The Cruise - Part 10
Last Time:
Everyone attended the cruise Costume Party.
Nora's costume was a big hit with Bo and the Captain
Nora realized that her room aboard ship was right next to Bo's.
********
3rd Day of Cruise:
Nora takes her time getting up in the morning. It's almost
7:30 a.m. She lays in bed for awhile, the sun is starting to shine
through her window. She heard Bo's cabin door close about 6:30.
She figured he was getting breakfast. She made up her mind to
have a nice, leisurely day. The last two nights were so busy that
she just needed some down time. Getting out of bed she put her
robe on and headed for the door to grab the ship's newspaper.
It provided National news and consisted of a few Xeroxed pages.
But it let her know some of what was going on in the real world.
She opened her door and reached down to grab the paper. While
she was bent over picking up the paper, she saw the wheels of
a cart appear by the newspaper.
Nora: (Looking up at a skewed angle into Bo's smiling face. Standing
up straight and pulling her robe closed, smiling) Good morning,
Bo.
Bo: (Smiling with his hands on the cart) Good morning! (Nodding
to the cart) I just happen to come across this in the hallway.
Would you like to join me for breakfast.
Nora: (Looking at the covered plates) Bo, that's sweet but I think
I'll skip breakfast this morning.
Bo: (Smiling, reaches over and removes the covers from the plates)
Voila!
Nora's eyes grow large, she looks up and down the hallway and
grabs the cart and quickly pulls it into her room. Bo is practically
pulled off his feet. He stumbles into her room, following the
cart. He closes the door.
Nora: (Looking like a child with a bowl full of ice cream) Pizza!
(She pulls the cart up to her bed and sits. Bo grabs the desk
chair and sits across from her. Nora picks up a piece and takes
a bite.)
Nora: (With eyes closed and a satisfied smile) M'mmm M'mmm (talking
with a mouth full of pizza) Bo, this is wonderful.
Bo is just sitting there with his elbows on the table and his
head resting on his hands. Gosh, he loved watching her eat!
Bo: (Starting to eat his pizza) So, what are your plans for today?
Nora: I was thinking of just laying low and being very lazy.
Bo: (Frowning) No, no, no. There's far too many things to do to
just lay around. Have you tried your luck in the Casinos?
Nora: (Eyes wide and still munching pizza) Casinos!
Bo: (Nodding his head) Yep. Wanna have some fun?
Nora: It does sound like it would be fun, Bo, but you know how
I get at the gaming tables. I lose total control and you know
I hate to lose.
Bo: (Smiling) I'm sorry Ms. Gannon, I wasn't aware that you didn't
have more self-control than that.
Nora: (Hearing the challenge in his voice) Oh, that sounds like
a challenge. (Pointing at him across the table with her pizza
slice) I'll see you this evening, 5:30, sharp, in the casino.
Hope you have lots of money to lose Mister.
Bo: (Wiping his mouth on his napkin) I look forward to it!
Nora: (Starting to rise and move over by her door) And.... (As
she opens the door) For your information ..... (walking over and
grabbing the cart while Bo still had a pizza slice in his hand
and pulled it into the hall) I am the epitome of ..... (She pulls
his arm and leads him into the hallway) Self-Control! (she closes
the door in his face.)
Bo: (Laughing and still holding his pizza, leaning next to the
door) I'll see you at 5:30. (Leaning closer and whispering) Oh,
and be prepared to lose your shirt.
Nora leans on the door from the inside and laughs.
Bo hears her and his face lights up.
Bo: (Quietly toasting Nora with his slice of pizza) Until tonight,
Red.
5:20 pm
Nora has been busy trying to find just the right outfit
to wear for her date with Bo. She finally decided on a red spagetti
strap dress that stopped just above the knees. There was a split
that ran up the back of the dress and stopped mid-thigh. She decided
to pull her hair up with a few rhinestone clips strategically
placed. She took a look in the mirror.
Nora: (Smiling at the results) He doesn't stand a chance. I'll
have him so distracted he'll wonder how I got the title to his
motorcycle.
Nora walks down to the ships casino. She steps inside the door and immediately spots Bo. He saw her the moment she walked through the doors and he flashed her his best smile. Nora realized she had been holding her breath since she saw him. He was so incredibly handsome. He was wearing a black tux with a bow tie. The smile on his face was mesmerizing and the gleam in his eye was mischievous.
Nora: (To herself) Breathe, Nora, breathe. Can you say "take
him to the cleaners." (She smiles at herself and walks to
meet Bo halfway).
When they get near, Bo touches her arms and pulls her close, then
he places a kiss on her cheek.
Bo: (Smiling) You look amazing!
Nora: (Knowing that it would work to her advantage) Thank you
(leaning close and placing her hand on his chest) You.... (looking
around the room) have all the women drooling.
Bo: (Taking her hand) There's only one woman I want to see drool
this evening. (Pulling her inside the casino further) Um... that
is, drooling over all the money I win from her. (He winks)
Nora laughs.
Bo: (Still holding her hand and looking around) Where shall be
start?
Nora is taking in all the sights and sounds. The slot machines
were ringing and lights were flashing. She could hear individuals
yelling "black jack." There were swarms of people gathered
around the craps tables and roulette wheels. She was overwhelmed.
Nora: (Bowing her head slightly) I'll let you decide (waving her
arm around) where would you like to begin losing your money (Smiling).
Bo: (Pulling Nora through the casino to the back of the room.
There set-up in the back was a small table, two chairs and one
dealer. Pointing at the table) How's that?
Nora: (Raising her eyebrows) I think I'm being set-up.
Bo: (Smiling) Hey, if you're scared, say you're scared.
Nora: (Never backing down from a challenge, she moves over to
the table and sits) Deal!
Bo laughs and joins Nora at the table.
They are having a great time playing poker and Nora is beating
Bo badly. She had most of the chips stacked in front of her and
Bo was sitting, fingering the few he had remaining.
Bo: (Glaring at her across the table) What are you, some kind
of poker shark!
Nora: (Smiling proudly) Your looking at the Chicago poker champ,
3 years in a row.
Bo: (His head drops to his hand) I have been snookered.
Nora: (Leaning across the table) Are you giving up?
Bo: (Looking up with a look of determination) Madame, Buchanan
men never give up (Looking at the dealer) Deal 'em!
Nora laughs.
The last hand was dealt. Bo got two aces, two kings and
a four of spades. A smile appears across his face. Nora looks
at her cards. She has two aces, two fours and a jack of diamonds.
Putting on her best poker face she antes up. Bo follows and Nora
passes the dealer one card.
Nora: (Looking at Bo with no expression) One please.
The dealer gives her one card. She looks at her card, her expression
never changing. Bo passes the dealer one card.
Bo: (Looking at Nora with no expression) I'll take one. (Nora
smiles. Bo doesn't look at his card and Nora wonders if he is
going to pick it up. Without picking it up he shoves all his chips
to the middle of the table.
Bo: (Looking at Nora with a challenge) It's time to put your money
where your beautiful mouth is.
Nora: (Smiling) Don't you want to look at your card?
Bo: Nope.
Nora: (Pushing her chips to the middle) OK, all or nothing. (Nora
takes her cards and lays them down one at a time) four of diamonds,
four of clubs, four of hearts, ace of spades and ace of diamonds
(She smiles and leans back in her chair) Read 'em and weep.
Bo: (Smiles, leaning into the table with a gleam in his eyes)
How would you like to sweeten this pot?
Nora: (Raising an eyebrow) What do you have in mind?
Bo: (Rubbing his chin, deep in thought) How about the loser has
to dance one dance with the winner.
Nora: (Smiling) Well, that sounds tempting, but who loses in that
deal?
Bo: (Smiling) Oh, did I forget to mention that the dance takes
place where ever the winner chooses.
Nora: That could be fun. OK, count me in. Now stop stalling and
let me see your cards while I think about which one of the clubs
I want to visit this evening.
Bo begins to lay his cards down. Ace of hearts, ace of clubs,
king of spades (Nora raises her eyebrows) king of diamonds (He
placed his hand on the card on the table and with a gleam in his
eyes he turns the card over.)
Nora looks shocked.
Nora: King of hearts!
Bo never looks down at the card he just continues to smile at
Nora.
Nora: Three Kings! Something smells fishy!
Bo reaches over and pulls all the chips in front of him.
Bo: (Smiling) The only thing I smell is victory.
He passes several chips to the dealer as a tip and extends
his hand to Nora.
Bo: I believe you owe me a dance.
Nora: (Placing her hand in Bo's and standing) OK, OK. I don't
want it said that I welch on my bets. Where to?
Bo: (Pulling her along) Follow me.
Nora begins to get suspicious when Bo leaves the deck where
all the clubs are located. She looks at him with a questioning
gaze.
Nora: Where are we going, Bo, the clubs are on Level 2.
Bo: (Holding his finger up to his lips) Shh. I didn't say we would
be dancing at the clubs, did I?
Nora: No, no you didn't. I just assumed.
Bo: (Looking at her while they are still walking) Don't ever do
that again
Nora: (Smiling) I won't.
Before Nora realizes it they are standing in front of Bo's
room.
Nora: (Looking amused) You want to dance in here?
Bo: (Unlocking and opening the door) Yes, I do. I want a dance
with no interruptions. (Swinging the door wide for Nora to enter.)
Nora steps around Bo and into his room. She can't believe
what she sees. There are lit candles everywhere. Flowers were
all over the room. The smell was intoxicating.
Nora: (Hand raised to her throat) Oh, Bo! (Quietly) It's beautiful.
(Coming to her senses) Hey! How did you know you would win, huh?
Bo: (Stepping into the room, closing and locking the door) Oh
that's easy, I paid the dealer to stack the deck. (Smiling)
Nora: (Shocked look on her face) You Cheated! I knew it. I can
beat you with my eyes closed.
Bo: (Smiling) OK, I concede. (Reaching his hands to Nora) You
win, I'll dance with you.
Nora laughs.
Bo walks over to the stereo and turns on the music. Nora
walks around the room, taking everything in. She was impressed.
Bo turned around and watched Nora looking around the room. She
was so beautiful and he was without a doubt totally in love with
her. He walked over to the desk where he was chilling some white
wine. He poured two glasses and walked up behind her while she
was admiring a rose.
Nora: (Serious and quiet) Bo, this is wonderful.
He reaches around her and hands her her wine glass. Their
fingers touch during the exchange and the electricity was felt
by both. Bo leaned in close behind her so that he could smell
her perfume. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation.
Nora stood there sipping her wine and staring at the flowers.
She was enjoying having Bo so near. Bo reached up and softly caressed
her neck, she leaned her head toward his hand, then she nervously
stepped away, realizing where her thoughts had strayed.
Nora: (Moving to put some space between her and Bo) You are quite
the romantic, Bo Buchanan.
Bo: (Taking a sip of his wine and trying to calm his breathing
before he tried to speak) You make it very easy, Red.
She turned and smiled at him. He walked over to the stereo and
pressed a button. Suddenly the room was filled with "When
a Man Loves a Woman." His look turned serious and he walked
over and took Nora's glass out of her hand. He reached out.
Bo: (Smiling) Time to pay up.
Nora returned his smile and took his hand. He stepped to her,
never taking his eyes off of her face. He pulled her close and
she placed her hand on Bo's shoulder. Bo started moving around
the room, holding her so tight it was as if they were one. Nora
placed her cheek next to Bo's and closed her eyes. The song played
and they were lost in a world of only two. The song ended and
Bo released Nora slightly, never removing his hand from her back.
They were looking at one another, neither said a word. Bo's hand
slowly slid up Nora's back, touching her bare shoulders, until
his hand rested at the back of her neck. He brought her head to
his and slowly kissed her lips. She responded slowly and then
their passion grew. She reached her hands up to hold Bo's neck,
to feel his hair in her hands.
Bo stepped back, breathing deeply and Nora continued to look into his eyes. He slowly reached up to her hair and started gently removing the rhinestone clips. Nora never moved, she just continued to look into Bo's eyes. He released her hair and ran his fingers through it, relishing in its softness and fragrance. Nora felt as if she was in a trance. Never once thinking of leaving.
Bo again pulled Nora's face to his and kissed her so passionately
that she thought she would never get her breath. Her hands slid
to his back and she pulled him closer. She couldn't get him close
enough. Bo began kissing her ears and down her neck. He reached
up to pull her dress strap off of her shoulder and began kissing
her shoulder, murmering her name between kisses.
Nora: (So lost in the moment) Bo..... (whispering between breaths)
I want you. (Bo began kissing her lips again)
Bo: (Reaching up behind her he gently unzipped her dress and let
it fall to the ground) (Strained) Red... (Looking down) you are
incredible. I love you.
Bo gently picks her up and takes her to his bed.
To be continued . . .
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