Corvus sat in his best friend, Lance’s, living room along with Lance’s son. He watched as his brother carefully cradled the baby in his arms.
“I can’t believe that you are a Daddy,” Corvus commented.
Lance smiled. “I know dude. It’s amazing.”
“I’m happy for you,” Corvus told him. “You did your thing.”
“With my Katydids.”
Corvus smiled. “How is Dr. Lewis-Johnson?”
“She’s beautiful and she’s mine,” Lance replied then looked at Corvus. “So what’s up with you Negus?”
“I found her.”
Lance looked confused. “Found who?”
Corvus grinned. “My Little Goddess.”
“Are you serious?” Lance questioned. “You actually found somebody who meets your list?”
Corvus nodded. “Every single point…”
“She can cook?”
“Burn,” Corvus answered. “Had her food last night.”
Lance watched him. “Understands your business?”
“She’s a realtor.”
Putting his son over his shoulder, Lance asked. “She likes music?”
Corvus smiled. “Baby can sing too, and she got that fire.”
“And she’s a virgin?” Lance asked skeptically.
Corvus agreed with a smug look.
“How old is she?”
“Twenty-seven.”
Lance gave him a look. “And she’s a virgin?” he repeated.
“Her Daddy’s a pastor and she was engaged to a little punk ass dude,” Corvus informed him.
“Engaged?” Lance inquired. “Is dude still in the picture?”
Corvus gave him a look this time. “Even if he was…”
“She fine?” Lance asked.
Corvus threw his head back. “Man, her face…” He blew out a breath. “It hurts to look at her too long.”
“She got big fronts?” Lance questioned, looking at his friend.
Corvus sat up. “Not like Khayla or Mac, but I can work with it.”
“So what’s up?” Lance patted the baby lying on his chest. “What’s next?”
“Remember when Rion married Tauri in like thirty days?” Corvus asked and Lance nodded.
Corvus smiled. “I’m about to beat his record.”
******
Miracle looked up from her desk and watched as her sister entered her small real estate office. The smile on Faith’s face said it all, as she took the empty seat.
“Tell me that you kissed that fine man!”
Miracle shook her head. “No, I did not.”
Faith looked confused. “He didn’t try?”
She blushed. “Yes, he did.”
Faith’s face fell. “You didn’t let him?”
“No, I did not.” Miracle told her. “Why would I?”
She watched as Faith pulled out her phone and pulled up the photo of the couple. “Look at him! That’s why!”
Miracle smiled at the picture. “Yes, Corus Shaw is very, very handsome.”
“So what happened at this dinner?” Faith questioned putting her phone away. “When you texted me last night, you just said he was gone.”
Looking away, Miracle picked up her pen. “It was nice.”
“What made you take him home with you?”
Miracle shrugged. “Daddy wants to buy the land behind the church and Corvus owns it. He doesn’t want to sell it to a church that isn’t doing community projects.”
“We bargained that if I made him a meal that he enjoyed, he would let me work with Daddy and possibly reconsider,” Miracle explained. “I saw no need to wait, since Daddy seems to be in a hurry to get the deal done.”
“You offered him food?” Faith questioned.
Miracle raised a brow. “I wasn’t offering anything else and I made that very clear.”
Faith sat back. “So did he like your cooking?”
“Yes, he did.” Miracle answered. “So now I have to work with Bishop Chapman to come up with a plan that Corvus will accept.”
Faith rolled her eyes. “Well, I’ll be praying for you. We both know Bishop Chapman likes to do things his way.”
Miracle looked at her sister. “Can I tell you something?”
Faith paused at her seriousness. “What happened Miracle?”
“I like him,” she whispered. “He gave me butterflies.”
Her sister smiled. “So he made it tingle?”
Miracle frowned.
“I’m just saying…I’m happy it still works.” Faith told her.
Miracle toyed with her pen. “That shouldn’t happen.”
“Actually, that’s exactly what’s supposed to happen when you’re in the presence of a handsome man trying to kiss you,” Faith explained.
Miracle looked away. “It never happened with Emanuel.”
Faith smirked. “Are you seeing Corvus again?”
“This is just business,” Miracle said quietly.
“I don’t think Corvus Shaw lets every woman cook dinner for him and tries to kiss her,” Faith offered.
Miracle gave her a look.
“Or maybe he does,” she amended.
“It doesn’t matter,” Miracle sighed. “I can’t handle a man like him.”
Faith frowned. “What do you mean ‘handle’ him?”
Miracle stared at her desk. “I couldn’t keep Emanuel. How would I keep a man like Corvus Shaw?”
Faith leaned forward. “First of all, Emanuel is an ass.”
“Faith!”
“What? That’s in the bible.”
Miracle shook her head and Faith continued. “Secondly, you can’t use Emanuel as an example of anything, because…he’s an ass.”
“You’ve seen Corvus Shaw, Faith. Women fall all over him, and he loves it.”
“Did you pray on it?” Faith asked.
Miracle nodded. “Yes, but my prayers are so confused.”
“You can take your time Miracle,” Faith comforted. “It’s not like he’s going to ask you to marry him in the next thirty days or something.”
Miracle looked at her sister. “If ever…I may not even see him again after this land deal is completed.”
“But you want to see him?” Faith pressed.
Miracle closed her eyes. “Yes, I want to see him…”
The door opened and Miracle opened her eyes to the beautiful man entering her office. He smiled at her as he approached and Faith sat in stunned silence, looking between the pair.
“Hello Miracle,” Corvus greeted her, holding her gaze.
She got slowly to her feet. “Corvus, what are you doing here?”
“I’m here to buy some real estate,” he answered.
“Really?” she asked confused.
“No,”
She continued to stare at him. “Then why are you here?”
“I’m here to steal a pretty woman,” he told her softly. “If she’s available.”
Faith smiled broadly at her sister then turned to Corvus. “Hi, I’m Faith. I’m Miracle’s sister.”
Corvus turned his attention to her. “I’m sorry,” he apologized. “That face makes me lose my thoughts.”
Faith slid a glance to her blushing sister. “No problem.” She turned back to Corvus. “I was just leaving, so you two carry on.”
Grabbing her purse, Faith looked at Miracle who was still staring at Corvus. “I’ll talk to you later Sis.”
“Uh…okay,” Miracle answered without removing her gaze from his.
Faith looked between the two one last time and smiled again before leaving the office.
“So can I steal you away?” Corvus asked.
“Where are you taking me?”
Corvus reached for her hand. “Anywhere you want to go.”
Miracle looked at their joined hands. “It’s the middle of the day.”
“I don’t have anywhere else to be,”
Corvus moved around the desk to stand in front of her, still holding on to her hand while Miracle stared up at him and studied his face.
“I’m surprised to see you,” she whispered.
“That was the point,”
She smiled at his response. “You’re starting that already?” Corvus teased.
“You make me smile at you.”
He pulled her closer. “Come and let me make you smile some more…and blush.”
“I’m meeting with my father later,”
He nodded. “Okay, I’ll bring you back soon.”
“Let me get my purse,” she told him.
Corvus stepped back while she shut down her computer and retrieved her bag. He led her out to his car and settled her inside.
“Where do you want to go?” Corvus asked.
“You choose,”
He nodded. “I can do that.”
******
Emanuel Hollins walked down the hall to the corner office that belonged to Bishop Chapman. He was dreading this meeting because he knew what the Bishop wanted. He wanted to know how things were with Miracle.
Balling his fist, he blew out a breath. Miracle was becoming a problem. She was supposed to be his Scripture wife, but she had fallen out of line. The mere fact that she’d struck him, still made his blood boil. How dare she!
Women like Miracle had a place, and he figured he’d have to put her back in it, very soon. He was the Head and she would submit to him. He’d make sure of it.
He knocked lightly and was granted entry. Bishop Chapman sat behind his large desk and watched Emanuel approach and take one of the empty seats.
“What is going on with you and my daughter?” the Bishop started right away.
“I’m working on getting back in her good graces.”
The Bishop frowned. “You should have never left them.”
“I regret Miracle witnessing that episode,” Emanuel told him. “And she won’t witness it again.”
Bishop Chapman lifted a brow. “You’ve hurt my daughter, and the only reason you’re still here is because I’m trying to show you mercy.”
“I will get Miracle back,” Emanuel vowed.
“Maybe you should go visit her at her office and spend the afternoon with her,” the Bishop recommended.
Emanuel looked at his watch. “Uh, I have another appointment…but I’ll check on her later.”
“Make sure you do that.”
“Isn’t she coming to the church tonight?” Emanuel asked.
The Bishop nodded. “She has some information on the land.”
“I’d like to sit in on that meeting, since this affects the future of the church,” Emanuel stated.
“Fine, she’ll be here around six.”
Emanuel smiled. “My appointment will be done by then.”
“Emanuel, don’t make me exercise my wrath.” The Bishop warned.
“I’ve got it under control, Bishop.” Emanuel said confidently.
The Bishop watched his protégé. “I hope you do son, for your sake.”
******
“Do you like it?” Corvus asked
Miracle smiled up at him and took another long lick. “Yes, I like it.”
“Is it good?”
“It’s better than I thought it would be.”
Corvus smiled at her. “I told you that you’d like it.”
Miracle shivered and continued to lick the ice cream cone. “Who eats ice cream when it’s cold outside?”
He licked his own cone. “We do.”
She laughed and continued to devour the treat as they walked along the Riverfront.
“Are you cold?” Corvus asked.
“Of course, we’re on the river eating ice cream!”
Corvus chuckled. “You said ice cream was one of your favorites.”
Miracle glanced over at him. “Thank you.”
They finished their cones and continued their stroll. Corvus saw her hug herself and moved closer. “I can keep you warm,” he offered.
She looked up at him and nodded shyly. “Okay,”
He placed his arms around her and she laid her head on his jacket. Corvus then rested his chin on top of her head and Miracle wrapped her arms around his waist.
“We can go if it’s too cold,” Corvus said quietly.
Miracle dug her face further into his chest. “No, I don’t want to go, yet.”
He held her tighter. “I don’t want your little self to freeze.”
“You’re very warm.” She nestled closer and inhaled his scent.
“I think you’re just lusting after my body,” Corvus said above her head and she looked up at him quickly.
“What?” she asked dismayed, then stepped out of his embrace. “I’m sorry.”
He looked confused. “Sorry for what?”
Miracle looked everywhere but at him and hugged herself. “That behavior.”
“Hugging me?”
She nodded. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Corvus lifted her face to his. “Why not?”
“A good woman doesn’t do that.”
He held her gaze. “What does a good woman do?”
“She doesn’t feel this way with a man she doesn’t know.”
Corvus studied her. “How do you feel, Little Goddess?”
Miracle blinked. “Why do you call me that?”
He smiled. “Because you’re little and you’re my Goddess.”
“There’s no such thing,” she commented.
“A Goddess?” Corvus questioned and she nodded. “You’re a Goddess, Miracle.”
He touched her cold cheek. “You are a beautiful woman who is admired and adored by a god.”
Miracle felt her heart speed up. “Is that what you believe?”
“It’s what I live.” He told her, holding her gaze.
Feeling as though she could no longer breathe, Miracle put her hands to her face. “What is happening?”
Corvus took her gently into his arms. “Relax,” he soothed, rubbing her back.
“You’re so different,” Miracle whispered. “From anyone I’ve ever met.”
“I know, I’m one of a kind.”
Miracle smiled against his coat. “And not humble at all.”
Corvus lifted her face. “You’re one of a kind too, Miracle.”
“Why do you think that?” she asked with serious dark eyes.
“You fit all the points,”
Miracle looked confused. “What points?”
He smiled. “I’ll tell you all about it, in a month or so.”
Corvus watched her lips shiver and wanted to warm them with his own. “I should get you out of this cold. Are you ready?”
She nodded and Corvus scooped her up into his arms. “Corvus!”
“Your little legs will take us forever to get back to the car,” he told her as he walked. “Just hold on for a minute.”
Miracle buried her face in his neck away from the cool breeze. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to feel secure in the strong arms that carried her. No man had carried her this way, not as a grown woman. Corvus held her firmly, and his body felt warm and solid. Being this close to such a handsome man was doing things to both her mind and body. Things that she’d never felt before.
At the car, Corvus lowered her to her feet and opened the door. She held herself as he got in the driver’s seat and quickly turned on the car, before turning on the heat.
“You’ll be warm in a minute,” he told her.
Miracle shivered. “I can’t believe it’s this cold. It’s the end of March!”
He laughed. “It’s Detroit. It could be eighty-degrees tomorrow.”
She looked at him. “That’s true”
While he waited for the car to heat up, Corvus took her hands and warmed them in his own. When Miracle smiled at him, he shook his head.
“There you go again,”
“I can’t not smile at you,” she complained.
He brought her hand to his lips. “I’ll get used to it.”
Miracle stared at him until he touched her face. “Did you have a good time today, despite the cold?”
“I’ve never left work in the middle of the day to walk along the water and eat ice cream,” she whispered.
“Can I come get you tomorrow afternoon?” Corvus asked.
She shook her head. “No, we both have to work.”
“Tomorrow night?”
“Maybe,”
Corvus nodded. “We can play it by ear.” He turned to the wheel and began driving.
Miracle stared out of the window as they drove through the downtown area. “I can’t believe how much this has changed.”
Corvus looked at the scenery. “A lot of money has been poured into this area. I’m happy to see revitalization in the city, but it has to be more than downtown where the visitors like to come and party.”
“It looks great down here, but when we drive a few blocks, it’s like a damn war zone,” he explained. “And when they do move further, they’re just going to push the current residents back into a small corner of the city.”
Miracle turned to him. “I sell very little property inside the city. Most of my sales are families trying to move to the suburbs.”
Corvus shrugged. “I can’t blame them. Some parts of the city are pretty much uninhabitable right now, but hopefully as we build up in our communities, those families will return.”
“Do you still live in the city?” Miracle asked.
Corvus nodded and turned a dark gaze on her. “Yeah, you want to see it?”
Miracle turned away. “Maybe,”
He smiled as he drove. “We’ll play that by ear, too.”
After another minute, he said, “My birthday is next week.”
Miracle turned to him. “You want me to bake you a cake?”
“Nah, but I want you to be my date at my party.”
Miracle’s eyes widened. “You’re asking me to be your date at your party?” she repeated.
He nodded.
“Your family will be there?” Miracle questioned.
“I do have one,” he pointed out. “And they love me.”
Corvus glanced at her. “The first few hours are for family and the real party starts after ten.”
“When would you want me to come?” she asked.
“We’ll go together and we’ll leave together,” he said firmly.
She looked uneasy. “I don’t really party, Corvus.”
He smiled. “I figured that.” Corvus took her hand. “It won’t be wild and all of my circle is married with kids now. They’ll probably be asleep by ten.”
He held her gaze. “Will you come?”
“Yes,” she answered after a moment.
Corvus let those words play back through his mind. Oh yes, Miracle…you will.