Closer: Bay City Paranormal Investigation, Book 4

really. And Sean and Adrian aren’t even the biggest part of that. The business is, and I know that once the rest of the crew gets here and starts working on the case, you won’t be able to resist getting involved.”
Bo laughed, but the sound held no humor. “Andre said the same thing. I promised him I’d stay out of it.”
“You won’t, though.”
“You don’t think I can keep a promise?”
“Not this one, no.” Walking over to Bo, Sam stroked a hand down his naked back, where the muscles stood out hard and tense. “You mean well. You’ll intend to keep your promise. But you won’t be able to. Work’s too important to you.”
More important than me, said the black, bitter corner of Sam’s heart. He kept that thought to himself.
Bo was silent for a long time, swirling the softening noodles through the boiling water. Just when Sam was starting to get seriously nervous, Bo spoke in a soft, sad voice that made Sam’s heart ache.
“I love you, Sam. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. Why isn’t that good enough? Will you not be happy until I give up everything else I care about?”
God, he’s reading my mind. Torn between irritation and contrition, Sam rubbed both hands over his face. “I’m not asking you to give up anything. I wouldn’t do that.”
“I know.” Putting down the spoon, more gently this time, Bo turned to meet Sam’s gaze. “But you want me to anyway.”
It was partly true, but not entirely. Sam wished he could make Bo see that.
Cupping Bo’s face in his hands, Sam leaned their foreheads together. “Sometimes I wish things were different, that’s true. Sometimes I wish we could spend every minute together, and not even think of anything but each other. But I know that’s not realistic for either of us, and I sure as hell don’t want you to give up the things that are important to you. I really don’t. I wish you could believe that.”
Bo didn’t say anything, just tipped his face up to capture Sam’s mouth with his. Sam let himself sink into the kiss, ignoring for the moment the fact that nothing had been resolved. He and Bo both wanted to do better, and each wanted to believe in the other’s sincerity. It would have to be enough, for now.
    The rest of the BCPI team arrived the next evening around sunset. By then, Sam had resigned himself to spending the remainder of their vacation with a houseful of people. At least these particular people were his and Bo’s friends and would respect their privacy.
    “Remember, no working,” Sam reminded Bo as they walked out the front door to meet the SUV rolling up the long, shaded drive. “You can ask about the case, but you are not allowed to get involved.”
    Bo quirked an eyebrow at him. “Yes, sir.”
They hadn’t spoken of the upcoming investigation since the night before. Sam was half afraid the tension which had dissipated since then would come back when he reminded Bo of his promise to stay out of the current case. He was relieved to see no sign of anger in Bo’s eyes, only a familiar simmering heat.
Growling, he grabbed Bo around the waist and bit his neck. Bo hitched his shoulder up, laughing, and Sam grinned. That was one of Bo’s ticklish spots.
“I think I like you calling me ‘sir’,” Sam murmured, nuzzling behind Bo’s ear.
“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it.” He shoved Sam away with a smile. “I get to be the boss again when we go back home.”
“Oh, so I’m the boss now?”
“I wouldn’t mind if you were, sometimes.” Bo shot Sam a smoldering look. “When we’re alone, if you know what I mean.”
Sam thought he did, and the idea went straight to his crotch. He watched with something like panic as the SUV rolled to a stop in front of the house and all four doors flew open at once. If David or Dean noticed the sudden “problem” in his shorts, he’d never hear the end of it.
Orgy at the nursing home, he thought, holding his clasped hands in front of his crotch in what he hoped was a casual manner. Rush Limbaugh in drag. Dick Cheney fucking Martha Bush.
The last mental image did it. Breathing a silent sigh of relief, he strode forward with Bo beside him.
“Hi, guys,” he called. “Y’all are awfully late, aren’t you? We expected you nearly two hours ago.”
“We didn’t get away as early as we wanted to. If it weren’t for Danny I guess we’d still be there tying up loose ends.” Andre wrapped his muscular arms around Sam and Bo and pulled them into a tight hug.