Where The Heart Is: A Bay City Paranormal Investigations story

you hadn’t noticed, Dean, I like you. A lot. The idea of having you around for the next month is a very attractive one.” He dropped his hand with a sigh. “But this sounds like it’s turning into a professional job, and I don’t have the money to pay you.”
Ridiculously relieved, Dean wound his fingers through Sommer’s and squeezed. “I’m going to do my level best to give you a pro-level investigation, but it’s not a Bay City Paranormal job, and there’s no charge. I’m doing this because I want to.”
Sommer’s teeth dug into his lower lip. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” Dean leaned over the table, his thumb caressing Sommer’s knuckles. “Listen, for a ghost geek like me your case is a fucking wet dream. Do you know how rare true apparitions are?”
“I’m guessing they’re pretty rare.” The corners of Sommer’s mouth hitched up. “So you think that’s what I have? An apparition?”
Dean shrugged. “There’s no way to know for sure at this point, but it seems likely, yeah. Residual hauntings don’t behave the way yours does.”
Sommer tilted his head sideways, curiosity lighting his whole face. “What’s a residual haunting, and how’s that different from an apparition?”
“A residual is kind of like a recorded event. The same thing happens every time it’s witnessed, often at the same time every day or month or whatever, and there’s never any interaction with the witness or anyone else. An apparition is aware, intelligent—at least that’s the theory—and able to communicate in some way with the living.”
“Like leading a living person out to a certain spot in the woods.”
“Possibly, yeah.” Dean studied Sommer’s face. “Do you know of any reason an apparition might be leading you into the woods?”
Sommer shook his head. “No, I don’t. I can’t imagine why there would be a ghost at the inn at all, never mind why it would be leading me anywhere.”
“Hm.” Picking up his wineglass with his free hand, Dean took a long swallow, thinking. “I know it’s probably hard for you to talk about your parents, but do you know if they ever saw this apparition?”
“No, I don’t have any idea. I wish I did.” Sommer’s gaze dropped to the dented wooden tabletop. “I barely even spoke to them for years before they disappeared. There’s so much I don’t know about them. Whether or not they ever saw my ghost is just one of those things.”
Dean had no idea how to respond to that. He wanted to jump over the table and kiss away the sadness in Sommer’s eyes, or at least say something comforting. But he couldn’t think of a thing to say that didn’t sound hollow and maudlin, and he didn’t want to be too forward— forward? He’s had his cock up your ass, idiot, how’s a kiss being forward? —so he settled for lifting Sommer’s hand and brushing his lips across the knuckles. The sweet smile he got in return told him he’d helped, even if it was only a little.
The arrival of bread and salads kept the silence from becoming awkward. Giving their waiter a smile, Dean let go of Sommer’s hand to set a slice of hot, buttery garlic bread on Sommer’s plate. He grabbed a piece for himself and bit into it. “Mmm. That’s every bit as good as I remembered.”
“Yeah. Sometimes when I’m in town I stop by here and get a bunch of garlic bread to take home.” Sommer grinned. “All the baking I do, and my staff still likes Pepper’s bread better than mine.”
A thought struck Dean. “Hey, did any of your current employees work at the inn before you took over?”
“Just two, Rich Bates and Cody Selwyn. Rich has been the housekeeper ever since Blue Skye Inn opened, and Cody started at the winery a few months before my parents went missing.” Picking up his wineglass, Sommer took a sip. “Why do you ask?”
“I was just thinking if any of the staff had been there since before you came on, maybe they could tell us if they or your folks had ever seen the ghost, or if anything else unusual had ever happened at the inn or the winery.” Dean nibbled at the crust of his bread. “Is it all right with you if I talk to Rich and Cody, see if they know anything that’ll help with this investigation?”
Sommer shrugged. “It’s fine with me. I’ll come with you, if that’s okay.”
“Sure. You don’t have to, though. Unless you think they won’t talk to me or something.”
“Rich might not unless I give him the go-ahead, actually. He’s not exactly the most