Steal My Heart

Epilogue

HILLIARD GOT out of bed, careful not to wake Brian, who was stretched out next to him. With the covers kicked to the foot of the bed, his perfect bare butt was on display. He stepped to the window as winter rain fell outside, the clouds so close to the ground that everything seemed to disappear into them.

“What time is it?” Brian groaned.

“Close enough,” Hilliard said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Brian rolled over and then sat up. “I just got to sleep.” He rubbed his eyes, and Hilliard couldn’t take his gaze off him. He’d been sleeping in Hilliard’s bed every night for the past three months, and Hilliard doubted he would ever get tired of that sight.

“I know, but the hearing is in two hours, so shower and get ready. I’ll have your suit out for you.” He pulled on sweatpants and shooed Brian to the bathroom, mostly to get his sexiness behind a closed door, otherwise they were never going to make it in time. Once the door closed, he went downstairs and made a light breakfast.

Brian joined him in sweats and a T-shirt that clung in all the right places. The man was temptation itself. But Hilliard kept his mind on the prize, and once they’d eaten, he took care of the dishes and they both got dressed in their court clothes.

Hilliard made sure the house was locked, got their umbrellas, and drove Brian to Beverly’s. She was ready and waiting. Brian helped her into the car, and Hilliard dove them all to the county courthouse in Fort Bragg.

“I’m nervous,” Brian said as they sat, waiting for their case to be called.

“It’s okay,” Hilliard said gently, squeezing Brian’s hand and then letting it go as Brian’s name was called. Brian kissed Beverly on the cheek, and then the two of them approached the front of the room, where the judge sat at his bench. “Hilliard Bauman, counsel for Brian Mayer, Your Honor.” He couldn’t help smiling. His official license to practice law in California had arrived two weeks ago, and representing Brian was his first court appearance.

“You’re here to have Mr. Mayer’s conviction for burglary vacated,” the judge said.

“Yes, Your Honor.” He waited to let the judge speak. “All of the facts regarding his wrongful conviction, as well as the arrest and apprehension of the true thief, are documented in the writ.”

The judge, who had a reputation as a no-nonsense, stoic man, actually smiled. “I see that. A very thorough case. It seems you have statements from everyone, from the victim to the police.” He set down the pages. “Mr. Mayer.” He held Brian in his steely gaze. “I sit up here most days listening to some of the worst things that people do to one another. People in my courtroom are found either guilty or not guilty. But today I get to do something pretty rare.” He smiled. “I get to declare someone innocent.” He shuffled through the pages, picked up a pen, and began to write. Then he handed the papers to the clerk, who stamped them. “Mr. Mayer, you are hereby exonerated of the crime for which you were wrongly convicted.” He banged his gavel with a grin. “The papers will be filed with the clerk, and she will make a copy for you to take with you today.” He banged the gavel once more.

“Thank you,” Brian said softly.

“Yes, thank you,” Hilliard added. Then they turned, helped Beverly to her feet, and all three of them left the courtroom, the heavy doors closing behind them.

“Is that it?” Brian asked.

“Yes. All it needed was the judge’s signature and that’s the end of it.” He smiled. “Come on. Let me get a copy of the order and we’ll go. We have people who will be waiting for us back at the pub.” Hilliard hugged Brian tightly. “Your grandmother put this together with everyone she knows. I think she fully intends to make sure there isn’t a person in town who doesn’t know that you have been officially declared innocent.” He squeezed Brian to him. “We can have a little lunch and then slip away to have a celebration of our own.”

Brian shivered in his arms, and then they released each other. Hilliard got a copy of the signed order before they left and drove right back into town. The pub’s outdoor section had been closed off, and they were all led right out there. The space was full of people, including Ruth, Grant, and even Violet, as well as a number of people Hilliard didn’t know. But everyone knew Brian, the men patting him on the back and the ladies getting a hug or a kiss on the cheek, some both.

“Are you okay?” Hilliard asked. “I know this is a mixed bag for you.”

Violet patted his hand, her back as straight as steel. “Frank made his own bed, and there’s little I can do for him. Kevin and Kendall are staying with me for the time being until they can find places of their own.” She sighed softly.

“I’m sorry,” Brian said as he slipped an arm around Hilliard’s waist.

“Don’t be. I should be apologizing to you.” She wiped the corner of her eye.

“How about we call all of it water under the bridge and stop apologizing for things we aren’t responsible for?” A server came over, and Brian got a beer for each of them. “What I want more than anything is to build a future of my own.” They shared a moment.

“Hear! Hear!” Violet said, moving away when Ruth brought her over to where she was sitting.

“It’s all working out in the end,” Brian said to Hilliard. “And that’s because of you.”

A server came out from inside, pointing to Hilliard as a gray-haired man stepped out and then down the stairs. He pulled off his hat and came over. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I heard you were here. Word around town is that you help people.”

“Oh, I see. Yes. I have a legal practice here in town.” He pulled out his wallet and handed the man a card. “What sort of problem is it?”

“Oh.” He held the card and stared at it for a minute. “This isn’t a legal matter, not strictly speaking anyway. See, I don’t need a lawyer as much as someone who can solve a mystery. My house is haunted, and the ghosts are stealing from me, but nobody believes me.” Hilliard thought the man might be a little off his rocker, but the fear in his eyes was real. “Do you think you can help me?”

This could be a fool’s errand, but Hilliard nodded anyway. “Come by the office tomorrow. You can tell me what’s happening, and I’ll see what I can do to help.”

The man grinned and sighed. “Thank you. I’ll be there first thing.” He hurried off, and Hilliard watched him go.

“You just can’t help yourself, can you?” Brian said with a smirk, tugging Hillard to him.

“I became a lawyer to help people.”

Brian nodded. “Heck, you proved I wasn’t a thief. I suppose you can do anything.”

Hilliard drew Brian right to him, their lips inches apart. “Who says you aren’t a thief? After all, you stole my heart.”