Where The Heart Is: A Bay City Paranormal Investigations story

the righteous fury in Kerry’s voice, and Dean felt terrible for having made her worry. He glanced behind him and raised his eyebrows at Sommer, silently asking permission. Sommer gave the door an apprehensive look, but nodded anyway.
Dean opened the door and peered cautiously from around its protective wooden bulk. “Hey, Kerry. Sorry I didn’t call or anything. We kind of fell asleep.”
She smacked his bare shoulder hard, but her blue eyes were smiling. “You fucker, you scared me to death.”
“Sorry,” he repeated, and meant it. He frowned, taking in her flushed cheeks. “Are you okay? You want to sit down?”
“Why don’t we all go in the kitchen?” Sommer suggested, walking up to the door. “I’ll make us some breakfast.”
Ron sidled up behind his wife, wrapped his arms around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Sounds good to me. I’m starved.” He dropped a hand down to caress Kerry’s swollen belly. “Junior and his mama could probably use some breakfast too, especially after all that unnecessary worrying.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Kerry leaned her head against Ron’s shoulder and rested a hand over his. She shot a stern look at Dean and Sommer. “Neither of you is off the hook, you know. ‘Call home’ is always rule number one if you’re not coming back when you’re expected.”
Sommer laughed, his warm bare chest pressing against Dean’s back. “Have I ever told you what a wonderful mother you’re going to be?”
Kerry arched an eyebrow at him. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”
Dean wanted to make a smart-ass remark, but the feel of Sommer’s skin against his and the lingering smell of sex conspired to dry the words in his throat. Unable to help himself, he pressed back against Sommer’s body, turning his head to nuzzle the man’s jaw. Sommer’s arm slid around his waist, holding him close. He could feel Sommer’s breath on his ear, and he bit back a moan.
Ron chuckled. “Maybe we should go away and leave you two alone.”
“Oh no. We won’t see either of them for a week if we do that.” Kerry grasped Dean’s wrist, squeezing gently. “Come on, guys. Let’s have some breakfast. Sommer, do you have any guests coming today?”
“Yeah, a few.” Pulling away from Dean, Sommer wandered over to the big wardrobe against the wall and swung open the door. He reached in and brought out a pale blue long-sleeved T-shirt with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill logo on the front. “Two sets of college parents and a woman on a solo biking tour of North Carolina, if I remember right.”
“Cool. We’ll help you get everything ready.” Dropping Dean’s wrist, Kerry stepped out of Ron’s embrace, turned and kissed him on the cheek. “C’mon, honey. You and I can start breakfast while Sommer and Dean get themselves presentable.”
“Hey, I’m presentable,” Dean protested. He glanced down at himself, and grimaced at the crust of dried semen covering his front. “Okay, so maybe not quite.”
Ron chuckled. “Must’ve been some night.”
Sommer groaned and hung his head. Dean grinned. “Oh yeah. It was.”
Sighing, Kerry grabbed Ron’s wrist and dragged him toward the kitchen. “Get cleaned up and get on out here,” she called over her shoulder. “And no fucking in the shower.”
Kerry’s footsteps echoed across the hardwood floor to the back of the house, followed by Ron’s snickering. Dean shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. He was glad Kerry had evidently forgiven him for not calling. He loved his friends, and certainly hadn’t meant to worry them.
Turning around, he glanced at Sommer, who sat on the edge of the bed pulling on a pair of blue and white running shoes. “Sorry about that. Kerry can be kind of overwhelming sometimes.”
“So I see. I’ve known her and Ron for a couple of years now, but I’ve never had her mad at me until now.” Sommer knotted the last lace and stood up. “You’re welcome to use my shower if you want. The bathroom’s right through there.” He gestured to the door on the other side of the room.
Dean studied Sommer’s face. Sommer smiled, and something deep inside Dean tightened painfully. He looked away. “Naw, I’ll just swab off with a washcloth, if that’s okay.”
“Sure. I’ll be in the kitchen with Kerry and Ron.” Sommer crossed to the bedroom door, stopped and turned around again. “Dean?”
“Yeah?” Dean scraped at the dried spunk on his belly. His fingernail caught and