Page 41 of Steal My Heart

“The damned napkin holder,” he said softly. “What the hell was it doing there?” Their ride came to an end, and Hilliard got off and hurried to a quiet place. “I’ve been looking at this all wrong. A thief isn’t going to hold on to what they stole for any longer than they have to. They’d break in, steal the goods, and sell them for what they could get as fast as possible.” He hugged Brian as he had a moment of clarity. “So why would the thief keep a damned napkin ring just hanging around all this time? As evidence to place just in case someone came sniffing around two years later? No damned way.” His spine tingled, and he knew he was onto something, but he wasn’t quite sure what.

“You think the thief stole something else just to place it in my things?”

Then it hit him. “Someonedid.” A picture was just starting to emerge. He needed some more information, but it was there. Still blurry and fuzzy around the edges, but parts of it were becoming clear. With just a little more information, he might have everything he needed. He stood still, willing more pieces to fall into place, but it just wasn’t happening. Not yet, anyway, but it would. Hilliard was sure of it.

Chapter 14

GRAN WASsleeping off her wine. Ruth said she’d had three glasses. As soon as Brian had gotten her home and in bed, the dogs took up their places on either side of her, and now she was snoring like a sailor. Occasionally the dogs lifted their heads to see what the racket was before putting them down again. Brian partially closed the door and went downstairs.

“Do you want to go to my place?” Hilliard asked.

Brian wanted nothing more. “I can’t. She had a lot of wine, and what if something happens?” He sat on Gran’s sofa, and Hilliard moved from the chair to sit next to him.

“I understand.” He smiled and nudged against Brian. Before he knew it, Hilliard leaned in, kissing him gently at first, but adding pressure. Brian held on to him, holding Hilliard as he pressed him down against the cushions, the energy between them crackling like a live wire. Brian felt like he was on fire, he needed more so badly. He had spent the entire evening thinking about Hilliard. At one point he had stretched, and it took all Brian’s willpower not to caress that strip of honey skin along his belly. Not that Hilliard did anything on purpose, but still, Brian’s fingers had ached to touch, and he had to keep reminding himself that they weren’t in Hilliard’s bedroom.

“We should stop,” Brian whispered when he took a breath. He sat up, straightening his clothes. “We really can’t do this here.” He felt himself coloring.

“Why not? Your grandmother is asleep, and she isn’t waking up any time soon.”

Brian rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to make out with you on my grandmother’s sofa. I’m not a teenager, and I feel like I’m doing something naughty.”

“No problem.” Hilliard slipped down onto the floor and pulled Brian right along with him. He grinned and ran his fingers over Brian’s cheek, drawing him closer. “Are you feeling less naughty now? Because I can make you forget everything except your name if you let me. But now isn’t the time for that.”

Brian quivered as Hilliard kissed him, gently, carefully, like he was something special. Kissing Hilliard was always an amazing experience. Brian’s body seemed to know what it wanted and reacted to him within seconds, and this time was no exception, but Hilliard didn’t deepen the kiss or press him down onto the floor. Instead, he held him, kissing gently, leaving Brian breathless and a little confused. “You know, you’re right. Now isn’t the time to make love—it’s the time tobeloved.” Hilliard stroked his cheek and then got up to turn out the lights. Once the room was dark, he shimmied behind him and held Brian between his legs. Hillard wrapped his arms around him and tugged Brian against his chest.

He sighed when Hilliard didn’t move, just holding Brian in his arms. He relaxed and lolled his head back, letting go of the tension that was his constant companion. “Do you really think we’ll be able to unravel this mystery?”

“Yes,” Hilliard breathed softly.

“I just want this over and to put it all behind me.” Brian sighed. “God, this feels good.” He turned slightly. “I always thought that being with someone….” Suddenly he didn’t have words that didn’t sound stupid.

“Would be about nothing but sex?” Hilliard asked. Brian nodded. “A relationship is about more than that.” He held him a little tighter. “Though I didn’t know that when I went into my last one.”

“What was Alan like? I know he’s an asshole, but I’m assuming he wasn’t always that way.” He really wanted to know.

For a moment Hilliard grew quiet. “I think at the beginning I was attracted to his confidence. Alan always seemed to have these visions of what was possible, and then he made them happen. It was kind of sexy watching him bend the world to his way of thinking. And he was a man of action, both in law school and afterwards. He got both of us prime positions, and we made names for ourselves. I always thought he was looking out for both of us.” Hilliard released him with one hand. Brian took it and held it. “But I see now that it was all for him. He did things because he thought he was going to benefit from them. We had good résumés and were well trained and bright. We started our own firm and we beat the bushes. I thought we were happy and had it all, but Alan wanted more.”

Hilliard tensed, and Brian wished he could see him. “I know I told you I caught him cheating, but I turned a blind eye to it. I was such a fool.” He shivered, and Brian moved out of his embrace, knelt in front of him, and held Hilliard’s watery gaze. “I thought if I were better or if I gave him more of what he wanted then everything would be great. But he simply took and went on as before as long as he got what he wanted. The firm was doing well, and….”

Brian got it. “He didn’t need you anymore.”

“He just bought me out, and I haven’t heard another word from him. And I probably never will again.” He lowered his gaze. “I was just something he could throw away.” Hilliard shrugged.

“Then he’s an idiot. Because anyone who would do that is a complete jerk. I know it’s still raw, but I don’t treat people like that. I’ve been on the other end, so I know how it feels.” He wished he could do something to help.

“I know that I come off as confident and decisive, but it’s so easy to believe the worst.”

“Tell me about it,” Brian said softly. “But we have to do our best to silence those voices. The put-downers are just people who want something from us. They want control.” He leaned closer. “Good people don’t take advantage, and they don’t tear you down to build themselves up. Those people really suck.”

“And not in a good way,” Hilliard added.

Brian smiled at his moment of levity. “No. We have to put their crap out of our heads and trust in ourselves. You can do whatever you set your mind to, I know that. Alan is a real loser, and I bet he’s going to find out that it isn’t so easy to do things on his own. And once people find out what he’s really like, there won’t be others who will want to work for him. He’ll get what’s coming to him. You called him a shark? Well, they have a tendency to eat the other fish, even their own kind.” Brian held Hilliard’s gaze. He loved looking into those deep eyes, wishing he knew more of what he was thinking. “I do have to say one thing, though. If you stay here, you are not likely to ever see him again or end up in a courtroom with him.”

Hilliard hugged him, chuckling as tears ran down both their cheeks. “You chose this moment to make your case?”

Brian held him tighter. “I don’t have that much ammunition, so I keep my powder dry and only use it when I think it will do the most good. I’m a handyman who is trying to clear his name, and you’re a lawyer who could work just about anywhere. I need to make my shots count.”

Hilliard pulled back. “No, you don’t. You just have to be honest and tell me how you feel.”