Heart Heist: Securing the Sapphire: Heart Heist, #1

By Kari Shuey

Modeling the necklace is everything she'd dreamed… and more than she bargained for.

The charity gala is underway, and Kristine can't believe she's been chosen to model the star piece of jewelry on display – a gorgeous sapphire necklace.

But the sharks are circling. More than one thief is after the multi-million dollar piece of jewelry, and they will stop at nothing to get it.

A secretive stranger whisks Kristine into the night, a threatening shadow in pursuit-both with motives for the gems and the woman they adorn.

In a heist, where nothing is as it appears, will Kristine hold onto the sapphires...and her heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kari Shuey
• Release date: Sep 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215671672

Book preview

Chapter One

KRISTINE

The sapphires at her throat gleamed under the extravagant lighting of the Salt Lake City Gallery. Kristine touched them lightly, still reeling from Mr. Livingston’s decision to let her model them for the event.

The infamous jeweler held his gala once a year. Kristine must have been one of thousands of models clawing their way to this opportunity. Only a dozen had the privilege of being chosen each year to wear a piece of treasure for the night, and tonight, Kristine was one of them. Not only had they chosen her, she’d gotten the one piece everyone wanted to see.

As the chairs and tables were set up, Kristine and the others gathered around the stage.

Attention, ladies, attention. Ms. Smith corralled the women much like Kristine imagined a preschool teacher would. Despite her short, round appearance, Ms. Smith demanded respect, and it showed. Her brown hair had silver streaks at the temples, and she wore glasses on her head, only pulling them onto her nose for reading. Tonight, you have an opportunity of a lifetime. Talent agencies, jewelers, and even private consumers attend Mr. Livingston’s gala for…

Kristine had attended this lecture before as a server. A model now, she marveled at how far she’d come. Tonight she would make her dreams come true. If even one big agency noticed her, it would all be worth it.

Ms. Smith finished her pep talk and shooed the girls away as the first attendees entered the room. Kristine’s job was not only to talk up the jewelry but to get the visitors to bid on pieces from Mr. Livingston’s collection. Tonight’s gala was to raise funds for a lesser-known charity. Beyond those requirements, all the girls needed to keep the jewelry inside the building; they were prohibited from taking it off until the end of the event.

The room filled quickly as more of the well-to-do arrived. Someone bumped into her, and Kristine realized she’d never seen the server before. He mumbled an apology and rushed toward the kitchen. Kristine gently fingered the necklace again, a nervous habit she’d had since she was a child. The murmur of voices rose to a dull roar, and she wondered whom she should talk to first.

I’m not sure you’re supposed to be touching that.

A strong male voice from behind her made Kristine jump. Turning, she dropped her hand and blushed at the tall man. You’re probably right.

He was about a foot taller than her five-and-a-half-foot frame, with dark hair and eyes. He looked like he could be cast as the brooding prince in one of the fairytales she read as a child.

A slow smile crossed his face as he motioned to the necklace. Tell me about it. That’s what you’re supposed to do tonight, if I’m not mistaken.

Kristine nodded, and the redness returned to her cheeks. This beauty is the star of tonight’s show. It’s the famous sapphire necklace that was hand-crafted in…

His dark eyes glinted with mischief. She lost her train of thought as his stare bored into her.

This… this piece isn’t available for purchase, but there are pieces from this collection in the display over there. Kristine motioned to the far wall of the ballroom. They both glanced in that direction to see a large group of patrons admiring the array of necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.

Well, this piece is beautiful, but it pales compared to the woman adorned with it. The man held out his hand. I’m Charlie.

Fighting unsuccessfully to hide the power his words were having on her, Kristine gave him a shy smile and held out her hand. Kristine.

As their hands met, he continued in a whisper. I mean it, with your blue eyes and black hair, that necklace is hard to notice. He straightened up. In fact, I think it would be in Mr. Livingston’s better interest to find a plainer model for that necklace and find you a piece worthy of your beauty.

Charlie hadn’t freed her hand yet, and Kristine was uncomfortable with where the conversation was going. She tried to extricate her hand from his grasp. I’m sure Mr. Livingston knew what he was doing when he picked me to model this piece. Now, if you would excuse me, I need to visit with as many people as I can.

His grip was firm. As his gaze remained fixed across the room, she wondered if he expected something to happen. Charlie, please let go—

A deafening clatter of glass and china echoed through the auditorium as a server dropped a tray of food being brought out to the banquet table. All eyes turned to the commotion as a handful of people rushed to clean the mess.

Charlie’s hold on her hand tightened, and he pulled her toward him. I’m sorry about this, he mumbled. Pushing her in front of him, he steered her out a door leading to the patio.

Where are you taking me? I’m not supposed to leave the—

This will go a lot easier if you don’t ask questions.

Kristine dug her heels into the soft grass surrounding the gallery and almost fell as Charlie barreled into her. Whirling, she looked over his shoulder at the building, hoping the security team had noticed their exit.

Charlie