Six months later, Bennett Veterinary Clinic looked different.

Not bigger.

Maya had refused Niko's first suggestion.

And his second.

And the suspiciously detailed architectural proposal he'd claimed had “appeared.”

But there was a new treatment room funded through an anonymous animal-care grant.

Maya knew exactly who “anonymous” was.

She let him keep pretending.

More importantly, the clinic had started a program providing veterinary treatment for pets belonging to families who couldn't afford emergency care.

Niko never asked for his name to appear anywhere.

That mattered to Maya.

On a rainy Thursday evening, she locked the clinic and found his car waiting outside.

Marco opened the rear door.

Maya looked inside.

Luna sat on the seat wearing an enormous pink bow.

“Niko.”

He sat beside her.

“Yes?”

“Why is your cat dressed like a birthday present?”

“I didn't choose the bow.”

Marco said, “He absolutely chose the bow.”

“Marco.”

Maya climbed inside.

“Where are we going?”

“Dinner.”

“At your house?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because people traditionally eat there.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“You're terrible at surprises.”

“I'm new to them.”

At the estate, Luna immediately ran upstairs.

Maya followed.

“Niko, where is she going?”

“Apparently somewhere important.”

“That's convincing.”

Luna disappeared into the library.

When Maya entered, she stopped.

There were no crowds.

No dramatic decorations.

Just dinner beside the fireplace.

Her favorite wine.

And Luna sitting beside a small velvet box.

Maya stared.

“Niko.”

He looked uncomfortable for perhaps the first time since she'd known him.

“I had a speech.”

“What happened to it?”

“Luna knocked the cards into the fireplace.”

Maya looked at the cat.

Luna blinked innocently.

“Of course she did.”

Niko picked up the box.

Then he looked at Maya.

“The short version is probably better.”

“Niko…”

“The first day you met me, you told me no.”

Maya smiled.

“I remember.”

“Then my cat chose you.”

“She has excellent judgment.”

“Debatable.”

Luna meowed.

“Sorry.”

He took Maya's hand.

“You didn't care about my name. You didn't care who was afraid of me. You cared that Luna was scared.”

His voice softened.

“And somehow, eventually, you taught me that being trusted matters more than being feared.”

Maya's eyes filled, but she laughed.

“You're getting dangerously sentimental.”

“I'm nearly finished.”

“Continue.”

Niko opened the box.

Inside was a simple elegant ring.

“Maya Bennett, will you marry me?”

She looked at him.

Then at Luna.

The cat immediately climbed into her lap.

Maya laughed through her tears.

“Did you train her to do that?”

“No.”

Marco's voice came faintly from outside the room.

“He tried.”

Niko stared toward the doorway.

“Marco!”

“Leaving.”

Maya laughed harder.

Then she looked back at Niko.

“Yes.”

He froze.

“Yes?”

“Yes.”

He slid the ring onto her finger.

Then kissed her.

Luna pushed between them.

Niko pulled back.

“Seriously?”

The cat settled against Maya and began purring.

Maya scratched beneath her chin.

“She approved first.”

“Of course she did.”

Months later, their wedding was small.

Maya insisted.

Niko agreed.

Mostly.

Marco served as best man.

The clinic staff attended.

And Luna wore a pink ribbon and spent the ceremony sitting beside Maya as if she personally supervised the entire relationship.

When the officiant asked for the rings, everyone waited.

Nothing happened.

Niko looked at Marco.

“Where are they?”

Marco looked at Luna.

Luna sat beneath Maya's chair.

Maya crouched.

“Luna?”

The cat stared back.

Something glittered beneath one enormous white paw.

The guests burst into laughter.

Niko closed his eyes.

“She stole the rings.”

Maya reached down.

Luna immediately climbed into her arms.

“Technically,” Maya said, “she's holding them for us.”

“She is committing theft at my wedding.”

“She's communicating boundaries efficiently.”

Niko stared at her.

Maya grinned.

“You walked into that one.”

He laughed.

And when Luna finally surrendered the rings, Niko married the only woman his impossible cat had trusted before he did.

Later that evening, Maya found him alone on the terrace.

She slipped her hand into his.

“Happy?”

Niko looked through the glass doors.

Marco was attempting to remove Luna from the dessert table.

Luna hissed.

Marco retreated.

“Deeply,” Niko said.

Maya leaned against him.

Inside, Marco pointed accusingly at the cat.

“I still respect your boundaries!”

Maya burst out laughing.

Niko kissed her forehead.

And Luna, having successfully reorganized every important part of Niko Bellini's life, calmly stole a piece of salmon and disappeared beneath the table.

THE END