Closer: Bay City Paranormal Investigation, Book 4

“We’ll see you in a few days. And I promise I won’t call.”
“Neither will I.” Dean tugged on Kyle’s arm. “Let’s go. You promised me sex, alcohol and Playstation. In that order.”
Kyle turned red. “Um. Yeah.” He darted a brief, embarrassed look at the group. “Nice to meet y’all. Bye.”
Kyle and Dean descended the steps into the rain, followed by goodbyes and David’s gleeful admonishment not to break the furniture while fucking on it. Dean leered back at them while Kyle hunched his shoulders and walked faster.
Cecile pinched David’s arm, making him yelp. “Why do you have to embarrass the poor boy like that?”
“Hey, Dean started it,” David protested, rubbing his arm.
“Well, you didn’t have to make it worse.” Pulling away from David, Cecile hugged first Bo, then Sam. “Have fun, guys. And don’t worry about the business, we’ll be okay. We’re planning to spend this next week catching up on paperwork and reviewing evidence from Fort Medina.”
“Sounds good.” Bo slipped an arm around Sam’s waist as David, Cecile and Andre hurried through the rain to the SUV. “Let us know if you find anything exciting, okay?”
Andre waved a noncommittal hand at them as he slid behind the wheel. The engine revved, the headlights came on and the SUV rolled down the driveway. Sam watched with a mix of relief and dread as it pulled onto the road and picked up speed. The taillights disappeared around a bend in the narrow street, and he was officially alone with Bo.
“Alone at last,” Bo murmured, echoing Sam’s thoughts. He pressed a kiss to Sam’s neck. “Why don’t I fix us a couple of Irish coffees, and we can go out on the back porch and watch the rain?”
“That sounds perfect.” Turning, Sam cupped Bo’s cheek in one palm and kissed his lips. Bo’s mouth was warm and soft, his cheek rough with the stubble he hadn’t yet shaved off that day. “I’m glad they’re gone. They’re my friends, and I love them, but I’m glad to have you to myself again.” It was true, in spite of his fear of what might happen when he confronted Bo. “Is that selfish?”
Bo smiled, dark eyes shining. “If it is, then we’re both selfish. Because I’m looking forward to being alone with you again.”
Warmth swelled in Sam’s chest. He brushed his lips across Bo’s brow. “If the rain lets up, we can walk on the beach later.”
“I’d like that.” Bo squeezed Sam’s butt, then stepped out of his embrace. “Come on. Irish coffee. Back porch.”
Laughing, Sam linked his hand with Bo’s and followed him inside.
    They spent the majority of the remaining daylight hours on the back porch, contemplating the roiling gray Gulf and talking. By unspoken agreement, they didn’t discuss Fort Medina, or interdimensional gateways, or any of the other topics that tended to cause friction between them. Instead, they talked about little things. Safe things. The weather, movies they wanted to see, the marathon they were still trying to decide if they should run together next spring. It was wonderfully peaceful, and Sam hated to disturb that rare atmosphere between them.
    The rain eased over the afternoon hours. When the sinking sun filtered through the thinning clouds to tint water, sand and sky fiery red, Sam and Bo decided to brave the remaining misty drizzle and watch the sunset from the beach. They stood arm in arm on the damp sand at the water’s edge while blue twilight crept over the world and the waves washed blood-warm over their feet.
    As the last sliver of golden light slid below the horizon, Bo turned to Sam with a solemn expression. “Something’s been bothering you all day. And I think it has something to do with me.” He slipped both arms around Sam’s waist. “Tell me what’s wrong, Sam. Please. Whatever it is, I promise to listen and not lose my temper.”
    Sam wasn’t at all sure Bo could keep that promise, but what choice did he have? All day long, he’d been looking for the right moment to ask Bo the hardest question he’d ever had to ask. And now, Bo had just given him the perfect opening. He had to take it.
    “I have to ask you something,” Sam began, choosing his words with care. He wound an arm around Bo’s waist and rested his other hand on Bo’s shoulder. “It’s not… You’re not going to like it.”
    Apprehension filled Bo’s face, but he nodded. “Okay. Go on.”
Sam cleared his throat. “The thing is, you’ve been acting…well, not quite like