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I could feel Juliana staring at me as I swung the axe over my head, bringing the sharp edge down on the piece of wood in front of me, splitting it neatly down the middle. Jaxon had warned me that morning that there would be a snowstorm moving in tonight, so I wanted to be as prepared as I could. He wasn’t sure how bad it would get.
I paused for a moment, pulling my shirt up to wipe some sweat off of my face. I turned to look at Juliana. She was sitting on the porch steps, bundled up in a jacket, scarf, and gloves, her beanie sitting on top of her head, covering her ears. Her cheeks were a bit red from the biting cold. But my blood was pumping so hard and fast through my veins that it was a welcome reprieve.
“How are you feeling, baby girl?” I asked her.
She shrugged. “A little nauseated, but the cold is helping.”
I walked over and took a seat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She burrowed against my side with a soft, contented sigh. “I want to walk,” she quietly told me.
I brushed my lips to her forehead. “You sure you’re up for a hike through the woods?” I asked her. “It’s rough terrain, remember?”
She nodded. “I remember, but I also know you won’t let me hurt myself.”
I smiled. My baby girl knew me so fucking well.
“Let me get this wood onto the porch, and then, we’ll go for a walk,” I told her. I pressed a kiss to her cheek before I stood up and began loading my arm up with the wood, walking back and forth between the porch and the pile I’d created on the ground until it was all stacked neatly right beside the back door of the cabin. Juliana watched me, always the silent one as I worked, but I didn’t mind. I loved having her eyes on me.
I quickly went inside and did my best at cleaning myself up with some cold water and soap before getting dressed. She was still sitting on the porch when I walked outside, and she looked up expectantly at me when I closed the door behind me.
“Ready?” I asked her, leaning down to grip her under her arms and help her to her feet.
She nodded, her hand instantly finding mine. She linked our fingers together. “I’m ready,” she told me with a smile.
It was that same fucking smile that always sucked the soul from my body.
This woman completely owned me, and she had no goddamn idea.
We crunched through the woods. It was quiet between us, which I liked. I loved that Juliana didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with meaningless chatter. She was content to just enjoy our time together and enjoy the peacefulness that nature had to offer.
This woman truly was an amazing work of art.
I could feel the eyes of all of my brother’s men on us, keeping an eye on us and everything around the area. I wasn’t sure if Juliana could feel them. If she could, she wasn’t letting on – or maybe it just didn’t bother her.
She knew she was safe with me.
“Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like to always live off the grid like this where no one could ever find me,” Juliana suddenly whispered.
I gently squeezed her hand. “You say you want it, baby, and I’ll make it happen,” I promised her. Because honestly, the idea wasn’t unappealing. I hated the city. I hated people in general. If I didn’t have to deal with anyone, I’d be perfectly fucking happy.
She looked up at me. “You’d really do that for me?” she asked.
I instantly nodded. There was a moment of hesitation for me. “I’d do anything for you, baby,” I admitted.
A small smile tilted her lips. “I love you,” she whispered.
For that one, split moment, it felt like time stopped – like the world ceased to exist for a hairsbreadth of time. For that one, single moment, it was just me and her – nothing else existed.
I swallowed thickly. “That’s a strong emotion, baby girl,” I rasped.
Tears made her pretty eyes glassy. “I know what I feel,” she croaked, “and I love you, Darren Jackson. I think I’ve loved you from the very moment you protected me at the club.”
My hand shook at my side, and I shoved it in the pocket of my coat to hide it. “Even though I got you knocked up?” I asked her.
She nodded. “Even through that, Darren,” she whispered.
I swept her into my arms and crushed her mouth to mine, kissing her hard, deeply, savagely. I would forever cherish those three words that she had just said to me.
