Oleander House: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 1

accepted by the group. Maybe it was, Sam thought with a stab of sympathy.
“That’d be great.” Cecile rose and followed Amy toward the door. “See you upstairs, guys.”
Sam waved as the two women left. He glanced over at Bo and their eyes met. Bo smiled and quickly looked away, cheeks going pink. Sam knew exactly what he was thinking about—that night in the parlor, when Sam had kissed him. Those dark eyes reflected the same mingling of dread and desire that curled in Sam’s belly.
It’s not going to happen again, Sam promised himself as he and Bo headed silently into the kitchen. He wondered how long he’d be able to keep that promise.
Two hours later, sitting in a rocking chair with a cold beer in his hand and his feet up on the porch railing, Sam had to admit that an evening’s relaxation had been a good idea. His fear of being too close to Bo had quickly dissipated in the relaxed atmosphere. They talked together almost like they had that first night, before the kiss that had turned everything upside down. It felt wonderful for conversation to flow easily between them again.
When the others began to drift off in pairs and Bo remained in the chair beside him, Sam’s nerves returned. He didn’t know if he could be alone with Bo like this. Even in the unusual quiet—the crickets were muted and the bullfrogs absent altogether—the full moon and honeysuckle-scented breeze made the night unbearably romantic.
Amy and Andre left hand-in-hand at about ten, Amy shooting Bo a frustrated scowl over her shoulder. Sam stole a glance at Bo. The moonlight edged his profile in silver and made a sensuous shadow under his lower lip. It was all Sam could do to keep from touching the man. His fingers itched to bury themselves in Bo’s silky hair.
“You’re thinking about the other night,” Bo said without turning. “Aren’t you?”
Sam saw no point in lying. “Yes.”
“So am I.”
“I figured.”
Silence. They both stared out over the front lawn. Sam wondered if the shadows were really thicker than usual, or if it was his imagination.
“It was nice,” Bo said softly. “All of it, I mean. Talking with you. And when you…when you kissed me.”
“Thought you were straight.” Sam couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice. “How could you enjoy kissing me if you’re straight?”
Bo turned in his chair, staring directly into Sam’s eyes. “I don’t know. But I did. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that before.”
Sam barked a sharp laugh. “Don’t patronize me, Bo. I’m a big boy, I’ve been rejected before. You don’t need to let me down easy.”
He expected Bo to get angry. Maybe even wanted him to be angry. But Bo just sat there, gazing at him with a mournful expression. “You wanted me to admit that I’m attracted to you. Well, maybe I am, on some level. Maybe that’s why it felt good when you kissed me.” Bo sighed and tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear. “Maybe that’s why I’ve been so confused the last couple of days.”
Sam looked down at his fingernails. “It doesn’t change anything, though, does it?”
“No. If you were a woman, I’d still say no, because I couldn’t do that to Janine. But I wanted you to know. I figure I owe you that much.” Bo laid a hand on Sam’s arm. “Good night, Sam. See you in the morning.”
Sam mumbled something in return, he wasn’t even sure what. The place where Bo had touched him burned, the warmth of Bo’s palm imprinted on his skin. It surprised him that he couldn’t see a hand-shaped glow on his arm. He watched out of the corner of his eye until Bo was out of sight, then got up and moved to the end of the porch, to the shadowed spot outside his bedroom door.
He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, gazing into the night and letting his mind wander where it would. Going to bed didn’t cross his mind. He wasn’t sleepy, and he didn’t look forward to the inevitable dreams.
When his thoughts began to veer into the dangerous territory of sexual fantasies starring a certain black-haired doctor, he tried to think of something else. The case, the upcoming move to his new apartment, the nature of time. Anything at all that didn’t involve Bo’s naked body between his thighs.
It didn’t work. Every mental path led back to Bo. Finally he gave up. Leaning back in the chair, he unzipped his jeans, closed his eyes and let his forbidden desires take him over.
In his mind’s eye, he pictured Bo walking across the back lawn to him.