Stolen Hearts (8 page)

“Nah, I can’t buy this today, I’m afraid. I think I need to sit on it, make sure this is what she really wants. I might even bring her in and let her try it on.” He winked at her. “We’re on a little getaway right now. Wife is with the kids visiting her parents so we took advantage.”

“I see.” She yanked the velvet panel and bracelet away from him, shoving it back into the case and twisting the lock shut with a firm snap of her wrist. Could the man be any ruder?

Probably, but she didn’t want to bear witness to it.

“Sorry to waste your time, young lady.” He nodded his head toward her, a slight smile on his face. “I’ll be seeing you around again sometime soon, I’m sure.”

“Thank you for coming in.” She watched him head toward the door, noticing how he walked slowly, glancing about the room as if trying to capture every single detail. His hand rested on the door handle, fingers curling around the bar and he stared at the lock just above it.

Her breath lodged in her throat, heart beating double time. Was he actually thinking of robbing her store? Did he purposely ask her for the most expensive item so he could steal it from the store in the middle of the night?

No, no, she had to be overreacting. He didn’t look like a thief. He was just some chubby middle-aged man juggling a mistress and a wife.
Creepy and lacking morals, yes.
A criminal?
No way.

Right?

Goodness, she was becoming paranoid with the bracelet in the store. Maybe she should bring it home with her. She had a safe in her bedroom closet as well. She could slip it inside her purse and take it home with her every night until she sold the darned thing.

Yes, that was the perfect solution to curb her paranoia. It was too nerve-racking having something of such value in the store, even though she could stash it in the safe every night. She’d never had a problem with break-ins before, not even attempted ones, but she didn’t want to risk it.

Now that she actually had something of substantial value, maybe she should look into getting a better security system. One of the local companies had put in her current alarm when she took over the store but it was rather pitiful, really. She should give Hal a call and have him check out the
store,
see what he could do for her.

Heading toward her desk in the back room, she went to get her notepad. She had a lot of things to do.
Good.
Something to take her mind off waiting for Alex.

* * * * *

Alex walked down the sidewalk toward the jewelry store, jingling the change in his jeans pocket and whistling a nameless tune. Catching a glimpse of himself as he passed by a window, he shook his head. He looked like a lovesick fool. All over a woman he didn’t really know. Hell, he was whistling for Christ’s sake, something he never did.

He couldn’t help it though. He liked her. Wanted to spend more time with her, get to know her better. The more he thought about her, the more he realized he couldn’t steal that fucking bracelet for his father. Had never really wanted to in the first place, truly—he’d come here out of a sense of obligation. All his life he’d wanted to please his father yet he’d been nothing but a disappointment.

So why not stay consistent? Really disappoint his ass, make his old man angry with him all over a woman he didn’t really know.

When he thought about it in those terms, it was ridiculous. Yet he couldn’t deny the hold this woman had on him, the way she made him feel just by looking at him. There was a connection between them and he wanted to explore it further. He could only hope she was willing to do the same.

Top on his list though was to keep her safe, get her and that bracelet out of town and somewhere safe, at least for a few days. How he was going to approach her about this, he still didn’t know. He was going to play it by ear.

Stopping short when he saw the fat man waddle out the front door of the shop, he jumped and hid within the open doorway of the store next to Celeste’s.

Shit
.
It was Vinnie. He was already here! He couldn’t believe it. His father had already sent the jackass to follow up on him.

Anger boiled deep within him. If that fat fucker did anything to hurt Celeste, he would tear him apart with his bare hands.

Lurking behind the wall, he pressed himself against it, hoping against hope Vinnie wasn’t headed his way. His heart
raced,
sweat popping out on his forehead. This was the last thing he needed. He’d thought they’d at least have a day or two to get the hell out of here.
Looked like that wasn’t the case.

It looked like he’d have to get her out of Santa
Augustina
tonight. He only hoped Vinnie didn’t already have the bracelet.

Of course, if Vinnie did steal the bracelet then that would leave him completely off the hook. He’d never have to tell Celeste a thing, could be there to comfort her and he’d be free and clear.

He stilled, working his jaw, heard it pop like it sometimes did when he was tense or anxious. That could work. Hell, he could end up looking like a hero. Nice turnaround, no one would get hurt. He’d come out of it all smelling like a rose.

No
.
He couldn’t do that to her. He had to come clean. What if she found out later about his true intent, realized he’d been lying to her all along? She’d never forgive him. Hell, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.

But how would she ever find out? Not like anyone would tell her.

Deciding it might be
safe,
he peeked around the side of the brick wall and saw the coast was clear. He headed toward the front door of Celeste’s store with hurried steps, throwing open the door so hard the bells jangled wildly.

Celeste ran out of the back office looking so beautiful his chest actually ached. She wore some sort of black fitted dress with dark tights and black knee-high boots, every inch of her covered except her face and hands but damn she was sexy.

“Are you all right? I thought you were breaking my door off the hinges.” She pressed a pale hand against her chest, causing his gaze to zero in on the luscious curve of her breasts and he mentally slapped himself.

He should be freaked out and ready to get the hell out of Dodge but all he could think about was Celeste’s breasts. And her beautiful body, naked beneath his hands. He needed to get a serious grip on his priorities.

“Sorry, I guess I don’t realize my own strength.” Alex went to her, slipping his arms around her waist, hands resting on her ass. The dress material felt like a sweater, soft and warm to the touch. He smoothed his hands up and down over her lower cheeks, making her purr with excitement. She was so responsive, always seemingly as aroused as he was. “What do you think about going out of town with me for the next few days?”

Celeste blinked once, twice, her eyelashes moving rapidly. “Are you serious? I have no one to help me run the store if I’m gone. My sister used to work with me but she’s with her fiancé now and my mother has zero interest in coming back here, even for a couple days.”

He shrugged, trying to ignore the way her flowery scent made his cock hard. “Who says you can’t close the place down for a couple days, take a little vacation?”

“Well, no one I guess but I, uh, was just getting ready to put an important sales ad in the local paper.” She nibbled on her lower lip, her small white teeth working the full pink flesh, making him crazy with need.

“Place the ad, have the sale when we get back.” His voice was strained, his entire body taut from wanting to pounce on her.

“I really need to have it now.” Her gaze lifted, clear blue eyes meeting his. “I’m really anxious to get rid of that diamond bracelet I showed you yesterday.”

His heart lurched. “Come on, Celeste, let’s get out of here. When was the last time you took some time for yourself?”

Her eyes narrowed and she stepped out of his embrace. “I don’t know, Alex. This is all happening so fast. We only just met yesterday.”

“Yeah, I know.” He slipped his hands into his pockets, unsure of what to say next.
How to convince her to go with him.

Come on, man, get real. You were one of the biggest cons back in the day—but those days are gone.

Alex heaved a big sigh. “What if I told you that you’re in danger if you stay here?”

Celeste’s eyes widened and her hand went to her chest once again. “What do you mean?”

“I’m telling you that if you don’t get out of this town with that bracelet, you could be putting yourself and your store at risk.” He kept his expression grim, wanting her to get the seriousness of the situation. He wasn’t lying—but he wasn’t going to tell her the whole truth either.

He couldn’t. If he did, then he’d have to admit he was a thief. And he didn’t want her to judge him.

Really didn’t want her to cast him aside either.

Her hand fluttered up to her mouth, trembling fingers touching her lips. “Are you serious?” Then her eyes widened, and Alex could practically see the gears turning in her mind. “Does this have anything to do with the man who just came in here?”

She was
smart,
he had to give her that. “He’s part of a jewel thief syndicate based in L.A.”

“And how do you know this? How do you know that man? What exactly do you
do
for a living anyway, Alex? I don’t think you ever told me.” Celeste crossed her arms in front of her chest, waiting for his answer. Already judging him, suspecting him…

He could feel it radiate toward him…her doubt, mixed with anger and the tiniest hint of fear. He hated the fact that she was angry with him but more than anything, he didn’t like that he scared her.

Heart pounding in his chest, he realized he didn’t know what to say, how to explain. How could he tell Celeste—
a jewelry store owner!
—that he’d been in jail for jewelry theft? That he was a lonely drifter with no real career goals whose father had recruited him to steal again? Starting with the very bracelet in her possession?

He knew if he mentioned any of that, she would freak the fuck out. Not that he would blame her.

But he was stuck—and he was tired of half-truths. Damn it, he couldn’t change his past…couldn’t change who he’d once been. He didn’t want to turn her away but he was sick of lying. He’d
lied
his entire life and look where it had gotten him.

Absolutely nowhere.

He’d rather take the risk and share the truth than keep lying to her and feeling like a total shit.

“I, uh…haven’t worked since getting out of prison.” Alex spoke so softly even he could barely hear himself.

Her brow furrowed. “Excuse me? Did you say what I think you just said?”

With a nod, he took a step toward her, his heart cracking when she took an equal step backward. “I went in for breaking and entering, theft. My father runs that jewelry theft syndicate on the West Coast.”

“And that’s how you know about the man who was in my store? You
work
with him?”

“Yeah.
Vinnie.
I mean, I don’t really work with him but yes, my father sent him.” Alex
nodded,
his mouth tight. He could feel Celeste slipping through his fingers with every word he spoke.
Didn’t know how to stop it from happening.

“So did your father send you here?”

His head jerked in a nod. He didn’t even bother speaking. What else could he say?

“To steal the bracelet?”

He nodded again. “After what happened between us last night, I wasn’t going to do it. I want you to know that.”

“I see. So after we had
sex
, you decided you can’t steal from me after all. Great.” She cleared her throat, her eyes cloudy. She looked so sad, he wished he could rush to her, comfort her, but she’d probably push him away. Not that he could really blame her. “You should probably go.”

“Listen, Celeste, I want to explain.” But how could he explain? She wouldn’t believe a word out of his mouth anyway. He was a con, a man who’d been in prison, certainly not worthy of her respect.

She shook her head, her voice low and emotionless. “There’s really nothing you can say, Alex. You came here to steal the bracelet and I guess you failed. Using me, sleeping with me to get to the bracelet, is pretty low. I’d rather you’d just walked in and held a gun to my head.”

It hurt that she thought he felt nothing, that what they’d experienced together meant nothing to him. What they’d shared last night, this morning in the shower, had meant
everything
to him. Foolish, considering they barely knew each other but the connection was there, undeniable.
At least for him.

He had to at least tell her that before he left.

“Everything that happened between us last night was
real
, Celeste. I mean it. That wasn’t part of my scam, I swear. It just…happened.”

“Right, like I can believe you!” she seethed, eyes now shining with anger. “I’m sure it was your plan from the beginning, and now I’m supposed to believe some weird sense of
morality
has come over you? Whatever,” she scoffed, clearly disgusted. “You need to leave.
Now
.
Before I call the cops and have you arrested.” She waved her hand toward the door and turned, could no longer even look him in the eye.

Alex didn’t think he’d ever felt so low. Not the night he was arrested, the day he’d been sentenced or the day he’d faced his father when he’d come to visit him in jail for the first time.

“Please, Alex. Just go.” Her voice was strained, her expression so sad he could barely stand to look at her. He was too disgusted with himself for putting that look on her face in the first place.

He did as she asked, heading straight through the door, not bothering to look back.

Exiting the store, he thrust his fingers through his hair in frustration. Well shit, he’d handled that well. He wished he had something to hit, something to kick. Anything to get rid of the pain that wrapped around his heart with pinching fingers, squeezing so hard he could hardly breathe.

He should just leave, go back to Los Angeles and tell his father he couldn’t do this shit anymore. It hurt too much, it was too dishonest and he didn’t want to be that person any longer.