Search & Rescue Chapter 11

An hour later, Bo stood next to Ned in the lobby, he looked at his watch; "They should be here any minute now. Nora's late for a lot of things, but never food." He laughed as the elevator dinged signaling its arrival. "Looks like we're on," he winked as the doors opened.

The women walked off the elevator looking amazing. Ned walked over to Nora, taking her hand, pulling her closer; placing a soft kiss on her cheek, "You look amazing." He holds out his arm, "Shall we?"

She turned to him, "Absolutely." She snaked her arm through his elbow. She couldn't help looking at Bo though, dressed in a tux, he was extremely handsome, as he walked over to Alexis, and took her hand, bringing it to his lips, "Well, my lady, the word beautiful doesn't even do you justice. Shall we go?"

A flutter of, was that jealousy, hit Nora deep in her gut, she shook it off; she was going to have fun tonight if it killed her.

Alexis smiled but her eyes followed Ned as he escorted Nora into the restaurant. For a moment she felt as though she had been hit in the gut. The look he was giving Nora was ‘her’ look. She shook it off and turned and smiled at Bo. She was going to dance and have a good time....even if it killed her.

Bo held out the chair for Alexis, and she smiled up at him. As he pushed it in, he allowed his fingers to caress her legs. He could feel the heat of Nora's glare on his back; he smiled as he placed a kiss on Alexis' cheek.

Ned rested his hand on the small of Nora's back as he led her to her chair. He held it out for her, his hand brushing against her side as he pushed it in. He knew Alexis was watching his every move. He smiled again as he placed a kiss on Nora's cheek.

The waiter approached the table, "May I get you something to drink?" Bo looked at Alexis, "Is a Red wine okay with you?"

"That would be great, thank you."

He looked at the waiter, "I'll have this; he pointed to the menu, "a 95 if you have it." Nora almost choked; she couldn't believe he was drinking that wine and that year, the nerve of him.

Bo could barely contain his laughter as he saw Nora's reaction, so he leaned in towards Alexis and placed a kiss on her cheek, "Thank you for giving me the pleasure of accompanying you this evening."

Ned turned to the waiter and pointed to his selection, "a 97 please" Alexis looked up at him, how could he, she thought to herself. Ned knew she was watching him. Ned turned and looked at Nora, "Oh, wonderful. They have chocolate covered strawberries on the menu." He looks at Alexis, barely able to contain himself at her reaction, "How does that sound." Nora just nods her mind on Bo and not on what Ned had just asked. Ned laid his hand on top of hers, picking it up and placing a soft kiss on her delicate skin, "Have I mentioned how beautiful you look, oh...in the past five minutes?"

Nora tried to focus on what Ned was saying, but she couldn't seem to take her eyes off Bo, caressing Alexis' shoulder, laughing at whatever she was saying, and giving her 'her' smile. What did he think he was doing, this time the pang of jealousy was obvious for what it was and only when Ned repeated her name a little more loudly did she face him, "I'm sorry Ned, it's just been so long since I've been with such a handsome man, I'm overwhelmed." She leaned over and kissed him soundly on the lips, causing Bo to stop mid-sentence. 'Damn her.' he thought, 'what does she think she's doing.'

Alexis watched Ned, who seemed to be enjoying the kiss a little too much. She reached out and took Bo's hand, "I want to dance." Bo stood up and led her out onto the dance floor. She looked over his shoulder at Ned and Nora. She pulled Bo close, running her hands up and down his back, playing with the hair at the base of his neck.

"Damn her," Ned thought. He took Nora's hand and pulled her close, whispering in her ear. He led her out onto the dance floor....

Bo placed his hand at the small of Alexis's back and pulled her close, he closed his eyes, and for a second he actually believed he was dancing with Nora, so as she continued to run her fingers through his hair, he began to plant soft kisses on her neck, she moaned softly, pulling him out of his reverie and causing him to open his eyes and watch as Nora, began caressing Ned's face. 'That's enough he thought, this is ridiculous,' he looked at Ned, and caught his eye, he raised his hand to his throat and made a signal as to cutting this charade, he wanted his arms around Nora and he could tell by Ned's face exactly where he wanted to be.

Bo takes Alexis hand and backs her away enough to put her in a spin, he lets go as he grabs Nora and spins her into his arms. He pulls her close, "Enough games Red, please, I don't want to move on without you, and I'm betting you don't want to move on without me either."

"Oh Bo," she took his face in her hands, "I don't know how to move on without you and I don't want to..."

They stared into each others eyes, and time stood still as he took her lips in his. It was a kiss of passion, of remembrance and of promise.

He pulled back and led her to the table, "Let's eat." She smiled as she leaned into him, taking comfort from his nearness. "We're going to need our strength later; I have a long night planned."

She turned to him, "Really, and what makes you think I'm that easy, I mean this is just our first date you know." She smiled in challenge.

He leaned down and kissed her lips gently, "A first date huh? Do you know how much I like the sound of that?" She nodded and tried to stop the tears from falling, but she was unsuccessful and Bo took his thumbs and wiped them away. "Hey Red, none of that, we've got a lifetime of happiness ahead of us." The waiter returned to the table with the wine, and first gave Bo a taste of the '95, he sipped it, "Yes, perfect, just like I remember," he leaned in and kissed Nora softly, "honey what do you think?"

"Perfect."

As soon as Ned let Nora go, he was reaching for Alexis. He pulls her close and kisses her. He breaks the kiss and takes her face in his hands, "Enough is enough Alexis. No more avoiding what's going on between us. I don't want to live without you in my life."

Alexis pulled him close burying her head in his neck, whispering in his ear, "I don't want to spend my life without you either."

She raises her head off his shoulder. He takes her face in his hands once again and they were lost in each other's eyes. Alexis could feel his breath against her lips as he slowly lowered his lips onto hers. Their kiss held every thing they had been denying for the past months. Ned broke their kiss, reaching out to brush the tears from her face, "Are you hungry?" She nods, laughing through her tears, "Well that's good, because you're going to need all of your strength, because I plan on showing you just how much I've missed you...and I plan on showing you all night long.

Alexis smiled and pulled him close, 'Who says I'm not going to be the one wearing you out?"

Ned winked, "I like the sound of that."

Ned led her over to the table, just as the waiter was setting down the strawberries he had ordered. He picked one up and held it out to her. She took a bite, lowering her lips onto his. They broke their kiss and leaned their foreheads together, "You're amazing you know that."

She smiles, "You're pretty amazing yourself, Mr. Ashton." Ned pours them a glass of the 97' Korbel Champagne Le Premier and hands her a glass. He raises his; she follows suit, "To us...and the future that lies ahead of us."

Bo looks at Nora and then at the rest of the table, “I definitely think this calls for a toast," he looks over at Nora, "To good friends, true loves, and new beginnings." He and Nora clinked glasses with each other and with Ned and Alexis.

* * *

As they finished their meals, Bo looked over at Nora, "So how long are you planning on staying in the city?"

She looked over at Alexis, "Well, we were planning on leaving Sunday morning."

"Oh so you have plans for the entire weekend?" He looked disappointed.

"Tomorrow we were going to go to the spa, have a girl’s day."

He smiled, "That sounds like a wonderful idea."

"Really?"

"Absolutely, do you have plans for dinner?"

"Well I was hoping some handsome man would take me to dinner and sweep me off my feet."

“I think that could be arranged."

"So what should we do with the rest of the night?"

"Oh I don't know, its NYC there's plenty to do."

"Yes there is." He leaned in to kiss her again, oblivious to the other end of the table.

They had each settled into their own conversations at opposite ends of the table. Ned looked down at their hands that lay intertwined on the table, "I have to tell you something, Alexis and I want you to let me finish before you jump in, okay?" She nods, "Promise me."

She leans in and kisses him, "I promise."

Ned lifts their hands between them. He takes a deep breath and says what he has to say, "I came to your office that day to tell you that there is no baby." He sees the flash of pain in her eyes, and he knows what she's thinking, "No, she didn't lose the baby, Alexis. There was never a baby." The pain in her eyes left and she suddenly found herself angry, sensing this he brings their hands up to his face, "Don't be angry, okay. I'm fine...I'm not angry...I'm ecstatic. Nothing is standing in our way and now that we're here and we're alone," they glance over at Bo and Nora talking at the other end of the table, "Well sorta," he laughs. I don't want to think about anything but you."

"I want that too, and why don't we start that by getting out of here and spending sometime alone."

Ned leans in and kisses her cheek, "That's the best offer I've had all day."

Bo stood up and pulled out Nora's chair, he took her hand and walked over to where Ned and Alexis were standing, "Dinner was wonderful, you’re a real treasure Alexis; don't let him forget that." He kissed her cheek, and then turned to Ned, putting his hand out, "thanks partner."

Ned looks up and sees Bo and Nora walking towards him, “NO thank you Bo.”

He turned to Nora, "Shall we?"

She held up her hand, "I'll see you tomorrow Alexis."

Then turning to Ned, "Thank you," she then took Bo's arm and they walked outside onto the busy street. A carriage was sitting at the curb; Bo pointed it out to her. "What do you say Red?"

She smiled, "Anything, as long as we are together."

"Hmm, together, how I like the sound of that."

Ned and Alexis walk out into the crisp New York night air, He pulls her close, "So, carriage ride through Central Park?"

"As long as I'm with you I don't care what we do."

It was after 2 when Nora and Bo made it back to the Plaza, as they walked lazily to her room. He struggled with what he wanted to do, he knew that he wanted nothing more then to spend the night showing her exactly how much he loved her, but he thought that it might be better if he showed her by going to his own room, he wanted the rest of his life to be with this woman and if it cost him a few cold showers, it was definitely worth it. He looked over at her as she smiled sexily up at him, 'oh yes, he thought, definitely worth it.'

She took out the key to her room, and he took it from her, opening the door, he turned her to face him, he leaned down, and began to kiss her gently. She started to pull him inside, but he held his ground. "Bo, what is it, what's wrong?"

“Not a thing," he smiled at her.

"It's late, and if I remember correctly you and Alexis have an early start tomorrow on your girls' day, so why don't I let you get some rest and I'll pick you up at 7 tomorrow night."

"You're leaving?"

"I think its best." Her face fell, he lifted her chin with his finger so he could look in her eyes, "Nora I want to spend the night with you, but I need you to be sure."

"I'm sure."

He shook his head, "Look, not even 24 hours ago, we were both dead set on moving on with other people. Now we both know we plan on moving on together, but I want to do it slow and I want to do it right, okay?"

She looked in his eyes, and saw the sincerity and the love. She knew in her heart he was right, and she loved him even more for wanting to go slow. She needed him, she wanted him, but he was right, they needed to take this slow, for their sake and for Matthew's.

"Okay." She whispered as she placed a soft kiss on his lips, "Sweet dreams my love."

She caressed his face as he backed out the door, "Sweet dreams, Red."

They arrived back at the hotel just before two that evening. They walked towards her room, his arm around her, her head resting on his shoulder. He took her key from her and inserted it in the lock. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, "I'll see you tomorrow night,”

She looks at him shocked, "You're leaving?"

"Yes, tonight I'm leaving and I'm going to go into my room down the hall and I'm going to dream about the night that I finally get to show you how much I love you, but not tonight. I want to take this slow, Alexis. I don't want anything to happen before it's meant to."

She nods and lays her hand on his face, "I love you Ned Ashton," he kisses her softly on the lips.

"Sweet dreams, Alexis."

"Sweet dreams, Ned." She walked into her room, closing the door and leaning against it. She brought her hands up to her lips, his touch still lingering. She smiled and walked towards the bed, "Oh yes, Ned. Sweet dreams are a distinct possibility."

TBC...