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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Days blurred into each other as Evelyn and Jeremiah settled into their life in the house that stood alone in the wilderness. Snow fell thick and heavy, layering the earth in sheets of white so dense they swallowed the world beyond the windows. From the cosy living room, Evelyn could barely make out the nearest trees, just pale, ghostly shadows swaying in the wind. She stood by the frost-kissed window, her breath misting the glass, heart thrumming with a quiet unease. The cold seemed to seep in through the glass and cling to her skin, but it wasn't the chill that made her frown. Somewhere out there, Jeremiah was gathering firewood from the small shed behind the house, and he'd been gone too long. The memory of the wolves they had seen just days ago on their walk haunted her thoughts, creeping in like dark smoke. She was just reaching for her coat, ready to brave the biting air, when movement caught her eye. Relief flooded her chest so swiftly it almost hurt, there he was. Jeremiah trudged through the snow, his tall frame dusted white, gloved hands clutching the basket. Evelyn's heart leapt, and she didn't realise she was smiling until she found herself running to the door. The moment she opened it, a rush of icy air spilled inside, chasing away the warmth.
"You must be freezing," Evelyn said, her voice soft but tinged with worry, as he lowered the basket at his feet. Jeremiah shut the door with an easy movement and turned. Snow clung stubbornly to his shoulders, glittering like frost in his dark hair.
"Don't shake it off inside, the floor will be soaked," Evelyn said, her brow furrowing, but her small reprimand was answered with a deep, warm chuckle. He shrugged off his jacket and left it by the door before stepping toward her. Before she could retreat, his cold arms wrapped around her. The shock of it made her yelp and squirm, a sound that turned into an unrestrained laugh as she tried to wriggle free.
"Jeremiah! You're freezing," she protested, but he only held her tighter, his grin mischievous. With effortless strength, he scooped her up, making her laugh again, helpless now in his grip. He carried her into the kitchen, his boots leaving a trail of melting snow, and set her gently on the counter top. Evelyn let out a small huff but couldn't stop her lips from curving upward. She leaned back slightly, taking in the sight of him, snow melting in his brown hair, beard damp and darker now, the stubble that always scratched her cheeks when they kissed.
"You're lucky I like you," she said, her voice softer now, before leaning in to press her lips to his. Jeremiah kissed her back, and for a moment the world outside didn't exist. The cold, the storm, the silence of the forest, it all faded beneath the heat that passed between them. When they broke apart, laughter bubbled from both of them, spilling into the kitchen like a secret shared. Evelyn's chest felt lighter than it had in months. For so long, grief had been her constant shadow, curling around her heart after James' death. But here, in this lonely house, something had shifted. The days had given her space to remember the good memories, to mourn properly. The sadness still lingered, but Jeremiah had a way of pulling her back to the light every time the darkness tried to claim her.
