Maya made him wait twenty-four hours.

At exactly 6:00 the following evening, she texted him.

One dinner.

His reply came six seconds later.

Tomorrow. 7:00.

Maya smiled.

Then another message appeared.

Luna is not invited.

Maya laughed aloud.

Their first dinner lasted three hours.

Their second wasn’t officially called a date.

Neither was the third.

By the fourth, Marco stopped pretending.

“You’re dating the veterinarian.”

Niko looked up from his desk.

“No.”

Marco stared at him.

“You sent twelve white roses to her clinic.”

“Luna sent them.”

“Luna can write cards?”

“She’s talented.”

Marco nodded.

“Boss.”

“What?”

“You’re dating the veterinarian.”

Niko returned to his paperwork.

“Leave.”

Two months passed.

The fraud investigation moved out of the estate and into the hands of attorneys and investigators.

Victor remained estate manager, although Luna required several weeks—and considerable salmon—to forgive him.

Maya returned to her ordinary life.

Mostly.

Niko appeared at the clinic suspiciously often.

“Why are you here?”

“Luna sneezed.”

“Once?”

“Twice.”

“Niko.”

“She sounded congested.”

“She’s purring.”

“Could be respiratory.”

Maya stared at him.

“You wanted to see me.”

He said nothing.

She smiled.

“Admit it.”

“No.”

Luna jumped onto the examination table.

Maya scratched behind her ears.

“You’re using your cat.”

“I would never.”

Luna meowed.

Maya looked at her.

“See? Even she disagrees.”

Niko stepped closer.

“Maya.”

Something in his voice changed.

She looked up.

“What?”

“I don’t know how to do this.”

Her smile faded.

“Do what?”

“This.”

He gestured between them.

Maya waited.

Niko was a man who always seemed to know what came next.

Not now.

“My life is complicated.”

“I noticed.”

“People judge it.”

“They probably have reasons.”

His eyebrow lifted.

“You really don't make anything easy.”

“No.”

“That’s one of the things I like about you.”

Maya became quiet.

Niko continued.

“You don’t treat me differently because of my name.”

“I treat you differently.”

He frowned.

“How?”

“I charge you for unnecessary appointments.”

He stared at her.

Then laughed.

Not the restrained almost-smile she had learned to recognize.

An actual laugh.

Maya had never heard it before.

Neither had Marco, apparently, because he appeared in the doorway.

“Everything okay?”

Niko looked at him.

“Get out.”

Marco immediately disappeared.

Maya laughed.

Then Niko reached for her hand.

He stopped before touching it.

Waited.

Maya noticed.

That mattered.

She placed her hand in his.

His tattooed fingers closed gently around hers.

“I like you too,” she said.

Niko’s expression softened.

“Good.”

“But I have rules.”

“Of course you do.”

“You don’t control my schedule.”

“Fine.”

“You don’t send security into my clinic unless there’s an actual reason.”

“Define actual.”

“Niko.”

“Fine.”

“You don’t intimidate my employees.”

“I don’t.”

“Kevin hid in the pharmacy closet last Thursday.”

“He was staring at you.”

“He was asking where the printer paper was.”

Niko considered that.

“Fine.”

“And Luna remains my patient.”

“Obviously.”

“No special treatment.”

Niko looked at the giant white cat wearing a new pink bow.

“She has a private driver.”

“That is exactly what I’m talking about.”

Luna jumped into Maya’s arms.

Niko sighed.

“You know what bothers me most?”

“What?”

“She still likes you more.”

Maya smiled.

“She has excellent judgment.”

He stepped closer.

“So do I.”

This time, when he leaned toward her, he paused.

Maya closed the remaining distance.

And Luna immediately pushed her enormous white head between them.

Maya burst out laughing.

Niko stared at the cat.

“You cannot be serious.”

Luna purred.

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