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Chapter 14: Chance Encounter
Dyson pulls away, looking at Bo with curiosity.
"You still look as beautiful as ever." Bo flashes a small smile, touched by the tender remark.
Dyson looks at Bo, carrying out a visual examination and decides to inquire about what seems to be on her mind.
"But what's going on up here?" he says patting her on the head.
"What do you mean?" Bo asks not sure of Dyson's implication.
"There's a radiance about you, a glow. But then something also just seems a little off."
Bo hesitates before responding.
"Gosh, between you, Kenzi, and the doc I'm certainly getting my head examined by more people than I ever imagined." She says sarcastically before grabbing Dyson's hand, initiating their walk along the street. They are heading towards no particular location.
"The doc?" Dyson retorts glancing over at the lovely brunette. A newly spread expression of confusion appears on his face.
"Yes, a beautiful, smart, caring, very hot and super sexy doctor" she says gazing downward and watching the sidewalk pass underneath her feet.
"Wow, that's quite a description. So tell me more about this doctor."
Bo continues looking downward. Dyson gets the impression that Bo doesn't want to talk about what seems to be on her mind so he doesn't pry any further. He remembers that Bo has never been the type to reveal anything on command. So instead of grilling her, he just enjoys walking along with her and basks in the crisp night air in relative silence.
The curly haired blonde man hasn't seen Bo in two years. Dyson and Hale first became acquainted with Bo and Kenzi while working a case as private investigators. Dyson and Hale were working along with local authorities that were investigating a smuggling ring Kenzi was involved with. Dyson and Hale were drawn to Kenzi and Bo but once their bosses and colleagues began to notice Hale and Dyson becoming too enmeshed in the lives of the woman they were charged with investigating, they distanced themselves from Bo and Kenzi. They were in danger of loosing their jobs due to this "conflict of interest" as their superiors had referred to it.
However even after distancing themselves from the beautiful brunette trouble makers, Dyson and Hale advocated to have Kenzi granted leniency. They were instrumental in the local authority's decision to enroll her in a pre-trial diversion program, which persons under 25 years old are given an opportunity to carry out community service and probation as an alternative to a court trial and possible sentencing.
Over the last two years, Dyson and Hale had reflected on Bo and Kenzi and wondered how they were. Totally absorbed in his deep reveries of the past, Dyson doesn't initially recognize that Bo has pulled him down onto one of the benches lining the street.
Snapping back to the present Dyson utters, "Hale and I often wondered about you and Kenzi." His voice is almost a whisper as he holds onto Bo's hand.
Dyson's demeanor is kind and comforting, just as Bo remembered him. Bo knew that Dyson and Hale were getting heat from their bosses when they began to take on more of a mentorship role with them rather than carrying out the investigation they were charged to do. In retrospect, she now truly understands the risks Dyson and Hale had taken.
"Yeah, we thought about you guys too. You guys risked a lot for us, especially for Kenzi."
Bo squeezes Dyson's hand tighter and scoots in closer to him on the bench.
"How is that sexy boyfriend of yours?" Bo says, smiling almost mischievously.
Dyson flashes a smirk. "Hale is good. We're really good and we've now started our own private investigation business."
He continues, catching her up on his and Hale's relationship and the growth of their private investigation business. Dyson describes Hale as his soul mate and Bo can feel how bright his aura becomes when the handsome man discusses his life with his delicious partner.
"You two always were good together. And might I add, verrryyyy sexy." She says, winking at Dyson.
"You always did know the exact words to say to someone." Dyson states, grinning widely.
"Life can be so unexpected though. You were the last person I thought I'd see tonight but I'm glad I did." Bo expresses, taking in Dyson's handsome features.
"I had just finished closing out a case in the area." Dyson explains. "I have to admit I was really surprised to see you in this part of town."
"I know, a girl like me in the ritzy business sector of town. I'm still surprised myself."
"Well, I'm just glad I caught up to you. You were walking like a woman on a mission."
"Yeah, I've been focused and definitely on a mission the last few weeks. Things have been really well Dyson."
Bo pauses before continuing.
"I'm getting myself on track though, even taking criminal justice courses at the community college."
Dyson is stunned by this revelation and scratches his head as if replaying what Bo has just said in his mind.
"Criminal justice huh? Finally giving the other side of the law a chance for once?"
Bo playfully pushes him on the shoulder.
"I'm just saying, criminal justice courses seem like an occupational hazard in your line of work." He jokes, earning himself another playing shove from Bo.
"Yeah, I know but a girl has to grow up sometime," she says smirking.
Dyson is happy that Bo seems to be doing well.
"You certainly seem to have grown up since the last time I saw you. What about Kenzi? You never answered me about her. How is that little impulsive ball of fire?" Dyson questions, eager to find out what Kenzi has been up to.
"Well you know, Kenzi is Kenzi. Not really much else to say." Bo says, shaking her head and laughing at Dyson's description of her best friend.
"Still raising hell, spreading havoc, and involving herself in every theft scheme imaginable?" Dyson continues.
"Actually no. She's been 'laying low' as she likes to call it. We've both been walking the straight and narrow lately. It's been kinda nice."
Bo decides this is a good time to fill Dyson in on what she's been involved with since the two of them last crossed paths. She proceeds to provide Dyson with a brief re-cap of the last couple years of her life including her last arrest for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and organizing the sale of stolen goods, getting offered a final chance under the 3 Strikes Law, and her enrollment in the program at Tabula Rasa. For now, she leaves out the details about her burgeoning romance with Dr. Lauren Lewis.
Dyson tells her that he's really proud that she seems to have come to the realization that she is capable of turning her life around. He then inquires regarding whether Bo is dating anyone. She tells him all about her various one-night stands, joking about how she's never been the "dating type" until recently. She decided to tell Dyson all about Lauren and her growing feelings for the breathtaking doctor that consumes her being and dares her to reach her full potential. She also tells him a little about Lauren's fears of other people finding out they slept together due to Bo being her patient. She describes in great detail the sultry and steamy rendezvous that occurred before encountering Dyson just outside Lewis Enterprises.
"Wow you and Dr. Lauren Lewis! She is definitely well known in this area. She has a great reputation, both for being a superb businesswoman and for being a compassionate humanitarian. Well, you've definitely not been sitting around bored." He says with a light chuckle.
Dyson expresses his support regarding her blossoming relationship with Lauren. He tells Bo to fight for this woman that she obviously cares so much about.
"When it's all said and done, I just want to look back and know I lived the life I chose to live. And I honestly want that for you too." Dyson says, his words oozing with sincerity.
"I swear everyone has developed such wisdom. I totally feel like I'm in the feel good movie of the year or something."
"Hey, I'm just saying grab on to the one you love and never let go. You and the doctor are most certainly from different places but don't let that stop you."
They both laugh at the sappiness of his statement and Bo lays her head on his shoulder.
"You know Bo, in a different life or on some parallel universe I may have been smitten with you."
"Smitten huh? Yeah, that would have to be some crazy ass alternative universe!" She exclaims, thinking about the absurdity of them being involved in any sort of romance.
"Ha, yeah crazy indeed. But hey, I only have eyes for my Hale in this life."
Dyson develops a far away look in his eyes as he thinks about the joy Hale brings to his life.
"He's a great catch. Hang on to that guy. You're lucky to have found someone like him."
"Oh believe me, I know." He says with a glint his eyes.
"I know we didn't meet under the best circumstances but something about you resonated with me. Hale and I were getting too close to you and Kenzi, getting a lot of heat from our bosses to pull back. So we did. But things are different now. Maybe we could all actually be friends now." Dyson expresses honestly.
"Yep, definitely feeling like I'm in the feel good movie of the year." She expresses, with sarcasm.
Bo is enjoying this time with her former acquaintance but she is having more and more difficulty pushing down her thoughts about Lauren, especially after replaying Dyson's words in her mind.
"Dyson, it was really nice to see you. And yes, I would love to start spending time with you and Hale again. But for now, I have a lot that I need to work out and plus I'm sure you'd rather be home with your sexy boyfriend than sitting around on this bench with me."
Dyson teases Bo by playfully making the hand gestures of comparing sitting with her to snuggling up to his very handsome boyfriend.
Bo laughs, "Yeah, thought so."
They stand up, hugging each other tightly and vowing to keep in touch. They enter each other's updated contact info into their mobile phones. Bo and Dyson hug each one more time before heading in opposite directions.