Lee Gunther
Leonard
"Lee" Gunther is short of stature and stocky, with thick dark russet hair with
bits of gray and startling blue eyes. He has a full, strong nose, thin lips with
wide mouth, and a slight paunch around his middle.
Lee is a prestigious English professor, having taught at Oxford, New York University and at present Larkin City University. Highly intellectual, he finds himself fascinated by Shannon Larkin and craves her company. She denies his advances at first, still mourning the loss of her husband Scott Page, but she eventually responds to Lee.
From Chapter Fifteen of The Twilight:
Lee sipped his wine, watching the play of firelight on Shannon's face. She was animated and happy, almost ethereal in her contentment. In their previous encounters he had never known her to be so relaxed and free from sadness and despair.
He felt a warm happiness course through his veins. She was beyond the stages of grief. Scott's death would always be an acute loss for her, but the natural progression of time and discovery of his betrayal had taken away the sharp edges of her pain. She was ready to get on with her life, and in her re-awakening Lee was the first person to enter her thoughts.
He reached over and touched her on the shoulder. "Thank you for the Christmas present," he said softly. "Thank you for sharing yourself with me, but most of all thank you for this wonderful evening."
She lowered her eyes. "Thank you for being so patient with me. I've been an absolute beast."
He traced her lips with his finger. "The best is always worth waiting for."
Lee was surprised but heartened that Shannon was falling into easy conversation with him. It came so naturally now, so effortlessly.
She looked at him, feeling once again the thrilling rush in her stomach. She had almost forgotten the force of real passion, and the resurgence of it startled her. Since her twentieth year, she never dreamed she would feel overwhelming ardor with anyone other than Scott Page. She had been wrong.
Lee leaned forward, placing his mouth on her parted lips. He felt the warm, welcoming moistness of her mouth and a bolt of delight shot through him. She responded fully, without reservation, and he lost himself in her.
The sound of a ringing bell came from the kitchen. They broke apart reluctantly, and he saw the high blush on Shannon's cheeks. "Dinner is ready. Are you?"
He smiled, charmed by the girlish humor that seemed to blend naturally with her intrinsic reserve. "I've been ready for quite some time," he said, stroking her hair gently. "Lead the way."
They rose from the couch together, eyes locked in dreamy expectation. Shannon winked at him as she took his hand, leading him slowly to the kitchen.
Lee and Shannon finally become the closest of companions, although Lee continues to live at his Ivy Gardens flat in Larkin City while Shannon remains at the family mansion.
However, they manage to spend almost every night together, both of them realizing theirs is a second chance at love after losing their respective first spouses Elizabeth Radcliffe and Scott Page.
Details:
Born January 3, 1951 in East Molesey, Surrey, England.
English Professor at Oxford, NYU & Larkin City University.
Partners:
Elizabeth Radcliffe (1951-1999); married 1969-1999.
Shannon Larkin (companion from 2003 to present).
Lee appears in The Twilight and Megan's Legacy.
*Author's Note: The physical appearance of Lee Gunther is based on American actor Mel Gibson. The image is not meant to be indicative of true personality traits of a real person, but rather a general idea of what I envisioned as the "outer shell" of a fictional character.
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