Page 39 of A Secret Promise

Surely not, God!

Right?

Her Heavenly Father used His perfect timing to distract her from gaining a reply, with Rule walking inside the cafe at that moment.

And shewasdistracted, since Rule happened to be carrying a huge box in his hands. "Uh...what's that?"

Rule crouched down and lowered the box to the floor. "Care to make a guess?"

Vixen brightened. Shelovedguessing games, never mind if she always somehow ended up endangering her life in the process. "Are they...devotional booksfromThe Chosen?"

"I haven't any idea what those are."

Vixen clucked her tongue. "You're missing out then."

"Care to make another guess?"

"Signed copies ofBold Pursuit?"

"Still have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh, wait! I know, I know. Coffee table books fromBible Project—-"

"How about you just open this and see for yourself?"

A crooked smile flashed over his lips as he spoke, and even though they had been going out for over four months already, she was still unable to get enough of it. How beautiful this man was in her eyes, and she was just so, so thankful to God for choosing Rule to be—-

"Vixen?"

Color stained her cheeks when she realized she had been too busy daydreaming even when the real deal was standing right in front of her.

"Everything alright?"

"Yup!" Yes, she had just done something ridiculously silly, but that didn't mean she wasn't fine.

Right?

Vixen grabbed the letter opener from one of her standing wired cases. Rule had invited her earlier to open his package, and so she would prove to him (and herself) that everything was fine by doing just that.

She lifted her hand...but ended up having Rule swipe the letter opener out of her hold instead.

Huh?

Vixen's gaze flew to him in confusion. "Why did you do that?"

"We have fragile items inside," Rule drawled. "We can't afford to have you nick any of them."

Vixen dropped the letter opener back into the case. Rule was right. It was better that she tore this open instead with her bare hands. The process might take longer, but it was also safer, and...oh.

"The shelter named him Hermit because he likes being alone."

Oh my goodness.

Vixen couldn't recall falling in love as quickly as she fell in love with Hermit, her all-black cat.

"You told me once you wanted to know if it was possible to care for both Salt and Light while also caring for a cat. Admittedly, that might've been a challenge for just one person, but when you also have us..."

"Oh, Rule."

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