Page 34 of Steal My Heart
“I’m a lawyer like Hill. He and I did prelaw together. We went to different law schools but took the bar at the same time.” Al looked toward the kitchen and called out, “I’m still trying to figure out how you got a better score than me.” The guy was teasing, but there was an edge in his voice, like he thought he should always be at the top of everything. “Hill clerked after law school, and then he and Alan opened their own practice. I joined a firm, and now I’m a partner.”
“Carter and Garrett,” Hilliard said as he came into the room with a plate of cheese and crackers that he set on the coffee table.
“Yeah. I’m doing a lot of work at the federal level now.” Like that meant anything to Brian, but it sounded impressive. “I heard about you and Alan.” He set his glass on the coffee table. “You know, when you come back to Cleveland, you should stop by and see me. I already talked to the other partners at my firm, and they would be interested in making a place for you. They all know your work, and a number of them have stood against you in court. They were more than a little impressed.”
Hilliard sat down. “They were good and well prepared.”
“But you still beat us more times than not,” Al said. “You won cases that you shouldn’t have a few times. Got the judges to see things in a slightly new way.” He sat back, one leg crossed over another as though he owned the world. “That got the attention of the rest of the firm.”
Brian felt the room go cold. This guy was here to offer Hilliard a job—and a good one, if Brian understood right. He should have known something like this would happen.
“I’m flattered, and I appreciate the offer….”
“This is what you’ve always wanted, remember? We both wanted the partnership in a big firm. You have clients who will come over just as soon as you return to the city. You’d be an asset. We all know it.”
Hilliard didn’t say yes, but he didn’t say no either, and there was a slight smile on his lips, and he leaned forward as though he wanted to hear more. It was the curiosity that caught Brian’s breath in his throat. He had always known somewhere deep down that Hilliard would be called back to his own life. There wasn’t all that much here for him, if Brian was honest. This was a small town tucked away on the rugged north coast of California, hours away from the things Hilliard would have come to expect. There were limited opportunities here, and now one had just come knocking from the outside. Brian couldn’t blame Hilliard for being interested.
“I do appreciate the offer,” Hilliard said with a smile.
“Then when I get back, I’ll talk to the others, arrange to fly you back so you can meet everyone, sit down, and talk some business. I think it would be a great change for us to work together, and you’ll like the firm. It’s everything we always wanted.” Al smiled again, and Brian stood.
“I think I should be going. There’s no need for me to interrupt your time together.” The truth was, he needed to get the hell out of here, and he couldn’t do it fast enough. Brian called the dogs toward the door and put their leashes on.
“Brian, I—” Hilliard began, but Brian cut him off.
“You have a good visit,” Brian told Al. “And I’ll see you.” He opened the door and stepped out into the night before striding home as quickly as he could.
BRIAN HADjobs lined up all day, and his clients didn’t need to see that he was more tired than before he went to bed. He drankhis second cup of coffee and filled a large thermos with the rest of the pot before leaving the house and heading to his first job before he got interrogated about what happened… again. Gran was still in her bedroom, though he had heard her get up. He called to her from the door, and she told him to have a good day. Then he climbed into his truck and headed off toward his job in Little River, a few miles down the coast.
It was funny how a simple job could turn into more. He did all he could for Martin before he left, then made a list of additional items to complete on a return visit. After shaking Martin’s hand, he packed up and called his next client to let them know he was on his way.
As he approached the turn off the main road, his phone dinged with a message. He continued down the winding private drive, watching the numbers, before turning off and going up a steep incline to a home situated on the only bit of level ground. He climbed out and checked the message from Hilliard.
Do you want to meet for dinner? I have something to talk to you about.It was followed by a smiley face. Brian sighed and sent a thumbs-up before shoving his phone in his pocket and going to meet his client. This job also took longer than expected. Brian was glad he didn’t have spare time, because when he gave himself a moment, all he did was think about Hilliard and the fact that he was leaving.
By the time he finished his final stop of the day, twilight shone over the water. He made his way back toward Mendocino. It had been a long day, but profitable. He stopped just off the main road and messaged Hilliard that he was getting to town and going to clean up before coming over. Then he headed to Gran’s.
“Who kicked your dog?” Gran asked.
“What?”
“Why the long face? What happened—did someone cancel or give you a hard time?” Gran sounded about ready to kill.
“My jobs went fine.” Brian went right to the kitchen to grab a bottle of cold water, which he downed in a few gulps before tossing the empty into recycling.
“So it’s something else. Hilliard?” Gran asked.
“Just stay out of it.”
Gran smiled, following him with her eyes as he returned to the room. “So it is him. What happened?”
“A friend of his is in town to offer him a big job at his firm… back in Cleveland.” He made a face and wished he had just gone upstairs, because Gran was not going to let this go.
“Did he say he was taking the job?” Gran asked.
Brian shook his head. “But you should have seen his face, Gran. It was like Al was offering him everything he ever wanted, and all I could do was sit there. I felt like a fool. There’s nothing I can offer him here. It’s a small town, and….” He huffed. “I knew this would happen.”
Gran rolled her eyes. “Is Hilliard gone?”