From Forbidden Fruit to Love Renewed Chapter 16

Bo writes her a note, in case she wakes up while he is out, letting her know that he’ll be back in a few hours. He sets it on the desk and leaves, quietly closing the door behind him.

She walks downstairs a few hours later, tying her robe; running a hand through her hair. She looks around the house, not seeing the note that he left for her, “Where are you, Buchanan”, she says to herself.

"Looking for me Red?"

She looks towards the door, "Bo what are you up to?"

"Me? Nothing, why?” walking towards her.

She points at him, "What's all that?"

Looking to where she is pointing, "Oh this, well this is a box, and”, holding out his hand, "these are flowers."

"Very funny, Buchanan, they better be for me."

"The box or the flowers?"

"Both...", she starts towards him, "Or you aren't getting what we discussed earlier."

"Oh well in that case, why don't you go upstairs and put this on, while I go put these in some water."

She takes the box out of his hand, looking at him, noticing the mischief in his eyes, "What are you up to, Buchanan?"

"You’ll know soon enough."

Smacking him, "Fine, I’ll be right back."

Laughing as he heads to the kitchen, "I can't wait."

She walks upstairs and lays the box down on the bed. She opens the box and pulls out the dress and lays it out on the bed. It was a black spaghetti strap dress with a low cut back, a slit up to her hip, with an understated sequined bodice, cut low enough in the front; leaving just enough to the imagination. Shaking her head, running her hands over the smooth silk, "Well here goes nothing," she turns and heads to the shower.

Hearing the water start, he picks up the phone and dials the Palace, "This is Bo Buchanan, I just want to make sure everything is set for tonight."

"The delivery will be there at 8”

“Excellent, thank you."

She comes out of the shower a few minutes later, carrying the dress over in front of the mirror. She takes off her robe, setting it on the chair beside her and looks at her reflection in the mirror, looks of uncertainty on her face,” I can't do this", she whispers as she lays the dress back down on the bed.

"Do you have any idea what you do to me?"

She turns, startled by his presence, "Bo!

"That's twice in one day, Red. Are you planning on making a habit out of stopping my heart?"

"You really need to stop sneaking up on me like that,” tightening the robe around her; trying in vain to hide the tears that were on her face.

He walks over to her, "Hey," he reaches for her cheek, “what’s this?” Wiping the tears with his thumb, "What's wrong, honey?"

She struggles trying to pull away from him, "It's nothing" she wipes her face with the back of her hand.

"Nora, please, those tears weren't nothing. Talk to me, honey." He takes her hand and leads her over to the bed, "Am I pressuring you? Are you sure this is what you really want,” pointing between them, “you and me?"

She looks at him, "Oh Bo," she takes his face in her hands, “there is nothing I want more in this world this us; you and me and our kids.”

"Then what's with the tears?"

"It's just…," she turns looking at the dress then looks down at herself, her hands running down the front of her robe stopping at her still slightly rounded stomach.

"It’s just what, Red?"

"Things aren't quite like you'll remember them."

"Is that what this is about? The way you think you look?” He takes her hand off her stomach and intertwines his fingers with hers, lifting her chin until she's looking in his eyes, "You, my love have never looked more beautiful. The changes in your body are reminders of the lives that you carried; the lives of our children.” Her tears continue to fall as she looks back down at their hands lying on her stomach, "What are you so afraid of, Nora?"

"The dress it's like what I would have worn before…”

"Before Aurora?"

She nods, "I just don't think that....I'm not sure. I just don’t want you to be disappointed.”

"Honey, Aurora changed your body, just like Matthew and Rachel, but trust me when I tell you this, your body is just as incredible today as the first day I met you. It may be a little curvier, but you know what, curvy is sexy,” he gives her a 'Bo Buchanan' grin, and he pats his own stomach," and I have gotten a few more curves myself." She laughs through her tears, "Seriously, honey, if you don't want to wear that dress, you don't have to, but I know for a fact, that as beautiful as that dress is lying there, it doesn't even compare to how gorgeous it’s going to be when it's on you, understand?"

She looks over at him, a smile forming on her face, "Get out of here Buchanan," she says pulling him off the bed and shoving him towards the door, "Can't a woman get dressed in peace!"

Laughing as the door is shut behind him, "I love you, Red!"

She places her hand on the other side of the door and whispers, "Oh God, I love you too, Commish" She turns once again, lifting the dress off the bed and heads towards the mirror, and slowly slips it over her head. As the flowing material falls down her body it hugs every curve perfectly. “He was right, it's a perfect fit.” Taking one last look after putting the finishing touches on her hair and makeup, she heads for the door, "Ready or not, here I come."

He was pacing at the bottom of the stairs occasionally glancing up as he waited...He saw her begin to descend the stairs and suddenly he couldn't breath. She was more beautiful than he could even imagine and he fell in love with her all over again.

Seeing the look of love on his face, she wasn't sure what she had been so worried about, and she just couldn't help herself from falling more in love with him than she already was.

As she reached the bottom step he held out his hand. She places her hand in his and walks into his embrace as he picks up the remote and turns on the music.

It's late in the evening
She's wondering what clothes to wear
She puts on her make up
And brushes her long blonde hair
And then she asks me
Do I look alright?
And I say yes, you look wonderful tonight.

She buries her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent. With his arms around her she's never felt safer and more loved.

We go to a party
And everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady
That's walking around with me
And then she asks me
Do you feel alright?
And I say yes, I feel wonderful tonight

He inhales her scent as he closes his eyes, pulling her closer, if that was even possible. Feeling her heartbeat next to his, he's never been more in love with her than he was at this moment.

I feel wonderful
Because I see the love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize
How much I love you

They continue dancing after the music is done playing, just swaying, listening to their breathing, He pulls out of their embrace; his arms still encircling her waist,” So Red, are you ready for your surprise?"

She nods her head and leans in, kissing him softly on the lips. He picks a blindfold off the table; she follows his hands with her eyes, "What do you think you are doing with that?"

"It's a surprise...remember."

"Uh uh, no way, you are not putting that thing on me."

"Do you want the surprise or not?"

"Do you want what we discussed earlier or not?

Laughing, "That's an empty threat Red; we both know that you want that as much as I do.”

"Well even if I do, maybe I just won’t be in the mood,” smiling slyly as she runs her hands through the hair at the base of his neck.

"Yeah, right" he rolls his eyes, "He moves away from her as if he is going to sit down, "Forget about it, I’ll just…”

"Okay, fine," she crosses her arms, "but I'm serious Buchanan you aren't getting any tonight.”

Shaking his head, he puts the blindfold on her and takes her hand leading her to the car. Once she is settled he goes around to his side, gets in and starts the engine. "So where are we going?" she asks casually.

"Nice try."

"How much longer?" she asks, after ten minutes into the drive, trying to lift the blindfold up with her finger.

Seeing her out of the corner of his eyes, he takes her hand pulling it to his lips, "Not much longer,” he says as he places her hand under his on his lap. He notices the slight pout forming on her face, “You’re worse than Matthew.”

Her hand slowly begins to move upward; brushing her fingertips along the inside of his thigh, moving higher and higher. She almost reaches her destination when he reaches out and places it back on his knee, intertwining his fingers with hers. "Nice try, Red, but it’s not going to work. Not even doing that will get me to talk."

"Oh, I think it was working just fine...I could well...feel it working", she said with a huge grin on her face.

"Oh no doubts there Red, you definitely know how to distract me, but I told you that there was nothing you could do to make me spill about your surprise or where we're going.”, removing his hand from hers,” And besides, you aren't the only one that can play that game," he said as he reaches around and runs a fingertip across her breast, her nipple immediately hardening under his touch, "Yep, see I rest my case, " as he places his hand back down on top of hers on the seat between them.

"That was dirty pool," she whispers, trying to catch her breath.

"You put the balls on the table; I was just taking my turn."

"Yeah, well I hope it was worth it, because it's the last turn you’re going to be getting this evening."

"I told you I’m not worried," he pulls her hand to his lips once again "I'm pretty sure I'll be sinking the last shot tonight!"

“We’ll see, Buchanan. We’ll see.”

A few minutes later she hears the gravel under the tires as he pulls in front of their destination, "Are we there?" she asks getting excited.

"Yep, you're just like Matthew.” laughing, “Yes, dear we're here."

"Ohh goody" she reaches for the blindfold.

"No, no, no, not so fast, Red.”

"Bo...!"

He comes around to her side of the car, and takes her hand to help her. As she steps out she 'accidentally' falls into him, her breasts, running against his chest, her lips brushing against his; pushing back, "Oops, sorry about that", smiling she turns around.

He just shakes his head and takes her hand again leading her towards the door, 20 feet away. He opened the door, leading her to the center of the room, the smell of wildflowers overwhelming her as soft music played in the background.

"Bo, what have you done?"

He reaches up, removing the blindfold, leaning in towards her ear, "Surprise."

She looks around the room; the flowers were everywhere, every kind of flower you could imagine. There was a table for two over in the corner, a candlelit dinner waiting for them. "Oh Bo," she can't stop the tears from coming, as she looks around, "It's…it's our house”, looking back at him, "It's amazing," as she looks back across the room, she sees 'the couch'. Moving towards it her hand brushes against the soft leather.

"It's our couch,” as she raises her head to look back at him, it catches her eye. He notices where her attention has gone and smiling, he walks over behind her, wrapping his arms around her; walking toward the mantel with her in his arms, "Is that what I think it is?"

As they approach it she raises her hands up, breaking free from his embrace, and runs her hands over the smoothed edges, "It's, it's the cornerstone," her voice breaking with emotion, “Everlasting Love and Happiness…NHB, BOB, MHB, AEB,...a family. How…how did you get my half?"

She turns around to look at him but he's down on one knee, a ring in his hand, her question forgotten, "Nora Buchanan.....Ever since the first time I laid eyes on you, I've been falling in love with you, I know we have gone down this path before, and we failed, we made mistakes, we lost sight of what was important; what really mattered, but what has never changed, what has never stopped, is this love I have for you," swallowing, "maybe we don’t deserve this happiness after all we’ve put each other through, but you truly do complete me, and I will spend the rest of my life and after, showing you how much I love you, and our family, if you do me the honor of becoming my wife, again."

She looks at him, down on one knee offering her forever, and for the first time in her life, Nora Buchanan was speechless...

TBC....