Chapter 4

I looked at Ranger and blinked several times pretty slowly trying to decide how to respond. I decided that the simple and direct way seemed to be working and went with that, "What."

He looked at me and I waited to see which path he would take. The one about my Point Pleasant drunken night, the situation with Joe... The words he whispered as I fell asleep. However, to my insane surprise he went another path.

"I have to go out town for a few days"

Well shit, that is not what I was expecting, ok how to respond.

"Ok, saving the world or business?"

It looked like he was thinking about smiling; guess he was expecting me to have more of a response.

"Business, when I get back we need to talk about some other things."

I looked at him for a minuet still trying to process the conversation. "So you want to talk about how we need to talk." I finally replied. "That seems kind of redundant."

Now he really did smile, it really was like looking into the sun he was so hot.

"I want to talk about what we will talk about." He replied, "We need to talk about your little trip and what just happened."

He walked over and brushed his lips over mine gently, ohhhh God he was good at that. When he pulled back he had a smile still, "Thank You" he whispered hovering over my lips.

"Out loud" I asked.

His smile was my response.

"Think about how you want the conversation to go." He said as he walked back into my bedroom. I stood there so long trying to process past the kiss to what he said that he came out fully dressed. He walked back over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist leaning down to put his face next to mine. He whispered in my ear, "If you need anything call Tank, I mean it." He brushed his lips over my ear "ok".

All I could do was nod brushing my cheek over his, he had a light stubble and it rubbed with just the right amount of scratchiness. I think I purred and rubbed a little harder. I felt his arms tighten as he leaned farther into me pressing his hips into mine. I almost died and went to heaven. He covered my mouth with his and everything went blank. All I felt was him surrounding me, holding me, grinding against me. I moaned into his mouth and held on for dear life.

I felt him lift me and my ass hit the counter and then he was right there. Right where I wanted him, pressing and rubbing. His tongue battling mine as his hands roamed my back and hips, one brushing over my nipple made me buck against him. Suddenly he pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. Both of us breathing heavily filled the room.

"Babe" he whispered, his breath gently going over my lips and cheeks.

"Yes" I whispered back, moving my face closer trying to capture his lips again.

"I have to go", he groaned as he rubbed our hips together lightly making me push against him again.

"Ok" I said, "Don't get shot."

"Don't go crazy." One more quick brush of his lips and he was gone. And I was left sitting on the counter trying to figure what the hell just happened.

I was still thinking about what Ranger said 5 days later as I walked into the bonds office and I honestly had no clue how I wanted the conversation to go.

I knew what I was dreaming of - Ranger and I together in some sort of relationship. Not sure what kind, maybe something simple like we only sleep with each other. Everything else could basically stay the same for me. I already called him for everything that was important, I didn't lie when I said he was my best friend. What's that thing people always say, you should be with someone who is like your best friend. The problem was I didn't know if my best friend wanted me- other than in a sideways in a bed kind of way. However, I wasn't prepared to tell Ranger what I wanted and scare him away. I would rather have him as my best friend and that's it, then have him out of my life forever.

And Joe, I had no clue how to tell him I thought we should take a break, like a forever break. Joe is that guy that every woman wanted, every woman but me that is. He wanted a wife and eventually some kids to come home to. And while I don't want to say never to kids, there is no way it's happening any time in the near future-if ever. Maybe I would be perfectly happy to remain childless for the rest of my life. I mean it's not like my life is good for kids, hell I would blow them up in a car.

I had to figure out a way to talk to Joe and do it fast since we had dinner plans to talk tonight. Yikes that is not exciting, luckily he agreed to a restaurant, my hope was in public he would keep calm or at least rage in quiet whispers.

I plopped down on the sofa and asked Connie if I had any bonds to go after, I was broke and need rent ASAP.

"I have a few low bonds, Mooner and a new guy called Mikel Stine arrested for burglary and possession of a fire arm." She said as she plopped some files on the counter, " I also have a mid-range that Vinnie says to give you to you. A guy named Vinnie Donaldson. Get this he was arrested for rape, public intoxication and public nudity. Looks like all guys named Vinnie are big peeves!"

I nod as I took the files and went through them. "The mid-range seems kind of out of my bracket." I said "Why does Vinnie want me to have it?"

"He said since it was the guys first offense it's not worth giving the fee to Rangerman, I guess Rangers cut went up and Vinnie's cheap ass doesn't want to pay him. I was going to say something but some new guy I didn't know picked up the files, I figured you would ask Ranger if you needed help."

I nodded and decided I would start with Mooner since he was quick and easy money. A girl needs to eat and his bond would provide some quick lunch money, and maybe a movie marathon while I figured out the other two guys.

"Ok ladies I am off let me know if anything else comes up." I said as I walked out the door and straight into a wall of black muscle. "Tank" I mumbled into his chest. I stepped back and creaked my neck to look at his face. "What's up?"

I swear it looked like he wanted to smile but his face remained blank. "Checking to see if you need anything."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "Need anything?"

He countered with an eyebrow raise.

"Like" I promoted.

I seriously swear he wanted to roll his eyes, I think I might be a bad influence in the Merry Men.

"Like back up or a car that runs properly?" He said.

"Nope I am good in both those areas."

Now his eyebrows raised to his hair line or what would have been his hair line if he wasn't bald.

"What" I said.

He looked at me then my car. Ok so it wasn't the best thing in the world but after I lost the last one to car heaven this one was available and semi working. Sure the doors were different colors and I had to turn the key a few times for it to start but it went! "It starts... Eventually and gets me to where I need to be." I stated.

I think his eyebrows might have disappeared over his head with that fib, but he said nothing. After a minute staring contest, he uncrossed his arms and turned to leave, "Call me if you need something... please. I like my head where it is." Then he was gone.

I stood there in shock for a while. He said please, and what was he talking about with his head. As I walked to get in my car I was still trying to figure out what was going on. Ranger was acting weird, now Tank was acting weird. I thought about it through the whole Bewitched Marathon at Mooner's and the entire way back home after I had him re-bonded out. Only when I was getting ready to go out to dinner with Joe did my thoughts shift. How was I going to tell Joe what I thought, I had a feeling tonight was not going to end well.