An Inner Darkness Book 5 Bay City paranormal

a few pieces of candy.”

    A tiny smile tugged up the corners of Janine’s mouth. It wasn’t much, but it lifted a tremendous weight off Sam’s shoulders. He and Janine usually needed only the slightest provocation to snipe at each other. Having a civil exchange, no matter how abbreviated, was a huge step up for them. The look in Bo’s eyes said he’d noticed it too, and applauded the effort on both their parts. Sam smiled at him. Nowif only Bo and Janine can get through this little meeting without screaming at each other, I’ll believe in miracles.
    Visibly collecting herself, Janine pushed to her feet. “All right. I need to go. Thank you for doing this, Bo. I know it’s last minute, and I…I really appreciate it.” Bo’s face lit up. “Believe me, I’m happy to do it.” He reached out and took Sam’s hand, winding their fingers together. “We both are.” Janine looked away, lips pursing, but said nothing about the small display of affection. “Well. Good.” She glanced at their joined hands, looked away again and strode www.samhainpublishing.com 85
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toward the door. “I’ll see you later, then. I should be able to pick the boys up by ten thirty at the latest.”
“That’ll be fine.” Bo gave her a wide smile. “See you then. Tell Lee we said hi and we hope he feels better soon.”
With a curt nod, Janine pulled the door open and hurried out. Sam didn’t follow her.
He figured it might be better for all concerned if he stayed out of sight until she left. No point in tempting fate.
Bo squeezed Sam’s hand. “Well. That was a surprise.”
“Yeah. I think this is the closest we’ve ever come to the three of us being in one room without anyone yelling at anyone else.”
    Laughing, Bo pulled Sam close and kissed his chin. “I think you’re right.” He trailed his lips downward and licked at the pulse point in Sam’s throat. “This is a big step forward for you and Janine, you know.”

    “I know.” Sam lifted his chin to encourage Bo’s kisses. “For you and her too.”

    “Yes, well, if I’d sniped at her the way I generally want to, she might’ve changed her mind and taken the boys to Rita’s instead, and I didn’t want that to happen.” Bo drew back to meet Sam’s gaze. “I hope we can keep this truce going.”
    “We will.” Cupping Bo’s cheek in one hand, Sam captured his mouth in a gentle kiss.
The kiss had just started to heat up when the sound of a throat clearing made them jump apart.
“Sorry to break up the manlove,” David said, looking not at all sorry. “But the young’uns want to see their dad.”
“Of course.” Cheeks flaming, Bo shot Sam an apologetic look before hurrying out to see his sons.
David leaned close to Sam as they followed Bo out of the office. “So. What happened with the dragon lady?”
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    “Nothing, actually. She was almost pleasant.” Sam thought about it. “Okay, well, maybe pleasant is the wrong word. But there was no yelling, and that was a major improvement.”
    “I’ll say.” Grinning, David punched him lightly in the arm. “That’s awesome, Sam.
Maybe she’s starting to come around.”
“I hope so.”
    The conversation was cut short when Sean came barreling up and threw himself at Sam so hard Sam staggered backward. Sam hugged the child, who immediately started telling Sam about his successful book report that day.
    Straightening up, Sam saw Adrian sitting in the extra chair beside Dean’s desk. Bo sat next to him in a chair he’d pulled over from Sam’s desk, one arm resting on the boy’s shoulders as they talked. Adrian had a shy smile on his face, but there were dark circles under his eyes, and a worried crease marred his forehead.
    A renewed sense of disquiet coiled in the pit of Sam’s stomach. What had happened in the past few days to make Adrian look like that? Adrian glanced over and caught Sam’s eye. They stared at each other for a second before Adrian looked away and hunched closer to his father.
    I’ll talk to him, Sam resolved, taking Sean’s hand and leading him over to join the other two. Tonight. I’ll sit him down and try to find out what’s been going on.
    It was a good plan. Now all he needed was Adrian’s cooperation. ***
“Come on, Adrian.”
“No.”
“Please?”
“I told you I don’t want to.”
    “But, Adriaaaaan,” Sean whined, grabbing his brother’s arm and shaking it. “I don’t want to go trick-or-treating by