Chapter 25

When Amanda got home she took a shower then tried calling Spencer but got his voicemail. She didn't mind, she loved hearing his outgoing message. It was incredibly simple but something in the way he said his name made her heart skip a beat. She made herself lunch and fell asleep on the couch.

A knock at the door woke her up. She smoothed her hair as she went to the door. Spencer was there with a huge grin on his face. He had Reed with him, but not his things. "Welcome home." Spencer said, his eyes sparkling.

"Hey Spence, come on in. I hope Reed wasn't any trouble."

He took Reed off the leash and stepped into her apartment. "No trouble at all. Thanks for the presents. I was going to call but I thought I should say thanks in person."

"You're welcome. I hope you like them. It's not like I can really return them."

"No, I love them. I can't believe that you did that for me."

"It was nothing, really. I crochet as often as I can so when you offered to lend me your book, I thought it was a good excuse to make you something. The book… well, Penelope told me you like Bradbury and it was the only first edition of his that I could find on sale at the time. I had to get it, especially once I found out that only 200 were asbestos bound and that it's one of two novels that were. That one and a limited number of Stephen King's "Firestarter." That one I had to get for myself though. I hope you don't already have it. Honestly, I don't read Bradbury so I wouldn't know if it's any good."

"I don't have that edition. It's pretty rare. I really appreciate it, Amanda. I don't know if you have any plans for tonight but there's a small party for New Year's Eve at the office. I'd love it if you joined me. Maybe we can even go out for dinner first."

Amanda smiled brightly, "I'd like that. Let me just change."

"Great. I'll get Reed's things while waiting." He ran back to his apartment while she changed, leaving his bag in her entryway to make carrying Reed's things slightly easier.

He came back and she was still getting ready so he went back to her bedroom. She was in the bathroom, putting makeup on while the curling iron was heating up. She was wearing a tight, form-fitting strapless red dress. When he first laid eyes upon her, he forgot to breathe for a moment. When he caught it he said, "I put Reed's food and treats away for you."

"Thanks. I'll be a few minutes."

"I can wait," he said, sitting down on the side edge of her bed.

"Well good, because I'm not running out of here without shoes either."

"I hope not. Aren't you going to be cold?"

She leaned against the doorway for a moment, "First of all, I'm from Chicago. The average temperature is about half of Virginia's. I know when it's cold. I will be, but I don't think it's anything I can't handle. Second, that's why I own more than one coat. Are you comfortable?"

"Actually, yeah. None of my sheets are this soft and fluffy."

"It's a duvet. A man like you should know blankets are generally made of wool, sheets are cotton, duvets are made of down or feathers… possibly both. It seems to me, you could use a woman's touch." She smiled and went back into the bathroom.

"Possibly more than you know," he whispered to himself. When she came out her hair was softly curled and clipped off to one side with a white rose and Ostrich feather rhinestone flower clip. She grabbed a clutch bag and started throwing her essentials in it. "You really don't have to be dressed up." Spencer said as he looked her over.

"I love that you think this is dressed up. Last time I wore this I was shopping on Michigan Avenue in Chicago." She sat next to him on the bed to put her shoes on. He looked up and to the left as their thighs touched. "Alright, cowboy, let's get moseying." She patted his knee as she got up.

He opened the passenger door of his 1965 Volvo for her. He had hoped she would say yes, so he had made reservations at romantic little Italian restaurant the day after Christmas. Hotch had recommended it. He had taken Haley there one year for their anniversary.

He ushered her in by the small of her back and pulled out her chair. She wondered why he had chosen this restaurant, she would have been fine with a burger at a fast food place, but she wasn't about to question him. He seemed as nervous and fidgety as the day they met, possibly more so. "Are you okay?" she asked with a concerned look.

"I, uh, um… yeah. I am."

"As long as you're sure." She smiled as she put her napkin on her lap.

He cleared his throat, "You look beautiful tonight. I wanted to tell you that before we got to the party."

Her smile brightened. "Thank you." She was trying hard not to blush when the waiter came over. Spencer ordered a red wine for them.

"How was your trip?"

"Wonderful. I hadn't seen my godson, Jordan, in so long and they grow like weeds at that age. He's six now. The wedding was as beautiful. It was at this gorgeous mansion. How was your holiday?"

"It was pretty good. We had Christmas Eve at JJ's. Other than that, it was pretty uneventful."

The rest of dinner was quiet. They had wanted to say something to each other, but didn't know what. He didn't let her help with the bill, wouldn't even let her know what the total was. She thanked him for dinner as they exited the restaurant.

On the way to the car, she lost her balance due to the slickness of the lightly snow covered parking lot and her Louboutin leopard print ankle boots with a 5 inch heel. She instinctively grabbed his arm. "Oh that was graceful," she said as she tugged at the bottom of her dress.

"Do you need help to the car?"

"No. I'm good. I got it." She took another step and slid forward a bit. He grabbed her by the elbow to help hold her up. She chuckled, "Icy patch." From that point on, they walked arm and arm to the car. They didn't talk on the drive to Quantico, but every so often they looked over at each other and smiled.