Chapter 13: In Which Lee Ends Up at Amanda's House

Lee's arm remained around Amanda's shoulders almost the entire time they were at the show. The story was romantic, funny, engaging and entertaining all at the same time. But then again, Amanda, thought to herself, anything would appear wonderful right now. I mean, here she was with the most handsome man she'd ever known, not to mention dashing, charismatic, romantic and sexy as hell and God, she was in love with him. Tom Cruise had nothing on Lee. She could go on and on but then she'd miss out on this wonderful time of enjoying the feel of Lee's arms around her. Amanda sighed. What are you waiting on, Lee is the one for you and you know it. Your past doesn't matter, and you know it.

"Amanda, something wrong?" Lee asked, as he noticed her sigh.

"Huh?"

"You sighed. You chilly?"

He had to be kidding-how could she be chilly with him next to her? She was about to melt as it was.

"No, I'm fine," Amanda managed as she tried to focus on the movie. Just what are you waiting for? Lee has been pretty patient with you so far. What if he got tired of waiting? She shivered at the mere thought of it.

"You are cold," Lee said and pulled Amanda even closer to his side; then turned and kissed her and she thought she'd die. The kiss was soft and gentle at first as his lips touched hers but became passionate as she returned his kiss. And just as quickly as the kiss began, it ended Lee returned his attentions to the movie.

"You warmer now?" Lee asked innocently.

"Yeah!" Her mother better not ask about the movie, because she wasn't going to know anything about what happened and what parts she did see, she wasn't going to remember.

/

After the movie, Lee drove Amanda home and they stood outside her house at the back door for several minutes. They had shared several kisses before Lee reluctantly pulled back, left and went to his apartment, which now seemed very lonely. He was now in bed, attempting to go to sleep, but as was often the case, his mind travelled to thoughts of Amanda.

Lee, you're slipping! Lee thought as he closed his eyes and went to sleep. Amanda almost got the better of you tonight. Stetson, if the kiss had lasted much longer, you would've been carrying her out of there and taking her back to your place. And although, Lee most definitely wanted to become intimate with Amanda once again, his bigger goal was to wear her down to the point of wanting him in her life as not just a lover but as a companion, friend and spouse. These were his thoughts as he fell asleep.

It was the middle of the night and Lee was asleep when he heard the sound of fire alarms swirling around in his head. Immediately Lee sat up straight as he heard banging upon his door. Grabbing his robe from the floor, Lee felt the door for warmth and once it was confirmed that the door was not hot, Lee opened the door to find himself engulfed in smoke. Lee moved to the stairs behind a few other residents.

/

Lee was outside of his apartment complex with the neighbors watching the firefighters put out the flames, when he saw a familiar person step up and through the crowd; Amanda wearing a gown with her jacket over it.

"Lee, are you okay?" Amanda asked as she walked up to Lee and placed her hands gently upon his chest.

"What are you doing here? How did you find out?"

"It was on the news."

"Well, what were you doing up this late? "

"I always watch the late night news."

Lee gave her a sideways glance.

"Well, I couldn't exactly sleep." Thanks to you! She thought to herself.

"Oh, really?" Lee asked with a smile.

Amanda ignored his question and asked him instead, "Lee, what happened?"

"Mr. Oberweiss fell asleep with a pot of beans cooking on the stove, again."

Amanda started to laugh, but suppressed it as she saw the look on Lee's face.

"But this time, he woke up a little too late," Lee said.

"Well, did everyone get out okay?"

"Yeah!"

"Well, that's the most important thing," she replied and buried her head against Lee's chest.

"Yeah," Lee said as he held Amanda and took in the scent of her hair.

/

"Lee, come on. Hurry up, grab just what you need, like that comb you love so much—I see you already have on your robe…the firefighters said you could only be in here a few minutes."

The fire department had sent all the residents back to their apartments for the night; except Lee and his neighbor Mr. Oberweiss had to leave so their apartments could air out—they were on the same floor. Lee's place would need repainting, so he would need to be out of his place a few days at least; whereas, Mr. Oberweiss' apartment sustained extreme damage; it would probably be a while before he could return to his apartment. Lee would definitely have to send his clothes out to be cleaned. He snatched up a few changes of clothes, his personal grooming items and….oh; he almost forgot the most important thing, the ring! Lee had left Amanda by the door, with her hands on her hip, so Lee quickly grabbed the ring and placed it in the bottom of his overnight bag.

"You can just drop me by my club or the YMCA!" Lee tried again as they headed off towards her car. He'd been trying to convince her since they walked up to his apartment, that it was insane for him to go to her house, but she wouldn't listen.

"No!"

"Well, can I at least take my own car?"

"And, have you try and leave the house and go to your club?"

"Now Amanda, you're just being ridiculous now."

"I probably am but can you just humor me, you don't know how scared I was tonight when I saw that there was a fire at your apartment….Lee, I don't know what I would've done if something had happened to you. If you really must have your car, we can pick it up on the way to work tomorrow. I'll phone Billy in the morning and let him know that we will be late and why."

Normally, Lee would've stopped her ramble, but tonight she was expressing her feelings for him and he knew that she needed to.

"Okay."

"Good, get in, I'll drive."

"One question," Lee began, "what will your mother say?"

"She will string me up alive herself if I don't bring you over tonight, besides she already knows that…."

"Your mother already knows what? Amanda!"

"She already knows that I was going to check on you, so she won't be surprised that I brought you back home with me. But I will leave her a note and put it under her door."

"Oh!"

From the expression upon his face, Amanda burst out laughing.

"Lee, she thinks that you and I have been having a whoo hoo since, well, nearly since I started working for the film agency."

"What? Now, how am I supposed to go to your house and ask if I can stay the night?"

"For the weekend."

"What-we said one night."

"You said one night."

"But Amanda!"

"Come on, we can discuss it on the way to my house."

So, in the end, he'd simply shook his head and smiled as he finished gathering his items from his apartment and locked his apartment door and left with Amanda.