Jeremy knew winning over Violet's brothers was half the battle, especially after his boss's harsh reprimand earlier that day. He was surprised she'd already told him they were dating, but figured it was a good sign—a sign of her seriousness. He sensed she was private and wouldn't have revealed this otherwise.

Honestly, in all his years working for Aaron, the infamous ice storm his boss was known for had never been directed at him until today. The man was terrifying when he chose to be, yet a meek lamb around his family. Jeremy's curiosity about how Keeley Hale had tamed him only intensified after that brutal interrogation. How on earth had she broken through his icy exterior?

But that was irrelevant. What mattered was not messing things up with Violet. Aaron's warning echoed in his ears: hurt her, and he was finished.

The rational, career-focused part of him considered backing away before things escalated. He might have bitten off more than he could chew, and he didn't want to lose Aaron's trust after all his hard work.

But the emotional part, the part that genuinely liked Violet, refused to let her go. He truly believed she was the perfect woman for him. How could he let that gorgeous smile leave his life?

He was confident he could win her over; it just required a bit of strategy. Violet was the most interesting woman he'd ever met, but deep down, he believed women were fundamentally the same: they wanted to be wooed.

Wooing her would be easy. The holidays were approaching—a romantic time of year. He'd leverage the season's ambiance. An invitation to her Thanksgiving dinner, meeting the rest of her family—that would be ideal. Establishing himself in her life would be crucial to ousting Noah Singleton.

Once Kaleb and Nathan relaxed enough to stop their interrogation—Hale men were overly protective—Jeremy watched them interact with their sister, his original goal. Her affection for them was evident. Her genuine smile appeared more frequently that night than in all their previous encounters combined.

A pang of jealousy struck him. That fool Noah probably saw it constantly. No wonder he was smitten; anyone would be. Jeremy certainly was. And so was the indomitable Aaron Hale, if his comments about Violet inheriting her mother's smile were true.

Violet was laughing at Nathan's story about his erratic class schedule—2 AM bread baking with zombified classmates. The situation itself wasn't inherently funny, but Nathan's delivery was hilarious. Jeremy laughed along with her.

He'd been observing the Hale siblings, analyzing their dynamic. Nathan was the goofball, perhaps due to being the youngest. As an only child, Jeremy couldn't relate. Violet clearly adored him, sparking Kaleb's obvious jealousy. They vied for her attention all night—she was the favorite sibling, explaining their protectiveness.

Kaleb was harder to decipher. Loud and outgoing, like Nathan, but with an underlying layer Jeremy couldn't quite grasp. He didn't seem like a simple jock, despite being a professional athlete. He'd attended college and was drafted into Major League Baseball after graduation, yet lacked his sister's intellectual sharpness.

Jeremy was curious about Oliver. He knew he studied mechanical engineering, but little else. Kaleb had twice referred to him as a "nerd," suggesting he was more intellectual, like his sister—unsurprising, given they were Aaron Hale's children. Their mother was a prominent scientist.

"I'm sorry for the interrogation," Violet apologized on her brothers' behalf as they simultaneously excused themselves to the bathroom.

Jeremy smiled. "No need. Your brothers are funny." "Entertaining" would have been more accurate, but he sensed that might sound condescending. He felt she was as protective of them as they were of her; accidental insults were to be avoided.

A soft expression graced her face. "Yeah, they are. I wish you'd met Oliver."

This was his chance to subtly invite himself over, or at least plant the seed.

"You said he's home for Thanksgiving weekend? Maybe you could introduce us after the festivities," Jeremy suggested.

"That could work! What are you doing for Thanksgiving?"

"Nothing," he admitted. "I only have Thanksgiving Day off; no time to travel home."

That was partially true. He hadn't visited his parents for years, preferring to avoid awkward silences and arguments. And his father was often away on deliveries, leaving him alone with his mother—even worse.

Concern clouded Violet's expression. "You'll be alone on Thanksgiving?"

He shrugged. "It's fine; I've been alone most years since college." Before that, he'd joined study group Thanksgiving dinners, always eager for free food.

Embarrassment colored her face. "Um…would you like to join us? Nathan does most of the cooking, and he's great. We're casual, so it's fine if you don't want to—"

"I'd love to," Jeremy interrupted.

Violet smiled in relief. "Great. I'll text you the details. My mom loves having extra people; we usually invite friends."

Excellent. He'd finally assess Keeley Hale in person, perhaps unraveling the mystery of his mentor's personality.

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