Kitty Valentine Dates an Actor

by Jillian Dodd

“Like I was saying, I wouldn’t tell you something if I didn’t believe it. And from what you’ve told me, it sounds a lot like Hayley feels guilty about what she’s doing more than anything else. She just pushed it on you to make herself feel better.”

  It’s not often that Matt makes me stop and think. Normally, I’m too busy reminding myself not to smack him to put much thought into the things he says.

  Granted, now that I know he thinks it’s a good thing to be smacked sometimes, I might not work so hard to control the impulse to do so.

  “So, what you’re saying is, she was only lashing out?” It’s almost hard to believe the warmth that stirs to life in my chest. Like I was only waiting for a tiny bit of hope to grab on to.

  “Of course! She’s not a stupid girl. She knows the kind of trouble she can get into—and the same goes for this guy she’s sleeping with.”

  “Yeah, I mean, he’s her boss, for crying out loud. How could he put both of their jobs in jeopardy like that? Do you think he’s just using her?”

  “Maybe. There’s a reason they say you shouldn’t shit where you eat.”

  “Seriously, I’m worried about her.”

  “I hope, if anyone, he’s the one who would get caught; I don’t want her to get into trouble.”

  “Neither do I. Now, I wish I could get ahold of this guy and shake some sense into him.” My hands tighten around the bottle.

  “Easy now. I don’t want Phoebe cutting her paws on broken glass.” He stands, working the bottle out of my hands. It was empty anyway.

  I watch as he takes it to the kitchen and tosses it into the recycling bin.

  “She probably figured I would judge whoever it is, didn’t she?”

  “Of course. Like I said, she’s no dummy. She knows what she’s doing. She’s gotta feel guilty about it on some level. That’s really why she didn’t tell you; I’d bet anything on it.”

  I rub my arms, shivering a little. “I can’t believe she was so quick to jump on the attack, you know? She’s usually so supportive of me. It hurt my feelings that she didn’t think I’d do the same for her.”

  He’s frowning when he returns to the living room with a fresh beer for each of us. I would normally refuse, but this is a two-beer sort of situation.

  “Yeah, and I’m sure she feels bad for saying it. We don’t mean the things we say when we’re angry, Kitty. You know that.”

  I sink to the floor, sitting cross-legged. Phoebe takes this as an invitation to join me, not that I mind. Stroking her soft fur goes a long way toward calming me down.

  “I wish there were a way to show her I’m still here for her and not being judgy in any way.”

  He sits on the couch, elbows on his knees, giving me a funny sort of smile as he leans over to pat Phoebe’s head. “Which is exactly why you aren’t the sort of friend she described. Even now, when you’re miserable and your feelings are hurt, all you can think about is her. How much you want to make everything better.”

  He’s being so nice today. Maybe I should come to him with friendship troubles more often.

  No, it has to be his new girlfriend.

  “Dating suits you.”

  He bursts out laughing. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “I don’t know. You’re so much nicer. Not that you were ever really mean, but you’re, like … mellow, you know?”

  “I don’t think anyone’s ever called me mellow before.”

  “Well, how frequently do you seriously date somebody?”

  “Good point.”

  “Whoever she is, she must be a miracle worker or a saint or something. Is that it? She gunning for sainthood?”

  “Now that you mention it, she does wear a nun’s habit around the house, but I figured it was a comfort thing.”

  I can’t come up with a retort, so all I do is roll my eyes. “How can you stand living with him, Phoebe? Doesn’t it all get to be too much after a while?”

  All she does is look at me with those great big eyes of hers, and I have no choice but to give her a hug.

  “How are things going with Man Bun?”

  A snarky comment almost trips off my tongue before I can stop it, but I manage in time. “Why did you call him that?”

  “It’s not exactly an insult.”

  “It’s not a compliment either, not the way you meant it. But that’s not what I mean. How did you know he has long hair?” I know I haven’t described him. In fact, this is the first time we’ve talked since I met Rafe.

  His face goes slack for a second, and I swear, his cheeks flush just a little. But that might be a trick of the light. “You’re going to make a big deal out of this.”

  “Out of what?”

  “When he was leaving the other night, I was just getting in. I swear, I had literally just stepped into my apartment and closed the door when I heard your door open. So, I looked out the peephole. I wanted to get a look at this guy.”

  “You’re such a sneak!”

  “Don’t even pretend you’ve never done the same thing. I know you have. I could hear you breathing on the other side of the door one time when I was saying good-bye to somebody after she spent the night. Don’t bother lying,” he warns before I have the chance to say anything.

  He’s right. I did watch that one time. Mostly because I wanted to get a look at the sort of girl he brought home with him. I’d never seen any of them before. I’d only heard them hollering like all get-out.

  Truth be told, I had been a little jealous on more than one occasion. All I had known about him at that point in time was how hot he was. I didn’t know he was also such a pest.

  “Well, now, you got a look at him. Congratulations.”

  He snickers. “It was the thrill of my life, let me tell you.”

  “I’m going to see him perform tonight. I’m looking forward to it. He’s really good.”

  “How would you know whether he was good or not? Have you studied acting?”

  “No, genius, but I’ve watched a million movies. And I’ve seen bad acting. Heck, I saw some bad acting that night. I might not be able to act, but I know good acting when I see it. Trust me, you’ll see his name in lights one day.”

  “I’m sure you felt the same way about your sweetheart Dustin before he showed his true colors.”

  “No comment,” I growl.

  “I wonder if they’ll make him cut off his man bun when he makes it to Hollywood.”

  “I’m glad you’re so pleased with yourself right now. I really am. Maybe if you got to know him a little better, you would see he’s a nice person. Hey!” The idea strikes me so suddenly and so hard that, for some reason, my hand shoots out, and I smack him on the leg. “We should all get together! The four of us! I would love to meet your girlfriend.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you would.”

  “What? I really want to. I would like to know about her and see if she’s, you know, the right sort of girl for you.”

  “And you’re such an expert on the subject?”

  “Listen, you think of me as a little sister, and I think of you as a brother. Why wouldn’t I want to get a look at the girl you’re dating?”

  He frowns, his brows drawing together. “I don’t know. Maybe. We’ll see.”

  “I won’t embarrass you.”

  “The fact that you feel the need to say that should explain why I’m not jumping at the idea.” He laughs.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Well …

  This is certainly different.

  Instead of a cramped little space with black walls and black floors and a heating system that doesn’t work, Rafe’s directions have brought me to a cozy studio above a trendy-looking art gallery. The place is bright, warm, clean. Does somebody live here? I guess it’s possible. Maybe they moved the furniture out of the way to make room.

  Already, a handful of people are walking around, chatting quietly over drinks. Rafe spots me the second I walk in, and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve never been great at making smal
l talk with strangers.

  “Hey you.” His hug is strong, tight, and I wish he wouldn’t let me go.

  I can’t help but remember the heat between us at my apartment. I want to go back to that feeling. Hmmm.

  Especially when he kisses me. It’s a chaste, we’re-in-public kiss, but it still makes my knees weak.

  “This is so nice,” I whisper, accepting a glass of wine when he hands it to me.

  “Jonah’s awesome. This is the space we always work in. He lives upstairs and uses this floor for his art and performances and such.” He gestures to the walls, on which are hanging numerous, bold paintings and blown-up photos.

  “How cool.” I admire a few of the works before turning to him and murmuring, “So, is Jonah the person who leads the group?”

  “Yeah, I guess so. We’re all friends of his in one way or another. He only invites people he thinks have a shot at a future.”

  Does he know how he glows when he talks like this? I can see that he’s proud of himself. And he should be. He works hard, and others pick up on that.

  He waves to a man who just entered. “Hey, I want you to meet my agent. I didn’t know he was gonna show tonight.” With my hand in his, Rafe leads me to the man who’s now taking off his coat and scarf.

  “You must be Kitty.” He takes my hand in both of his when I extend it to shake. “Rafe’s told me a lot about you. I’m Bill Watson.”

  “Considering Rafe and I met a week ago, I’m interested to know what he could’ve told you.” I laugh. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  Now, I remember him. He was at the workshop. The girls peeled away from me, so they could say hi to him. No wonder they were so happy to see him there. He’s a real-deal sort of agent, if I remember correctly. The sort of agent everybody’s jealous of Rafe for having.

  A woman calls out to Rafe, waving him over.

  “I’m sorry. I have to see what that’s about.” He leans down to kiss my cheek and then whispers, “You’re in good hands. He only looks imposing.”

  Imposing? He looks downright ferocious, wearing a slick suit and a flashy watch. “I just came from a string of meetings today,” he explains before taking a glass of wine waiting on the bar.

  “Pardon me?”

  “You were looking at my suit. I don’t usually dress up for events like this.”

  I have to laugh at myself. “I hope I wasn’t ogling you too much. I don’t get out among people all that often.”

  “You’re too busy writing, right?” He winks, putting me at ease. “Don’t think I didn’t look you up. Impressive. Very impressive.”

  “It was all luck.” I shrug.

  “No such thing. I mean it,” he insists when I grimace, skeptical. “Luck is nothing more than preparation meeting opportunity. Sure, sometimes, a person gets discovered. They’re in the right place at the right time, but if they don’t have what it takes, what good does it do them?”

  He looks me up and down, his dark eyes flickering over me. “You must’ve worked hard on that first book for it to hit the way it did. I bet you stayed in when all your friends were out, partying and drinking and getting laid, right?”

  My, oh my. He and Maggie would get along so well.

  For all I know, they know each other.

  For all I know, he’s the ex-husband she sometimes mentions. But, no, he’s younger than her. Late forties at most.

  “Wow, it’s like you were there.”

  He chuckles, touching my elbow and steering me out of the way of a couple approaching the bar. I normally would flinch away from that sort of gesture, but somehow, it’s okay. He has a winning nature, I guess, and I don’t get a smarmy feeling from him.

  “That’s my point,” he continues once we’ve moved. “You worked hard. You were prepared. It just so happened that an opportunity opened up. Your publisher was looking for a fresh, new voice. Someone young, somebody who’d inject life into their backlist. Because you had already done the work, you were there when they were looking for someone like you. Never discount that. I mean it.”

  “I won’t.”

  I wouldn’t dare go against anything this man says. His intensity is staggering but not in a bad way. Instead, it makes me want to buckle down and keep working hard.

  “And don’t discount your talent. Never discount that. Writing can be taught, of course. The fundamentals of grammar, symbolism, showing instead of telling, etcetera.” He waves a hand, making his shiny watch glimmer in the soft overhead lighting. “But what can’t be created is a storyteller. You’ve gotta have it here.” He taps his chest, nodding sagely.

  It’s like he’s freaking Yoda or something. Only human. And he talks in regular sentences.

  “Do you represent writers? Because I could be in the market for a new agent.” I laugh, thinking of Lois.

  Poor Lois. I love her dearly, but the woman falls asleep in the middle of meetings and barely has two words to say to me at a time. She used to be sharp and ruthless, but I’m not so sure she can deliver anymore. She should have told me about the backlog and assured me everything was going to be okay before Maggie called me. I’m disappointed that I still can’t get her on the phone, but maybe I just need to drop it for now. I know what Maggie wants me to do, and I’ve been working on it. Maybe it isn’t worth starting an argument with my agent. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked that.

  He laughs with me and then shakes his salt-and-pepper head. “No, sorry to say. I’d love to represent you. We could have your books turned into blockbusters like that.” He snaps his fingers.

  “Oh well. At least you’re putting Rafe out there, so the world can see how talented he is.”

  “He is, isn’t he?” His entire demeanor changes. His expression softens, and his eyes shine. “He’s the real deal, that kid. You saw him at the workshop last week, right? I remember seeing you there.”

  “Yes, that’s where we met.”

  “He’s head and shoulders above all of them, putting it mildly.” He shrugs. “Sorry if you’re good friends with anybody else there.”

  “No, not really. Believe me, Rafe’s the one who left a lasting impression on me,” I assure him, my head bobbing up and down. “He’s in a whole other league.”

  “I was the one who steered him toward Jonah. I know Rafe can become something big if he’s around the right people. People who challenge him and help him grow. Sure, he’s a big shot in that piddly little group, but that won’t get him anything but a stroked ego. Among other things.” He winces. “There I go again with my mouth.”

  I have to laugh though. “Hey, I write romance for a living. I can handle it.” Even though my skin crawls a little at the reminder that Rafe’s been around the block.

  “That’s not entirely what I meant.” He looks across the room, where Rafe is loosening up along with the other actors.

  There are ten of them in all, and I can tell right away that this is a next-level experience. They all take it seriously and move like dancers. So graceful and fluid, completely in control of their bodies.

  “What did you mean?”

  “I mean, once he hits it big, it’ll be tough to keep the fans away from him. I know Rafe. He’s a good kid. But it’ll take a special woman to handle any jealousy that might come up. Especially in a town like Hollywood.”

  Talk about a record-scratch moment. My eyes go wide. “What are you talking about? He’s going to Hollywood?”

  “Shh.” He throws a quick, panicked look to Rafe, but he’s still warming up. “I haven’t talked about it with him yet. I just came from a meeting with the producers. I got him an audition for a horror film in LA.”

  “No way!” I clutch his arm, shocked and happy.

  “It’s not for another few weeks, but yes. They watched his reel and loved him. They think he’ll make a great lead.”

  “That’s fantastic!”

  “I was going to tell him after the performances tonight. I didn’t want to throw him. Even if this is just a showcase, he takes it seriously.”
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  “I can tell,” I murmur, watching as the actors finish their warm-ups.

  “So, you know, if the two of you become a couple, you’ll have that to wrestle with. Rafe’s as loyal as the day is long, but fans? They’ll stop at nothing.”

  I’m about to open my mouth to remind him that Rafe and I just met.

  “Oh, it looks like they’re about to start.”

  I quickly follow Bill and take a seat next to him.

  What a note to leave our conversation on. I try to focus on the performance and keep my mind from drifting, but then I think … Do I want to a long-term relationship with Rafe?

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “I could fly right now. Seriously.” Rafe’s entire face glows.

  After his performance, Bill shared the news with him about the audition, and now, he’s lighting up my apartment with his signature smile.

  “It’s so exciting!” I nudge him with a grin. “A Hollywood audition. I couldn’t be happier for you.”

  “It’s like everything’s happening all at once. I mean, it’s surreal. I meet you and then get this audition.” He pauses in the middle of his salad we brought up from a restaurant down the street, and he looks at me. “It’s just crazy, right?”

  What am I supposed to say to that? I wish I knew what he was looking for.

  “Yes, but it sounds like you have put a lot of work into your art, and now, you have an extraordinary chance to show off your talent. I’m just a bonus.” We both laugh. “Just keep a positive mindset, and I’m sure you’ll do a terrific job at the audition.”

  “You’re right. Absolutely.” He goes back to his salad while I go back to mine.

  He can’t keep the grin off his face—and I don’t want him to. Frankly, it’s adorable to see him so excited like this.

  How is it that I like him so much when we’ve hardly known each other for a week? Am I completely out of my mind for thinking so highly of him when I barely know the first thing about him? Am I asking for trouble?

  “Thank you.” He shoots me a shy smile that makes him look ten years younger.

  Oh yeah, girls are going to be swooning over that face of his when it’s on the big screen.