Chapter Eight - The Mall - evening of the 3rd night

Lee pulled Amanda closer to him as they walked. They had a wonderful meal at a new place Lee had heard about. They shared a meal at Emilio's and the conversation was nonstop. They lost track of the time as they talked into the night. Lee suggested a nice walk along the mall and Amanda was telling Lee what transpired with Francine earlier in the afternoon. "I had even told her the other day that you still HAD your black books. So I can't imagine what she was thinking when I told her that I watched you burn them. She must think I am crazy. She just makes me so mad sometimes that I just react and not think about what I say before I say it."

Lee threw his head back and laughed when Amanda told him what she said about his four black books.

" Don't worry about Francine, Amanda. She just doesn't understand you. You rely on your instincts and that beautiful logical mind of have come a long way since being just a housewife playing in the spy business. You are becoming a damn good agent. Francine has had to work hard for everything. She comes off very harsh and abrupt. Don't let her fool you. She means well… she just has a funny way of showing it. But….you know she's gonna bug us incessantly now. The fact that I burned my books and you know I did. She's going to know that I have a girlfriend."

Amanda raised her eyebrow as she looked at him "You do have a girlfriend."

Lee stopped and wrapped his arms around her waist. He leaned in for a sweet soft kiss. "You are so right. I do. Now the question is do we let her in on the secret of just who my girlfriend is?"

Amanda kissed him back and sighed.``Lee, I don't know. I just don't want the gossip mill to go crazy over our relationship. It's like every three to six months we are the number one topic at the water cooler."

Lee chuckled. "I know Amanda." He held her tighter against him "I think that we just go about things just as we always do. At work we are Scarecrow and Mrs. King."

Amanda smiled at him and finished his sentence "And when we are at home we are Lee and Amanda?"

"Exactly what I was thinking. And right now we are Lee and Amanda. NO Agency….and NO shop talk. That's our agreement when we go out. Agreed?"

Amanda nodded as Lee leaned down again to give her a scorching kiss. When they broke apart she sighed and laid her head on his chest. "Well, I can certainly get used to being Lee and Amanda if you kiss me like that!"

Lee beamed at her with his dimples showing in full force. He kissed her softly again and whispered as he felt her shiver in his arms. "I told you before Amanda…all you have to do is ask Lets head back to the apartment. It's getting late. I can't have my boss out too late." Amanda smiled as she linked her arm in his and they headed back towards the car.

Back At Lee's Apartment - Same Night

Amanda pulled the covers up as she settled into Lee's bed. He again insisted that she sleep in his room. She thanked him with a beautiful passionate kiss and headed to bed. She was now laying in his bed and she felt as if her brain was a complete ball of mush. Kissing Lee Stetson was something that she only dreamed about and now that they crossed the line from being just friends to something more…the reality of kissing him paled in comparison. She sighed as she pulled the covers up to her chin and smiled to herself. She thought about the conversations they had. Lee had opened up to her in so many ways. He had come a long way from the lone wolf with the walls built around him. She rolled over to her left side and closed her eyes. She sighed again as she told herself that she was hopelessly in love with Lee Stetson. She prayed he felt the same way. Would it have been this easy if we had swallowed our fears and told each other how we felt? Would kissing him be just as easy? What if this doesn't work out? I can't lose him as my best friend. He's too important. She needed him in her life. She opened her eyes and sat up. She thought about her mother and the boys. Would they accept Lee in their world? I know that Mother would just adore him. Phillip would love to ride in the Vette with him and they would always have something to talk about. What about Jamie? They are a lot alike. Jamie may not like change but I think he could learn to love having Lee in his life. Maybe we need to talk about him meeting my family? She shook her head and snuggled back down into the pillows. She needed to get some sleep. Lee said he had a surprise for her tomorrow. Their last full day and night together. She closed her eyes again and she knew that her dreams were going to be all about her dashing partner.

Lee was laying on the couch staring at his bedroom doors. He was thinking about Amanda. He smiled to himself as he thought about kissing her. All those kisses they had shared. It seemed so easy. Would it have been if I had tried to kiss her earlier? Lee thought to himself. He knew that he was in love with Amanda King and he prayed that she felt the same way. Would it have been this easy between us if I had kissed her earlier? What if I mess this up? My track record on relationships isn't that good. No…come on Lee. This is Amanda you are talking about. She's your best friend. I just can't lose her. She's too important. She really has become my whole world. Lee sat up and looked over towards the bedroom again. He thought about her family. He felt a pang of guilt that he was the reason she wasn't at home with them right now. She takes such good care of me. Always making sure that I am fed and I have my rest. She's such an amazing mother. The boys are so lucky to have Amanda. The boys. Would they accept me? I think Phillip and I would get along pretty well. What about Jamie? He's her baby. She said that we are more alike than I realize. And what about Dotty? Would she be happy knowing that I love Amanda? Maybe it's time I really meet her family? Especially if you want to marry her one day….Lee shook his head. Marry Amanda? Where did that come from, he wondered. He chuckled to himself. He knew at that moment Amanda King was the only woman in the world for him. He knew that now. He just had to show her. He had to be worthy of her. He laid back down on the couch and smiled. He closed his eyes knowing that his dreams were finally becoming a reality and they all centered around the beautiful housewife.