Disclaimer: not mine, still wishing because it would always have a Babe ending.

AN: thanks for all the reviews and support for the story so far. You may recognize parts from book 1 but I've put my own twist on it. Enjoy & let me know what y''a think. Feeling generous so posting a day early.

Clarification: a reviewer indicated Emilio was Ranger's brother. He was actually a cousin.

Thanks again go go to my wonderful Beta & friend Elaine.

Chapter 3 – Stephanie's POV

It was the dinner from hell; my mother invited Carl Costanza, a Trenton cop. Carl and I had attended school together but we had nothing in common. I mean he was nice and only showed up for a free meal. My mother made a point to tell Carl about the amount of money I inherited from my ex-husband. Unreal – she needs serious psychiatric help. My grandmother took out her new gun and wanted to show Carl she could shoot. She could shoot alright, she shot the roast chicken right off the dining room table. That was the end of the meal and my Dad ordered Pino's pizza for dinner.

"Carl I'm so sorry about my mother and even sorrier about my grandmother," I explained.

He laughed and said, "No worries Steph. I had a good time, plus I have a great story to tell the guys at lunch tomorrow."

A week later I was helping my perverted cousin Vinnie in his bail bonds office, because in my mother's words, 'I had nothing better to do since I was unemployed.' I didn't really mind, one of my best friends Connie Rizzoli was the office manager and she was out after having knee surgery. It would only be a couple of weeks and Vinnie needed to update his office. I took the job but refused to be paid; I redecorated the office and put in a new computer system for him. I might as well use that MBA for something. I totally computerized his entire system; he always knew what his outstanding monies were and how much bond he could write. I was showing Lula, the new file clerk and a former hooker, how to file when two large black men walked in.

"Hi, you must be Stephanie. I'm Tank and this is Bobby," he nodded toward the man behind him, "I hope Connie told you we'd be in for Ranger's skips."

I smiled and extended my hand, Tank gently took it. It was like he was afraid he'd break it or that I would freak out. "It's nice to meet you Tank. I have them right here on the desk." I smiled at Bobby and shook his hand as well.

"Thank you Stephanie. Can you introduce me to that fine lady at the file cabinet?" Tank asked.

I smiled, and introduced Lula to Tank. They hit it off immediately and made plans for dinner. Lula had been attacked by a john a few months ago and was severely beaten. It was a miracle she survived so she decided to get out of the business and Vinnie was looking for a file clerk. I had met Lula at the battered women's shelter I volunteered at and thought she'd be able to handle Vinnie. He goes through at least a file clerk a month because he makes inappropriate advances or comments to them.

Bobby stood next to me and asked, "How long you working here?"

I smiled, "I'm not working here, I volunteer here. Vinnie's my cousin and I'm helping him redecorate, update his computer system and computerize his books."

Bobby smiled at me, he had an amazing smile, "Maybe you could have dinner with me tonight?"

I smiled back at him, he seemed nice and I knew my Dad had invested in Rangeman so I figured he was an okay guy. "Sure Bobby, that sounds nice. Do you want to meet somewhere?"

He gave me another amazing smile and said, "How about I pick you up for dinner? Where would you like to go?"

"I'd like that. I don't really care where we go as long as it isn't in the Burg. My mother will have a wedding planned before the end of the night."

He blanched and asked, "Are you serious?"

"Unfortunately, I just thought I should warn you."

I worked for Vinnie for a month and had the office completed. I had been going out with Bobby for the last month and it wasn't anything serious. We enjoyed each other's company but when I kissed him, well it couldn't compare to when I kissed Ric. I know it's stupid because I lost him a long time ago but I always hoped he'd come back to me. I explained to him that I was still in love with a guy I dated in college and that we were suppose to get married but because of his family we broke up. He said he understood and that we could be friends who went out to dinner or lunch occasionally.

Connie was back to work and said I had made her job much easier. She also told me that Joe Morelli, the scumbag who raped me in high school, had become a Trenton vice detective – the perfect department for him. He was never charged with anything so he had no problem getting a job as a cop with his Navy background. He had been accused of murder and had skipped out on the bail. Vinnie had bonded him out because he was afraid of Joe's Grandma Bella. She was scary and threatened to put the eye on everyone. The case was going to Morty Byers, a former cop. "Connie why not give Morelli to Tank?"

"Well Steph, Ranger's back and he refused to bring in Morelli. Ranger works with Trenton PD a lot and doesn't want to burn any bridges. He runs Rangeman and only does bounty hunting part time."

I thought about this mysterious Ranger person and wondered if he needed any office staff. Apparently Ranger was a Ranger and had been part of Uncle Mark's Special Forces unit. Dad said he had mad skills and the business was really successful. I might have to call Tank; he had given me his card. He was impressed with what I had done with Vinnie's office and thought he could use my skills. He was second in command at Rangeman.

A week after I learned that Morelli skipped on his bail my mother started talking about him as a potential husband for me. "Are you crazy?" I screamed. "He raped me when I was 16 and he was arrested for murder. That is not husband material."

She spoke to me in a placating tone and said, "No one would ever believe he raped you and Angie said the police made a mistake. Joseph is trying to clear his name. I want to invite him to dinner."

"Mom read my lips, NO. Besides what do you think Angie is gonna say about her son. Do you know that Vinnie could lose his business if Morelli isn't brought back into the system?"

My mother decided to treat me like a two year old and enunciated each word, "Stephanie, Harry will bail out Vinnie to make Lucille happy. He can't have an unemployed son-in-law."

I gave up and went home. The next day I got a call from my mother. Uncle Mark was flying in and I was commanded to come to dinner tonight. A few minutes later I got a call from my Grandma Mazur, she lived with my parents ever since Grandpa Mazur passed away after having a heart attack while they were having sex. My mother was completely embarrassed.

I answered my cell and said, "Hey grandma."

"How's my baby granddaughter? Have you found a new man yet?"

"No grandma, I gave up on finding anyone. I still love Ric."

Grandma tsked, "I have bad news. Your mother invited that Joe Morelli to dinner tonight. She knew that with Mark coming you'd be sure to show up. I wanted to give you fair warning."

I sighed, "Thanks gram. You think Morelli would have learned after I used your Buick to run his ass over."

I hung up and quickly formed a plan. I pulled on a pair of low rise jeans and a v-neck t-shirt and drove to Vinnie's bonds office. "Hey Connie, Lula," I said as I walked in. "Is Vinnie in?"

Connie grimaced, "Yeah but he's a bear. Morelli's nowhere to be found and Byers had a heart attack this morning and died en-route to the hospital."

I smiled, "I can make his day. I know where Morelli will be tonight at 6 pm."

Vinnie came flying out of his office, "You know where he'll be? How?"

It was my turn to grimace, "You know how Helen wants me married." Everyone shook their head "Well, she wants me to marry Morelli and he'll be at her house for dinner tonight. I'll bring your bounty hunter to dinner tonight as my date and he can nab him. It'll be a piece of cake. Uncle Mark and Dad will be there."

Vinnie's face lit with an oily smile, "Call Ranger and tell him to get his ass over here right away."

Connie shook her head and sarcastically said, "Yeah right, I'll tell him that." Connie picked up the phone and dialed, "Hey Ranger, did you hear about Byers?" She listened for a moment and said, "Vinnie has a line on Morelli, we know where he'll be tonight and it should be an easy pick-up. I know you don't want to bring him in but we forfeit the bond tomorrow." She listened again for a moment and said, "Ranger it's a million dollars, you'll get $100,000 for your trouble. We got no one else, can you come down? Thanks."

Connie smiled, "He'll be here in ten minutes. Wait until you see him, your college love will be completely forgotten. No one is as hot as Ranger."

Lula burst out, "That man is so fine he has his picture in the dictionary as the definition. I would wet myself if he asked me to dinner."

I nodded my head and sat on the new leather couch in the front office and waited. A few minutes later four men walked in, Tank came over to me and said, "Hello Miss Stephanie. Did you get a line on Morelli?"

I nodded and said, "My mother invited him to dinner tonight; apparently he's the last single male in the Burg. That's the only reason she could possibly have for inviting him to dinner."

Then I heard a voice I hadn't heard in years, "Well Beautiful, you could always tell her we're having a hot, passionate affair." I looked around Tank and squealed and jumped into Lester's arms.

"Oh my gosh Lester. I haven't seen you in years. How are you?"

He laughed, "I'm good. I can't believe I haven't run into you before. Have you met my partner, Bobby Brown? Bobby this is Stephanie Plum, the most beautiful woman to ever grace Aunt Irena's dinner table."

I blushed and said, "We've met already."

I looked beyond Bobby and felt myself go pale; there stood Ric – the love of my life. I think he's more beautiful than I remember. "Ric," I whispered and everyone, except Lester, went still and their jaw hung open. I walked over to him slowly and touched his cheek and he pulled me to him and whispered, "Babe."

Ok, I'm officially ducking for cover. Let me know what ya think.