CHAPTER ONE

These characters do not belong to me; they belong to the great Janet Evanovich.

a/n: This chapter contains a very brief reference to a disturbing subject. Not at all graphic but sensitive people may be disturbed. You have been warned.

I got out of my car and opened up the back door to wrestle out the hand cuffed guy in the back. If you're wondering why I have a guy hand cuffed in the back of my car it's because I'm a fugitive apprehension agent, also know as a bounty hunter. Yeah, I know, me a bounty hunter, I don't look the part. Hell, most of the time I don't act it either. My name is Stephanie Plum. A.K.A the Bombshell Bounty Hunter.

Right now I don't look glamorous; in fact I look pretty crappy. I'm covered head to toe in mud, thanks to Mike the pervert Corelli, my FTA, or failure to appear, on the scum sucking troll that skipped on his bond.

I hate being covered in mud, but, hey, it beats garbage which I'm all to frequently covered in, too.

Anyway, as I was wrestling the pervert out of my car I felt a familiar tingle on the back of my neck. Great, just what I need Ranger seeing me like this, oh, well, it's not like he hasn't seen me worse so I suck it up and turn around as I see Tank out of the corner of my eye snatch Mike out of the car.

Ranger, who's real name is Ricardo Carlos Manoso, is the real deal, bad-assed, not to mention fine ass, bounty hunter and owner of the RangeMan security company.

"Ranger."

I had expected to see him amused as usual but if anything he looked concerned. "Babe, are you OK?" He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and I felt my eyes start to tear up.

He pulled me to into his arms and I said, "You'll get dirty."

"It's only dirt, it'll wash off. You know I could help you out with that."

"With what?"

"Washing it off."

Oh, boy, getting weak kneed and warm in certain parts of my anatomy. "And what, exactly, is "it" that you're willing to wash?"

I could feel him smile against my neck, "what ever you need washed I promise it wash it REALLY well." That sent a jolt straight to me doodah

I sniffed into his shoulder, "are you crying?"

"No."

He tilted his back and looked at me and the corners of his mouth tipped up, "so, what's this then?" as he wiped away a tear.

"My eyes are leaking."

Now he gave me his full 200 watt smile, "Babe."

Ranger bent down and gave me a very soft kiss on the lips and then he pulled me tight and kissed my forehead. Don't get me wrong, Ranger can kiss, I mean bone melting, toe curling kiss, but right now, at this moment, the tiny soft kiss meant more to me.

I heard someone clearing their throat and turned around to see Tank, "I'll take this scum in for you, Bombshell."

"You don't have to do that, Tank, I can get him."

I don't mind, Bombshell, besides I need to because he's so clumsy."

"Huh?'

"Oh, yeah, I just know he's going to fall down…repeatedly," he flashed a grin at me.

The Perv sputtered, "hey! You can't do that! I have rights!"

"Is that right, scumbag? Wait until the jail population finds out what you did to your step-daughter." Tank shoved him hard and because his hands were cuffed behind his back he fell. "See, clumsy!"

Ranger gave a grim smile, "I see that."

"Stephanie!"

I closed my eyes and dropped my head on Ranger's shoulder. This day just keeps getting better and better. "Mom."

"Look at you! What are you thinking? You need to find a real job…"

I had felt Ranger tense up as soon as my mother screamed my name and he interrupted her sternly, "Mrs. Plum, do you what Stephanie did today?"

"Obviously she rolled in a pigpen," my mother replied huffily.

"No, Stephanie brought in a fugitive, a man who raped his 14 year-old step-daughter, and somehow make bail and missed his court date and was evading justice." He bulled be tighter and again kissed my forehead and said, "Proud of you, Babe."

My mother turned very pale and her mouth hung open. Wow! My Mother speechless!

Tank was back and handing me the body receipt I needed to get paid as Ranger continued, "Aren't you glad someone like that isn't running around and being a danger to your granddaughters?'

My mother started to shake and I really thought she was going to pass out.

"Easy, Mrs. Plum, I'll have Tank drive you home, OK?'

She just nodded her head. I thought this had to be one of the seven signs of the Apocalypse, my mother was totally speechless.

"You didn't have to do that, Ranger."

"Babe…your mother should be proud of you and stop giving you a bunch of shit." He reached up and tucked another bit of hair behind my ear, "listen, Babe, I want to talk to you about a job."

"Ranger, I really don't want to dress up like a slut tonight."

"It's not a distraction and it isn't tonight.

"What…?"

"Cupcake!" Just shoot me now! "Wow, look at you! Been visiting the farm?"

"Damn it, Joe, leave me alone! I've had a REALLY bad day!"

"Cupcake, they're all bad for you."

"Bite me!"

Tank had gently loaded my mother in the RangeMan SUV, he even buckled her seatbelt for her. She was taken aback for a second but didn't seen afraid of him. She must really be in shock.

He came over and said, "there a problem, Bombshell?'

"The problem is with her job."

"I wasn't talking to you, Morelli."

His jaw was so tight it looked like he had lockjaw.

"No problem, Tank, just Joe being his usual jackass self." Ranger relaxed and gave me his almost smile but Joe got more pissed off and looked like he wanted to hit someone. Tank narrowed his eyes and took a step towards Joe who involuntarily stepped back. No matter how pissed off he wasn't stupid. Finally he gave me a hard look and turned on his heels and stalked back into the police station.

Tank shook his head and said to me, "Bombshell, I'm going to take your mother home and Lester will drop off her car."

"Thanks Tank."

"Anything for you, Bombshell." He went around and got in the car and drove off.

"Babe."

I looked up at Ranger and he said, "See you tomorrow at RangeMan?"

I nodded and he lowered his head and me a bone melting kiss. Then he turned away and just got into his car and left. I felt bereft suddenly.

It's been a hell of a day and I had an appointment with my shower massager while I would be thinking about Ranger washing "it". I would do that just as soon as I picked up my check and deposited in the bank. My poor account wouldn't know how to act with that much money in it.