Secrets revealed

Seeing Lee dropped off by the Uber, she warms up the sopillas and adds some ice cream in two bowls, waiting for him to walk in the door, eager to find out about his day.

"Sweetheart, how was your day"? Amanda asks.

"Why don't you start first", Lee responds. "I need to sober up a bit", he laughs.

"Let's have dessert first before it melts", as Amanda points to what she brought home.

As she munches on the sopillas and brings the spoon to her mouth containing the ice cream, Amanda begins. "I told Emily everything. She warned me about 'the boys upstairs'. She supports me and says this Dubai thing is still a go. No one else can be brought up to speed this late in the game. I reviewed the photos Blue Leader provided and couldn't find anything. I then looked at the team we are meeting, again nothing. Francine and I had dinner and drinks. I filled her in about you, then we compared notes and agree it looks like we have to investigate and trust no one except ourselves". Amanda says.

"Can you trust your people"? Lee asks. I know Francine has been your friend for years, but do you believe in her?"

"As much as I believe in you", Amanda says. "I know we haven't always been honest in what we do, but in the end, I trust you with my life. You are my life, you the boys and my mother." Amanda continues, "once this is over Francine wants to come over for dinner. She hasn't seen the boys since they were small, and I know she would like to see mother too. Oh, by the way, be prepared to be grilled. She wants to make sure you are worthy of you. She also thinks you are cute".

"Hey, I am cute", Lee says with a smile on his face".

Amanda says, "you're not that cute, but actually she said you are hot. I agree, she jokes.

"Jealous much?" Lee asks.

"Never", Amanda replies. Not only do I trust you, I know you only have eyes for me. But, if you do, I know nine ways to kill you without leaving a mark", she laughs and gives him a playful shove.

"Okay", Lee begins, "before I tell you about my day, I need to know what skills you really have and what you have been hiding all these years. From your file, it says you are an expert markswoman. So, we need to go to the range sometime and see just how good you are. But what else? Besides killing me in nine ways?"

"You already know I'm a decent photographer, photojournalist, writer, editor. But that's mostly my cover. I could have helped Jamie with his projects, but that is one of the things you connected with him, so I enjoyed sitting back and watching you both learn together. I didn't want that part of my day job to be my night job too. I think outside the box, just like at home, but try to outmaneuver the opponent verses killing them. That is the least favorite part of my job. I kickbox, am a purple belt in karate, top of my class in evasive and defensive driving and assistant lead in training for new prospective agents, second only to Francine. Your turn", Amanda states.

"Okay", Lee begins, "my day sounds like yours, except without the dinner. I told about Billy how we met. Did you know I was undercover when you ordered those two glasses of wine? I told him I was afraid you were on a date; but was relieved when I found out you were with your mother. I told him a lot more of you and he wants us over for dinner to meet his wife. Billy and I had several drinks, hence the Uber. I'll need a ride to my office. Later when this is over, I'll show you around. I do play a director sometimes to maintain my cover. We put out a few films a year to satisfy the film industry. I can pilot a helicopter and small planes. I could have pretended to take lessons from Curt, but in the end decided not to. I don't like killing either, but who does? I only do it for self-defense. I can't always wiggle myself out of a situation, like you appear to. Maybe you have more disarming ways than me. We should go to the gym sometime, I box, am a black belt in karate and decent at evasive driving, though I have damaged a couple of agency vehicles. We have this amazing mechanic who can put almost any car back together. I don't know the story of how he got his name, but everyone calls him 'Leather Neck'. I've been all over the world, but this will be my first trip to Dubai. Is that enough to satisfy you for now?"

"So now that we've compared notes and hopefully have no more secrets from each other", Amanda says, "why don't you take me to bed? I want to unwind before tomorrow, we can talk about the plane and any last-minute details before leaving. It may be a late night and while we will have to pretend to be married, we can't let things get out of hand, so let's satisfy each other before we convince everyone we are married-but not really, Amanda says.

"Say no more", Lee says as he scoops Amanda in his arms and carries her upstairs as Amanda laughs. "Sush, we don't want to wake the boys", Lee says, laughing too.

He sets her down on the bed and slowly unbuttons her blouse, kissing her neck and shoulders as he undresses her. She does the same to him. Later, they roll over breathing heavily.

"You out did yourself, Mr. Stetson, Amanda sighs.

"As did you, Mrs. Stetson", Lee agrees. "Why don't we take a long shower and then I can give you a back rub with some of that lavender oil".

"Sound wonderful", Amanda replies. "I struck gold when I finally agreed to marry you".

After Amanda receives one of the best back rubs in a long time, gets up and puts on one of Lee's t-shirts and some pink panties. Lee puts on his boxers and then crawls under the covers with her and he pulls her towards him, with his arms around her. She reaches and holds on to his arms too, before they both fall asleep.

Morning arrives and they get dressed quickly and head towards the kitchen. Lee starts the coffee and Amanda warms up a muffin, eating it while she writes a note to the boys instructing them to make their own breakfast and they will see them in the evening before they leave town.

Amanda and Lee head towards the Jeep; Lee gets in the passenger side and punches in the address on the GPS. She heads off in the opposite direction of her office and drops him off at his. He leans over and kisses her goodbye.

She makes a wide turn and makes the drive to her office, preparing herself for the final arrangements of their trip.