Read Closer: Bay City Paranormal Investigation, Book 4 for Free Online Page B

and the team was preparing to leave for the fort. For the past couple of hours, Bo had been following Andre around peppering him with questions about their plans for the evening. Sam had watched Andre’s irritation at Bo grow, wondering when he’d finally explode.
    Andre’s level of control was impressive. Hopefully Bo would stop while he was ahead.
    “I know that.” Bo sidestepped Andre, leaned into the SUV and opened one of the bags. “This doesn’t look like enough cord to me. The fort’s a big place.”
    Andre shook his head and turned a pleading look to Sam. “Can’t you do anything with him?”
Sam snorted. “What makes you think he’ll listen to me?”
“’Cause you’re fucking him, my man,” David supplied, coming around the back of the SUV at that moment with a bulky duffle bag slung over one shoulder. “Sex is a powerful motivator.”
Bo paled, then flushed crimson. “Okay. Well. Good luck tonight, Andre. Tell us all about it tomorrow, okay?”
Andre nodded. “Sure thing.” He reached out and laid a hand on Bo’s arm. “Hey, Bo—”
“I’m, uh, just going to finish cleaning up the kitchen. See y’all tomorrow.” Turning on his heel, Bo strode back toward the house, braid swinging. His tension showed clear as day in his hunched shoulders and stiff back.
Sam shook his head. It could’ve gone worse. At least Bo would probably be back to normal once everyone else left.
With a deep sigh, Andre turned to David. “You and your big mouth. Why’d you have to say that?”
“Oh come on, how long’s he known me? If he hasn’t figured out I’m a smartass by now he’s not nearly as bright as I’d always thought.” David hefted the bag into the rear of the vehicle and mopped the sweat from his forehead with the bottom of his T-shirt. “That’s the last of the equipment.”
“Okay.” Andre glanced at his watch. “I’ll round up the rest of the crew and we’ll go.” He poked David in the chest with one thick finger. “And for God’s sake, think before you talk next time, huh?”
Andre stalked off, grumbling under his breath. David scowled at his back. “Yessir, your highness. Geez.”
Sam shut the SUV’s tailgate and leaned against it. “Don’t let him bug you. Bo’s been a real pain in the ass tonight, asking questions and poking his nose in where he promised he wouldn’t. It’s getting on Andre’s nerves.”
“Yeah, I couldn’t help noticing that. The old ‘kick the dog’ syndrome. And what fun it is to be the fucking dog.” With a quick look around, David leaned closer and lowered his voice. “You don’t think I really upset Bo, do you? I didn’t mean to.”
Chuckling, Sam patted David on the back. “Don’t worry about it, he’s fine. He just hates being reminded that everyone knows we’re having sex.”
David pretended to gag. “I’d rather not be reminded either, if it’s all the same to you.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t bring it up, then.” Sam looked up at the sound of the front door opening. Andre walked out into the yellow glow of the front porch light, followed by Cecile and Dean. Sam pushed away from the SUV. “Here comes the rest of the crew. Y’all have fun tonight.”
“We will. And you do what you have to to improve the boss’s mood, yeah?”
“Will do.” Sam saluted, and David laughed.
After a flurry of goodbyes and promises to discuss their findings the next day, the group piled into the SUV and started down the drive. Sam stood at the edge of the driveway and watched the taillights disappear into the darkness. Part of him wished he was going with them, and not just because it sounded like an interesting case. Bo had been moody all day, and Sam didn’t feel like facing it.
As if in answer to his thought, the front door opened and closed behind him. He heard the sound of bare feet through thin grass, then arms slipped around his waist and warm lips brushed the back of his neck.
“Hi, Bo,” Sam said, laying his hands over Bo’s where they