Where The Heart Is: A Bay City Paranormal Investigations story

trusting person. It’ll probably help if I’m either there with you, or at least tell him you’re all right to talk to.”
“Gotcha.” Dean ran a fingertip around the rim of his wineglass. “What about Cody? I remember him, he waited on Ron, Kerry and me at Karaoke Night. Seemed like a nice kid.”
“Oh, he is. Very friendly. He’ll talk to you. The thing is, he’ll flirt if you’re alone with him, and, well…” Sommer hunched his shoulders, looking embarrassed. “I don’t want anyone else coming on to you.”
Normally, Dean had no use for jealous lovers. He rarely tied himself to an exclusive relationship, and when he did he expected mutual trust and respect, not a grip so tight he couldn’t breathe. But something about the shine in Sommer’s eyes made Dean feel safe rather than smothered.
Rising to one knee in his seat, Dean leaned across the table and planted a soft kiss on Sommer’s lips. “He can flirt all he wants. It won’t make me any more interested.”
Sommer’s fingers trailed along Dean’s cheek as he settled back into the padded booth. “No?”
“No.” Dean grinned. “Cody’s a cute kid, but he’s not my type. You, on the other hand? So are.”
“Does that mean I can come with you to interview him?”
“Of course you can. I would’ve wanted you to anyhow, you know. Blue Skye’s your place, I’m sure you can think of things to ask that I wouldn’t even realize we needed to know.”
Sommer flashed his adorably crooked smile. “Good.”
Their gazes locked, and something indefinable shifted between them. Dean’s heart turned over hard. Whatever was happening here, it was happening fast. Too fast. But it felt so damn good to have someone look at him the way Sommer was looking at him now. Like he was more than just a good fuck.
Like he was special.
Kyle had looked at him that way, for a while. Until things had begun to move past casual and into serious, and Kyle had started to want things Dean couldn’t give him.
Real commitment. His open and unshuttered heart.
He couldn’t blame Kyle for leaving. He’d even been relieved, in a way, because the thought of giving himself completely to another person terrified him.
The paralyzing fear he’d felt when Kyle had said those three little words to him—the words he couldn’t return, in spite of his loneliness and his longing to love someone— thumped through his blood now. This time, though, the thing making his palms sweat and his pulse race was the awareness that he wanted to bare his soul for Sommer, something he hadn’t felt since Sharon left him. The need was so strong his body felt inadequate to contain it.
“Dean? Are you okay?”
Giving himself a mental shake, Dean met Sommer’s concerned expression with a smile which he hoped didn’t look as forced as it felt. “Fine. Just planning in my head, you know?”
“Yeah.” Sommer’s hand covered his and squeezed. “I’m really excited about this investigation, Dean. Thank you for doing this.”
“My pleasure, believe me.”
Silence. Dean counted seven heartbeats before Sommer cleared his throat, slid to the edge of his seat and stood. “I’m going to the restroom. Be back in a minute.”
“I’ll be here.” Dean winced. Smooth, idiot.
The corner of Sommer’s mouth hitched up. Bending down, he brushed his lips over the shell of Dean’s ear. “Call Kerry. Tell her you’ll be at my place all night, getting fucked until you can’t walk straight.”
Oh my fucking God. Dean licked his lips. “Um. Yeah. ’Kay.”
“Good.” Sommer flicked Dean’s earlobe with his tongue, then straightened up. “We wouldn’t want her to worry.”
Dean watched, dry-mouthed and painfully turned on, as Sommer strolled toward the bathroom. Sommer shot him a wicked smile before disappearing through the restroom door.
Letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, Dean slumped in his seat. Christ, he’s gonna kill me.
He dug his cell phone out of his pocket, flipped it open and dialed Kerry and Ron’s number. “Kerry? Yeah, it’s me. Sommer wanted me to tell you something…”
Chapter Seven
    “All right, y’all settle down and let’s go over the plan for tonight.”
    The chatter died down and three pairs of expectant eyes turned to Dean. He shook his head, grinning. Ron, Kerry and Sommer had been as excited as a bunch of kids on Christmas all evening. Who knew they’d harbored such a strong desire to be ghost hunters?
    Strolling over to Sommer’s