Everybody and anything familiar belong to Janet. The mistakes are mine alone.

Chapter 5

"You know, you've finally got me convinced that exercise isn't all bad," I told Ranger, as he reached a hand back to make sure I made it up the small hill without slipping on the leaves that are still wet from last night's downpour. "I know you needed to get out some energy before we meet Tank, but I'm actually looking forward to morning walks now."

"How much of a role does the location play in that decision, and how much is due to you being able to enjoy a cup of coffee as we walk?"

"It definitely beats throwing up after running through my neighborhood."

"Which wouldn't have happened if you had worked out every day instead of only after you've spent a day binging on junk food. That crap doesn't agree with the human body on a good day, never mind when you shake it up."

"Which makes a strong case against running," I pointed out.

"Or against eating processed shit," he countered.

"Let's agree to disagree on that one since this body," I said, jerking a thumb towards my chest, "is fueled by sugar, caffeine, and carbs … and you seem to enjoy it."

He took the travel mug out of my hand. I found out why pretty quickly. He used his free arm to curl around me and pulled me flush to his body.

"I more than enjoy your body, Babe," he said against my lips before proving that he in fact does enjoy my mouth … when it's kissing him instead of eating cake.

"You love me," I said for him when my lips were free again.

"Always have, always will."

"Promise?"

He gave me a wolf grin. "Just try and stop me."

I could've taken on a freakin' triathlon after that. Lucky for me, that wasn't something I said out loud or could accomplish way out here.

The lake had an eerie layer of fog hovering over it as the sun was doing its best to come up and shine for the few hours it's given this time of the year. Since we've been outside, a light drizzle started but we weren't getting wet. Ranger had picked a place so isolated from the main road, the trees protected us from the elements as well as from outside eyes.

It seems fitting that his 'country' house is the perfect place to hide from the world or hide a body.

"I've heard the best way to deal with a difficult anniversary is to do something memorable on the date of it," I said to Batman, as we were getting ready to leave the house twenty minutes after returning to it from our short walk. "So you'll have something positive to remember instead of only the pain."

"What are you suggesting?"

"I don't know. I haven't gotten that far in my thinking. Just that maybe we should start planning to do something fun for this time next year … to remind you that life has some good in it to help offset all the bad stuff you've been through."

"I'll always remember that you came here with me and continue to help me get through one of the biggest losses of my life."

"There, you just proved what I mean. You're happy I'm here but you put the reason why I came with you first. I want you to be able to face the Fall with a smile on your face because you know your buddies would've enjoyed visiting us way out here."

"I'm sorry, Steph, but I wouldn't have shared time with you with them."

I rolled my eyes. "Nice try. Where are we heading right now?"

He didn't answer me because he knew I was right. He may swear he wants to keep his personal and professional lives separate, but we're leaving our 'love nest' to go meet his best friend and his company's second in command. It may take something big, but Ranger's never been able to keep me in only one area of his life. I end up barging into every corner of it eventually.

Normally, when I'm riding shotgun in a vehicle with Batman, my eyes stayed glued to him if I'm not reading a file or checking my cell for up-to-date information on a skip. Today, I was dividing my attention between his perfect profile and the trees that look like the crayons left in the box after Lisa had taken out her favorite colors.

"I chose to take a walk when you found me, because even Trenton looks pretty when the leaves change, but it's nothing compared to what it's like here."

I doubt he cared about anything except getting us to the restaurant and back with zero issues, but he humored me by flicking his dark eyes to the left, towards me, and then back to the road and rear-view mirror.

"Smog, overflowing Dumpsters, and people shooting at you have a tendency to ruin the scenery of a place."

He's right about that … sort of. To me, Rangeman is like glitter and gunpowder. It's showy and impossible to escape with an undercurrent of danger in everyone involved in the business or business end of it. But I don't think Ranger's explanation is entirely it.

Maybe it's the life we've managed to create here in such a short amount of time that's putting beer-goggles on my view of the town. The rain knocked a few yellow leaves onto the windshield, and an acorn hitting the roof of Ranger's vehicle gave me a momentary heart attack, but the rest of the drive was peaceful as well as pretty.

When we parked, I wasted no time opening my door and scooting out before Ranger decided he had to get my door for me. His eyebrow went up as I met him at the back bumper, but he didn't make a big deal out of it. He just held out his hand for me to take before we went inside.

It was like someone had completely modernized a nineteen sixties diner. The black and white checkerboard floor, red and chrome barstools, and oversized booths were all there, but updated in a way that didn't make you feel as if you'd entered a time machine.

I nudged Ranger with my elbow. "This is what should've happened with my apartment," I whispered. "Its inspiration could've been the seventies without everything in it being an artifact from the actual decade."

He still refuses to say anything nice about my crappy apartment, so his only response was a slight twitch of his lips that I took to mean he found my comment more amusing than delusional.

After being secluded for a while, even this small breakfast place that had only a handful of customers, felt jarring. Originally, I was worried about how Ranger would handle being in a crowd again, but I found myself moving closer to him, not the other way around. I shouldn't be surprised, since he's Batman. But I've learned just recently how human he really is under the four layers of total badass.

That being said, I was happy to see a familiar face even if it's Tank's grumpy one. "Good to see you haven't killed each other yet," was his greeting when we'd reached the table he had secured.

This will be interesting. Tank had taken Ranger's usual place of the seat that put his back to the wall, so Ranger could either sit beside the big guy - since Tank didn't seem willing to get up let alone relinquish his position - or he could sit beside me across from his BFF, leaving his back exposed.

My heart did a little flip when Ranger ignored Tank's booth seat to pull out a chair for me. He then took the chair that butted up to mine. Either his bat senses knew this place was safe, believed Tank would alert him if it turned out it wasn't, or he didn't want any distance between us even the length of a breakfast table.

I'm glad I switched out the sweatshirt of Ranger's I wore for our walk for one of my own shirts since I'd have to ditch his super warm jacket if I want to be able to use my arms and hands to eat. I shucked my outer layer and got cozy with Batman.

"I'd say there's a higher risk of you killing Lester without Ranger there to stop you," I fired back.

"If Lester's dead, there's no one for Tank to torture," my guy informed me.

"Truth is, I'm not sure which outcome would be worse. You guys are vicious in the name of teasing."

"Talking shit is our love language," Tank said with a straight face.

Which isn't saying much because Tank rarely deviates from 'straight face'.

I pointed my menu at him. "Never say 'love language' again."

That nearly broke the expressionless thing he's mastered. "Like I would."

Since I was invited, I know this isn't a true business meeting … though I gave them a chance to do their thing while I studied the menu. It's a good thing they don't talk a lot because it didn't take me long to decide what I wanted to eat.

"I don't know about you guys, but I know what I'm getting … the pumpkin bread French toast."

"You'll always find a way to have dessert for breakfast," Ranger noted.

"Hello! It has real pumpkin in it. It says so right here," I said, pointing out the description in the menu he was holding. "Pumpkins are vegetables."

"Vegetables don't usually come with frosting."

It's like he didn't even read the menu.

"Glaze," I corrected. "Not frosting. And it's cinnamon glaze! Which is an antibiotic/anti-inflammatory/antioxidant spice. Being a major health nut, you should know that."

Like a flirt switch had been flipped, his dark eyes turned hot. "Feeling brave, Babe?"

Gulp. I was until he asked that.

Thankfully, we now have a chaperone. "Sounds like your time away has been good for you," Tank said to one or both of us.

"Ranger's been stuck with me, so you must mean I'm looking well rested."

"And well loved," Batman added to make my face turn even redder.

Mental note … still not ready to play with Ranger.

"I meant you both look sane," Tank interrupted, "not on the verge of going stir crazy or killing each other."

"You sound surprised," I pointed out. "I thought you guys are used to being confined for an undefined length of time."

"We are. We also know that you're not. And the Boss wasn't on a job."

He has a point. Hearing it put that way, I'm surprised we are doing so good. Better than good actually.

Since I didn't know what to say to that, Ranger took over. "How are things on the job?"

"Nothing's happened that I can't handle."

I'm not sure if that was said to keep Ranger from worrying or if he went with an edited version because a waitress appeared to pour coffee and take our orders.

"So, you're here just to check up on me?" Ranger asked Tank when it was just the three of us again.

He didn't bother denying it. "And on Stephanie."

Now that surprised me. Why would he … unless … "Rex?" I forced myself to ask.

"The rat's still breathing. He's probably healthier now than when he was with you."

Well, that's just rude. "You don't hear me insulting the way you take care of your cats, do you?"

"Because there's nothing to insult. Their vet asks me for advice."

"So, if Rex is enjoying his vacation, why'd you say you wanted to check on me too? There's no way you thought Ranger would hurt me."

"Don't be stupid. I know him."

"Then why worry?"

"I don't know you as well, but I have observed enough over the years to consider that you could've reached your breaking point, shooting the boss out of frustration, and trying to go FTA on your own."

"Wow … that's some imagination you got there. And thank you. No one other than Ranger would ever believe I'm capable of doing any of that."

Though, I'll be the second to admit that I have a temper. Morelli will always be the first to say it.

"Hal would disagree," Batman felt the need to say, "since he got zapped when you tried to run when you were supposed to be hiding out."

"Extenuating circumstances," was my only defense.

"It was a party, Babe. Not something to risk your life over."

"Hah! Says someone who didn't grow up with my mother. My life would've been over if I hadn't shown up that night for Val."

"Looks like that isn't an issue now," Tank noted.

I shook my head. "It isn't. Doing what everybody else wanted wasn't working out well for me, so I'm only doing what I want now. And I wanted to be here with - and for - Ranger. My mom can bite me if she doesn't like it."

Our food appeared so I didn't have to elaborate any further. But the slight nod I got from Tank had me feeling like I'd passed the test he came here to give me.

Since small or shop talk wasn't the main attraction for me, breakfast is, I let them discuss whatever non gray area business they wanted to while I dug in. I knew Ranger wouldn't appreciate me pointing out yet again that he does breakfast all wrong. Tank does too, but he's even less reactive than Batman is so I let them eat their gross egg white, salmon, green leaf wraps without any nose wrinkles or questions regarding their sanity.

I mean, no one should eat like that unless it's a life-or-death ultimatum given by a trained professional.

Like we were on a job, when the last of the coffee and my food was gone Ranger walked out of the restaurant first and Tank held the door for me to follow directly behind the Boss. I'd think having them always protecting me this way was sweet, but I've seen what could happen to them if something went wrong. And now that Ranger has shared a little more about his past with me, I now have a fresh list of injuries or situations to be terrified of putting them into.

To get my mind off that, I took in the difference in the parking lot. "Jesus, how long were we inside?" I asked him.

"Long enough for the temperature to drop and the light rain to turn to snow flurries," my guy answered.

"I should've ordered a second breakfast," I said more to myself. "Maybe it would've turned back to summer by the time I ordered and ate again."

It wasn't just a few flurries. The red, orange, and yellow leaves that had been getting a shower, now have a jacket of snow sticking to them.

"I'm not ready for this shit," Tank said, glaring up at the sky.

If anyone could intimidate whoever controls Jersey weather, it'd be Tank. The white flakes kept coming down though.

"Do you wanna come back with us until it stops?" I asked him. Both men turned to give me WTF looks. "What? You hate snow and Ranger and I aren't staying too far from here."

"You think I can't drive in this?" Tank asked.

I sighed. "Of course you can. I was just saying you don't have to. You guys aren't the only ones who try to protect people."

His eyes flicked to Ranger. "Can I pet her?"

"No. No noogies either."

"I remember when you two used to be fun."

"And I remember when you didn't talk," I pointed out.

"You're not the only one who misses those days."

He's full of something besides breakfast, but I'm going to be mature and not tell him that.

"Babe," Ranger said, clearly hearing my thoughts.

"I didn't say it out loud."

"I'm heading out. Call if you need something." Tank paused as he was walking away and turned back to address Ranger. "You have any idea when you'll be back?"

My gut tightened at the reality reminder. I know we can't stay here forever, but I don't want to leave until I have an idea of how life will change - or remain the same - once we return to Trenton.

Ranger didn't have a definite answer for either of us. "I'll let you know."

Tank gave a hint of a nod and then disappeared into the swirling snow.

"He'll be fine, Steph," Ranger told me as we watched him drive off. "He's driven in and has survived much worse."

Understatement of the year.

Everything was covered with a dusting of snow, but it didn't stick on the busier roads so our ride to our temporary home was even better than the one to the diner. I was riding a sugar high, and Ranger seemed more relaxed knowing that his life and his company are ready for him whenever he's ready to get back to them.

I didn't want to deal with my hair getting three feet wider if it got wet, so I pulled his jacket up over my head and hauled ass to the house. He's got longer legs and has reflexes like a rattler, and he got to the door about the same time I did. My jacket came off almost as fast as my boots did after he unlocked the door.

"Tank didn't leave any homework for us so I guess we can just enjoy a snow day."

"It's only flurries," he repeated. "It'll be back in the seventies tomorrow."

"So, we'd better make the most of the white stuff while it's here."

"You planning on making snow angels?"

I grinned as I turned towards the stairs. "Nope. I'm thinking sheet angels would be fun to try if you wanna join me."

I didn't have to ask twice. Ranger is a man of many talents. One is he can get us both undressed faster than I can get my boots untied. I didn't even get a chance to see if I could make any imprint on the thousand thread count sheet. When my butt hit bed, Ranger's bare chest met mine, taking me flat on my back. I quickly lost interest in anything that didn't involve the smell, taste, and feel of him.

"What are you smiling about?" He asked once the bedroom windows were good and steamy from our indoor activities.

"I'm in bed with a naked you. What's not to smile about?"

"Stephanie …"

I sighed, warming his skin that my cheek is resting on. "I was just thinking about something Valerie said to me a few weeks ago."

I never knew how relaxing it was to have someone finger combing my curls during a conversation. I'm now a total believer in touch therapy.

"Which was?" He pressed.

"I was complaining about how cold it was the first night it dropped into the forties, and Val's advice to me was that if Morelli's truly out of my life, I should get myself an electric blanket before winter sets in so I can stay warm." I scooted myself even closer to the heat Ranger's body radiates. "I have to say, this is waaaay better than any blanket."

"Now that the cop is gone, I plan for you to never need a bed warmer other than me."

I leaned up on an elbow so I could see his face. "And when you have to go out of town?"

"You'll have to come with me?" He counter-questioned.

Hmmm, I hadn't thought of that answer. But this just gave me the perfect opening to mention what had worried me about Tank's question. I don't mind being here to help Ranger, especially after everything he's done for me. But I don't think I can take being 'just friends' again after experiencing this.

It sounds like he couldn't either, so I felt mostly okay asking him about us.

"You've shared so much of yourself, and your life, with me since we've been here," I began. "Can I tell you something about me?"

"I'd prefer talking about you for a change. You're as close mouthed as I am at times."

"You may miss that in a second. I have to ask; how do you see us living when we get back to Trenton?"

"I don't have a lake house there, but I do have a penthouse you love."

"That isn't what I mean … not exactly. Are we a couple/couple now, like the kind that eats, sleeps, and probably works together?"

"Did you purposely forget to add 'lives' together as well?"

Did I? I shook my head and settled it back down on his chest. "No. I'm not demanding a huge change unless it's what we both want. I just don't want to be this close to you only to be shut out again once we return to 'normal'. It's easy to play house when it's just the two of us far from everyday distractions, but I need to know that what we feel for each other here will follow us home."

"Is this about the Burg?"

"No. It's about me. You're like birthday cake to me."

Despite the heaviness of the subject, I could feel his smile. "Explain."

"I can't just have a bite of cake; I want to eat the entire thing."

His hand now stroked up and down my bare back. "You say the sexiest things, Babe."

I caught a bit of his skin between my thumb and index finger. "Are you teasing me?"

He used his other hand to free the threatened section of his chest. "No. I'm trying to understand you. You're saying you want all of me?"

"At least when you aren't working. I now know what a life with you would … could … be and I don't want to give it up when we're ready to leave our hideaway."

"Have I given you any reason to think you'll be discarded?" He asked after a few seconds of hearing only his heartbeat.

"Not at all, but we haven't talked about where I go after you go back to work. Do you drop me off at my apartment before getting back to Rangeman? Do I go with you and get the ribbing from the guys over with quickly? Do we just do dates away from the office for now?"

"As I said once before, the ball is in your court, Steph. All I need is a promise from you that whatever happens, you'll be there till the end."

I slid the rest of the way onto him so I could try to read his face again. "That's it? It's as simple as that? If I want you, I have you?"

"Yes. I've given you space. I've given you time. But this is exactly how I've always envisioned our relationship in the end. Us together. The location doesn't matter."