Ephemeral (The Countenance) (58 page)

“Good luck with that assignment.” Coop shuts his laptop and stuffs it into his bag before rising. There’s a challenge in his eyes that’s impossible to discern. “Just give me a call if you need anything.”

I watch as Coop heads toward the exit, taking a little piece of my sanity with him.

Everything depends on this moment—on my ability to maintain my silence and lie to the boy I’ve loved for as long as I can remember.

“I was just thinking.” I stand and bless his beautiful face with a kiss.

“I like how you think,” he rumbles the words across my lips.

“You mentioned commemorating us as a couple.” I glitter with hope. “I’m ready to do that. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us. I want to know the things you know, do the things you do.” I trace his lips with the pad of my finger, soft and pliable. “I have the Countenance in my heart, Wes. They’re blood of my blood, and I want to know everything about them. I’m thirsty for this knowledge in every single way.” I pull him into a searing kiss to conclude the performance.
I’m so damn thirsty.

Wesley pulls back and studies me a moment before his dimples ignite. “I know just how to quench you, Laken.” He lights up on the inside. “But it’s going to cost you everything.”

Look for EVANESCENT (The Countenance 2) COMING SOON!

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Acknowledgements

Oh my goodness! There are so many people I need to thank. I could write a list as thick as a phonebook. It might take a decade to properly express my gratitude to all of the wonderful people around me.

First, I am ever so grateful to my wonderful husband and children for putting up with my crazy fits of insanity that include many all-night sessions with my laptop and buckets full of coffee. I’m so glad you enjoy take out, pizza, and the late night drive-thru runs because, without all of those questionably nutritious devices, we may have long since evaporated. I’m most thankful that the entire lot of you have graciously accepted my new mantra in life: Clean dishes and laundry are highly overrated.

I also would like to thank Sarah Oaklief and Amy Eye, two of the most fabulous, fantastic, amazing editors on the face of this earth. I cannot express how grateful I am that you care enough to shepherd my characters in the right direction when they begin to stray. Thank you for pointing out the obvious on those plentiful occasions when I needed it and for helping me mold my novels into what they needed to be.

Thank you to my wonderful literary agent Rachelle Gardner. There is no better cheerleader in the world than you! If I could duplicate you a million times over, I would do it in a heartbeat. Thank you for believing in my work and for supporting me in everything I do. You’re the best.

To all of my readers whom I regard as family, I enjoy every interaction we share and look forward to many, many more. Thank you for making Tuesday Teasers the highlight of my week and for embracing my characters with such earnestness and vigor. You will never know how much all of you mean to me.  

A super huge thank you to Grandma Margene, my parents, and my in-laws who have shown an amazing amount of support in light of my questionable housekeeping and hygiene practices. I owe you dinner.

Thank you to Regina Wamba for the fantastic contribution to the interior design. I am ever so grateful for your talent and generosity

And finally, thank you to the voice of truth who lives inside my heart. He whispers and I listen. Glory and honor and power to your name.

Life may be ephemeral but the ride is panning out to be quite enjoyable.

About the Author

Addison Moore writes young adult fiction and romance. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she's not writing, she's reading.

 Feel free to visit her blog at:
addisonmoorewrites.blogspot.com

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