" Yo!"

I heard his familiar voice on the end of the line. I dearly wanted to hang up, but I know he has caller id. I just realized I don't want to talk to him. Swell time to realize that Stephanie! I had to come up with something quick,

" Yo yourself. So, I was wondering of you have anyone to spare today, I have a real pig on my list and I'd like to have some back- up other than Lula."

There was a long pause, I thought maybe he would say no, but finally he spoke.

" Lester's free today."

" Good."
Another long pause,

" I'll send him to your apartment?"

" No, tell him to meet me at Pino's. I have to get some lunch."

Almost wanting to kill Morelli works up an appetite.

" Alright, he'll be right over."

" Okay."

I said.

" I'll see you soon."

" Yeah, Bye."

I responded. Ranger, man of few words, hung up and I sighed. That was awkward.

Lester was Pino's when I pulled in the drive. I could tell because of the black SUV tucked in a corner of the parking lot looking like a diamond in the ruff of beat up Jersey cars. I pulled in to a free spot, jerking to stop in the awful crap-mobile. Lester was waiting just inside the door.

" Hey beautiful!"

He said. His customary welcome still managing to bring a blush to my cheeks. Damn.

" Hi Lester. Wanna grab a table? I gotta hit the ladies room."

I brushed past him without waiting for a response. I don't actually have to pee; I just need to process my latest emotional disturbance (the phone call to Ranger). It was so awkward and weird. What am I going to do? It's not like I can take it back unfortunately. Thing is, I'm not exactly sure I want to. What if me telling Ranger I love him was exactly what my life needed, some direction? Get over it Steph, that wasn't direction, just more awkwardness. I wonder what Lester will say when he finds out I didn't bring him here to catch a sleeze, just to satisfy my own curiosity.

There was a line outside the bathroom but it went surprisingly quickly. I was back to the table Lester had picked where he was sitting with his back to the wall (of course). He smiled like a dopey puppy when I neared the table and gestured for me to sit. Before he could speak, I cut in-

" Lester, I have to ask you something."

"Okay…"

"- Just let me get it out…. does Ranger love me, or do you think he could?"

The question was just about as stupid as I felt asking it, but I had to ask. I can't stand this awkwardness. I think I want to be with Ranger, but what if he could never offer me the kinds of things I would want from him?

"Yes."

Lester said, without blinking.

"That's it? Yes?"

I had expected him to maybe avoid the question or…. oh I don't know!

"Yes, Steph. I think he loves you more than even he knows. You just have to make him see it."

Well how am I going to do that?

"Thanks Lester."

I said distractedly, and threw what I hoped was a grateful smile his way before getting up from the booth.

"Wait- Steph, what about food? Aren't you…gonna eat something?"

He was asking like all I had on my mind was food all the time!

"Naw, I'll see you later…"

I said vaguely as I walked out of Pino's.

Driving to nowhere in particular, I got to think about my life some more. I couldn't stop thinking about that one word, yes. It meant a lot of things but I couldn't really decide what I should do about it. Seeing as how my life has turned out so far, the idea I have isn't a great one. I've made horrendous choices in my life that are coming back to haunt me, and all the times I have royally screwed myself over are making themselves clear. I chose Morelli, over Ranger, over all the other men that aren't possessive Italian pigs who don't call me a pastry. Being a bounty hunter is something that consistently pulls me back in despite all attempts I have made to have a more honest job, a better life than the one filled with stalkers and rapists. I have to do something about it; I have to either quit this altogether or get a LOT better at it. For the present, I think I should lay off Morelli and let him sort out his life, he doesn't need me and my drama complicating his life. Maybe if I got serious about it, Ranger could help me out with all the other stuff. I made the decision right then, that, in retrospect probably changed my whole life. I pulled a u-turn that earned me more than a few honks. I rolled down the window and flipped them all the bird as I sped out of sight to the opposite end of town.

Pulling up at Ranger's building, I felt only a slight twinge of guilt in the pit of my stomach for what Morelli would say. I've never believed in things like fate, but with all that's happened recently I can't help but think that maybe this is what I'm supposed to do. I stopped outside the garage so I could hunt for the key I had purposefully lost in the bottom of my coach bag months ago. I dumped everything out, and there it was taped to the bottom. I let myself into the garage and found a place next to the long line of black cars.

I couldn't help feeling like the heroine in some cheesy romantic comedy, striding purposely through the corridors of Rangeman to find the hero and tell him how I felt …again, but with no guilt. I was about to take that potentially heart-breaking leap that could either make or break this whole thing. Maybe Ranger isn't even here… I thought hopefully to myself. But nope, there he was, in his office bent over some papers – looking to be hard at work. He didn't see her, she could just leave and – he looked up. They stared at each other for a moment between the glass before she stepped into his office. Closing the door behind me, I leaned against the glass, summoning the courage to say what should have been said a long time ago.

" Ranger, Carlos, I love you. I have for a long time and I finally get it. It's you I want to be with."

He looked amused and chuckled lightly; I couldn't help feeling angry that he thought this was something to laugh about. He strode forward before I could say anything and took my arms firmly in his strong hands. For a ridiculous moment I thought he was going to do something to hurt me and then- he kissed me. It was a passionate kiss, one I felt was filled with real love and not the lust I usually got from Morelli. His fingers felt like burning brands on my arms, searing though to my core. His lips were hot and I could smell the Bulgari on him. I reached up to take his face in my hands and deepen our kiss while he moved to pick me up. He carried me with ease out of his office, I stopped kissing him momentarily to protest- he merely mumbled something against my lips that sounded like: "cameras."

He carried me in his arms to the elevator and I knew where we were going. He put me down long enough to put the key in for floor 7 and then resumed our kiss. His hands were all over me, cupping my ass and growling appreciatively. I felt my hands trembling where they rested behind his ears, and I almost stopped kissing him from the force of my emotion. The elevator opened up and he walked me out, guiding me as I was going backwards and likely to fall. His face lowered once again to mine.

" Stephanie, I feel like I have loved you since I first saw you. I just can't believe it's taken you this long to come around."

I wanted to hit him – but I wanted him too much right now so I swatted him and grabbed his head again, imprisoning his lips with my own. He picked me up again, but this time he took charge and basically slammed me into the wall, holding me up with his body pressed against mine. He began to kiss his way down, down to my throat, on my vein where he sucked for a moment at my pulse then went lower, to my collarbone and chest, his hands lingering over my breasts. I could feel the fire in my lower extremities ignite. It was only coals, but I knew with a few well-aimed strokes he could turn it into a roaring fire that consumed us both. He ripped my blouse open, undid the buttons to my jeans in a flash and I kicked them off. We were both fumbling at the buttons on his Carharts, but he succeeded first. I was deliciously aroused when I saw he still went commando. Damn, he's bigger than I remembered. His already waiting arousal was like fuel to the fire. I all but ripped his shirt off and forced him against the wall. Pressing myself to him, I whispered in his ear… "Fuck me."

What seemed like hours later…I lay sprawled on the bed in Rangers apartment… totally spent. The cool air made me very aware of the sweat that was coating my entire body. I shivered a little and crept, naked, under the covers. Before I fell asleep, I realized that I felt whole, complete. I didn't know how – or when, but I felt sure Ranger and I would find a way to make it work. I drifted off to sleep across Rangers naked chest – Morelli being the furthest thing from my mind.

A/N: I am dreadfully sorry this took so dang long. Please forgive me, those who have reviewed – YOU ARE MY HEROES and the rest of you are pretty cool too. I don't know if I'm going to stop here, but I feel like I am. Tell me what you think!