"Which one?" she asked, automatically going into agent mode.

"The black limousine."

Spotting the long black car, several lengths behind them, she turned to Lee. "Got any ideas who it might be?" she questioned. "I can't make out the driver from this distance."

Lee allowed his eyes to slide over her again, appreciating her ability to remain calm under fire. When others were running around in circles or screaming their heads off, she was quietly assessing the situation and trying to figure out a plan. He couldn't stop the grin that popped out. She really was something. "No, I don't have a clue either," he informed her. "Could be anybody."

"How about Blue Leader?" she questioned, remembering several times when he had followed them in this same manner.

"I thought of that," Lee acknowledged her guess, "but they've been on our tail for some time. If it were Blue Leader, he's had more than ample opportunity to contact us. Besides, I never spot Blue Leader until I hear him. Whoever's driving that limo is an amateur, he isn't even trying to hide the fact that he's following us. Either that, or he doesn't care if we know. I can't think of anyone that fits either of those descriptions off the top of my head. Can you?"

Glancing behind them again, Amanda shrugged her shoulders. She couldn't imagine who it might be either. Looking up at Lee, she smiled at the anticipation on his face as he glanced her way.

"How about we lose this guy, and double back?" he questioned with a grin.

Amanda just shook her head in amused defeat. "Sounds like a plan to me," she agreed checking to make sure that her seat belt was securely fastened. She had just known it was too good to be true that they could actually spend time together, without their job intruding. Part of her felt like laughing at the absurdity of this situation. The other part of her, she was somewhat surprised to find, was feeling a bit relieved. It was as if their relationship had suddenly fallen back into its rightful spot.

As much as she liked and admired Lee, and wanted to spend this time together just getting to know him better, she wasn't quite sure how to handle the situation. Her feelings for Lee were strong and intense, but they were also confusing and had a tendency to shift back and forth like quick silver. He was attractive, exciting and the best friend she had ever had. She loved being with him, yet she wasn't sure she was ready to change their relationship into anything more, should that be his desire..

The problem was, her hormones weren't getting in line behind her hesitant emotions. Every time he gave her one of those looks that said he was aware of her as a woman, and every time he touched her, even casually, a spark of desire shot through her body. It had been a long time since she had been intimate with a man and while, for the most part, she hadn't really felt she was missing out, lately her body seemed to be telling her that it was ready to move on with life.

Only for her, a decision like that was tantamount to completely placing her future, as well as that of her boys, in the hands of someone else. She wasn't sure she was ready to do that. Not only did she not want to get hurt herself, but she wouldn't allow her sons to be dragged into anything that wasn't completely secure. No matter what her body was telling her, she had to face facts. As attracted as she was to Lee, his track record with women wasn't the best. She had his recent involvement with Leslie as a case in point. One day he was hot and heavy with the woman, and the next he was inviting Amanda out, saying that Leslie could fend for herself. Even if Leslie hadn't been in the picture, Amanda wasn't sure what she wanted from her relationship with Lee.

What they currently had was very good and she didn't want to mess their friendship up by seeking more than Lee wanted to give. Hormones aside, she wasn't even sure what 'more' she wanted or if she did. This was so confusing. While she trusted him completely with her safety and her life, she hadn't yet come to the point of completely trusting him with her heart. She just couldn't afford to make another mistake. It wasn't just her future riding on the decisions she made in her private life, but that of Philip and Jamie as well.

Glancing behind them, she could see that the black car was keeping pace with them, even as Lee wove expertly in and out of traffic. Of course, he wasn't trying to lose it yet. He was searching for an area where he could shake it off and then, in turn, begin a tailing of his own. Looking at the road ahead, she saw that he was taking an off ramp down into the warehouse district. It would be pretty easy for him to control the situation in that area. She had seen him do it time and time again.

She looked at his face, enjoying the chance to observe him. He was too busy driving to pay her any attention right then. She took in the intense look on his face as he monitored both the traffic in front of him and the car tailing them. Occasionally, his eyes would flit in her direction, and she would quickly look some place else. She hadn't realized how often he was glancing at her until then. When their eyes caught and held for a mere instant, she saw his concern for her shining forth from his. Somehow, even in a situation where his complete concentration was required, he still was sparing a moment or two to check on her. The thought warmed her heart. He really was a special man.

"Hang on," he warned her just mere seconds before he took a sharp turn down a small street, only to make another such turn immediately. They both sat in silence as they waited to see if the driver of the other car would spot them or not. They shared a conspiratorial grin as they saw the car drive past their hidden spot. Unfortunately, the driver was trying to locate them, and as he had passed them, his head had been turned in the other direction. Neither one of them had been able to make out who it was.

Putting his car into reverse, Lee backed out onto the road and swung his car in the direction the limo had gone. It wasn't long before they spotted him. 'The guy is definitely a nonprofessional,' Lee thought as he pulled a bit closer. The driver was so busy searching the area in front of him for their car that he never even noticed they were a short distance behind him. Lee found himself hating that stupid tinted glass that kept him from getting a good look at the guy. They were either going to have to stay on his tail, or take a chance and pull up beside him to find out who it was.

He glanced at Amanda, but she just shrugged her shoulders, leaving the decision up to him. Part of him wanted to tail the guy and see where he would go, but who knew how long that would take. The other part of him just wanted to get this done and over with so he could get on with his evening. Had he been the only one in the car, he wouldn't have even hesitated. But with Amanda beside him, he was reluctant to rush into a situation that could prove dangerous. Until they knew what they were dealing with, it was better to be cautious. With a long-suffering sigh, he pulled back slightly. Flashing Amanda an apologetic smile, he resigned himself to the change of plans for this evening.

They followed the car for a few more blocks. The driver was obviously still hoping to spot them. He would slow down at each intersection, almost coming to a stop, before speeding up and shooting down the street toward the next intersection. Lee looked over at Amanda, meeting her amused expression with one of his own. They were both obviously thinking the same thing. 'Amateur!'

Suddenly the car they were tailing swerved sharply to the curb and jerked to a stop. Lee swung his car to the side of the road as well, staying far enough back that they wouldn't immediately be spotted and yet close enough that he could track any action. The door of the limo was flung open so roughly that it snapped out and than began to swing shut again, only to meet the foot of the driver as he kicked it back open. Emerging, he jerked off his cap and flung it back into the car. Running his fingers through his hair in apparent frustration, he stood there looking around, a look of stumped aggravation on his face.

Watching the scene play out before their eyes, Lee and Amanda turned to each other in shocked surprise. This was one thing they had never expected. It only took Lee a moment to assess the situation, before he began to get good and steamed. Jerking his own car door open, he looked at Amanda sternly. "You stay put, do you hear! The last thing I need is someone in the way when I knock some sense into him!" he growled.

Nodding her head in agreement, Amanda shot him a look that consisted of equal parts relief and amusement. "Be sure to find out why he was tailing us first," she reminded him with a laugh. Scowling at her amusement with the situation, Lee slammed his car door and made his way toward the man who was now leaning against the hood of his car. This had better be good or the guy was going to be sporting quite a few bruises for interfering with his evening plans.

"Auggie, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Lee's roar echoed down the street, causing the other man to visibly jump. "There'd better be a really good explanation for this stunt or I'm gonna pound you into the pavement until they have to scrape you off with a shovel!"

To be cont.