie

I grinned at Lester. He winked at me and blew me a kiss.

I focused my attention back to Ranger and realized he was giving Lester a look that could freeze water. Lester blew Ranger a kiss too, and I laughed out loud. Hal & Lester laughed too, and Ranger smiled.

"I'm starving," said Hal. "I didn't get lunch. Are we gonna eat here, or you wanna go somewhere?" he asked the Trenton crew at the table.

Hal may have felt starving, but he didn't look starving. Hal was a huge guy. What he lacked in wit and intelligence he made up for with size and brute force. The guy was like a stegosaurus in Rangeman black fatigues. I'd known Hal for a whole lot of years. He'd worked for Ranger, and on several occasions, he earned hazard pay protecting my body.

"There is a place down the block that serves excellent Middle Eastern cuisine," Ranger said.

Fifteen minutes later, we entered a small restaurant with a sign on the front reading Baraka Shawarma. I had no clue how to pronounce the name, but the utilitarian set up seemed clean and orderly. The floor was tan tile, and the walls were bright shades of yellow, orange, and navy. Small, dark colored laminate wood tables filled the center of the room, metal chairs with brightly colored faux leather seats lining the sides. Dark wooden booths lined the walls, with tables sandwiched between the benches. Ranger led the way through the restaurant, and I walked next to him. His hand was in the small of my back guiding my way, and I could sense Lester's amused stare on my back.

Lester Santos had worked for Rangeman for a long time too, but he had known Ranger the longest of any of his Trenton employees. Lester was Ranger's first cousin on the Manoso side of the family, and I had it on good authority there were photos of the two in diapers playing house with their older, female relatives. Lester had yet to produce the photos, but I was still holding out hope that they'd surface one day. Lester a good friend to me, but I suspected other humans of the female variety couldn't say the same. He was a smooth talking, smooth operating ladies' man. Lester's theory on love was the leaving came immediately after the hot, passionate, naked form of love. At work, he got away with crap none of the other Rangemen could touch, and I suspected it was because he was related to the boss man. Still, it didn't stop Ranger from taking Lester to the mats in the gym for a good beating every now and then. And if I'm being perfectly honest, I think he needed it. Someone had to rein the guy in, right?

We slid into a booth and pulled menus from the rack at the back of the booth. A small woman wearing a white blouse, grey slacks, and sandals came over to take our order. Lester ordered a lamb gyro with vegetables and a beer. Hal ordered shish kabobs with basmati rice and vegetables, and a soda to wash it down. Ranger ordered a hummus plate with pita bread and fresh vegetables, plus a pot of hot tea. I ordered French fries, a chicken sandwich, a coke, and a double order of baklava for dessert.

Ranger grinned at me. "Babe."

In Ranger-speak, "Babe" could mean many things. It could be a question. It could be an exasperated exclamation. It could be a hello, or a warm, affectionate greening. It could be a sexually-driven, lust-induced utterance. Here, I'm pretty sure he meant, "How the crap can you eat that junk?"

The food was delicious, and we scarfed it down quickly, paying the bill before leaving. Hal and Lester left for Hotel Indigo to check into their shared room. Ranger and I headed back on the short walk to Rangeman. We had barely cleared the doorway before Ranger took my hand in his.

"Um…." I said, feeling uncertain.

"Babe," he sighed, letting go of my hand.

I did some mental palm-to-forehead action. What the hell was wrong with me? Ranger was one of my best friends in the entire world. Hell, I'd seen the man naked and done the dirty in his Porsche, his bed, my bed, his shower, my shower, and about fifteen other places. Why did holding his hand feel so wrong tonight? Obviously there was the Morelli thing, but I struggled to pinpoint what else was going inside my brain. When it hit me, I rolled my eyes so hard I almost fell over.

"I don't know how to act around you now that we're partners," I admitted. "I don't think I can protect your body if I'm having sexual hot flashes at your every touch. And I don't think I'm much of a protection detail if I'm standing around lusting over your body."

In a split second, Ranger's momentum changed from forward to sideways. Before I could react, he had pushed my back up against the brick wall of the building we happened to be walking by. His strong, muscular body was pressed to every inch of mine, and his leg was pressed between mine. He put his lips to my ear. "You have hot flashes?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

My eyes met his, and his pupils had dilated from chocolate brown to black. I tried to speak. "No…. well, yes… but, I… Um…" I stuttered.

Ranger moved his lips so close to my ear that they touched. I felt the heat of his breath in my ear, and I think I moaned.

"You lust after my body?" Ranger asked, his voice even huskier than before.

"Yes," I murmured, almost panting.

Ranger's lips met mine, and the kiss he gave was so intense, I think I got off standing against the wall. My knees went weak, and my eyes rolled back in my head. When I moaned into his lips, he pulled back.

"Babe."

Our eyes connected once more, and I felt the red flush cover my face and chest. I was blushing so hard I figured I looked like the Kool-Aid man.

Ranger's grip on me loosened and became softer, more affectionate. He spoke quietly, seriously. "You call the shots, Steph. You say when. I'll never force you to do anything you don't want to do." His eyes were sincere, and he cupped my face in his palm. "Stay with me tonight?"

He brushed his thumb over my cheek, and he kissed my forehead. I nodded, my eyes holding his. He grinned.

"Let's get back. You might want to consider showering," he admitted. "You're still carrying the faint smell of sewage."