Oleander House: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 1

felt that if he just tried a little harder, he could send his thoughts directly to Bo’s mind.
Bo leaned forward, lips parting as if he were about to speak. Sam held his breath. Bo dropped his gaze. “We don’t have enough cameras to set them up in every room,” he said, interrupting David mid-sentence. “And no single room has proven to be more active than any other. So we’ll stop video recording overnight.”
“Bo?” Cecile spoke up hesitantly. “Do you think it’s dangerous for us to be sleeping alone?”
Andre grinned at her. “What’re you worried about? You’re not sleeping alone.”
Cecile turned red while David snickered. “I’m worried about Sam sleeping by himself, if you must know.”
Sam made an impatient noise. “Why, for God’s sake? I’ve slept by myself my whole life and it hasn’t killed me yet.”
He hated the sharp tone in his voice, but he couldn’t stop it. Between the events in the house and the tension between him and Bo, his nerves were shot. He sighed and pushed to his feet.
“Sorry, Cecile,” he apologized. “Guess I’m a little on edge. But seriously, there’s no need to worry, I’ll be fine alone.”
“You could bunk with Bo,” David suggested cheerfully.
Bo choked on his iced tea. “Not necessary,” Sam said as calmly as he could while Bo coughed. He stood and started gathering his dirty dishes. “Everybody pass your plates over here, I’ll clean up.”
Sam stacked the plates as they were handed to him and piled the silverware on top. Normal conversation had already resumed as the group began to scatter. Sam felt Bo watching him as he carried the dirty dishes into the kitchen.
He was running water into the sink when Bo entered the room. “Sam?”
“Yeah?” Sam squirted dish detergent into the hot water and started piling dishes in.
Bo walked over until he stood close enough to touch. “What did Amy say to you earlier? When you were in the storm cellar?”
“What makes you think she said anything?”
Bo glanced nervously behind him. “I’ve known her a long time. She had that look in her eye, like she was digging for information.”
Sam shut off the water, turned and studied Bo’s face. Bo seemed agitated, shifting from foot to foot, but he held Sam’s gaze steadily.
“She told me that she sees how we look at each other,” Sam said, opting for the truth. “She also warned me not to play with you. That you’re more vulnerable than you seem, and she doesn’t want to see you get hurt.”
Bo’s cheeks colored, but he didn’t look away. “And what did you say to that?”
“I told her the truth.” Sam kept his eyes locked onto Bo’s, gauging his reaction. “That I like you, and I’m attracted to you. And that I won’t hurt you.”
Bo’s hand crept up to wind through the trailing end of his braid. “What else does she know?”
“I didn’t tell her that I kissed you,” Sam said, guessing that was what Bo was really asking. “I figured it was none of her business.” He leaned closer. “It’s no one’s business that you liked it either,” he whispered. “Or that we both want it again.”
Bo let out a soft gasp when Sam’s lips brushed the shell of his ear, but he didn’t pull away. A sharp thrill shot through Sam’s body. Cautiously, he laid a hand on Bo’s hip and pulled him closer. He pressed a featherlight kiss to Bo’s neck and felt Bo’s body tighten.
“Oh God,” Bo breathed. He planted a palm flat against Sam’s chest. “Sam, stop, please.”
“Do you really want me to?” Sam flicked Bo’s earlobe with his tongue.
“No,” Bo moaned. “Wait, yes, I do!” He pushed Sam away. “Please stop, you’re… Christ, I can’t think when you do that.”
Sam dropped his hand and took a step back. Bo leaned against the counter, shaking all over.
“You have to face how you feel, or you’ll never be happy,” Sam said bluntly. “You can reject me, but it won’t make this go away. If it’s not me, it’ll be some other guy. You can’t hide from it.”
Bo’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t try to psychoanalyze me, Sam. You don’t know me.”
“That’s true, I don’t. But I know how tough it is to feel things you don’t want to feel, and I know from experience that you don’t stop feeling them just because you wish you could.” Sam sighed. “I just want to help.”
“Why?” Bo shot back. “What do you care?”
Sam knew Bo was simply lashing out, a reaction born of fear. Behind his angry facade, Bo’s eyes brimmed