She didnât want to need him.
Murder brought self-help guru Rachel de Luca and Detective Mason Brown together. Their shared secrets drove them apart. But now theyâre together again in this riveting novella that begins where New York Times bestselling author Maggie Shayneâs Sleep with the Lights On ended.
She may have been blind for twenty years, but Rachelâs always had an uncanny gift for seeing through peopleâand she distrusts her assistantâs new boyfriend at first sight. Amy isnât interested in Rachelâs misgivings, though. Sheâs too eager to celebrate Thanksgiving by introducing her family to the new man in her life.
Then Amy doesnât show up for the holiday....
Desperate to find her missing friend, Rachel has no choice but to turn to Mason. Their investigation into Amyâs disappearance takes them ever deeper into dangerâand reignites the attraction that theyâve both sworn to resist. Now itâs a race against time as these reluctant partners fight to stave off passion and save a life.
Look for Wake to Darkness, the next installment in this suspenseful series, coming in December from Harlequin MIRA and Maggie Shayne.
Praise for the novels of Maggie Shayne
âShayne crafts a convincing world, tweaking vampire legends just enough to draw fresh blood.â
âPublishers Weekly on Demonâs Kiss
âMaggie Shayne writes wonderful stories combining romance with page-turning thrills.â
âNew York Times bestselling author Karen Robards
âThis story will have readers on the edge of their seats and begging for more.â
âRT Book Reviews on Twilight Fulfilled
âA tasty, tension-packed read.â
âPublishers Weekly on Thicker Than Water
âTense...frightening...a page-turner in the best sense.â
âRT Book Reviews on Colder than Ice
âMystery and danger abound in Darker than Midnight, a fast-paced, chilling thrill read that will keep readers turning the pages long after bedtime....Suspense, mystery, danger and passionâno one does them better than Maggie Shayne.â
âRomance Reviews Today on Darker than Midnight (winner of a Perfect 10 Award)
âMaggie Shayne is better than chocolate. She satisfies every wicked craving.â
âNew York Times bestselling author Suzanne Forster
âShayneâs haunting tale is intricately woven....A moving mix of high suspense and romance, this haunting Halloween thriller will propel readers to bolt their doors at night.â
âPublishers Weekly on The Gingerbread Man
â[A] gripping story of small-town secrets. The suspense will keep you guessing. The characters will steal your heart.â
âNew York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner on The Gingerbread Man
â[Kiss of the Shadow Man is a] crackerjack novel of romantic suspense.â
âRT Book Reviews
Dedication
To my overworked editor, Leslie Wainger.
Iâd send you a vacation instead, but I couldnât get along without you for that long.
Chapter One
âWho the hell is that?â I asked, indicating the car at the end of the drive.
It wasnât my usual front-door greeting, but it wasnât a usual morning. Myrtle had an appointment at the vet, I had to get my daily ten pages written and my faithful companion and right-hand goth-chick assistant, Amy Montrose, was late.
Late. Despite the black clothes and, occasionally, lipstick and nail polish, Amy was never late.
And sheâd been dropped off by a Jag-driving douche bag outside the gate, despite that it was wide open and he couldâve easily driven her right to the front door.
âItâs Mel.â
Mel was currently trying to execute a three-point turn in my narrow dirt road without getting his tires dirty. I pushed past Amy, Myrtle, my bulldog, sticking close to my side, and walked down the driveway in my fluffy slippers, yoga pants and tank topâaka my work clothesâwaving my arms to get his attention and yelling, in case that might help. âYo! Mel!â
He glanced my way, then did a double take and got the look on his face that a kid gets when caught with his hand in the cookie jar: guilty, but unapologetic. He put his window down about the time I got within talking distance, and I reminded myself it was 9:30 a.m. on the day before Thanksgiving, in Whitney Point, New York. In other words, freakinâ freezing outside. But I was close enough to get a read on the guy. I could tell a lot about a person just by standing close enough to talk to them. Sort of feel them. Being blind for twenty years of your life gives your other senses a boost, maybe even opens up one or two that sighted people donât have. Iâd only had my vision back for a few months now. Since August. And so far my superkeen perceptions hadnât seemed to fade.
âHello,â Mel said from inside his toasty-warm car. âYou must be Rachel.â
Ms. De Luca to you, buttface. âAnd you must be incredibly shy, Mel. âCause clearly youâd have driven Amy up the driveway to the door otherwise, especially on such a chilly morning.â