Page 69 of Accidentally Yours
All she felt was Ethan. And the truth in his kiss. And how, for the first time in her life, her heart didn’t ache or doubt or hide. It simply loved.
This was their story. No riddles. No more second-guesses. Just a love they didn’t have to fake.
And they had so many more chapters to write.
Epilogue
Themuseumhallshimmeredwith lights and elegance, the air humming with the buzz of excitement and champagne flutes clinking. Paige stood at the podium, awestruck by the packed room. Behind her, theJewel of Loveexhibit glittered under spotlights. At its center, in a once-empty glass case, the ruby necklace now sat in all its brilliant glory.
Surrounding the display were photographs of Aldean and Mary Anne, frozen in moments of laughter and discovery, their love sprinkled over every jewel they’d unearthed together. But it was the newest photo beside the necklace that made Paige’s chest tighten—a picture of Ethan, Mary Anne, and herself. It was taken the day Ethan introduced her to his grandma, and they discovered the necklace together inside the clock. Mary Anne’s smile beamed in the frame, the red ruby resting near her heart, her delicate fingers grazing it like she knew it had always been with her.
“Hey, beautiful.”
Paige turned to find Ethan approaching the podium, his eyes twinkling with affection. He wore dark jeans and a crisp button-down, paired not with a blazer, but with his grandfather’s weathered leather jacket. It suited him—dashing, different, adventurous. Just like him.
“You ready to do this?” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple.
“I’m so ready,” she whispered, leaning into the warmth of his touch, absorbing the moment.
They’d chased clues and words all summer, then spent the fall polishing their manuscript. Now it was December, a few weeks before Christmas, and they stood onstage, preparing to read an excerpt from their co-written novel, which shared the same name as the exhibit—Jewel of Love. It would release the following summer, and they had a plethora of promotional events to attend in the spring. Paige was looking forward to each appearance, as they would include her favorite things—Ethan, writing, and books.
She gave Ethan’s waist a quick squeeze, her heart overflowing, as their editors, Kaylor and Marsha, walked onto the stage with microphones in hand. The room quieted.
“Good evening,” Kaylor began. “Today, we’re honored to celebrate two of Windy City Press’s brightest stars, and the very real love story that broughtJewel of Loveto life.”
Marsha stepped forward. “And we’re thrilled to announce something extra special.” She paused for dramatic effect, then gestured toward Paige and Ethan.
Ethan leaned into the mic, his arm still wrapped around Paige. “At the end ofJewel of Love, there’s a bonus section—our story.”
Gasps rose from the crowd.
“The bonus chapters share how a fake dating stunt turned into a very real romance,” Paige added, her cheeks sore from smiling. “You’ll also find the original clues, behind-the-scenes photos from our treasure hunt, and a few extra surprises.”
Applause erupted. Marsha and Kaylor beamed like they’d just won the publishing lottery. Paige laughed. Not because of the sales projections or media buzz, but because this was her dream. She was doing what she loved, with the man she loved. She’d pushed her career back on track. Even though it didn’t happen how she thought it would.
Early buzz forJewel of Lovehad put it on track for the New York Times Best Seller List, and their publisher had already contracted their second book—a romantic adventure inspired by Aldean and Mary Anne’s year in Egypt. Paige and Ethan had booked a research trip to Egypt for next month and every time Paige thought of it, excitement swirled in her belly. And her re-release of theLove, Lies & Alibisfinale—with the bonus chapter explaining the reason for the margarita explosion—had been a hit with her readers. The release had gone viral on TikTok with the hashtag #HansDeservedIt. Furthermore, her new romantic suspense series had just been green-lit by the publisher. Paige was already working on the first book, which followed an amateur sleuth tracking down a serial killer that lures in his victims with a dating app.
She was building something lasting. In words. In life. In love.
“We can’t wait to share this story with the world,” Ethan said into the mic.
“And tonight,” Paige added, turning to the printed pages on the podium, “we want to share just a little piece of it with you.”
Together, they read. Taking turns, trading lines, their voices filling the hall with laughter, tension, flirtation, and heartache. Every moment they’d crafted together. Words that carried the weight of real emotions. Words they wrote as they fell in love.
When they finished, the crowd rose to their feet in applause, and Paige’s heart almost burst with pride.
After the clapping waned, Kaylor took the mic. “If you’d like a photo with Ethan, Paige, and the necklace, the line will form to the left of the stage.”
But before they addressed the readers, Ethan and Paige brought Mary Anne up from the front row, where she’d been watching, with her caretaker at her side and Queenie in her lap. Ethan pushed Mary Anne in her wheelchair to the front of the exhibit, right next to the necklace, and Paige and Ethan stood beside her for a private photo.
After they smiled for the camera and the flashes stopped, Ethan knelt beside Mary Anne. “We’re taking you to dinner next week,” he told her, hand resting gently on her arm. “Would you like to wear your necklace?”
He’d donated the necklace to the museum—with the condition that Mary Anne could borrow it at any time.
“I’d love that.” Her eyes twinkled as she patted his hand. “You’re a good boy, Ethan. And I’m so proud of both of you.”
Ethan kissed his grandma’s cheek. Paige hugged her tightly, grateful that she’d been privileged to get to know this wonderful woman. After all, without Mary Anne and Aldean, none of this would’ve existed—not the book, not the necklace, not their love story.
