Love's Protection (Protected By Love Book 3) Read online

  Love’s Protection

  Protected By Love Series: Book Three

  By:

  T.K. Chapin

  www.tkchapin.com

  Copyright © 2017 T.K. Chapin All rights reserved.

  Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with.

  Claim a FREE Christian Romance – Click Here

  Version: 12.28.2017

  ISBN-13:

  Available Books

  By T.K. Chapin

  (Inspirational Christian Fiction & Romance)

  Protected By Love Series

  Love’s Return (Book 1)

  Love’s Promise (Book 2)

  Love’s Protection (Book 3)

  Diamond Lake Series

  One Thursday Morning (Book 1)

  One Friday Afternoon (Book 2)

  One Saturday Evening (Book 3)

  One Sunday Drive (Book 4)

  One Monday Prayer (Book 5)

  One Tuesday Lunch (Book 6)

  One Wednesday Dinner (Book 7)

  Embers & Ashes Series

  Amongst the Flames (Book 1)

  Out of the Ashes (Book 2)

  Up in Smoke (Book 3)

  After the Fire (Book 4)

  Love’s Enduring Promise Series

  The Perfect Cast (Book 1)

  Finding Love (Book 2)

  Claire’s Hope (Book 3)

  Dylan’s Faith (Book 4)

  Stand Alones

  Love Interrupted

  Love Again

  A Chance at Love

  The Broken Road

  If Only

  Because Of You

  The Lies We Believe

  In His Love

  Please join T.K. Chapin’s Mailing List to be notified

  of upcoming releases and promotions.

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  Dedicated to my loving wife.

  For all the years she has put up with me

  And many more to come.

  Table of Contents

  Note from the Author

  Prologue

  Chapter 1 - Chelsea

  Chapter 2 - Jax

  Chapter 3 - Chelsea

  Chapter 4 - Jax

  Chapter 5 - Chelsea

  Chapter 6 - Jax

  Chapter 7 - Chelsea

  Chapter 8 - Chelsea

  Chapter 9 - Jax

  Chapter 10 - Chelsea

  Chapter 11 - Jax

  Chapter 12 - Chelsea

  Chapter 13 - Jax

  Chapter 14 - Chelsea

  Chapter 15 - Jax

  Chapter 16 - Chelsea

  Chapter 17 - Jax

  Chapter 18 - Chelsea

  Chapter 19 - Jax

  Chapter 20 - Chelsea

  Chapter 21 - Jax

  Chapter 22 - Chelsea

  Chapter 23 - Jax

  Chapter 24 - Chelsea

  Chapter 25 - Jax

  Chapter 26 - Chelsea

  Chapter 27 - Jax

  Chapter 28 - Chelsea

  Chapter 29 - Jax

  Chapter 30 - Jax

  Chapter 31 - Jax

  Chapter 32 - Jax

  Chapter 33 - Jax

  Chapter 34 - Jax

  Chapter 35 - Jax

  Chapter 36 - Jax

  Chapter 37 - Jax

  Chapter 38 - Jax

  Chapter 39 - Jax

  Chapter 40 - Chelsea

  Chapter 41 - Jax

  Chapter 42 - Jax

  Chapter 43 - Chelsea

  Chapter 44 - Jax

  Chapter 45 - Chelsea

  Chapter 46 - Jax

  Chapter 47 - Chelsea

  Chapter 48 - Jax

  Chapter 49 – Jax

  Book Previews

  Other Books

  Bonus

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Note from the Author

  Through careful prayer and consideration, I decided to write a Christian Romance series based around the topic of love. In today’s world, we have a whole lot of ideas on what love is, but rarely do we see God’s love extended outward to others.

  In the third book of the Protected By Love Series, entitled Love’s Protection, I decided to leave the beautiful Diamond Lake and venture down to Mexico. Up until this book I hadn’t written a book surrounding missionary work and through the experience I learned a lot. There is a big mission field out there in the world and oftentimes we can forget about it and those who serve. It’s important to take time to pray for them, and also to support our local church’s missionaries.

  The love story in Love’s Protection was inspired by my Savior Jesus Christ. He protects from so much. While these bodies are fading away and this life is growing older day by day, I know He is protecting me. Maybe not from every physical issue that arises, but from every spiritual one. As I stay in the Word and continue to lean into Him, I feel His protection all around me.

  My desire through writing this inspirational Christian romance is to inspire your faith, warm your heart, and fill you with the hope that is only found in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. May this story bless you in reading it as much as it has done me in writing it.

  Sincerely,

  T.K. CHAPIN

  If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels,

  but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong

  or a clanging cymbal.

  1 Corinthians 13:1

  Prologue

  GOING INTO MISSIONS HAD BEEN in my heart since I was a young woman. It all began one Sunday morning long ago when we had one of our church missionaries in town visiting our church. I’ll never forget that woman. Her words and experiences impacted my soul like nobody else. Her name was Miss Belinda Gomez. She stood up on stage one fateful Sunday morning, brave and gallant in her demeanor as she explained with tear-filled eyes exactly what had gone on in the remote village where she’d served in the depths of Africa. She shared a story about one evening that ended in heartbreak. I’ll spare you the details, but it almost made her stop being a missionary forever. Miss Gomez didn’t give up, though. She didn’t let the attack of the enemy stop her from pursuing her heart’s greatest desire—to see people come to Christ. Throughout her message, I hung on every word that fell from her lips and by the end of it, I too desired to be a missionary.

  I was only thirteen years old at the time, but I knew that someday, I would become a missionary.

  Chapter 1 - Chelsea

  MY BAGS HAD BEEN PACKED for nearly a week by the time the day finally arrived to set foot on the bus. A group of us, primarily consisting of the youth group from Church on the Lake, were giving up our lives for a couple of weeks in order to serve a church down in Guadalajara, Mexico. We’d soon be boarding an airplane and leaving behind everything we knew in the name of Christ. That morning, we were all meeting at the church to get a ride to the airport.

  Arriving in the church parking lot, I was elated to see out my window not only the teens, but also a dear friend, Marie. Her husband, Winston, was also there to wish us off. I ha
d met Marie at Church on the Lake when Charlie and Serenah had their first service in the church.

  “Thanks for the ride, Mom.” My words were but a whisper as I grabbed for my door handle. She stopped me, gently touching my shoulder with her hand. I turned to her, sitting back in my seat. “What is it?”

  “I’m proud of you. Your father is too. I know it’s difficult to see at times, but we think you’re very brave for doing this.”

  My heart warmed at my mother’s sweet words. I could see her eyes glistening with fear of the unknown that lay before her only child. “Thank you, Mom. That means a lot.”

  She forced out a smile and wiped her eyes. “I love you, Chelsea. Be safe.”

  “I love you too. You have nothing to worry about.” Leaning over, I gave her a hug and then proceeded to get out of the car. I glanced back toward her as I walked away, and she waved. I smiled and waved.

  She drove away.

  Turning around, I was greeted by a cold but bubbly Marie. “Good morning!”

  “Hey, Marie! Hi, Winston.”

  “Good morning,” Winston said with a curt nod.

  “You seem just as chipper as I do for this early!” Marie said with a laugh as she rubbed the arms of her coat.

  “I am!” My gaze turned toward my mother as she pulled out of the parking lot. “You were right.” My eyes came back to Marie. “My parents were just worried. They weren’t unsupportive. My mom just told me she was proud, that they both were.”

  “See? I told you.” Looking over at the bus driver loading a few of the students’ luggage underneath the bus, she continued, “I sent about a dozen boxes in the mail yesterday for the people you are going to. They should be there a day or two after you get down there. Shirts, shorts, jeans, shoes, and so on. I hope it helps. A lot of it is brand new.”

  “Really?” I asked, my eyebrows lifting. “New?”

  “Yep.”

  My eyes welled with tears of joy as I thought about all the needs being met by God’s people.

  She waved me in for a hug.

  As we hugged, she said, “Have a great time, and we’ll be praying for you.”

  Serenah, the pastor’s wife at Church on the Lake, beckoned to me from over near the bus. “Chelsea!”

  “I gotta go. Thank you for everything, Marie.”

  I met Serenah near the bus as it idled, and she gave me a copy of the roster with all the youth who had been loaded.

  “Everyone, including Rick, is here and on the bus.” Rick Honns was the assistant youth pastor at Church on the Lake and the lead mission trip leader for the group.

  “Okay, who are we waiting on?” I asked, shaking my head.

  “We’re here, we’re here. Jeez.” My stomach flipped hearing Jonathan’s voice invade my ears. I hadn’t heard it since last week when I saw him and another girl from our church having a lunch date. It was embarrassing. I had been under the impression up until that point that we liked each other, but I was wrong.

  Turning around, I saw him with his arm around his girlfriend, Valorie. A stinging reminder of my stupidity.

  “Great. We can go then. Thanks again for everything you and Pastor Charlie have done.” Ignoring Jonathan and Valorie the best I could, I hugged Serenah.

  “You’re welcome. Have a wonderful time.”

  I headed straight for the bus.

  I climbed the stairs as I thought about Belinda Gomez and all that she had said six years ago. I need to focus on God, not Jonathan and his new girlfriend, I told myself as I took a seat up front near a window.

  “Hey, Chelsea. You excited?” Rick inquired, coming up the aisle of the bus and to my seat.

  Smiling up at him, I nodded. “Yeah, I am.”

  “All right. Let’s get this bus moving!” He hurried off the bus to grab Jonathan and Valorie. Turning my gaze downward, I prayed, God, help me rely on You through this process, through this journey. Worry pressed against my mind at the thought of meeting the bodyguard my dad had hired to accompany me down to Mexico. My father had always been protective, and it didn’t help that he had read some horrible story about the drug cartels in Mexico earlier this year.

  Taking a deep breath while I looked up and out the window, I gave all my worry over to God and prepared myself for Mexico.

  Chapter 2 - Jax

  ARRIVING EARLY TO THE AIRPORT with my passport and boarding pass in hand, I kept my patience in check as I went through security. There were about a dozen or so requirements and pieces of paperwork that had to be verified just to allow me to have a carry-on during the international flight to Guadalajara, Mexico.

  After the security checkpoint, I verified my gate location and then proceeded to grab a cup of coffee. I sat my luggage down at my table and took a seat with my coffee in the Starbucks lounge. Pulling out my copy of Patriot Games by Tom Clancy, I hoped for a little reading before my client made her appearance.

  Guadalajara, the city to which we were going, wasn’t a high-crime location in Mexico, but issues could still arise on the trip. I studied the city inside and out in the days leading up to the trip. The neighborhoods, the night life, the restaurants. Anything and everything I could in order to provide the best possible security for my client. Her life and safety were being entrusted not only to WIN bodyguard service, but to me, in particular.

  “Excuse me, Sir?” a gentleman interrupted my reading.

  Lifting my gaze from the pages of my book, I looked up at him. His hair was gray and straggly and his clothing worn. If I weren’t beyond the security gate, I’d guess he was homeless. Though unsightly, he didn’t appear to be threatening in any sense of the word. “Yes?”

  “I couldn’t help but notice you were reading Patriot Games. I loved that book!”

  I smiled. “It’s a classic. I’ve read it a few times before, but it’s been a while.” Turning the book over, I glanced at the cover. “Tom Clancy is a talented writer, if I do say so myself.”

  “Right? Hey, I was wondering, do you have a buck to spare? I don’t seem to have any cash on me and I’m really craving a Baby Ruth from that vending machine over there.”

  “Sure, bud.” I placed my bookmark into its place and pulled out my wallet. As I did, he must’ve caught sight of my gun.

  “I appreciate your service to our country. I served in ‘Nam.”

  I handed him a dollar bill. “Thank you for your service, Sir. As for me, I didn’t serve. I’m a bodyguard.”

  His eyebrows went up. “Ahh, I see. I bet you’ve seen your fair share of danger.”

  Shrugging, I placed my wallet back into my pocket. “It’s been an adventure.”

  Tipping his chin, he said, “Thanks for the dollar!”

  Watching as he walked over to the vending machine, I returned to my place in my book. There was a day, not too long ago, when I would’ve told someone like that to buzz off and rejected him, but now, things were a little different. Recommitting my life to Christ and getting sober had changed who I was in a radical way. I’d be playing by a different set of rules. Rules of kindness, fruitfulness, and goodness.

  “You must be Jax,” a woman’s voice said, coming from a distance.

  Lifting my eyes from the pages once again, I saw her—Chelsea. Code name: Emerald Rose. Almost immediately, I was overwhelmed by her beauty. Don’t let your eyes linger too long …

  Chapter 3 - Chelsea

  WATCHING HOW HE HAD INTERACTED with a stranger asking for a dollar set things on the right foot between us. I was able to see his character when nobody was watching, see it when he wasn’t necessarily on the clock, and it made me trust him instantly. The fact that he had gorgeous eyes and a smile that beamed were just extra perks I didn’t mind.

  “I’m Chelsea,” I said, extending a hand.

  “Jax Martinez.”

  His handshake was firm and confident, like how he’d carried himself over to meet me right outside the coffee lounge. I was a bit surprised he was only about an inch or so taller than me, but his height didn’t detract fr
om the easy to see strength in his arms. With arms the size of my thighs, it was apparent he could wrestle any issue that came his way. Just then, Jonathan ventured over to the two of us and introduced himself and his girlfriend, Valorie, to Jax.

  “You’re the meat shield if bullets start flying, eh?” Jonathan asked, smirking.

  Jax remained emotionless at the comment as if he didn’t hear him speak. I, on the other hand, slapped Jonathan in the chest as I felt embarrassed by his choice of words.

  “Jonathan! We’re not going to get shot.”

  “Guadalajara isn’t a drug cartel-controlled city,” Jax said. “It’s pretty civilized and actually quite large. Over a million in population, according to my research.”

  Jonathan nodded quickly, like he knew it all. “Right, but there’s still a need for us down there.” His tone was defensive, edged even, and for no reason.

  Valorie added with an airiness in her tone, “We’re going to shine the light of Jesus down there in the darkness.”

  Glancing over at Jonathan, I noticed him nodding in full agreement with her, his tongue practically hanging out of his mouth as he fell over each word she uttered.

  Jax’s gaze shifted toward the direction of the gate, then over to me. “I believe we’re boarding soon, ma’am.”

  “Chelsea is fine. I feel like I should look behind me for my mother when I hear ‘ma’am.’ ”