The Confection Assignment

By Karen D. Bradley

Mia Jakob takes on a security detail that some of her superiors felt was out of her league. They might’ve been right, but not for the reason they think. The chemistry between her and the handsome client, Calvin, has Mia struggling to resist sweet temptation as she protects him and the invention wanted by several government agencies.

The last forty-eight hours of her detail will be the most intense as highly trained teams make several attempts to steal the invention and the mastermind behind its creation. Mia’s skills are put to the test as she fights to keep them safe and the invention from falling into the wrong hands. But, will her attraction to Calvin be the very thing that get them killed?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ambrosia Sands Books
• Release date: Oct 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9781733608992

Karen D. Bradley

National bestselling author, Karen D. Bradley, has penned several contemporary fiction, suspense, psychological thrillers, and romantic suspense. She has also contributed short stories to the Sugar anthology and the Just One Kiss anthology. Venturing into film making, she wrote and produced a short film based on one of her novels. Visit Karen on the web at www.karendbradley.com.

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The Confection Assignment

THE CONFECTION ASSIGNMENT

THE DARK & LOVELY SERIES

BOOK 3

KAREN D. BRADLEY

AMBROSIA SANDS BOOKS

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this book are purely fictitious, a creation of the author's imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

The Confection Assignment Published by:

Ambrosia Sands Books

PO Box 827

Dolton, IL 60419

www.ambrosiasands.com

The Confection Assignment © Copyright 2019 by Karen D. Bradley

All rights reserved. Without prior permission, no part of this book, in any form, may be used or reproduced in any form or means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system except quotes used in reviews.

Cover Art by: Lissa Woodson for Woodson Creative Studio www.woodsonstudio.com

Interior Design by: Lissa Woodson

Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-962714-00-6

Digital ISBN: 978-1-7336089-9-2

To Debra Mitchell, who always loves the gadgets. I hope I did you proud!

To those going through the storms of life, remember to be like a palm tree. You may bend and sway under the pressure but once you overcome, you’ll return to standing tall under the rays of sunshine.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

♦Acknowledgements♦

Thank you Naleighna Kai and my NK Tribe Called Success authors, editors and beta readers for make this story better. To Jenetta M. Bradley, thank you for reading every version of the story from rough draft to the finished product. To Joelle Kirk, thanks for brain storming with me to help nail down the title.

Thank you to everyone who purchases this book, know your support is appreciated.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Transition of Power

King of Morgan Park

Knight of South Holland

Queen of Lahaina

About Karen D. Bradley

CHAPTER ONE

Mia Jakob had put her life in danger. She only had two things to focus on—protect a box that contained a project called The Emperor’s Suit, and Calvin Atwood, the man responsible for its creation.

Several attempts had already been made to capture him and his digital and paper documentation for the prototype. She was now in place to make sure the threats against the privately funded project were unsuccessful. Calvin had opted for a single protector instead of a three-person team. Minimizing his visibility was also an integral part of the plan.

I won the bet. Mia crossed her arms against her bosom, glancing at the sunset beaming in from the bulletproof glass before putting her focus on him.

Calvin’s face, the color of Georgia pecans, lifted from the notebook as he checked the time on his Rolex. A little over three hours late.

He gave her a smile that sent a tingle of warmth through her body.

It’s better than after midnight, she countered, but it’s not five, either. The agreement was you’d cook dinner—

If I didn’t stop working on time. He placed two hats and a stack of silver discs in a small black padded lockbox on the desktop.

Playing wife to him hadn’t been a hardship at all. Mia had expected the creator of an invisible suit to be a full-on nerd, complete with glasses, a white lab coat, and pocket protector. What she landed was an intelligent, handsome, muscular man who oozed sex appeal. Mia closed the case, setting the lock code with the new code protocol the firm had her beta testing. Are you ready for the Texas demonstration in a couple of days?

Yes and no. He rose from the executive chair, standing to his full height of well over six feet. I’m glad this project is wrapping up, except for one thing. His smile widened and her heartbeat quickened. "This time with my wife has been amazing."

When her team leader Walter requested that she pretend to be the scientist’s wife until The Suit was safely delivered into the hands of Sanibel Research Center, she jumped at this new opportunity. Walter could have selected one of the more seasoned women who had years of threat assessment and tactical training. Her co-workers mumbled when her name was put in place, her directors feeling she’d taken an assignment that was out of her league.

I’ve a new gift for you. Calvin rounded the desk, retrieving a small velvet pouch from his jacket pocket. He placed a gold bracelet on her wrist to match the one on the opposite wrist, then pressed a gentle kiss on her cheek.

Mia stepped back. We’re at home. Your staff isn’t here. No need for a display of affection.

It’s not my fault my wife is irresistible. Calvin issued her a searing look, daring her to take the bait.

Her gaze lowered to his arm, taking in the fact that he was wearing a similar bracelet to hers.

She placed the container in the safe. Calvin could unlock the safe, but he still needed her to unlock the case—a failsafe plan that should deter someone from going to extreme measures to get Calvin to open it and remove the goods. She’d also taken the liberty of teaching him several defensive moves that could possibly keep him alive in the event of a personal attack.

Can’t we eat out? Calvin asked as she neared the desk.

Mia glanced up at him since he towered over her by five inches. A bet is a bet.

Despite sleeping in separate rooms, the nightly conversations and occasional disagreements made this marriage feel all too real at times. Mia had to remind herself she was playing house. Getting involved with a client could ruin her career, but the man was a Harvard graduate who had the charm, humor, and compassion that had been lacking in the men she’d come across in her dating world.

This security detail ending meant Mia had to deal with her real life. She’d been living with her boyfriend when she took this opportunity. Now he was an ex and her personal items were waiting in storage. She couldn’t lie; she’d miss Calvin when the assignment ended.

His gaze roamed her body before slowly returning to her eyes. Mia’s body tingled under his heated inspection. It’s dinner time, she said, as he slid the notebook into the briefcase.

Calvin guided her to the door with his hand possessively on her lower back. They stepped off the tan carpeting onto the bamboo flooring that led to the kitchen.

Let’s eat on the deck, Calvin said as they reached a white kitchen island filled with stainless steel appliances.

"Not