Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20861 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20861 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
He desired her, yes.
But he also wanted more.
With Vixen, he always wanted more, and that was why—-
"Tell me what I need to do, Vixen." Rule was completely serious about wanting her to be a part of his life. "What would make you date me?"
Vixen's uncertainty was evident in the way she bit her lip. "I know you thought I was joking earlier, but I wasn't. And I don't think you're ready—-"
"Try me," Rule challenged.
"I made a promise to God."
How very...Vixen-like.
"And I've never told anyone about it."
"Until now."
"Uh huh."
'And the promise you made—-"
"—-is that I'll only date the man He wants me to marry."
He stared at her, and her expression turned rueful. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
"You're not joking, are you?"
Vixen shook her head.
Unbelievable.
"I've never met anyone like you," he said broodingly.
"That's a good thing...I think?"
It was.
And it wasn't.
"Can I have that drink now?" he asked abruptly. "Because this conversation has me—-" Rule caught himself in time. "Sorry."
"I won't expire if the occasional bomb drops, but thank you. I appreciate your effort not to swear."
"I can't make any promises, but I'll do my best to watch my language around you—-"
"And everyone else hopefully?"
A reluctant smile unfolded over his lips. "There's really no middleground with you, is there?"
"I'm afraid not, sorry."
Her cheeky tone was a delight, and Rule was no longer surprised at the way his chest tightened anew at the sound. He was beginning to accept that everything about Vixen would fascinate him...just like it was no longer a surprise when she excused herself to make him a drink, and he found himself immediatelyt missing her presence as soon as she was gone.
Vixen came back with sandwiches and a pitcher of ice-cold mint tea, and unlike before, Rule already knew what to expect. He watched her close her eyes as she prayed, and as he listened to her thank their Father in Heaven for all of life's blessings...
He found himself thinking...was it true?
Was he allowed to think that her Father in Heaven was also Rule's?
Vixen's eyes opened when she finished praying, and something about his thoughts must have shown on his face when he saw her expression turn to one of concern. "What is it?"
"Do you know when was the last time I prayed?"
"I guess...it's been a while?"
"64 days to be exact."
"Sixty-four..."
Rule saw the moment the truth dawned on her.
Sixty-four days ago, Jorge Cumerford had barged into her cafe and held Vixen at gunpoint. It had been the most terrifying moment of his life, and he couldn't remember the last time he had felt more desperate or hopeless.
That day had made it clear how much Vixen meant to him.
To the point that he had found himself praying, which was something he hadn't done for decades.
She was the reason Rule had remembered God existed, and since Vixen was also the reason Rule had started thinking that God was not as indifferent and hard-hearted as he once thought...
"I was just thinking about what you said earlier."
He was no longer surprised at how Vixen was once again challenging his beliefs about God.
"You called him our 'father' in heaven."
And just like before, Rule also wanted to know if he had been wrong all this time.
"I hear people call him that over and over, but it never felt real to me. They were always just words."
"Oh, Rule, of course it's real! He is our Father in Heaven—-" Vixen suddenly paused as if something new had just occurred to her. "But are you saying you never felt this was true?"
Rule shrugged, and her face softened.
"Is it because you don't think you've ever felt He cares for you?"
Rule's jaw clenched. That was it exactly, but he hadn't known that was the answer to her question until he had heard her say it.
"I've been wanting to show you something," Vixen suddenly confessed, "but I also knew I had to wait for the right timing...or you'd end up misunderstanding."
"What is it?"
Vixen got up in response, and Rule frowned as he watched her head to the counter before coming back with one of her business cards.
"Here..."
Rule glanced down at her business card. What exactly was he supposed to do with this? He flipped it over absently...and ended up sucking his breath in when he saw what was embossed on the back of the card.
Jeremiah 29:11
"In case you're wondering," he heard Vixen say, "I don't have any other business card. That's what I've been using since I opened the cafe."
He looked at Vixen, and she was biting her lip again.
"You don't think this is just a coincidence?" Rule asked.
"I did, actually."
It was only when she answered in the affirmative that he realized he had expected her to say the opposite. And the fact that she didn't...surprisingly stung. A lot.
"That's why I felt so torn. I wanted to show it to you, just to get it out of the way. But I was also worried that if I did show you this, you might think I was implying this was destiny or something."