“You could?”Derek asked.He thought he had hidden it well.
“Only because I know you.I’m very proud of you.”He smiled again and drew Derek into a hug.
“None of that.This is a library,” Connie quipped from behind them.
Derek sighed and backed away.“I’ll text you if anything else happens, but hopefully it will be quiet for a while.At least with him gone, I can go back to the way things were.At least some of them.”He hated to see Harm go, but he needed to go to work, and Derek had plenty he needed to do as well.He waved to Harm as he headed to the door and then forced his mind back onto the things he needed to get done.
“You were awesome the way you played him to get him to admit what he did,” Connie said.“There is something seriously wrong with that guy, and he needs help.”
“I know he does, but he’s someone else’s problem now, and we have plenty of work to finish.”
“Aye aye, Captain,” she quipped and returned to her desk.
MOST OFthe rest of the day was quiet.He made a call to the DA’s office and was told that the bail hearing had been scheduled for the following morning at ten.Derek arranged to get a few hours off, and by the end of the day, his anxiety was back.If William got bail, he was going to be right back to wondering what the crazy idiot was going to do next, regardless of what the judge ordered.Still, he was glad he could walk home and went inside, making dinner without constantly looking into the backyard.
Harm worked late, but once he arrived, Derek got him something to eat, and then they sat together on the sofa.
“Okay, out with it,” Harm signed.“You’re saying nothing, but I know you’re tense.”
Derek shrugged.“What if they let him out?”
“Then we deal with it and get a restraining order,” Harm signed and then shrugged.“He will have to stay away.If he does not, then he goes to jail.”
Derek knew he was being dumb, worrying over something that hadn’t happened yet.And it was likely that William would get some sort of bail.He figured it was pretty common.Derek doubted that William had a pile of money or anything, so even if bail was granted, it was also a possibility that he wouldn’t be able to swing it.“I know I’m worrying over everything, but I finally got him out of my life, and he could be right back in it.”
Harm hugged him tighter, and Derek let go of some of the anxiety.Things would work out.
“I have to ask, what sort of plans do you have for Christmas?Are you going to Arizona?”
Harm nodded before sitting back.“Joe and Larry want me to visit.They don’t ask for a lot.I was going to go there for a few days, but I will be back here for New Year’s.We can celebrate then.Okay?”
“Of course it is.”He had planned to go to Rochester to see his sister, but apparently she was going to Florida for the holiday with some friends.She had invited him to go too, but Derek wasn’t going to.She deserved to have a good time, and that didn’t include her brother tagging along.“You have a wonderful time.Joe and Larry are your family, and you should spend the time with them.”He leaned against Harm and closed his eyes, trying not to dwell on the fact that he was going to be alone for the holiday.It was going to be fine.He’d spend the day watching sappy holiday movies, eating a ton of cookies, and drinking enough eggnog to float a battleship, and once Harm got back, they could have their own little holiday together.The last thing he was going to do was make Harm feel bad for visiting his family.
“You will be alone?”Harm asked.
“I will be fine.There are plenty of things I’ll need to do, and some of the people at the library have offered to have me for dinner.Please don’t worry about it.Just go and have fun.Joe and Larry don’t get to see you all that often.”He smiled as the wind rattled the windows.
“Are you sure?”Harm asked.
Derek nodded.“I promise.Don’t worry about it.”He closed his eyes and made himself forget about everything that had happened.It was time for him to just be happy.Wanting things he knew he couldn’t have was not a recipe for happiness.
Harm looked at him like he was trying to figure out if Derek was serious or if he was just saying that.
Derek rolled his eyes and smiled.“It’s only a few days, and you’ll have fun with the family.Joe and Larry are nice people, and they think the world of you.You should be with them at the holiday.So stop second-guessing things and have a good time.”
“Okay.”He grinned.“Are you ready for the meeting?”
“Yes.”But he had plenty of other things to get through, not least of which was the bail hearing tomorrow.
“I wish I could go with you tomorrow.”Harm sat so they could see each other well.“I have to work, and I can’t take any time off before my trip.The warehouse is super busy.They asked if I could take an extra shift this weekend, so I’ll have to work all day on Saturday.One of the guys is having a baby and he needs the time off, so I’m covering for him.But I thought we could go out for a special dinner before I leave.Is that okay?”
“Of course,” Derek said softly.“I’m going to be fine, and you can stop worrying about me.”
Harm shook his head.“I always worry about the people I love.”He signed it so matter-of-factly that Derek wondered if Harm was even aware of what he had said.But Harm simply held his gaze and didn’t back down.Though backing away from anything didn’t seem to be Harm’s style.He was always sure of himself, positive, and he always seemed to know what Derek needed.
Derek wanted to ask about the comment, but then Harm drew him closer, holding his cheeks gently in his rough hands.Harm brought their lips together, and Derek wound his arms around his neck.
“Did you mean what you said?”Derek asked.“I know you don’t say things you don’t mean, but….”Harm held his gaze and nodded.“You did mean it?”Another nod.Derek smiled and leaned closer.“I love you too.I keep wondering if it’s too early to say, and then I think that there are no rules and that things happen in their own time and….”To hell with it.Instead of explaining, he kissed him and then led Harm upstairs, because words were one thing, but actions were much more forceful.
