Stephanie Plum was going to be the death of me, I just knew it. I had spent the last week and a half on the phone with the party rental place, Ella, and Tank's mom Miss Cici. Steph certainly did a bulk of the party planning, but a lot of tiny details were being left up to me.

I had confirmed with the party rental place that I would indeed be there at noon for them to drop things off. Ella and I went over lists of supplies I would need, and she made sure to order all of them for me. Half the time I was on the phone with Miss Cici had nothing at all to do with the party at all. We spent entire afternoons chatting about everything from Tank to our current sewing projects. I was really looking forward to meeting her in person. She seemed like a very wonderful lady.

I was starting to look forward to getting a day out of the apartment. I had everything ready. I'd pulled out my good knives, and made my prep lists and everything was absolutely ready to go. Now, I just had to wait until then.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The day of the party stated way to early. Bobby and Lester showed up at my door at 3:30 in the morning. They had finished loading everything in the back of an SUV, and we were just waiting for Miss Cici to call and tell us that Tank had left for work. Someone had decided that the best way to get me there with out Tank noticing was to sneak me out of Rangeman while he was en route. Bobby was the one to grab my phone on the first ring.

"Ok, we'll be there soon. Thanks for letting us know." He hung up the phone and looked at me and Lester. "All clear. Let's get this show on the road."

I sleepily followed the guys down to one of the SUV's and climbed in the back seat. I was instructed to lay down on the seat and stay out of sight. I rolled my eyes and did what I was told. I thought about arguing, but really what was the point. They would just sit there and tell me that we would do it their way or no way. I decided that even if I had to ride like this I could still make them talk to me. "You guys are bringing dates tonight right?"

Bobby turned around from the passenger seat and looked at me with a smile. "Oh yeah… I met this cute little thing when I was at the restaurant supply store picking up some of that stuff you asked for, and she's bringing her best friend for Lester."

I rolled my eyes. "Do either of you ever actually have a second date?"

Lester laughed and I saw his eyes flick up to look at me in the rearview mirror. "I had one once. I think Bobby's had a couple."

"Someday you both are going to meet a woman who has you desperate for a second date, and if there is any justice in the world she is going to make you work for it."

They both laughed at me and Lester stopped at a 7-11 to pick up coffee for all three of us. Bobby held my coffee for me since I was in no position to drink it right now. We continued the drive in silence and soon Lester was pulling into the garage. Bobby jumped out and went into the house, leaving Lester and I sitting in the garage. Lester did let me sit up and handed me my coffee. I took a sip and grinned. He remembered my weakness for gas station French vanilla cappuccino. Bobby returned a few minutes later and I grabbed my bag and slid out of the SUV. The guys went to the back and started unloading boxes upon boxes of supplies that Ella had sent.

We trooped into the kitchen I was right on the heels of the guys, and as soon as we walked in I stopped dead in my tracks. Tank's kitchen was a cooks dream. "I think I am in love." I said as I lightly ran my hand over the marble counter top on the island.

"And here I thought you were in love with my boy." I heard a voice say from behind me.

I must have jumped about three feet in the air because as I was turning around to look at the owner of the voice, Bobby and Lester were laughing their asses off at me. I had to smile as I was wrapped in large warm hug.

"I'm glad to finally meet you Angie."

"Oh it is wonderful to meet you too Miss Cici. Have you met Bobby and Lester?" I asked as she finally let me go.

"Oh yes. Pierre brought them down to help me clean up after that whole Katrina mess a few years back." She put a hand on my back and gently guided me out of the way so the guys could set everything down and go back to finish unloading the truck. I set my bag down in the corner to make sure it was out of the way and then I began unloading all of the supplies. I enjoyed having the time to get to know my work space.

While the guys were unloading supplies I chatted with Cici. I had asked her where the cats were, and she told me that they had their own room set up for them, and she had shut them in there, so today didn't upset them. When the guys were done unloading the SUV, Cici had them take Tank's dining room table out to the garage. I turned around to find Bobby and Lester leaning against the island in the kitchen wearing puppy dog faces. I sighed and crossed my arm over my chest.

"I suppose you two want some breakfast now huh?" I laughed as they both nodded looking absolutely pathetic. I looked over at Cici. "Do you think it would be ok if raided the fridge?"

She nodded at me with a smile. "Of course, you are welcome to anything you need."

I turned and started going through the fridge, finding some eggs, cheese and veggies to make omelets. "I swear, I cant imagine how you managed not to starve to death before you met me."

"We gave Ella the puppy dog eyes, so she would cook for us."

I had to laugh at that and Cici's laughter soon joined mine. "You know guys, women really find a man who can cook sexy." I told them as I placed my hands flat on the island and jumped up so my knees were resting on the counter so I could grab a pan from the hanging pot rack.

I looked over at Cici, "I think I should have packed a ladder. I'm too short."

I hopped off the counter and went to the stove. Cici went to the fridge and grabbed a small step stool from beside the large stainless steel appliance. She leaned it against the fridge so I could grab it when needed.

"I made Pierre buy it for me last time I was here. I'm not tall enough for half the things in this house either."

I laughed and thanked her as I started cracking eggs in a bowl for breakfast. I just listened to Bobby and Lester talking to Cici about some of the repairs on the house that they did. They wanted to know how it was all holding up, and they were just generally checking up on her It was nice to listen to people talking while I was cooking. I grabbed some plates from the cupboard and served up the first omelet to Cici. Luckily there were a couple of bar stools around the island so she had a place to sit. I quickly finished breakfast for the guys and turned off the stove to chug down my coffee.

Once I was done with the coffee, I headed over to my bag in the corner and dug out my prep list. I stuck it on the fridge and read it over. I decided I could start with the veggies for tonight's salad. I grabbed the lettuce from the fridge and set it on a counter while I got out a large bowl and filled it with water. I washed my hands and dried them before I got started on cutting the lettuce to the right size setting it in the water to make sure it got really clean.

"Hey guys, did you happen to find out from Ella what time she was bringing over the lobster? She didn't want to buy it until today since it is hard to hide a dozen live lobster." I kept working as I talked. I had a lot to get done today.

"I don't know. I can call her later and ask if you want." Lester replied.

"I'd appreciate it. I need to make sure I can get them all done in time."

Bobby laughed. "Angie, relax everything is going to be fine."

I turned to look at him and crossed my arms over my chest. "Oh no. I'm not taking that kind of attitude today. Steph will FREAK if anything goes wrong today. I have no idea why this is such a big deal for her, but it is. So we are going to treat this like it is a big deal."

I stood there staring at both of the guys until they reluctantly agreed. No one was quite sure what the deal was with Steph and this party, but they were going to be taking it seriously from now on if I had anything to say about it.

Lester leaned over to Bobby and whispered, but not very quietly. "Man she's cranky when she doesn't get her morning cigarette."

I narrowed my eyes, I was going to snap at him, but I realized Lester was right, and I hated that. I didn't want my mood to depend on having a cigarette first thing in the morning. Maybe it was time to just quit… but not today.

"Well if that is what the girl needs, you two take her out to the garage." Cici told them as she gathered up all the breakfast plates and moved over to load the dishwasher. She turned back and saw the guys still standing there looking at each other trying to decide if letting me smoke in Tank's garage was a good idea or not. "Didn't you two hear me. Outside. Now."

I myself was a little taken aback by the strength behind those words, she seemed like such a sweet old lady. I turned off the tap and went to my bag to grab my cigarettes and walked over to the guys. As we started to move towards the garage door Cici was back to being a sweet little old lady. "Thank you."

When we got out to the garage I couldn't help but laugh as I started to pack my cigarettes against my hand. "I see where Tank gets it."

I brought a cigarette to my lips and lit it taking a long drag and leaned against the SUV. "So, are you two my babysitters today?"

"Nah, we're really supposed to hang around and be errand boys incase you need us to go get anything." Lester told me as he moved closer to Bobby to get out of the smoke.

"That and Ranger thought Lester here might be able to give you a hand. He did a lot of KP duty when we were in the Army." Bobby said.

I laughed and rolled my eyes bringing my cigarette to my lips trying to smoke quickly. "I can see that. I might just be able to use some help, at least I know I'll be able to use it when the dishes get here" I said with a grin. I knew Lester hated dishes, he would do anything to get out of them.

"Awwww Angie, can't I peel potatoes or something instead? Or maybe go get more coffee?" He gave me a huge grin and wiggled his eyebrows.

I quickly finished my cigarette while I pretended to think about it. I crushed out the smoke on the bottom of my shoe and looked at Lester. "Ok. I'll make you a deal. You go get me the biggest French vanilla cappuccino you can find and a couple of those Nature Valley crunchy granola bar things and you won't have to do the dishes."

"Deal!" he said. Lester then pulled the keys out of his pocket and jingled them in front of me. "I'll head out as soon as you and Bobby are inside."

We headed in side and locked the door behind us and heard Lester fire up the SUV. Bobby looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "So what are you going to make him do instead of dishes?"

I giggled to myself and just grinned at Bobby as I went to wash my hands "Well Bobby, those lobsters aren't going to kill themselves."