Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum 13)

“Not even Tank?”

“Not even Tank.”

“So they think we're sleeping together.”

“Probably.” Ranger set two place settings at the breakfast bar. “Did Morelli or Dickie say anything about the money?”

“No. Morelli said the police were investigating the law firm's client list, but he didn't say more than that. It wasn't a long visit. Lula was outside, waiting in the car.”

We both dug into the food.

“Did Dave say anything interesting?”

“He said I was nosy, that I had a knack for being in places I didn't belong, and his boss didn't like it.”

“So they were going to do what to you?”

“Dave didn't say, but I don't think it was anything good.”

I cleaned my plate and looked over at the tray. No dessert. Ranger never ate dessert. Another reason I couldn't marry Ranger. That and the fact he didn't see marriage as an option.

We loaded the dishwasher, put the leftover food in the fridge, and migrated into the den to watch television.

“Do you watch television a lot?” I asked him.

“Almost never.” He remoted his way through the guide. “No games on tonight. Only boxing.”

I thought about Lula's theory on bringing out the beast in a man. So far, Ranger had the beast under control. Best not to disturb that balance.

“No boxing,” I said. “Okay, lets roll through the movies. The Terminator, Pulp Fiction, Braveheart, The Transporter, Deliverance. Any of those turn you on?”

Where was Terms of Endearment when you needed it? “They're all sort of violent,” I said.

“And?”

“There must be other movies.”

Ranger clicked through more of the guide. “Bruce Lee?”

“Keep going.”

“I'm not watching Jane Eyre.”

“Okay, great, go with Bruce Lee.”

“Maybe you'll learn something,” Ranger said.

“Just don't get any ideas.”

“About what?”

“About anything.”

Ten minutes into Bruce Lee, I sucked in some air. “Uh oh,” I said.

The uh oh had been an inadvertent exclamation. Nature had struck at an inopportune time, placing me in an awkward position.

Ranger looked over at me. “What?”