Chapter Three

The child Bo had rescued happened to be the Mayor's grandson. In spite of Bo's protests that anyone else under the circumstances would have done the same, he was proclaimed a hero and was on the front page of the city newspaper, The Banner, the following morning.

"There's the local hero," Nora said when Bo came into the kitchen for his breakfast. She showed him the front page of the paper as she handed him his coffee. Bo took both and sat down at the table. After reading the article, he pushed it aside. Nora slid a plate in front of him.

"You cooked me eggs?" he asked, hesitantly.

"Well, yes...I tried. If the eggs aren't good, just eat the toast. I make a helluva toast. I just thought you deserved a hero's breakfast...that's all."

"Please, honey. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time," Bo responded as he ate. "Anyone else would have done the same."

"Maybe...maybe not. You're always stepping in. I worry about you...you could have been killed yesterday, Bo."

"But I wasn't, Red," he said lightly, "You still have to put up with me. I did what I had to do at the time, that's all. I just wish they had caught the guys…" he said downing his toast with his last swig of coffee.

"And they will." She crawled onto his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. "And you are a hero, Bo Buchanan," she said caressing his earlobe, "as humble as you may be about it, you saved that little boy, and I'm proud of you. This isn't the first time you've stepped in to help someone in time of need…"

"You thinking about someone in particular, Mrs. Buchanan?" he interrupted, kissing her neck.

"Yes, I am, as a matter of fact...a dancer in distress…"

Bo grinned. "I remember her...a pretty red-head, as I recall. I ended up with a black eye…"

"And a red-headed wife," she joked, then soberly added, "...who loves you to pieces, so...be careful when you're out there doing heroic deeds...because I need you and...I love you very much," she finished in a whisper, hands resting on his cheeks.

Bo kissed her and nodded. "You might want to remember that before cooking me eggs again," he teased. "The toast was good, honey...you do make a helluva toast, but your eggs…"

"Oh! You're impossible!" she scolded as he laughed and pulled her closer for a kiss. One kiss led to another...and another...and another...each one more intimate than the last. Although Bo was dressed for work, Nora was still in her robe. She turned to straddle him as he let his hands wander inside the robe, running the length of her long thighs and moving upward to her breasts…he could feel her nipples harden beneath his touch...

"This is going to make you late for work, you know…" she murmured drawing closer and gyrating slowly on his lap. She could feel his body start to respond even before she began to manipulate his belt and zipper. He buried his head inside her robe, nipping her breasts playfully.

That's when they heard it...a little voice saying, "Mommy, what you doin'?"

Bo lifted his head from his pursuit. Nora sat still. They both turned to see Lilli standing there in her nightgown gripping Lamby, hair tousled from sleep. Her blue eyes were wide.

"Uhm...well…" Nora began. "uh...Daddy wanted...Daddy wanted somebody to sit on his lap...and...you weren't awake yet...so…"

"...Mommy offered," Bo said trying to zip his pants discreetly without hurting himself. When he was adjusted, Nora slid off his lap and pulled the sash tight on her robe. They were both a bit frazzled, not to mention frustrated.

"That's silwy, Mommy. You're too big to sit on Daddy's lap," Lilli said smiling. "I'm hung-ry. Can I have some siryeal?"

"Sure you don't want some eggs," Bo asked, offering his.

Lilli peered at the eggs, then wrinkled her nose, "No, Daddy...dose look yucky."

Bo chuckled and Nora gave him a look.

"Nevermind the eggs, Lilli. Go choose some cereal. I'll get the milk," Nora told her. "And YOU," she said, turning to Bo, "had better get to work. You're already late..."

"It's no problem," Bo said grabbing his keys, "I know the boss...and if I explain to him why I'm late...he'll understand," Bo said.

"You won't tell your 'boss' anything, Bo Buchanan!" Nora responded, pouring milk on Lilli's cereal.

Bo laughed again before kissing his girls goodbye and heading out the door.

"Remember…" Nora called through the screen door, "we have that dinner tonight at seven!"

"I'll remember," he called back on his way to the garage.

It was a beautiful spring evening, perfect weather for the neighborhood cookout being hosted by 'the preetty one', Valerie Ruisi, and her husband, Tony. Bo and Nora, being new to the neighborhood, were the guests of honor. They walked the short distance, Lilli swinging and skipping between them, to the backyard of Tony and Valerie Ruisi.

When they arrived, they found Tony manning the brick barbecue flipping steaks and burgers. Valerie greeted guests in between bringing food to the buffet table. Children were squealing and running through the yard, and it didn't take long for Lilli to join them.

While Bo stood around the grill getting acquainted with the men, Nora approached Val.

"Do you need help with anything?"

"Nora! Hello and welcome! No, I think we have everything under control here. Have you met Marjorie yet?" she asked indicating the curly-haired brunette, middle 30's, by her side.

"No, we haven't had the pleasure," Marjorie began, taking Nora's hand. "So nice to meet you." The smile offered to Nora was quickly replaced by frustration as Marjorie glanced over Nora's shoulder. "TOMMY! PUT THAT THING DOWN! Good Lord, that child's gonna be the death of me...PUT IT DOWN NOW, I SAID! DON'T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE!"

When Tommy continued to chase the other children with the large and lumpy toad he had discovered, Marjorie excused herself to deal with the situation. Passing her husband who sat relaxing on the patio, beer in hand she said, "Glen...don't you see what your son is doing?!"

Val laughed at the situation. "Poor Margie...she has her hands full with that one. She told me if Tommy had been her first, there wouldn't have been a second!"

"How many children does she have?" Nora asked.

"Six...Tommy is her youngest. I believe he's eight…"

"And you? Do you have children?" Nora asked.

"Yes, our son Calvin is seven, and that's enough for me. I thought I'd never get my figure back after Cal, and Tony and I travel so much with the business. I just don't want a houseful of children. Tony has an heir for the family business, and we're content with one. How old is your little girl?" Val asked.

"Lilli is three."

"Hi!" Val called over her shoulder. Nora turned to see another woman approaching carrying a large covered bowl. A tiny girl clung to her skirt as she walked.

"Sorry we're running late...Hello," she said to Nora as she placed her bowl on the table. "I'm Audrey. So good to finally meet you."

"You too, Audrey. I just hope I can remember everyone's name by the end of the night," Nora said, smiling.

Audrey bent to pick up the fussing girl and apologized again for being late. "You won't even believe what happened," she began. "You know Eddie's mother has been staying with us this past week? Well...she offered yesterday to make this potato salad for me while I went to the doctor...just trying to be helpful, you know…"

"What did the doctor say?" Val interrupted.

"I am," Audrey responded rolling her eyes.

Val laughed. "So much for spacing them further apart!"

Audrey sighed. "I told Eddie I was going to tie him in the garage!" She turned to Nora with an explanation, "My two are eleven months apart," she said shaking her head.

Nora smiled at the toddler on Audrey's hip who couldn't be more than a year and a half, if that.

"Anyway…" Audrey continued, "I told Ed's mom to go ahead and make the potato salad, so she did...cut up ten pounds of potatoes and stirred it all together for me. I was really appreciative...thanked her up and down before she left this morning. Then I tasted it..." She made a face. "Do you know what that woman did?!"

By this time, Marjorie was back and all three women gave Audrey blank expectant stares.

"She put vanilla in place of the vinegar in my recipe! Accidentally, of course...I had the clear variety of both and she just grabbed the vanilla by accident! I'm glad I tasted it before bringing it over. So, I had to run to town for more potatoes and then start all over…"

"TOMMY! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT THAT TOAD!?" Marjorie shouted again.

This time Tommy wasn't chasing anyone, but Lilli was chasing Tommy! "I wanna hode it!" she was shouting after him, "Can I hode it?" This time it was Nora's turn to chase her child while the others chuckled at the little girl with dirty dress and auburn ponytail bobbing.

As the evening progressed, another couple arrived. Jack and Laura lived in the house next door to Bo and Nora's, but other than a brief wave across the yard, they hadn't met.

Then Mrs. Mumsby, an elderly lady, came bearing her famous butterscotch pie. She was escorted by her single tenant, Caroline Talbott, who bore a striking resemblance to model and actress Marilyn Monroe.

It was a very nice evening...wonderful food and conversation. Everyone made Bo and Nora feel so welcome to the neighborhood. Lilli was so worn out by the evening's end that Bo had to carry her home. She fell asleep over his shoulder and, dirty as she was, he just laid her in her bed, removed her shoes, and tucked the covers up around her.

He collapsed in bed next to Nora and reached silently for her hand. They watched quietly while branches from their old maple tree out front cast dancing shadows on the ceiling and wall.

"Did you have a good time?" Bo finally asked.

"Yes," she replied quietly, "but I'm exhausted. I feel like Lilli."

Bo smiled. "She was worn out, wasn't she?"

"She was, but she loved having all those kids to play with," Nora replied. "Did you enjoy the guy talk?"

Bo nodded in the dark. "I did, honey. I found out that Eddie runs a market, Glen does car repairs, Tony owns a jewelry store, and Jack is a banker...all of our needs met right in the neighborhood…"

"Mmmm...the women were all nice too...very diverse. Margie is hilarious, and her husband seems so laid back. She has all those kids, and he just sits by and watches her deal with them...never helps even though she quarrels at him."

Bo chuckled. "I noticed that."

"Val seems to have it all together. Audrey has her hands full with those two little ones...and she's expecting again. Then there's Laura...sweet, but very quiet…"

"Her husband is a little different, too, don't you think? Kind of brooding. Maybe it was the alcohol...he drank quite a bit I thought. He was friendly enough when he arrived but was different by the end of the evening…"

"I noticed that too...and Laura seemed to jump at his every beck and call...I thought it was funny when Mrs. Mumsby told him he should go get his own beer."

Bo laughed. "She's a character, isn't she? A sweet old lady...and makes excellent butterscotch pie. I ate two pieces," Bo confessed.

"And what did you think of her tenant?" Nora asked.

When Bo didn't respond, she glanced at him. "I said…"

"I heard what you said," Bo began, "I'm just trying to think of the best and least dangerous way to answer…"

Nora poked him in the side with her elbow.

"What?! See? I didn't even say anything and I'm in trouble…"

"That's because I know exactly what you're thinking! The woman is perfect! A blonde, voluptuous beauty…"

"Yeah," Bo agreed, "not to mention her…you know..."

Nora elbowed him again then rolled over to face him. "You'll keep your eyes off her 'you knows' if 'you knows' what's good for you," she teased.

He pulled her close, grinning.

"Besides," she said more softly, "you're a happily married man."

"I am," he answered finding her mouth with his own, "I'm a very happily married man…" He kissed her again. "Wanna make me even happier?" he hinted with a broad grin and gleaming eyes.

"Whatever it takes," she responded using his own words to captivate him.

To be continued...