Amelia Autin - The Bodyguard's Bride-To-Be

A pretend engagement suddenly becomes very real...and dangerous

When Tahra Edwards sees a suspicious knapsack near a school yard, she leaps into action...and saves children from a bomb. But upon awakening in a hospital, Tahra discovers she’s lost her memory—including any recollection of the handsome military captain who says he’s her fiancé. A charming alpha hero who seems to be hiding something...

As a high-level bodyguard, Marek Zale knows that a ruthless terrorist organization will stop at nothing to silence Tahra—his ex-girlfriend—permanently. To protect her, he must be by her side around the clock. And though he may not be telling her the truth about their engagement, their love for each other was always true...as is the danger threatening them both!

Marek was hiding something.

Tahra didn’t know how she knew, just that she did—Marek wouldn’t sit back and wait for someone else to solve the mystery and bring the perpetrators to justice. Even if she wasn’t involved, even if she wasn’t still a potential target, Marek was too über-alpha, too much of a take-charge man, to sit quietly on the sidelines while someone else ran the ball.

“What exactly are you doing?” Tahra asked.

“What makes you think I’m doing anything?” he parried.

Tahra knew he was keeping something from her...again.

Again?

Tahra stiffened. Where had that thought come from? What would make her think Marek had deceived her about something in the past? The past she couldn’t remember.

She’d ask him, but if he told her too much about her past, how would she know if she ever really regained her memory or just thought she had?

There’s another reason, too, a little voice in the back of her mind taunted her. You’re afraid to know.

Because despite the strikes Marek had against him, he was drawing her under his spell, like a fragile moth to a far-too-tempting flame.

Be sure to check out the previous volumes in

the Man on a Mission miniseries!

Man on a Mission: These heroes, working at

home and overseas, will do anything for justice,

honor...and love

* * *

If you’re on Twitter, tell us what you think of Harlequin Romantic Suspense! #harlequinromsuspense

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Epilogue Extract Copyright ,

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave. When first we practice to deceive!” Sir Walter Scott wrote those lines centuries ago, but they still hold true today. One lie begets another, and another, and soon the lies take on a life of their own.

When I wrote King’s Ransom, part of my Man on a Mission miniseries, Captain Marek Zale played a pivotal role, providing secret protection for the woman who would become Zakhar’s queen. And in Alec’s Royal Assignment, he (and we) met Tahra Edwards, administrative assistant to the hero of that book at the US embassy in Zakhar. Marek and Tahra were such compelling characters, I knew I’d have to write their story.

In many ways Tahra reminds me of the heroines I loved in romances years ago. But just as I have grown and changed over the years, Tahra is also very different from those long-ago heroines. She knows what she wants, and she won’t settle for anything less than an equal partnership with the man she loves, despite being “an old-fashioned girl.”

And Marek? Zakhar is fifty years behind the times, and über-alpha hero Marek is a product of his environment. But he has already learned a few home truths about women and their role in society in Alec’s Royal Assignment. Now, in The Bodyguard’s Bride-to-Be, he’s about to be brought into the twenty-first century in the way only Tahra can do it. But first Marek must explain away a tangled web of lies and deception...begun with the best of intentions.

I love hearing from my readers. Please email me at AmeliaAutin@aol.com and let me know what you think.

Amelia Autin

The Bodyguard’s Bride-to-Be

Amelia Autin

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Award-winning author AMELIA AUTIN is an inveterate reader who can’t bear to put a good book down...or part with it. She’s a longtime member of Romance Writers of America and served three years as its treasurer. Amelia resides with her PhD engineer husband in quiet Vail, Arizona, where they can see the stars at night and have a “million-dollar view” of the Rincon Mountains from their backyard.

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For my sister, Peggie Autin Schommer, who encouraged me in the early days of my writing career...as well as when I decided to jump back into the fray after many years. For a real-life hero, Shannon Johnson, who shielded a coworker with his body during the San Bernardino massacre, saying, “I got you.” Not every man has it in him to be a hero, but Shannon Johnson’s action that day is the very definition of bravery—conquering your fear and doing what you have to do in the instant you have to do it...even at the cost of your own life. Requiescat in pace, Mr. Johnson.

And for Vincent...always.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A pretend engagement suddenly becomes very real...and dangerous When Tahra Edwards sees a suspicious knapsack near a school yard, she leaps into action...and saves children from a bomb. But upon awakening in a hospital, Tahra discovers she’s lost her memory—including any recollection of the handsome military captain who says he’s her fiancé. A charming alpha hero who seems to be hiding something... As a high-level bodyguard, Marek Zale knows that a ruthless terrorist organization will stop at nothing to silence Tahra—his ex-girlfriend—permanently. To protect her, he must be by her side around the clock. And though he may not be telling her the truth about their engagement, their love for each other was always true...as is the danger threatening them both!

Introduction Marek was hiding something. Tahra didn’t know how she knew, just that she did—Marek wouldn’t sit back and wait for someone else to solve the mystery and bring the perpetrators to justice. Even if she wasn’t involved, even if she wasn’t still a potential target, Marek was too über-alpha, too much of a take-charge man, to sit quietly on the sidelines while someone else ran the ball. “What exactly are you doing?” Tahra asked. “What makes you think I’m doing anything?” he parried. Tahra knew he was keeping something from her...again. Again? Tahra stiffened. Where had that thought come from? What would make her think Marek had deceived her about something in the past? The past she couldn’t remember. She’d ask him, but if he told her too much about her past, how would she know if she ever really regained her memory or just thought she had? There’s another reason, too, a little voice in the back of her mind taunted her. You’re afraid to know. Because despite the strikes Marek had against him, he was drawing her under his spell, like a fragile moth to a far-too-tempting flame. Be sure to check out the previous volumes in the Man on a Mission miniseries! Man on a Mission: These heroes, working at home and overseas, will do anything for justice, honor...and love * * * If you’re on Twitter, tell us what you think of Harlequin Romantic Suspense! #harlequinromsuspense