“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.”
“It figures,” I say, frowning.
“What’s going on?” Emilia asks, staring at me.
I flop backward onto my bed, staring up at my ceiling. The spackle is starting to fade to a yellowish color and not the cheery kind in the kitchen. It needs to be painted. I make a mental note to buy paint soon. If I leave it for my dad to do, it will never get done.
I let out a heavy breath. “Callan called like two weeks ago and asked me out. I all but hung up on him. He’s sent flowers just about every day since—all containing notes asking me out.” I finally glance over at Emilia who is slack jawed as she stares at me.
“Wow! That’s a lot! How come you didn’t tell me?” she asks, a little put off.
“I was kind of mad at you because he must’ve gotten my number and address from you,” I tell her, expecting her to spill the beans.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Emilia insists.
“Then how did he get my number, Emmie?”
“Probably from Niko. He keeps the information on everyone I care about—really anyone that’s around me,” she says. “It made me angry when I found out about it, but it’s not like Niko listens to me anyway. He told me he wanted to know everyone in my life so he could protect me from getting hurt.”
I let out a low whistle. “Geez! He really is over the top, isn’t he?”
“I’ve been telling you that,” Emilia says, letting out a heavy breath that sounds sad.
“Are you going to say yes to Callan?” she questions. I can’t tell if she’s curious or excited.
“No. He thinks I’m rich and cultured like all the women he’s used to. I don’t fit in his world. Besides, can you see Callan in this house having Sunday dinner with my dad and me?”
“I love this house. It’s warm and full of love. It’s something my icebox of a house never could be. Money doesn’t buy that.”
She lays down beside me and I grab her hand. I clutch it tightly as she squeezes mine back.
“You know, there’s something you haven’t thought about, though,” Emilia says.
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“Niko’s folders are complete, and when I say that, I mean full-blown recon, complete. It’s likely Callan already knows everything about you, yet he’s still calling and being persistent. You may be selling him short.”
“Yeah, but a player doesn’t care about that kind of thing, and maybe he likes the chase. He wants to get laid, and all signs, including his lines, point to Callan being that kind of man.”
“You never know if you don’t take a chance.”
I sigh and close my eyes. I know in my heart that I want to say yes to him. I’m scared. I hate that I am because I’m not the type to let fear rule me. I’ve just never been attracted to a man like I am to Callan. I just don’t think I’m ready to figure out what that even means.
Especially if he has the power to hurt my heart…
Chapter 8
Callan
Pulling up outside the diner in Crescent City, I wonder for the millionth time if I should have stayed away. The problem is that Zoe hasn’t responded to any of my notes or flowers. She stopped answering her phone after the first call. That should be a sign for me to walk away. It would be the smart thing to do.
It turns out where Zoe Cooper is involved, I’m not ready to give up.
Still, I know I’m on thin ice here. She will undoubtedly give me hell when she sees me here at her work. Hell, I’m being a damn stalker, but I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to her. I want this woman. I need more time with her. Shit, the truth is, I want everything I can think of when it comes to Zoe. I will take anything she’s willing to give me.
I get out of my car and walk into the diner before I can talk myself out of it. I grab a booth as I glance around, bummed when I don’t see her. The disappointment feels heavy in my gut.
Before I have a chance to get up and leave, a waitress comes over, handing me a menu. “What can I get you to drink?” she asks. She seems friendly enough and is wearing a smile that doesn’t appear fake.
“Coffee is fine, thank you.”
“Today’s special is spaghetti with garlic bread and a side salad,” she counters.
“I’m not that hungry,” I tell her as I hand the menu back.
“That’s a shame. We have Zoe’s homemade apple pie today,” she says, tucking her little notebook back into her apron.
“Zoe’s?” I ask as my heart starts to race.
“Yeah, she’s a waitress here too, but she makes all the desserts.”
“Okay then. I’ll take a slice of that with my coffee.”
“Sure thing,” she replies, walking around the counter to the dessert cooler. She hands it over the counter to be warmed up. I can smell it from here, and my mouth is already watering.
At this rate, Zoe Cooper is getting more and more interesting. When I inquired about her to Niko, he all but shoved the folder at me. I’m sure he thought I would be turned off by what I read. He wants no part of me talking to his fiancée’s best friend. Reading through it, I found out Zoe wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth, which meant we have even more in common than I thought, and I like that.
It didn’t take me much time at all to read through the school records with references and charter submissions from the school she and Emilia just graduated from. The woman is almost too good to be true. I felt it when I laid eyes on her, but now I know it to be true.