Christine Rimmer - A Bravo Christmas Wedding

“Damn it to hell, Rory …”

She stepped up nice and close. She smelled of that perfume she always wore, of roses and oranges and a hint of some dark spice. He’d always liked her scent. But now, tonight, it seduced him, made his head spin. She pulled her hand back.

Walker felt the loss of her touch as a blow, sharp and cruel.

But then she tipped up her sweet mouth to him.

It was the best offer he’d had in a very long time. And yet it felt all wrong. “I’m supposed to be looking out for you, not stealing kisses at bedtime.”

She took a soft, slow breath. “Because you’re my bodyguard.”

“That’s right.”

“Didn’t I try to warn you that being my bodyguard was not a good idea?”

Oranges. Spice. What would she taste like on his tongue? She really was killing him. “Uh, yeah. I believe that you did.”

“You should have listened to me.”

“Maybe so. Too late now, though.”

* * *

The Bravo Royales:When it comes to love, Bravos rule!

A Bravo Christmas Wedding

Christine Rimmer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CHRISTINE RIMMERcame to her profession the long way around. Before settling down to write about the magic of romance, she’d been everything from an actress to a salesclerk to a waitress. Now that she’s finally found work that suits her perfectly, she insists she never had a problem keeping a job—she was merely gaining “life experience” for her future as a novelist. Christine is grateful not only for the joy she finds in writing, but for what waits when the day’s work is through: a man she loves who loves her right back, and the privilege of watching their children grow and change day to day. She lives with her family in Oregon. Visit Christine at www.christinerimmer.com.

For my readers. I’m wishing you a beautiful, richly blessed holiday season.

Contents

Cover

Introduction “Damn it to hell, Rory …” She stepped up nice and close. She smelled of that perfume she always wore, of roses and oranges and a hint of some dark spice. He’d always liked her scent. But now, tonight, it seduced him, made his head spin. She pulled her hand back. Walker felt the loss of her touch as a blow, sharp and cruel. But then she tipped up her sweet mouth to him. It was the best offer he’d had in a very long time. And yet it felt all wrong. “I’m supposed to be looking out for you, not stealing kisses at bedtime.” She took a soft, slow breath. “Because you’re my bodyguard.” “That’s right.” “Didn’t I try to warn you that being my bodyguard was not a good idea?” Oranges. Spice. What would she taste like on his tongue? She really was killing him. “Uh, yeah. I believe that you did.” “You should have listened to me.” “Maybe so. Too late now, though.” * * * The Bravo Royales: When it comes to love, Bravos rule!

Title Page A Bravo Christmas Wedding Christine Rimmer www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author CHRISTINE RIMMER came to her profession the long way around. Before settling down to write about the magic of romance, she’d been everything from an actress to a salesclerk to a waitress. Now that she’s finally found work that suits her perfectly, she insists she never had a problem keeping a job—she was merely gaining “life experience” for her future as a novelist. Christine is grateful not only for the joy she finds in writing, but for what waits when the day’s work is through: a man she loves who loves her right back, and the privilege of watching their children grow and change day to day. She lives with her family in Oregon. Visit Christine at www.christinerimmer.com .

Dedication For my readers. I’m wishing you a beautiful, richly blessed holiday season.

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Strings had been pulled.

Aurora Bravo-Calabretti, Princess of Montedoro, knew this because Walker McKellan was waiting for her right there on the tarmac when the private jet her mother had insisted Rory use taxied in for a landing at the Denver airport.

Irritation at the sight of him—and at her mother, too—had her chewing her lower lip. God forbid she should be allowed to get off a plane and walk all the way to customs without some big, strong man watching over her, making sure she got there safely.

Tall and lean, wearing old jeans, battered boots and a heavy shearling coat, Walker had his arms folded across his broad chest, and he was leaning against his camo-green SUV. In the thin winter sunlight, he looked so American—a rancher fresh off the range, or maybe a mountain man taking a short break from wrestling grizzlies and taming bobcats. As frustrated as she was with the situation, Rory couldn’t resist whipping out her trusty Nikon D700 and snapping several shots of him through a passenger window.

Walker was a great guy. Rory adored him. He’d been a very good friend to her over the seven-plus years she’d been visiting Colorado on a regular basis. People should not take advantage of their very good friends. Rory would never have done such a thing by choice.

But her mother, who usually had the sense to mind her own business, had gone over to the dark side for no comprehensible reason and taken advantage of Walker for her. And Walker had let Rory’s mother do it.

The more Rory thought about that, the angrier she became with both of them—with her mother, for roping Walker into being responsible for her. And with Walker, too, for not allowing Rory to back out of the unfair arrangement gracefully.

She pulled on her coat, stuck her camera in her tote and headed for the exit, pausing to thank the flight steward and the pilots as she left.

When she started down the airstairs, Walker straightened from the SUV and strode toward her. “My favorite princess. Lookin’ good.” Those blue eyes with the manly crinkles at the corners swept over her red peacoat, long sweater and thick winter leggings tucked into a nice, warm pair of Sorel boots. He reached for a hug.

“Hey.” She went into his arms for maybe half a second before ducking free.

His eyes narrowed briefly at her sullen greeting, but then he only asked, “Good trip?”

“It was fine,” she said without even trying to sound as though she meant it. He gave her another swift, questioning glance. She ignored it. “There will be customs,” she said. “But it should be quick.”

A half an hour later, her luggage had been checked and loaded into the back of the SUV. They set out for the small town of Justice Creek, where her Bravo cousins lived.

As they sped down the interstate, he tried to get her talking. He teased her about the number of suitcases she’d brought and then about how he planned to put her to work cooking and cleaning out at his ranch, the Bar-N. She returned brief responses and stared out her side window at the high, flat land rolling off toward the distant gray humps of the mountains.

Eventually he gave up, turned on the radio and hummed along in his slightly off-key baritone to country-western Christmas music.

* * *

Walker waited.

Her sulky act wouldn’t last. Rory came at life full out, and nothing got her down for long.

He let her sit there and stew until they turned off the main highway onto the state road, heading northwest. When she still refused to snap out of it, he switched off the radio. “Come on. It’s not all that bad.”