Stealing Hearts

by C. D. Samuda

  “I don’t know,” Braeden said. “She has my credit card. I should call the bank and cancel it, after all she’s a petty thief.”

  Kurt’s eyes were affixed on something past his shoulders. “I tell you, the man marrying that one is a lucky bastard. Look at those hips.”

  Braeden turned and followed his friend’s eyes, fixing them on a women who just stepped from the lift. Her eyes flittered around before crossing the hall to stand by one of the court doors. She seemed to be waiting for someone. Her curves in her tight skirt suit caught his attention.

  She lifted a hand and ran her fingers along her sensuous neckline. Although she was standing about twenty meters away, he could make out the definition of high firm breast in her suit. Braeden knew a beautiful woman when he saw one and this was one very sexy woman.

  “Whoa, those legs are divine.”

  “You should’ve gotten someone like her, then you could have your cake and eat it too.” Kurt declared.

  Braeden shrugged. “Yeah, then it would get complicated. You know the kind of women I know, they’d be off running to the press before ink dries on the certificate.”

  The woman turned and peered in their direction. The door to the room for which they were waiting to see the judge opened and a man departed. She started moving in their direction while the man approached her. Braeden watched the couple, thinking that they would meet somewhere in the middle. But when they passed each other he frowned.

  His eyes continued to follow the swing of her hips and her shapely legs. The gap was closing between her and them and Braeden had a feeling that she as coming directly at them. He lifted his eyes from her curves and settled them on her face. He could not recall ever seeing such a stunning woman of color. Her natural curls fell softly on her shoulders beneath the small hat perched to one side of her head.

  Then he raised his eyes and connected with hers. His heart lurched as he recognized those eyes from earlier that morning. Kurt’s sharp intake of breath beside him was evidence that this was the same woman he’d signed a contract with. The same woman who tried to steal his car.

  “What the fuck?” he blurted out.

  “Tsk, tsk,” Kurt, murmured. “You’ve been had.”

  “I’m here,” she said, staring him in the eyes.

  Braeden’s entire plan seemed to be shot through the roof in that moment. He recalled telling Kurt exactly why he though this homeless thief would be perfect. He’d be able to control her. She was a ‘nobody’, he’d said. Now he wasn’t so sure he believed a word of that. She certainly carried an air of sophistication about her. In that moment, Braeden was seized with an immense need to know about her. Who was she?

  “I’m not so sure about this,” he murmured to his best friend.

  Kurt pulled him aside. “Are you crazy, you want to annul the contract? She signed it and could demand that you honor it.”

  “You were our only witness, you could say she breeched it.”

  “What are you scared of?”

  Braeden sneered. “You’re out of your mind if you think she scares me. I just have a bad feeling about it.”

  “A moment ago you were thinking different.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t know it was she. Man, she sure knows how to disguise beneath that engine grease and rags. You think she might be hiding from something?”

  “Stop overthinking stuff and let’s do this. The old man is expecting you to show up with your wife by his birthday.”

  The mention of his grandfather brought him back to his senses. He glanced over at Shade. She would make for good eye candy when they went out and she seemed to be able to carry herself well.

  “Alright, let’s do this.”

  Braeden allowed Kurt to guide them into the marriage hall. He deliberately lagged behind both Shade and his friend in order to gather his thoughts. He could not help that his eyes followed her ass as she walked in front of him. Her hips begged to her held between his hands. When his mind strayed to thinking about what she looked like without the tight skirt, his cock lurched.

  Stopping in his tracks, Braeden steeled himself against such thoughts. She was a homeless carjacker. Nothing could happen between them nor would anything happen. He’d be out of his ever loving mind to even think of having sex with someone like her. Six months. Six months to get what was rightfully his and then this would be all over.

  Chapter 8

  The look on Braeden’s face was priceless. All through the short ceremony where Kurt was a witness, Braeden’s discomfort was evident. She knew he was having second thoughts about the contract and this made her all the more curious as to why he was doing this.

  The guy lived in a penthouse and drove a cheap car valued at eighteen thousand dollars. That told her something was wrong. She knew the name Harington and it wasn’t difficult to place the name with Northwest Industries. Other than that, Shade knew nothing else because she didn’t follow the gossip columns, although she occasionally read the news.

  Keeping up with the latest business trend and the economy was about all she read, and never the social scene. On occasion she glanced through the celebrity section of the paper but never could she remember what she read or who she saw in it. It was now her duty to find out all she could about Braeden.

  They left the courthouse and Braeden insisted that he drop her home while Kurt returned to his office. She took the opportunity to venture the subject of their contract.

  “Why?” she asked. She’d made sure to take the front passenger seat where Braeden could get a good look at her. “Why are you doing this?” she repeated.

  “That’s not your concern,” he said without even glancing her way. “Just keep your end of the bargain and we will do fine.”

  There it was again, his condescending attitude. She snickered and looked through the window. His voice brought her attention back to the subject.

  “Why are you doing this?” he asked.

  “I’m a homeless bum, what do you think?”

  “That’s bull,” he said. “You didn’t even bat an eye when I mentioned the money. It was as though it meant nothing to you.”

  “I’m good at masking my feelings,” she replied. “One billion dollars is a lot. It sounded too good to be true. I didn’t want to celebrate too early.”

  They both fell silent while Shade took a moment to observe her husband. The idea was completely ridiculous but it was true. But what could she do? Going to jail would have meant running the risk of bringing back her past.

  Sooner or later the police would have figured out that her name was not Shade Montgomery. They would have discovered her true identity and then all hell would have broken loose. It was not something she was willing to risk. But marrying to keep her past hidden was not wise either. Someone somewhere might recognize her even though it’s been ten years.

  Living on the streets, covered in rags and car grease had been the perfect disguise. Not even the authorities would have thought to find her there. Now she might have risked all that for what? It wasn’t the money. Breaking down Braeden Harrington a notch or two might have been the icing on the cake. Shade was yet to discover if it was worth the risk.

  They arrived at the apartment around five thirty and lack of sleep the night before was taking its toll. She’d apparently nodded off as she felt Braeden nudge her shoulder.

  “We’re here,” he said.

  Braeden was a shrewd businessman, brokering multibillion dollar deals every day. Then what in hell persuaded him to make such a deal with a street urchin? His good sense was telling him to call Kurt and have this farce annulled. But he wanted to see the look on his grandfather’s face when he presented her as his wife. The trouble was that, how would he convince him they were a loving couple?

  The lift door opened and they stepped into the living room. Something smelled nasty, causing his nose to twitch.

  “What the hell is that smell?” he barked. “Is that shit I smell?”

  “Oops.”

  Shade tried to sli
p away, but Braeden gripped her upper arm and pulled her back. He must have pulled her a bit too hard because next he knew her ankle buckled and she was tumbling forward. His body acted as a shield as she crashed into him. His hands gripped her shoulders and righted her, but not before he felt the impact of her breast against his chest.

  As he set her straight, their eyes connected, her brown pools widening. Something sparked between them and he was unable to tear his gaze away. They stood like that for quite some time until he felt something soft and cushiony rubbing up against his legs.

  “What the…?” he cursed, looking down at his feet. “I told you to keep those critters away from me. And clean that shit I smell.”

  Shade stepped away from him, her eyes hardening and her face tight. “I need a litterbox.”

  “Then get one,” he snapped, feeling himself getting quite near to the edge. “You have my credit card. Use it.” She stepped passed him and headed towards the lift. “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “To get the kitty litter,” she answered.

  “Wait.”

  Taking his cell phone from his jacket pocket he dialed Dave’s. Even though Dave was his chauffeur, he much preferred to drive himself and only used Dave to chauffeur special clients, especially those visiting from out of town. Since he made the decision to get married, he asked Dave to be his wife’s driver.

  “Dave,” he said into the phone when the other man answered. “Pick up a large litter box, cat food, bowls and some shit repellent or whatever.”

  After Dave agreed to get whatever was needed, he hung up the phone. She moved away from the lift and started walking towards the passage leading to the bedroom. “Wait, we need to talk.”

  She stopped and turned. “I have shit to clean remember, can’t it wait?”

  “We’ll talk when you’re done,” he said, his nose turned up. “It stinks in here.”

  Chapter 9

  The smell of coffee awoke him from sleep filled with visions of his past. Braeden sat up in the bed, trying to figure out who was making coffee. Then he remembered, he was a married man. He raised his hand to look at the thin gold band on his hand while a woman he knew nothing about was wearing a matching one.

  Pushing back the covers, he leaped out of the bed. How dare she touch his things? He was out of the room and traipsing into the kitchen when he realized he was still in his boxers He was about to turn back when she spoke.

  “Good morning,” her husky tone caressed his ears. “Coffee?”

  What the hell, he had nothing to be ashamed of anyway. The only problem was that he was spotting a morning dick. He turned, his face set in a hard line. She was holding out a coffee mug with the morning paper. To top it off she was wearing his t-shirt.

  “What the fuck?” he barked. “Why are you wearing my clothes?”

  “I found it in the laundry room and it’s so comfortable.”

  “Just remember this is a contract, not real. Don’t start acting like my wife.”

  She didn’t even blink as she kept her eyes level with his. “I thought you said this is a pretend marriage. I’m only practicing.”

  This was going to be a long six months. He took the cup and the paper and returned to his room annoyed. How was he to get used to having her around? What the hell possessed him to take up his grandfather’s challenge to get married and that too for six months!

  After drinking the coffee, which was surprisingly good, he got ready for work. When he emerged from his bedroom, she was sitting on the sofa with her legs curled up. She was still wearing his t-shirt and nursing a mug of coffee between both her hands.

  “Comfortable are we?” he asked.

  “Shouldn’t I be?”

  He felt bad for his attitude and had the urge to apologize, but he didn’t know how. The thing was that since meeting her, she just rubbed him the wrong way and he could not fathom why he asked her to sign that damn contract.

  Instead of an apology, he grunted, “I’m off.”

  She slipped from the sofa and set the cup on the coffee table without a coaster. Braeden closed his eyes and decided to ignore it. Having lived on the streets, it was apparent the girl wasn’t house broken. It would take some time to train her. She was in front of him in a second, reaching for his tie.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Fixing your tie,” she said easily as though it was the most natural thing in the world. “It’s crooked.”

  He brushed her hand away. “Don’t cross your limits. When we are alone, we keep distance from each other.”

  “Okay.” She held her hands up. “I was just trying to be nice.”

  “I have to get to work. Get whatever groceries you need with the credit card.”

  She smiled at him. “Bye.”

  Without a word, he turned and strode to the lift. When he entered he turned around to face her. She was waving at him. Her bright cheerful smile caused his heart to skip a beat.

  Shade grinned as the lift closed. She just love to make alpha men squirm. Braeden was clearly uncomfortable with a woman occupying his space. She saw the look on his face when she set the mug down on the coffee table. And that look on his face earlier when she handed him the paper and coffee – priceless.

  She spent the next couple of hours grocery shopping, carried around by Dave. He was a pretty cool guy and he made her feel at ease. On their way back from getting the groceries, she stopped to pick up sweetie from the police station. Walking in there brought back memories of a couple of nights ago.

  “Can I help you ma’am?” the officer’s appraisal of her did not go unnoticed.

  Dressed in jeans and a spaghetti strap tank top, she was looking like any normal female and not some street mutt. He was the same officer who had taken Sweetie in the patrol car and offered to care for her until she came to retrieve her.

  “I’m here to pick up my cat,” she said.

  He seemed confused. “Cat?”

  “Yes, from the other night.”

  With eyes popping from his sockets, his mouth hung. It took a moment to catch himself before he gave a soft whistle.

  “You’re that car thief?”

  She made a face. “Not anymore.”

  “That guy said he worked out a deal with you and you left with him,” he said with a wink. “Must be a good deal.”

  “It’s not that kind of deal,” she retorted, with some acidity. “Will you get your mind out of the gutter? Now, please, may I have my cat?”

  “My apologies. You look different, that’s all.”

  He beckoned her to follow him inside the main station where he pointed to his desk. Sweetie was wearing a collar and perched on top of the desk like she owned the place.

  “Do you have to take her?” he asked. “She’s like the queen of the place.”

  How could she leave her baby behind? But the ungrateful cat just raised her head and looked at her as though she was a stranger, then went back to napping. Shade recalled how Braeden acted upon seeing the other two and knew he’d throw a fit having a third cat in the house. She was tempted to take home Sweetie just to spite him. But the cat looked so content, and several officers now gathered around, begging her to let the cutie stay.

  “Alight,” she relented. Leaning over, she kissed sweetie on the head. The cat purred and rubbed against her chin. “So you do remember me. I’ll visit you soon, okay.”

  Leaving the cat with the officers was the best decision having no idea what would happen with this arrangement. Whatever possessed her to sign that contract? The answer came crashing into her mind again. Jail would mean questions … and questions always demand answers. Answers she wasn’t ready for the world to know.

  Chapter 10

  The sound of the lift awoke her. She’d been lying on the sofa, bored out of her mind. At least on the streets she could stand at the back of the club and listen to the music filtering through some window. Or she could window shop at night when the lights would make everything look prettier –
even the ugliest dresses.

  There was nothing to do inside the apartment except watch television. She didn’t see any books to read either. There might be books in his study but that door was kept locked.

  Rubbing sleep from her eyes she sat up as Braeden entered the living room. He halted when he noticed she was there. Shade’s eyes took in the loosened tie, tousled hair and watery eyes.

  “What … achooo!” he tried to talk but apparently he’d caught a cold. Finally, after a few more sneezes he managed to complete his question. “What are you doing up?”

  “I fell asleep.”

  He passed and headed down the passage.

  “Are you hungry?” shade called after him. “I made dinner.”

  With another sneeze he stopped and turned. “You don’t need to cook for me, or wait up for me. This is not a regular marriage. So don’t fool yourself into believing it is.”

  “You don’t have to be rude,” she retorted. “I hate being your wife as much as you hate having me here. Making you dinner is not being wifely, it’s curtesy you stuck up dick!”

  Storming to her room she slammed the door and plopped herself down on the bed. For the better part of the rest of the night she was unable to get to sleep. Sometime during the course of the night she decided that she would rather go to jail than have to live with this man for six months. It wasn’t even yet a week and he was beginning to grate her nerves.

  At around six oc’lock she was up and gathered her pets and their food, she placed the credit card on the coffee table with a note. She was at the door when the cage door slipped open and Spike jumped out.

  “Spike,” she called softly.

  The cat refused to listen and sprinted back down the hall. But instead of the room where they had just come from, he slipped through the slightly ajar door of the master bedroom.

  “Shit,” she cursed.

  Pushing her head around the door she called softly to the cat. He jumped onto the bed and slipped under the sheet. She expected the master to awaken anytime with a slew of expletives. When that didn’t happen she braved it into the room and reached for the cat under the covers.