The Nurse's Bodyguard

A danger she can’t understand

Claire Olsen has been in Seoul, South Korea, for only one month. She doesn’t know anyone—aside from her roommate and her colleagues at the medical center—and she certainly doesn’t know why someone would attack her. Desperate to forget about the violent mugging, Claire tries to focus on her nursing, but one man won’t let her hide from the truth.

Naval intelligence officer Luke Llewellyn is determined to keep Claire safe, whether she wants him to or not. But finding out why she’s been targeted means helping Claire unearth the secrets of her past. And following his heart means trusting Claire with his own secrets….

“Claire, I think those men may have been trying to kill you.”

She surged to her feet and took several steps away before whirling around to face him again. “That’s impossible!” she said. “I don’t know anyone in Seoul. I’ve only been here a few weeks, for goodness sake. Look, you’ve obviously made some sort of error.”

Luke remained seated, still trying to keep a low profile. “I’m sorry, Claire. There is no mistake.”

Claire bit her lip then started over. “I appreciate your concern. You’ve gone above and beyond. But there’s no reason anyone would want to hurt me.”

Luke sighed. “Please at least consider the possibility. Don’t go anywhere alone and pay attention to your surroundings…. And, if anything remotely suspicious happens, contact the hospital security guards or the police and the embassy.”

“Yes, sir.” She gave him a small smile.

His own lips turned up slightly, but he still looked frustrated. There seemed to be nothing left to say. The interview was over.

Dear Reader,

My husband and I lived in Seoul, South Korea, for three years (2008–2011). While there I volunteered at a large “orphanage” (adoption agency), which was the basis for the one depicted in the book, though the name has been changed. On any given day, between 35 and 65 newborns were housed at that location. They lived there until about two to three weeks of age, when they were sent to a foster home. Occasionally, it was obvious that one of the infants was biracial; the idea for the character of Claire came from one such tiny baby.

While in Seoul, I also volunteered for the American Red Cross unit at Yongsan Army Garrison. The character of Luke was loosely inspired by an officer stationed there. Like Luke, this young man was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and “loaned” to Yongsan as an intelligence officer. Many of the situations and dealings between the South Koreans and North Koreans described in the book are based on actual circumstances. The characters, however, are fictional.

Finally, as mentioned in the story, South Korea—the Land of the Morning Calm—is a lovely and very safe country, with warm and welcoming residents. Hopefully, one day, you will have the opportunity to visit.

I hope you enjoy the story of Claire and Luke!

Melanie Mitchell

The Nurse’s Bodyguard

Melanie Mitchell

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MELANIE MITCHELL

is a native of Texas. With her husband, Scott, Melanie has lived in Belgium, South Korea and a number of cities in the United States. She has traveled throughout the U.S.A., Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Melanie draws on her travels and work abroad to bring a variety of settings, experiences and an understanding of different cultures into her work.

Melanie has been a registered nurse for many years and currently teaches nursing in the Houston area. While she has written extensively—nursing textbooks and articles—she recently turned to her love of romantic suspense. The Nurse’s Bodyguard is her second novel.

For Pamela, who inspired me to write fiction, and Roz, my best friend from Korea. Thank you both for your love and support.

Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream!—

For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Find us farther than to-day.

—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

From “A Psalm of Life”

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

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

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EPILOGUE

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

Seoul, South Korea

MARY CLAIRE OLSEN smiled shyly and said good-night to the security guard sitting at a large desk near the entrance of the Samsung Medical Center. Exiting through the automatic doors, she shifted her purse to her other shoulder and buttoned her white lab coat. The spring night was cool, but a little hazy, which was apparently typical for the city during April.

Having been in Seoul for a month, Claire had established a routine. The apartment she was sharing wasn’t that far from the hospital. She could take the subway home—the nearest stop was only two blocks away—or she could catch a cab. Although taxis cost a little more than the subway, the silver cabs were readily available, usually clean and remarkably cheap. Traveling by taxi often took a bit longer because traffic was heavy, but Claire was tired. It was almost eleven and she’d put in more than twelve hours at the hospital, so she decided to find a cab.