Warming Up the Holiday Nights

By Emily Ward

Lords, Dukes, Rakes...Oh My!!!

Download this collection now and spice up your Kindle with these hot holiday romance reads. This is a guaranteed adventure beyond your wildest dreams. This special value collection includes novellas from a top independent author. These moving, independent stories feature strong heroines, tender romance, and compelling intrigue.

The complete collection includes:

A Christmas Wish
Warming Up The Holidays Nights

Press BUY and multiply your pleasure with this exciting collection!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eye Know Romance Publishing
• Release date: Dec 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005081102

Book preview

Warming Up the Holiday Nights

A Historical Romance Collection

By Emily Ward

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2020 Emily Ward

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All pictures are held by commercial license and may not be duplicated by anyone without express permission.

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook 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 recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Disclaimer/Acknowledgement/Miscellaneous

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook 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 recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

A Christmas Wish

Chapter 1:

Are you certain this is what you want to do? Lord Liam Francis cocked an eyebrow at the man he shared a billiard table with. Micah was known to make a few foolish calls. It was no secret, and why so many people invited Micah into their games. An easy hustle. Liam couldn’t help but smirk as he watched the man trying to figure out what shot to make. You’ve already lost quite a bit of money.

Micah closed his eyes for a brief moment. I can make the money back. The young man didn’t sound so sure. Do not hit Enter to continue the next paragraph.

Liam nodded, choosing to ignore how nervous his companion sounded. Make your move then. Billiards is your game after all. Liam kept his smirk. He was teasing the other man, ever so slightly. Maybe he

It is. It’s just an off night. Micah was blustering now, but he wasn’t doing a very good job at it.

Liam could tell that his victim didn’t believe that. The man knew that he had been outmatched, but was in a hole too deep to back out of now. A vague curiosity about how much money the man actually had access to crossed his mind, but he shook the thought out of his head, after all, it had been Micah’s choice to do this, and to keep going past what he could afford to lose. Liam decided to wait in silence, maybe a little bit of him felt sorry for the desperate man standing there. Going home with this kind of gambling debt to a lord didn’t end well for most people. A possible scandal was always frowned upon. And it wasn’t exactly a secret that Micah had some problems with gambling.

He watched the shot go wrong, missed as it skipped across the table. Liam forced the small twinge of guilt away from his mind as he lined up to finally win the game. After all, there wasn’t much to be done other than end it as quickly as possible at this point.

Micah sighed when it was all over then looked up. His face was drawn, lines of worry across it. I can beat you next time.

You don’t have the money to continue this. Liam shook his head. "Why don’t you pay me what you owe me and we can both move on with our lives.

Micah looked guilty. Liam couldn’t say he wasn’t expecting that. He knew the man didn’t have the kind of money he had just lost in these games of chance and skill. I’ll have to bring it to you.

How long is that going to be? The truth was that Liam couldn’t wait forever either; the establishment wanted a portion of every penny that he won by playing these games. It was the danger of having certain friends in these sorts of places. Which means if Liam let Micah leave without paying the money that he owed, Liam would be held responsible for that bill, and that wasn’t a thought he particularly relished.

It won’t be long. Micah made the promise, but he was clearly grasping.

Liam pursed his lips. You seem rather confident for a man that doesn’t have the money on him.

Micah looked down at the table. Just a minor setback. I’ve got the money to pay you, I simply need to go collect it. He didn’t look completely confident, but Liam was willing to play this role.

Another person walked up to them, looking over the table. A rather large brute of a man that looked anything other than someone from high society. It was very clear this man had been watching the match and looked down at Micah. You need to pay your debts.

Micah looked up and gulped. I can pay. I just don’t have it here. He was feeling for his money, but of course, it came up with much less than he owed. I’ll have to go home and get it.

That so? Liam was amused. This was an old song and dance, one that he had played a dozen times or more.

Of course. I wouldn’t put myself into debt that I couldn’t pay. Micah tried to feign insult, but it fell flat. Everyone could read that the young man was lying.

Liam watched him carefully, not saying much as the man that stood across the table from him deflated. The bluster faded away, and Micah just shook his head. Liam had won this round.

Gambling money you don’t have is bad form. The man shook his head. Liam must have dealt with this a hundred times, there were even times when he was on Micah’s side of this ordeal, but he had learned not to do that sort of thing, rather quickly.

Liam watched. He had seen this at least a dozen times, the build-up to getting a favor instead of the pounds that they were owed. He knew his part to play in this game and spoke up. Now, now. Perhaps we could work something out. After all, we’re all gentlemen here.

What are you suggesting? The large man sneered down at the young vassal’s son.

Micah gulped under the glare. Yes, what do you mean? His eyes were wide. Liam could almost smell the fear off of this young man. It was clear that he may have gotten into trouble before, but never anything quite this big.

What if he works off the debt? Liam suggested as if this all wasn’t a part of the plan.

Hm, that could be an idea. The large man tapped his chin. Perhaps it could work. What would you have him do?

I have a few ideas. Liam nodded as the large man seemed to accept this idea and walked away from the pair of dandies. Liam pulled himself closer to Micah. This shouldn’t take very long of your time at all, but the men that work here, we’ve got an agreement. They get a portion of every win I make. They need their money.

Micah suddenly seemed to realize the depth that he had gotten himself into. The realization painted itself all over his face. Liam pushed the pang of guilt out of his mind. Nothing is going to cause you any trouble. Nothing dangerous.

Micah’s face hardened with resolve. I doubt it will be any sort of problem.

Excellent. Liam walked over to his new friend and placed an arm around the man’s shoulders. It’s a very simple task, after all.

Micah nodded as he was led out of the small billiard room. Will this take long? He was wringing his hands, just enough to make it clear that he felt backed into a corner. He was hesitant, but Liam knew that he had the man on the ropes. Micah was going to agree.

Somewhere to be? Liam smirked. Or can I assume your family is concerned about you damaging your reputation?

The last thing they need is someone damaging my sister’s prospects, Micah admitted. The shame was clear on his face. He must have truly loved his sister to feel that way. Liam took note of it. Perhaps it was something that he could use to his advantage later.

I assume you’ve already done some damage on that end yourself. Liam was laughing softly as he walked down the street with the man. Don’t worry. If everything goes according to plan no one will ever know.

Oh. What is it I’m doing? Micah glanced around the streets they were taking. The pair was weaving down less populated streets.

In fact, they were heading out of the business and past the housing districts. The warehouses were the places that they needed to be. A place that very few people were at outside of business hours and this was very much after business hours.

All I need is for someone to play a bit of a guard at a certain location. We simply don’t want people snooping around the place. It’s a simple occupation. All you have to do is talk to anyone who comes in and get them not to ask questions.

How would I be doing that? Micah looked curiously at the man that was leading him down the road.

Don’t worry. Liam patted the young man on the shoulder. This won’t take very much of your time at all, after all, no one should come by, and if they do, you simply have to convince them that they don’t want to be around there.

How would I do that? Micah actually seemed to have genuine curiosity underneath his concern. This was more worrisome to Liam than the worry. Curiosity could end in a dangerous situation in this type of business.

Well, I’ve found that talking to people draws much less attention to yourself. After all, it’s a simple matter of distracting people from watching too closely. Liam was explaining it calmly, even if the man with him was looking around the place, somewhere between agitation and excitement. It was a feeling Liam knew well, something he had felt when he had first gotten involved with this kind of business.

No violence? Micah still held a slight frown on his face.

Liam shook his head. That won’t be necessary, fighting attracts too much attention, so we aren’t looking for anyone to hurt others. What we want is someone that won’t be threatening. Liam explained as he led the way to a small warehouse in a rather empty district of the city.

That’s good. Micah didn’t sound convinced.

The last thing this endeavor needs is any sort of violence, Liam explained it again, starting to wonder if Micah was the sort of man that could understand this sort of work. We’re looking for more finesse than that.

Micah thought on it for a long moment as they continued to walk.

The warehouse didn’t look particularly dangerous, and it certainly didn’t look like a place that anything illegal happened at. Liam led the man inside, revealing stacks of crates that just seemed to be waiting for whatever purpose was planned for them. What am I guarding? Micah ran his eyes over the place.

That’s not important, is it? Liam shook his head. Just keep people from looking in the crates, and you’ll be fine. Liam left the implied warning in his voice as he spoke, letting his companion know that he wasn’t allowed to look in the crates either.

Micah nodded at his companion. He wasn’t even making an attempt to hide the concern on his face. Liam noted that he had probably never done anything of this sort before. After all, this wasn’t the sort of opportunity that came along every day, still, Liam wasn’t worried. Micah wasn’t being asked to do anything dangerous, just some simple business of keeping nosy people out of the place.

Micah was nodding along as he was getting the tour of the place, not really saying much as the location he was going to be at was shown to him, an upstairs area with a good view of the front entrance. Just stay here and if someone comes up, walk down to meet them. It’s as simple as that.

Of course. Micah nodded and pulled a chair over to next to the window. Liam watched for a while, waiting to see if he would let his curiosity get the better of him. The silence hung around them in the air, overwhelmingly loud as they both sat. Neither shared so much as a glance, content to leave the men to their thoughts.

Liam thought for a moment about Micah’s sister. She was a beautiful girl, known to be a bit of a wildflower, and the kind of woman that men dreamed about taming. Liam had never felt the need to tame her though, but she was more something to watch from a distance, beautiful and strong, growing free. Like a flower. It’s never as good once it’s in a vase on a table as it is when it’s growing in the wild.

He shook his head. There were more important things to focus on. He stood. Since you’re settled in, I’ll leave you to it.

Micah turned. Wait. You’re just going to leave me here? Alone?

Liam nodded. It’s your job, so of course I am.

"You don’t see a