“You and me both, kiddo,” Leo said.
“Don’t call me kiddo,” Gabby said, and something twisted in Dani’s chest. Gabby always used to say that, but unlike before, the admonishment didn’t seem to have any real heat behind it. Gabby had settled in well. She was working with a tutor until her German was good enough for her to attend the village school, but she seemed integrated into the social life of the village and was a particular friend of Imogen’s nieces.
Leo and Gabby had a whole new life, and it suited them. Dani was going to miss them when she went home. She thought she’d gotten used to being without them, but seeing them now, here, was like reopening a wound that hadn’t quite healed.
She had to get off this schmoopy line of thinking about how she was going to miss everyone when she was back in New York.
Back at the palace, the wedding preparations were rolling out as planned, thanks to the presence of a small army being commanded by Mr. Benz.
The only snag in the proceedings was that Dani managed to break the heel off one of her shoes. Mr. Benz whisked away both the shoe and Dani’s apologies, and Verene got to work making some last-minute adjustments on Dani’s dress.
“Knock, knock.” Max stuck his head into the dressing room. “Is everyone decent?”
“Yes, come in, Max,” Marie called from the chair where she was having her makeup done.
Dani smiled. She’d been wondering when Max would turn up. And wow, was he ever . . . something. She had told him once that she tended to forget that he was a baron. That had been true in New York. And even on the estate in Riems, when they’d been tucked away in his cottage or tromping around on the mountain. But here, now, he was every inch the baron. His outfit made him look like a freaking Disney prince. He had once threatened to wear a “frock coat complete with ceremonial sword” to her departmental party, and this must be that. He wore plain black pants, but the top was a deep blue jacket that made his eyes pop, but it was longer than a normal jacket and was covered with pins and bobbles and topped with a yellow sash.
“Well,” he said, making eye contact with Dani first as he came farther into the room, “doesn’t everyone look . . .” His eyes traveled down her body in a way that made her heart kick up, but oddly he looked almost angry. “Amazing,” he finished in a deadpan tone, although he had yet to lay eyes on anyone else.
He held her gaze for too long, and she had the sudden notion that she might burst into flame. Damn Max. How did he do this to her? And he wasn’t even touching her, like the other times he had inspired the sex feelings, with the snow angels or in the ocean. He was just looking at her.
Leo cleared his throat. Crap. Whatever had been happening hadn’t escaped Leo’s notice.
“I wasn’t expecting a crowd,” Max said, seemingly unaffected by their stare-off. He looked between Marie and Leo. “I thought you weren’t supposed to see each other before the wedding.”
“We do what we want,” said Leo, who was wearing a plain, formal black suit over the objections of Mr. Benz and the king. In another display of “I do what I want,” he had refused the ceremonial titles that would normally be bestowed upon him as the husband of the monarch-to-be.
“Grand,” Max said. “I’ve brought the bride a treat, but if you groom’s-side people are nice, perhaps we’ll share.” He caught Dani’s eye again and winked as he produced a bottle of Dom Pérignon.
“I’ll put yours here,” he said to Dani, setting a flute on a dressing table after he’d distributed glasses to everyone else—Verene was still futzing with Dani’s dress. “And for the flower girl,” Max said, turning his attention to Gabby, and then to the door, through which appeared a palace worker holding a sparkling pink drink. The drink-bearer was followed by several more people, one pushing a cart and others bringing covered dishes and tableware, which they set up into a mini buffet.
“Max,” Marie said with fondness. “You think of everything. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”
Mr. Benz appeared holding Dani’s repaired shoe, and Max said, “All I did was the drinks. Credit to Mr. Benz for the food.”
“Everything should be bite-size and free of sauce or anything that might ruin gowns,” Mr. Benz said.
“So thoughtful of you,” Max said, beaming at Mr. Benz in a way that made the equerry frown. “It’s so nice to know that one’s loved ones are being so well looked after.”
“Daniela, my dear,” Verene said, “this hidden zipper at the side of your gown isn’t hiding well enough. May I ask you to raise your right arm and turn away from me?”
The resulting pose twisted Dani away from everyone and had her effectively hiding behind her arm. So when she heard a phone buzz from near where she’d left hers, she said, “Is that mine? If so, can you grab it, Leo?” Leo knew her code from back when they were neighbors, and he used to read Vince’s texts to her when she couldn’t bear to do it herself. “Actually, silence it. It won’t be anything important.”
After a moment, she heard Leo chuckle.
“What?”
“It’s actually pretty important. It’s from someone named Caroline, who I’m gathering is your divorce lawyer. She says, ‘I know you’re out of town. Wanted to let you know that the judgment is in. As of today, you are officially divorced. Congrats.’”
Dani’s stomach dropped, and without thinking about poor Verene, she whipped around and made eye contact with Max, who was already looking at her.
It was funny that her eyes found him in a room full of people. There was Leo and Mr. Benz and the servers still buzzing about setting up the snacks. So many people between them. But he was the only one she wanted to see.
I swear to god, the moment the divorce is final, I’m going to do it with the first moderately attractive man I lay eyes on.
Her joking vow crash-landed in her mind. She wondered if he remembered it.
His eyes were burning as he stared at her. They contained blue fire, like in the center of a flame—the searing, powerful part.
He remembered.
She started to sweat, which was not good for her delicate crepe dress. She tried not to fidget, but she had butterflies all of a sudden. But they weren’t just in her stomach; they were all over. She kept looking at Max, though, and he kept looking at her.
“Is it bad luck that you’re getting divorced the same day I’m getting married?” Leo asked, breaking their spell. She could tell from Leo’s tone that he was joking and maybe also that he was trying to save her from herself.
Because if she held Max’s gaze any longer, she was going to make good on her pledge from so long ago.
“The cars will be arriving in forty-five minutes for the drive to the chapel.” Mr. Benz looked up from his phone. He made a slight gesture with his head, and the servers scurried out of the room. “I’ll leave you now, but please don’t hesitate to summon me if you need anything.”
“Oh, Mr. Benz,” Max said breezily, apparently having shaken off the intensity of a moment ago. It was disconcerting how easily he could make the shift given that Dani was still internally reeling. “Might I trouble you to check in on my brother?”