Max picked Lilli up right before the hairdresser arrived at the house. The wedding wasn't until four, but it would take all day for the bride and her friends to get ready.

When Lilli got married, she wanted three attendants - Lily, Ainsley and Phoebe. If she married Zach, would she add Olivia? If he wanted Olivia, she wanted Rhys.

Stop and rewind, Lill. Zach doesn't want to marry you.

Ainsley gave her a long, pleading look as Lilli left with her dress to change into. It was the type of silent begging a hostage would give to a passerby, but Ainsley didn't have a gun at her back. A curling iron, but at least she planned to make a pitcher of mimosas.

Max's car was not as new as Zach's. It didn't smell like leather. "So my little brother is tight-lipped about you. How long have you been a thing?"

"A thing? I don't know. He asked me to be his plus one this week. If it wasn't my roommate's sister getting married, I would have said no."

"Why? You don't like him?"

"I do. I definitely do, but even Zach admitted a wedding weekend was an awful first date."

Max laughed. "My brother is usually brighter, although I'm the brightest one."

"And the shortest."

"Most girls don't care, but I can see why you do."

"Yeah, my height usually scares guys away, so it's only a matter of time before Zach changes his mind about me."

Max laughed. "I've only seen him like this once before. The difference was none of us liked her."

"Why?" Who was her competition?

"She wasn't as nice as you. Zach wasn't himself with her. She wanted to be out every night, but our Zach would rather be home reading, at least some nights."

Intrigued to know about Zach's ex, she asked, "What did she look like?"

Max shook her head. "She was tall too."

Lilli wasn't sure if it was good or not. At least Zach liked tall girls, but did he only like her because she was tall? Why was she confused all the time?

"Has he dated short girls?"

Max laughed. "They haven't all been tall, but like I said, you're only the second he's been serious about."

"What do you mean by serious?"

Max didn't reply as the light turned green and he took a left through the intersection.

"Serious? He brought you home. Excluding a few in high school, we only met one other. He can't just stand beside you."

"What do you mean?"

"He is always holding your hand or has his arm around you."

Lilli laughed. "He's just keeping me from running."

"Running?"

"When he told me he liked me, I ran away."

Max laughed. "Tell me more."

She laughed, thinking about it. "We met with a new client for drinks."

"Cushy. I was probably elbow deep in body parts."

"Um, gross. My best friend is studying to be a nurse practitioner and another to be a midwife. They know not to talk about blood in front of me."

"We're here. Drinks, client. I want to hear the rest. Mom will too."

"You're teasing me."

"Are you kidding? It takes someone special to run from Zach. Looks like he's still here."

Her belly churned in anticipation. As they walked in the house, with Max carrying her bagged dress, Zach came down the stairs wearing shorts and carrying his own garment bag.

Lilli thought she might collapse as she looked at his muscular legs and his tee, which hugged his muscles. He draped his bag over the stair rail and stepped towards her. She felt as if he caught her from falling.

He whispered. "And I thought that look was fear."

"Why do you look so good all the time?"

He laughed his rich laugh. The sound used to make her panties damp, but since they left the office, damp was a constant state of affairs.

"Sweetheart, I'm not even wearing my tux yet."

"I'm dead. I knew I should have stayed home."

"I'm glad you didn't."

His mouth met hers. She slid her arms up and looped her hands around the back of his neck. His hand pulled her closer against his hard body. The man had muscles everywhere. Did he expect her to workout?

He tasted minty, but he smelled like Zach. The smell of the beach may have lost its top spot. Zach pulled away with a groan.

"What's your favorite scent?"

He smiled. "You." Lilli froze. They had just reenacted dialogue from Office Secrets. Zach laughed. "I have to go. Do me a favor and don't believe everything my brother tells you."

She laughed as he picked up his garment bag and placed a quick peck on her lips.

"See you later, beautiful."

Lilli turned and watched him disappear. She moved into the house and found the others, but had forgotten about Dwyer and his wife.

Mrs. Steele smiled. "Lilli, coffee? We have some pastries if you're hungry."

She was hungry. "I can help myself."

Max asked, "Do you serve Zach his coffee?"

"I serve him with clients." She stirred her coffee and picked out a croissant. "He brings me coffee most mornings." She added fruit to her plate and sat down. "His old assistant didn't know how he drank his coffee."

"Black with sugar." Max, his mother, and Olivia said at once.

Mr. Steele, a handsome, distinguished gray gentleman, said, "I knew that."

Lilli laughed and before she stopped herself, she told the entire story of Ethan Cunningham's first visit.

Kurt said, "Zach's version is a little different. He says you wooed him by talking about his children."

"That's nothing. I can talk to anyone." Except Zach. "Never get stuck with me in a long line. My father says I'd get the life story out of a mute."

Had she really said that?

Everyone laughed, and she clammed up while she bit into her croissant. The two older men disappeared with the mention of tee time.

Anita smiled. "I see myself in you, Lilli. Excuse me, I have some work to do, before I need to pick up my son for the wedding."

Max smiled. "I'm glad I'll see Gilly."

Lilli ate some melon. Olivia and Max sat at the table and Mrs. Steele loaded dishes in the dishwasher.

Lilli stood up. "Can I help?"

She smiled. "Sit and finish eating."

Max said, "You were telling me your story. Client and drinks."

Lilli explained how Zach asked her to be his plus one and have dinner with him. "He kissed me, just a quick one, and stepped away to the restroom and I walked out and took the train home."

Olivia said, "Zach didn't tell me you walked out. He said you were overwhelmed and negotiated with him over this weekend."

Lilli felt ready to run again. She made him promise to give up on her book.

Olivia laughed. "He was adamant that I drop my training agenda. He stuck up for you."

Lilli felt her face get red. When would her embarrassment stop? She stood and brought her plate to the dishwasher.

"Thank you, dear. I'm so glad you're here." Before she knew it, Mrs. Steele hugged her.

Olivia stood and pulled her arm. "Come on. It's no fun to tease Zach unless we follow through." They sat in the old basement playroom with Lilli next to Max and Olivia on his other side. Plenty of her school friends who lived in town had basements, but not her neighborhood; it was too close to the water. She made a mess in Kenna's playroom when they made a volcano for a school project.

She smiled at the footage of the adorable baby Zach. His full cheeks were more kissable than Cody's. The brothers were only a year apart, so it was hard to tell between Zach and Max. They watch them grow through the toddler years into preschoolers and grade school students with missing teeth. When the blond girl appeared. Lilli said, "That's Olivia. You and Zach are so cute."

Max nodded. "They were inseparable."

Another boy appeared on the screen. "Who is that?"

"Gilly. Olivia's brother. There's JJ."

"The groom." Olivia added.

"You really have known each other forever. It's like that with my neighbors. Only my little sister's crush became real."

Mrs. Steele called Lilli, so she left the others to look at the footage of kids playing in the pool.

Once upstairs, Mrs. Steele smiled. "Did you see my cute boys? I'm not sure what I was thinking. I had them so close together. I wanted a girl, but I'm sure you're glad I didn't. When Anita brought Olivia, I finally had my girl. Someday I'll have daughter-in-laws and perhaps granddaughters."

"Don't look at me. I'm convinced Zach is going to snap out of it and wonder why he invited me."

She laughed. "You are so sweet, but don't sell yourself short. My Zach is very taken with you."

"Max mentioned his old girlfriend."

"Don't worry. He never looked at her the way he looks at you."

Lilli's belly churned. "It's a lot to take in."

"Max and Olivia will take care of you while Zach is busy with his groomsmen tasks. Once the wedding is over, I'm sure he won't leave your side. Now sit down and tell me more about yourself. Did I hear you say Maine?"

Lilli smiled and began talking about home.

Whose story in the Roche-Sumner and Dwyer Mitchell universe would you like to see?