Disclaimer: Not mine

AN: Thank you very much for the wonderful reviews. I'm so glad everyone is enjoying the story. Warning for language at the end of the chapter.

We had just pulled up in front of my parent's house when I told him my idea. I had decided to call him Ric and act like I didn't know he was a bounty hunter. He agreed it would work. He had after all been my collage boyfriend and my family had met him before. He angled out of the car and I enjoyed watching him walk around the car. God he was a beautiful man, even more so than when I first met him. He was more muscular and he was even better in bed. I licked my lips as he helped me out of the car. He pulled me to him and brushed a gentle kiss across my lips, I slid my tongue along his lips and I swear he moaned as he slid his tongue into my mouth. The kiss deepened and I heard my mother's shrill voice "Stephanie who's that with you?"

I pulled away from him; we both took a moment to catch our breath resting our foreheads against each other. "God that woman has the worst timing," I whispered.

"Babe she had perfect timing, I might have taken you right up against the car."

I smiled as I pulled away saying, "I think I would like that." I heard him groan as I pulled him up the sidewalk. "Hi Mom, Grandma."

I watched Grandma rub her hands together a suspicious gleam was in her eye, "So Stephanie who's the hottie with you?"

I felt Ric slide behind me and I smiled, "Grandma you remember Ric don't you? We dated my first two years at Rutgers before he joined the Army. He owns that security company Daddy and Uncle Mark talk about."

I heard a gasp from my mother as she remembered the night I brought Ric home for dinner. It wasn't pretty and she acted like a good hostess that night but we both could tell she was unhappy with my choice of boyfriend. She pulled a tight smile saying, "Welcome back Ricardo. Now come in, your father is on his way."

I watched her run into the kitchen, since when do perfect hostesses run? Ric and I sat down on the couch and he was wearing a wire so he asked grandma, "Is Morelli in the kitchen?"

"Yes, do you want me to make sure he stays there?" she asked.

"Yes, grandma. Ric works for Vinnie as a bounty hunter and we're gonna bring him in. We're waiting until we sit down for dinner, he'd never be so rude as to bolt before dinner. I mean what would his mother think?" Grandma chuckled at that. "It will also allow us to tell Daddy and Uncle Mark our plan first so they don't react if they hear or see the guys entering." Ric raised an eyebrow at me as I explained everything to grandma.

Grandma smiled, "I'll go and make sure he stays, I can't wait for my hair appointment tomorrow. I'll be the center of attention with first hand gossip."

She toddled off to the kitchen, excited to be part of the action. I turned to Ric, "She'll be an ally as long as she has gossip for the Clip 'n Curl. She likes to have a firsthand account." He just shook his head as he listened to his ear piece.

HELEN'S POV

Mother and I were standing on the stoop as an expensive looking sports car pulled to a stop in front of the house. I watched a man get out of the car and walk around to the other side, his skin tone was too dark to be Italian but he was nicely dressed and had short dark hair. He opened the door for Stephanie, at least he had manners. He helped her out of the car and pulled her to him and kissed her. I immediately noticed an intimacy between them; I hadn't heard she was seeing anyone. "Stephanie, who's that with you?"

Stephanie walked up with the man at her back; he was certainly a good looking man and there was something familiar about him. She introduced him as Ric, the boy she dated in college who broke her heart. I'd told her he was after her money; it looks like he now has money of his own. This isn't good; I have Joseph in the kitchen. He wants to marry her and I know this boy had wanted to marry her. He's not Burg, she can't marry him. Maybe Joseph can scare him away or better yet mother.

I made my way to the kitchen where Joseph was waiting. I bustled in and began preparing for dinner. I looked at Joseph sitting at the table, he was a good man. He's handsome, just inherited a house in the Burg and a decorated cop. This little murder charge is just a bump in the road; once it's cleared up women will be after him again. This is Stephanie's only chance.

"Is Stephanie here?" he asked.

I smiled at him, "Yes, she is. She brought her old college boyfriend with her. Ricardo something. I don't think it will matter much, I think you can still win her over."

Joseph turned white, "Ricardo? Is he Cuban, muscular and good looking?"

"Yes, I think so. Is something wrong?"

Joe didn't look any better, "Shit. Shit. He's a bounty hunter, works for Vinnie and owns a security company. Rumor says he runs guns, works as a mercenary."

I began to get nervous, "Is he after you?"

Joe shook his head, "No, Byers had the case. Manoso refused to take it because he works closely with TPD."

"Joseph, I find this disturbing. Frank has invested in Rangeman; he's a silent partner so if this man is dirty we could lose a lot of money. I don't want that type of person in my home or to marry Stephanie. She's so like Betty, she's liable to go after him on some crazy mission."

Joe looked surprised, "I knew Manoso had partners, never thought Frank was one of them. I assumed it was someone like Alexander Ramos. I'd like to bust Manoso; he gets away with a lot like carrying concealed. His men are all built like him. They're all former Special Forces; ya know Navy SEALs and Army Rangers. Everyone thinks he's so great. I could do that stuff if I wanted."

"I'm sure you could Joseph. Now can you help me by stirring the gravy so it doesn't get lumpy. Frank and Mark will be here soon and the sooner we get you next to Stephanie the sooner we can get rid of that man. I mean he's not from the Burg."

Joe's POV

God Helen Plum is Burg through and through - worried about lumps in her gravy. She's got a mercenary sitting down to dinner and she's not even fazed. That man could probably kill her with the gravy boat. He's Stephanie's ex from college. I'd heard she was really hung up on some guy from college but to know its Manoso is killing me. I can't believe she let him touch her. She's too good for him.

I heard Frank come home and Helen sent me out with the mashed potatoes and salad. I was to wait for Stephanie to come in, Helen planned for me to sit next to her and stick Manoso with granny destruction.

Lester's POV

It's been an interesting day; I couldn't believe that Ric and Stephanie finally met up. I along with Frank Plum, the General and Celia had been on his ass the last four years to contact her. I knew Ric was still in love with her, I mean she was smoking hot when I met her 10 years ago but tonight she's even more stunning. I used to see her at family events until I joined the Army and knew her and Ric had something special. I hope nothing else comes between them.

I heard the conversation between Steph and Ranger about her grandmother and the gossip. I had to work to keep a straight face while standing here next to Bobby. He looked over at me with a small smile on his face and whispered, "This should be good. Her mother sounds like a prim bitch already and that grandmother of hers is looking for gossip. I hope this works out for Ranger, he needs something to make him human."

"What do you mean Bobby, of course he's human," I said.

"I mean he acts like he has no emotions and he's never been involved with a woman since college. Whoever she was must have broken his heart," Bobby replied.

"You're a dumb fucker, Steph is his college girlfriend. He left for the Army because of our waste of a cousin who tricked him into marrying a woman because Ranger thought she was pregnant with his kid. Emilio was actually the father. He was in love with her from the moment he met her, now they're finally together."

Ranger's POV

We were sitting on the couch, I had pulled her on my lap and nuzzled her neck when her mother walked in and gasped, "What are you doing? Your father and uncle will be here any minute. What will they say if they see you acting like that?"

"They'll say it's about time you two got back together," I replied.

She huffed and walked out while I softly chuckled and kissed my Babe's head as she softly said, "She's not a happy camper is she?"

"Babe I don't think she's ever been happy when I'm in the same house as her."

We heard the front door open and in walked Frank and the General. They looked at us on the coach both smiling before saying, "It's about damn time."