After the Fire

Hot in Chicago #2.1

by Kate Meader

Catch up with the Dempseys in this free Hot in Chicago short story as one couple celebrates a wedding and another struggles to take the next step. Eli and Alexandra managed to survive the secrets, lies, and downright craziness of Chicago election season and have found their hearts-and-shamrocks happily ever after ... or have they?

Note from Kate: This special short story was originally sent to my newsletter subscribers in April 2016 and is now being released to everyone on my website (URL is in book details). It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: this contains spoilers for all the Hot in Chicago books, so if you haven’t read them, don’t read this!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Novella, Fiction, Firefighters, Short Stories

40 pages, ebook

First published September 13, 2016

About the author

Kate writes sexy contemporary, sports, and LGBTQ+ romance with strong guys and amazing women and men who match their heroes quip for quip. She's known for blending heat, humor, and heart into irresistibly romantic stories.

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The Rookie Rebels features a team of heroes who are about to learn that all's fair in love and hockey.
1. GOOD GUY (Levi and Jordan)
2. INSTACRUSH (Theo and Elle)
3. MAN DOWN (Gunnar and Sadie)
4. FOREPLAYER (Cal and Mia)
5. DEAR ROOMIE (Reid and Kennedy)
6. REBEL YULE (Erik and Casey)
7. JOCK WANTED (Fitz and Tara)
8. SUPERSTAR (Bast and Pepper)
9. WILD RIDE (Dex and Ashley)
10. HOCKEY WIFE (Banks and Georgia)

The Hot in Chicago Rookies series heads back to Engine 6 for more steamy firefighter romances.
0. COMING IN HOT (Tyler and Evie)
1. UP IN SMOKE (Roman and Abby)
2. DOWN IN FLAMES (Jude and Hudson)
3. HOT TO THE TOUCH (Sam and Cassandra)

The Laws of Attraction series about sexy divorce lawyers:
1. DOWN WITH LOVE (Max and Charlie)
2. ILLEGALLY YOURS (Lucas and Trinity)
3. THEN CAME YOU (Grant and Aubrey)

The Chicago Rebels series about sexy hockey players:
0.5 IN SKATES TROUBLE (Ford and Addison) - FREE!
1. IRRESISTIBLE YOU (Remy and Harper)
2. SO OVER YOU (Vadim and Isobel)
3. UNDONE BY YOU (Dante and Cade)
4. HOOKED ON YOU (Bren and Violet)
5. WRAPPED UP IN YOU (More Dante and Cade)

The Hot in Chicago series about sexy firefighters:
0.5 REKINDLE THE FLAME (Beck and Darcy)
1. FLIRTING WITH FIRE (Luke and Kinsey)
1.5 MELTING POINT (Gage and Brady)
2. PLAYING WITH FIRE (Eli and Alex)
3. SPARKING THE FIRE (Wyatt and Molly)
3.5 FOREVER IN FIRE (More Eli and Alex)
3.6 COMING IN HOT, Men in Uniform anthology (Tyler and Evie)

The Hot in the Kitchen series about sexy chefs:
1. FEEL THE HEAT (Jack and Lili)
2. ALL FIRED UP (Shane and Cara)
3. HOT AND BOTHERED (Tad and Jules)

... however each book can also be read as a standalone novel or novella.

For excerpts, news, and giveaways, visit: http://katemeader.com

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the Fire is book #2.1 in the Hot in Chicago series by Kate Meader. You need to have read at least through book two for this one so nothing is spoiled. This is a short, forty page novella that is offered through the author’s website. It focuses on Alex and Eli and is so sweet. These two are going strong but still living separately. Eli wants more. He is more than ready for more. But Alex is holding back. How can Eli convince her that he is in this forever? That they belong to each other and nothing is going to change that?

I love this series so much and having this little bit of extra in these two’s lives was perfection.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Be with me. Always.”

A fantastic little novella for all fans of Eli and Alexandra!!!

“You know what I want? A fucking orgasm, Eli. You wake me up at five thirty in the freakin’ a.m. with that ninja tongue, purely so you can start a negotiation.”
“Negotiation is my forte, Alexandra. How else would I get a woman as difficult as you to love me?”

Eli and Alexandra went through crazy times of secrets and lies in Playing with Fire to finally have their HEA. But despite their fierce love for each other, both are still struggling with insecurities that threaten their happiness.

“How much do I love you, Eli? More than my body can hold in and it fucking terrifies me.”

Alex was just as awesome as always. I love her fierceness, her way with words ;-D The way she loves Eli scares her because she’s so afraid that she won’t be enough to keep him. Especially after everything he gave up in order to show her how much he loves her.

If it was in his power to give, he would gift-wrap the sun for the woman before him.

I adore Eli! He is so damn sexy. The way he loves Alexandra just the way she is, how protective and possessive he is over her, just makes me swoon. All he wants to do is have her beside him every day, and trying to convince her to move in with him is his next plan. But Alex is being difficult, and Eli needs all his powers of persuasion in order to convince her to take the next step with him.

“Honey, the crazy-hate-lust-love thing is exciting but I’m not sure my heart could take this every day. If you give us a chance, if you accept that no one does it for me like you do, it'll change into something real and solid and golden.”

I will never be able to get enough of Alex and Eli! These two are so hot and so romantic together! Their banter and humor is fabulous and I just love how passionately they love each other. Their romance is PERFECTION, and I love everything about them.

It was so great that we got to spend more time with all the amazing characters from this series and that we got to see one of the couples get married, which was wonderful!

I love that Kate Meader wrote this short story for my favorite couple. This novella takes place after the end of Playing with Fire but before it’s epilogue. This series is a favorite of mine. Kate Meader knows how to write steamy and romantic novels. A must read for all romance fans.

[Lyndy Ann ♫ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun quick read catching up with ALL the gang.

Received via newsletter :-)

[Carolane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Meader is a fantastic writer! I really loved this short story following book 2 and the series is fantastic. Not only is quality of the writing excellent, but it's also witty, fun, passionate, and REAL.
<3 <3 <3

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute short where Eli and Alex finally settled what their future would look like. I loved how both of them got advice from the rest of the crew.

[Bona Caballero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historieta corta que no llega a las cincuenta páginas. Se puede leer, en PDF, en la página web de la autora. Con el fondo de la boda de Beck y Darcy, los protagonistas de esta son Eli y Alexandra, en el momento entre el último capítulo de su libro, Playing with fire y el epílogo del mismo. Eli quiere que Alex se vaya a vivir con él y ella tiene miedo. Él es tan romántico, ha sacrificado tanto por ella, y es guapo rico etc. etc. ¿Cómo no sentirse insegura? Quizá lo suyo, tan explosivo, sea flor de un día.

Tengo miedo de que lo que alimente nuestro amor sean las peleas, el drama, y el mejor sexo de mi vida. Esta cosa tan loca que tenemos de odio-lujuria-amor, pasará en algún momento. ¿Qué viene después del fuego, Eli? ¿Después de que se consuma?

Eli necesitará su habilidad y paciencia, darle mucho a su lengua de plata (es un chiste, doble sentido) para conseguir que Alex acepte dar el siguiente paso.

[Lisa Eiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short story. It's another edition that tells the story of the Dempsey's, the varied hodgepodge of a firefighting family based in Chicago. This time it's another look into the romance between the Dempsey sister and the former Mayor. I'd recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of firefighters and steamy romances.

[Alyson Buxey]

A delightful extra. Eli and Alex are a couple that just keep giving. It might have a beck and Darcy’s wedding but this was not their story. Im not sure why it’s so satisfying to be right regarding a breadcrumb, it wasn’t exactly a huge stretch but there is something undeniably pleasurable about having got it right 😝

[T. Rosado · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

It was fun catching up with Eli and Alexandra. They've been my favorite couple within this series.

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect "happily ever after" epilogue to Alexandra and Eli's story!

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Eli and Alexandra at their best. Totally intriguing.

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every page, every chapter. I just love this power couple.

[Jdursi · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’ve got more Eli & Alexandra!!! I really enjoyed this little look in on them. I wish this was included in their book.

[Amanda Iman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
As per usual, I was much more invested with the rest of the Dempsey's and their paramours than with Eli and Alex.

[Christine D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always fun to catch up with these characters, even if it's just a few pages.

[Landslide · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Meader wrote this short story as a gift and it's available for free. It takes place before the Epilogue of Playing with Fire and explains in more detail how they deal with their new circunstances. Eli is more than ready to commit, but Alexandra is not easy to convince... Also, we get to see Beck and Darcy from Rekindle the Flame getting married which was awesome!

[Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally I like to leave my couple at the end of the book secure in their hea. An epilogue should only be babies and happiness but with Alexandra's personality this totally fit. Loved Eli, loved Alex, loved this entire family

[A Klue · Rating 4 out of 5]

At only 40 pages, not much to it, but I'm always looking for more of this great couple.