The Protective Warrior by Cami Checketts
A daughter escaping, a Navy SEAL sent to protect her, and the beautiful island that might prove more dangerous than her father.
Ally, daughter of the Duke of Gunthry, has spent her life terrified of her father and dreams of the day when she can escape his tyrannical rule.
When her mum helps her escape to the beautiful island of Kauai, Ally thinks she’s found paradise and maybe more with the handsome River who keeps crossing her path.
But there are unexpected enemies lurking in the shadows. And no matter how tough River seems, no one can withstand the army her father will send when he discovers her location.
River Duncan is part of an elite security task force of ex-Navy SEALS. Little does he know his first assignment might prove irresistible to resist and protect. When he finds himself falling for the fun-loving Ally he plans to resign his position so they can join forces in their common goal of fighting human trafficking. River has never underestimated the enemy before, but is he fully prepared to protect and love Alexandria Gunthry?
Will River’s protection and Ally’s love be enough to conquer a lifetime of fear and responsibilities? Or will they be forced to give up on their dreams in the face of her sadistic and powerful father?
Praise for The Protective Warrior
I absolutely love the way Cami Checketts is able to sweep me away to an exotic location, completely immersing me in the story. She always adds an element of suspense that keeps me on my toes and I was almost looking over my shoulder while hiking the lush trails of Kauai this afternoon.
It doesn’t get any better than this! An excellent read from start to finish! I love this book!
Outstanding! One of my all-time favorites!
The Protective Warrior is the perfect balance of sweet romance and on-your-toes suspense. I loved it!
Excerpt
They reached the pebbled area next to the waterfall, she gave him a
mischievous glance and then dropped her backpack, turned, and ran
straight into the pool. Diving into the water, she swam toward the
waterfall. The force of the water drove her back away from it, splashing
water into her face.
River stared. This girl was nuts. He would think she was fun if he wasn’t responsible for her safety.
“Come on, chum,” Ally hollered to him.
River blew out a breath, dropped his backpack, and peeled off his shirt. No reason to be completely wet when he got out.
Ally’s eyes swept over his chest as he walked toward her and she gave him a coy grin. This girl was trouble. No wonder her parents had been so willing to pay top dollar for River to protect her. Hopefully it was simply protecting her from herself. If there was a stalker or someone bent on hurting her, this innocent creature would be done for.
He stepped into the water and shivered. You’d think all water in Hawaii was warm, but it was February and the source was coming out of a mountain. Bracing himself, he dove in and swam quickly to Ally. The spray from the falls was strong. It stung his face, but he’d been born to be in the water and it didn’t bother him.
“Isn’t this the bee’s knees?” she asked, all childlike exuberance.
“Yeah.”
They treaded water next to the downpour from the waterfall for maybe half a minute; then she grinned and splashed some water at him before swimming away. She stopped and stood in water about waist deep. Water streamed down her smooth, tanned skin and her wet hair looked like gold. Her tank top clung to her chest and abdomen. She was far too beautiful and apparently clueless of that fact.
In a dozen strokes River was next to her and stood on the uneven boulders that made up the bottom of the pool.
She glanced up at the greenery surrounding them and the water cascading down. “It’s so … invigorating.”
She stuttered a step and River moved forward to steady her. The rocks were slippery and unstable. “You okay?”
“Yes. Thanks for sharing this with me! Cheers!” She threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. Her lithe body was warm against his chest and her lips were soft and seemed to mold perfectly to his. She pulled back, laughed, and dove under the water like some sea nymph.
River sat there, stunned. That kiss had been sweet and innocent yet warmed him all the way to his bones. She couldn’t really act like this with every guy she’d met; she wouldn’t have any of the innocence left that leapt from her bright blue eyes. Didn’t she realize how dangerous this was? Being alone with some guy she didn’t know was one thing, but flinging herself at him and kissing him?
Now where was she? He glanced around the small pool. Had the waterfall gotten a hold of her and pummeled her against the rocks?
He was coiling to dive in after her when she surfaced and wiped the water off of her face. “Isn’t this fun?”
River couldn’t take it any longer. He pushed through the water, grabbed her arm, and hauled her back onto dry ground.
“Are you daft?” she asked, her eyes finally wide with fear. Maybe there was an ounce of sense in that pretty head. “Let me go!”
River released her arm, but he stayed right in her face. “Are you completely insane?”
River stared. This girl was nuts. He would think she was fun if he wasn’t responsible for her safety.
“Come on, chum,” Ally hollered to him.
River blew out a breath, dropped his backpack, and peeled off his shirt. No reason to be completely wet when he got out.
Ally’s eyes swept over his chest as he walked toward her and she gave him a coy grin. This girl was trouble. No wonder her parents had been so willing to pay top dollar for River to protect her. Hopefully it was simply protecting her from herself. If there was a stalker or someone bent on hurting her, this innocent creature would be done for.
He stepped into the water and shivered. You’d think all water in Hawaii was warm, but it was February and the source was coming out of a mountain. Bracing himself, he dove in and swam quickly to Ally. The spray from the falls was strong. It stung his face, but he’d been born to be in the water and it didn’t bother him.
“Isn’t this the bee’s knees?” she asked, all childlike exuberance.
“Yeah.”
They treaded water next to the downpour from the waterfall for maybe half a minute; then she grinned and splashed some water at him before swimming away. She stopped and stood in water about waist deep. Water streamed down her smooth, tanned skin and her wet hair looked like gold. Her tank top clung to her chest and abdomen. She was far too beautiful and apparently clueless of that fact.
In a dozen strokes River was next to her and stood on the uneven boulders that made up the bottom of the pool.
She glanced up at the greenery surrounding them and the water cascading down. “It’s so … invigorating.”
She stuttered a step and River moved forward to steady her. The rocks were slippery and unstable. “You okay?”
“Yes. Thanks for sharing this with me! Cheers!” She threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. Her lithe body was warm against his chest and her lips were soft and seemed to mold perfectly to his. She pulled back, laughed, and dove under the water like some sea nymph.
River sat there, stunned. That kiss had been sweet and innocent yet warmed him all the way to his bones. She couldn’t really act like this with every guy she’d met; she wouldn’t have any of the innocence left that leapt from her bright blue eyes. Didn’t she realize how dangerous this was? Being alone with some guy she didn’t know was one thing, but flinging herself at him and kissing him?
Now where was she? He glanced around the small pool. Had the waterfall gotten a hold of her and pummeled her against the rocks?
He was coiling to dive in after her when she surfaced and wiped the water off of her face. “Isn’t this fun?”
River couldn’t take it any longer. He pushed through the water, grabbed her arm, and hauled her back onto dry ground.
“Are you daft?” she asked, her eyes finally wide with fear. Maybe there was an ounce of sense in that pretty head. “Let me go!”
River released her arm, but he stayed right in her face. “Are you completely insane?”
Author Cami Checketts
Cami Checketts is married and the proud mother of four future WWF champions. Sometimes between being a human horse, cleaning up magic potions, and reading Bernstein Bears, she gets the chance to write fiction.
Cami graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Exercise Science. She and her family live in the beautiful Cache Valley of Northern Utah. During the two months of the year it isn’t snowing, she enjoys swimming, biking, running, and water-skiing.
Nani Swimsuit Giveaway
To celebrate the release of The Protective One we are giving away an adorable Nani Swimsuit of your choice ($80 value). Enter to win below.
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