Chapter 2: "The Hardest Part About this Job is the Feelings."

Amanda pulled herself together and stepped back, hoping he hadn't noticed her staring. She managed to take a deep breath, trying to bring her heart rate back to normal.

Lee got up from the stool and slid his arms into Joe's sweatshirt and pulled it over his head. As much as Amanda was disappointed to see his chest disappear beneath the shirt, she finally felt that she could breathe normally again. That was, however, until she heard the clack of a belt buckle opening and the vroosh of leather being pulled across fabric. Amanda gulped again.

Lee wrapped the towel around his waist. "Would you mind?" he asked, moving his finger in a circle to indicate that he wanted her to turn around.

"Of course," she responded. With her back turned, her senses were heightened and every sound behind her was unmistakable. She could hear his zipper lowering and then the plop of his jeans to the floor, the button on the waistband making a soft click as it landed on the concrete. She squeezed her eyes closed. Her entire body tensed up as she tried not to think about what was happening behind her. After a few moments, he asked her to turn around again.

She spun around and tried to hold back a laugh when she saw Lee in Joe's old clothing for the first time. The gray sweatpants were at least two inches too short, revealing his ankles and lower shins. The blue sweatshirt was equally ill-fitting, with the sleeves only reaching to his mid-forearms. He looked like he had gotten caught in the rain and his clothing shrunk.

Lee looked down and surveyed the clothes with a rueful smile. "Well, at least it's not plaid like that awful coat I had to wear earlier. Any socks in there?"

Amanda reached into the box and pulled out a pair of sweat socks. She tossed them to him, and he slipped them on his feet. Amanda found a flashlight in the box and handed it to Lee. "Here. You might need this." He flicked the flashlight on and off to make sure it worked.

The lightning flashed brightly through the garage windows, followed almost immediately with a crash of thunder. It began raining harder.

Lee glanced out the window before looking back at Amanda with his arms spread to indicate his new living space. "Amanda, what are we going to do? This isn't going to work," Lee grumbled. "I thought your family would be gone all week."

Amanda nodded and sighed. "Me, too."

"I mean, I might have been better off if I was in the room beside Eddie the Alcoholic, even if he was causing a ruckus from a big drinking binge."

Amanda tried to smile encouragingly at him, but she wasn't sure if she was successful. "I guess you're just going to have to find your murderer faster." She bent over and picked up his wet clothing and gathered it in her arms.

Lee shrugged. "We don't have much to go on."

She looked up into his eyes and stroked her finger down his arm. "Well, if anyone can solve this case, it'd be you." She spoke with complete certainty - there wasn't a doubt in her mind.

Her faith in him touched his heart. He smiled faintly and chuckled softly. "Thanks, Amanda."

Lee glanced down at the makeshift bed of toddler mattresses and sighed. "I guess I'd better get to bed." The mattresses immediately slid apart when Lee tried to lay down, and he started to sink between them. Shaking his head, he pulled the blanket up to his chest.

Amanda started towards the door and opened it. "Wow, it's really storming. I can barely see the house."

"If you want, you can always stay here, in the 'Amanda King Hotel'," Lee said mischievously with his blanket open in invitation. He was a little surprised at his bold joke, but he felt an underlying pull towards her ever since he carried her out of Delano's Mansion. He was sure she'd say no, but he wouldn't mind at all if she stayed.

Amanda was also surprised at his invitation. She looked out into the storm and then back at Lee. She couldn't stay with him, as much as she secretly wanted to, it just wasn't right. People might think she's having a thing, and in the garage, no less! With her Mother and the boys just yards away. No, she had to brave the storm. "I need to get your clothing washed and dried before everyone wakes up." she explained.

He lowered the blanket and rolled onto his side. "Okay, Amanda. Good night."

Amanda felt a pang of guilt when she saw the mattresses shifting again. His feet hung over the edge. "Goodnight, Lee." She turned out the light, stepped out into the storm, and closed the garage door behind her.

TBC