Chapter 17
“We’ll find a way down the mountain.” Emberly tried to keep a reassuring tone as she took a sip of her coffee. The afternoon was passing and so were their chances of leaving that day.
She was tucked against Max’s side as they sat beside each other on a bench at the table. With Braun and Winzig having overheard her and Max’s conversation last night when they’d declared their love to each other, they were doing nothing now to hide their affection. What was the point?
Max rubbed her arm over the blanket he’d draped on top of her. “Perhaps tomorrow the wind will be gone, and sunshine will take its place.”
“It’s possible.” Even if the sunshine came out and began to melt the snow, would they be able to make it back on snowmobiles? The snow might be too deep and the risk of avalanches too great.
At this point, they just had to wait. And even though they were all trying to have positive attitudes, she could sense the men’s constant worry about the situation.
“Look at the bright side,” she added as she laid her head on Max’s arm and snuggled into him. “We get to be together a few extra days.”
“Remember, darling.” Max paused in his shuffling of the deck of cards for another game of solitaire. “We decided we would get married and that you would return with me to Karltenberg.”
Yes, that’s what they had talked about. But could she really do it? Last night in the dark, beside him on the couch after sharing kisses, the choices had all seemed so much easier than now by the light of day, when her mind was clearer.
As if sensing her hesitancy, Max set aside the deck of cards.
Across the table, Braun paused in his writing of numbers in a sudoku book he’d found on the game shelf. At the front window, Winzig shifted in their direction. Neither man seemed surprised by Max’s news. Yet they were clearly waiting for him to say more.
Max, on the other hand, seemed to be waiting for her to agree with him.
Could she?
She wanted to be with Max, but the doubts came rushing back—this was too soon, they’d only just met, they were so different, and family might not approve. Also, what about her job? She couldn’t just leave without helping find a replacement.
What about being so far away from her dad when he was still recovering? While his cancer was in remission, there was always the chance it could come back. And everyone knew his life expectancy was still uncertain.
Would she really be able to fit into Max’s world? He had assured her she would learn everything quickly and that he would be by her side to help her, but what if she embarrassed him enough that his people rejected her?
She loved Max. That had become very obvious. But she wasn’t sure she should rush into marrying him.
Braun laid the pencil down on the open sudoku book. “Congratulations are in order.”
“Yes.” Max’s probing gaze held hers. “I was able to convince Emberly to marry me. I think.”
“Of course I’m marrying you.” She squeezed his arm tighter, wanting to reassure him. “But we didn’t really decide when.”
“I would like to do so as soon as possible,” Max stated firmly.
“But shouldn’t I give my two weeks’ notice at work?”
“I imagine you could still do quite a bit of your work remotely, could you not?”
“I suppose so.” Many of the details of her event planning could be done anywhere as long as she had her laptop.
“Is something else bothering you?” he asked gently, his silvery-green eyes filling with tenderness.
“I’m just nervous, that’s all.” She already knew she needed to get married to him soon so that neither of their families would try to prevent the marriage. But how soon?
Braun’s gaze was bouncing back and forth between them. “You do not need to be nervous with His Royal Highness. Max has been in love with you from almost the moment he laid eyes on you.”
She bumped her shoulder against Max’s. “Is that right?”
“It is,” Braun interjected emphatically before Max could get a word in. “I have never seen Max react so strongly to one woman. He could not get enough of you. He still obviously cannot.”
She smiled. “I love hearing the inside scoop.”
Max ducked his head, his gaze turning sheepish. “I cannot deny Braun.”
Her heart warmed at his admission.
Braun tapped his pencil on the table. “If you would like to get married before returning to Karltenberg, I could offer you my services as an officiant.”
“You are an officiant?” Max quirked his brow at Braun.
“Yes, I have my license as a registrar of vital statistics.”
“Of course you do.” Max’s charming grin made an appearance. “Why does that not surprise me?”
Braun tsked. “It should not. Being a registrar is a perfectly acceptable hobby.”
The man was one of the most eccentric people she’d ever met, but she liked him more for it. “So, does being a registrar mean you have the power to perform a wedding?”
“I have the legal authority, yes, and have married two couples—my cousin and his wife, along with a friend from university.”
“What else should I know about you, Braun?” Max’s voice held a note of teasing.
“I am also a licensed scuba-diving instructor.”
Max nodded. “Yes, I was aware of that.”
But why? Did Karltenberg even have places to scuba dive?
Emberly wasn’t sure what Braun’s scuba diving had to do with being a registrar who could marry people—maybe the licensed part? Whatever the case, Braun was proving to be a man of many talents.
“I could marry you today if I so choose,” Braun continued with all seriousness.
“Today?” Max’s grip around Emberly tightened.
“Yes, if you want to get married today, I could perform the ceremony in an official capacity.”
Max pushed their bench back from the table, released her, and stood. He was staring at Braun, his humor now gone, his expression serious. “Do not jest with me, Braun.”
Braun stood now too. “Have I ever jested with you, Your Highness?”
Max held Braun’s gaze. “I suppose you have not.”
“I would not start now about such a serious matter.”
The cabin grew suddenly silent. Or maybe Emberly’s heart and lungs had ceased to function. Was Max really considering having Braun marry them today? And if so, would she agree to it?
As if hearing her silent questions, Max turned to her, his eyes shining with hope and love—the kind of hope and love she’d seen in her dad’s eyes many times over the years when he’d looked at Mom.
Was Max love-crazy for her? He was sure making her feel like she was the most important person in his life and all that really mattered to him.
A thrill wound through her, tingling down to her toes. She’d never thought she could have the McQuaid legacy of love, had always believed she would have to settle for a marriage and a man who would come close but never quite be able to live up to her family’s standards.
It looked like she was wrong. She and Max were experiencing something powerful—a fast, furious, and forever love.
“What do you think, Emberly?” Max asked softly. “Should we get married today?”
Should they get married today? At this moment, all the reasons to say no to Max seemed to fade away and were no longer important.
It didn’t matter what anyone else would say or think.
He was more important than any of her excuses.
Their love was more valuable than anything else. And their being together was essential.
A swell of love rose inside her so swiftly and powerfully that she closed the gap between them, wrapped her arms around him, and met Max’s gaze again. “I’m willing if you are.”
He bent in and touched his lips to hers in a sweet kiss that was over before it could begin. “I am more than willing. I can think of nothing else I want more.”