I just wanted to take a second to thank everyone for all the wonderful feedback, and for sticking with it this far. Now, everyone please go harass Whizgidget to finish The Price We Pay, or I'll stop writing, I swear!!

CHAPTER 9

Billy's office

The next morning

Billy seemed nervous, and Lee was having a hard time reading him.

"Lee, Francine tells me that some of the men are wondering why you haven't been seen with hot and cold running women yet. They're thinking maybe you're not really over Amanda yet."

"Maybe I'm not as shallow as they are."

Billy thought that not all that long ago, the term 'shallow' would have conjured Lee in a second.

"Regardless, that's not the image we're trying to project." Billy held the edge of his desk, seemingly bracing himself for attack. "I think it's time you went... on a date."

Lee's chair lay on the ground like a helpless turtle as it's occupant jumped skyward. "A WHAT?"

"Now, Lee..."

"I mean, I just don't see why that's necessary. What difference does it make what people think of me? It's her appearance that's most important..."

"And you looking like a cad will only make her look that much more wounded, more deserving of a new relationship."

"I've, um, got a few names, when you're ready you can go through them, maybe with Amanda, and pick one..."

A short, harsh laugh answered his offer. "Oh yeah, that'll be fun for her."

"It's an assignment, Stetson. You can't take it too personally."

Lee righted the chair, looking over the list with a bemused smirk. All of the women were regular staff, accounting or steno. They seemed to fit a profile, and he had to admit that a few years ago this assignment would have been cake.

Janice Cosner. Blond, he thought. Melanie Tyner. Redhead? He couldn't quite picture her either. Susanna Lewis. Probably went by Susie, he smirked. It didn't really matter which one he picked, they were just window dressing.

Window dressing. He'd referred to Amanda that way not all that long ago. God, he had been a colossal jerk. He was more than lucky that she had put up with him as long as she had. The idea that she was nothing more than an ornament, an accessory...

Shaking his head, he tried to picture the way she would look on their wedding day. Would she look much different? Would she wear a poofy white dress? They really hadn't discussed details yet, so his imagination was free to explore.

"Details, Scarecrow? You're assuming quite a bit there. What makes you think she'd even want to marry your sorry..."

Reluctantly dragging himself back to the list, he reminded himself that Amanda was doing most of the work in this case, and that if he had to go on a date or two it was the very least he could do to support her.

The very least. And that was just how he would explain it to her, too.

Over the phone.

From Guam.