Summary: Setting is around the second season. Lee and his date
and Amanda and Dean wind up in the same restaurant with some interesting
results.
Disclaimer: Lee Stetson and Amanda King's characters belong
to Shoot the Moon and Warner Brothers, not me.
"So, what are you doing this weekend, Amanda?" Lee asked as they prepared to leave IFF for the day.
"Oh, I have a date tonight, and then tomorrow the boys want to go to a movie, and Sunday is laundry day," Amanda filled him in.
"Well, I have a date tonight too. Hope you have fun on yours."
"Yeah," Amanda smiled. "You, too."
**Vitos Italian Restaurant and Dance Hall, Downtown DC**
"Oh, this place is gorgeous," Amanda said to Dean.
"Not half as gorgeous as you," Dean told her.
"Oh," Amanda blushed.
The restaurant was pretty crowded. They had reservations, but there were three parties waiting that did not. A voice behind Amanda said, "Fancy meeting you here."
Amanda turned and saw Lee. "Oh, hi!" she greeted him.
"This is Lisa," Lee introduced his date.
"Hi!" Lisa said in a seductive voice.
Save it for Lee, Amanda thought. "Nice to meet you. This is Dean. Dean, this is Lee, my boss."
Dean and Lee shook hands. Lee sized Dean up. What does she see in this guy, anyway? Lee asked himself.
The host appeared. Dean gave his name. "Yes, sir. Your table is ready," he said, addressing Dean and Amanda.
Lisa gasped. "But we were here first!" she cried with a pout.
Embarassed, Lee said, "They have reservations."
"Oh, poo!" she exclaimed loudly. Several people turned to stare. Lee was dying. "Why didn't you get reservations, too?"
"I've never been here before," Lee told her.
Dean said to the host, "How many does our table seat?" Amanda looked at him sharply.
"Four, sir."
"Well you're welcome to join us," he offered.
Seeing Amanda's horrified look, Lee was about to decline, but Lisa piped up. "That is so totally nice of you! Let's go!"
The host gave Lee a questioning look, and Lee nodded his agreement. What else could he do?
Once seated, Lee ordered a bottle of wine. Dean ordered a Bud Lite. Amanda asked for water.
When the waiter returned with the wine, Lee offered some to Amanda. "You've got to try this wine, Amanda."
"No, thanks," she said.
"Just a little. It's to die for."
Lisa nudged him. "I would love some, thanks."
He poured Lisa some wine, then poured some into a glass and handed it to Amanda. He was hoping she'd relax a little.
"Thanks," she murmured. She was studying Lisa. No wonder he doesn't give me a second glance, she told herself. She's about twenty-four, and spilling out of her dress. Size eight in a size two, she added to herself, cattily.
Lee could see in Amanda's eyes what she thought about his date.
Dean started talking about football. Lee and Lisa joined in here and there, but Dean monopolized the conversation, to Amanda's embarassment.
When there was a lull in the conversation, the waiter appeared to take their orders. When he left, Lee smiled at Amanda.
"So, how are the boys doing?" he asked.
"Just fine, thanks."
"And your mother?"
"She's good, too."
"That's good."
Lee thought, I wonder why she's so uncomfortable. Maybe I should have declined Dean's invitation after all.
She seemed to loosed up a bit, though, after a few minutes.
"So, you're Amanda's boss," Dean stated unnecessarily.
"Well, not exactly. We work together," Lee smiled at Amanda.
"Lee's kind of showing me the ropes," Amanda added.
"The film business is so fascinating," Lisa offered.
The waiter appeared with the salads and hot garlic bread with dipping oil.
Silence ensued as they ate. Lee poured more wine for Amanda, then Lisa, then himself. He offered some to Dean.
"Nah," Dean said. "I'm not all that much into wine. I'm gonna get another beer, I think."
"Suit yourself," Lee shrugged.
Lee and Amanda continued their conversation about nothing in particular. Lee referred to something only Amanda would understand, and the two of them laughed.
"Sorry," Lee apologized. "Private joke."
"Obviously," Lisa fumed. She was not used to being ignored.
All through dinner, they tried to find a common ground. But Lee and Amanda seemed to be the only ones talking most of the time. Dean was pointedly ignoring Amanda.
After declining dessert, Lee asked Lisa to dance.
"I don't feel like it," she said, looking at the table.
"Amanda?" Lee held out his hand, and Amanda took it.
He led her out to the floor, and they started dancing. "I'm sorry," Lee said. "I wanted to apologize. I know you didn't want us to join you."
"No, Lee. It's alright. It was a little awkward at first, that's all. I didn't mean to seem ungracious," Amanda replied, meeting his eyes. She smiled weakly.
"You didn't!" Lee assured her. "I know, it was awkward. you know, I've never taken Lisa out before. I don't really know her that well."
He was making excuses, although Amanda knew that Lisa was the type of woman he always dated.
"You don't have to explain," she told him.
They didn't leave the dance floor when the song ended. A slower number came on, and they began dancing again.
From the table, Dean and Lisa watched in disbelief. "Are you are irritated as I am?" Dean asked her.
"More," Lisa fumed.
"Look how close he's holding her!"
"You don't have to point that out to me, thanks," Lisa spat.
"Then let's go claim our dates back, shall we?"
"Yes!" she agreed emphatically.
They stomped over to Lee and Amanda and cut in.
Dean said, "So your boss is a little more than you boss, huh?"
"No, Dean - you've got it all wrong!" Amanda protested.
"I don't think so."
She continued to deny his accusations.
Lisa pouted at Lee. "You ignored me all night, and then you danced with that...that woman!"
"I'm sorry, but you wouldn't dance with me, remember?" Lee defended himself.
"Let's just leave. You can drop me off at home," Lisa said pointedly.
"Fine."
The song was ending. "I think we should call it a night," Dean said coldly.
"Fine," Amanda said wearily.
The four of them walked outside together. All of them were quiet. Lisa stormed over to the Porsche and stood against the door, impatiently tapping her foot on the pavement. Dean strode over to his car, unlocked it and got in, slamming the door.
"What's with Dean?" Lee asked.
"What's with Lisa?" Amanda asked a question to his question.
"I have no idea," they said in unison, and laughed.
"She's jealous...of you!" Lee laughed.
Amanda laughed along with him. "Dean thinks we're having a 'thing'!"
They both laughed, and looked at each other.
"That's crazy," Lee grinned.
"Absolutely ridiculous," Amanda added.
Lee winked at her, said goodnight, and headed toward his car, and Amanda headed toward Dean's.
Simultaneously, Lee thought, not THAT ridiculous! And Amanda thought,
not THAT crazy!
The End