The secret princess’s bodyguard…
As head of a visiting royal’s protection detail, Trace McKinnon’s focus should be strictly on the external threats against a woman’s life. But what happens when he finds Dr. Mara Marianescu—a princess incognito as a college professor—much more intriguing?
And that’s only the start of his troubles. When actual danger arrives for this beautiful royal, Trace isn’t sure if it’s because of a genuine threat from her country—or because of the darkness in his own past. Trace knows he should let Mara go—and does his best. But the cool, intelligent princess might just risk the one thing she has that is all her own—her heart…
Trace stared down into Mara’s face. Her smile faded and her green eyes widened. And Trace could have sworn the delicate, expensive perfume she wore increased its potency as her pulse points heated up.
Something tugged at him again, something he hadn’t felt in years. Not just desire. Not just passion.
He wanted to run the tips of his fingers along the curve of her cheek and banish the loneliness from her eyes. He wanted to pull the clip from her golden-brown hair and have it spill over his hands in a heavy wave, then wind it about his throat, binding them together.
And he wanted to draw her into the shelter of his arms and tell her…
Tell her what?
His face hardened in rejection of his unprofessional reaction to her, and he backed away, muttering a soft imprecation under his breath. Then he turned and abruptly strode out.
But not before he saw an expression in her eyes that stabbed through him.
***
When I wrote Reilly’s Return years ago, the character of Trace McKinnon intrigued me, and I knew I’d have to tell his story someday. Problem was, first I had to tell Cody Walker’s story, which I did in Cody Walker’s Woman. But I managed to work Trace in, as the heroine’s movie-star-handsome partner. Now Trace is back and on his own with a scarred past and emotional baggage, and he’s guarding an honest-to-God princess—the last thing Trace thinks he needs in his life right now.
Dr. Mara Marianescu is a conundrum, out of place in today’s world yet trying desperately to live a normal life free of the stultifying protocol surrounding her as Princess Mara Theodora of Zakhar. She arrives incognito in the US wanting nothing more than to live a quiet, simple life of purpose as a math professor at the University of Colorado.
But the world won’t let Mara and Trace forget who they are and where they come from—the past is never dead, not for either of them. They both must overcome the sins of the fathers to find love and redemption in each other’s arms through their own efforts… And we meet Mara’s brother, who will be the hero of my next book.
I love hearing from my readers. Please email me at [email protected] and let me know what you think.
Amelia Autin
McKinnon’s Royal Mission
Amelia Autin
AMELIA AUTIN is a voracious reader who can’t bear to put a good book down…or part with it. Her bookshelves are crammed with books her husband periodically threatens to donate to a good cause, but he always relents…eventually.
Amelia returned to her first love, romance writing, after a long hiatus, during which she wrote numerous technical manuals and how-to guides, as well as designed and taught classes on a variety of subjects, including technical writing. She is a long-time member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), and served three years as its treasurer.
Amelia currently 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 good brothers everywhere, just like mine—thanks Al and John!—flawed, everyday heroes who do the best they can day in and day out and who deserve wonderful women to love them. And for Vincent…always.
Though itself part of the US Department of State, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the parent organization of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). The DSS is the primary tool by which the DS carries out its security and law enforcement mandate. For more information, please visit state.gov/m/ds.
I have the highest regard for the work these federal agencies perform. Nothing in this story is intended as a negative representation of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security or the Diplomatic Security Service, their duties, or their employees.
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