Free Stolen Hearts by Karen Erickson

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,