Chapter 55

So excited and proud to be a part of the upcoming wedding party, Ciara prattled the news to her mother as Bo dropped her off at Maggie's house. Hope's face noticeably tightened but managed to smile. 'That's great, honey. Go on upstairs and get ready for bed, okay?'

'Okay, bye Daddy.' Ciara soundly kissed Bo before darting up the stairs. Hope faced her ex-husband, arms folded. 'So, you and Carly are finally getting married.'

'I should think that already a given.' Bo replied dryly.

'Your wedding's your own business, Brady. Why must you impose it on our daughter?' Hope's voice was low and angry. How did you think she's going to feel watching her father exchanging rings with another woman...?'

'Are we going to do this again, Hope?'

'If we have to... yes, only this time it's your own fault- no thanks to your lack of tact! Just when I thought you couldn't be more insensitive, you pull this!'

Bo glared at her, exasperated. 'First of all, Ciara asked if she could be flower girl, was Carly supposed to say no and let her feel left out when Claire and Ally walk along the aisle without her? And what's this crap about being more insensitive?'

Hope fought to control her temper, having a strong urge to punch Bo out. 'Victor called today, inviting me to a dinner party he's hosting for Olivia and Carly- saying it was in the best interest of the family I came.'

'Inviting you to that damned party was not my idea.'

She snorted derisively. 'Like I'm supposed to believe you didn't put him up to it.'

'I didn't even know he did! And what's with this attitude? After what happened to Carly and Olivia, I figured you'd called a truce by now.'

'For your sake, I'm glad they are safe. But I can't go to that party and pretend to be okay about you and Carly, because I'm not.'

Bo stared her down. 'It's your choice whether you want to come or not. It's no skin off my nose either way. As for Ciara, if she wants to be a part of the wedding, she will be a part of it.'

'She won't...' Hope replied with cold deliberation. 'Because I won't allow it. And anymore manipulations of this kind again, I'll sue for sole custody, believe me.'

'Don't you dare threaten me!' Bo snapped, really angry now. ' And how dare you say I manipulated Ciara. Carly and Olivia are a part of her life now; especially Olivia... she loves her very much, whether you like it or not so do us all a favour and grow up, Hope!'

Hope went after him as he walked towards his car. 'You know something, Brady... all of a sudden I don't regret leaving you like I did, you know why? You prefer a wife who was passive and didn't have the guts to criticise you to your face or make her opinions heard. That's what attracted you to Carly in the first place, didn't it? She just sat back and let you make all the decisions, you couldn't do a thing wrong in her eyes. If that's the case, I wish her joy of you... you have your perfect woman at last!' she hurled at him.

Bo gritted his teeth then turned to her. 'Yeah... I have the perfect woman, Hope. But you're wrong about something. Carly's even more stubborn than you are but she's independent, mature and not blind to my faults like you just implied. And if you and I can turn back the clock, we wouldn't be having this conversation, you know why? Because the last 20 years would have been spent with Carly.' Hope shrank back, stunned.

Bo looked back her, feeling no ounce of pity or regret at his words. 'And that's the cold, hard truth, Hope. Goodnight.'

He got into the car and drove off, not bothering to glance at the rear view window.

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Carly pounded on the glass door of the shower cubicle. 'Are you coming to bed or you're going to sulk in there all night?' she asked.

Since he got back from dropping off Ciara he hadn't said a word but the look on his face told her he had another argument with Hope and she was distressed. For how long was Hope going to retain her hostile attitude?

No reply.

Sighing, Carly fastened the protective wrapping securely over her bound foot and took her robe off. Opening the glass door, she went in.

'Bo?' she slipped her arms around him when he didn't turn. 'What happened? Don't shut me out, you can tell me.'

Still no reply, just the rigid set of his shoulders. Carly's hands went up to caress his chest, running butterfly kisses along his back, shoulders and down his arms. The burning anger Bo felt at Hope's behaviour was soon replaced by a totally different type of burn as he felt Carly touching him and her soft, wet body moulded against his. Swinging round, he crushed her against him, kissing her hard and deep; the steam from the hot water surrounding them. For a while, they just kissed and caressed each other with the water splashing over them then Bo lifted her up against the shower wall.

'You're so beautiful.' he whispered as she slipped her legs around him. 'So very beautiful.'

'You make me feel beautiful.' Carly whispered into the heat of his mouth as he moved within her at first slowly then with frantic energy, her nails driving into his back.

'Bo gasped as they moved together. She tightened her hold on him, the scorching hot flame reaching its peak and she cried out against his neck; his body throbbing against hers at last.

Afterward they got into bed, lying spooned together. But then they began caressing each other and before long they were entwined again in a frenzy of passion; this time slower but no less sweet and in the end, no less urgent.

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'Bo will kill us if we do this.'

'I take it you don't want me then?'

'Oh, I do.' He breathed, enfolding her in his arms. 'I've wanted you for a long time, Olivia.'

'Then take me, Nathan.' She whispered against his cheek. 'Make me yours... now.'

His kiss was way different than the few he'd given her in the past; more urgent, more fiercely passionate. But she wasn't afraid, she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Her fingers worked on his shirt as they kissed, then reached down to unfasten his belt.

'I've never undressed a man before,' she murmured shyly. Nathan grinned, pushing back her hair and ran kisses over her face and neck before pulling her tank top off then carrying her to the bed, lowering her on the mattress before joining her. Olivia shut her eyes, submitting herself to his caresses and kisses in anticipation of what was coming next... their first time of making love.

'I love you, sweetheart.' He murmured against her neck.

'And I love you...' he raised his head as she spoke and she gaped when she saw it wasn't Nathan. 'EJ...?'

Olivia sprang up in bed, trembling from head to foot. 'No, no, no...' she whispered, holding her head in her hands. 'No!'

God damn EJ DiMera...he was tormenting her in her dreams now?

Startled awake by her sudden movement, Phoebe lumbered over to the side of the bed, whining anxiously.

'Hey girl...' Olivia stroked her ears absently, her mind swimming in a sea of confusion. Nathan... EJ... somehow or other she was going to end up hurting one of them or maybe even both... she couldn't go on like this; not knowing if she was in love or who between the two men she really wanted to be with.

The cell phone on the nightstand suddenly rang, startling her further. With shaky fingers, she pressed the answer button. 'He.. Hello?'

'Olivia, it's me.' Nathan's warm voice came through the line.

'Oh Nathan, hello.' Olivia pushed back her curls, resting more comfortably against the pillows.

'Did I wake you? I wasn't sure if you would still be awake or already in bed.'

'I actually went to bed early, no...You didn't wake me. How was the surgery?'

'The patient's going to be fine. Since we didn't get to see each other before you left, I just decided to call you. How are you?'

'Well... it's nice to be back in my own bed again.' Olivia smiled in spite of herself. 'And it's really sweet of you to call.'

At the other end, Nathan grinned also. 'I couldn't go to sleep without hearing your voice. And I also called to ask if you'll have dinner with me tomorrow.'

Olivia hesitated then replied. 'Nathan, we had an agreement about keeping things casual between us.'

'I know... but can't this be a "just friends" date?' he pleaded.

'I need some space to think things through and I can't do that if we go out now. No matter what name you give it, it's still a date and I'm not ready. I thought you understood when we had this conversation.'

Nathan exhaled deeply in frustration. 'I did understand... I still do. But you've got to understand how much I love you and want to be with you.'

'If you love me like you say you do, then please honour this request, okay?' Olivia said gently, wishing with all her heart she could say those three words to him right now.

'Okay... okay. I'm sorry I broke my promise. You want time and space... you got it. Whenever you're ready.'

'Thank you. Are you home?'

'Just on my way out.'

'Go home then and get some rest. Good night Nathan.'

'Good night, sweetness. Love you.' click.

Putting the phone down, Olivia rubbed her head before turning to Phoebe who was still looking up at her anxiously.

'Oh, Pheebs...' she stroked the dog's head. 'What am I going to do?'

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Carly rubbed Bo's chest comfortingly as he narrated what when on with Hope.

'I actually thought we've gone past the hostilities and resentments then she starts that attitude all over again. I'm telling you, Princess... I'm sick of arguing with her.'

'If there's anyone to blame for this, it's Victor. What did he mean inviting her to the party in the first place? Not that I have a problem with her being there but it's almost as if he's forcing her hand.'

'That doesn't give her the right to accuse me of being behind the invitation.' Bo cradled Carly tighter in his arms, quelling the anger he felt rising again. But not at Hope now, but at Victor and the memory of the terrible crime he committed. He was still going to get his comeuppance for that.

'Did she actually say she didn't want Ciara to be at our wedding?' Carly asked quietly.

'She did but don't worry your pretty head about that- Ciara's going to be there whether she likes it or not.'

'Bo, maybe I should talk to her. Shawn D and Ciara love Olivia so much; I can make her see we can't afford to remain adversaries... for the kids' sakes. Surely she'll listen to reason if I make that argument?'

Bo thought for a while, then turned to her. 'I have a better idea. I'll ask Mrs H to talk to her...'

'No Bo... not a good idea. Then she'll think you're treating her like a child by telling on her to her grandmother.'

'So what, for a long time she's accused me of doing just that.'

'I still think I should be the one to talk to her. Maybe I'll do that at the party if she actually changes her mind and does come. She probably will if she doesn't want Shawn D to see her resentment towards me. Take her aside and have a serious talk, make her listen to me.'

Bo stroked her hair. 'Well if you feel you can make an impact on her... good luck.'

'You don't have to worry. Hope isn't an ogre and I can hold my own anyhow.'

'Oh I know you can, princess.' He kissed her, rubbing her back. 'Just you did that day at the pier... when I first laid eyes on you.'

'That wasn't our first meeting.' She reminded.

'No... But it was the first time I saw this face.' he smiled, tracing her cheek with a finger. 'A gorgeous green-eyed spitfire. You gave as good as you got.'

She smiled back, stroking his cheek in return. 'I sure did. But you more or less called me a pest.'

'Only to my piece of mind!' he gripped her tighter. 'And you became a part of me. Then and now... now and always.' He kissed her again, devouring her mouth.

Carly murmured against his lips as he rolled her onto her back once again. 'You know for a guy pushing 50, you've got even more stamina than the first time we were together. Why's that exactly?'

Bo moved to the side of her neck, chuckling. 'Because... men don't get older, only better?'