Carol J. Post - Bodyguard For Christmas

Someone’s after his little boy.

She has one chance to save them both.

When his young son is nearly kidnapped, assistant district attorney Colton Gale needs a Christmas refuge—and a live-in bodyguard. Though former military police officer Jasmine McNeal fights to shield them 24/7, she refuses to get attached. But growing close to the little boy and his father might be her only shot at keeping them alive—and becoming a family beyond the holidays.

CAROL J. POSTwrites fun and fast-paced inspirational romantic suspense stories and lives in sunshiny central Florida. She sings and plays the piano for her church and also enjoys sailing, hiking and camping—almost anything outdoors. Her daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of two fat and sassy cats and one highly spoiled dachshund.

Also By Carol J. Post Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse Dedication ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN TWELVE EPILOGUE Extract About the Publisher

Midnight Shadows

Motive for Murder

Out for Justice

Shattered Haven

Hidden Identity

Mistletoe Justice

Buried Memories

Reunited by Danger

Fatal Recall

Lethal Legacy

Bodyguard for Christmas

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Bodyguard for Christmas

Carol J. Post

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08657-8

BODYGUARD FOR CHRISTMAS

© 2018 Carol J. Post

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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“You need to stay inside, Colton. And keep away from the windows,” Jasmine whispered.

He bristled. He was probably used to being the protector. “You’re supposed to stay with Liam.”

“No, I’m supposed to protect Liam and, in the process, also protect you. Right now, there may be a threat out there. I’d suggest you let me go investigate.”

Jaw still tight, Colton dropped his hand and gave Jasmine a sharp nod.

She drew her weapon and opened the door enough to slip through. “Lock this behind me. Don’t open it unless I give you an all clear.”

Colton’s dog Brutus was on the right side of the house, still barking. When Jasmine rounded the corner, Brutus stood with his back to her, facing the front yard. He’d stopped barking, but deep growls rumbled in his chest, and his body rippled with tension.

A rustle sounded a few yards to the side of them, raising the fine hairs on the back of Jasmine’s neck. Every sense shot to full alert with the impending threat of an ambush...

Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse Dedication ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN TWELVE EPILOGUE Extract About the Publisher ,

I hope you’ve enjoyed our final visit with our Murphy friends. At the suggestion of both my editor and my critique partner, I decided to change it up and have the heroine protecting the hero rather than the other way around.

Colton’s life was shattered with the sudden loss of his wife, then was turned upside down again when someone threatened his son. When circumstances brought Jasmine into his life, though, he found that sometimes God allows healing to come from unexpected sources.

Jasmine had a difficult time accepting the idea of a personal God who would allow bad things to happen to those who serve Him. But sometimes God delivers His people from the storms, and other times He walks us through them. In both situations, when we look for it, we can see the hand of a loving Heavenly Father.

I pray God’s blessings on your life and peace through whatever storms you face.

Love in Christ,

Carol J. Post

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

—Psalms 147:3

Thank you to all the people who supported me in writing this series:

My sister Kim, for all the help with research, My critique partners Karen Fleming and Sabrina Jarema, Mom Post for beta/proofreading, My editor Dina Davis and my agent, Nalini Akolekar, My sweet, supportive family, And my loving husband, Chris.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Someone’s after his little boy. She has one chance to save them both. When his young son is nearly kidnapped, assistant district attorney Colton Gale needs a Christmas refuge—and a live-in bodyguard. Though former military police officer Jasmine McNeal fights to shield them 24/7, she refuses to get attached. But growing close to the little boy and his father might be her only shot at keeping them alive—and becoming a family beyond the holidays.

About the Author CAROL J. POST writes fun and fast-paced inspirational romantic suspense stories and lives in sunshiny central Florida. She sings and plays the piano for her church and also enjoys sailing, hiking and camping—almost anything outdoors. Her daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of two fat and sassy cats and one highly spoiled dachshund.

Booklist Also By Carol J. Post Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse Dedication ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN TWELVE EPILOGUE Extract About the Publisher Midnight Shadows Motive for Murder Out for Justice Shattered Haven Hidden Identity Mistletoe Justice Buried Memories Reunited by Danger Fatal Recall Lethal Legacy Bodyguard for Christmas Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk