Page 169 of Coveted

Lucan brushes his lips against mine. “I love you more than life.”

EPILOGUE

Thanksgiving Break, One Year Later

Sadie

Vermont smells like cedar smoke and the promise of snow.

I’m curled up in the window seat of Lucan’s fire-warmed family lodge, writing in my notebook while sipping on steaming-hot cocoa with marshmallows.

My hand cramps from gripping the pen. Since I started writing the story that I’ve been planning and researching for a year, the words have flown onto the page like I’m possessed.

“What are you working on?” comes Lucan’s voice.

A moment later, his hand rubs the back of my neck.

Finishing the sentence I’m writing, I lift my gaze to him. “I think the novel is taking shape.”

“The dystopian romance?”

“Yep.”

“Finding love in darkness,” he says. “Am I in it?”

“It’s fiction.”

“That’s not an answer.”

I jiggle my shoulders. “You might see yourself in the forceful, overbearing enemy insurgent.”

“Fuck yeah, he sounds amazing. I want to read it.”

“It might be rubbish.”

“Ha. Not a chance.” Lucan yanks the notebook from my hands. “Your creative writing professor said your story for the midterm exam about the violin maker was splendidly captivating.”

“What?” I ask. “We haven’t even received our marks back yet. You looked on the faculty server?”

“Sorry. Spoiler.”

“You’re despicable.”

“Hey, I said I’d tell you everything I do. And I have to keep an eye on your professors.” His teeth flash in a brief snarl. “Due to the last one being a homicidal monster.”

“Okay, fair. Since you’ve graduated now, I guess you have to stay informed somehow.”

Lucan puts my notebook on the seat. “When you’re a famous author, will you stock your books at Ink & Ivy?”

“That sounds overly confident.”

“Why?” He shrugs. “It’s your bookshop. You can do what you like.”

I chuckle. “No, I mean, I don’t know if I’ll finish writing a book, let alone publish one.”

For Christmas last year, Lucan said the only gift he would accept from me was a signed deed to Ink & Ivy Books.

Tipsy on eggnog, I gave him what he asked for.