Here we go again. And don't worry, the end of the story is pre-planned. I just have to get to there and write it. And I like long chapters. Unfortunately, that always takes a little longer. I'm trying to reach the end before the end of the year. In case anyone is interested at all ;D.
~~~~SMK~~~~CA~~~~TR~~~~
"Dad!"
"Sabrina!"
"What?" Worth asked confused, looking from one to the other.
"What are you doing here?" Bri smiled softly at her father, and they hugged, careful not to spill their drinks.
"You two .. are you together?" the Colonel then asked in surprise.
"We?" Bri laughed and shook her head. "No, Dad. The Townsend Agency is protecting him. I'm, um, his cover girlfriend." She sipped her champagne.
"But, but, you're Colonel Blaylock and you're Sabrina Duncan," Worth stammered, frowning.
Father and daughter grinned at each other. "I thought you caught up on all of us, Worth." Bri tapped her glass with her index finger. "I'm divorced. Duncan is my ex-husband's name."
"Oh. I must have missed that," he murmured.
Colonel Blaylock shook his head in disbelief. "After all these years you're finally getting together."
"We're not together!" Sabrina clarified again.
Her father smiles softly and takes a sip. "Remember your first Thanksgiving at Bill's family?"
"Oh yes, very accurate. His mother made it clear in the first minute that she didn't like me." Sabrina grimaced at the memory.
"I invited Tommy over at the time because I didn't know you couldn't come, Sabrina. I thought you might like each other," the Colonel explained lightly.
"You .. wanted to set us up?" Worth asked in surprise, then laughed.
"Dahad!"
Her father raised a hand. "There were these two summers. You were, uh, I think 6 and Tommy was 12. He came to the base to visit his aunt and uncle for several weeks. Ben and Rob played with him, and they had to let you play too sometimes. But Tommy didn't like you at first and neither did you."
"That's not entirely true," Worth sighed into his champagne glass.
Colonel Blaylock gestured with a forefinger. "She was younger than you, Tommy, but she was also more fearless. She could climb a tree higher than you or her brothers. And once, during a barbecue, you had a loud argument. Ben and Rob were about to have their first burger when you two were standing in a corner of the garden yelling at each other." He laughed at the thought. "You wanted to marry her when you were older, and Sabrina thought that she would never marry in her life and certainly not you! I think it's clear that your aunt and Sabrina's mother were already planning your wedding after that. All that long summer. And the summer after."
"Oh boy," Bri whispered, rolling her eyes. "I don't remember."
"Then when I met him again, I thought I'd try something your mother couldn't do anymore."
Sabrina took her father's hand in hers and squeezed it gently.
"We used to tell these old stories over thanksgiving dinner. I didn't know that.. um, Sabrina was Sabrina," Worth said, taking a closer look at her.
Colonel Blaylock started laughing. "Sabrina, I told you about the young man Pauly peed on one thanksgiving!"
"No! Please!" Startled, Worth raised his hand in supplication.
"Yes. Yes of course. Was that him? And you lent him your army sweatpants." Bri's eyes traveled to Worth's legs. "He's so much taller than you, Dad."
Her father nodded in amusement. "I have photos of it," he whispered to her.
"Oh please!" The weapons mogul covered his eyes in embarrassment.
Sabrina laughed and took a sip. "Look how he squirms!"
"Pauly didn't pee on me," Worth retorted emphatically. "Ben and Sandra didn't know how to change a baby! He...he leaked. Who would leave their baby to an almost stranger? I didn't even know how to hold it!"
"And he keeps squirming," Bri commented with amusement on this outburst.
Thomas put his glass on the empty tray of a passing waiter. "Would you like to dance?"
"No, I want to hear more stories from this thanksgiving," Sabrina replied, grinning. Then she suddenly frowned and gestured at Worth with her glass. "He's not the frog boy, is he?" she asked her father.
"Um, yes," the Colonel replied reluctantly, giving Worth an apologetic look.
"Oh." Sabrina's face closed abruptly. "I think I'll get another drink." With that she turned away and made her way back to the bar.
Thomas looked after her, but the Colonel's hand on his forearm prevented him from following Bri. "It escalated quickly," the older man growled. "Give her a few minutes, Tommy!"
"Colonel!" Kelly and Peter reached the two men. Kelly hugged him.
"Kelly!" Bri's dad exclaimed, genuinely pleased.
"He's Sabrina's father!" Peter whispered to Worth meanwhile.
"I know," he mumbled under his breath.
"Peter! Nice to see you," the Colonel greeted Worth's deputy with a handshake.
"You know that Sabrina is Sabsi? Or Susi, as you called her after several whiskeys?" Peter asked, now confused.
" Sabsi." Worth and the Colonel laughed in amusement.
"She hated it," the latter then said with a guilty expression.
Kelly frowned from one to the other. "He's not the frog boy, is he?" she asked the Colonel.
"Yes, he is," he confirmed a second time.
"Damn." Kelly looked around.
"Peter, Charlie's reports didn't say Blaylock, did it? Or that she's divorced?" Worth asked. Peter shook his head. "That damn bastard!"
-‐-
"What did your friend mean you work here, Amanda?" John asked her as he expertly led her across the floor.
Amanda lifted her eyes to his, then shyly back to his chest where his medals hung. "We, um, are in charge of security here."
"You work for the Agency?" he asked in surprise.
"Part time," she replied with another quick look into steel blue eyes.
"And the rest of the time?" His question seemed genuinely interested.
"I'll take care of my two sons," Amanda replied with a small smile.
"Oh, you're married," John stated, disappointed.
"Divorced, but still taken," she laughed bolder now and looked up again.
"With your .. friend from the agency?"
"Lee? No." And then more emphatic: "No." She was uncomfortable with his penetrating gaze and so she preferred to concentrate on his straight nose. From there it wasn't far to his lips. Confused, Amanda stared at his medals again.
"And is there something serious about this man?" he asked into the resulting silence.
She shrugged her shoulders. "I like him a lot, but . . ." The song ended and with it the sentence she had started. "I think I should go back .. you know. Thanks for the dance, John."
"It was my pleasure, Amanda," he replied, reluctantly letting go of her and looking deep into her eyes. Then he watched her as she made her way through the partygoers, his head bowed slightly, and a grin curled around his lips.
-‐-
Sabrina accepted the whisky, looked at the glass critically and took a small sip. Did they just get here yesterday? Events seemed like they'd been here a week already. She took another sip as memories of a lanky, arrogant twelve-year-old returned. A twelve-year-old who was later called just the frog boy in her family and with whom her brothers teased her for years.
Someone next to her ordered vodka and drummed his fingers on the bar. "Isn't that too strong for you?" the stranger asked her, only to flinch when she looked at him. "A.. Amanda? No, isn't it?"
She smirked in amusement at the handsome blonde and his violent reaction. "No, not Amanda. My name is Sabrina," she introduced herself. "Amanda is my twin sister." Why not? It was so much easier to explain to strangers.
"Really?" he asked, then gave a confused laugh. "Of course, stupid question. Sorry, Sabrina. I'm Major John Bower and I was dancing with your sister five minutes ago. The resemblance is amazing. Do you work for security here too?"
Sabrina shook her head. "I'm a stewardess." She noticed his still questioning look. "And a stewardess doesn't usually come to an event like this, but my companion does."
"Oh," he sighed, draining his glass. "I meet two identical beautiful women in one evening and both are taken."
"Taken, but it's nothing serious," Bri said with a wink and finished her whisky too. "Nor with Amanda. Why don't you try your luck with her again?"
"Because she has to work. Now," John turned to face her completely and held out his hand. "Would you like to dance with me too, Sabrina?"
She grinned at him. She liked him. Amanda had good taste. And he was wearing a uniform that looked extremely good on him. But as she raised her hand to take his, another man's hand reached out and grabbed hers.
"There you are, darling," Worth said, edging between her and the Major and leaning in for a kiss on Bri. She turned her head and his lips landed on her cheek.
"Thomas Worth?" John croaked. "You're here with Thomas Worth? It's definitely not my lucky day!"
Tom met her evil eyes, then turned. "And you are?"
"Major John Bower, sir," the younger man introduced himself and they shook hands. "And I guess you won't let me dance with your escort, will you?"
"Since she hasn't even danced with me today, no," Worth replied with an unmistakable hostile undertone.
Sabrina stepped back and looked angrily from one man to the other. "For one thing, I don't need Worth's approval to dance with anyone," she lectured the puzzled-looking major. "And for another," Bri's eyes blazed. "Don't you tell me who I dance with, darling." She spun around and strong hands held her as she bumped into another man.
"Not so fast," said an all too familiar voice.
Sabrina looked up and at first, she wanted to let him feel her anger, but then she thought better of it. "Will you dance with me, Lee?"
Scarecrow looked from her to Worth, noting the tension. "With pleasure," he agreed, grinning contentedly over her shoulder at the other man.
Thomas looked after the two with a dark look. "It's your fault!" he grumbled to John. "And mine," he then sighed. "I'm an idiot." With that he left the Major standing.
"Amanda, has Trenton's relief come yet?" Worth looked at the voice near him.
"Oh yes, sir. Sean Pratt took his place earlier," Mrs. King replied with a smile. "Beaman drove Trenton to the hospital."
"If it comes today and it's a girl, I win the pot," Francine said with a smile.
"A birth can take hours, Francine. Very likely it won't be born until tomorrow," came a third female voice.
Worth reached the four people. "Excuse me, but would you like to dance with me, Mrs. King?" he asked Amanda bluntly. At least Sabrina would owe him a favor that way.
"I'll take your glass," Mrs. Melrose offered, already taking the drink from Amanda.
"Um, gladly, Mr. Worth," the housewife lied, then reluctantly let him lead her onto the dance floor.
-‐-'
"You look beautiful in that dress, Sabrina," Lee whispered in her ear as they hit the dance floor.
She looked up at him and shuddered as his hand settled on her bare back. Amanda was right, he looked stunning in a tuxedo. Her cheeks were flushed with alcohol as she grinned at him. "Your tux suits you too," she finally replied honestly.
He laughed. "Dancing here doesn't count towards your promise, though," he clarified, spinning her around.
Sabrina frowned. "I think it should count."
Lee looked into her big dark eyes that reminded him so much of Amanda. Then he squeezed her tighter to get back to her ear. "You wanted to leave Worth. So, it doesn't count."
Sighing, she closed her eyes and growled, "All right. But only because you're right and .. because you're happy to see me. Or is that your weapon?"
Lee laughed again in amusement and let his grip loosen a bit. Sabrina smiled as they looked at each other again. "Both," he replied with a wink. Now she was laughing too.
At the edge of the dance floor, Thomas watched the couple, who seemed to be having a lot of fun together. Amanda followed his gaze, looking back at Worth and the unmistakable longing on his face before looking back at Lee and Sabrina.
"Apparently we have more in common than I thought, Mrs. King," Worth said, suddenly puzzled. Amanda blinked and realized he had caught her staring. She blushed and bowed her head. He gave a wry grin and then pulled her onto the floor to dance with her.
There was silence between them for a while. Each of them had their minds on the other couple, who appeared in their field of vision from time to time.
"You like her very much," Amanda finally stated.
His green eyes focused on her brown ones. "I, um.. have you ever felt like you always use the wrong words or act wrong towards a certain person, no matter how hard you try to do the right thing?"
She smiled and her features relaxed a bit. Look, the mighty gentleman who had been yelling at her over the phone not so long ago was only human after all. "Yes."
"With .. him?" he asked interested.
She hesitated, pulling her lower lip between her teeth for a moment. "Yes," she then said softly. "He didn't like me at first, didn't want to work with .. a civilian part-timer." Worth grimaced. "I always feel like a burden, like I'm just getting in his way instead of .. doing a good job."
He eyed her closely. Amazing how much she resembled Sabrina and yet not. Then he took a deep breath. "Fortunately, your superiors don't see it that way." Amanda met his serious gaze. She saw how difficult it was for him to say the next words. "I'm sorry I acted like an idiot towards you, um. My, um, insinuations were misplaced, and I shouldn't have used so many, um, words that I wouldn't have said to your face. Please forgive me."
Amanda smiled at him and nodded. "Apology accepted, Mr. Worth."
"Thomas," he said in relief, turning with her in one quick movement.
"Amanda," she replied, grinning.
"So," Worth said slowly as he continued to direct her through the other couples to the music. "What's going on between you and Lee, Amanda? Does it have anything to do with that plan Sabrina mentioned?"
She sighed and shrugged. "There's .. nothing going on. What exactly did Sabrina say about the plan?"
Worth briefly considered lying and claiming to know everything. "She just said she wanted to get rid of Lee and you were helping her."
Amanda nodded. "Then there is nothing more to say."
There was another silence until he grinned. "You like him. How can you like someone like him? He's so incredibly confident in himself!"
Her right eyebrow shot up. "I think you two have something in common."
"Oh yeah?" he asked sarcastically. "We obviously like the same type of woman. That's right."
"Am I like Sabrina?" Amanda smirked in amusement.
"Um, not for me. No offense," he murmured shyly.
"None taken. Then you two don't like the same type of woman," she stated with a laugh. "You both have an inner insecurity that you cover up with your public appearance."
Worth frowned. "Wow, Sabrina suggests that I go to a psychologist and after a few hours you judge me in one sentence? What is it with you two?!"
"We have a good knowledge of human nature," Amanda said, looking at him frankly.
"Yeah, well, a bit scary," he grinned, swinging her around vigorously to make her laugh again.
"So, what do you say?" Lee asked his partner from across the dance floor.
"You want me to come to your apartment on Tuesday? You cook and we drink wine while Worth has some kind of marathon meeting of at least four hours in the evening in the meantime?" she repeated his proposition with an uneasy feeling in her stomach.
"Exactly. Say yes!" His eyes burned into hers and he smiled charmingly.
"I, um, I'll think about it, ok?" Sabrina murmured softly. This man was a bloody persuader. It was time for Amanda to take over and get away from him herself. Was that his hand? Her eyes squinted to her cheek where his fingers suddenly rested. Startled, she saw his face coming closer. Sabrina pulled her head back and wriggled out of his grasp. "I have to, I have to check on Jill." She left him and left the floor.
Fifteen minutes later, Sabrina had recovered on the large balcony. It was already dusk, and the colors of the light played a fascinating game on the plants and buildings in front of her. The laughter and conversation of the ballroom rang out from the open double doors.
"Are you still mad at me?" Worth asked as he came up beside her and looked down the balcony.
"No," she replied curtly.
"Are you still mad at me about the frog?"
Sabrina's mouth turned up. "No."
"I apologized for that at the time, too, I think."
She turned to him. "You did after my parents throw the book at you."
Guilty, he glanced into her eyes. "It was worth it."
"I do not know. My brothers gave you a good beating afterwards."
"Oh yes, it was worth it." He grinned contentedly. "Though I always thought you were older."
She laughed. "I had no idea why you did that, Worth. My mother had to explain it to me."
"My younger me thought it was a good idea. You open your hands for the gift, the frog, close your eyes for the surprise and I kiss you. One of my better plans."
Sabrina shook her head disapprovingly. "A stolen kiss and a poor frog. But I was more concerned about the frog."
Worth grunted, grabbed her hand. "Who knew we had a past? Um, Charlie maybe, I asked the bastard if your name was Blaylock."
"No, Worth," Sabrina contradicted him as he pulled her to him. She pressed her other hand protectively to his chest. "We were just kids. There's no past!"
Again, she turned her head to the side and his lips brushed her cheek. He sighed in her ear, paused for a moment. "Your nephew," he murmured. Sabrina unintentionally grinned. "Ped on me." She laughed hoarsely. "Of course, we have a past!"
"I thought he leaked?" she asked, amused. Worth pulled his head back and looked into her smiling eyes. "Pauly's name is Paul now, and he's, um, your height, just a lot .. stronger."
"I wish you were there then. At the thanksgiving. Maybe things would have gone differently," he mused.
She shook her head and fingered his bow tie. "I knew you were getting sentimental now. Stop doing that!"
Someone cleared his throat near them. "General Thompson is here, Tom. You should talk to him." Peter said, stepping closer. Worth looked at him reluctantly. "He was asking about you."
The arms manufacturer finally nodded and loosened his grip on Bri. "We haven't danced together yet," he said, frowning. "I, um, hurry." She just nodded and breathed a sigh of relief when he went back inside.
Peter scratched his chin and grinned crookedly. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, why not?"
"Would you still protect him now that you know how he used to treat you?"
Bri ran her hand through her hair. "Yes, of course. He was just a stupid hormonal boy. He also eventually stopped pulling my hair or pushing me. Right after the frog, I think."
He smiled weakly. "Because your father was the first adult in his life to straighten his head. And because your mother liked him but told him she was disappointed in him." She looked questioning. "He told me about it years ago. Tom said you guys made the perfect family for him and he was jealous of each and every one of you.""
"Oh," Sabrina said in surprise. "But we were.. are far from perfect." She saw through the doors as Worth, all businessman, gesticulating wildly, entertaining a horde of men and a few women as well. "May I ask you something too?" Peter just smiled and nodded. "It makes him sentimental, doesn't it? He said we had a past." Bri rolled her eyes.
Pete sighed. "I once found out, joking at first, that he's only serious about brunettes. No, really, it's true. You shaped his taste in women practically from an early age."
"Oh boy! I was only six, I repeat, six years old!"
"Really? In his memory you were at most two years younger,' he replied. 'Anyway. He's put you on a pedestal all his life. So high that he didn't want to know what became of you.'
"Throughout my life, he's always been the annoying, arrogant frog boy my brothers used to tease about," she said, shrugging. "God, I wish we'd never met my father here. It's so absurd."
"It kind of is, isn't it?" They laughed. "Like a bad soap opera."
Bri raised her eyebrows and grinned meanly. "I compared it to the Twilight Zone today, but soap opera fits too. Does Kelly know you watch soap operas?"
He became embarrassed and scratched the back of his neck. "Um-"
"Who is this?"
Peter followed her gaze. A young, good-looking blonde had linked arms with Worth and was adoring him. "Oh," he laughed in amusement. "That's Kimberly, the General's daughter."
Worth cocked his head at the young woman, and they laughed together while she fiddled with his tuxedo as Sabrina had done on the balcony.
"She's taboo and she knows it," Peter continued. "But she doesn't care about that any more than the fact that Tom was married. She keeps trying with him. And that...is Lisa. They were together for a year. " On Worth's other side, a dark-haired, blue-eyed beauty had appeared. She looked a few years older than the young blonde.
Sabrina grinned in amusement. "A woman on each arm. I guess the grieving period is over."
Peter snorted, but avoided her questioning look again. Instead, he looked back at his friend. "He's annoyed and wants out of there," he stated.
"How do you know?"
"He flirts with both of them," Peter replied with a grin.
"I see that," she said, almost snippy.
"Very offensive. They're about to try to drag him away from the other woman. He'll go with Kimberly, maybe have a drink with her and then apologize," he predicted.
"So?" Bri asked with a laugh.
"I've known him for a long time." Peter raised his eyebrows. "Isn't that obvious? She's taboo by all means, a client's daughter. She's the lesser evil and he'll get rid of her quickly. I thought you were a private detective," he teased.
It wasn't long before Worth followed Lisa onto the dance floor. Bri frowned at the couple. "The lesser evil, eh?"
"Luckily I didn't bet," Peter murmured. "How about a dance?"
"Shouldn't you check on Kelly?" Bri asked, stepping forward and back into the hall. Peter followed her.
"She's having fun with Jill and her admirers right now," he explained.
"There you are! How about a dance now, Sabrina?" The Major reached them both and smiled at Bri.
"We were just about to dance," Fenton interjected kindly but firmly.
"Were we?" She looked from one to the other, frowning. "I'd much rather dance with him," she then said to Peter, nodding to John. The Major's blue eyes lit up in triumph.
"Here she is," came Worth's voice suddenly. "My fiancée Sabrina!"
I beg your pardon? Bri turned her head to him and Lisa on his arm. They both gave each other fake smiles.
"Sabrina, this is Lisa, um, an old friend of mine."
"She's not wearing an engagement ring, Tom," Lisa stated sweetly. Sabrina suppressed a grin and raised an eyebrow. Come up with something, Worth!
"It's at the jeweler's now, needs some adjustment." Tom seemed to have an answer for everything.
The major looked rather disappointed. "I thought things weren't serious between you two?" he asked softly.
Bri laughed. "I'd be serious with a wedding ring, John. We, um, have an open relationship. Very open. Aren't we, darling?" It gave her great pleasure to see Worth's pained expression.
"Oh!" came out of both Bower's and Lisa's mouths at the same time.
Worth's ex-girlfriend patted his forearm. "You didn't tell me that, Tom!"
"Must have forgotten, ha ha," Worth murmured with an accusatory look at the amused Bri.
"Sabrina!" Amanda touched her arm. "I know where number three is!"
"Oh, how nice, twins!" Lisa sounded excited and kinda stupid.
"Number three?" Sabrina frowned, then her face lit up. "Really?" Amanda nodded, laughing. "Excuse us please!" Excitedly, she followed Amanda through the crowd. In between, she bumped into Kelly and gave her a meaningful nod.
Minutes later they reached the women's room and entered.
"Oh, my gosh!" they were greeted by Jill Danko, who covered her mouth in shock. She was wearing a floor-length white dress.
"Twilight Zone," Sabrina whispered, eyes wide.
Amanda laughed. "Jill Danko, this is Sabrina Duncan. Sabrina, this is Jill!"
"One of my best friends' name is Jill," Bri thought first. Then she looked from Jill to Amanda, then back and finally at the mirrors next to them. "How crazy is that? I mean, how do you think the chances are of something like that happening here?" She gestured to the room. "One in a million? Ten million? Trillions? We look like we're triplets! Separated after birth. We're not really sisters, are we? When is your birthday?"
The other two giggled. "Nice to meet you too, Sabrina," Jill said with a wink.
"Um, sorry," she murmured, embarrassed at her outburst, and they shook hands.
Five minutes later, Kelly and Jill walked in and caught the three identical looking women sitting in front of the makeup mirrors looking at each other.
Bri looked up. "Um, Jill, Kelly, that's, um, Jill.. so another Jill."
"My God!"
Jill giggled happily. "Hi Jill, I'm Jill." Kelly and Bri rolled their eyes.
"Are you sure you're not triplets?" Kelly asked.
"We got that sorted," Bri replied. "It looks like Jill is the eldest, Amanda is the youngest and I'm in the middle. We were definitely not born on the same day, and we have different parents."
"I have to go back. Mike must be looking for me. Maybe we'll see each other again?" Jill asked and stood up.
"Definitely!"
"That would be great!"
After number three was out, Sabrina got up. "Let's switch dresses and jewelry now, Amanda!"
"Already?" The housewife looked unhappy. "I don't know .."
"Amanda," Bri said forcefully. "He tried to kiss me in the middle of the dance floor earlier! He wants me to have dinner with him at his apartment on Tuesday. If I'm exposed to him any longer, Ill crack! He's testosterone wrapped in white chocolate!" Jill and Kelly laughed at the words.
"What did you tell him?"
"That I'll think about it. Just reject him, okay? Please!"
Amanda sighed and looked at herself in the mirror. "He'll find out or Tom will find out."
"Tom? Worth?" Bri asked in surprise.
"Yeah, he danced with me when you danced with Lee. You owe him a favor now," Amanda replied, turning to her. "He likes you very much."
Jill emptied her purse. "Come on you two, there are three handsome men waiting for me!"
"Only three?" Sabrina laughed and disappeared into a toilet to change off her dress and heels. Amanda did the same right next to her and they traded.
"Luckily they fit, we seem to have the same shoe size," Amanda's voice came from next door.
"Amanda, the dress is beautiful! Where did you get it?" Sabrina had already come out and was looking at herself in the mirror.
"I made it myself," she explained, stepping out as well. "Your dress is, um, very daring." Frowning, she tugged at the long slit.
"Worth bought it for me," Bri explained. She removed her jewelry. "He bought us all clothes. Damn! I gotta call him Tom now, don't I?"
Amanda laughed. "I don't call him Worth anyway. What do you call Lee?"
"Fool," Kelly answered the question with a grin.
"Agent Fool," Jill added. She took hold of Sabrina's hair and a few minutes later pinned it up with Amanda's hair clips.
"Lee, I call him Lee." Bri took a critical look at herself in the mirror, donned Amanda's jewelry and then watched Amanda become herself. "Jill, that's great!"
"Thank you!" Jill bowed slightly. She looked from one to the other proudly.
Amanda still looked unhappy. Kelly cleared her throat. "You two may look alike, but you don't know each other enough to pretend to those out there for a long time. I advise you to do it as soon as possible and then swap clothes back again."
"I know Sabrina's record," Amanda said, touching Sabrina's name necklace around her neck.
Bri grinned. "That's enough. Lee doesn't know me either, and Worth doesn't know you. I think that shouldn't be a problem. We just can't be ourselves."
That sounded somehow illogically logical. Amanda cocked her head. "I still feel like that's a mistake."
Bri shook her head. "That's a good idea. You know how to fend off Lee. You've been doing it for almost two years."
Jill sighed. "Two years is sacrilege," she murmured.
Kelly looked amazed. "Sacrilege, Jill? Really?"
"I know what sacrilege is. You shouldn't keep someone like Lee on tenterhooks for two years! What a waste! What's the matter with you guys here in Washington? Did you sleep through the 70s?" All eyes were on Jill. "What? What?"
"Don't listen to her!" Sabrina turned to Amanda and took her hands in hers. "Two years is really a long time, but you have two sons and, um, this intelligence thing sure isn't easy to manage. And Lee's a Fool." Amanda smiled gratefully at her. "And I owe you an even bigger favor for that than I owe Worth one. I really appreciate you, Amanda."
They stood up; Kelly cleared her throat again. "Your handbags, girls!"
"Oh!" The bags were quickly emptied and swapped.
"Ready?" Bri asked.
"No," Amanda said uncertainly.
Kelly grinned, put an arm around Amanda's shoulders and led her to the door. "Let me tell you something about Bri: she almost always says what's on her mind, she's very confident, and she sometimes overdoes both."
"Hey!"
"Someone has to coach her if you don't," Kelly laughed over her shoulder at Sabrina. Together they exited the powder room and headed back into the room.
"Frog boy, eh?" whispered Kelly to Sabrina as she passed.
"Ah, shut up!" she growled back.
"Sabrina! Are you going to dance with me now?" Worth grabbed Amanda's elbow. "You just dumped me with Lisa!"
Say what I think, confidently, exaggerated. What would she answer? "I have to dance with Lee, um, Worth. And the other one certainly wasn't my fault!" Amanda tilted her chin and glared at Tom.
He scratched his neck. "I didn't mean it was your fault." He seemed intimidated, which Amanda noted with surprise and satisfaction.
Bri grinned and grabbed Worth's hand. "Let's make her dance with Lee, Tom. Or didn't you like dancing with me earlier?"
Worth looked from one to the other in amazement. "No, of course not, Amanda, but-"
"Then go!" She dragged him behind her to the dancing couples.
"Sabrina!" Amanda closed her eyes for a moment and then turned to Lee with a small smile. "Hey." He stepped in front of her and took her hands in his. "Would you like to get some fresh air?"
"Yeah sure," Amanda murmured, looking down at her hands. She cleared her throat. "If it doesn't take too long," she added more harshly, hoping Sabrina would say so.
Lee leaned forward. "Ten minutes," he whispered in her ear. "As agreed."
Amanda just nodded and walked out onto the balcony holding his arm. Maybe the evening air would really do her good.
"They don't dance. They're going out," Worth commented on the other couple's actions, turning with Bri. "What's your plan, Amanda? I hope it's good."
"It's good, um, Tom. Relax," she replied. Would Amanda say something like that? Probably not. "I mean, nothing to worry about. Really." She smiled kindly. Hopefully it was a friendly smile. An Amanda smile. Bri shyly lowered her head and gaze a little.
But Worth just frowned and kept glancing in the direction of the double doors from time to time. "You trust Lee?" he then asked unsure.
Sabrina sighed internally. "With my life." At least she knew that much by now.
"Even with something like that? Another woman? God, Amanda, these two should dance with us and not with each other, um, whatever! I mean, Sabrina should. With me. You are way too good for him. You should really reconsider your choice. He hasn't changed a bit in all the years I've known him!"
She looked up. "I trust Sabrina and her plan," she said, suppressing a grin.
He cocked his head when he saw the corner of her mouth twitch. "You find it funny?"
"You not?" she asked promptly. Uh-oh. Wrong. "Listen, Tom, Lee's a gentleman." Worth snorted in disbelief. "And Sabrina can defend herself, can't she? Do you think she falls for a charming smile when it's so, um, transparent?"
"No," he admitted grumpily. "But you saw them dancing together earlier, Amanda! They had a good time!"
"You sound .. jealous," she said with a crease between her brows.
"I told you we seem to have something in common," he muttered with another look at the balcony.
"It's beautiful here," Amanda said, raising her hand and playing with the necklace that didn't have her name on it. She looked out into the darkness at the garden and breathed in the scent of the roses.
"Have you thought about coming to see me on Tuesday, Sabrina?" She turned to him, and Lee took her hand, kissing every finger. "Wine, chicken, I can get us a movie if you like."
Amanda grinned stupidly. It was weird being on the receiving end of Scarecrow's charm. Without a cover, without pretending that he more than likes her.
"Sabrina?"
"Oh, um, listen, Lee," she began with a sideways nod after he snapped her out of her thoughts. "Worth, um, is going to get mad. And I've got, um, a week to work for him. I can't. Really." That went well.
Lee twisted her hand and kissed her wrist. "He won't know. He's in a meeting for four hours. And there he is well guarded by us. Please!" His hazel eyes bore into hers. "You're just going to be bored otherwise. I can, um, give you a change of pace here in D.C."
Amanda blinked in confusion. He had stepped closer and placed her hand on his chest, his own over it. To bore? For real? Was that his trick? She laughed to cover her insecurity. Confident, Amanda, she instantly scolded herself internally. "That, um, is very nice of you. You're so worried about me. But then there's Jill, Kelly and John. I certainly won't get bored with my friends."
"John Bosley is also in this conference. He's a secretary, after all," Lee grinned contentedly. "And according to your plan, Jill and Kelly are in the next room with an agency agent." He leaned towards her ear. "Please!"
Amanda closed her eyes. Dammit! "You have an answer for everything," she murmured. Lee's aftershave joined the smell of the roses. She knew it, she loved it and she knew how to defend herself against it. Against his intoxicating closeness. But today she wasn't Amanda. Or was she? What is he doing? She sighed as she felt his lips on her neck. "Lee."
"You said it yourself, I can fulfill your fantasies about secret agents, Sabrina," he whispered in her ear again. "And I should make an effort. I'll try." Then he raised his head. God today she even smells like Amanda, he thought infatuated.
They looked into each other's eyes. Amanda's hand naturally traveled up his chest and gently rested on his cheek. She should say something, anything. He talked stupid things all the time. Sabrina would ask him about it. It's all wrong, she thought sadly. But I'm not me, I can't go wrong, can I?
Lee returned the gesture and leaned forward. His hand was warm against her skin, his thumb touching her just below her lower lip. A second or two passed, too short for a clear thought. Then he kissed her, and it was like San Angelo all over again. Emotions, confusion, desire flowed through them both.
Reluctantly, Lee broke the kiss and continued it down her cheek, "Oh, Amanda.", her chin, on her neck. She froze, eyes open. "Amanda," he mumbled again, then Lee stopped too.
Amanda's wide eyes closed again. "Amanda?" she heard him say a third time. It sounded accusing, irritated. She didn't want to look at him and yet she opened her eyes again, which were already unintentionally filling with tears.
"Amanda!"
"Isn't jealousy totally inappropriate? I mean, you're not a private detective or a secret agent, but a cover is a cover. Feelings shouldn't play a role."
Tom gave Sabrina a surprised look.
"I mean, feelings get in the way, um, just a little bit?" Damn it, Amanda! Bri smiled. Smiling is always a good idea, she thought.
But his eyes narrowed suspiciously, then he sighed in defeat. "Yeah, maybe," he finally admitted. "But we've known each other for so long."
Sabrina nodded. Saying nothing would possibly keep appearances longer. Even if everything in her screamed that he didn't know her at all.
"We played together as kids, went to the same high school," he continued.
Now Bri's eyes narrowed. Is he lying on purpose? "Really?" she allowed herself to ask.
"Uh-hu. But what the heck, you look like her. If they don't want us, then, um, we could get together."
Sabrina studied Worth's face frantically. What was he talking about? Her head jerked to the side, and she laughed. "Yeah, sure," it slipped unintentionally sarcastically from her lips.
Tom leaned forward; Sabrina pulled her head back. But he held her so tight that she couldn't escape. The tip of his nose grazed her throat. "Come on, Amanda! Why not?"
"Tom! Stop it!" Bri angrily pressed her hands to his chest.
"Mmm, ahhh, I still like your perfume." Grinning, he pressed his nose to her ear again.
She stopped struggling and froze for a few seconds. "You…ass!" she finally raged quietly so no one else could hear her. They had long since stopped at the edge of the dance floor.
"Keep calling me Tom. I like that," he laughed into her face. His green eyes sparkled with joy and self-satisfaction.
Bri rolled her eyes. "I didn't think about the perfume," she grumbled.
"Do I get anything for finding out?"
She shook her head, slammed her fist on his chest, which he commented with an "Ouch."
Before Bri's eyes, a distraught Amanda fought her way through the crowd. Sabrina watched her go, startled. Then she pushed Worth hard away. "I have to .. stay here! I'll be right back."
The arms maker frowned as she rushed after Amanda. A minute later, Stetson followed the two women out of the room. The furrow between Worth's eyebrows deepened.
-‐-
TBC