An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication
www.ellorascave.com
Stolen Hearts
ISBN 9781419915680
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Stolen Hearts Copyright © 2008 Karen Erickson
Edited by Kelli Kwiatkowski.
Cover art by Syneca.
Electronic book Publication April 2008
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/)
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
Stolen Hearts
Karen Erickson
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Cosmo: Hearst Communications Inc.
Volvo: Volvo Trademark Holding AB Corporation
Chapter One
“Did you get it yet?”
“No, I haven’t gotten it yet. Will you quit asking?” Alexander Moretti glanced around, making sure no one was close enough to hear him. “I need more time.”
“I bet you haven’t even walked into the store yet, have you? Gah, you’re no son of mine. I offered this job to you as a test, to see if you still have what it takes. I’m starting to see that you don’t.”
Alex could hear the disgust in his father’s voice and he closed his eyes, willing himself to ignore it. But he couldn’t. Age-old guilt gathered inside him, threatening to overwhelm him in a wave of familiar, irritating emotion and he leaned against the wall of the coffee shop for support.
“You know I haven’t done this in a long time, Dad, so I’m a little rusty. You need to cut me some slack. I’ll do it, I swear.”
“Giving up is so easy after getting caught, I know. That’s why you have to jump back into the saddle, Alex. A true Moretti wouldn’t let a little jail time scare him so easily.”
Easy for his dad to say. The man hadn’t been caught in all of his sixty-plus years. Not once. His father didn’t know what it was like to get tossed into the slammer, to appear before a judge, to receive a jail sentence that felt like the end of the world.
No, his father had no idea whatsoever.
“You don’t have much room to talk since you’ve never been arrested in your life.” Alex opened his eyes, focusing on the quaint storefront across the street from him. The sign in the door read Closed. The display windows were empty, devoid of any sparkling jewelry.
He knew the owner would appear any minute, just as she did every morning promptly at nine. Always an hour before the store opened, allowing him the opportunity to watch her bustle about inside, getting ready for the day. Bringing out the jewelry from the safe, setting up the displays in the windows, cleaning the glass counters until they shined.
True, he’d never been in the store but he’d been lurking around it for a week. Trying to gather up the nerve to go inside, to see the piece his father so desperately wanted.
And then snag that fucking bracelet so he’d be in his father’s good graces again. He didn’t think it would be too difficult in this small tourist town. It would be easy to take the bracelet and please his father. Make a couple bucks, get back on his feet and maybe even find a normal job.
His dad would think he was crazy but he really didn’t want to do this anymore.
Unfortunately, Alex just couldn’t force himself to go into the store. Not yet. He felt like a giant pussy.
“I’m not a pussy like you, son. I’m too good to get caught.”
The old man must read minds.
His father, Alexander Moretti Sr., didn’t hold back—never had, never would. He always spoke his mind, too blunt for his own good sometimes.
Ignoring the ache that clutched at his heart, Alex shook his head. No matter what he did, it would never be good enough. Since receiving jail time, he’d been a constant disappointment in his father’s eyes.
That’s why he was in this stupid town, trying to work up the nerve to steal a stupid bracelet. He wanted to prove to his father that he was good enough to be his son, his namesake. Even if it meant doing something he promised himself he would never do again.
“Listen Dad, I gotta go. The owner is about to show up and I’m going in. Today.” Resolve filled him and he knew it was true. He was going into that store.
He was going to steal the bracelet and hightail it out of this town as soon as possible.
“About damn time. Case out the joint, figure out your best move and then follow through, my son. I need that bracelet and I want you to get it. Don’t disappoint me.”
A loud click sounded in Alex’s ear and he snapped his cell phone shut, shoving it into his front jean pocket. Leaning against the roughened outdoor wall of the coffee shop, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and waited.
The woman seemed to run on an internal clock that was never, ever wrong. She showed up at the same time every morning, immaculately dressed, not a hair out of place. A calm, cool blonde with long, long legs and tits she showcased in form-fitting sweaters that drove him nuts. And he couldn’t figure out why.
First of all, she was so far from his normal type it wasn’t even funny. He liked his women open and easy. No fuss, no muss, just in it for a good time, no relationships allowed. Women like the ones he always found hanging around his old friends, his thieving buddies. Women who liked dangerous men, who liked the thrill of fucking a bad boy—or multiple bad boys. It didn’t matter to them.
The owner of Anderson’s Fine Vintage Jewels didn’t look like the type who craved danger. She definitely didn’t look like the type who enjoyed fucking multiple bad boys. No, she probably had a nice boyfriend, or maybe even a husband who wore a three-piece suit to work everyday, drove a Volvo, had a college degree. A nice guy who was actually doing something with his life.
Alex had barely graduated high school. He didn’t own a three-piece suit and he definitely didn’t drive a Volvo. Giving up his criminal lifestyle after his release from prison, he led a simpler life now. No more flashy cars, flashy clothes or flashy watches—and no more flashing big wads of cash. He was all about low profile. He didn’t want to attract any unwanted attention.
Didn’t necessarily want to get back into the fold.
Of course, it was hard to ignore the fold when your father ran the largest theft ring on the West Coast.
When his father had called out of the blue three weeks ago, Alex had been shocked. He hadn’t heard from him in nearly a year. All but disowning him when Alex announced he wasn’t going to work for him any longer, his father hadn’t even bothered contacting Alex during the holidays or his birthday.
That’s why he knew something was up when he’d heard his dad on the phone. He’d been right. As usual, his father wanted something from him. Something he thought he didn’t want to give but when his father had muttered those fateful words, he hadn’t been able to resist.
Don’t disappoint me, son. I need you to come through for me.
That had been the clincher. For once in his life, he wanted his father to be proud of him. If this was the only way to earn that pride, then so be it.
The click of high heels on concrete drew his at
tention and he watched as Ms. Perfect came down the sidewalk on the other side of the street, a chic purse on her shoulder, her reddish-blonde hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. The morning was quiet, with only the occasional car passing by and, lowering his head, he watched her from beneath his lashes.
Even from across the street he could tell she was beautiful. Smooth skin that reminded him of peaches and cream, accentuated by big blue eyes and sweet pink lips. Lips he wanted to see up close and personal, lips he dreamed about at night.
Wrapped tightly around his cock and giving him the blowjob to end all blowjobs.
Shifting, he adjusted the crotch of his jeans and continued his perusal. He tried to ignore the rush of lust that surged through his veins every time he saw her, though it was hard.
Actually, it was his dick that was hard, but he couldn’t focus on that now. He had other things to do.
Like case out a jewelry store. Steal a bracelet. Make his father believe in him again.
* * * * *
Walking down the sidewalk toward the store, Celeste Anderson couldn’t ignore the tiny shiver that slithered down her spine.
It almost felt like someone was watching her.
She stopped in front of the door, glancing to her left then right. No one was on the sidewalk, not even a car drove by. Telling herself it was nothing, she reached into her purse and pulled out her keys, unlocking the front door with a quick flick of her wrist.
The feeling was still there, though. Like two lasers boring holes into her back. Tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and goose bumps chased up her arms as she turned around slowly.
A huge man stood in front of the Coffee Bean, the little shop across the street, his dark head bent, hands stuffed inside his pockets. He didn’t appear to be watching her.
But instinct kicked in. He was most definitely watching her. She just couldn’t figure out why.
Ignoring him, she opened the door and went inside, turning the lock back into place behind her. Heading straight for the tiny office in the back, she shoved her purse in the bottom desk drawer then stood, smoothing her hand over her ponytail. If she caught that man still watching her store, she’d call the cops. Johnny was always good for a drive-by…always enjoyed coming in and talking to her for a few minutes too. That would scare the boogeyman from his stakeout post. Grabbing the cordless phone, she set it on top of her desk to remind herself to give Johnny a call.
Why Johnny wouldn’t ask her out on a date, she didn’t know. Not like she hadn’t given him at least a hundred clues that she was interested. Maybe he was slow on the uptake.
Maybe he was, heaven forbid, not interested.
Celeste stopped dead in her tracks, pressing her hand against her chest. Maybe she was losing her touch. Not that she had much touch with the opposite sex anyway but still. Usually when she became interested in a man she made her subtle moves. And they usually worked.
With a shake of her head, she stepped to the safe and turned the dial, listening as the locks tumbled into place, allowing her entrance. Pulling a stack of midnight blue velvet jewel displays out, she headed back into the store and started the morning preparations, menial tasks she’d resumed a while ago, after her sister Hannah had ditched her.
Hannah had been the one who’d prepared the store for opening for so long and when she left, Celeste had taken over. The preparations didn’t bore her, though, not at all. It thrilled her to know that all of this was hers, really hers, her own business. Her mother had enough faith in her to take over the family store and Celeste worked hard at it, wanting to make it shine—wanting to make her mother and her entire family proud.
Not like her sister Hannah, who took off the first chance she got to run a gallery for her sculptor fiancé. Celeste crinkled her nose as she set the velvet displays on top of a counter and opened the tiny glass door beneath it, shoving one of the panels inside.
She couldn’t imagine being involved with an artist, dealing with an artist’s temperament, the uncertainty of financial status. How could Colin make enough money to support him and Hannah forever? They planned on getting married soon, probably wanted to have children. How could they afford to give their children everything they needed when they were living off the sales of his weird, too modern sculptures? Yes, he was successful right now but that could all change at a moment’s notice. Or more like on the buying public’s whim.
Celeste didn’t get it. Relationships were a partnership, almost like a business deal. A marriage was made between two people who got along, held the same interests and beliefs and worked to support each other until they died. None of this spontaneous fall-in-love-and-run-away-together kind of stuff like Hannah did with Colin. That just didn’t compute.
She wanted to find a respectable man, fall in love slowly and then marry him. Become a powerful couple in the community—she running her store, he preferably a man of the law—have two children and live a neat and tidy life, just like her parents had.
Glancing out the front window, Celeste saw the large man still leaning against the wall of the Coffee Bean, his head bent, hair dark as night tumbling over his forehead. Taking her time studying him, her hand automatically reached for the phone she’d brought back from the office. She wanted to be able to describe him properly to Johnny when he stopped by, of course.
Though she couldn’t see his face there was no mistaking he was one of the largest men she’d ever seen in her life. Broad shoulders and a wide chest encased in a dark green button-up shirt, legs that went on for miles in dark denim, heavy work books on his feet. Rugged, rough-looking, probably had no manners, ate with his mouth full or something gross like that.
Ewww.
Celeste dialed Johnny’s cell number, told him about her lurking stranger and then hung up, intent on finishing her preparations for opening the store. She put the man across the street out of her head. She couldn’t be bothered with that right now.
She had a store to get ready, business to attend to. A bracelet she needed to sell—and fast, considering how much money she could potentially make. Money she needed to better the store’s future.
The gorgeous thirteen-carat diamond bracelet was made in the Fifties as a gift for a society bride from her husband and his wealthy family. A stunning piece Celeste had found at an estate auction as part of a lot of various pieces of jewelry and bid on immediately. She’d known at first glance it was far more valuable than the pieces it accompanied.
She’d spent more money than she meant to in purchasing the lot but she hadn’t been able to resist. She knew the bracelet would fetch a pretty penny, giving her a huge return on her investment—if she could just find a buyer.
More than anything, she needed to find that buyer fast. The store needed refurbishing and it would be nice to get that accomplished before the holiday shopping season. Maybe she’d made a foolish move, being so rash in buying the bracelet, but she really didn’t think so.
That bracelet, if it got the price she wanted, would give the store’s earnings a considerable boost. She’d even have enough to invest in more exquisite pieces that could fetch the store even more money.
Chewing on her lip nervously, she placed the bracelet in the glass case that sat in the center of the main countertop, closest to the cash register. It was the most prominent spot in the entire store. She was sorely tempted to place it in a window display but it made her too nervous. Anyone could come up, break the glass and take it. She couldn’t afford for that to happen. Yes, she had insurance on all the items in the store but still. Celeste wanted that sale more than anything in the world.
Glancing at the clock above the door, she hurried to flip the sign to read Open and disengaged the lock once more. Across the street, the front of the Coffee Bean was devoid of any tall, dark strangers and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Good. She didn’t need to worry about anything right now but the store. Besides, now she could flirt with Johnny instead of sending him to interrogate the lurking man.
Her mouth dropped open when she saw who stood in the doorway.
Him. The lurking stranger, the very man she wanted Johnny to check out. Now she could check him out, though she wasn’t sure she wanted to.
No—she really, really didn’t want to.
His presence seemed to fill the entire store, even though he didn’t move from the doorway. His face, which had been hidden before, shocked her silent, rendered her still as a statue.
He was gorgeous. Beautiful dark eyes fringed with the longest, thickest lashes, chiseled cheekbones, a strong nose, firm jaw shadowed with the faintest hint of stubble and the most sculpted lips she’d ever seen on a man. Lips that would probably feel divine pressed against her own, trailing along her neck, over her chest…
Smoothing back an imaginary hair, she ignored the rather shocking thought of his mouth on her body and cleared her throat. “May I help you?”
He stood there silently, glancing about the store, his brown eyes wide. Shaking his head, he stepped backward, his arm moving behind him to shove the door open.
“This was a mistake. I should’ve never come in here.”
Her brow wrinkled in confusion. “Are you lost? Do you need directions to another store perhaps?”
He turned his gaze upon her once more and her breath stalled in her throat. Really, no man should be as handsome as this one. Certainly no stranger had ever made her react like this one did. Heart beating against her chest, breathing shallow, skin tingling with awareness, all over a man she didn’t know.
“I’m not lost, just made a wrong turn. Sorry to bother you.” Making an attempt to leave, the man was thwarted by Johnny, who pulled the door open from behind him, forcing the handsome stranger farther into the store as he entered.
Stolen Hearts Page 1
