Kidnapped At Christmas

Kidnapped At Christmas
Maggie K. Black

HER HOLIDAY BODYGUARD When journalist Samantha Colt finds herself tied up and dumped on a landmine outside her boss's country house, she has no memory of how she got there. And her only clue is an ominous note warning her to quit before it's too late. Fortunately, the quick-witted soldier who's house-sitting for her boss rescues her…and agrees to become her bodyguard until the danger ends. Joshua Rhodes might be protecting Sam as a favor, but the spark that immediately sizzles between him and the determined, lovely reporter can't be denied. If the puzzled pair can't swiftly outsmart Samantha's tormentors, though, their brimming holiday romance will be snuffed out…along with Samantha's life.

HER HOLIDAY BODYGUARD

When journalist Samantha Colt finds herself tied up and dumped on a landmine outside her boss’s country house, she has no memory of how she got there. And her only clue is an ominous note warning her to quit before it’s too late. Fortunately, the quick-witted soldier who’s house-sitting for her boss rescues her…and agrees to become her bodyguard until the danger ends. Joshua Rhodes might be protecting Sam as a favor, but the spark that immediately sizzles between him and the determined, lovely reporter can’t be denied. If the puzzled pair can’t swiftly outsmart Samantha’s tormentors, though, their brimming holiday romance will be snuffed out…along with Samantha’s life.

“Do you think something bad will happen if I move you?”

Yes.

“Will somebody attack us? Like there’s somebody nearby lying in wait?”

No.

“How about a booby trap?”

Yes. Her eyes cut to the floorboards hoping he’d understand.

“Underneath you? Like a pressure-sensitive device?”

Yes! She nodded her head.

“Well, then, I get why you’re so twitchy.” He set the gun down, reached into his back pocket and pulled out his knife. “It looks like you can move your head freely without setting it off. So now that I know what’s going on, I’m thinking that if I’m really slow and careful I can probably cut off your gag and then you can tell me exactly what we’re dealing with, okay?”

Yes, but—

She took a breath and then nodded.

“Okay,” he said. “Let’s do this.”

MAGGIE K. BLACK is an award-winning journalist and romantic suspense author with an insatiable love of traveling the world. She has lived in the American South, Europe and the Middle East. She now makes her home in Canada with her history teacher husband, their two beautiful girls and a small but mighty dog. Maggie enjoys connecting with her readers at maggiekblack.com (http://www.maggiekblack.com).

Kidnapped at Christmas

Maggie K. Black

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come.”

—Isaiah 35:4a

Thanks to Roz for giving me a safe place to hide and write. Thanks to Sunny for the puzzle-piece metaphor. You are remarkable women, and you both inspire me.

Also, thank you, Bethany, for lending me your very special headphones when mine broke, so that I didn’t have to write the suspenseful kidnap scene while listening to “Under the Mango Tree.” You are very awesome and I love you.

Contents

Cover (#u6a00fd13-ba53-56cb-8834-d50e1ad28912)

Back Cover Text (#u0857e2a5-2f2f-5e93-9d35-132d760adde9)

Introduction (#u553e1175-06a5-5ca0-b299-caf8025c29d7)

About the Author (#u20e57751-9fa5-5d93-a7a6-fb4f5fe01f13)

Title Page (#u0b1050ee-af1d-5c5b-8dfb-e90bc0d4a6d5)

Bible Verse (#uda5d9d7c-85bc-5bb6-9b42-5cd565f237dd)

Dedication (#uf2d5783c-5b08-5b22-b857-48453df19c4d)

CHAPTER ONE (#u7350dbcd-5d02-5ea3-b11d-86c42cfd380f)

CHAPTER TWO (#u9d31353b-e365-594e-be80-a7a99e683988)

CHAPTER THREE (#u2bc97dee-1bd0-57e0-9c81-36c367249ab0)

CHAPTER FOUR (#u11e59bc3-398d-5641-9c9d-8b4f5a4a0d7e)

CHAPTER FIVE (#uca070e13-7019-5b11-aad1-f2f37649f980)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)