Page 6 of A Secret Promise

Rule was visibly disconcerted this time, but his expression soon turned wry when their gazes collided.

"You got me."

"So you're not coming here for the coffee. Right?"

"Guilty as charged."

Vixen sighed. "I've always had a feeling you had a soft spot for our pastries instead."

A second of silence ensued, and then her heart was singing as her words earned a rare laugh from Rule.

"You're always catching me off guard."

His brooding tone should have worried her, but the sound warmed her heart instead. Rule didn't seem the type to acknowledge his weakness just to anyone, but he was doing exactly that.

With her.

"What about you?"

The sudden question startled her into looking back at him. "What about me?"

"I like you."

Vixen's breath caught. Helikedher. He could've said hewantedher. But he didn't. He said helikedher.

"And I want to know if you feel the same. Do you like me?"

Two

RULE WASN'T SURE WHAThad suddenly changed.

Or why.

All he knew was that he was done waiting and playing it safe.

He had known Vixen for over two months now. That might not mean much to others, but it was the longest period of time Rule had spent with a woman he wasn't dating. Even his own wife was no exception, and the only reason he had ended up marrying her was because of how she had deliberately lied about taking birth control pills.

Vixen, however...wasn't only different from all the other women.

Vixen had also managed to change him without even trying. And while he knew this should have scared him off, he found himself wanting more of it instead.

"I don't know what to say..."

Her indecision stung, but Rule told himself this was exactly what he needed, to keep his ego in check.

"But if you were to ask me if I was attracted to you..."

Rule's gaze snapped back to Vixen, and the way her eyes were sparkling with mischief made him realize she had only been teasing him.

"You can't bethatsurprised, surely?"

A grimace crossed his lips. "I know there's something between us. I knowyouknow this, too. But I've always had this feeling there's also something else..."

"There is," she admitted ruefully.

Rule stiffened.

"But it's not you, it's me."