Legal Artistry (10 page)

Gerald turned around, staring back at Dieter. “I'm working on your case because it's extremely exciting. Harold asked me to take it as a favor, and because no one else in the office wanted it. They thought there probably wasn't much merit. Instead, it's turning out to be one of the most compelling and interesting legal cases I've come across.” Gerald set the chicken on the counter. “Nothing like this has been done before, and regardless of whether we actually win or not, this case will set precedent that other cases will rely on. I've been with the law firm for two years, and I've spent most of that time on insignificant cases that are relatively easy. I also get the jobs like drawing up wills and standard contracts. While those are valuable, they aren't very exciting. But this case could make my career,” Gerald explained as excitement coursed through his body. “How many young lawyers get handed a case by accident that has the potential to make their career? Not too many.” Gerald placed the chicken in a pan and set it in the oven.

Dieter's eyes hardened before he turned back to the vegetables, and Gerald lost sight of what Dieter was feeling. “Then I'm just a case to you?"

Gerald opened his mouth to respond before snapping it closed as the full implications of the question sank into Gerald's brain. Dieter was upset because he thought Gerald was here just because of the case. Dieter felt something for him. Part of Gerald wanted to do the dance of joy right there in his kitchen. “No, if you were just a case, then I would have met Mark during the week and in a more formal atmosphere. Also, if you were just a case, you wouldn't be here right now, because I never bring clients home.” Gerald stepped closer and saw Dieter slowly turn toward him. “I like you, Dieter."

"Why? I get the guys at the club, because they just want to get in my pants, and I guess I can understand that. But I don't understand you.” The confused look on Dieter's face puzzled Gerald.

"Have you ever had a boyfriend before?"

"Not really. Not a real boyfriend. One of the guys at the club said he wanted to be my boyfriend once, and we went out for coffee, but he really just wanted to get me back to his place. So I don't think that counts. The closest thing to a date that I've had since I was in high school was our dinner a few weeks ago."

"Why?” Gerald asked, and Dieter shrugged his shoulders before turning back to the vegetables again. Gerald stepped closer, placing his hands on Dieter's shoulders, feeling the heat and tension radiate through Dieter's shirt. “You have nothing to be afraid of or ashamed of.” Dieter nodded slowly, and Gerald felt him turn slightly, their eyes meeting. “Nothing is going to happen unless we both want it to."

"That's what the man at the club said when he asked me on a date,” Dieter said quietly.

"Did the man at the club do this?” Gerald turned Dieter gently, looking into his eyes as he leaned forward, touching their lips together in a tentative kiss that was just deep enough for Gerald to get the slightest taste of Dieter's mouth. He didn't linger too long, even though what he really wanted was to kiss Dieter until his knees buckled.

Dieter blinked at him a few times, and Gerald wasn't sure if the reaction was good or not. That is, until Dieter's fingers touched his lips and then he smiled. “No."

Gerald stepped back. “Okay, I'm sorry."

"Not that,” Dieter said with a near giggle, “I meant, no, the man at the club didn't do that."

"You little shit,” Gerald said, chuckling as he put some vegetables in the microwave.

"So, if you like me, does that mean you want to date or something?” Dieter asked, and Gerald nodded. “Won't that be some kind of conflict of interest or something?"

"No. As long as I'm up front about it and don't try to hide or lie.” Gerald had checked on the firm's policy, and it was surprisingly quiet. He made a note to talk to Harold about it once he got the chance. “And I won't. Coming out was hard enough. I won't ask someone to hide or lie about a relationship.” Gerald's tone sounded a little firmer than he intended, but Dieter either didn't notice or seemed to take it with the conviction Gerald felt.

"So, what do we do next as far as the case is concerned?” Dieter changed the subject, and Gerald didn't press him.

"I need to see if I can find anything I can use as a precedent. It would also help to know what records the Belvedere has on the paintings. Maybe I can check to see what kind of records-access laws they have. It would be nice to know the case they're going to try to make."

Dieter finished making the salad, placing it on the small table near the windows, a pensive look on his face.

"What is it?"

"Gerald, how am I going to afford this? A case like this is going to be very expensive. Your time isn't cheap, and I don't expect you or anyone to do this for free. I don't have a lot of money. I have the house that Gram left me, and I still have some money from my parents as well as some of Gram's. But a lot of what I had went into fixing up the house. I don't have the tens of thousands of dollars that a case like this could cost.” Dieter leaned against the table, looking a bit stricken. “So I'm not really sure that all your work up to now can come to anything."

"Do you know where Harold Prince started his career as a lawyer?” Gerald asked, and Dieter shook his head. “Legal Aid. He worked there for two years. When I asked him why he did that, he told me it was because the law should be about justice, and generally the people who come to Legal Aid were people who deserved justice more than anyone else. Yes, he runs a very successful law practice, but he also understands justice and what's right. I'll talk with him."

"I don't know what good that's going to do. This is going to be expensive.” Dieter swallowed, looking very worried. “And what if we lose? I could spend all kinds of money and still not be any closer to getting back my family's legacy."

"You need to decide what you want to do. There is the possibility that we could lose. There's also the possibility that we could win. But we'll never win if we don't try. You're the last person in your family who could possibly try to get these works of art returned. So the decision is yours and yours alone. You don't need to make any decisions about how you'd like to proceed until I can get all the facts together. At that time, we'll go over them, and you can make your decision."

The microwave dinged and Gerald took out the vegetables, lightly salting them before adding butter and placing them on the table. The oven timer went off as well, and Gerald took out the chicken, placing a portion on each of their plates. “Would you like a beer?” Gerald asked.

"Please,” Dieter answered as he sat down, and Gerald placed the plates and drinks on the table, along with some forks and knives. “Smells good,” Dieter commented, and Gerald passed the vegetables and salad to his guest first before taking a helping for himself. “Do you really think we have a chance to get the paintings back?"

"I don't know. If we have a good case, the Austrians may try to offer you money as part of a settlement, but first we have to do our research, build an airtight case, and then file suit and drop as big a legal bomb on them as we can. That means we need to keep this as secret as we can."

Dieter looked at him mirthfully. “I'll be sure to check my attic for Austrian spies."

"Don't laugh,” he said, although Gerald couldn't help himself. “Loose lips sink ships. And once we've filed the suit, it could take months, or years, before the case actually comes to court."

"I know, but it's the only way I'm ever going to get back the portrait of my great-grandmother,” Dieter responded as he took a small bite of the chicken. “This is really good,” he added once he'd swallowed.

"You sound surprised."

"I guess I figured a busy attorney like you wouldn't have time to cook.” Gerald saw Dieter snicker at him.

"My mom taught me how to cook. She made all of us learn because she wanted us to be able to eat at home every once in a while. In college I always had people who wanted to room with me because I could cook. I don't do it much because of time, but I enjoy it,” Gerald explained. “Do you cook?"

"A little. Gram was pretty old-fashioned, so I didn't get much time in the kitchen. I took a cooking class in school, though. Gram tried to stop me until she realized it was a class they'd geared to boys. Otherwise she never would have allowed me to take it."

"Your Gram had a huge influence on your life, didn't she?” Gerald asked between eating and watching Dieter eat, or more accurately, watching Dieter's lips. Damn, he wanted another taste—the kiss earlier had only whetted his appetite for more.

"Yes. She, along with Auntie Kate, were the only parents I had, and she was a very powerful personality. Although I'm starting to realize that I've let her influence areas of my life that I probably shouldn't."

That sounded interesting to Gerald. “How so?"

"I keep wondering what Gram would think whenever I do anything. I know I should live my own life, but it's hard when you've had her preaching to you your entire life. I haven't dated or been with anyone. I haven't even explored being gay other than to go dancing. Like I said earlier, the closest thing I've had to a date was our dinner the other week."

"Well,” Gerald said with a grin, “then let's consider this a second date. You even got a kiss, and if you're good, you'll get another one."

"What if I'm bad?” Dieter asked with a wink. Jesus, Dieter was flirting with him and doing a dang good job of it too.

"Then you'll get two,” Gerald flirted back, watching Dieter's cheeks redden. God, he loved it when Dieter got flustered. He was totally adorable. Innocence had never been a particular turn-on for him before. He'd always gravitated toward partners who knew what they were doing, but Dieter's blush and smile had him nearly painfully hard at the dinner table.

They laughed and flirted lightly as they finished eating. Gerald cleared the dishes, placing them in the sink before ushering his guest into the living room. “Would you like to watch a movie or something?"

"Sure,” Dieter answered before sitting on the sofa. Gerald put in a DVD and sat next to him. He felt like a kid in high school and actually thought of extending his arm on the back of the sofa, but said to hell with it and moved closer, pulling Dieter into a loose hug. At first Gerald felt him tense, but then Dieter relaxed against him, and they watched half the movie without moving, simply being together.

"Would you like a snack or another beer?” Gerald asked.

"A snack would be nice, but I shouldn't drink any more. I have to drive home."

Gerald wanted to tell him he could stay, but that probably wasn't a good idea. He needed to take things slow, so he paused the movie and made some popcorn, returning with a huge bowlful and a couple sodas. Taking his seat once again, Gerald restarted the movie, and they munched for a while. Once the popcorn had been reduced to kernels, Gerald sat back, and they watched the rest of the movie with Dieter curled next to him.

The movie ended and Gerald turned off the player and the television, but neither of them moved. Not that Gerald had any intention of moving—as long as Dieter would let Gerald hold him, he would. “You're worried about something,” Gerald commented quietly. “I can feel it in how tight your muscles are."

"I'm worried, Gerald. I'm worried that I'm on a fool's errand. I could spend everything I have and not be able to get my family's legacy back. I don't have a lot, and what I do have came from Gram's estate."

"I heard you talking to Tyler about selling some things. I don't want you to do that. Not for the sake of the case. I'll work something out with Harold.” What, he wasn't sure. But there had to be some options other than Dieter selling the things he got from his grandmother.

"Gramps was a bit of a collector. I never knew him, but Gram said he used to go to all kinds of sales for years. She said he dragged home some of the most God-awful stuff she'd ever seen.” Dieter turned his head so their eyes met, and Gerald saw Dieter smile a happy, contented smile he hadn't seen before. “Gram must have had him put the stuff she didn't want in the attic, because I found it loaded with stuff after she died. Gram never let me go up there when I was a kid and always kept the door locked. After she died, I found the key and went up there. The place was full to the gills. Tyler's been over a few times and found some interesting things that he's bought, and I've used the money to fix up the house, but I was still in school when Gram died, and I've spent most of my spare time the last few years working on the house and deciding what I wanted to do. Now I think I've gotten out what I want to keep, so I want Tyler to take anything that he thinks he can sell, and I'm going to either donate or yard sale the rest."

"I'm glad you're not selling your things to finance the lawsuit.” Gerald squeezed Dieter a little closer.

"I'll admit it wouldn't be a bad thing to find a dragonfly Tiffany lamp up there, but I'm expecting there will be some things of interest and the rest is probably junk. But who knows? Just to clarify, I'm not selling off the important things from Gram and Gramps because of the lawsuit, although I'm not really sure where the money is going to come from. I have the house, which Gram left me free and clear. I could mortgage it, but Gram would roll over in her grave.” Dieter became quiet and settled next to him.

After watching the younger man for a few minutes, Gerald lightly kissed his forehead, feeling exceedingly protective. Dieter lifted his face, and Gerald moved closer, giving Dieter time to move away before kissing him softly, just a light caress of their lips that made Gerald's heart race. Deepening the kiss slightly, he felt Dieter's lips move against his, and to his surprise, Gerald felt Dieter's tongue slide along their lips. Tugging him tighter, Gerald cupped the back of Dieter's head in his hand, the last of his control slipping away as Gerald feasted on Dieter's mouth. He thought he might have gone too far when he felt Dieter stiffen against him, but a small moan reached his ears and then he felt Dieter's arms around his neck. It took him a second to realize that he was being kissed back with just as much intensity and earnestness as he'd ever felt from anyone.