Page 25 of A Secret Promise

She took a step towards him just as he reached for her.

His hands cupped her face just as her gaze lifted to his.

Her eyes closed as he lowered his head.

His lips brushed over hers.

Gently.

Tenderly.

Lovingly.

And this, too, felt absolutely right.

Ten

VIXEN FELT LIKE SHEwas floating again when Rule stepped back. What they had right now might be far from perfect, but that was how it would always be in this world. There might be things they still needed to talk about, but such things could wait.

Because right now was all about joy, and her toes curled inside her shoes as he took hold of her hand before leading her inside his home.

Riley was waiting for them in the living room, and Vixen's heart ached at the apprehension she glimpsed in the younger girl's gaze.

She let go of Rule's hand and spread her arms wide open. "No hug for your favoritebarista?"

Rule's daughter giggled even as she ran into Vixen's arms, and Vixen couldn't help closing her eyes as Riley hugged her back.

She remembered the first time she had met Riley, remembered wondering why she had felt so inexplicably drawn to the younger girl.

It had confused her then but not anymore.

Because Riley, just like her father, was part of His plans, and that was why everything about the three of them felt so, so right.

And when she pulled away, and she sawHimmirrored in both Rule's and Riley's gazes as well—-

Thank You, God.

Riley shyly volunteered to say grace, and Vixen felt like crying herself when she saw the way Rule was struggling to contain his emotions.

The rest of the evening went by as all good times went. Every moment was precious and unforgettable, every moment marked by both laughter and tears because this time, fear no longer held them back.

They talked about everything under the sun, both the good and the bad, and even the ugly. Regrets turned into lessons of wisdom, and milestones became reasons for gratitude. This time, all three of them understood that there was a time for everything—-

A time to kill, a time to heal...

A time to love, and a time to hate...

A time for war, and a time for peace...

And it was these verses that Vixen absently pondered when she found herself alone on Rule's back porch.

Where do we go from here?

Riley had already called it a night, but not without cheekily reminding them that they better start planning if they still wanted a Christmas wedding to happen.

Oh dear.

The memory alone had Vixen blushing anew.

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