But before she could finish, he had grabbed her hand and taken a few steps toward the groom’s back. Sure enough, the groom stopped and slipped off his fancy slippers, and as he did so, two little girls no more than seven years old popped in from nowhere and made a grab for them. A teenage boy wearing the groom’s colors beat them to it and snagged the coveted shoes. But before he could tuck them away, another teen boy made a grab for them. He got ahold, but the groom’s boy did not let go. Both boys from opposing camps held strong to the shoes, their faces filled with determination, and pulling and shoving ensued.

Annika’s heart jumped. The boys were starting to create a scene, which was not the purpose of the game. She started toward the boys to break them up before it escalated any further. Daniel got to them before she did.

He laid a firm hand on each boy, towering over them. They froze.

“Boys.” He spoke in a low whisper. “You know it’s way more fun if they get the shoes.” Daniel smiled at them, and the boys handed over the shoes, which Daniel promptly handed to the two little girls. They grabbed the shoes from Daniel and quickly flittered away just in case he changed his mind.

“Thanks, Uncle!” The girls squealed in delight as they took off with the shoes. When they were far enough away, they turned around and stuck their tongues out at the boys who had been fighting.

Daniel returned to her side. People who had been watching the spectacle returned their attention to the groom. Annika knew her mouth was open, but she couldn’t shut it. This man just kept getting more and more fascinating. “How do you know that?”

“What?”

“How do you know that it’s more fun when they get the shoes?”

Daniel crooked a half smile at her. “Come on. You’ll miss the wedding.” He turned and waited for her.

The priest had started his blessings for the groom. It would be a few minutes before they called for the bride. The man she’d come to know and just observed was not a creepy stalker. If he’d been in her room, there was a reason. Maybe it was time she found out. She caught Daniel’s eye and moved to the back of the room and out into the lobby as more guests entered the wedding hall. She found a small alcove with relative privacy and stepped into it. Daniel followed.

She tilted her head up to him, her gaze sweeping over his mouth and landing on his eyes. She wasted no time getting to the point. “What happened that night, Daniel?”

Daniel stared at her a moment, a war waging in his eyes. He shook his head and started to leave. “It doesn’t matter.”