CHAPTER 25

'So, what's in the box?' Carly asked as Bo refilled her glass with the Chablis he'd brought along with the small white cardboard box currently resting on her coffee table.

Before Bo arrived that evening, Carly had received several visitors bearing gifts. Olivia returned with Shawn Douglas and Belle, along with a cheese cake from Caroline. Claire had climbed on Carly's lap when she'd held out her arms to her and later spent the rest of the visit playing with Phoebe. Then Justin showed up with flowers and Carly was introduced to Phillip who was so courteous that she marvelled over how Victor's sons were so different from him.

Next had been Maggie and Mickey Horton with more flowers and a lasagne and endless questions that Carly had to answer, albeit painfully, as the last thing she wanted was relive the terrible years with Lawrence. She was more than glad when they finally left; Maggie was a good woman yet the most inquisitive woman she'd ever met and remembering that she was Hope's aunt only made her more uncomfortable. Finally, Bo arrived and all the tension in her immediately melted away. Olivia discreetly went upstairs, taking Phoebe with her.

Bo smiled. 'Why do you assume it's yours?'

'I did NOT.' Carly retorted, smiling in return. 'But you obviously brought it for some reason, didn't you?'

'Okay Carly, you caught me.' Bo pulled the box nearer. 'Close your eyes first.'

Carly groaned. Bo always had the habit of keeping her in suspense when they were still together; it drove her completely nuts, because nothing she did or threatened to do ever made Bo reveal the secret until he decided to. 'Bo!'

'Close 'em, now.'

Carly shook her head at him, exasperated. 'You're still an original pain in the ass; you know that, Beauregard Brady?'

Bo laughed. 'Come on, Carly- indulge me here. Close your eyes, please.'

Taking a sip of her wine, she put the glass down and closed her eyes obediently.

'No peeking now.' he warned.

'I promise, they're closed!'

Carly thought she heard the sound of a match being struck but kept her eyes shut tight.

'Okay... you can open them now.'

Carly chuckled as she saw what Bo was holding in his palm, a large white Sno Ball, with a lit pink candle on it. 'This is very sweet Bo, but my birthday was last month.'

'No reason why we shouldn't acknowledge it. That, and our anniversary and...' Bo reached out to brush back her hair. 'The fact you're alive... and back here in Salem... and I'm doing what I never thought I'd do again.'

'What's that?' Carly asked in a quiet voice.

'Sitting here, looking at you.' was the equally quiet answer. 'If anyone had told me months ago I would actually see you again...'

'You would've thought they were crazy.' Carly finished for him. She felt warm, yet confused, very confused. So much time gone by and yet here they were; almost like it was back in the day. He was married, yet it looked like he still cared about her enough to make this gesture. It made sense actually; he'd long thought her dead and she was the mother of his older daughter. No matter what, they still have a bond; even if it wasn't love on his side. Who was she to ask for more than that?

'Thanks, Bo. It really means a lot to me... that you remembered today and the other stuff as well.'

Bo smiled at her and held up the coconut and marshmallow covered cake. 'Make a wish.'

Carly put her head on one side for a second then blew the candle. She broke the cake into two after Bo handed it to her, giving half to him.

'The first time you gave me a Sno Ball, twenty years ago at that first cabin, when I told you it was my birthday...'

'Yeah, I pulled it out of my backpack...'

Carly laughed. 'And you improvised by putting a lit match on it. That was really sweet.' It had been more than that; that was the day she'd finally realized she loved him very much. He'd discovered that as well but she didn't know that until much later. How deliriously happy they'd been until the evil hand of Lawrence and Vivian had ruined everything; her life, her happiness and a chance of a married life with Bo.

'Carly, what's wrong? You look pensive all of a sudden.'

She smiled, shaking her head. 'Just being in the moment, that's all.'

She looked up at him out of luminous Nile-Green eyes. During the dark period when he'd mourned her, those eyes had tormented him; he'd seen them everywhere, especially in his head- which had driven him to drink for a while, a lame effort to block them out. But now, he couldn't stop looking at them or her face. She was so beautiful, more so now she was in her forties. He so badly wanted to plant a kiss on that mouth, several kisses until they were both breathless but he was afraid if he did, he would blurt out his feelings and the time wasn't right... not now. However, her natural allure was too strong to resist. He'd waited so long to kiss her.

Putting down the piece of cake, he removed Carly's from her hand, tossing it back in the box. Carly's eyes widened as he slipped his arms around her. 'Bo, what are you doing...?'

'Shh... Don't talk, don't think...' he whispered, his face close to hers. 'Just feel.' He covered her mouth with his, his heart beating fast as he devoured the familiar soft sweet mouth; his tongue rubbing against hers. Oh God, she tastes exactly the same, he thought, one hand reaching up to rake through her hair. Carly's hands moved up his chest and her arms went round his neck, kissing him back fiercely; revelling in the hard feel of his muscles and his hand touching her. What she was doing was wrong but for now, he was hers- no one else's.

Bo gripped Carly tighter as he felt her response, kissing her with increasing passion; lost in the magic of the woman he still loved, returned back to him by Fate. How he'd missed her kisses, the feel of her body against his, her arms around him. He wanted her badly; wanted to lay her down right there and then and make love to her. Ignoring the voice in his head reminding him now wasn't the right time; he lowered her against the cushions and followed her, his legs covering hers. Unbuttoning her shirt, he buried his face against her neck, moving down to the top of her breasts. Carly sighed, shutting her eyes...