Stolen Hearts Read Online Free Page A

dinner with him.
    Funny how an hour ago she thought him to be some sort of criminal watching her store and now she was ready to go on a date with him.
    It really, really made no sense whatsoever.
    “Yes, she knows me and we’re going out tonight.” Alex smiled in Johnny’s direction but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Sorry bud, I guess I beat you to the punch.”
    “Yeah, I guess so.” Johnny shrugged and started for the door. “I’ll be seein ’ you, Celeste.”
    She waited until the door shut behind him before she turned toward Alex. “Why did you do that?”
    “You didn’t want to go out with him.” It wasn’t a question but a statement.
    “Yes, I did. I’ve wanted to go out with him for weeks!” Well, that last part was true at least.
    “Yeah well, you don’t want to go out with him now. You want to go out with me instead.”
    “I do not want to go out with you.” Now it was her turn to place her hands on her hips, hoping he didn’t notice the hard points of her nipples. She was almost positive her bra was lined well enough…
    Really, she didn’t want to go out with this man. He wasn’t her type, she had no idea who he was and he was awfully pushy. Cocky.
    So why did she find that just the slightest bit irresistible?
    “You’re saying that what happened between us earlier didn’t actually happen then?”
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Of course she knew what he was talking about. And secretly, she couldn’t deny the sexual tension that had crackled around them. There was something between them—but people just didn’t react based on instant attraction.
    Did they?
    Well, people like her didn’t. She knew that.
    He smiled and actually brushed the tip of her nose with a calloused fingertip. Just that little touch sent a zing straight to her pussy, making her panties dampen in an embarrassingly quick manner.
    “You know exactly what I’m talking about. I’ll meet you here at six-thirty, when you’re done closing the shop. How does that sound?”
    “I can’t even go home and change my clothes?” She didn’t deny his suggestion or protest his arrogance in assuming she’d be waiting for him.
    “I like that sweater on you. It does amazing things for your eyes.” His gaze was nowhere near her eyes, though. No, more like he’d taken up a complex study of her breasts.
    She didn’t know it was possible but her nipples actually ached, they were so hard.
    “My eyes are up here,” she protested weakly.
    “Yeah, I know.” He met her gaze, a smile on his face, dimples winking at her.
    And then he was gone, the swoosh of the door closing and the gentle tinkling of the bells the only evidence that he’d been there.
    Slumping against the counter, she rested her hand against her chest, her wildly beating heart threatening to burst out of her skin. If she could barely survive that encounter with the mysterious, sexy Alex, how was she going to survive dinner with him?
    She had no clue. But she was dying to find out.

Chapter Three
     
    “Tell me you have it now. It’s the least you could do for your old man.”
    “Look, Dad, this isn’t as easy as it sounds. There are a lot of complications I have to deal with. Give me time, let me finesse the owner before I swipe the bracelet from her display case.” Alex turned the key in his motel door and walked inside the tiny room.
    “Finesse the owner my ass. I heard she’s a pretty little thing. Stop wasting your time trying to get in her panties and bring home that bracelet now, Alex.”
    Alex sat heavily on the edge of the bed, the cheap mattress groaning from his weight. “I’m not trying to get into her panties. That’s your method, not mine.”
    “Ha. Smartass. Listen—you get that necklace back to me within the next seventy-two hours and I’ll make it worth your while.”
    “What are you talking about?” He perked to attention at the words “worth your while”, he couldn’t help it. It was part of his nature,