Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38276 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38276 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
My cell rings, interrupting my thoughts. I pick it up without checking the ID, knowing that the only two that call me are either my father or Emilia.
“Your voice is as beautiful as I remember,” a deep voice says, sending shivers down my spine.
“Callan?” I ask, frowning as I put the phone between my ear and shoulder, stirring the pots on the stove.
“You remembered my name,” he murmurs smoothly. “I like the way it rolls off your tongue.” His voice is warming me all over—even as I try to ignore it.
I let out an annoyed breath when it finally hits me that I didn’t give him my number. I also refuse to acknowledge the fact that I hoped he would somehow call anyway.
“How did you get my number?” I steel my voice, trying to focus my attention on dinner instead of the fact that the man has a future as a phone-sex operator if being an attorney doesn’t work out for him. A flash of him sitting in a call center talking to lonely women has me almost giggling, but I stifle it.
“I’m a man of many talents,” Callan quips.
“Another line,” I sigh out. “I’m going to kill Emilia for giving you my number.” While I sound mad, I figured she would.
“I haven’t spoken to Emilia.”
“Then how?”
“I have my ways.”
“Why did you call?” I ask, resisting the urge to say his name.
“I called to see if you’ll have dinner with me tonight.” I can hear the smile in his voice and the warmth in his invitation. There’s a voice inside my head that is screaming do it. Callan is confusing me way too much.
“I already have plans,” I tell him. I hear a chair squeak as I stir the potatoes while my words sink in.
“You’re dating someone else?” Callan asks seriously.
“Why are you so surprised? Did you think another man wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me?”
“Quit talking like that, or I’ll spank your ass,” he growls into the phone.
“Spank my ass?” I gasp. My body tightens at his delicious threat, making my mind go blank in shock.
“Yes, exactly. Now, call this asshole up and cancel your date,” he says.
“You’re out of your mind. I have to go. I have to get dinner out of the oven before my date arrives.”
“I’m not kidding with you, Zoe. You better end it.”
“Bye, Callan. Maybe you should consider getting into therapy,” I advise before hanging up.
My heart is racing, and every nerve ending in my body feels like a live wire. I’m so happy I almost giggle that he went out of his way to talk to me. He’s jealous at the idea of someone else dating me. I shake my head, hoping it will clear my thoughts. It feels crazy, but I like him—even if there’s no future in it. I look around the house, realizing he would be as out of place in my world as I am in his.
The thought makes me sad.
Chapter 7
Zoe
Two Weeks Later
Girls’ nights are the best, and we try to do them as often as possible. They always relax me. Tonight, Emilia’s spent most of the time telling me what’s been going on with her and Niko. That’s nothing unusual. We always use these nights to talk about guys—really anything but school and my work. It’s our time to enjoy each other’s company.
“So, get this. Niko and Callan came to me with a contract,” Emilia says, giving me a pointed look.
“A contract?”
“Essentially, it says that I will go through with the marriage even if something happens to Niko and he’s dying,” she says, grimacing.
I blanch. “That sounds kind of morbid.”
“That’s because it is,” Emilia says, nodding her head in agreement.
“Did Niko or Callan explain why they wanted you to sign it?” I ask.
“Niko said it was to protect me and make sure I was safe from Dante and the other vampires in the family.”
“Well, that kind of makes sense,” I tell her. “It’s good that Niko is watching out for you.”
“I refused to sign it,” she says flatly.
“What? Why?” I ask.
“Because I’m not married to Niko yet, and if something happens, my father will always take care of me. He will keep the rest of the vultures, Dante included, at bay.”
“They’d probably be more afraid of Niko.”
“I don’t want to feel like I owe him anything. I’m going into this marriage with no purpose or voice, I feel like I’m just a paper doll he can dress up and have others admire,” Emilia says sadly. She seems to want to be done talking about it, so I change the subject.
“So, what do you know about Callan?” I ask hesitantly.
“Niko’s lawyer?” Emilia asks as she squints at me, startled by the question.
“Yeah…”
“Not a lot. He’s nice. I’ve heard he’s a bit of a player from everything Niko has said.”