Heather Macallister - Kept in the Dark

Whats a girl to do when she
finds herself in the dark for 24 hours?

If shes with the right person, the possibilities
can be absolutely mind-blowing!

Dont miss another sizzling installment
of one of Blazes most popular miniseries:

24 Hours: Blackout

JUST FOR THE NIGHT

by Tawny Weber

(May)

MINE UNTIL MORNING

by Samantha Hunter

(June)

KEPT IN THE DARK

by Heather MacAllister

(July)

24 Hours: Blackout

No lights. No power. And no holding back

Dear Reader,

I hope youre enjoying the 24 Hours: Blackout miniseries so far Just For the Night by Tawny Weber and Mine Until Morning by Samantha Hunter.

My contribution to this trilogy, Kept in the Dark, is the story of trust and second chances between a former cat burglar and her ex-loverthe security expert who sent her to prison. Talk about conflict!

Although my heroine says she doesnt believe in second chances, there are lots of people who doincluding those who run animal shelters. These volunteers see to it that lost and abandoned pets get a second chance for a happily ever after. Check out the Blaze Authors Pet Project at www.BlazeAuthors.com/blog where we highlight different animal shelters. Who knows? Maybe youll find a new best friend like the wily Jo Jo, who scampers through Kept in the Dark.

Best wishes,

Heather MacAllister

www.HeatherMacAllister.com

Heather MacAllister

KEPT IN THE DARK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heather MacAllister lives near the Texas gulf coast where, in spite of the ten-month growing season and plenty of humidity, she cant grow plants. Shes a former music teacher who married her high school sweetheart on the 4th of July, so is it any surprise that their two sons turned out to be a couple of firecrackers? Heather has written more than forty romance comedies, which have been translated into twenty-six languages and published in dozens of countries. Shes won a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award, RT Book Reviews awards for best Harlequin Romance and best Harlequin Temptation and is a three-time RITA Award finalist. When shes not writing stories where life has its quirks, Heather collects vintage costume jewelry, loves fireworks displays, computers that behave and sons who answer their mothers emails. You can visit her at www.HeatherMacAllister.com.

Books by Heather MacAllister

HARLEQUIN BLAZE

473UNDRESSED

527HIS LITTLE BLACK BOOK

583A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

To Marilyn, Carla and Barb,
and many more breakfasts at Dennys

Contents

Brooklyn, New York
Six years ago

D ONT BE A FOOL , Kaia.

Kaia Bennets father gestured dramatically, his hand crashing into her roommates study lamp. As he steadied it, Kaia dumped the dirty clothes from her backpack into a mesh hamper sitting on her closet floor. Shed planned to change her T-shirt before class, but not while her parents were in the room.

Im not. She inhaled, secretly smiling when she caught Blakes scent mingled with hers. Im a student. Just like everyone else.

You are not just like everyone else. He made a sound and muttered, I thought you would have outgrown this phase by now.

Its not a phase. Its what normal kids my age do.

One of her bras slid off the mound of dirty clothes to the floor of her tiny dorm room closet. She kicked it out of sight and bent to open the bottom dresser drawer. The drawer wouldnt open all the way unless she moved the bed, but her father was standing on the other side of it, being parental.

Her mother had positioned herself in the doorway where she could keep a lookout.

Typical. What wasnt typical was her parents making a trip into the city to see her.

How can you live like this? her father asked, looking around the cramped space.

She cant. Thats why she hasnt been back in three days, her mother snapped.

Her father looked pained. He was very good at looking pained.

Kaia stood upright clutching a sports bra; it was the only clean underwear shed found in the drawer. Have you been spying on me?

No, her father denied at the same time her mother said, Yes.

Louisa, its not spying to be concerned about our daughters welfare.

Her mother ignored him. You havent checked in with Roy Dean for your messages.

He goes by Royce now, Kaia reminded them knowing her friend would always be Roy Dean to her parents.

She stuffed the sports bra into her backpack along with her last clean pair of jeans. Actually most of her clothes were in the mesh hamper. Mentally shrugging, Kaia pulled the drawstring on it closed and prepared to take it all with her. She could do her laundry at Blakes. You know, most parents just call or text their kids when they want to talk with them. They dont message through a go-between.

Most kids didnt have jewel thieves for parents, either.

We prefer to stay off the grid.

Tell me something I dont know. Kaia met her fathers dark gaze squarely. I dont have any reason to stay off the grid. It was impossible once shed enrolled at Brooklyn College, anyway. And I never will again. She added that last bit in case they were here to try to talk her into doing a job with them.

They were getting older, although her mothers hair was still as black as Kaias without the need for hair dye. But after her mothers long ago fall, Kaia had been the one to climb over roofs, scale buildings and slither through air ducts.

Until she was old enough to say no and move out.

As she returned her laptop and other class materials to her backpack, she was aware of the long look her parents exchanged.

You fixed for money okay? her father asked.

Im fine. More than fine.

We heard about the job, her mother said, and quickly glanced up and down the hallway.

Yeah. It seems I have a knack for selling jewelry. Who knew?

Were not talking about your minimum-wage job at the mall. Her father reached across the bed and tapped the tiny lump at her throat.

Rats. Shed hoped they wouldnt notice the necklace beneath her T-shirt.

Roy Dean mentioned a diamond, he said.

Royce, she emphasized, talks too much. Before her father could ask, Kaia tugged on the gold chain so he could see the stone.

He glanced at it and in that brief look, Kaia knew hed assessed the grade, carat weight and color. Way too puny for him.

Interesting flaw enhanced by the marquise cut. Like a cats eye. A cats eye for a cat burglar. I see why it appealed to you. He dropped the pendant and moved to the doorway, relieving her mother, who limped over to have a look at the stone, herself.

Kaia rolled her eyes, both at their paranoia and the exaggerated limp.

I saw that, her father said without looking at her.

Her mother stared at the necklace and then at Kaia. You didnt get that at your little rinky dink mall jewelry store.

It was a gift.

Not from your boyfriend, her mother said sharply.

Kaia shouldnt have been surprised that they knew about Blake. No.

Casper Nazario? asked her father from the doorway.

Kaia gasped. Now they had surprised her. I

Does he know you have it? her mother interrupted.

Of course. He gave it to me.

Kaias mother looked toward the doorway and her parents changed places again.

Payment? For the job? Her father appeared genuinely concerned.