Page 15 of Bitten By Desire (Crooked Point #1)

Sunday

I’d changed my outfit five times. As much as I wanted to push Callum away by wearing a pair of ill-fitting slacks and my sweater that Zoey deemed frumpy…I also desperately wanted Callum to stare at me like he wanted to devour me again.

I knew this wasn’t a date. It was an interview.

Kind of. Callum had asked me out and when I said no, he’d somehow roped me into an interview.

But I’d put way more energy into my appearance tonight than I did for my date with Bennett.

And I didn’t know what that meant. All I knew was that my heart was pounding and I didn’t know how to calm myself down.

Zoey knocked on my door and then walked in. She whistled. “So you did decide on sexy chic?”

“Is it too much?” I’d settled on the one outfit I’d brought just in case Zoey wanted to go out.

A black flared skirt that was probably a little too short for an interview.

And a skin tight long sleeved white shirt that showed just the tiniest amount of skin along my midriff.

Now as she was staring at me, I was wishing my top was longer.

And my skirt. My high heeled boots just made the whole thing even more inappropriate.

“I mean…I wear spandex on my interviews. Showing off a little stomach will probably just help seal the deal. ”

I just didn’t know which deal I wanted to seal.

I looked over at my bed. Captain Floppy Ears was sitting on my pillow.

Bennett was a great guy. Why was I trying to look sexy for Callum?

Seriously, what was I doing? I was holding a torch for a guy that no longer wanted to exist. A guy who refused to admit he recognized me.

“Where were you hiding this number on Saturday night? You look hot.”

I’d hid it at the very bottom of my suitcase so she wouldn’t see. And now I felt a little guilty for wanting to dress up for Callum but not for Bennett. “I think I need a sweater,” I said. “Where did you put my favorite one?”

“Nope. No way.” She grabbed my arm to pull me out of the room and down the stairs.

“But it’s going to be cold…”

“Here.” She pulled a jean jacket off the hook by the door. “This will look perfect with your outfit.”

“A jean jacket doesn’t exactly scream interview.”

“And neither does a hermit sweater.”

I knew there was no fighting with her over this.

She’d probably burned my sweater or something.

I pulled on the jacket. At least it covered my exposed skin above my skirt.

“I can’t believe you’re making me do this,” I said as I put my camera over my head and grabbed my laptop bag.

There hadn’t been time to print out any photos, so I’d have to show Callum my work on my computer. “If I die it’s your fault.”

“I told you, this town is safe.”

Was she delusional? What about the severed hand? And the missing people? And the vampire she was forcing me to be alone with?! Crooked Point was anything but safe .

She must have seen my face, because she added, “You’ll be perfectly fine walking over there.”

I wasn’t scared of the walk. I was scared to be alone with Callum.

“I meant the vampire thing. You’re basically setting me up to die.

” I didn’t know if I believed my own words.

But I still felt uneasy about being alone with Callum in his house.

Why couldn’t we have met at a restaurant? Or some other public place?

“Emma, we decided vampires don’t exist. His eyes are a normal brown, not black. He’s not going to eat you.” She opened up the door.

I just glared at her. “But…”

“Don’t fight a good thing. This arrangement couldn’t be more perfect. Theo Gold is clearly not Callum.”

Clearly? How?

“And he’s not a vampire.”

I beg to differ.

“Plus he’s going to give you a job. I’m pretty sure Theo Gold is good luck.”

Good luck? Absolutely not. He was more like a curse. And had we decided that vampires didn’t exist? Because I was pretty sure she was on board with my theory until Callum showed up with contact lenses and tricked her. What about all my proof?

“Have a fun night!” Zoey said as she practically shoved me out the door. “Seriously, start walking. You’re going to be late.”

I sighed. I really did hate being late. But as I walked down Main Street, I just wanted to turn back around.

Everything in my head screamed at me to run in the opposite direction.

But for some reason, I kept walking forward.

I took a deep breath. Zoey knew where I was going.

And that made me feel a little safer. It was just an interview.

It would be short and simple and I’d be back to Zoey’s in no time.

Callum would be professional and not murdery.

No, Theo Gold. If I wanted to stay alive tonight, I needed to remember to call him Theo Gold.

The reason he’d seemed dangerous in the maze was because I kept calling him by the wrong name.

The old him that he was trying to hide. And I couldn’t afford to anger him when I was all alone with him again.

Bennett wouldn’t be showing up to save me this time.

I tried to push the memories of Callum aside.

From now on, this guy was Theo Gold. I said his name over and over again as I turned off a side street.

And then down another street. Theo Gold, Theo Gold, Theo Gold.

It wasn’t a hard name to remember. Since his eyes were actually gold and not brown. Lying ass.

I turned down the next street. This was the farthest I’d ventured away from Main Street.

The yards kept getting larger and larger out here.

I stopped at a modern looking monstrosity that didn’t fit the vibe of the rest of the town at all.

It was the complete opposite of his house in that forest. Which made sense.

He was actively trying not to be Callum anymore.

Gah, stop thinking about Callum. I said Theo Gold’s name over and over again in my head as I walked up to the front door. I lifted my hand to knock, but the door opened before my knuckles made contact.

Theo Gold was standing there with a cocky smile. His brown eyes trailed down my body. He’d ditched his suit jacket from earlier. And the sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled up. He folded his arms across his chest, making him look even more domineering. “I knew you’d show.”

That was such an arrogant way to say hello. “I’m always on time for interviews.”

He nodded. “I think we both know this is a date.”

“No…it’s an interview.”

“If you say so.” He stepped to the side so I could enter.

I walked past him and into his house. “I do say so.” I looked around the foyer.

It was the complete opposite of his last house in every way.

There wasn’t a single portrait hanging on the wall.

There was nothing at all in the foyer except an empty table, just begging to have a fresh vase of flowers on it.

“Can I take your jacket?” he asked.

I pulled it tighter around myself. “No, I’m good.

” I seriously regretted choosing a shirt that showed off so much skin.

I didn’t want him looking at me like… My train of thought came to an abrupt stop.

Because he was already staring at me in the way that I’d hoped he wouldn’t.

Like he wanted to trace my skin with his tongue.

Or maybe that’s just what I wanted to do to him.

My heart started pounding as he stepped closer to me.

“This way.” He put his hand on my lower back and I cringed.

There was a huge bruise on my back. From being pressed so hard against the safety bar on the Ferris wheel.

He immediately dropped his hand. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. ”

He lowered his eyebrows. He clearly didn’t believe me. But he also didn’t press it. “Follow me then.”

I followed him down the hall and past the dining room. I peered through the archway. The dining room was as cold and lifeless as the rest of the house. The table and chairs were painted black. All sharp angles. Everything about the house seemed structured. Rigid.

“This way,” Theo Gold said as he pulled out a key and opened a set of doors.

I followed him into his office. Everything in here was glass. Glass table, glass shelves. And there was still not a single picture in sight. The shelves were practically empty except for a few books and paper weights.

Theo Gold pulled out one of the chairs in front of his glass desk.

Well, maybe he wasn’t as rigid as his décor.

He walked behind his desk and sat down across from me.

I stared down at the glass between us. There were no scattered pages. And not a single pen out of place. It looked like he’d never even been in here.

“So tell me,” he said. “What is it that you see in your boyfriend?”

I did not think that was an appropriate first interview question. “I’m not here to talk about Bennett.”

He put his elbows on the desk and leaned forward. “Well, I’m afraid that’s what I want to discuss.”

“This is an interview, Theo Gold .” I emphasized his fake name.

“Please, just call me Theo.” His eyes dropped to my lips. “Or Mr. Gold if you prefer. Sir will also do quite nicely.”

“Sir? Really? ”

“A sign of respect.”

Well, I didn’t respect him. Not in the slightest. I opened up my laptop bag with such vigor I almost broke the zipper. I ignored his eyes on me as I pulled out my computer. “I have some samples to show you.”

He just stared at me as I booted up my computer.

“How long have you been seeing Bennett?” he asked.

What was his deal? “It’s none of your business.”

“If you’re hoping to be part of my business, everything you do is my business.”

“So you tell your employees who they can and can’t date?”

“If I deem it necessary.”

I slammed my laptop shut. “Well I’m not interested in being told what to do in my personal life. And if you aren’t going to ask me appropriate questions for an interview…I’m leaving.”

Before I could stand, he opened his desk drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper.

“Very well,” he said. “Have you ever worked in real estate before?”

“No.” Shit, I didn’t think that was a requirement.

“Where do you see yourself in ten years?”

“Taking pictures. Making a better living than I am now.”

“What about on a personal level?” His eyes lifted from the page.

“I…I don’t know.”

“Living in a house with a white picket fence with 2.5 kids? ”

This honestly didn’t seem like an appropriate question either. But at least he wasn’t insulting Bennett. “I’m not really a white picket fence kind of person.”

“And what kind of person are you?”

“Less structured than that.” I stared at the sharp edges of his glass table. Less structured than you.

“So you don’t mind getting dirty?” he asked, his voice growing even deeper.

“Excuse me?” I pressed my thighs together. Why was my body betraying me?

He smiled at my reaction. “Getting your hands dirty on the job. Moving things around for better angles. That kind of thing.”

“Oh.” I laughed. “Right.” I’d spent so much time fretting over tonight, I hadn’t really prepared for what kind of questions he might ask me. “No, I don’t mind at all.”

“Splendid. Do you prefer taking pictures of still objects or living things?”

“Honestly, usually living things.”

“On a scale of one to ten, how likely are you to pursue relationships with co-workers?”

My eyes grew round.

“No response,” he said. “Interesting. You said you had samples?” He stood up and walked over to my side of the desk.

I turned my computer back on, trying to ignore the way my heart started racing from his relationship question. “Yes of course.” I pulled up some of the still pictures I’d taken recently for my job back home.

“No,” he said. “I want to see the ones you prefer. Living things. ”

I pulled up another folder. I’d edited some photos I’d taken from the Fall Festival earlier today. To show that I could capture the vibe of the town.

“Do you have any photos of yourself?”

“Um…no, not really. I rarely take selfies.”

“I mean where you’re the subject. I think a good photographer must also be able to be a good model. To understand both sides of it.”

I took occasional pictures with friends and family. But I’d only ever done one photoshoot where I wasn’t behind the camera. With him. Was he asking to see the nude pictures he’d taken of me? I swallowed hard. That couldn’t be what he was asking. That was basically a confession of who he was.

I didn’t look up at him. But I knew he’d drawn closer to see my screen. “I don’t have anything like that.”

“Are you sure? I just want to see something raw,” he said. His breath tickled my ear. “Something real. Something that shows you exposed.”

My heart started racing even faster. He was definitely trying to find our photoshoot. He wanted to see me naked on his couch. My legs spread for him. Him deep inside of me.

“Show me what I want and the job is yours, Emma.”