Seven Rogues for Christmas: A Historical Romance Holiday Collection Read online

  7 Rogue’s For Christmas

  Kirsten S Blacketer

  Dawn Brower

  Samantha Holt

  Amanda Mariel

  Lauren Smith

  Sandra Sookoo

  Em Taylor

  Contents

  Kirsten S. Blacketer

  Jewel of Winter

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Special Content: First Chapter from At Winter's Demand

  Kirsten S. Blacketer

  Connect with Me

  Discover other titles by Kirsten S. Blacketer

  Dawn Brower

  A Wallflower’s Christmas Kiss

  Foreword

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Excerpt

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Excerpt

  Prologue

  About Dawn Brower

  Books by Dawn Brower

  Samantha Holt

  Christmas Seduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  USA Today BESTSELLING AUTHOR AMANDA MARIEL

  How to Kiss a Rogue

  Acknowledgments

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Excerpt

  Chapter 1

  Also by Amanda Mariel

  About the Author

  Untitled

  Lauren Smith

  The Rogue’s Seduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Sandra Sookoo

  Tamed for Christmas

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  Em Taylor

  The St Nicholas Day Wager

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Jewel of Winter

  Kirsten S. Blacketer

  Jewel of Winter

  Book 1 in the Thieves of Winter Trilogy

  Copyright © 2015 Kirsten S. Blacketer

  Published by BlackShip

  Cover Photo: www.hotdamnstock.com

  Cover Design: Samantha Holt

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except for brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews. 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 Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  First Electronic Print, April 2015

  Created with Vellum

  To the BlackShip Fangirls who share my fascination and fandom obsession.

  Deadra and Samantha for helping me polish my prose.

  Also to Eisuke Ichinomiya from Kissed by the Baddest Bidder, my first Otome love and the inspiration for Edmund.

  Chapter 1

  The howl of the wind outside made Jess shiver. "It's going to be another cold night. You might want to have Andrew check the stables once more." She turned to her sister standing behind the bar cleaning glasses and cutlery.

  "The storm's keeping everyone from traveling. 'Tis a shame, being Christmas and all." Judith added, nodding to the empty common room tables. "Not a single guest."

  "Well, that's a fine kettle of fish right there. I'm no one now." The old man at the end of the bar chuckled into his mug.

  "Bart, you're more family to us than you are a patron. We enjoy your company, especially on nights such as these." Jess grinned at him when he tipped his glass in salute. She wiped down the tables, humming to herself when the door swung open with a thud. A cool burst of wind caught her skirts, and she shivered as the cold sank its teeth into her bare flesh.

  A man stood in the doorway, his broad stature filling most of the frame, his narrow gaze shadowed by his wavy, dark hair. He stepped into the tavern followed by two other men. The scruffy one shut the door behind them. She hurried forward, grateful for the guests and the coin.

  "Welcome to the Hart and Hare, my lords." As she approached the handsome trio, the leader stopped and took her measure, his cool grey gaze drifting over her. His expression remained passive and unreadable although the expensive cut of his clothes spoke of his wealth. She shivered again, but not from the cold this time. He surveyed the room and nodded.

  "Not what I had in mind..." His words drifted off as he turned to his companions.

  The scruffy one shrugged. "I've seen worse."

  The third man stood silent, his eyes narrow and searching, like a hawk hunting for his prey.
r />   Jess swallowed the prideful retort that caught in her throat. Her establishment was far from a dive. She pushed past the hurtful comment and smiled at her guests. Charm the coin out of them, Jess. "How may I be of service?"

  "We require lodging and a hearty meal." The first man glanced around the room once more, then his sights rested on her.

  "Please have a seat anywhere—" She began to speak when the leader cut her off.

  "We require a private room."

  Jess ground her teeth but smiled none-the-less. Arrogant curmudgeons, the room is bloody empty! She sighed and nodded. "This way, my lords." Jess led them to a small parlor at the back of the common room. A fire burned in the hearth. She added another log to it and turned to the men.

  The stoic man sat facing the door, his back against the wall, while the scruffy one plopped into a chair by the fire.

  "I'll take an ale and a whisky," he said propping his feet onto an unoccupied chair. He withdrew a case from his pocket and pulled out a cigarette.

  She turned her attention to the leader, who stood next to the door, his eyes dark and focused on her as she straightened her apron. "Allow me to see to your supper then." Jess bowed slightly. As she passed through the door, the leader caught her wrist. Her gaze snapped to his. How dare you...

  "Bring the bottle," he murmured and then released her.

  Her body trembled with rage at their barely concealed contempt for her and her establishment. She scowled as she made her way toward the kitchen. How dare they mock her and everything she'd worked so hard for? This wasn't London—hell, it was barely a spot on the map—but her late husband had invested his life into this inn. Died trying to protect it, stupid bastard. She mumbled under her breath as she ladled the stew into bowls and sliced a loaf of fresh bread.

  "Come into my inn acting all high and mighty..." She tucked the bread into a basket and covered it with a cloth. Arranging the food on the tray, Jess sighed. They were well-dressed in tailored suits. They were gentlemen that was for sure. But what were three gentlemen doing on the road this far north of London at this hour of the night?

  Jess picked up the tray and carried it to the men waiting in the parlor. She set the tray down, arranged the food on the table, and tucked the tray beneath her arm as she retreated to the bar for their drinks. None of them spoke as she worked, but she felt their silent observation.

  Judith leaned close to her as Jess poured the ale and set the mugs on the tray. "What a handsome trio." Her sister grinned when she scoffed.

  "Those men may have faces to tempt a woman to sin, but their hearts are black as the soot in that hearth." Her voice dropped low as she spied the leader glancing toward them from the doorway. "They've not said a sincere or polite word since they've arrived. What would possess someone to travel in this weather?"

  The back door slammed as Andrew came in. He shook the snow from his coat and took off his cap. "The horses are tended, ma'am. Even took care of the toffs' carriage." He grinned and held up a coin.

  "At least we know they can pay," Jess grumbled to herself. "Go get some stew in the kitchen and warm yourself. You did well, Andrew." Offering the lad a proud smile, she turned her attention back to the drinks and placed a bottle of whisky on the tray along with three small glasses next to the ale.

  "Pray I don't kill them," she whispered to her sister as she headed into the lion's den. Her practiced movements steadied her trembling hands. If the man touched her again, she'd gut him. Handsome or not, his manners proved severely lacking. She laid the drinks on the table and stepped back, awaiting their directions.

  "I'm starving," the scruffy one said as he abandoned the stew for the mug of ale.

  "That will be all," the leader spoke as he joined the other two at the table. "I will summon you if your services are required. Do not disturb us." He turned his back to her.

  "As you wish, my lords." Jess exited and closed the door behind her. Taking a moment to inhale and exhale deeply, she forced herself to remember the coin they would provide for her inn's services. "Bloody ungrateful sods."

  Not another soul entered the inn after that. An hour later, Judith worked in the kitchens, cleaning for the night. Jess placed the mop back in the closet. She bolted the front door and popped into the kitchen.

  "Are the rooms ready, Judith?"

  "I changed the sheets before I came into the kitchen," her sister replied as she finished drying the pot in her hand.

  "I'll check on our guests and then I'm off to bed."

  "Good night, sister. Don't let one of those handsome devils charm his way into your bed." Judith winked.

  "I would rather chew my own arm off than lie with one of those men." Jess waved her hand at her sister's ridiculous statement. She crept closer to the room when the sound of raised voices reached her ears.

  "Well, I don't give a damn how it gets there. Once the earl's men discover the theft, it's only a matter of time before—"

  "Don't get ahead of yourself, Monty. No one knows our involvement in any of this. Besides the job is nearly done."

  Jess pressed her ear against the door and strained to hear the conversation.

  "Why did you pick this god-forsaken place for the rendezvous anyway? You normally have such class."

  An unladylike snort escaped her before she could stop it. The door swung open, and Jess stumbled through the doorway. She caught herself before she tumbled to the ground and staggered to right herself. "My apologies, my lords. I came to see if there was anything else I could do for you this evening."

  The silent one glared down at her as he closed the door.

  "Well, well," the leader said as he stood and approached her. He clasped his hands behind his back.

  Jess swallowed and backed up against the wall. "I'm dreadfully sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I—"

  "How much did you overhear?" he asked, his gaze sharp.

  She studied his eyes; the blue-grey reflected the fire, betraying no emotion only cold calculation and confidence. Her throat constricted. Are they going to kill me? She pressed her hand to her throat. "Nothing," she whispered as he leaned closer.

  The scent of whisky and tobacco clung to him. His breath brushed against her neck as she turned her head to the side, avoiding his scrutiny. "Liar."

  Her heart raced as he leaned back and chuckled. Jess' face burned as embarrassment and anger assailed her. The urge to lash out struck, but she refrained. "I promise to forget what I heard and leave you in peace. Please...let me go."

  "What do you think? Shall we let her go now that she knows our little secret?" A cruel smile played on the corners of his lips. The first true emotion he displayed, and it terrified her.

  "What a pain in the arse," the scruffy one said as he lit another cigarette. "I shouldn't have got involved this time." He exhaled a plume of white smoke.

  The silent one shrugged. Then he surprised her by opening his mouth. "You're in charge of this circus. You take care of her."

  Without shifting his attention from her, he held out his hand behind him. "Give me those irons, Monty."

  The scruffy man reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a pair of irons; the kind Scotland Yard used for criminals. She stared in disbelief as he dropped them into the leader's hand.

  "Keep the key."

  The man tucked the key back into his pocket and exhaled another puff of smoke. "Women ain't nothing but trouble."

  "Show us to our rooms." The leader gripped her wrist, and she winced from the pressure of his fingers against her skin.

  She jerked her hand, trying to free herself from his grip. "Let me go. I'm not going to run."

  His grip tightened, and she whimpered involuntarily.

  "Not so tight!" she chastised him. The pressure on her wrist lightened a bit, but he refused to release her.

  "Let's go." He tugged on her arm as they walked together toward the second floor where their rooms waited.

  "These three," she said, pointing to the doors. "Your rooms." The scruffy one took th
e room on the right and the silent one took the room on the left, leaving Jess and the leader in the hallway staring at the door with a red flower on it.

  "Let me go now." She stared at him. "I promise not to say a word."

  He opened the door and shoved her inside. Jess stumbled and collapsed onto the bed from the sudden movement. Flustered, she righted herself just as he closed the door and slid the bolt home. He turned to face her.