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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Jeremiah woke to the weight of Evelyn curled against him in the soft bed. The world outside their window was a blur of white, snow still falling thick and endless, the storm refusing to let go. Inside, however, it was warm, the air scented faintly of their skin, their heat locked between them beneath the heavy blankets. For three days, since that first slow, devastating night together, they had barely managed to keep their hands to themselves. Which explained why both of them lay naked, their bodies pressed together as though it were the only way to fight the bitter cold raging beyond the walls. Jeremiah let his gaze drift down to the woman asleep on his chest. Evelyn's hair spilled across his skin like dark silk, her mouth soft and relaxed. She looked entirely at peace, like no shadow from the outside world could reach her here.
Hope stirred in him, startling and fierce. He had never truly pictured a family before, never let his mind wander past the loyalty he had for his club and his mother. But looking at Evelyn now, so deeply asleep and trusting, the thought didn't scare him. She wasn't just part of his life anymore; she was part of his future. A future where they might have more than this stolen time. A future where she could be his family, maybe even give him a bigger one someday. The thought warmed him more than the blankets, but it was ripped away as the harsh sound of a ringtone shattered the quiet. The familiar opening chords of Eye of the Tiger blared into the room, cutting through the fragile stillness like a fist through glass.
"Damn it," Jeremiah muttered, grimacing. Evelyn stirred, a sleepy yawn escaping her as her lashes fluttered open. She blinked around, disoriented, her face scrunching at the too-loud sound. Jeremiah carefully slid her off his chest and stood, unashamed of his nakedness as he scanned the floor for the phone buried somewhere among the pile of clothes they had discarded in a frenzy the night before. Evelyn propped herself up on one elbow, watching him with sleepy interest.
"Hello?" Jeremiah finally answered, straightening to reveal the full strength of his body. Evelyn's lips curled at the sight of his bare, muscular back and the way he ran a hand through his messy hair.
"J," Jax's voice came through the speaker, familiar and commanding.
"Good to hear you. How are the two of you holding up?" Jeremiah's lips quirked in a grin despite himself.
"We're good. Snowed in for now, but we're keeping warm and... happy." Evelyn groaned, covering her face with the blanket. The sly tone in his voice made her cheeks heat. She could practically see Jax's grin on the other end of the line, devil horns and all, as he prepared to tease her.
"Exactly what I'd be doing. You make me proud," Jax said, the smirk in his voice unmistakable. Jeremiah chuckled, his mind flickering back to the night before and what they had done to fill the hours.
"I hope you're free," Jax added, his tone sharpening. Jeremiah heard the shift and crouched to dig through the clothes for his sweats.
"Yeah, I'm here. Give me a second to get to the kitchen." He balanced the phone between his shoulder and cheek as he dressed. Evelyn watched him with worry now, her green eyes shadowed. Jeremiah crossed the room, bent, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
