Liz Johnson - Christmas Captive

SABOTAGE AT SEA

On his cousin’s Christmas cruise wedding, navy SEAL Jordan Somerton anticipated having the typical best man duties—not facing down criminals boarding the ship. But when the luxury liner is infiltrated by men determined to kidnap the flower girl, he’s plunged into an unexpected mission. Maid of honor and DEA agent Amy Delgado hasn’t forgiven Jordan for a misunderstanding in their pasts. But with her young niece targeted, she must draw on Jordan’s skills as a protector. Signs point to an inside job. With a traitor in their midst, can they ensure that every passenger returns home safely for the holidays...even as they find love amid deepening danger?

Where would they be safe?

Out of the corner of her eye, Amy saw a closed door to what looked like a small storage closet. But as she turned toward it, she ran directly into an unmoving chest.

Large hands clamped on both of her shoulders, surrounding Elaina and stopping her midstep. “Amy? Are you all right? I thought I heard someone screaming.”

She had to peer all the way up into his face to get a good look at Jordan, but even then her eyes wouldn’t quite focus on him.

“Amy.” His tone was clipped, his eyes darting from her to Elaina and back. “What’s wrong?”

Everything in her melted. She hadn’t even known she’d wanted his help, but now that he was here, she recognized him for exactly what they needed. “Someone’s chasing us. Shot at us.”

If he needed to think through his actions, it took him only a fragment of a second. He grabbed them both, shifting them out of the line of view of the stairwell. “Stay right here. Don’t move.”

Dear Reader,

Thank you for joining Jordan and Amy and me on this adventure. I hope you enjoyed reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it. In fact, I’ve loved writing about all of the men of SEAL Team Fifteen, these men of valor.

When I wrote the first book in the series more than five years ago, I had no idea that I’d get to explore the lives of all six of these amazing men, but I’ve loved discovering their humor, their personalities and their matches. Love has a way of changing us, but only if we open ourselves up to it.

I hope you’ll open your heart to love—especially the love of God, which is greater than we can ever imagine.

Thanks for spending your time with us. I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me at liz@lizjohnsonbooks.com, Twitter.com/LizJohnsonBooksor Facebook.com/LizJohnsonBooks. Or visit LizJohnsonBooks.comto sign up for my newsletter.

Liz Johnson

By day LIZ JOHNSON works as a marketing director. She makes time to write late at night and is a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, and enjoys exploring local theater and doting on her nieces and nephews. She writes stories filled with heart, humor and happily-ever-afters and can be found online at www.lizjohnsonbooks.com.

Christmas Captive

Liz Johnson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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We love Him, because He first loved us.

—1 John 4:19

For Amy, the best kind of friend.

I’m so thankful for you!

And for all of the second chance sweethearts, whose love is richer because of forgiveness.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

ONE

When Petty Officer Jordan Somerton stepped onto the lido deck of the cruise ship Summer Seas, he’d have gladly given a month’s salary to be on land.

That wasn’t something he usually thought. Not after almost ten years in the navy, eight of those as a SEAL. Sea. Air. Land. It didn’t matter to him on any given mission. He was comfortable in any and all.

Only this wasn’t a mission. And he wasn’t aboard a naval ship.

“Jordan!” his aunt Phyllis called from the starboard side of the hardwood deck. As she waved her hand, enough bracelets to sink a liner half this size jangled around her wrist. He wasn’t usually called Jordan by anyone but his family. His team called him River. As in the Jordan River.

But he didn’t think he could avoid Aunt Phyllis by pretending he didn’t recognize his own name. Not with her eyes on him like a laser. So he smiled at her and circled around the outskirts of the crowd, his back always to the wall, facing the collection of Somertons and Sutcliffs mingling around the pool.

A ship with a pool. What a waste of space.

But Aunt Phyllis didn’t seem to agree. She shuffled over, dragging his youngest cousin, Stephanie, in her wake.

“Hi, Steph,” he said, leaning down to hug her shoulders and kiss the top of her head. Even though she had just graduated from high school, their standard greeting seemed fitting since he’d spent most of his growing-up years living with them. “How’s college?”

She shrugged, but it did nothing to dim the smile on her lips and her flashing white teeth. “Okay.”

Phyllis pouted. “She met a young man and wants to go to his house for Christmas.”

Stephanie’s eyes bugged out. “Mo-om!”

Jordan tried not to laugh, but Stephanie’s face was just too good to hold it back. “Sorry, kiddo. Welcome to being an adult single in this family. I wish I could tell you it gets better.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t.”

She glanced toward the corner of the pool, where Stephanie’s sister and her fiancé stood, hand in hand, staring into each other’s eyes. A little too in love for his taste.

“But they never teased Kaneesha.”

“It’s because she’s been dating Rodney since they were thirteen. Everyone’s known this week was coming forever.” He just hadn’t been planning on their wedding taking place on a cruise ship somewhere in the middle of the Caribbean a week before Christmas. “Just wait until you bring a guy home.” He rolled his eyes. “I can’t wait to see that!”

Phyllis was already frowning, clearly picturing her baby walking down the aisle. Suddenly her eyes shifted in Kaneesha’s direction. “Speaking of bringing a date to family dinner...”

Her voice trailed off and his stomach hit the deck. Rodney, in his sharp gray suit, took a step to the side as a third person joined them.

Amy Delgado. Long brown hair flowing behind her. Full skirt dancing around her knees in the ship’s breeze. Bright pink lips curved in an overflowing smile.

Words failed him.

She was stunning. And he would have noticed that, with or without the elbow to his ribs from Phyllis. He grunted. She pouted.

“I can’t believe you let that one get away.”

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He knew. He’d botched that. Badly. And he didn’t blame Amy for hating him.

The broken date hadn’t been entirely his fault. He’d blame that on the Lybanian terrorist who had suddenly popped out of hiding and tried to take over an otherwise peaceful village where a slew of American aid workers had set up shop. When the US government called on him to do his job, he’d done it. Even if it meant breaking a date he’d kind of been looking forward to.