and rang Ranger's bell. I was ready to ring it a second time when he opened the door.
He was still dressed in the black T-shirt and cargo pants. I was thankful for this. I thought I could manage to keep from ripping the cargo pants off him. I wasn't sure about the black silk boxers.
'It's lonely on the fourth floor,' I said. 'And your sheets are nicer than mine.'
'Ordinarily I'd take that as a sexual invitation, but after this morning I'm going to guess you just want my sheets.'
'Actually, I was hoping I could sleep on your couch.'
Ranger pulled me into his apartment and locked the door. 'You can sleep anywhere you want, but I'm not going to be responsible for my actions if you fondle me again when I'm sleeping.'
'I didn't fondle you!'
We were at the breakfast table, and Ranger was watching me eat a croissant.
Tell me the truth,' Ranger said. 'Were you really freaked out last night? Or did you just want my sheets and my shower gel and my food?'
I smiled at him while I chewed. 'Does it matter?'
Ranger thought about it for a long moment. 'Only minimally.'
I'd slept on his couch, wrapped in a down comforter, my head on one of his pillows with the wonderful smooth pillowcase. It wasn't as comfy as his bed, but it had been guilt-free.
'I got some bad news while you were in the shower this morning.' Ranger said. 'Junkman tagged his cop.'
My heart stuttered. 'Anyone I know?'
'No. He was a member of the State Police Street Gang Unit. He was working locally, but he was based out of north Jersey.'
I was next up.
'Junkman will get taken out,' Ranger said. There are a lot of people looking for him. In the meantime, I want you to stay in the building. If I don't have to worry about you, I can have two extra men on the street tracking Junkman.'
Fine by me. I wasn't anxious to be part of Junkman's coronation ceremony. And staying in Ranger's apartment wasn't a hardship.
I poured more coffee into my mug. 'You have a lot of overhead here. How can you afford to have men following me around and looking for Junkman?'
'Junkman just killed a state cop. There's a big enough reward for Junkman to justify assigning some manpower to search for him. There's no monetary way to justify a security detail to watch over you. I bleed money every time you need protection.'
I didn't know how to respond. I'd never really thought about
Ranger as a businessman. He'd always seemed more like a superhero, recruiting men and cars from a parallel galaxy. Or at the very least, from the mob.
'Jeez,' I said. 'I'm sorry.'
Ranger finished his coffee and stood. 'I said there was no monetary way to justify your security. The truth is, you're a line item in my budget.'
I followed him into the bedroom and watched while he got his gun, checked it out, and attached it to his belt.
'I have you listed under entertainment,' Ranger said, sliding money and credit cards into his pants pocket. This is a high-stress business, and you're comedy relief for my entire team. Plus, I get a tax break.'
My eyes opened wide and my eyebrows shot up an inch into my forehead. This didn't sound flattering. 'Comedy relief?'
Ranger gave me one of his rare full-on smiles. 'I like you. We all like you.' He grabbed me by the front of my shirt, lifted me two inches off the ground, and kissed me. 'The truth is, I love you… in my own way.' He set me back down and turned to go. 'Have a nice day. And remember, you're on camera the instant you leave this apartment. I've given orders to stun-gun you if you try to leave the building.'
And Ranger was gone.
I was totally flummoxed. I had no idea when Ranger was serious and when he was kidding. There was no doubt in my mind that I amused him. In the past, the amusement always felt affectionate, never malicious. Being a line item under entertainment was pushing it. And what the heck was I supposed to think about the I love you that was qualified by in my own way? I was supposed to think it was nice, I decided. I loved him in my own way, too.
The front bell chimed, and I opened the door to Ella. She had the basket of clean clothes I'd left in the fourth- floor room.
'Ranger asked me to bring these up to you,' Ella said. 'And your phone is in the basket, too. It was on the night table.' She collected the breakfast tray and turned to leave. 'When would be a good time for me to come in to clean?' she asked.
'Whenever it's convenient for you.'
'I can tidy up right now,' she said. 'I won't be long. There isn't much to do today.'
Not counting my mother, no one had ever cleaned or cooked for me. I wasn't in the income bracket to have a housekeeper. I didn't know anyone, other than Ranger, who had help. It was a luxury I'd always wanted, but it was uncharted territory for me right now, and it felt weird. It was one thing for Ella to come in and make Ranger's life easier while he was out catching desperadoes. It was totally different to have her cleaning up my mess while I sat around watching television.
Fifteen
I solved the Ella problem by helping her make the bed and straighten the apartment. She wouldn't allow me to touch the laundry, not wanting to be held responsible should I mix Rangers blacks with his whites. Although, from what I could see, he didn't have any whites, other than sheets. We'd moved from the bedroom to the bathroom. Ella was setting out fresh towels, and I was smelling the soap.
'I love this soap,' I said.
'My sister works on the cosmetic floor of a department store, and she gave me a sample of the Bulgari. It is very expensive, but it suits Ranger. Not that Ranger would notice. All he thinks about is work. Such a nice handsome young man and no girlfriend. Until you.'
'I'm not exactly a girlfriend.'
Ella stood straight arid did a sharp inhale, focusing her snapping bird eyes on me. 'He isn't paying you, is he? Like the way Richard Gere was paying Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman?'
'No. Ranger and I work together. I'm a bounty hunter.'
'Maybe you'll become a girlfriend,' she said hopefully.
'Maybe.' But doubtful. In this case, I didn't think love and sex equated to boyfriend. 'Do you take care of all his properties?' I asked Ella.
'Just this building. I take care of the apartments on the fourth floor and Ranger. My husband, Louis, takes care of everything else.'
Rats. I was hoping to get a lead on the Bat Cave.
Ella gathered the day's laundry and turned to go. 'Would you like me to bring lunch?' she asked. 'Ranger is never at home for lunch, but I'd be happy to make you a sandwich and a nice salad.'
'Not necessary,' I said. 'I have some sandwich things here. But thank you for offering.'
I let Ella out and my cell phone rang.
'Everybody's been trying to get you,' Grandma said. 'You haven't been answering your phone.'
'I misplaced it.'
'Your sisters driving us nuts. Ever since that fitting she's been impossible. I swear, I never saw anybody with
