But, oh, how he wanted her to jump the first man she saw, and oh, how he wanted to be that man.

Which was one thing. That part wasn’t surprising. That part wasn’t new.

But the part that had to do with the real reason she’d been holding back: she was worried about her heart getting involved once she finally did the deed. She was worried about her heart getting broken.

Max wanted to be that man, too. To be the one to whom she gave her heart.

If Dani gave him her heart, he wouldn’t break it. He would actively do everything in his power to not break it. No matter what it cost him. If he could have that vision, her in a white dress, her eyes finding him automatically in a room full of people, he would do anything.

Dear god.

“Well, this is it,” Marie said.

He wrenched his thoughts from the fact that his entire world, the foundation on which he’d built his self-image, had crumbled.

“Is everything all right?” Marie laid her hand on his arm as the car pulled up in front of the small chapel on the palace grounds where the ceremony was taking place.

Marie deserved his attention. His problem with Dani—and it was a problem, because there was no way she would ever let herself be with him, not in the way he wanted—wasn’t going anywhere. He could tell Marie about it, but not today. Today was hers.

“Everything is grand.” He patted her hand that was on his arm. “You’re getting married, and not to me! I couldn’t be happier for you.”

“I’m getting married, and not to you!” she echoed incredulously. “I’m getting married to Leo!” She grinned as if she could not believe her good fortune. They held hands and looked at each other for a long moment, neither of them needing to say more than that.

“Max. Good to see you.” King Emil was waiting outside the chapel, and Max dipped his head. Max reached back into the car to help Marie out, but Verene, who had arrived ahead of them, pushed him aside and began consulting with Marie regarding dress extraction strategy. “I had a lovely luncheon with your parents and brother today,” the king added.

Max made a noncommittal noise. His parents had arrived this morning, but he’d managed to avoid them thanks to his man of honor duties. He was hoping to lean on those duties, and on the plan he and Lavinia had cooked up, to continue avoiding them all day. Especially once his father started officially hitting the bar. He only had to get through a few more hours. He was leaving for Innsbruck in the morning. With Dani. Who he currently could not look at for fear of combusting. Or crying. Or both. But that was another problem to be dealt with later.