Vampire Week Character Interview with Callum Scott from At Death It Begins

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Excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE

At Death It Begins

Bonus Scene

Before the Beginning

I paced the floor of my room chewing on my thumb. “What the hell?” I asked the floor as I circled the bed. My heart raced as I turned my attention to the single red rose at the center of my bed. He’d left it at the front desk for me. Me. I couldn’t stop the dopey smile on my face. I picked up the rose and twirled it between my hands while doing pirouettes and laughing.

          Three weeks.

Three fabulous, glorious, amazing weeks, I’d been in Los Angeles working on the set of my movie and now I had an admirer. I giggled louder, danced harder. Never, not in a million years did I think something like this would happen. I was an official screenwriter with a movie under my belt. I reread the note attached to the rose

          You are simply amazing.

I knew the writing like the back of my hand by now. Memorized every curve and dot of his handwriting. Spent more time studying his notes in the margin of the script then I did the director’s. Reading the words again made me giggle harder. I thought back to my first encounter with Devin. Michael Tarvin, the director, was giving me a tour of the studio introducing me to the crew, the cast and lastly Devin the star. Devin was seated at a bench going over the script, his hair blowing in the breeze. It looked so soft I wanted to touch it. He was wearing a black t-shirt, black jeans and flip flops. Before that day I’d never seen a guy in flip flops. The breeze picked up blowing a few of his blond locks across his forehead and into his eyes. Eyes that were staring at me as we approached.

Michael introduced me. “Devin this is Lendyn, she’s here to fix any issues that may arise with the script once we start filming.”

Devin jumped to his feet and held out a hand. “You’re a genius.”

“Thank you,” were the only words I managed to get out, because then he smiled. It was like looking at the sun, or seeing the dark side of the moon; not to be described. His blue-green eyes sparkled. My heart leapt to my throat choking me, turning my brain to mush. My hand tingled from the excitement of touching his hand. He let go. Devin and Michael continued their conversation as I stared down at Devin’s shoes, or lack of them. The guy had ridiculously sexy feet.

Was that a thing?

Didn’t matter he did. Those were pretty much the only words we exchanged on set. I mean every now and then I caught his eye at which time I also got one of his dazzling smiles, but that was it. Any comments he had about a scene, or an edit to dialogue, were never voiced, simply penned into the margins of the script.

Imagine my shock to see this flower and note waiting for me in the lobby of my hotel. Devin barely noticed me, but he was flirting with me? Maybe it was a joke, a test of some sort. The thought sobered me, no more excited reverie. I dropped the flower onto the dresser deciding to take a shower. A very cold shower. I was drying my hair when my cell phone

started beeping.

Gigi.

I wanted to talk to her, but … I was happy for the most part, but I was also lonely and a bit homesick. I picked up wanting the comfort of my grandmother’s voice. “Hello,” I made sure to sound chipper.

“How’s my baby girl? Are you choking on that smog yet? Bet you’re gonna get the black lung.”

I couldn’t help it I laughed. “No black lungs, but I have seen several men wearing flip flops.”

“Oh dear, Shirley’s husband Donnie came home while the girls were playing Hearts and can you believe he was wearing those dreaded things?”

“Does he have sexy feet?” I asked.

Gigi actually snorted she laughed so hard, “If hangnails, hammertoes and corns are sexy, then who lord watch out because his feet are going into People.”

That was some visual. “And now I’m thinking lunch may come up.”

“Yes, lets talk about something else. How is Los Angeles treating you dear?”

“It’s definitely a far cry from Flagstaff that’s for sure. I swear it’s so …” I didn’t even know how to describe it. Maybe I was feeling like a little fish about to be swallowed by a shark.

“Big?” Gigi supplied.

“One way to put it,” I picked up he rose, inhaling the flowery scent.

Even though it didn’t mean anything it still brought a smile to my lips, “I guess.”

“I smell a but in there?”

“It’s nothing,” I said crawling up onto my elbows to sit back on my heels. Devin’s mega-watt smile flashed in my head his blond hair blowing in the breeze. He was mouth-watering.

“Are you gonna keep me guessing? I’m dying of suspense who’s the boy?”

I giggled, “Seriously it’s nothing.”

“I bet you’re blushing, I can actually hear it.”

“Cannot.”

“I’m old you can’t hold out on me forever. Who is he?”

“He’s just some guy I met on set, it’s nothing a silly crush, really.”

“Let me guess it’s that dreamboat leading man Devin Williams, he’d be quite the catch, and I hear he’s unattached.”

“Please, he’s famous and gorgeous what would he want with me?”

“Lendyn Wrigley Hughes.” I cringed at the sound of my name, “You may not be famous, but you are gorgeous and talented and rather humorous.”

“Thanks, but you have to say that because were family.”

She sighed over the phone line, “Just because we are doesn’t make it any less true, I’d say it even if we weren’t. Well, I have to go Shirley’s here to whisk me off to our book club. Hopefully Donnie isn’t wearing those sandals again.”

We both laughed. “Have fun,” I said.

I was getting ready to hang up when my grandmother cleared her throat.

“Lendyn?”

“Yeah?”

A rustling followed by tapping, she cleared her throat again, “I love you always, don’t forget that.”

“I love you too,” I said.

Then she abruptly said, “Bye,” before hanging up. I held the phone to my ear for a moment. That was strange, I mean my grandmother said I love you, but this time it sounded so … different. Like a good-bye. I shook it off. I was getting emotional because I missed her that was all. I threw my phone on the bed behind me laced up my sneakers and decided the beach was calling my name.

Traffic was awful. After getting the finger for driving 75mph and not 85mph on the 405, then having to slam on my brakes in order not to be hit when I exited onto Santa Monica Boulevard, I made it to the beach. The air was chilly and I grabbed my sweater before locking up my Jeep. Not even five minutes of slogging through beach sand, and my legs were cramping. I was huffing like I smoked a pack a day. Man I was out of shape. I plopped down in the sand yanking off my shoes, sinking my toes into the cool sand. Waves crashed in and the sun started a slow descent behind them. It was gorgeous. Salty moist air. I took a deep breath. Los Angeles truly had a unique smell all its own. I tossed my shoes in the dry sand before moving further down the beach closer to the water until it was running over my toes.

A jogger running with a dog waved a hand as he ran past. I waved back. I kicked at the water giving it a good judo chop with my feet. I was splashing like a maniac laughing at how free I felt when I sensed someone watching me. There was nobody around. In fact it appeared I was alone, or as alone as one could get in a city of 3.8 million. I tried to go back to splashing but I couldn’t shake the sensation. I plopped down in the sand and put my shoes back on.

Between my weird conversation with Gigi, the rose and the unsettling sensation someone was watching me, I decided it was time to go. It was getting late and I didn’t know this area well. No sense in me getting lost when I had to be on set early. I also wanted to get home in case I had an episode. Almost a month without one, in fact not a single one of my quirks had bothered me since my arrival in Los Angeles. Had to be a record, not that I wasn’t panicking about that fact either. I hated my mini breakdowns or whatever you wanted to call them, but they were a part of my identity, so not having them made me feel even more lost in the big city.

I hurried to my car wanting to get this night over with, wishing to shakeaway the unease curling in my gut.

Footsteps.

Following me.

I hurried, my steps heavy as they hit the sand. I looked around but didn’t see anyone. I slid my car key and mailbox key between my fingers ready to gouge out an eye. My jeep was close. Thank god I parked under a street lamp. Although since it was the only car in the lot it didn’t really matter, there was no one to hear my screams if it came to that. I hurried my

steps as my heart sped up.

What in the hell had me so on edge? As my feet hit asphalt the heavy footsteps died away and all there was was the crunch of gravel beneath my feet. Calm down and take a breath you’re scaring yourself for no reason.

Crunch.

I held my breath listening but not hearing much over my rapid pounding heart. As I was going to write my alarm off as nothing more than an overactive imagination I heard it …

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

I didn’t bother with acting cool and took off at a sprint. I stopped at the door to my Jeep peering around while I tried to get the key in the lock and get the hell out of there.

I dropped my keys. “Fuck,” I yelled picking them up from the ground. My hands were shaking so bad it was impossible to get the key in the lock. The parking lot was deserted yet I was getting hysterical. One long deep breath and I closed my eyes. Stop freaking out. I shook out my shoulders and exhaled. My imagination was getting away with me. This wouldn’t be the first time I heard or saw something that wasn’t actually there. My hands were under control no longer shaking giving me the ability to unlock the door.

“Lendyn?” Now that voice sounded very real and very deep.

I spun arms held in a fighter stance ready to land a punch with my keyed hand. A man was standing before me arms up in surrender, “Whoa I come in peace,” a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. I tried to find a distinguishing feature, a unique descriptor that would help in an investigation. Navy blue polo, khaki cargo shorts and leather flip flops. Yes, flips flops made it easy to smash his toes.

“It is you.” He stepped closer and that’s when I noticed the feet. Sexy.

Devin? “Devin,” I stared back up into the shadowed face, gripping my keys tighter. He yanked the hat from his head revealing his blond hair that hung past his ears and that dazzling smile. I still felt a bit apprehensive but for a new set of reasons now. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“I can see that,” he said eyeing my fists. He stepped closer, “You shouldn’t be alone at this hour, it’s not safe, but I should have realized my creeping wasn’t very smart.”

I finally put my hands down. “I’ll forgive you if you promise to never speak of this to anyone.”

“Agreed. No need for me to look the bad guy.” The hand holding his hat he smoothed over his head, “I hollered your name but I guess you didn’t hear me.” He took another step towards me. Being cautious not to step to close probably afraid I’d freak again.

“Sorry a lot on my mind, and I’m a bit stressed which tends to make me jumpy.”

“Michael give his list of edits to you?”

I nodded. He nodded and then we were both silent. God this was awkward. He placed his hat back on his head. “I was heading home when I thought I saw you dancing on the beach.”

          Oh my god, my face heated. “You saw that?” His smiled said enough.

“So that was you dancing and kicking the water.”

“Oh my god.” I covered my face with my hands mortified didn’t come close to describing what I felt.

His smile grew, “It was quite the show. Tell me, what did the ocean ever do to you?”

“It was cold.”

“Remind me never to get on the wrong side of those lethal weapons.”

I nervously tucked a stray hair behind my ear. “Well, then,” I said since I couldn’t think of anything else. A hundred other questions should have been forming in my head but I chose to focus instead on his feet. I rubbed my hands together the night had turned cold. Being close to the water added moisture to the air making it chilly. I needed to get out of here. “Well, here’s my car so thanks.” I opened the door, but he didn’t move. “Is there anything else?”

Devin looked up at me sending my stomach into a new set of knots.

“Have you had dinner yet?”

“Um,” I twirled the keys in my hand, “no.”

He tapped his hands against his legs. “Would you, um, maybe be interested in having dinner with me?”

I didn’t answer immediately, afraid if I did my voice would squeak. “If you have plans I totally understand.” He started shifting feet, furiously rubbing his neck and staring at the ground. Devin Williams, People’s most beautiful man, was nervous? Was that even possible? My stomach did a flip.

“I’d love to,” I finally said.

He looked up that beautiful smile making me positive I was in trouble. Damn it seemed his smile was contagious, because now I was smiling like an idiot and shifting feet letting the word vomit flow, “Where do you want to go? What time? Should I meet you there? How should I dress?”

A few steps and he was standing next to me. “My place, right now, I’ll ride with you and no need to change you look perfect,” his eyes slid over my body before coming back up to my face, “more than perfect.” I was blushing like an idiot. He took my hand taking my keys from me and held them up, “Mind if I drive?”

“Sure.” I would have said yes to anything he asked at the moment; light your hair on fire? Sure. Eat a cockroach? Okay. He just told me I was perfect, yep I’d do anything he asked. He took the keys before walking me around the jeep and opening the passenger door even held my hand to help me get in before shutting the door.

I giggled when he got behind the wheel his knees knocking against the steering wheel. “What?” he asked with a smile sliding the seat up so he was even more squished against the steering wheel. “Dare me to drive like this?”

I answered his question with laughter. He slid the seat back adjusted the mirror before backing up and pulling out of the parking lot.

Oh. My. God Devin Williams was driving my jeep. I’d never wash the steering wheel again. Shut-up rein the crazy back in.

Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets” came on the radio. Instinctively, I turned it up and started singing, realizing there was another set of eyes watching me my voice broke and I shut my mouth. “Don’t stop on my account,” he said, “b-b-b Benny,” I couldn’t help but smile as I joined in with him. He even pretended to play the piano with me when we pulled up to a stop sign. “You play a mean air piano.”

“Thanks,” he said, “I took lessons in high school.”

The song barely finished and we were pulling into a short driveway. The minute he cut the engine and got out the butterflies returned. It’d been awhile, a long while since I’d gone out with a guy. As matter of fact it was over a year since I’d even kissed a guy and that was a blind date with Thomas, Shirley’s nephew who was in town visiting. He was an accountant and well, he kissed liked an accountant. All mechanical; tight lips no tongue. Not a single butterfly when his lips brushed mine, shoot there weren’t even snails. I couldn’t get away fast enough. He emailed once I never responded. And that was the highlight of my dating pool.

Watching the muscles in Devin’s back as he moved up the stairs to the front door I was certain there was nothing mechanical about him. His stride was confident. Every thing about Devin screamed passion, from the way he talked using his lips and tongue to annunciate every word, to the way he walked; every one of his muscles used in the movement. I bit my lip imagining his hands grabbing my waist as his lips …

He waved a hand in my face. “Hello?”

I snapped out of the trance not realizing I hadn’t moved from beside my Jeep. “You’re not having second thoughts are you?”

Damn that smile it made me all gooey on the inside and turned my brain to mush. “Sorry an idea popped into my head,” I covered hoping he didn’t notice the breathy quality to my voice.

His eyes lit up, “What was it?”

“Huh?”

He laughed. “Your idea what was it?”

“Accounting,” I mumbled. The naughty grin on his face turned to confusion before he ushered me inside. He flicked on a light and I gasped. This was by far the coolest house I’d ever seen. There weren’t any walls just one huge room. A bedroom blended into a living room blended into a dining room that ended in a kitchen. Vaulted ceilings with exposed wooden rafters. The brick walls were adorned with nothing but one painting hanging over a fireplace next to a wall of windows with the most breathtaking view of the ocean.

I was inside Devin Williams house. “What can I get you to drink?” The door to the fridge was open and he was looking at me.

“Water.”

“One water coming up.” He pulled out a bottle of Voss and poured it into two glasses.

“Thanks,” I said when he handed me the glass. I took a sip trying to absorb exactly where I was and who I was with. Devin-fricking-Williams. Surreal. “Your place is amazing.”

“Thanks.” He came around the counter to stand beside me. “Did you get the flower?”

“I did, it was very sweet, thank you.”

“I meant it.” He moved his shoulder touching mine, “Can I ask you

something?”

Was he trying to butter me up? Because it was working. I swallowed hard. “Sure.”

He placed his drink down, he seemed nervous which in turn made me nervous. He ran his hands through his hair. “I had ulterior motives for having you come here.” Of course he did. He wasn’t interested in me. Perfect and amazing my ass. Of course, I was at a loss as to what a guy in his position could possibly want from me. More lines? He could have asked for that over the phone. I put my drink down bracing myself for whatever he was about to say.

“There’s an indemnity clause in my contract that doesn’t allow me to fraternize with anyone attached to the movie … so strictly speaking, me sending you flowers, or having you over for dinner goes against that clause.”

“No problem we can skip dinner and consider the flower forgotten.” What a total buzz-kill, he brought me here to make sure I didn’t tell anyone about the flower. As if I would, as if I had anyone to tell anyway. It kind of pissed me off. I pushed off the counter. He grabbed my shoulder pausing me.

“But, I can’t stop thinking about you. I’ve tried to, but god,” he let go of his hold on my shoulder his hand drifting down my arm, his fingers caressing my skin, his eyes stared into mine, “you’re … amazing and I’d really like to date you, but it would be wrong of me to ask since we’d have to keep it secret until …” his words trailed off and his attention turned to his feet, his sexy feet I might add, “… and that’s not fair to ask.”

My brain skipped everything but the “I can’t stop thinking about you” part. Devin Williams wanted to date me. At what point did I wake up in the Twilight Zone? “Let me get this straight you barely know me, but you can’t stop thinking about me?”

He nodded. “There’s something about you …”

There was nothing to think about on this one. I wasn’t looking for Mr. Right (didn’t even know if he existed) or even Mr. Right Now. What I needed was fun, and everything about Devin screamed fun, if it required secrecy in order to have that fun so be it. Heavens knew I could keep a secret.

“Okay,” I said.

“Really? I mean once were done filming you can shout about us from the rooftops if you want.” Shit we might not even make it past this date and he was making plans for down the road. Man did the rich and famous look at life a lot different.

“No, shouting from any rooftops required.”

Oh man that smile, it was destined to be my undoing. “Can I ask another favor?”

I shrugged. If he kept smiling like that I’d do anything he wanted, except murder. His smiled widened, okay maybe even murder. He held my hand pulling and turning me so my back was against the counter and he was pressed to my front. “Can I kiss you? I’ve been dying to since the day I saw those luscious lips say my name.”

My voice abandoned me all I could do was nod. With slow determined hands he cupped my face his mouth only centimeters from mine. My eyes fell closed as his warm breath sent the promise of his kiss. I clenched in

Anticipation. I was right his kiss was pure passion. My knees trembled and I was certain life was looking up.

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