"Buchanan, party of two," Bo told the hostess at The Breakwater Restaurant the following evening.
"It will be a twenty to thirty minute wait, sir," the hostess informed him. "We'll page you when your table is ready. Feel free to visit our bar while you wait."
"Thank you...I think we will." He nodded to the hostess.
They maneuvered their way through the crowd and were able to find a place to sit at the bar as two seats were vacated.
"May I help you, sir?" asked the bartender.
"Yes, I'd like a bourbon and…" He glanced at Nora.
"A martini for me, please."
"I'll be right back," Bo whispered handing Nora the pager before heading to the men's room.
Nora sipped her martini and tried to unwind. They had enjoyed a wonderful day...a "Nora Day" Bo had called it...a day for everything she wanted to do. So, they had done some shopping and antiquing in Manteo, as well as visiting the Elizabethan Gardens and driving the Outer Banks Scenic Byway. They finished the day watching the sunset over the sand dunes at Jockey's Ridge State Park.
As Nora thought about their day, she glanced across the bar where her eyes inadvertently met those of a man who was staring at her. As soon as her eyes met his, he slipped from his seat and began making his way towards her.
Oh no...here we go...what am I going to say?...she thought uncomfortably.
The man slid into Bo's empty seat. She could see him glance her way out of the corner of her eye.
"The only thing your eyes haven't told me is...your name," he said seductively.
She turned to face him, smiling slightly and shaking her head.
"I know...it's a lousy pickup line. I'm not very creative, I guess. So...let me start over. My name is Tad, and you are…?"
"Engaged," Nora said flashing her ring as well as another smile.
Tad nodded his head slowly, swishing the ice in his drink. He looked back at Nora. "Well...that would be my luck...find a beautiful woman and she's taken. I'm just not good at this bar scene...finally putting myself out there after my wife died... it's been hard…" he murmured, staring into his glass.
Nora didn't respond, but heard a chirpy voice on Tad's opposite side say, "Oh, that's so sad!"
He turned to the owner of the voice with soulful eyes. Looking into her unsuspecting blue ones, he said, "You know...the only thing your eyes haven't told me is...your name…"
Nora rolled her eyes, stunned. About that time, Bo returned.
"Excuse me, but this seat is taken," he said to Tad.
"Oh...okay, no problem," he replied sliding off the bar stool. He turned back to the blonde. "Would you care to join me for dinner?" he asked. The girl agreed and, as Tad escorted her away from the bar, they heard him lay another one on her, "Wow...your eyes...they're as blue as the ocean...and I'm lost at sea…"
"UNbelievable!" Nora said, shaking her head as Bo took his place beside her. "That guy was so full of pickup lines. Lousy pickup lines. His 'wife just died', you know, and he's 'just now getting back out there'..." She rolled her eyes again. "And, the sad thing is, that poor girl fell for it...he'll probably fill her full of bad lines and good booze and then take advantage of her!"
Bo grinned and took a swallow of his drink.
"What?" she asked him.
"Oh...I don't know. I kind of had the same plan...you know...bait you with a few lines and some good booze, then take advantage of you," he whispered, looking into her eyes. "So, you're telling me it won't work?"
She turned her bar stool to face him. "No...what I'm telling you is...that you don't need the pickup lines or to get me inebriated. I'm more than willing to let you...take advantage of me, Commissioner."
They laughed together as she leaned into him for a kiss.
*****
Bo tossed the cottage keys on the table as Nora plopped herself onto the couch and pulled her feet up. "I'm so stuffed," she moaned. "Why didn't you stop me?"
"I was too busy stuffing myself to stop you," he said plopping down beside her.
"You know...we really should take a walk on the beach before that storm comes in," Nora said. "It will make us feel better. Want to?"
"Sure...and while we're at it, maybe we should do some...ghost hunting," he answered in an eerie voice shifting his eyes at her.
"Ghost hunting? What's that?" she asked, puzzled. Then she gave him an exasperated look. "Is it anything like 'snipe hunting', Bo Buchanan? Don't you think we're too old for that? If we're gonna neck, we may as well stay here! Besides...there are no such things as snipes...I learned that the hard way...and there are no ghosts either, for that matter. Rub my feet, please" she finished, laying them in his lap.
"Honestly, honey," Bo said as he began rubbing her feet, "a snipe is a long-legged bird...they really do exist…"
"Not the kind Ronald Shemp was hunting," she interrupted, laying her head back on the pillow.
"Ronald Shemp? Where have I heard that name before? Oh...the guy from the drive in, right?"
"Yes...old Fast-Hands Ronnie. Ronald had a one-track mind...not unlike somebody else I know," she added giving him a look.
"I don't remember you complaining much about it."
"That's because I like you better...you're cuter…" she said raising her brows at him.
Bo chuckled as he stood to his feet. "Come on, it's 'Nora Day' and you said we were going for a walk on the beach. I'm going to get a flashlight so we can find some ghosts."
"Where did you get this absurd ghost hunting idea?" she asked quizzically.
"Albert told me about it on the boat yesterday," Bo answered. "Here. I found a flashlight. Let's go, Red, " he said pulling her up by the hand.
*****
The sky was dark, no crescent moon or stars twinkling overhead this night. There was a strong sea breeze and a storm expected. Nora held Bo's hand as they walked along the sand just out of reach of the incoming tide.
"BOO!" Nora said suddenly in a deep voice. Bo jumped and Nora laughed. "Why are you jumping? You're the one that came looking for ghosts." She leaned against him infected with the giggles.
"I owe you for that one, Red," he said, grinning.
"Ooooo," she teased, squeezing his arm. What are you gonna do to me? Will I like it?"
Bo laughed and shook his head. "And you said Ronald Shemp had a one-track mind."
"Well, what can I say? You bring out the Shemp in me." This reduced her to further giggles. Finally she caught her breath. "So...what's the flashlight for?" she asked. "Do we look behind the beach grass and rocks for these 'ghosts' we're seeking?"
"Nope. According to Al, we just turn on the flashlight and we'll see them."
"Well, what are you waiting for then, Buchanan?! Turn on the light!" she encouraged playfully.
"Sure you're ready?" Bo asked.
"Yes...let's see these alleged 'ghosts'!"
"Okay...here we go!" Bo fumbled with the flashlight unable to find the button. Instead, he dropped it in the sand where the surf rolled over it and pulled it ten feet out to sea. "Damn!" he said chasing after it. He hurried to retrieve it, shaking off the sand and water.
"Well...that was anticlimactic," Nora retorted laughing again.
"You'll get your climax. Just hold on, Red."
"Ooooo...promise?" she asked suggestively, hanging onto his arm.
Bo grinned. "Yes...I do promise, but first I want to see these damn ghosts! I couldn't find the button before, but I've got it now. Ready, Red? Here we go."
He turned on the flashlight and aimed it in front of them. Suddenly, the beach came to life...little eyes pierced the darkness and little legs scurried sideways...then little bodies disappeared into the sand and surf.
Nora grabbed Bo's arm in a death grip. "Oh my gosh, Bo! What are they?!"
He pointed the light a different direction to see more little eyes piercing the darkness...more feet scurrying across the sand.
"They're ghost crabs, honey! Al was right! They're everywhere! Look at them!"
He shone the light two feet in front of them. One scampered across Bo's foot before plunging into the sand.
"Ohhh…" Nora grimaced. "If one gets on me Bo, I'll just die."
He dismissed her fear with a shrug. "Here...hold the flashlight," Bo said handing it to Nora.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to catch one, honey."
"Bo...I don't think that's a good idea. They have a big claw on one side."
"I conquered a marlin, honey...I'm not afraid of a little crab. Shine the light this way."
Nora aimed the light out in front of her while Bo crept cautiously toward an unsuspecting crab. As he leaned over to pick it up, the crab darted ahead of him and buried itself quickly in the sand. Bo dug up the sand and pulled the crab out, carefully avoiding the claw.
"I got it, Red!" he shouted holding up his catch. He walked toward her carrying the crab, it's eyes glowing and legs waving angrily in the air. "He's kind of cute, isn't he honey?"
Nora grimaced. "Not really...and he's not very happy with you. Better put him down, Bo. NOT HERE!" she shouted as he bent to release the animal. "Over there somewhere...away from me."
Bo laughed. He was clearly enjoying her reaction to these 'ghosts'. He returned to her dusting the sand off his hands after releasing his catch. She was shining the flashlight down the beach.
"They're everywhere," she murmured. "So why haven't we seen them here before?"
"They're nocturnal. Al said you can see them during the daytime too, but they usually come out at night to feed. They're scavengers...and predators," he added eerily, pinching her backside.
Suddenly Nora had a recollection. "So...they were probably here the other night when we made love on this very beach!"
"Yes, we probably gave them quite a show," he said, pulling her close to his side. "Wanna do it again?"
"No I do not! I had sand up...well, let's just say I had sand everywhere, and I don't want that again."
He chuckled. "I'm sure it was worth it, honey."
She raised a brow at him, then changed the subject quickly, "Was that thunder?"
"Yeah, it's getting windy too. I think we're going to get that storm they predicted. We'd better head back."
As they made their way back to the cottage, the wind and thunder increased. Flashes of lightning lit up the dark sky, and soon large droplets of rain pelted them. The rain increased quickly, becoming fast and furious. Bo grabbed Nora's hand as they ran back to the cottage...as fast as you can run in the sand...
They finally stumbled onto the cottage porch and through the door, drenched and gasping for breath. Bo forced the door closed against the fierce wind and rain that beat upon it. He could hear Nora, out of breath, but laughing uncontrollably behind him. He turned to her, hair slicked down and rain running down his face. He was bearing a grin...but his eyes were smoldering.
Nora's laughter quickly faded to a smile. She stood there looking into Bo's eyes, wet hair and clothes dripping on the floor. Suddenly, all the sexual tension from an evening of touching and teasing one another came to a head. She wanted him. She sauntered over to him, fire in her eyes.
"You know," she whispered huskily as she began unbuckling his belt, "we really should get these wet clothes off before we...catch a chill."
"Mmmm," Bo agreed nodding slightly while fumbling with her shirt buttons.
She unzipped his pants and gave them a tug. They dropped in a soggy pile to the floor. His breathing came faster as his excitement mounted. He gave up on her buttons and ran his hands under her shirt unfastening her bra. Her excitement and the wetness of her clothes had already had an affect on her body. He could feel her hardened peaks rising beneath his hands. He pulled her close and began kissing her, rough and demanding. He slipped her loosened pants over her hips and they joined his beneath their feet.
She murmured between kisses, "Mmmm...I think you're warming up," as she felt his body respond to her. His mouth devoured hers again as their breathing became faster and more labored.
In frustration she finally muttered, "Forget these buttons..." as she ripped the shirt open. "I'll buy you a new one..." He did the same to her shirt, and they were finally skin-to-skin. Their mouths never parted as they stumbled to the bed. Sinking into it's depths, their passion raged like the storm outside the cottage walls until, finally, their needs met...they rested in each others' arms…