Page 23 of The Rancher's Vengeful Heart

A LIMOUSINE PICKEDthem up at the airport, and the ride to Foxtown was short but quiet. Lucius knew she had sensed his withdrawal. He had been waiting for her to bring it up, but she didn't. Nor she had made a show of being dejected and rejected. She had simply gazed outside the window while occasionally taking photos of the scenery, her silence both comforting and damning.

Tassy was starting to get the hang of what it meant to have faith in God. Stella always liked to tell her that if she needed wisdom, she could ask God for it anytime.

But you have to ask and believe that you'll receive it,her friend also liked to warn her, and that was why...

I really do believe, God.

I believe in whatever advice you'll give.

Because, for the life of me, I can't figure out the man seated next to me.

A part of her was drowning in shame. One moment they were just teasing each other, and then the next thing she knew, he had turned into a block of ice, and his aloof silence had made her feel like she had somehow overstepped her boundaries. Without saying a single word, he had made her feel like she was the only one who had fooled herself into thinking they were equals...when all along he had seen her as a mere plaything to be discarded as soon as he lost interest.

Another part of her, however, was obviously the opposite. It was filled with hurt and righteous indignation, and that part of her had been urging her nonstop to just put an end to this and never look back.

But because shehadprayed to God...

There was one last part of her, and one that had been quietly growing inside of her heart. This part of her remembered enough of Stella's advice that it was slow to anger but quicker to listen and forgive. It was the part that remembered she had to be patient and kind, the part that was keen to remind Tassy not to be the type to keep records of wrongdoings.

This part of her reminded Tassy to focus on the good things...so she could extend the same grace that had been extended to her more than once.

Lucius' jaw clenched when he thought of what steps he had to take to gain back control. It was one thing for Tassina to alleviate his boredom, but for him to obsess over her all the fucking time?

He had to prove to himself she was just a whim.

And to do that, he would ditch her as soon as they made it to Foxtown.

And then find another woman to fuck...even if the thought of touching anyone else than Tassina had his stomach turning upside down.

That was the plan, and his whole life, he had always stuck to the plan.

But when his limousine finally slowed to a stop, and Lucius was helping her out of the car, he took one look at her beautiful face, and everything just fucking changed.

"Why?" he asked hoarsely.

Why was she smiling at him like he hadn't been acting like a royal heartless ass to her in the past half hour?

How the hell could she smile at him like that when they both knew she had sensed him pulling away from the start?

"I figured it was your turn to have cold feet." Well, technically it wasGodwho had figured that part out for her, but Tassy didn't think he was ready to hear that just yet. And if she were being honest...

Tassy herself was also stunned at how quickly God had answered her prayers. Was it always like this, when one simply had...faith?

Lucius' lips tightened as he considered her words, which were once against the last thing he expected to hear. But wasn't that the norm with his Tassina by now? And as painful as it was for him to admit...

Shewasright.

A billionaire at his age had gotten cold fucking feet.

"You really should just get rid of me."

Tassy couldn't help laughing at the grimness of his tone. "I don't think so."

"I'm thirty-fucking-eight years old, and I've only just realized I can be the moodiest son of a bitch."

"Is it your turn to warn me this time?" she teased.

Lucius didn't smile back. "I suppose so."

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