<em>- Bo in dining room, moving with Nicci to Great Hall to get drinks -</em><br/><br/>Standing as everyone else was stirring to rise, Bo noticed that Vince was offering to attend to Mari in his gentlemanly way.  Bo quickly formulated a plan to get Nicci alone for a moment.  But rising and stepping around to the end of the table brought him first to Mila, who was also stepping in that direction.  He took a couple strides with her, touching her arm lightly and leaning in close to whisper in her ear.  His breath was warm as it drifted across her neck, the heat of her arm warm and soft beneath his calloused hands, "I didn't mean anything earlier.  Those thoughts never came to mind, and still don't.  Forgive me."  Confident that she would, he gave her a heartfelt smile, his hand gently caressed her arm before he let it fall away.  She might need time to consider his words before responding, so he stopped, letting her continue on her own.  His words would linger in her ear.<br/><br/>Bo gave Marcus a quick wink, indicating that Mila was his to escort if he so chose, but leaving the option up to him with no obvious indications beyond the quick signal of his eyelid snapping.  He felt better having at least had the opportunity to say a few words to Mila.  A beginning to closing the gap that he had inadvertently opened.  There would be more opportunities ahead, and he would look forward to taking them.  But he had another mission in the works.<br/><br/>Taking two strides back toward the table, Bo offered his hand to Nicci, smiling.  His voice deep with a soft, playful tone, he inquired, "My memory is uncertain, perhaps you could show me where you saw those decanters earlier."<br/><br/>Her hand was warm and delicate as it slipped into his own.  Bo felt a surge of heat rising from within, and his smile faded ever so slightly as the heat burned away the playful nonchalance that he had affected.  Odd, how so simple a thing as her hand holding his seemed to change his mood so completely.  The problems that seemed so sharp just a few minutes before, dulled and softened until their brush left no mark.  As the others drifted out toward the lounge, Bo led Nicci in the opposite direction toward the great hall.  He curled his arm at the elbow, bringing his hand holding hers up against his hardened abdomen, her shoulder tucked just behind his as they walked down the hallway.<br/><br/>He looked over at her, and spoke sincerely, "I have a confession to make."  A short pause, before letting the desire he felt leak through, his voice huskier, taking the edge off the humor that he had intended, "My memory isn't uncertain at all."  Her eyes were looking glasses, and in them he saw the future.