Chapter One

Author's Note: This is the second part of the Surprise! Look Who Came To Town! If you are like me and you like conclusions and were curious to see what happened next after Lee's question to Amanda.

***SMK***

Lee's eyes widened in surprise as he turned around and faced Amanda as their eyes met and held as she placed her hand atop his. "Amanda, don't sneak up on me like that. You scared me half to death!"

"Now you see how it feels."

Despite the situation Lee found himself in, he couldn't help but smile. "I thought I was alone."

"From your reaction, I can see that." Removing her hand from his, she watched his face intently as she asked, "what did you just ask?"

Oh boy, he was caught now. Lee thought, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. Now that she knows, what was he going to do about it? What was he thinking when he said those words out loud in the first place? "Well, I—" Lee looked into Amanda's soulful eyes and thought about the past few days and all that he had gone through while Dieter was in town, how he finally realized how much in love with Amanda he was. How was he supposed to tell her that he didn't discover his feelings until she was dating someone else and his uncle had to help him with that realization as well? Lee's words caught in his throat for a moment, but finally, he managed to say, "I asked 'what would you think if I told you I loved you?'"

A look of disbelief came over Amanda's face. "You are in love with me!? Lee, are you honestly trying to tell me that the someone else you are beginning to care for is me?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."

"When exactly did you come up with that realization?" Amanda questioned, her eyes blaring from anger now as she placed her hands on her hips.

"While Dieter was here-" he replied quietly.

Lee knew that Amanda was bristling now for sure. The look on her face said it all. Besides, he knew her so well and he had to admit that he couldn't blame her one bit. If ever there was a time he wished Amanda's mother came home with the boys, this was that time.

"Oh, you, I swear! Of all the nerve! I knew you were always jealous and in need of attention, but this-" Amanda waved her hand around in the air. "This takes the—"

"Amanda," Lee touched her arm. "Dieter coming had nothing to do with, well, that is not completely true."

"Isn't it? You never thought anything of me before he came. Don't think it went unnoticed that you had your knickers in a bunch as soon as he arrived and Francine and I were, well, happy to see him."

"Well, that may or may not be the truth, but—"

He was interrupted by the chimes of the front doorbell.

"Ah, hell!" Now what? Who in the world could that be now? "Amanda, your mother, wouldn't be ringing the bell, would she?"

Amanda, frustrated as well, sighed. "No, I don't think so, not unless she forgot her key."

"The boys?"

"No, they were gonna go over to a friend's house."

Lee didn't know whether to be grateful, relieved, or just plain upset by the interruption. "Whoever it is at the door, they are very persistent," Lee said as the bell sounded off again.

"I guess I better go and see who it is," Amanda said reluctantly. "But don't you dare move a muscle. We aren't done with this conversation, Lee Stetson!" Amanda warned as she turned towards the house then turned back towards Lee. "In fact, come on in and have a seat." Amanda glanced down at her watch, "Mother should be at her garden club; they are busy planning their annual fundraiser."

"Yeah, that's right!" Lee replied, following Amanda with a half-smile as he rubbed his hand across the stubble on his chin. In his hurry to get to Amanda's, he hadn't shaved the overnight growth. He sat down upon the couch and waited as Amanda answered the door.

A few minutes later, Amanda returned with two white paper bags in her hand.

"Mother's Avon order," Amanda said as she plopped each bag on the counter then turned towards Lee with her hands on her hips. "So, where were we?"

Lee scooted over towards the other end of the couch so he was closer to Amanda. "I know you are upset and I don't blame you. It came as a surprise to me just how much I missed you when you were with—ugh, I mean how much you mean to me."

"Exactly! When I was with Dieter. Besides the fact that I was showing attention to someone else, someone was paying me attention. And it wasn't related to a case gone bad, an attempt on my life or someone to take me out because it was related to the agency."

"Amanda, I didn't even intend on telling you this today. It's too soon. I just thought that you were hurting because Dieter left so abruptly. I didn't know until I got here that you cut things off amicably. I understand that you are angry with me and I won't even dare hope you might have some feelings for me, but I will tell you this. What I feel for you has NOTHING to do with the fact that you were dating Dieter. "

"I find that difficult to believe—"Amanda stopped in midsentence at the sound of the telephone ringing.

"You have got to be kidding me," Lee said, frustrated at one more interruption.

"Hello. Yes, Sir! He's here." At Lee's questioning look, Amanda said, "It's Mr. Melrose."

So much for being off the clock!

"Billy, I thought you said I could take the rest of the day and tomorrow off. What happened?"

"Lee, I hate to bother you when you are with Amanda, but I need you to come to the Agency right away!"

"But Billy—"

"I can't tell you over the phone. Just say goodbye to Amanda and get your butt back here right away. I'll make it up to you later."

"Okay."

Lee hung up the receiver carefully and turned to face her.

"Amanda, I'm sorry—"

"Is something wrong?"

"Must be something important; he only said for me to get my—ugh for me to come back right away. Amanda, I—"

"Lee, it's okay. Go."

Lee hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something or touch her arm, but he thought better. "I will come back as soon as I can if that is okay. We really do need to talk about this some more."

"Yes, I think we should talk about this some more."

"I promise," Lee hesitantly took hold of Amanda's hand and when she didn't object, he squeezed it tightly for a moment before leaving the house.

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Thank you for reading.

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To be continued.

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