Page 92 of Hex and the Kitty

“What is a secret?” She was about as confused as anyone could be. Had the child hit his head when he fell?

The boy sprang to his feet—well, skated feet. “I gotta go now. Thanks for your help.” He zipped away like a bat of hell. Then he did a jumping twist that made her breathe catch. For some reason, she felt like this had been a setup. But for what, she had no idea.

Turning toward the bakery, she tucked the disinfectant wipe into her purse to dispose of later and crossed the street.

Molly stepped inside the shop, inhaling the familiar scents of vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar—her personal form of aromatherapy. She flicked on the main lights and froze.

The bakery’s interior had transformed.

Rose petals carpeted the black and white tile floor. Dozens of candles floated at varying heights, filling the space with golden light. Pastel balloons hovered near the ceiling, each containing a tiny glowing fairy light that cast prismatic rainbows across the walls.

“What in the world...” she whispered, stepping further inside.

Movement caught her eye as Warrick emerged from behind the display case. But not the Warrick who had driven her here—this Warrick wore a tuxedo and looked hot enough to melt an ice sculpture.

“Warrick? How did you...” she gestured to his outfit. “You were just in the car with me.” Her eyes narrowed as the pieces clicked into place. The boy was a stall tactic for…

“What do you have planned?” Understanding dawned as Warrick stepped forward, then sank gracefully to one knee before her.

Time suspended. The world narrowed to his face, earnest and open in a way she’d never witnessed before. His hands produced a small velvet box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a ring that captured the candlelight in dazzling fractals.

“Molly Hues,” he began, his deep voice unusually husky with emotion. “You burst into my carefully ordered existence with chaos, color, and magic. You challenged my solitude, defeated my reservations, and claimed a heart I thought long immune to deep attachment.”

Tears welled in her eyes, blurring the candlelight into starbursts. She blinked them away, unwilling to miss a moment of this miracle unfolding before her.

“Every day with you proves what my tiger recognized instantly—you are my mate, my partner, my home.” His golden eyes glowed with an intensity that stole her breath. “I’ve existed for a long time, but I only began truly living when I met you.”

The ring caught the light as he held it toward her—a stunning emerald surrounded by diamonds, the color uncannily matching her eyes.

“Will you grant me the honor of becoming my wife? Of building a future together that combines your sweetness with my strength? Of creating a home filled with love, laughter, and occasionally sentient baked goods?”

Laughter bubbled through Molly’s tears. Leave it to Warrick to include humor in the most romantic moment of her life. Her heart expanded almost painfully in her chest, overflowing with a joy so intense it bordered on agony.

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice failing beneath the weight of emotion. Then louder, with absolute certainty: “Yes!”

She barely registered the bakery’s back door opening or the excited whispers from that direction. All her awareness centered on Warrick rising to his feet, sliding the ring onto her trembling finger, then gathering her into an embrace that felt like coming home after a lifetime of wandering.

His lips claimed hers in a kiss that sealed their commitment—tender yet fierce, gentle yet possessive. Molly’s arms wound around his neck, her body molding against his as if they’d been designed as complementary parts of a whole.

A collective squeal shattered their private bubble. She turned, astonished to find the bakery suddenly full of familiar faces. Celeste, Daisy, and Ellie emerged from behind shelving units, their excitement uncontainable. David, Kade, Reed, and several firefighters filed in from the back, clapping enthusiastically.

“Finally sealed the deal!” David called, punching Warrick’s shoulder good-naturedly.

“I told you she’d say yes,” Daisy crowed. “The cards never lie!”

“Wait,” Molly turned to Warrick, realization dawning. “They all knew? All of them?”

He had the grace to look slightly sheepish. “It takes a village to surprise a witch with psychic abilities.”

“We’ve been planning for weeks,” Celeste confirmed, crossing to embrace Molly. “Nearly killed us keeping it secret.”

“Especially since someone—“ Ellie nudged Daisy pointedly “—can’t keep a secret to save her life.”

“I managed this time!” Daisy protested, her pink hair bouncing indignantly.

Laughter filled the bakery as their friends crowded around, offering congratulations and demanding to see the ring. Molly displayed it proudly, the emerald catching the light with each movement of her hand. The stone’s deep green nestled among diamonds that glittered like stars.

“It’s perfect,” she whispered to Warrick when she had a moment to speak privately. “How did you know?”

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