Evelyn's dream of securing a scholarship to America's top ballet school shattered when her mother was brutally murdered during her teenage years. Determined to make a difference, she became a detective, ready to take on the world. Assigned to invest...
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Two weeks slipped by almost unnoticed for Evelyn. Everything had been running smoothly, too smoothly, leaving a tight knot of unease permanent in her stomach. Even though she was in what she considered enemy territory, she had begun to enjoy herself in ways that made her shiver with guilt. She had never imagined that she could be drawn to criminals, but the pull they had, the way they seemed to claim a piece of your heart without asking, was impossible to resist. Jeremiah was the worst of them. His easy charm, the playful tilt of his grin, the teasing hint in his voice, it all left her mind spinning and her heart thundering. Every time his eyes lingered on her, a current of warmth and something sharper ran straight through her. It frightened her. To steady herself, Evelyn had arranged to meet James on her third free day. If anyone could drag her back to a professional frame of mind, it would be him. She hurried down the stairs, hoping the bikers were still tangled in sleep after the previous night's chaos. But as she rounded the corner into the kitchen, her hopes dissolved. Jeremiah stood there with Gunner and Athena, chatting casually, their voices carrying a soft hum of amusement. Athena's eyes found Evelyn first, and her face lit up in a smile so wide it nearly knocked the detective off balance. Evelyn didn't know when it had happened, but Athena had claimed her as a friend.
"Morning, sunshine. Up early, aren't you?" Athena's eyebrow lifted as she balanced a slice of toast midair.
"Yeah. Free day," Evelyn replied, stepping further into the room.
"What are your plans today?" Athena asked, eyes darting from Evelyn to her partner, Gunner, who watched his woman with a look that made the air around them feel warmer.
"Meeting a friend," Evelyn said quickly, Jeremiah, leaning casually against the edge, observed her with the kind of knowing that made her pulse stutter. He studied the small movements she made, the tilt of her head, the choices she didn't even realize she was revealing. He had not yet decided how he felt about her, but the pieces he noticed were dangerous in the way they could be used to draw her closer. Athena and Gunner exchanged quiet, knowing glances, memories of the first sparks of their own impossible attraction flickering behind their eyes.
"That's nice. You have a ride to the city?" Athena asked, gently.
"James will pick me up in about half an hour," Evelyn said. She moved with a purposeful grace, weaving between the three bikers as if her steps were a soft dance. Jeremiah's throat worked visibly as she passed, her presence demanding space and attention in the most subtle, intoxicating way.
"Excuse me, could I get a spoon?" she asked, her lips curling into a soft, practiced smile she was getting breakfast. Jeremiah practically leapt aside, clearing the way without a word, his eyes tracing her every motion. Evelyn offered a quiet thanks and retrieved the spoon.
"I could have drove you," Athena said, straightening, her gaze briefly flicking to Gunner, she wanted the two to get more alone time as the bet echoed in her mind, she was going to win.
