Author's Note: It's short and I'm sorry. I wanted to go ahead and get a chapter out. I think you just might like this one. And another isn't far behind. I promise. Enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen
Tank & the Bat Cave

"Thanks so much." Steph replied before hanging up the phone. She turned just in time to watch Ranger emerged from the bathroom, steam rolling out behind him. Dressed in only a white towel wrapped around his waist, hanging low on his hips. Steph licked her hips and let out a sigh of appreciation. Ranger's eyes darkened but instead of acting upon the clear invitation Steph was giving, he smiled his signature grin, grabbed his clothes and went back into the bathroom.

Steph groaned and fell back onto the bed. They had pretty much spent the last two days in this very hotel room, becoming reacquainted with each other. Steph hadn't wanted to let him go –really, she hadn't wanted to let him out of bed, but this morning she woke up with a giddy feeling that she wanted to explore so after she got ready and she told Ranger to get ready, she called the hotel where she worked part time and took today off. Again. Lucky for her, her boss was amazing. Because today, she had plans that included just her and Ranger.

She sat up when the bathroom door opened once again and Ranger stepped out. His hair pulled back into a low pony tail and a single diamond solitaire in his ear. He now had on a pair of black jeans and dark maroon silk shirt. He looked utterly yummy. He grabbed a pair of dark tennis shoes, sitting down next to Steph he pulled them on and tied the laces.

"What's on the agenda for today, Babe?"

"Are you sure you don't have to be back in Trenton anytime soon?" Steph questioned cautiously. She didn't want him to leave, but she knew he had to get back and she wasn't ready to leave.

Ranger shook his head as he finished tying his shoes. "I called Tank and told him I wanted I stick around for a few days. He hates the paperwork, but he understands so I'm all yours."

Steph wanted to ask for how long but that wouldn't be fair. So instead she grinned. "Lucky me."

Ranger planted a hard kiss on her mouth. "Lucky me, Babe. Now what do you have planned for today?"

She nudged his shoulder with her own and smiled. "Six Flags, St. Louis Zoo, and the Science Center." She told him.

He cocked one eyebrow and his lips twitched. "We tackling all three of those today, Babe?"

She shrugged. "We can most certainly try, can't we?"

Ranger tucked a stray curl behind her ear, letting his finger caress her cheek. A solemn look on his normally blank face. "You're happy here." He stated with an almost sad tone to his voice.

Steph smiled softly and nodded. "I am happy here, Ranger, but that doesn't mean I'm never going back to Trenton."

"Are you sure about that, Babe?" He sounded uncertain.

His comment made Steph frown. "I'm sure, Ranger. Trenton is my home. I only left so I could heal. Everything reminded me so much of you."

He cupped her cheek, bringing their faces closer together. "Then there's no reason for you to remain behind once I leave." His tone hard.

She cupped his cheek. "Maybe in some ways, but in other ways there are."

"Explain." He ordered harshly. When Steph's eyes narrowed in annoyance, he sighed very softly. "Please." He added gently.

Steph stood up and walked to the window, the curtains were open and bringing in strong sunlight. It was definitely a perfect day to spend outdoors. In the upper seventies with a soft breeze. Steph really wanted to spend this day outside with the love of her life. If only she could tell him that. It shouldn't be hard, really but it so was.

"Babe?" Ranger almost sounded worried.

She shook her head. "I'm finding myself here, Ranger. Here I'm not the Bombshell Bounty Hunter. Here I'm not the local gossip magnet or the neighborhood joke."

"Stephanie, you're nobody's joke." He replied, getting to his feet and crossing the distance between them.

She whirled around, facing him, fire in her eyes. "This coming from someone who once told me that I was a line under entertainment on his budget." She spat.

Ranger cursed, low and hard. He cupped her face between his palms, their foreheads touched. "Babe, I'm an idiot and I never should have said that. You're an amazing woman with such determination that sometimes you even surpass myself."

"Everyone still bets on me back at home, Ranger and that's never going to stop because there will always be some idiot that wants to blow up my car or my apartment. Or some dumbass that's so intent on killing me that bad things happen around me."

"Steph, you're bettering yourself here. Getting stronger, taking self-defense. I have every confident that you'll be kicking ass once you return to Trenton. And I'll personally make sure the betting stops."

"What about the crazies?" Steph questioned, ignoring his last comment. She didn't want to know how he would make that stop. Maybe some threatening and some evil looks.

Ranger cocked his head in thought. "Are you going to return to bounty hunting once you come home?"

She slowly shook her head. "No, I'm not. I want to be a social worker. I want to help families in need."

A hint of a smile passed over Ranger's face. "Then there shouldn't be any reason for any crazy to be after you. And if they do, we'll take care of them."

"Really?"

Ranger nodded. "Yes. Really." He brushed a kiss across her forehead. "You've got such a big heart, Steph. Such of one that I know you're going to be a great social worker, Babe."

"You think so?" She asked hopefully.

Ranger kissed her forehead softly, his lips lingering against her skin. "I know so, Babe. I'm so very proud of you for doing so."

Steph grinned. "Thanks Ranger."

He kissed her mouth before gently pulling away. He stood up and grabbed his phone from the dresser. He began messing with it as he talked to Steph. "Since you're not going back to Trenton anytime soon, there's something I want to show you." He replied as he held up his phone.

Steph gasped when she saw Tank –the dog not the man. "That's Tank."

Ranger laughed. "Yeah. I like his name, by the way."

She laughed. "How did you know about Tank?"

Ranger cocked his head, face serious. "When you told Tank about him, he sent Woody to go get him."

Steph's eyes widened. "What? Tank is at RangeMan?"

Ranger chuckled softly. "Yes. Both Tanks are at RangeMan."

She squealed and threw herself at Ranger. She hated having to leave Tank behind, but she knew that big of a dog need a place to run and move. And a hotel room wasn't an ideal place for a mastiff. She couldn't believe that Tank was just a drive away. And he was hers! She squealed again, kissing Ranger's cheek. She pulled back, grabbing her phone to dial Tank –the man. Maybe she should have named him something else. Two Tanks is going to get a little bit confusing.

She was just about to hit send on her phone when she had a sudden thought. She looked up at Ranger to find him watching her. "Where is Tank right now?"

He laughed once again. "The dog or the man?"

Steph grinned. "That is going to get confusing isn't it? Maybe now I'll have a reason to call Tank, Pierre."

Ranger coughed, hiding a laugh and shaking his head. "Tank is at my place. Pierre has been taking care of him while I'm gone." Ranger winked.

She smiled but her brows quickly furrowed in confusion. "Your place? Your apartment is too small for a mastiff, Ranger." She told him.

Ranger nodded as he grabbed his wallet. "I agree it is. That's why he's at my house." He emphasized looking straight at Steph.

"The bat cave?" Steph squeaked. Ranger nodded, watching her closely.

She swallowed hard. "He's still my dog, right?" She asked.

Ranger slowly closed in on her, trapping her against the wall with his palms flat against the wall on both sides of her head. "He's definitely your dog, Steph and once you return to Trenton, you can come and pick him up." He murmured against her ear, low and sexy.

Steph gulped. "But that's the bat cave…" She whispered.

Ranger licked the shell of her ear. "Yep."

She whimpered. "But the bat cave is forever."

Ranger nibbled her earlobe. "Exactly Babe." He replied huskily.

Before Steph could reply to that, he was out the door and gone.