Nicci thought that it was lovely that the guys were going to escort them to dinner.  She had been to lots of galas and big events with her film connections and there was something so special about being squired properly by a man.  And all three men would turn heads she thought, imagining walking into a ballroom with Bo and the envious glances she'd get.  As he glanced at her and then looked away she lowered her eyes.  She knew she shouldn't presume he would take her, but she hoped he would.  It seemed natural for him to continue the pairing from the dance. She realised, pressing her lips together, she would be saddened if he didn't, it would feel like she was still in his bad books.  So when he asked if he could partner her again she smiled and nodded slightly, her hand slipping though the crook of his arm straight away.<br/><br/>Walking the short distance to the dining room it felt like a little procession and as she watched Marcus and Mari in front of them she fell into the rhythm of Bo's walk, their hips brushing together, and knew that this was one of those moments she would remember always.  It was as if they were going to make an entrance onto the stage of their new life and she felt the butterflies in her stomach that fluttered before she went on set.  In some ways this was the true beginning of their family.  Breaking bread together, enjoying the intimacy of sharing food and sitting as a group, talking, sharing, becoming friends.<br/><br/>And the stage was beautifully set, the more intimate setting than the grand hall and the candle light bringing out the romance and softening the opulence of the room itself and the beautiful table setting. Being seated by Bo at her place Nicci sat quietly, Bo had not said a word to her and as he took his seat at the other end of the table she wondered if he was relieved he wasn't sitting next to her as he didn't so much as glance in her direction either.   She took her gaze away before he saw her looking at him and picked up her name card, running her thumb over the scripted letters.  She had had many names, and each of them seemed to speak to a different part of her.  She thought about the names round the table.  Apart from Marcus they were all using shortenings or nicknames.  She wondered what Bo's real name was and how he'd got his nick name, as it was quite unusual.<br/><br/>Putting her card down she laid her napkin in her lap and then looked up and across the table at Mari, who was obviously rather taken with sitting in the center of the three men as her eyes sparkled and she had a slight flush to her cheeks.  Nicci smiled, all three women were obviously attracted to the men, if this had been a swinging party she could tell that there would have been no-one left on the periphery, the chemistry between them all was tangible and rarely had she been in a group where she was attracted so strongly to all of the men and comfortable with the women.<br/><br/>She smiled across at Vince as he took his seat, she thought it was going to be fun sitting across from someone with such charm and good spirits.  He really was astonishingly good looking, he exuded sex appeal and even more a sense of goodwill that spoke to her in a very intimate way.  She herself loved getting on with people, and caring for them, and hated arguments or unpleasantness. She felt that perhaps Vince was someone who embraced people openly like she did and she wondered, as she grinned back in response to his wink, if perhaps he had been on the scene too as he seemed just so confident and at ease with himself, something she had come across more in the clubs than anywhere else.<br/><br/>She waited for Vince to finish pouring and then held out her own glass towards him, thankful there was water on the table. “Me too if you don't mind, I would love a glass of water,” she said catching his eye, and adding conspiratorially, “I'm afraid I am a light weight where alcohol is concerned.”