Where The Heart Is: A Bay City Paranormal Investigations story

haunted house. Is that
right?”
Sommer’s smile faded, his expression turning cautious. “Yes, it is.”
Dean frowned. Obviously, he’d hit a nerve. “I’m sorry.” He laid a hand on Sommer’s
arm. “You don’t have to tell me about it if you’d rather not. It’s just that I work for a
paranormal investigations agency, so hauntings of all types fascinate me. You can tell me
to shut up any time, it won’t hurt my feelings any.”
Sommer pinned Dean with a searching look, teeth capturing his lower lip in a way
that threatened to make Dean lose his concentration. “Actually, Dean, I’d kind of like to
talk to you about the house, if you have time.”
Yes! He is so fucking me tonight! Forcing back the whoop of triumph which wanted
to come out, Dean nodded. “Sure, that would be great.” He turned to Kerry and Ron with
a question in his eyes. “Guys?”
Kerry sighed. “Okay, okay. Just don’t stay out too late.”
Ron snickered. “Don’t pay any attention to her, she’s just practicing her mama
skills.”
Kerry elbowed him in the ribs, and Dean laughed. “Maybe Sommer and I can sneak
off for a few minutes after karaoke. I can always come back later if you want to talk
more, Sommer.”
“Yeah. Or I…” Sommer’s gaze dropped to the floor, veiling his eyes behind long,
dark lashes. “I could drive you back to their place. After we…um, talk.”
Ron and Kerry gave Dean identical knowing looks. He ignored them. “Sommer, that
would be fabulous. Thank you.”
Sommer looked up, his gaze meeting Dean’s. The spark in his eyes made Dean’s
heart thump. “My pleasure. I’m looking forward to talking to you.” He turned to smile at
Ron and Kerry. “See y’all later.”
Dean licked his lips as Sommer pivoted and walked away. The way that firm little
ass moved in the snug jeans enthralled him.
Something bounced off Dean’s forehead and onto the table. He blinked at Kerry,
who’d thrown a rolled-up bit of paper napkin at him. “What?”
She shook her head, amusement written all over her face. “Do not try to get Sommer
into bed tonight. It won’t work.”
Dean crossed his arms. “Bet it will.”
“No way, man,” Ron chimed in. “Sommer’s great at working the crowd here, but he
is seriously shy one-on-one.”
Kerry nodded. “Especially with people he doesn’t know.”
“ Especially especially with people he doesn’t know but wants to get between the
sheets,” Ron added.
Kerry glared at her husband. “You’re not helping.”
Laughing, Dean leaned back in his chair and took a sip of his wine. “Don’t yell at
Ron. I already knew Mr. Skye wanted to fuck me.”
Kerry sighed and shook her head as Dean and Ron both snickered. “Whatever. Just
don’t spend the rest of the visit moping if he turns you down.”
“He won’t.” Shoving away the part of him which felt cold at the thought of another
one-night stand, Dean flashed his most brilliant smile. “Now who’s gonna sing some
Elvis with me?”
    ~ * ~
    Kerry and Ron left two hours later, leaving Dean with hugs and, in Kerry’s case, stern warnings not to try to sweet talk Sommer into sex if he was reluctant. Ron rolled his eyes behind Kerry’s back as they started across the room, and Dean bit back a laugh. Sommer wanted him. The heat in the man’s eyes when he looked at Dean made that clear beyond a doubt. Even Ron saw it. Kerry, usually much more observant about such things, couldn’t possibly have missed it. Maybe, Dean mused, she felt protective of Sommer because of his obvious shyness.
    It was a feeling Dean thought he could understand. Something about Sommer made Dean want to shield him from all the hurtful things in the world.
From his spot at the table, Dean saw Sommer stop and speak to his friends at the door. Turning around, Kerry waved over her shoulder at Dean, then left the barn hand in hand with Ron. Dean picked up the glass of zinfandel he’d bought and took a long swallow as Sommer weaved around the emptying tables toward him.
“Hi, Dean,” Sommer said, leaning a hand on the chair beside Dean’s. “Walk up to the house with me? I’ll tell you about my ghosts, and I can show you around if you want.”
Dean grinned at the nervous quaver in Sommer’s voice. Oh yeah. I’m getting laid. “That would be awesome. Let’s go.”
Pushing his chair back, Dean stood and trailed Sommer toward a small door behind the bar in the back. He was close enough to smell the man’s musky cologne, underlaid with a hint of