She nodded. Swallowed. Glanced at his lips.
When Merritt took another step, her pulse resonated down to her knees. He took her hand, driving back the chill there. “And what did you think of the rest?” His voice lowered to just above a whisper.
Her cheeks flushed, which didn’t surprise her in the least. “I liked it very much.”
He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers. Closing her eyes, Hulda relished the weight of it. The warmth wafting off him, enveloping her with spring when she was surrounded by winter.
He squeezed her hand. She heard him smile when he asked, “Do you need more encouragement?”
Opening her eyes, she met his penetrating gaze. Held it for several seconds. “No.”
Tilting her head, she inched forward enough to brush her lips against his. Her nerves exploded like a flock of sparrows taking flight. Merritt’s free hand came up to cup her jaw and pull her a little closer, enough to truly, softly, and blissfully kiss her.
In that moment, despite the patterns of light dancing across her eyelids, she pushed her augury away.
She didn’t need magic to see a bright and joyous future for the both of them.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Well. This was a wild ride.
And wild rides come with safety bars and seat belts, and I have a lot of metaphorical safety bars and seat belts to thank for this!
He’s always first, so don’t be surprised—thank you to my spouse and partner in crime, Jordan Holmberg. Books wouldn’t happen without you. Thank you for supporting me and our babies, for being a sounding board, an alpha reader, and an enthusiast. Love you a million.
Many thanks to my agent, Marlene, even though she made me do another BIG edit on this book. This thing has been through so. Many. Edits. But it’s better for it in the long run. And thank you to Jeff Wheeler, who helped me with said BIG edit. You are wise and smart and kind.
Thank you to my early readers! Tricia Levenseller, Rachel Maltby, and my podcast cohost, Caitlyn McFarland. Y’all don’t realize the absolute word sludge they have to suffer through. And I cannot forget Whitney Hanks and Leah O’Neill, who are the speediest beta readers ever and wield fine-tooth combs like swords.
Many thanks to the team that makes my manuscripts readable, including Adrienne Procaccini, Angela Polidoro, Karah Nichols, Laura P., Ariel, and all the copyeditors/proofreaders/cold readers/designers who go unsung year after year.
Huge thank-you to my readers. You are the air in my flotation device and the yeast in my bread. I owe you guys so much.
Lastly, many hosannas to God in Heaven, who tolerates me and guides me through all my stories, literal and not.
Cheers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of fantasy and romance fiction, including the Paper Magician series and the Numina Trilogy. She is published in more than twenty languages, has been a finalist for a RITA Award and multiple Whitney Awards, and won the 2020 Whitney Award for Novel of the Year: Adult Fiction. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. She is a proud BYU alumna, plays the ukulele, and owns too many pairs of glasses. She currently lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com.