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?”