Before I start, I want to thank you all again for the wonderful feedback. It makes me write more....really!!

And good job on the stalking, team.

CH 11

"Dottie", his voice cracked nearly in two. "It's a pleasure to see you." He'd been less nervous in Soviet interrogation rooms. He eyed the bottle of champagne, knowing even that wouldn't cure his dry mouth. "Well," he stood, using his chair for balance. "This is Susan...from work. She's a friend, from work." Lee didn't think he'd covered for not knowing her last name, but that was the least of his worries. "Susan, this is Dorothy West, and....I'm sorry..."

Dottie turned to the man at her side. "Curtis Allen. He's my flight instructor."

"Pleasure to meet you." Lee shook hands, wondered if he should ask the man for a blindfold and cigarette. After all, he was on his way to a character assassination.

Amanda's mother took Lee firmly by the elbow. "Could I talk to you for just a second? Excuse us?" And with that Dottie left a confused Susie alone with her flight instructor. Lee had the fleeting thought that maybe *he'd* be able to make some conversational headway.

Yeah, probably not.

Lee allowed himself to be propelled into the small hallway near the restrooms. Once there, he steeled himself to face the wrath of a woman scorned.

Turned out that old saying was wrong. Hell had no fury like a *mother* scorned.

She lit into him immediately. "Lee Stetson, I don't care what kind of open 80's relationship you two have," she paused, obviously gathering steam, "but I will *NOT* watch you sitting there with that...that...floozy, while my daughter sits at home, crying every night."

The thought of Amanda crying twisted Lee's heart. "Dottie, I never meant to...look, this woman is a client, and it's very important for business that I make her feel..."

Dottie was having none of it. "Feel what? Like a..." A whole new glint came into her eyes. "And aren't you supposed to be out of town? Who's lying to me, you or my daughter?"

"I'm not lying, I...umm, Amanda is just, I mean, I..."

Out of nowhere, a welcome voice chimed over his shoulder. "Lee, what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be with our client?"

Speechless, Lee couldn't begin to express his relief at seeing Amanda. His mouth seemed to be slightly unhinged, as he couldn't quite close it.

"Mother, what a pleasant surprise!" Amanda embraced her startled mother. "Were you welcoming Lee back to town?"

Still stunned, Lee could only observe as this woman he'd once dismissed as "just a housewife" totally extricated him from the situation.

"I'm sorry, Mother, but we really need to get back to our client. Business first. I'm sure you need to get back to Curt as well. Were you two just leaving?" Amanda gently pushed Lee's chin upward, effectively closing his mouth.

"Well, yes, we were, I, I'm sorry, Lee, I'll be seeing you?"

Lee smiled warmly at the retreating figure. "Of course, Dottie. Very soon."

Lee fell against the rich velvet wall in relief. Even with his eyes closed he could still sense her there, feel her warmth.

"Hey. You okay?"

He nodded, opening his eyes onto her bright, if slightly penitent, smile. It was then that he noticed she was wearing a beautiful black and silver gown.

Confusion was becoming the theme for the night. "Amanda, what are you doing here?"

A slight blush rose to her cheeks and she sucked on her lower lip. "Eating?"

He shook his head slowly, his smile spreading like a bird opening its wings. "Nope. Try again."

Concentrating on her gently swinging foot, she looked like she was explaining herself to the principal. "Okay. I was following you." Her head snapped up to put in a preemptive strike. "And it's a good thing I was, too, or my mother would have made *such* a scene."

"Amanda..."

"And I know you're going to say I shouldn't have come here and that I don't need to be following you and..."

"Amanda!" Lee bent down to catch her gaze, still smiling. He shook his head again, lowering his voice. "I'm glad you were here. And you *did* save me. Thanks."

"You're welcome. Shouldn't you get back to your date?"

"Shouldn't you get back to your spying?"

"I've never really liked that word." With a smile, she turned and walked away.

With a renewed sense of strength, Lee headed back to his table. He could make it through one lousy date. He could make it through anything.

He had Amanda.