Dotty smiled across the table at Harry, his blue eyes dancing in the candle light. He was so suave, so masculine yet so tender and romantic all at the same time. Dotty could feel herself falling for him. She was beginning to feel as if she had known Harry all her life, yet it had been less than 24-hours.

"This is crazy!" Dotty said to herself. "You barely even know this man and already you are thinking about what the future might hold for the two of you! He has to be too good to be true. No one really accidently bumps into the person that is perfect for them at an orchid exhibit. That type of thing only happens on TV or in the movies. Dotty-you are absolutely insane…INSANE!"

"Pleasure to meet you, officially, Harry V. Thornton. Now, why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself? Fair is fair after all!" Dotty said coyly.

"Hmmm…ok, I suppose it is. Well, I am retired. All though I am not really sure someone like me actually ever really retires. I still help out with the odd job from time to time. I used to travel quite a bit back in the day, and although I still love globetrotting now and again, I really enjoy my home and my plants. And of course, there is Ike."

"Ike? Is that your son?"

"Haha, no. Ike is my confidant and my business partner. He is my orange tabby cat!"

"HAHAHA your cat! Oh that is wonderful!"

"I would love for the two of you to meet someday!"

"I would adore that!" Dotty thought for a moment. "So, no Mrs. Thornton?"

"Ah! That is the million dollar question, isn't it. No, there is no Mrs. Thornton. There was someone that I was hoping would be Mrs. Thornton, but it didn't work out. We had a long distance relationship for a very long time and when we were able to actually live together…..well let's just say the fantasy worked much better than the reality. We both knew within a few weeks of us living in the same town that it wasn't going to work. She decided that she wanted to explore the country, so she left. Last I heard she was somewhere in Arizona."

"Well…..good riddance to her! If she couldn't see what a catch you are then you are better off without her!"

"So, you think I'm a catch, do you?"

Harry smirked at Dotty with the most adorable twinkle in his eyes. Dotty could feel herself begin to blush.

"Eh-hem…well, yes. Yes I do! In fact, right now, I am thinking that you are a little too good to be true!"

"That's funny…..I was thinking the exact same thing about you. Tell me, how is a woman as lovely and warm as yourself not attached?"

"That is an excellent question! I ask myself that all the time!"

They both laughed and looked into each other's eyes.

"But seriously….no Mr. West?"

"Oh, there was a Mr. West. He was an amazing man. He loved me like I had never been loved before…or since. He was a wonderful father, too to our Amanda. But sadly, he died many years ago. There have been a few men over the years, but none of them have really lit my flame, if you know what I mean. I have had some companions that we have had fun and enjoyed each other's company but no one that I have really felt that chemistry with….that connection. I was dating a very nice man recently, but like your lady friend, he left to go pursue other adventures. He is in California now."

"Did he ask you to go with him?"

"No, he didn't and you know what? I don't think I would have even if he did."

"Well, then C'est la vie! You are better off without him and I am better off without Christine. May I propose a toast?"

Dotty raised her glass in anticipation of what Harry was going to say.

"To us! May we each find the one that lights our fire!"

"Here! Here! I will definitely drink to that!" Dotty said.

Harry and Dotty clinked glasses. As Harry sipped his expensive Beaujolais he thought to himself, "I think I may have just found her."

SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK

"Dad, this sweatshirt is so awesome! I can't wait until the game on Saturday!" Jamie said as he looked into his shopping bag.

"Yeah, Dad! Mine is pretty sweet, too!" Philip chimed in as he slammed the gate on the Wagoneer.

"Glad you like them, fellas. Did someone grab your mother's ice cream from the front seat?"

"Yeah, I got it. Philip was in too much of a rush to go call Jessica, so he forgot it."

"That's ok sport!"

In a flash, Philip had run up the driveway and into the house through the back kitchen door. Jamie quickly followed. By the time Lee made his way into the house, they were both already upstairs. The bag containing Amanda's ice cream was on the counter by the phone. Also by the phone was a note from Amanda:

"Lee-I am upstairs in bed. I was so tired after work today. Please come wake me up as soon as you get this. We have an early morning meeting tomorrow for work….Zulu blue."

Lee stared at the words in her note…..Zulu Blue. What could be so important? It had to be related to this scientist case.

Lee put Amanda's ice cream in the freezer and made his way up the stairs into their bedroom. He gently pushed open and saw Amanda sleeping peacefully. He didn't want to wake her but he knew she wanted to talk to him. He decided that he would let the boys know that he was heading to bed and make sure they were ok for the night. Lee headed down to the boys' room and softly knocked on the door.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure, come on in. Philip is just waiting for Jessica to call back and I am working on my homework."

Lee knew that once Philip planted himself on the stairs to talk to Jessica on the phone, he was probably going to be there for at least an hour.

"Ok, son. I just wanted to let you know that I was probably going to head to bed. Your mom left me a note saying we have an unexpected early morning meeting tomorrow so I need to get to bed. You guys will have to take the bus tomorrow morning. Your mom and I will be gone before you get up."

"Ok, that's no problem! Thanks for letting me know….and thanks for everything tonight."

"What do you mean, Jamie?"

"Well, thanks for watching my practice today and taking us out to dinner….and thanks for talking to us like we are important to you."

Lee smiled at Jamie as he put his hand on his shoulder.

"Jamie, you and Philip are SO important to me. You are my family. We gotta stick together! And I meant it when I said that you can come talk to me about anything….you got that?"

"Yeah….I got it!"

Lee pulled Jamie into a big bear hug and gently mussed up his hair.

"Don't stay up too late, ok?"

"I won't….. I love you, Dad."

Lee felt his heart swell with emotion.

"I love you, too, son."

Lee smiled ear to ear as he walked down the hall to find Philip. Sure enough, there he was sitting on the steps chatting on the phone.

"Excuse me, Philip?"

"Hold on Jessica…..yeah Dad?"

"I am off to bed. I have an early morning meeting that I just found out about. You get 30 minutes on the phone, ok? Then off to bed yourself. Got it?"

"Got it! Hey Grandma called while I was waiting for Jessica to call. She says to tell Mom that she's having the time of her life…whatever that means."

"Got me? Ok….half hour then lights out! Good night!"

"Night, Dad."

Lee knew that 30 minutes meant 45, but he was ok with that. The boys were safe and at home.

Lee went back into their bedroom and got ready for bed. He set the alarm for an ungodly 4:45am and slid into bed next to Amanda. She was sleeping very peacefully. Lee watched his wife sleep for a few moments. It never ceased to amaze him the depth of which he loved her. And now, she was having their baby. Lee got excited every time he thought about it. It didn't yet seem truly real, however. He couldn't wait for Amanda's stomach to start to show.

Lee moved closer to Amanda and put his hand on her stomach as he softly kissed her sleeping lips. She began to stir and placed her hand atop of his and opened her eyes.

"Hey there, stranger! How you feeling tonight?"

"Hi, sweetheart. Tired. Very tired but I feel a little better now. Did you have a good night with the boys?"

"We had a great night! We went to that new burger place over by the mall. Amanda, I am always amazed by how much those boys can eat!"

"Well they are growing! You didn't let them eat all junk, did you?"

"Nope. But they each finished off two cheeseburgers with no problem what so ever! Oh we brought you home some ice cream. I put it in the freezer."

The thought of ice cream right now was not at all appetizing.

"Thank you. Did you talk to Philip about not being so girl-crazy?"

"Actually, the three of us all had a man to man to man talk! It was pretty great!"

"What did you say?"

"No, no! I cannot reveal the secrets of the man to man to man talks to a woman! But let's just say, I think Philip is going to give the girls he likes more of a chance before he moves on."

Amanda smiled as her eyes began to close. Lee kissed her on the forehead.

"Amanda, before you go back to sleep…what is this about Zulu Blue?"

Amanda quickly sat up in bed!

"Oh! Lee! I almost forgot! Zulu Blue! I found a note taped to the door when I walked Mother out to the town car that Harry sent her. When I opened it, it had an address that I didn't recognize and on the back it said "Scarecrow and Mrs. King 7:00am ZULU BLUE' "

Amanda showed Lee the card. He clicked on the bedside lamp to get a better view.

"Lee, I also don't know why the note is referring to me as Mrs. King. Everyone at the agency knows now that I am Mrs. Stetson. Do you think this is someone from our past?"

Lee stood up from the bed and began to pace around the room.

"Well, there could be a number of reasons that you were referred to as Mrs. King. My guess is that whoever sent this to us is using it as a type of code name for you, just like they referred to me as Scarecrow. This is the address of an old drop I used to use years ago. Only a few people knew about it."

"Was Harry Thornton one of them?"

"Yeah, he was. Why? You think he sent us this note?"

"Yes I do AND I think that he is out on a date right now with my Mother!"

"Amanda? What are you talking about? Why would Harry Thornton be out on a date with your mother?"

Amanda recounted this afternoon's events to Lee. He had to admit that it did sound plausible…but Harry and Dotty? No….could it be?

"And, Lee….she didn't know his last name! Which reminds me! She was supposed to call me tonight. She hasn't called me!"

Amanda started to get all worked up. She didn't want another replay of her mother's disastrous date with Dr. Zernov when Lee had a surveillance team follow them, but for all she knew, her mother was out there somewhere in danger!

"Relax! She just called a few minutes ago. Philip answered and she told him to tell you that she was having the time of her life. Besides, if she is out with Harry, she couldn't be in better hands."

"Oh…..hmmmmm. I am not sure I like the sound of that."

Lee chuckled.

"Why, Amanda? You afraid that your mother is having the type of fun that a daughter doesn't want to think about her mother having? Are you afraid that she is having the same type of fun that we had the other night?"

Lee looked at Amanda with that amorous gleam in his eyes; a look that undressed her and had her already deep in the throes of passion.

"Lee! Stop it! And yes….that is exactly what I am thinking!"

"Amanda…..she is a grown woman. She is out having some fun."

Amanda stared a cold stare at her husband.

"Whatever type of fun that may be", Lee said quickly. "Let's cut her some slack. Come on, let's go to bed. We have to be up early tomorrow."

Lee heard Philip say good night to Jessica and walk down the hall to his bedroom. Lee shut and locked their bedroom door then clicked off the light and climbed into bed next to his wife. Amanda remained sitting up with her arms crossed and her back resting against her pillows.

"Well, now I am wide awake. I am never going to be able to get back to sleep."

Lee sat up next to her.

"Well, I can think of a way that we can both let out some of this nervous energy we both have going on right now."

Lee began kissing Amanda's hand and slowly working his way up her arm.

"Lee…..seriously?", Amanda said trying to resist the lustful kisses that were making their way up to her lips. "I am worried about my mother and thinking about who has called us with a Zulu Blue code and you….. want me… to… just…."

Amanda trailed off midsentence as the seductive kisses Lee was giving to her neck began to take effect. She tried once more to protest but soon realized that she didn't want him to stop. Amanda ran her hands through Lee's hair as he ravaged her with kisses. Lee pulled away from Amanda's neck and looked her smoldering chocolate eyes. A devilish grin began to spread across his face. Breathless he said to her,

"It's time for Scarecrow and Mrs. King to have a little fun of their own!"

To be continued…