Page 7 of Bitten By Desire (Crooked Point #1)

Saturday

Yesterday I’d explored more of the shops on Main Street. I hadn’t seen a single sign of Callum or his black sedan.

And I was starting to think that Zoey was right…it was all in my head. I’d run into someone who looked kind of like Callum. A complete stranger named Theo Gold. And proceeded to stalk him and freak him out. End of story.

I was never going to see Callum Walsh again.

And I needed to finally accept what happened back in college for what it was – a one night stand.

Meaningless. Nothing. I’d never found another news article about Callum, but he probably got fired from his job with the Wildcats for fraternizing with students.

He was a dick. Preying on young women. And I was done thinking about him.

I was going to focus on Bennett instead. His blue eyes. His strong shoulders. The scruff along his jawline.

Bennett was a catch. And he was into me.

“Try this instead,” Zoey said. She walked into the guest room holding one of her dresses.

“What I’m wearing is fine.”

“You’re not wearing jeans on your first date unless you’re pairing it with a crop top.”

“It’s the middle of fall. It’s going to be cold tonight.” And my sweater was cute .

Zoey tossed the dress at me. “It has long sleeves. You’ll love it.”

The short hemline discounted the conservative sleeves. It was probably the most sensible dress Zoey owned though. And I knew she wouldn’t leave me alone until I at least tried it on.

I quickly changed and pulled the bow tight around my waist. The burnt orange color somehow made my legs look even tanner.

And it did kind of scream Fall Festival.

The best part was that it was comfortable.

The loose skirt and flouncy sleeves were very much…

me. It even looked great with the high heeled boots I’d brought with me.

“You look amazing,” Zoey said.

“You don’t think it’s too much?”

“Nope,” Zoey said. She grabbed the neckline and snipped out the tag.

I grabbed the back of my neck. “Wait, you’ve never even worn this?”

“I picked it up for you on my way home from work.”

She’d tried to get me to go shopping last night, but I’d told her I’d brought everything I needed. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I kind of did. You were about to wear a baggy sweater on your date.”

“It was chic.”

“It was huge.”

That was how it was supposed to fit. But Zoey would never understand something being oversized.

Skin tight was the only way for her. And I was a little surprised the dress she’d deemed appropriate for my date was so flowy.

But it also had a plunging neckline in addition to the short skirt. So it was definitely a compromise.

“Wait.” I turned to look at her. She was still wearing her workout clothes. “What are you wearing?”

“Actually...” She fake coughed into her hand. “I’m feeling a little under the weather. I think I better stay home.”

“No way. I’m here visiting you . And you said the hot apple cider is delicious. I don’t want you to miss out.”

“I can just get it next year.”

“You’re coming.”

She fake coughed again. “But my throat hurts.”

“It does not.”

“My stomach then. Ow.” She put her hand on her tummy. “See?”

There was a knock on the front door.

“I’ll let Bennett know it’s just going to be the two of you tonight,” she said and started walking out of the room.

“Please come, Zoey. You were right. About all of it. I’ve been obsessing over Callum for years. Which means I really haven’t been on a proper date in years. And I’m a little nervous. I need my wing-woman.”

She smiled. “Really?”

“Yes. Please. I need your help.”

“Okay, I can definitely be your wing-woman. Step one…I need to look like the frumpy best friend.” She pulled her hair up into a high pony. “Give me your ugly sweater.”

I laughed and tossed it to her. She pulled it over her sports bra. Combined with her black leggings and loose ponytail, I was pretty sure she actually made the sweater look chic. It really had just looked baggy and sad on me .

“Do I look appropriately awful?” she asked.

“No. Not at all. You look cute and comfy.”

“Damn it. I was going for hermit.”

I tried not to take offense over all the insults about my sweater.

“Oh, give me a second to take off my lipstick and eyeshadow.” She ran out of the room.

Why had she been wearing lipstick and eyeshadow to work out anyway? She was definitely up to something weird with her clients.

“Answer the door!” came her muffled voice from her room.

I hurried down the stairs and opened the front door.

Bennett was standing there with an easy smile. “You look beautiful, Emma.”

“You too.”

He laughed. “I look beautiful, huh?”

I felt my face turning red. “You know what I meant.”

He shook his head. “No, do tell.”

I shoved his shoulder. “You look good is what I meant.” And he did.

He was wearing jeans, even though Zoey had just told me they weren’t appropriate for a first date.

But they looked really good on him. And his flannel shirt screamed Fall Festival just as loudly as my dress.

I went to move my hand, but somehow ended up letting it trail from his shoulder to his bicep.

It hovered there for a beat too long as I stared at him. I quickly dropped my hand.

“Is Zoey still joining us? Or…will it just be the two of us tonight?” He smiled after asking that last part. Like he hoped it would indeed be just the two of us .

“She’ll be down in just a minute.” But standing here staring at him, I kind of wished I’d let Zoey be fake sick. It really had been ages since I’d gone on a date I was excited about. Since every time I closed my eyes I was haunted by Callum’s golden stare.

I looked up at Bennett. Part of me didn’t even trust he was real. And that maybe I’d wake up tomorrow and this would all be some weird dream too. That I’d have no evidence it ever happened, just like with Callum. “Can I take your picture?”

“Um…I guess?”

“Trust me, you’ll get used to it if we start hanging out.

” I grabbed my camera out of my purse and snapped his photo.

He didn’t try to move out of the shot. Or ask to borrow my camera to delete the photo.

I looked back down at my camera’s display, just to make sure the photo was really there.

Bennett was smiling back at me on the screen.

“Is photography a hobby or…”

“It’s my job.” I looked up from my display with a laugh. “That made it sound like I don’t enjoy it. It’s a passion and a paying job.”

He smiled.

“I can’t believe we didn’t talk about this the other day. You were probably wondering why I had a camera around my neck.” Zoey would probably be horrified by my accessorizing, but I put my camera back around my neck where it belonged.

“Well, we were a little busy talking about éclairs.”

I was blushing all over again. “What is it that you do?”

“I work at the bank on Main Street.”

“As a teller? ”

“No, I manage the branch. I started as a teller back in high school and worked my way up.”

“Very impressive.” No wonder he’d asked if photography was a hobby.

He was a grown ass man with a grown ass job.

Not a coach pretending to be a student, just so I’d open my legs for him.

Although…Callum had never said he was a student.

He hadn’t said much at all. Except for all the sinful things he’d whispered in my ear.

“You okay?” Bennett asked. He reached out and lightly touched the back of my hand to get my attention.

I shook away the pestering thoughts of Callum. It was easy when Bennett touched me. Like he was chasing away the cold. “Yeah, I’m good. And I can’t wait to try this world famous hot apple cider.”

“And don’t forget about the huge stuffed animal I promised to win for you.”

I smiled.

“Sorry it took me so long,” Zoey said. She blew a loose strand of hair out of her face.

She’d taken off most of her makeup and made her ponytail a little sloppier, but she looked as great as she always did.

Possibly even better without all the extra layers of makeup.

But I loved that she’d tried her best to look a little frumpy. It was proper wing-womaning 101.

“Shall we?” Bennett put his hand out for me.

I tried to hide my smile as I slipped my hand into his. But I was pretty sure I wasn’t hiding it at all. It didn’t take long for us to make our way to Main Street. And it had completely transformed since yesterday.

The lights strung between the lamp posts were dripping with cobwebs.

And the whole street seemed dimmer somehow.

Music you’d hear when you were about to be killed in a horror movie was lightly playing from somewhere.

And each shop had bigger and bigger pumpkins outside.

Like there was a competition I wasn’t aware of. There probably was.

As sinister as the cute little street was trying to be, it was definitely outdone by the park at the end of the lane.

Everything looked old-fashioned. Except the carnival rides that stuck out, proving that we were actually in the 21 st century.

A gazebo had more cobwebs than wood showing.

And there were even people dressed in old Victorian outfits. It was like we’d stepped back in time.

It was chilling, but Bennett’s hand in mine was comforting.

“It’s even better than last year,” Bennett said.

I wondered if better meant creepier. Tons of booths were set up that looked like they were right out of a Wild West ghost town.

They’d all nailed the creepy vibe they were going for.

It was all definitely more Halloween Festival than Fall Festival.

I don’t know what I’d been expecting really.

Tons of beautiful leaf decorations, maybe? Definitely not this.

A little kid dressed as a vampire ran past us and I jumped. He even had painted blood dribbling down the side of his chin.

Zoey shuddered. “Do you know what this reminds me of? The drive up to the party at that creepy gothic mansion senior year. When we almost hit that fox. Or big cat. Or whatever it was.”

I was surprised she’d brought up Callum’s house. But there really wasn’t a better comparison. I’d never seen a Victorian town or a Wild West one. But I had seen this vibe before. Zoey had nailed it perfectly. I half expected to see one of Callum’s portraits come to life and walk by.

The wind blew, and I couldn’t really explain it…

but it smelled like Callum’s property too.

I knew it was just the crisp fall air. Or maybe it was because I’d thought I’d seen him the other day.

But it really did feel like I was going to turn around and he’d be standing there staring at me with his golden eyes.

I looked over my shoulder. But there were just a few kids playing behind us.

“You’re shivering,” Bennett said. “Let’s go get that hot apple cider to warm you up.”

I nodded and let him guide me toward one of the booths.

The apple cider was being stirred in a big black cauldron, by a woman dressed as a witch.

“Three apple ciders,” Bennett said.

She nodded and lifted the ladle, spooning out the steaming liquid.

Bennett handed me the first cup. I was almost scared to drink it. The smoke swirling off the top drifted into the sky, making everything just look creepier. And I felt the same shiver down my spine.

I looked over my shoulder again. But there was no one there. So why did it feel like someone was watching my every move?