Amanda pulled herself away from Lee and sat up, swung her legs over the bed. "Hey, where are you going?" Lee asked. She turned to look at him, smiling at his rather handsome face. She leaned in to kiss him. "Just to the bathroom," she laughed. "Stay put."

She pulled on a satiny, sheer robe that didn't hide a lot. Lee looked at her, knowing she could have put on an oversized flannel robe and she would have been just as appealing.

"I've always wanted to say that," she said. "I hope you listen to me better than I listened to you," as walked toward the elegant bathroom.

He grinned and laid back down, thinking of all the times he had wanted her to stay put and feeling grateful she seldom obeyed.

She was full of surprises, his Amanda. Even in bed. Especially in bed. He always figured, if they were ever together, that he would be the teacher. After all, he had had plenty of practice. Admittedly smug, he thought she would be naive and tentative. Or the opposite, wild and unleashed. Both fantasies had kept his imagination busy for the better part of . . . well a long time.

She was neither. With other women he was sated, or at least satisfied, exhausted and occasionally disappointed, but always in control. It was he who led the way, unless of course, he decided to be the follower. But with Amanda he felt content, relaxed. Somehow it wasn't about him, or even about her. It was about them together.

"Lee, have you seen the bathroom?!"

"Only in the dark. Why?" He looked puzzled.

"Well, it's huge! I've never seen anything like it! It's bigger than my kitchen! I don't know who would ever need that much room. Everything is gold. And the bathtub. It's like a king-size bed. I think it may be a hot tub."

"Of course it's a hot tub, and yes it's built for two. I'll show you after breakfast," he grinned. He was enjoying showing Amanda the luxuries of life.

Her eyes narrowed. "For a guy on a government salary, you know a lot about this place," she said."Come here often?"

"Perks of undercover work. Sometimes you're an out-of-work bum and sometimes a suave, debonair rich guy," he said. "I'm just lucky the latter comes naturally," he said, winking at her and tossing his head.

"Right. If you say so," she dismissed his pose as she sat on the bed. "It's not that hard, you know. Remember Victoria Greenwich?" She smiled, a faraway look in her eyes. "She was fun. The clothes and jewels . . ." She sighed and looked at Lee who looked troubled. "What's wrong?"

"I hated everything about that case. I lost control the moment I left you alone and Quickie Chick guy pounced. Every time I made a move something stupid would happen."

He gently moved her hair away from her eyes and stroked her cheek. She kissed his hand as it approached her lips.

"I came so close to losing you, you almost . . ." He stopped, remembering his pounding heart and tightening fear as he carried her from Delano's house to the ambulance.

"Died." Amanda said. He nodded. "Well, it certainly wasn't the last time, Scarecrow," she said playing with the hand that was gently caressing her. "But it made me realize it wasn't a game. I had never been so terrified of another human being as I was of Hollander. I couldn't believe anyone could have so little regard for human life."

Lee looked at her, thinking how Amanda had made him see that their work wasn't just about abstract governments, blueprints and weapons, but about real people, real lives.

"I learned a lot on that case," Amanda mused. She looked at Lee, who raised his eyebrows. "Like what? How not to wear a wire?" He remembered very well how annoyed he felt when she angrily gave back the broach microphone during an argument.

"Well, I know that was wrong, I was just angry with you for not believing that I could pull it off," she said slightly sheepish. "No, I mean it was the first time I realized how easy it was to become someone else, and that it can influence how people react to you."

She looked at Lee. "Does that make sense?"

"Absolutely. Good agents know how to use personas to get the information and access they need. The hard part can be separating yourself from your cover."

He laughed quietly to himself, reminiscing.

"Okay, what did I miss?" she asked. "What's so funny?"

"You." He said, pulling her down. "At the Cumberland, under cover as my wife again, and yet bound and determined to keep me out of your bed. When we were after Jay Armin. You were adorable."

"Ah yes." She looked at him. "If I knew then what I know now..." She sighed.

"Yes?" said Lee, raising his eyebrows and cocking his head.

"You still would have stayed on the couch." She pulled back the covers and snuggled in beside him.

"Amanda. You made it sound like every time a man and woman are undercover as a couple they are automatically having sex, regardless of their real relationship."

"Are you telling me that they don't?" She looked at him. "And you never did?"

Lee had the grace to blush slightly. "Yes. I mean no, I never . . ." He groaned. "Why are we talking about this?"

He sighed. "Look, you know I'm not a saint," he said, sitting up. "I never claimed to be one. And yes, I've been in situations with female agents where we . . ." he stopped.

Amanda raised her eyebrows. "I get it," she said. "I'm sure I was one of the few to say 'no' to your charms."

"Well, at least now you admit I had some appeal," he replied, smiling slyly.

"Stop. You always knew I had a thing for you," she said.

"No." he said. "No I didn't. You were never overt, never obvious. Believe me, I know obvious. When I was with Francine . . . " He stopped, as Amanda turned to him expressionless, waiting. There was a knock at the door.

"Oh, good. Breakfast." Lee got up and grabbed the hotel robe. "I'm starved. How about you?"

Amanda smiled as she pulled her robe around her. "We're not done with this conversation, mister." She thought, but did not say. "Not yet."