Kitty Valentine Dates a Hockey Player, page 1
Table Of Contents
Title page
Copyright page
About this book
Author / Book List
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
KITTY VALENTINE
Dates a Hockey Player
————————————————————-
JILLIAN DODD
Copyright © 2020 by Jillian Dodd
All rights reserved.
The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you for your personal use only. You may not make this e-book publicly available in any way.
Copyright infringement is against the law.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Published by Swoonworthy Books, an imprint of Jillian Dodd, Inc.
www.jilliandodd.net
Jillian Dodd, The Keatyn Chronicles, Spy Girl, and Kitty Valentine are registered trademarks of Jillian Dodd, Inc.
Editor: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing, www.unforeseenediting.com
ISBN: : 978-1-953071-05-7
Spin the wheel. Date the guy. Write the story. Fall in love?
Six years ago, Kitty Valentine took the book world by storm when her sweet debut romance hit number one on the Best Sellers List, which was followed by a string of successful releases.
Her latest novel, however, totally bombs, causing her editor to suggest she write much sexier books.
To Kitty, writing smut is the literary equivalent of stripping.
But with no advance coming in and her royalties dipping to an all-time low, Kitty has no choice.
Armed with a hot-guy spinning prize wheel, made by her best friend, listing all the different types of men she will date and then write about, Kitty will be spinning—not stripping—her way back onto the best-sellers list.
And in the process, she just might write her own happily ever after.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jillian Dodd® is a USA Today and Amazon Top 10 best-selling author. She writes fun binge-able romance series with characters her readers fall in love with—from the boy next door in the That Boy series to the daughter of a famous actress in The Keatyn Chronicles® to a spy who might save the world in the Spy Girl® series. Her newest series include London Prep, a prep school series about a drama filled three-week exchange, and the Sex in the City-ish chick lit series, Kitty Valentine.
Jillian is married to her college sweetheart, adores writing big fat happily ever afters, wears a lot of pink, buys way too many shoes, loves to travel, and is distracted by anything covered in glitter.
Connect with me!
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If you are a big fan of The Keatyn Chronicles, go to this special website with book playlists, clothing boards, and other fun added content. www.thekeatynchronicles.net
List of Books by Jillian Dodd
London Prep
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!
The Exchange
The Boys' Club
The Kiss
The Key
The Party
The Keatyn Chronicles®
Gossip Girl meets 90210 in this breathless romance series filled with swoon-worthy characters and suspense set in a glittering celebrity world. A USA TODAY BEST-SELLING SERIES.
Stalk Me
Kiss Me
Date Me
Love Me
Adore Me
Hate Me
Get Me
Fame
Power
Money
Sex
Love
Keatyn Unscripted
Aiden
That Boy Series
Small-town contemporary romance series about falling in love with the boy next door.
That Boy
That Wedding
That Baby
That Love
That Ring
That Summer
That Promise
That Forever
Kitty Valentine®
When author Kitty Valentine’s latest novel totally bombs, her editor suggests she dates different kinds of men for inspiration in this fun chick-lit romance series.
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
Crawford Brothers
Vegas Love
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.
Broken 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.
Fake Love
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?
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
Thrown together on an eco-trip to Costa Rica, fashion blogger Camille and photographer Adam instantly hate each other. But as they journey off the grid together, they realize there’s a fine line between love and hate.
Books by my daughter, Kenzie Hart:
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.
CHAPTER ONE
“Kitty, it’s been months,” my best friend, Hayley, says into the phone.
“So? I don’t wanna,” I whine.
“Look, I know your head has been all over the place for the last few months, but you have to get out of your funk and out of your apartment.”
“Fine,” I huff. “I’ll meet you, but I want extra cheese on my nachos, and there’d better be a large drink waiting for me when I get there.”
“You got it. See you later, Kitty.”
“Bye,” I grumble into the phone after she’s already disconnected.
I’m not really in the mood to get together for drinks with Hayley tonight. I know what she’s going to pester me about, and I’m not a fan of being pestered in general.
I’m especially not a fan of being pestered about my work. I mean, do I show up at her office and demand she file a new brief or whatever it is she does? I don’t know the first thing about the intricacies of being a lawyer, but that’s a word she uses a lot, so I’m going to imagine she files a lot of them.
This past year and a half has been a whirlwind. I’ve been writing different tropes to stay relevant, and that’s not all. I’ve actually dated a guy from each trope, determined by a handy-dandy spinner Hayley created, and I’m so very much over it.
It isn’t the mechanics of putting a new book together that has me dragging my feet on the way to what I suspect isn’t going to be a very happy, happy hour. It’s the emotional toll. It’s everything that goes on behind the scenes, where my heart is dragged through the mud on a consistent basis.
I really don’t feel like dating anybody new just so I can write a new book. And I certainly don’t need to be reminded of how I’m neglecting my career by essentially going on hiatus.
So, who can blame me for not exactly floating out of my apartment with wings on my heels? Hayley has been so busy lately that I know if she’s this determined to get together, it’s time for me to spin
My editor has been terrific in letting me take the last six months off, but I knew the day would come when I’d have to get back to it. And she’s probably making Hayley do her dirty work. How she ever got Hayley’s number, I’ll never know, but I wish it would get deleted from her phone. I hate that they discuss my choice of men behind my back. I’m pretty sure there’s some law being broken here.
I grab my purse and open the door to leave. As I step out into the hallway, the sound of Phoebe whining fills the air.
Phoebe doesn’t typically whine. My super-hot, super-confusing neighbor Matt has a lot of flaws, but he’s nothing if not a devoted dog owner. And since he works from home like I do, sweet Phoebe rarely suffers from loneliness.
I knock on the door. “Matt? You in there?”
No answer, but Phoebe’s whining is becoming louder and more insistent. I don’t remember hearing him leave the apartment, but it’s unusual for Phoebe to make all this noise.
Which is why I go back into my apartment and grab the key to Matt’s place from the kitchen drawer.
“Wellness check,” I call out while sliding the key into his lock. I sincerely hope he isn’t in the middle of something embarrassing—though really, I wouldn’t mind having a reason to tease him for a while. He’s always the one teasing me, if not openly making fun of me.
Phoebe just about knocks me down when I step into the apartment. Good thing I’m not wearing a new outfit since she practically tackles me to the floor. “Okay, okay! Where’s your daddy?”
As if in reply, a loud snore comes from the bedroom. It’s just past six o’clock at night, way too early for him to have gone to bed unless he’s sick.
A quick peek into the bedroom tells me that’s exactly the situation, and all I can do is shake my head at the sight of a nightstand piled high with balled-up tissues, bottles of cold and flu medicine, and even a jar of eucalyptus rub. I didn’t think people used that anymore.
No wonder poor Phoebe is dancing around the way she is. Hayley’s going to have to get started without me.
I hook on Phoebe’s leash and get her outside, barely crossing the street into the park before she takes care of business.
“You really had to go, didn’t you? You’re such a good girl.” I scratch behind her ears and try not to read too much into the way she looks up at me. Like she’s never been so relieved. “I think that means you get an extra treat when we go inside.”
Matt is sleeping when I return with the dog. Now, I know he is truly sick, and I can’t help but feel a little sympathetic. In all the time we’ve been friends, I’ve never seen him like this. He’s usually snarky and full of energy to pick on me. But now, he looks so helpless.
Which is why I leave a note by his bed, letting him know I walked the dog and that I’ll be back with supplies.
For a second, I consider adding a postscript, asking how he manages to still look so good when he’s clearly sick. It doesn’t seem fair. Even with a couple of days of scruff on his cheeks and hair that looks like it hasn’t been washed in way too long, he’s like an angel.
And of course, I can’t believe I’m even thinking that as I stare at him. So sweet and peaceful. I’m trying my best to keep us at a platonic friendship, but each day, it gets harder and harder.
And that, in a nutshell, is my current problem.
After dating several men to gain new experiences so I could write about different tropes—and up the sex appeal in my stories—Matt messed everything up.
Because ever since he kissed me a few months ago, I haven’t been able to even think about dating anybody else seriously. Not for the sake of a book.
But I haven’t figured out a way to tell my editor this. Which means I’m off to meet Hayley to spin the wheel yet again. Even though it’s the last thing I want to do.
I give Phoebe a kiss on the head before she climbs into bed with Matt, settling in at his feet. “You take care of him while I’m gone,” I whisper as I slip out of his bedroom and lock up his front door.
At least I know he’s not alone.
A while later, I give Hayley a breathless kiss on the cheek before I slide into the booth, sitting across from her. “I’m sorry. I can’t stay very long. I think Matt is really sick.”
She listens, lips pursed thoughtfully, while I fill her in on what I found before meeting up with her.
“It seems like he’s been taking care of himself just fine without your help,” she concludes once I’m finished.
“Sure, the poor dog’s bladder almost exploded. He’s definitely managing well. I wonder how long he’s been feeling like this. I should’ve known, come to think of it. I haven’t seen him for a few days. Maybe I should keep Phoebe with me until he’s feeling better. That way, she won’t wake him up, though if she didn’t manage it earlier with all her whining …”
“You realize you’re making his problem your problem, right?”
I lean back in the booth, folding my arms. “Okay, counselor, let’s hear it. You might as well lay it on me.”
“Lay what on you?” She lifts her glass to her lips, eyeing me over the rim.
“It’s clear you think I care too much about Matt being sick. Why don’t you just come out and say it?”
She lifts a shoulder. “You two are friends. Why wouldn’t you care about a friend being sick?”
“So, what’s with all the I’m making his problem my problem stuff? What’s with the guilt?”
“I didn’t mean to lay guilt on you.”
“What did you mean to lay on me then?” Gee, I sure do love these little word games we sometimes play. I’m the writer here. I should be the one to win these arguments without breaking a sweat.
“I only want you to be careful.”
“You’ve been telling me to be careful for months. And haven’t I been? We've basically gone back to being friends. Nothing more. I haven't even mentioned … the kiss,” I whisper the last two words.
“No, but you’re letting what happened between you get in the way of your livelihood. And that’s what bothers me. Because I know how much your writing means to you, how hard you’ve worked to maintain your career. And I’d hate to see all of that get thrown aside because a hot man kissed you once.”
“Now, that’s just unfair. I’ve kissed lots of hot guys …” I start but quickly stop as the server comes by, asking if we need anything, because I’m about two seconds away from causing a scene. Just a few moments of putting on a pleasant face and smiling are enough to pull me up short and keep my temper in check.
Here’s the thing: Hayley is a fantastic friend and an absolute genius, both of which I love and admire her for. Yet that genius of hers means she has a habit of boiling things down to the point where they’re just about unrecognizable. I know I tend to be a drama queen, but she swings all the way in the opposite direction. I’m all about being pragmatic and realistic, but there’s more to the situation with Matt than just a hot guy kissing me.
I fold my hands on top of the table, determined to handle this like a professional adult. I mean, that’s who I am, right?
“I appreciate your observations, but I think you’re generalizing quite a bit. Matt isn’t just some hot guy. You know how close we’ve become. And you know how he took care of me the last time I was sick. He brought me pho and everything else I needed without being asked. The least I can do is return the favor.”
She nods slowly, but I know better. The way those eyes of hers narrow tells me everything I need to know about what’s going on in her brilliant, beautiful head. “A reasonable argument.”
“Thank you.”
“But I think you forget who you’re talking to.”
I slump down. Here we go. Good thing my drink arrives when it does because I need it.
Another good thing: the approach of a pair of handsome, smiling guys who look to be around our age. Professionals too, wearing nice suits and expensive watches.
