Chapter 29

Amanda grinned, quite pleased with herself. She had managed to sweet talk an older couple into exchanging seats with them, so that Lex would have easier access to the lavatory, just in case. Sneaking a sideways glance to her silent partner, the young blonde was gratified to see that Lex seemed to be doing okay, other than the death-grip she had on Amanda's hand. Whatever works…I'd sit on her lap if I thought it would help, she giggled softly, Face it, Mandy - you'd sit on her lap even if it didn't help. Oh, I've got it bad, all right.

"What's so funny?" Lex asked, turning her head to face her friend. She took a deep breath when the plane lurched slightly.

"Umm…nothing, really." Amanda gave Lex's hand a comforting squeeze. "Just thinking."

Releasing the breath she had been holding, Lex quirked an expressive eyebrow. "About what?"

Leaning over and placing her lips next to the rancher's ear, Amanda whispered, "I was wondering if these seats would comfortably fit two…I'm seriously considering crawling into your lap and…" her last few words were spoken almost too softly to hear, and were punctuated by a soft nibble on the older woman's earlobe.

But Lex understood, and it caused her face to flush darkly. "Umm…" she cleared her throat, "I think that would certainly help me keep my mind off of flying…airplanes, anyway." She chuckled. "You have a delightfully wicked mind, my love."

"You don't know the half of it." The young blonde retorted with a sexy smile.

Oh, boy… Lex felt a slight shiver of excitement travel down her spine. I don't know what has gotten into Amanda, but I think I like it!

"Attention, ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We will be landing in approximately twenty minutes. It's a beautiful seventy-eight degrees in Los Angeles…" the friendly voice over the intercom interrupted their banter.

"I can't believe we're already about to land - you're the best medicine I've ever had, Amanda." Lex said over the captain's rambling voice. She pulled their linked hands up and kissed the younger woman's fingertips. "Guess now you'll have to fly with me all the time."

Amanda giggled. "Such a terrible price to pay…" she placed her free hand on her forehead, palm out. "Oh, dear me…I guess I'll just have to suffer." Giving the rancher an impish look, "Like I would ever let you out of my sight long enough to take a flight alone."

Lex smiled gently at that thought. "I don't know how I ever survived anything before you." Enjoying the happy grin that crossed the blonde's face, "I love you, Amanda." She leaned forward and kissed the younger woman tenderly.

They pulled apart slowly, each content to sit and enjoy the strong feelings coursing between them.

***************

Lex had one more anxious moment as the plane touched down, but Amanda held her hand tightly and leaned close, whispering soothing words of comfort to the visibly shaken rancher.

"Focus on my voice, Lex." She murmured, "Close your eyes and breathe deeply." Amanda felt the older woman's muscles begin to relax. "That's it…" Using her free hand, Amanda caressed the arm that was holding her hand. "I'm here with you, sweetheart - we're okay. Remember when we were feeding the ducks at the park? And how that one duck thought you were the main course?" She saw a tiny smile on her partner's face. "I love you, Lex…concentrate on me…" she continued to speak in a soft voice.

Lex was so absorbed in Amanda's quiet words, she never felt the plane land or come to a stop. Hearing excited voices around her, she opened her eyes to see people gathering their personal items together, and crowding the aisles to exit the plane. Turning her head, she was captured by intense green eyes at very close range. "We're here?" she asked hoarsely, a surprised look on her face.

"Yep. And in one piece, too." Amanda grinned. "How are you doing?"

Lex paused thoughtfully. "Great." She sounded a little shocked. "My stomach doesn't even hurt anymore." She took and released a deep breath. "Thanks for being my security blanket." Giving the cute blonde a heartfelt smile.

"Mmm…" Amanda winked. "Do I get the usual perks?"

"Perks?" Lex's eyebrow rose. "What kind of perks are we talking about here?"

"Well," Amanda ran a teasing finger up the dark-haired woman's arm, "Normally, security blankets get to be taken everywhere…" she grinned, "Snuggled…cuddled…held tightly all night…"

Lex laughed. "I think something could be arranged." She looked around the now almost-empty plane. "Ready?" Standing up and stretching her arms over her head, Lex almost laughed again as Amanda took the opportunity to tickle her ribs. "Hey! Be careful what you start, Blondie."

"Blondie?!" Amanda shrieked, giving Lex a dirty look. "You really don't want to start a name calling contest with a realtor - we can be very creative…Snookums." This last part came out with an evil grin.

The tall woman nearly dropped the bag she had been pulling from the overhead compartment. "What?!" Letting the bag fall into her seat, Lex put her hands on her hips. "Where in the hell did that come from?" She leaned menacingly over the smaller woman. "Snookums?"

"Heh…how about...Sugar Lips?" Amanda grinned, keeping the bag between her and the now beet-red rancher.

"Amanda…" Lex growled, picking up the bag. "I'll show you 'Sugar Lips'." She flipped the bag onto her shoulder and stepped closer to the grinning blonde.

Picking up her own bag, Amanda batted her wide green eyes at her would-be assailant. "Umm…have I told you lately how much I love you?"

Lex smiled, then stepped into the aisle to allow the younger woman to get in front of her. "I love you too."

"Sugar Lips!" Amanda chortled, then rushed down the aisle with a growling rancher hot on her heels.

***************

"Is it always this…hazy?" Lex asked, looking up at the sky. They were on the road out of the airport in a shiny red Mustang convertible.

Amanda sighed. "Actually, it's pretty nice today…you can almost breathe without choking." She joked, wrinkling her nose. Glancing at her companion, Amanda almost laughed out loud. Lex was fighting a losing battle with her hair, trying to keep it out of her eyes. "Problem?"

"I knew I should have worn my hat." the dark-haired woman muttered, wiping another strand of dark silk away from her mouth with a grimace.

Using one hand to dig through her purse, Amanda looked at the perturbed rancher. "Do you want me to put the top up?"

"No!" Lex turned to look sheepishly at her friend. "I'm really enjoying the…semi-fresh air." She smiled. They had nearly driven the poor car rental agent crazy - he had tried to talk them into a luxury car or import. Lex wanted something 'big', with lots of headroom, and Amanda wanted something 'sporty'. So they compromised on a convertible - Lex only agreeing if they could drive with the top down.

"Here…" Amanda handed Lex an elastic hair tie. She had tied her own hair back before leaving the airport. "I always have a ton of these in the bottom of my purse."

Taking the offering thankfully, Lex quickly pulled her long hair into a ponytail. "Thanks… I was about ready to cut it all off with a rusty pocketknife."

"You'd better not! I love your hair!" Amanda turned sideways to glare at her partner.

Lex noticed the cars stopped ahead of them. "Amanda…honey…you wanna keep your eyes on the road, please?" She pointed ahead.

Amanda turned, then slammed her foot down hard on the brake. "Rats!" She quickly glanced up into the rearview mirror, hoping no one was directly behind them.Whew! Looking at Lex, she bit her lip. "Sorry about that." The rancher had one hand braced against the dash, and her eyes were closed tightly.

"No problem…" Lex croaked, opening her eyes then relaxing back into her seat. "There aren't any bridges on the way to your parent's house, are there?" she asked with a grin.

"None that I can think of, why?" Amanda answered, then realized what Lex was asking. "Hey! That wasn't my fault!" she waggled a warning finger at the chuckling brunette.

"Of course not…just because that bridge had been standing for as long as I could remember without mishap, then suddenly collapses the first time you drive across - I don't see any connection whatsoever." Lex crossed her arms across her chest and smirked.

Amanda snorted. "Oh yeah…I had to time it just right, too - getting that tree to hit at just the right moment…a pure stroke of genius!" She waved an arm dramatically. "But…" she reached over and grabbed Lex's hand, "the best part of my plan was making you jump into the creek after me…" Amanda felt her hand being squeezed, "and then getting you to take me home with you." She smiled triumphantly.

Lex laughed. "I like the way you think…" she pulled Amanda's hand up and kissed it.