An Inner Darkness Book 5 Bay City paranormal

You have even less control over what happens this time.” Dean laid one open palm on Sam’s cheek. “You’re doing everything you can, Sam. Nobody expects you to be Superman. You have to stop expecting that of yourself.” www.samhainpublishing.com 129 Ally Blue

    Sam’s throat constricted. Hooking an arm around Dean’s neck, Sam pulled him into a tight hug. “Thank you. For everything.” The words were inadequate to express the depth of Sam’s gratitude for Dean’s friendship and support over the past year, but Sam figured Dean understood. Dean’s arm wound around Sam’s back, returning the hug. As they drew apart, the front door squeaked open. Sam plastered on the best smile he could muster and prepared to greet whoever had just come in.

    His smile froze on his face when he met a pair of icy hazel eyes. He glanced sideways, saw that Dean had minimized the damning video on his computer screen and breathed a sigh of relief. “Janine.” Moving as surreptitiously as he could, he shut down his own video before Janine could see.
    “Sam.” Crossing her arms, she aimed a gloating look at Sam. “Did I interrupt something?”
Sam’s mouth dropped open when he realized what she meant. “Of course not.”
    “Really? Y’all looked pretty cozy to me.” She shook her head. “Of course, I’ve heard you people are promiscuous. I just hope Bo knows what he’s gotten himself into. Or does he join in?”
    You people? Fury boiled up in Sam’s gut. Standing, he planted both palms flat on Danny’s desk and fixed Janine with a hard glare. “What you just saw was me hugging one of my closest friends. That’s all. I love Bo more than anything in this life. I have never— never —been unfaithful to him, and I never will be.” The memory of what David had told him nearly a year ago suddenly came back to him. He gave Janine an evil grin.
    “Which is more than you can say, isn’t it?”
The instant the words were out, Sam knew he’d gone too far. He winced .
    Janine’s face went gray. She opened her mouth as if she was going to respond, then snapped it shut again when Bo’s office door opened. She spun to face him, her expression shuttered. “Hello, Bo.”
    “Oh. Hi, Janine.” Bo shot a wary glance between Janine, Sam and Dean, who sat watching the drama in silence. “What’re you doing here?” 130 www.samhainpublishing.com
An Inner Darkness
    “You weren’t at home. I know how often you work on weekends, so I took a chance.” Her eyes, narrowed to slits, cut sideways at Sam, then back to Bo. “I have to talk to you. In private.”

    Andre emerged from the office. An elderly woman in an expensive-looking linen suit walked beside him. He cleared his throat, obviously warning the rest of them to be on their best behavior in the presence of a customer. “All right, Ms. Osbourne. We’ll be in touch in the next few days.”
    “Thank you very much, Mr. Meloy.” She shook Andre’s hand, then Bo’s. “Dr.
Broussard. Thank you for accommodating my schedule. I realize this isn’t a usual workday for you.”
    “It’s no trouble at all.” Bo flashed her the bright smile which always charmed men and women alike. “Please call us if anything else happens, or if you have any questions.” With a brisk nod and a curious glance at Janine, Ms. Osbourne strode across the floor with a clack of heels on wood and exited into the waning late-afternoon sun.
    Bo let out a deep breath. “Okay. Janine, come on in my office and we’ll talk.”

    “Thank you.” Head held high, Janine followed Bo into his office. The glare she darted at Sam on the way was sharp enough to gut anyone who gave a damn what she thought.

    Sam liked to think he wasn’t one of those people. Unfortunately, a small part of him mourned the loss of the tentative truce they’d been so close to forming not long ago.

    Of course, it didn’t help matters that he’d given in to temptation and prodded her with his knowledge of her past infidelity. It had felt good, but he might’ve just destroyed whatever miniscule chance he and Bo may have had of making peace with the woman.

    Sighing, he fell back into his chair and stared morosely into space.

    “Well. Okay, that was interesting. I’m heading home now.” Andre snagged his jacket off the coat rack. He glanced at Bo’s office door. “Try not to have a massacre, huh?”
    “Yeah, well, it won’t be my fault,” Sam muttered as Andre left. “Dammit, I can’t believe she said