First of all I'd really like to apologize for this taking so long. I do have a bit of a reason, but I know it's frustrating to be kept waiting.
I got a job in Tokyo (I live near DC now) so I've been faced with packing up my life and moving it 6, 000 miles away. So things have been a little hectic!
I want to apologize to my beta, Ashley for posting without sending it through her, but at the end of the week my computer goes into storage, so time is of the essence. I'll still have internet access at work--I'm pretty useless there anyway!
So--to wrap this up in the next day or so, here goes!:
Chapter 12
Amanda wandered out to the patio, still in her black and silver beaded gown. The warmth of Lee's touch still radiated from her arm, and she imagined she could still feel his hands on her.
"Oh, Lee," she told no one but the stars in the sky. "You'd better be in this for the long haul. I can't just let go now."
She had watched him stealthily across the restaurant as he'd done his best to flirt with Susie.
He had changed. People had told her that, but it had only now become evident to her. She had changed too, she knew. Once they had each had firm lines defining them: spy, bachelor, mother, housewife. Over time those lines had become fuzzy and had bled over into each other, insubstantial as watercolor.
As they had drawn closer, she'd wondered if Lee would be the 'father' type to Philip and Jamie. He'd always seemed interested in them, and lately in their relationship with Joe.
Glancing over at the basketball hoop she could almost picture Lee there, shooting hoops with Philip. Joe had never...
"Amanda?" Lee's voice hissed through the air, and she spun around.
"Hey, big guy. You usually come from that way," she indicated with a thumb over her shoulder.
Lee sat beside her on the small iron bench near the gazebo. "Just playing it safe. I really don't think anyone is watching us at home, I'm convinced this is solely within the Agency. But, can't be too careful, right Mrs. King?"
She leaned into him, her hand creeping beneath his jacket to rub the small of his back. As her lips migrated to his cheek, she stopped short.
"Hmm."
"What, you okay?" he asked.
A mischievous smile crept onto her face. "Oh, yeah, I'm great. You, however..."
"What?" he asked, a worried look meeting her amused one.
"Oh, nothing. But you might want to tell your little girlfriend not to get her hot pink lipstick on your collar."
His hand flew up to cover the offending blemish. "She did what? Oh, Amanda, I'm sorry. I tried to...but she kept trying to..."
One finger on his lips was enough. "Shhh. I know." Feeling strangely territorial, she not only began kissing him but rubbing her hands up and down his chest, as though she could erase any trace of the other woman.
"God, you smell so good," he moaned, before jerking away from her so suddenly she nearly fell off the bench. "Look!"
"What?"
"Shooting star, " he mumbled, somewhat embarrassed. "Sorry, one of the last things I remember my mother saying was that if I saw a shooting star I should make a wish." His head fell, and he stared intently at his lap. "I used to wish she would come back." He sat up, running a hand down her back.
"So, how's your mother?"
Amanda fought to still her racing heart, startled by the sudden change. She placed a hand over both of his, gently working it between them. "Mother? She's fine. She's feeling very guilty about the way she treated you, but I told her you understood."
He nodded. "Good. I wouldn't want her to be angry with me."
Amanda smiled. "I don't think you have to worry about that, she loves you."
Lee turned his face away. "Yeah?" he asked in a small voice.
Amanda pulled his face back to her. "Yeah." She loved the way the words still seemed to surprise him. "And so do I."
He kissed her, wanting to hold on to her all night. If, in his wildest dreams, Amanda actually did agree to marry him, maybe his more recent wishes would come true after all.