Still, he didn’t have anybody to check in on him at the hospital besides me.
Who does he have tonight?
Hey, I text. I wanted to let you know I’m thinking about you, and I hope your holiday and the new year bring nothing but the best. Be kind to yourself. You deserve it.
There’s so much more I could say, so much more I feel, but less is better. If I don’t stop myself now, I might never stop pouring my heart out.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so grateful to have somewhere to go on Christmas Eve. Grandmother’s house glitters inside. She always buys a big tree and places it right in the front window, where everybody who passes can admire it. I can’t help but do just that when I’m out of the car and on the sidewalk, staring up at the window.
The front door opens, and Peter appears. “Your grandmother sent me to the door to tell you to get inside before you catch your death of cold.” There’s laughter in his voice, the way there usually is when he’s delivering one of her messages.
“How did she know I was standing out here?”
“I happened to pass the window and announced your arrival.” He takes my bag when I reach him. “Merry Christmas.”
“Same to you, Peter.”
There’s something different about him. I won’t say a word about it out loud since I don’t want to ruin anything. But he seems … younger. Happier.
Could it be? I can hardly stand my excitement.
Grandmother is waiting for me at the dining room table, which is fully set for a holiday meal.
“You shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble,” I chide as I bend to kiss her cheek. “This is too much.”
“I deserve a beautiful table, and so do you. I’ve put you through quite a bit of grief over the last few weeks.”
Nobody would guess it by looking at her right now. She’s resplendent, glowing, and it’s not only the candles along the table making her look that way.
I swear, if they’re a couple now, I will burst out of my skin and run around the room, screaming with joy.
“We’ll be enjoying prime rib tonight,” Grandmother announces when I take my customary seat across from her. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not even a little bit.” I look up with a smile when Peter enters the room. “I’ve had enough of your prime rib to know it’s a treat.”
“It isn’t my prime rib—that is, not precisely. I instructed the cook on how to prepare it.” Then, as if my head isn’t already exploding with questions, Peter takes a seat beside my grandmother.
And then I die. Because this is the best thing ever!
My grandmother gives me a strange look. Like she’s warning me against overreacting because she probably knows how desperately I want to overreact. “Peter will be joining us for dinner this evening. He’s another one who deserves some rest after everything I’ve put him through.”
When she turns his way, smiling softly, I have to dig my nails into my palms to keep from squealing.
“For many years at that,” she adds, laughing gently.
“Good years.” He nods, lifting a wineglass in her direction. “Very good years.”
“I believe Peter will join us for breakfast in the morning as well,” she confirms, lifting a glass that I’m sure contains nothing but sparkling juice. No way would he let her have anything he thought could hurt her. “I’ve gained perspective during my recuperation. I believe it’s time for a good many things to change around here.”
His free hand closes over hers on top of the table.
Their smiles widen.
I might as well not be in the room.
And just like that, I have the best Christmas gift I could have ever imagined.
Thank you for reading Kitty Valentine Dates a Fireman!
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London Prep Series (New series!)
New exchange student Mallory is causing quite the stir at London Prep -- specifically with best friends Harry and Noah. Their fast friendship makes way for a tricky love triangle in this entertaining tale of high school drama!
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London Prep: Book Three
London Prep: Book Four
The Keatyn Chronicles®
Discover a breathless fairy-tale romance with swoon-worthy characters, suspense, and a glittering celebrity world. Fans of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and reality TV will devour this pulse-pounding, sexy teen drama set against the backdrop of Hollywood and an East Coast boarding school. A USA TODAY BEST-SELLING SERIES.
Stalk Me
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Love Me
Adore Me
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Keatyn Unscripted
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That Boy Series
Small-town contemporary romance series about falling in love with the boy next door.
That Boy
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Kitty Valentine (New chick lit series!)
When author Kitty Valentine’s latest novel totally bombs, her editor suggests she dates different kinds of men for inspiration.
Kitty Valentine dates a Billionaire
Kitty Valentine dates a Doctor
Kitty Valentine dates a Rockstar
Kitty Valentine dates a Fireman
Kitty Valentine dates an Actor
Kitty Valentine dates the Best Man Kitty Valentine dates a Cowboy
Kitty Valentine dates a Hockey Player
Kitty Valentine dates Santa
The Love Series
Caught up in a firestorm of tabloid gossip, actress Ashlyn Roberts doesn’t expect to end up in Vegas — or to wake up married to the sexy Cash Crawford. A USA TODAY BEST SELLER.
Vegas Love
Does catching the garter and bouquet at a wedding really mean you belong together? For Palmer and Cade it could be the second chance they’re looking for in this sexy romance.
Broken Love
And coming soon…. When the girl that got away shows up at Carter Crawford’s door and asks him to pretend to be in love with her at her sister’s wedding, will he be pretending?
Fake Love
Spy Girl® Series
A sizzling romance series filled with action and adventure. Fans of The Selection and The Hunger Games will discover a heart-pounding thrill ride of espionage and suspense set in glittering high society. (And there’s a really handsome prince.)
The Prince
The Eagle
The Society
The Valiant
The Dauntless
The Phoenix
The Echelon
Girl off the Grid
When fashion blogger Camille and eco-photographer Adam meet, their feelings are mutual—they hate each other. Can these two stop fighting long enough to complete their magazine assignment? Or will Camille give up and go home when she discovers there’s nowhere to plug in her hair straightener? Or will they both realize that sometimes you have to go off the grid to find yourself?
Books by my daughter, Kenzie Hart. Also FREE with Kindle Unlimited.
The Curious Swan
A sweet, whimsical romance set in the English countryside with a Jane Austen/Alice in Wonderland vibe.
I Fall Apart
This beautiful love story told in verse will take you an emotional journey�
�from the happiness of falling in love to the sadness of heartbreak.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jillian Dodd is the USA Today best-selling author of more than thirty novels.
She writes fun romances with characters her readers fall in love with—from the boy next door in the That Boy trilogy to the daughter of a famous actress in The Keatyn Chronicles to a spy who might save the world in the Spy Girl series.
She adores writing big fat happily ever afters, wears a lot of pink, buys too many shoes, loves to travel, and is distracted by anything covered in glitter.
Excerpt of Kitty Valentine Dates an Actor:
CHAPTER ONE
“Kitty Valentine, we need to talk about a few things,” my editor, Maggie, says when I answer the phone.
This can’t be good.
“Should I be sitting down?”
“No. No, it’s not that serious.”
Whew.
“The publisher has gotten backlogged from the holidays and doesn’t have a place for you on the calendar right now.”
“What? I thought you said it wasn’t serious. I thought I was doing well. Selling books. Hitting lists. How can they not want me on the calendar? I need to talk to Lois. She’ll fix this. I can’t believe she didn’t tell me all this. What about my contract?”
“Kitty, let me finish. There is no reason to bring your agent into this. We very much want you, but we have to wait for some books to go to print before we can put you on. You have a job. We still want your books. And honestly, if you can make them even hotter, the better.”
“Maggie—”
“Don’t start. You have made a vast improvement. I’m just saying, a girl likes it hot sometimes, so don’t hold back on the next book.”
“And when exactly will that be?”
“I don’t know yet, but I want you to keep writing and keep going out. You’ll just be that much further ahead when we can get you on the calendar.”
I let out a long sigh. Thankfully, my job is secure. It’s just weird since they were rushing my books out the door last year, and now, I don’t know what to do with this downtime. If I’m being honest, I kinda liked the new schedule with tighter deadlines.
“Okay, I can do that. Is there anything else?”
“Yes.”
I hold my breath. What is it this time? Are my heroes not heroic enough? Not sexy enough? Not alpha enough? I mean, it’s not like I’ve been sitting around, making notes of all the possible weak points in my writing, but every author has a secret mental list just poised to explode at the slightest hint of criticism.
“I think you should take this time to also increase your online social presence. You have a Facebook page, but we need more from you. We need you to engage your readers. Let them get to know you. Especially the new you.”
“Maggie, I thought that was something you all did.”
“Yes, well, some self-promotion doesn’t hurt. Readers today want to know the author. They want to think you’re friends. And you know what? Friends buy their friend’s books!”
“I’m not sure you’re aware, but I’m a terribly boring person. When I’m not writing, I stay home. And I like it.”
“Kitty, I know you feel like you’re nothing without your work, but try to have a social life on- and off-line.”
“Okay, what should I do?”
“Start making posts on Facebook since you already have a few followers there. Ask questions. Tell stories. Then, get on all the other outlets. Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat … heck, ask the readers what their favorites are and post there.”
“And how does one do that and write and date, all at the same time?”
“Kitty, seriously, it’s not that hard. Now, go figure it out and let me know who your next book will be about. I’ve got to run to a meeting. Oh, and, Kitty? I’ll be watching.”
That’s not creepy at all.
I plop onto the couch with a huff after she hangs up. I can’t wait to tell Hayley all about this at dinner tonight. Maybe my best friend will take pity on me and tell me how to get on Snapagram, or whatever it’s called, and what to do once I’m on there.
Jeez. I sound like an old lady.
Thankfully, the heart-shaped box of chocolates I bought earlier on an impulse is sitting within reach. I tear off the wrapper and shove a piece into my mouth.
Mmhmm … buttercream … take me away.
CHAPTER TWO
“Who’s that gorgeous lady?” Hayley’s laughing as she stands to give me a hug when I finally make it through the crowd by the front door to where she’s already waiting at a corner table. I put the bag I’m holding down and hug her back.
“You like?”
“Yeah.” She gives me an approving look as she sits. “You look terrific. Is that new?”
I run a hand over the front of my dress. “Yes. I got it online during an after-Christmas sale.”
“I want one for myself.”
“Hmm. Funny you should say that.” I nudge the bag at my feet in her direction.
“You didn’t.”
“Maybe I did.” It’s hard not to burst out laughing as I take a seat across from her.
Her eyes light up as she bends to go through the tissue paper. “You did!”
“Happy New Year! Now, we can be twins sometime. I’m sure you’ll drag me somewhere fabulous to wear them to.”
She pulls it out of the bag to admire it. “I can’t wait to try it on the second I get home.”
“It should fit. It’s true to size. But I put a gift receipt in there, just in case.”
“You think of everything.” She’s shaking her head while folding the dress to put it back in the bag. “You’re the best.” She lifts her glass of wine in my direction. “And you’re the best friend ever too.”
“Ditto.” I pour a glass from the bottle sitting in a bucket beside the table. “So, I got a call from Maggie today.”
“Is it time to pick your new man? I brought the spinner hoping it was.”
It’s amazing, the way her eyes light up. I don’t know what I did to deserve such an amazing friend; I really don’t.
“Yes, but …”
“Uh-oh, what is it?”
“There’s a backlog of books, and I’m not on the schedule.”
“Then, why are we picking a new guy? I don’t understand.”
“They still want me, and Maggie wants me to keep working, so my book will be ready by the time I get on the schedule.”
“Is that normal?”
“Apparently, it can happen. When I was only writing one or two books a year, it didn’t really matter. Now that I’ve been churning them out, it’s part of my new normal, I guess.”
“Well, that’s good news. Why don’t you look happy about it?”
“She said I also have to increase my social media presence.”
Before she has the chance to ask what the heck I’m talking about, our server appears. “Hello, ladies.” He smiles, all sweetness and warmth. “I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. Happy New Year.”
“Thanks.” Hayley tosses her glossy blonde hair over one shoulder. “Thought I’d take the old ball and chain out for a night on the town.”
“Shut up.” I laugh.
“You make a gorgeous couple,” he assures us with a wink before placing a basket of warm bread and a bowl of fancy olive oil on the table. “What would you like to order?”
Hayley speaks up, “She’ll have the shrimp scampi, and I’ll have the mushroom ravioli.”
He writes down our orders and is gone before I can tell him we’re not a couple.
“We might as well be,” Hayley reasons as she drags her bread through the fragrant oil. “This is the longest relationship I’ve ever been in, and I like you better than just about anybody else in the world.”
“Thanks for that. Ditto, by the way.”
“And I never have to wonder if you’re gonna ghost me.”
“You’d find me. I mean, you know where I live, and you know I�
�m too set in my ways to ever move.”
“That’s true. They’ll have to drag you out, kicking and screaming, one day. Or you know, dead.”
“Such romantic talk from my pretend girlfriend.”
Her perfectly arched brows lift. “Speaking of relationships …”
I can’t help but rub my hands together in anticipation. “Yes, ma’am. I guess we’d better get this part over with, huh?”
Hayley shoots me a skeptical look as she pulls the spinner from her purse. “Who are you, and what did you do with Kitty? You’re never raring to go when it comes time to pull out the old spinner.”
“I’m not usually dying to get some work done. I don’t want to lose momentum. I need something to occupy my brain or else it starts getting all hectic up here.” I tap my temple.
“Yeah. I’ve seen what happens when things get crazy up in there. Remember that time the building’s power went out and your laptop battery died and you cut your bangs by candlelight?”
“You swore to never speak of that,” I whisper, eyes narrowed.
“It took forever for them to grow out.”
“I’m going to take that dress back.”
“No!” She pulls the bag away from me with a laugh. “You’ll have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands.”
“Then, let us never speak of Bangsgate again.”
“I promise.” She points to the spinner with one freshly manicured blood-red nail. “Let’s see who it is this time.”
“Oh, what’s that?” our server interrupts us as he sets a tray down on one of those folding stands.
Wow, that was quick.
Hayley beats me to the explanation. “It’s a spinner. It’ll tell her who she has to date next.”
Poor guy. He’s more than a little confused. “Excuse me?”
Granted, it was none of his business in the first place, but still, I feel like I should clarify. “I’m a writer, looking to date somebody new for my next book. This device tells me the sort of person I have to look for.”
Kitty Valentine Dates a Fireman Page 16
