I survived tax season. Yay!

Here's the next installment for this story. Hope to have updates and respond to messages more frequently.

Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE. Typos are my bad.

Ranger's POV

I fought the immediate urge to punch my client's right hand man, Robert Carmichael. He is just despicable and I've met quite a handful of unsavory characters.

My client organized a golf outing first thing this morning. Most of the men suck, but it gave me a good indication of who we're dealing with given how freely they let their tongues loose. They have little to no sense of self preservation.

As expected, towards the end of our eighteen hole run my client received our scheduled call from his jeweler that the intricate piece he ordered was ready. I got one of my contacts on this side of the country to infiltrate the shop. My plan was to make it known to the men that I was buying a very expensive, custom made piece for my wife. Stephanie thinks this is an inside job, so that means it's either one of the men in my client's acquaintance group or one of their wives. Her intuition is top notch for these types of things, so I'll be following her lead for this operation.

"Sheesh! You must really, really love your wife." Andrew murmured as he looked at the bracelet over my shoulder. "That's the kind of piece I'd give my mistress, if you know what I'm saying." His leering grin reminded me of Vinnie. Gross all around.

"No, I don't." I said simply before completing the transaction and heading out of the shop. We're a short drive from the hotel where Babe is having brunch with the wives.

The drive back to the hotel was filled with boring business talk between Andrew and my client. I pretended like I wasn't listening by focusing on my cell, when in reality I was very attuned to the conversation.

"Let's have a drink, gentlemen." My client led the way up to the rooftop venue. He's closed off the top two floors for our weekend getaway so that only our group has access to the indoor pool, spa and rooftop restaurant/bar areas. This is one reason why I worry just slightly less for Babe's safety as there are less unknown variables in the mix.

I deviated from the gathering spot my client chose across the way from the women. Babe had her back to me, but I'll always be able to pick her out in a crowd. Yes, her blue eyes and curly brown hair are very distinctive, but regardless of sight I'll always be able to find her. The tingling on the back of my neck gives her proximity away most of the time, just like it does for her. Sure, I've successfully snuck up on her in the past and this will be one of those times.

My lips twitched when I noticed the shift in her. Without turning around, she already knows I'm headed towards her.

"Babe." It wasn't my plan to escalate the kiss from a quick peck to a tongue tangling one, but Babe continues to be my weakness no matter how hard I try to curb the deep need. Perhaps if she hadn't reciprocated so enthusiastically, I wouldn't be fighting the mother of all hard-ons. It also doesn't help that she distractedly placed her right hand on my right thigh, just shy of my awakening dick.

"Mmm…" Her strangled moan tumbled past her lips and straight into mine, the vibrations sparking the flames of desire to newer degrees. One more second of that fervid kiss and I would have said to hell with this job.

"Saw this and thought of you." Snapping myself back from the haze, I shifted us back on course. My movements were quick, but deliberate as I took advantage of Babe's distraction to fasten the bracelet on her left wrist so the other women could see.

"It's gorgeous." Babe thanked me as she perused the bracelet, no doubt mentally calculating how hefty the price tag was.

"It has a tracker and panic button." I whispered in her ear after I couldn't help myself, leaving nipping kisses along her jaw. "Ladies." I acknowledged the other women, flashing them a smile before I returned to our gathering spot overlooking the ocean over the glass wall railing boxing the rooftop perimeter.

The conversation flowed, with none of the members letting anything worthy slip. In fact, I was on the verge of losing my mind from boredom after over an hour of listening to the men droning on and on, when I felt that unmistakable spark indicating Babe was near. The tingling on the back of my neck began from one second to the next, snapping me into complete attention. It's not that I've been unaware of my surroundings, yet I do admit that my guard has been relatively low this morning. This isn't necessarily a dangerous or risky job, instead we're mostly gathering intel. My flashy gift was an attempt to dazzle the thief amongst the friend group, because Babe believes the thief walks amongst us.

"Wow!" I heard Andrew suck a breath beside me at the same time I turned my head to see Babe exiting through the double glass doors.

Wow is right. She's wearing the same light blue dress as before, but the head-on breeze is plastering the soft material against her sinful curves. The high slit allows her left thigh to peek out temptingly as she walks towards me. Babe's got her patented high as hell heels on, yet is walking with a sort of zen that is only possible after a full body relaxing massage.

My hand gripped the whiskey glass instinctively as I slowly raked my eyes up her torso. The neckline of her dress isn't the most revealing she's worn, but even so its design captures my attention. In fact, last month's distraction made me want to pluck the eyes out of every asshole in that bar who got to see the soft, alabaster swells of her breasts temptingly threatening to burst out of her minuscule top. Of course we got our man. He followed after Babe the moment she flashed him a smile.

"Hi." Stephanie flashed me a bright smile as she neared, the wind billowing around her making her the sole focus point. Not just for me, but the whole group. "We're heading into town for an impromptu shopping trip." Babe leaned down, pressing her hand around the back of my neck as her lips loomed closer. Her fingers spearing into my hair and brushing against the collar of my shirt distracted me. Yup, my eyes were zeroed in on her chest as she leaned down. The distractions ended when her lips pressed against mine. For a brief second I wondered if she was going to enact payback for my surprise heated kiss earlier. Babe did, initiating a kiss that made the previous one seem chaste. Christ!

To say that I didn't want the kiss to end and that I really didn't care about this jewel thief would be an understatement. Money can't buy the feelings Babe invokes within me. Perhaps it's the location, or the reminder of our time in Hawaii, but Babe isn't usually this gifting when it comes to her affection. Sure, this could be payback, except for the intensity she so easily projected. Stephanie wants this too.

The retribution continued when Babe delivered the same nipping kissing assault along my jawline, making sure to soothe the minute stings with her soft lips.

"Yo, gimme money." Babe's laugh bubbled past her lips the instant she whispered the phrase in my ear. She was still laughing when she righted herself, taking my whiskey glass with her. The inside joke eased my worry that she would be away from the hotel for the next several hours. I made sure she'd be covered money wise so as not to blow our cover.

"Babe." I mouthed my nickname for her as she smiled wide before taking a sip of my drink, her rings and bracelet sparkling as brightly as the sun. It was my turn to grin wide when her face scrunched up at the strong smoky taste, an obvious nope for her. Without a word, I reached for the water I requested with my drink. Babe drank greedily, quickly telling me without words that she'd be in contact.

"Bye." She waved at the group as she kept her eyes trained on mine, blowing me a playful kiss before she spun on her heel and headed back inside.

"Uhh, I get it man. I get it." I heard Andrew's unsavory voice murmuring beside me. I kept my eyes zeroed in on Babe's retreating back, noting that she opted for a thong to avoid an obvious panty outline against her dress. With the breeze blowing behind her now, there was a minuscule hint of it.

As soon as Babe was gone from view, I flicked my gaze to Andrew, drilling him with my most menacing look.

"Hey, I was just looking." The tacky dumbass defended with a forced laugh as he reached for his drink. He ignored the murderous glare I zeroed in on him, too delusional to have awareness. "But, oh, I get it." Andrew added, still not up to speed with my dark silent warning.

I took a deep breath before I sipped my whiskey, catching tiny wisps of Babe's aroma before I downed the whole drink.

This is going to be a long, long weekend!