Cathryn Parry - Scotland for Christmas

These secrets won’t stay hidden

Jacob Ross needs Isabel Sage. She’s a beautiful, brilliant heiress to Scotland’s wealthiest family fortune—but Jacob isn’t interested in her looks or money. Isabel holds the key to questions about his past. And when he gets a weekend assignment as her bodyguard, Jacob finally has a shot at getting the truth.

But Jacob never expected Isabel to be anything other than a spoiled rich girl. Never expected to feel such a connection. And when Isabel realizes why he’s really there, she’ll be furious at being used. Jacob will have to convince her that she’s become so much more than an assignment…

Isabel didn’t know what she was feeling.

All she knew was that Jacob seemed furious on her behalf. It was…shocking to her.

And a wee bit flattering.

She bit her lip and stared at the red traffic light—yet another one. Jacob seemed to be attracting each and every stop along their route. She tried not to sneak looks at him.

“How long were you two a couple?” His voice was so low she had to strain to hear him. “Were you engaged to him? Did you expect to be married to him?”

Should she answer? He seemed like he was on her side. He seemed…to intrinsically believe in her.

“Sort of,” she whispered. “I mean…” She glanced at him. His eyes were warm and understanding. She really felt as if she could trust him.

But this was madness. She’d only met him a few hours ago, and she was Isabel Sage—she couldn’t trust outsiders.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Extract Copyright ,

Thanks for picking up Scotland for Christmas! I loved writing about the Sage family of Edinburgh, Scotland, so much for my last Mills & Boon Superromance book, The Sweetest Hours (December 2013), that I decided to set two more stories in their romantic world.

This story is primarily a bodyguard tale. Jacob Ross is an emotionally cut-off US Secret Service agent who needs to find out how his police officer father was killed in action years ago while rescuing the kidnapped niece and nephew of John Sage, billionaire CEO of the Sage family empire. Isabel Sage is John’s lonely other niece. Though she is smart, hardworking and—above all—loyal to her family, she is drawn to the gruff protector who initially hasn’t been honest about his agenda with her. As a potential successor to the CEO job, it’s not in her best interests to help Jacob. And Jacob certainly can’t afford to fall for this gentle woman from a completely different world from his.

But the healing power of love shines through, and as they return to Scotland for Christmas, Jacob is reconciled to his family’s painful past while Isabel finds the one love who truly makes her feel at home.

I hope you enjoy Isabel and Jacob’s story.

All the best,

Cathryn Parry

Scotland for Christmas

Cathryn Parry

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CATHRYN PARRYloves to travel—especially to Scotland!—at any time of year that she can manage. At all other times she lives in New England with her husband and her neighbor’s cat, Otis. Cathryn is an active member of Romance Writers of America and enjoys presenting inspirational workshops to writers. Her Mills & Boon Superromance books have received such honors as a Booksellers’ Best Award, HOLT Medallion Awards of Merit and several readers’ contest nominations. Please see her website at cathrynparry.com.

This story is dedicated to my grandmother, Ruth McLeod, who loved Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with the family.

I miss you, Nana.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text These secrets won’t stay hidden Jacob Ross needs Isabel Sage. She’s a beautiful, brilliant heiress to Scotland’s wealthiest family fortune—but Jacob isn’t interested in her looks or money. Isabel holds the key to questions about his past. And when he gets a weekend assignment as her bodyguard, Jacob finally has a shot at getting the truth. But Jacob never expected Isabel to be anything other than a spoiled rich girl. Never expected to feel such a connection. And when Isabel realizes why he’s really there, she’ll be furious at being used. Jacob will have to convince her that she’s become so much more than an assignment…

Introduction Isabel didn’t know what she was feeling. All she knew was that Jacob seemed furious on her behalf. It was…shocking to her. And a wee bit flattering. She bit her lip and stared at the red traffic light—yet another one. Jacob seemed to be attracting each and every stop along their route. She tried not to sneak looks at him. “How long were you two a couple?” His voice was so low she had to strain to hear him. “Were you engaged to him? Did you expect to be married to him?” Should she answer? He seemed like he was on her side. He seemed…to intrinsically believe in her. “Sort of,” she whispered. “I mean…” She glanced at him. His eyes were warm and understanding. She really felt as if she could trust him. But this was madness. She’d only met him a few hours ago, and she was Isabel Sage—she couldn’t trust outsiders.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Extract Copyright , Thanks for picking up Scotland for Christmas! I loved writing about the Sage family of Edinburgh, Scotland, so much for my last Mills & Boon Superromance book, The Sweetest Hours (December 2013), that I decided to set two more stories in their romantic world. This story is primarily a bodyguard tale. Jacob Ross is an emotionally cut-off US Secret Service agent who needs to find out how his police officer father was killed in action years ago while rescuing the kidnapped niece and nephew of John Sage, billionaire CEO of the Sage family empire. Isabel Sage is John’s lonely other niece. Though she is smart, hardworking and—above all—loyal to her family, she is drawn to the gruff protector who initially hasn’t been honest about his agenda with her. As a potential successor to the CEO job, it’s not in her best interests to help Jacob. And Jacob certainly can’t afford to fall for this gentle woman from a completely different world from his. But the healing power of love shines through, and as they return to Scotland for Christmas, Jacob is reconciled to his family’s painful past while Isabel finds the one love who truly makes her feel at home. I hope you enjoy Isabel and Jacob’s story. All the best, Cathryn Parry

Title Page Scotland for Christmas Cathryn Parry www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author CATHRYN PARRY loves to travel—especially to Scotland!—at any time of year that she can manage. At all other times she lives in New England with her husband and her neighbor’s cat, Otis. Cathryn is an active member of Romance Writers of America and enjoys presenting inspirational workshops to writers. Her Mills & Boon Superromance books have received such honors as a Booksellers’ Best Award, HOLT Medallion Awards of Merit and several readers’ contest nominations. Please see her website at cathrynparry.com .

Dedication This story is dedicated to my grandmother, Ruth McLeod, who loved Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with the family. I miss you, Nana.