The next several minutes of the ride home were quiet. Amanda’s hand remained where it was and Lee’s attention wavered between the road and the effects her touch was having on his senses. His leg tingled where she touched him and his jeans suddenly seemed to tighten in certain places. He tried to think of a safe topic of conversation to distract him from the growing need to pull over and behave like an over eager teenager.

A sudden gust of wind provided him with a safe topic. “Amanda, I think we’re going to have a storm soon. How far are we from some sort of shelter?”

“Let me look at the map.” She pulled the folded document from the glove compartment and inspected it closely. “We may have a bit of a problem. There isn’t another house or station for miles as I recall and there is no other way to the highway from this road either.”

“OK Well then let’s just get as far as we can and see what happens.”

They didn’t get far before the rain started to come down in sheets. The wind blew and thunder and lightening were all around them. Presently Lee had to pull the car over and wait for the wind to die down. He looked over at Amanda’s face and could see that she was a bit distressed by the turn of events.

“Hey, it’ll be okay. I don’t think this will last long. The clouds seem to be moving pretty quick.” He reached across the small space and touched her face.

“I know. I guess it’s silly really. I’ve always been a little nervous in storms. I’ll be all right. After all, who better to be caught in a storm with than the best looking man in D.C.?”

“Just D.C.? And here I thought you were completely besotted with me.” His grin was infectious and Amanda answered with one of her own.

Turning in the car seat to face him she placed her left arm on his right shoulder and leaned in for a quick peck on the cheek. “Oh, I’m besotted. I just don’t want to see you trapped in here by your own ego.”

“Very funny, Mrs. Stetson.” Lee looked out the window and said, “I think we can go now. It seems to be slacking off.”

Amanda straightened up in her seat, readjusted her seatbelt and replied, “Well then, let’s go. I have a hot date tonight. I think you might know him. He lives in your building.”

He cast her a withering glance, pulled back onto the road and slowly made his way toward home. As they rode on in silence he became aware of the sound of her breathing. Unconsciously he matched his own to hers. By altering his respiration he found himself breathing deeper and slower. He inhaled the smell of her perfume. It was his favorite. She always wore it to work and out on dates with him. He discovered that the tingling in his leg had returned even though she had her hands in her lap. In fact, not only did his leg tingle, his whole body seemed to be electrified.

Next to him Amanda was aware of the change in her spouse’s breathing. He seemed to be matching his breaths to hers. It immediately brought thoughts of making love with him to mind. They always seemed to move together in perfect accord. She knew when to give and when to take and he seemed to be able to do the same. She glanced over at him and saw him swallow hard. His hands were clenched around the steering wheel. Gulping she resumed looking out the window at the road ahead of them. “Please let this be a quick trip home. He’s thinking just like I am. It’s just been to long.”

Her fervent prayers were not to be answered, unfortunately. She gasped at the sight before her. “Lee stop! The bridge up ahead.”

“What? What about the bridge?”

“ I think it’s washed out.”

Lee braked quickly and brought the sports car to a halt. The rain had stopped completely and he left the car to inspect the bridge at close range.

“You’re right, Amanda. It’s washed away entirely. There must have been a flash flood with that rainstorm. There’s debris all over the place around here.”

“What are we going to do? There’s no other way out of this area. How are we going to get home?”

“Let’s call Billy and see if we can get a damage report on the storm and then see if he can arrange for some one to pick us up somehow. I think we could cross the stream on foot if we had to.”

Lee picked up the car phone and called the Agency. “Billy, it’s Scarecrow. We have a little problem here. We got caught in the rain and now there is a bridge washed out. We’re stuck here in the middle of no where….You’re kidding. That bad? OK we’ll hang tight here. Let us know if something happens and you can get us a way out of here. Bye”

He hung up the receiver and shook his head at Amanda. “Bad news. The storm was worse in the city. They got power lines down and lots of damage. There won’t be any one to get us out here until morning.”

“Oh Lee what are we going to do out here all night?”