Chapter 1
I'm a people watcher I love to watch people and see how they act around other people. I'm currently sitting in my favorite place to eat, Pino's. They have the greatest meatball subs. That's right me, Stephanie Plum, said. THE GREATEST EVER! I choose the corner booth because I can have my back to the wall and still watch people and have a view of the front door.
I'm currently waiting for my number to be called. This place is booming. Cindy and her husband Chuck and their rambunctious 3 kids are here. The booth in front of me has 3 teenagers laughing and talking and taking pictures on their cellphones. Also, Joe Morelli, a TPD plainclothes cop is here. We are friends and friends only, even though he wants more.
Call it petty, but I can't forgive him for what he did back when I was 16. He took my virginity behind the counter of Tasty Bakery and then he had the nerve to write about it on the walls of bathrooms all over Trenton. So, yeah, he is lucky I speak to him. Besides, I just got out of a bad marriage, so I'm not ready for a relationship of any sort.
There are several other booths taken and the line is out the door. In the corner booth on the other end of the place is the sexiest man I've ever laid eyes on. He is probably 6', around 200 of hard lean muscle, dressed in all black with sunglasses on (who wears shades inside) okay whatever, a black hat, like a ball cap but it's just solid black with some logo that looks like it has the letters RM on the front and a skin-tight shirt that outlines his abs and what looks like black cargo type pants. His skin is the color Mocha and will take your breath away. He is just sitting there observing and watching. He catches me watching him, and a smile shows at each corner of his gorgeous mouth like he can read my mind and hear my thoughts. I turn quickly away, and my cheeks burn with embarrassment as my number is called. I look back and he still has the smug look on his face, I can't tell if he is watching me because of damn mirrored shades. I wish I could take those things off so I could see his eyes, I hate mirrored shades.
Since I don't know his name, I refer to him as Mr. Tall Dark & Handsome, because every woman in this place would know that name suits him the best. He will make your heart skip a beat. He looks like he could make a woman scream in bed, WAIT! where did that come from? Hey, it's been a while since a girl has had anything worth having, so give me a break. I wonder what he does for a living. He looks like he could be a model or a superhero. I know realistically superheroes don't exist, but hey a girl can dream right? He could be Batman. You know Batman is hot and dresses all in black. Yep, Batman vibes. So, now why is Batman sitting in Pino's not eating and just watching people. If I get the chance, I may just ask him.
I raise my hand so the waitress could bring me my sub and drink. These things are to die far. Meatballs, with cheese sauce and marinara sauce on a sub bun. Doesn't get any better than that. Man, I have been waiting for this all day. I finally get to sit down and relax.
Mary Lou and I have been unpacking my stuff from the move all day and I'm exhausted. I just want to eat this in peace and relax. Thinking of going home and relaxing in front of the TV with some Chunky Monkey, my favorite ice cream.
As the line moves, in walks a guy wearing a trench coat and looks like he just stuck his finger in a light socket. I mean who wears a trench coat in 90-degree weather. His hair is all wild unwashed, sticking straight out, with what looks to knot up in various places, and he is looking around like he is looking for someone. He starts pushing his way through the line goes up to the counter starts scanning the kitchen area and then pulls out a gun and tells the cashier to give him all the money in the register.
Not today, groaning all I want to do is eat my favorite sub and relax. Now, this guy has interrupted my peace and now I'm pissed. Let's get this over with. I drop my sub on the plate, stand up, and start easing over trying to get behind this guy, by this time the line has disbursed outside and it's completely clear. Mr. TDH is standing also walking towards the guy, before he can grab him, I walk up to the guy, tap him on the shoulder he spins around, I knock the gun out of his hand and drop kick him to the ground. All happen in less than 60 seconds. I turn around and walk back to my seat. Easy Peasy. Thank you, Kickboxing class. Now, back to my sub.
I moan as I take a bite of my sub. Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome looks pissed that I got to the guy before he does, He is standing there with his hands crossed over his chest in a stance that gives you the impression that he is not used to someone kicking ass before he can get to the person. I mean Batman has help sometimes, right? I mean Robin is his sidekick. However, I'm more like Wonder Woman. He is just mad because Wonder Woman got to the guy before he did. He'll get over it.
The guy goes down in a heap on the floor, moaning and crying that I broke his nose. Oh, well he'll live. Joe runs over to cuff him the whole time, fussing at me about not waiting.
"Cupcake, what are you doing?"
"I'm defusing the situation that's what I'm doing."
"You could have gotten yourself killed"
"Oh, grow up I'm fine and the dude didn't kill anyone, you just cuffed him, and he is going to jail." Before I can even pick my sub up, everyone starts applauding and cheering, I'm a little embarrassed but it's just not that serious. I bend my head to pick up my sandwich and raise it to my mouth and stop midway. Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome is standing at my booth. "Hey, can I help you?"
"What were you doing just now, I had it handled?"
"Maybe so, but I beat you to the punch."
He doesn't look happy that I interfered, but again, he'll get over it. I've seen this look too many times from men who can't believe a woman can take care of herself. Like that's not allowed, please give me a break.
"Are you going to sit or just stand there all day, cause either way doesn't matter to me?" I continue to eat while I'm thinking geez what is the problem with these men in this town.
"Stephanie, thank you so much you save my business."
"Johnny, not a problem, just glad I was here." Mr. Johnny is the owner of Pino's, and he is a doll. He's about 5 feet tall with a round belly and pink dimples on each side of his mouth. His hair is short and balding at the top. Pino's has been in the area for over 50 years and handed down from generation to generation. "Your meal is on the house"
"I appreciate that but that's not necessary. I've taken kickboxing classes and just used what I've learned." "Nope, on me not taking no for an answer." He hugs me and scurries back to the kitchen area.
Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome finally decided to sit in my booth and watch the interaction between Mr. Johnny and myself and has yet to say anything.
"Look whoever you are, if you're going to sit here all day and stare at me, you could at least take your shades off and let me see your eyes so I can stare back." Guess, I shouldn't have said that because he takes his shades off, and now, I'm starting in the most beautiful dark eyes I've ever seen. Someone could get lost in those eyes. They are the color of milk chocolate. These are eyes that make you want to just melt in a puddle whenever you look into them.
No one else exists as we start at each other. Why am I feeling like I just got struck by lightning? Is he feeling the same way? Oh, I don't need this complication in my life, I've been in one bad relationship I don't' need another one. Snap out of its Stephanie, this guy is bad news. You have given up bad boys remember. I dropped the rest of my sub on the table, I just can't eat anymore this man is making me feel like I need to have a date with my shower massager tonight. I grab my bag, say bye to Mr. TDH, wave to Mr. johnny, and walk out the door.
Waiting for me propped against his car is Joe with his arms crossed over his chest, "Now what, Joe?"
"Cupcake, you can't go around kicking and hitting people you could get yourself hurt."
I'm standing there with a Fuck You look on my face with my arms crossed over my chest "Joe, first, don't call me cupcake. Second, if you were paying attention to your surroundings instead of trying to get laid by Patty, you might have gotten to the guy before I did. Now, I'm going to go back in their grab my bag, and leave. I'm done with the conversation."
"Fine, but the next time you do something that crazy and I see it, I'm arresting you for bodily injury to a person" as he storms off to his car.
"Urgh, whatever Joe, WHATEVER." I turn and bump into a wall of pure muscle and look up to find Mr. Tall dark and handsome looking down on me with the eyes that make me want to jump him here right now in the parking lot. I swear, I can't get to my shower massager quick enough.
"Now, what do you want, are you here to yell at me too." He hands me my bag, Turns starts walking to this black truck, and over his shoulder says, "next time, leave the kicking ass to me."
I give him a go-to-hell look and start walking down the sidewalk. Mr. TDH, pulls up beside me in his truck, "Hop in I will give you a ride."
"No, thanks I'll walk."
"I wasn't asking you I'm telling you, get in I will give you a ride."
"And I said, I'm walking no thanks." Geez, what is with this guy?
"This area is not a safe one for a beautiful woman such as yourself to be walking by yourself. I know you think you can handle yourself but humor me and get in."
Just because I think this guy is hot, he could be a serial killer, no wait he's too hot for that. Okay, he is probably married or has a girlfriend and I'm not into the crazy girlfriend or deranged wife.
Stopping in mid-stride and staring at him like he has lost his mind "look, I don't even know your name, never met you before in my life, and you want me to get in a truck with you. You could be an ax murderer; have a crazy wife or girlfriend and I don't need those kinds of problems. So, no thanks, I'll walk."
"My name is Ranger. Now you know my name, I'm not an ax murderer. I don't have a crazy wife or girlfriend, I promise I'm just trying to offer you a ride, so you don't have to walk. If you don't' want it fine."
Realizing that my feet are tired I succumb to his offer. "Okay fine you can give me a ride." I walk around to the passenger side, hoist myself up in the truck (it's way off the ground) buckle my seatbelt, shut my door and look straight ahead.
"Okay, I'm ready let's go."
"Where you headed?"
"My apartment is fine thanks," I tell him where I live, and he starts driving in that direction.
He's not very much of a talker, so we just sit there in silence I'm looking out the window and he's driving staring straight ahead. "I'm Stephanie by the way." He just nods his head in acknowledgment and continues to drive. Geez, what can you do to get this guy to talk?
I steal glances every so often hoping I can catch a glance of him smiling, attempting to smile something but I never do. He has this do not disturb look at about him, but it makes you want to find out what is behind that masquerade that he puts up, in other words, the perfect blank face. He has that down pat. I wish I could master the perfect blank face.
The whole trip to my apartment he never says anything. Not one word. Pulling into the parking lot of my building.
"Thanks for the lift, great talking to you." As I hop out of the truck and slam the door.
"Anytime Babe."
I watch him drive off. Babe, who in the hell does he think he is calling Babe.
I turn and walk into my building and up the stairs. My apartment building is a building with 4 total apartments, one being mine. It's an okay building but it was the cheapest I could find at $1000 a month.
I need to get a job. I have an interview at 9 am for a security/surveillance company called Rangeman. Sounds to me like it's a company of all men, but I don't care it's within my employment capabilities, so let's hope I get it.
I recently quit my job as a contractor for a security firm called Stateman in upper New York, which dealt with government contracts concerning insurance embezzlement. It was my job to research the companies, find out the suspected parties and go on surveillance with my partner who at the time was Johnny who had been in the business for over 15 years. I quit because I got tired of not being treated like a team member. After all, I was one of two women on the entire team. I got tired of being hit on all the time. My other team members the guys never took me seriously.
The other woman on the team, Sheila, was more than happy to sleep with anyone and everyone to get where she wanted to be in the business which was at the top. I was not one for that. So, I just got tired, the last straw was when my Boss, Mr. Nick Shaw, everyone called him Nick, gave me an ultimatum I could either sleep with him and I would get the promotion I wanted, or I could stay where I was at for the rest of my time at the company. I ended up telling him to Fuck himself and walked out.
I moved to Trenton to be closer to my family and because I researched Rangeman, and it's supposed to be the best in the tri-state northern area. Rangeman is the equivalent of what I did at my previous job with Stateman. We shall see.