As the blonde taps out the cigarette with the toe of her four-inch pump, I start in her direction. Moving at a swift pace, I keep my head cast down and my eyes locked on her handbag. Ironically, just a couple weeks ago, the roles in this scenario were reversed when a guy attempted to mug me. Now here I am, the thief.

I hope Maybelline isn’t a fighter.

The event happens fast. I snatch the strap of her purse and take off, my feet pounding the pavement. She yelps and frantically announces that her bag has been stolen. Alex comes to her rescue. I hear him behind me, gaining ground.

I dodge a group of tourists and dip around the building to enter the alley, my breath sawing my lungs. I don’t wait for Alex to catch up; I open Maybelline’s bag and dig out her phone.

I snap the purple case off in preparation and have it ready when Alex comes around the corner. I hold it up. “Here. Hurry.”

“Shit.” Alex grabs his side. “Should’ve had a few practice runs. My heart is about to explode.”

Impatience bites my nerves. “That’s what you get for sitting at a lab desk all day. Give me the device.”

“I got it.” Alex unwraps the thin device that will turn Maybelline’s phone into a hot mic. Using the plastic bag to handle the device so he won’t leave fingerprints, he lays it on the back of the phone and snaps the case into place. “Test the Bluetooth connection.”

Earpiece already in place, I press the button to turn it on. We synced the device before we left his apartment.

He whispers near the phone: “Your eyes are beautiful.”

A smiles slides across my face. “But not the rest of me?”

He huffs a derisive laugh. “I need to get this back to our damsel.”

“Look. You get to be her hero, after all.” I wink at him. “Now go return her—” I read the label on the front of the bag “—knockoff Gucci so you can reap the reward.”

Alex is not amused as he mutters a curse under his breath, but I know he’s secretly elated. This is why he’s here, to inject excitement into his dull life.

He drops the phone into the handbag and turns to go, but hesitates, facing me once more.

I tilt my head, waiting for him to say whatever’s on his mind. “What is it?” When he remains quiet, I snap, “Alex, go.”

“I’ll see you soon, Blakely.” That boyish smile touches his eyes, then he’s gone.

Adjusting the earpiece, I test the connection as I peek around the corner to watch Alex and the escort’s interaction. Their exchange is predictable. She wraps her arms around him, as if he just saved her from a burning building instead of returning her cheap bag.