Three years before...

It was a miracle Max had arranged his schedule for JJ's wedding. He had forty-seven hours from seven am Friday to six am Sunday, so he would have to duck out of the reception to drive home.

He was doubly glad when his mother told him Zach had a date. His brother hadn't dated since he broke up with Jane. Max hardly knew Jane, but Olivia hated her.

Olivia. Max had been keeping his distance from her for years. Being a resident, he was always working. When he showed up for holidays, he left almost immediately. His mother complained and Olivia looked disappointed, but she had Zach to keep her company.

He had taken what he wanted and left her. He kept hoping she would find a man and move on. According to Zach, she didn't like commitment. "Just like you and Ian."

Max didn't arrive home in Wellesley until late afternoon. His mother greeted him with a hug. "You just missed your brother. He and Lilli went to the golf club for the wedding rehearsal."

"Lilli?"

Like a vision, Olivia stepped forward. "Lillian Caron. She's his new assistant."

Max smiled. "Assistant."

Olivia chuckled. Age agreed with her. She was more beautiful than his memory. "He's been in love with her for two years while you have had your head in the sand."

Feisty. "My head has been in the operating room. Thank you."

"Okay, you two, always arguing like siblings. Go clean up for Alicia's dinner."

Olivia didn't need to change. She wore a tight skirt and heels. He looked at his mother. "Are we going together?"

"You can drive us. Your father will meet us with Olivia's parents."

His mother talked the entire drive as Max tried to pretend Olivia wasn't in the backseat. The Sumner mansion greeted him like an old friend. The years he was away training to become a surgeon made him feel like an outsider. JJ was marrying a woman Max had met once. Oliver and Josh each had two kids. Someday they could kiss in the basement. He glanced at the stairs and thought of lemon.

He stood around talking to his uncle while they waited for the wedding party. Olivia stayed away from him, as she spoke to everyone. He smiled when he saw his brother. Zach had a beautiful girl on his arm. Lilli called him superhero, as Zach explained she thought Maxwell Steele sounded like a superhero's name.

"I saved a few lives this week. Not single-handedly and with skill not strength."

Lilli amused him. The tall brunette was not like Zach's normal girls. When she left Zach's side to eat with Violet's sister, his brother sighed. "She won't eat with me."

"Why?" Did she have hang-ups?

"She's afraid she'll spill or choke. I make her nervous."

Max laughed. "Seriously?"

"She told me guys weren't interested in her because of her height."

Max laughed. "Short guys. Is she for real?"

"A little cooky, but it's part of what makes her adorable. She's an amazing assistant on her way to being an agent."

"Like Anita?"

"No, she's not like Anita except for determination. She charmed Ethan Cunningham into signing with me."

Max cocked her head. "Mom's smiling. She's seeing dark haired grandchildren."

Damn, his brother didn't argue. "Keep her company tomorrow while I do pre wedding things. She doesn't trust Olivia."

"She thinks you and Livvy?" Zach nodded. Max wondered about Zach and Livvy for years. He almost asked about her but stopped himself.

Once home, Max went right up to bed. The house was full, but Zach's girl was staying at the bride's house. Olivia had offered to help him entertain Lilli. He couldn't say 'no, because I want to touch you in a way I never should have'.

When he picked Lilli up the next morning, it surprised him that she wasn't nervous at all. It was only Zach, he smiled. He had teased his brother about showing Lilli home movies, but Max wasn't sure he wanted the trip down memory lane. Unfortunately, Olivia thought it was a great idea.

He sat in the old playroom with Lilli on one side and Olivia scorching his other side. The day before she avoided him.

They watched footage of him and Zach as babies. Only a year apart, it was hard to tell who was who. They watch through toddler years into preschool and grade school. Max froze when the adorable blond girl appeared.

Lilli said, "That's Olivia. You and Zach are so cute."

"They were inseparable."

Lilli asked, "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."

Olivia pinched his forearm. He looked at her as she glared at him. When his mother called Lilli, she left, leaving him and Olivia to look at footage of them playing in the pool.

"That pinch hurt."

"You deserved it for ignoring me for years."

"I thought I deserved it for something else."

She sighed. "I have no regrets except it drove you away. I thought you cared about me."

"I do. I always have. How are you?"

The screen showed them on a Christmas morning together.

"Good. I love my job. I travel a little between offices."

"I always thought you would become an agent like your mother."

"Maybe if you spent time with me, you would know I changed my mind. I love organizing things and party planning."

"I'm glad you're happy."

Olivia slipped her fingers through his. "You're almost done, right?"

He shook his head. "No one knows, but I'm planning to do a peds fellowship."

"What does that mean?" She frowned.

"Two extra years to become a pediatric surgeon."

"That's great. I mean to help kids, but two more years. I've been way... Never mind. Good for you."

Max could guess what she was going to say, but he still had three years of hard work ahead. The light at the end of the tunnel was barely visible.

Olivia looked beautiful in her dress for the wedding. Max drove to the golf club, because he had to leave early. He had a two and a half hour drive and needed a good night's sleep. Things got interesting when Zach's ex showed up. One skittish girlfriend and an ex who was a barracuda didn't bode well. The night before Oliver told him about his bet with JJ just to get Zach to ask Lilli to the wedding.

When he went to find his brother after the ceremony and Lilli was out cold, Max's training kicked in. Only Zach would pick a girl who fainted when he told her he loved her. If Lilli was Zach's perfect match, what would happen if they got married? Max would have to lunge to catch her.

Max slipped out as the dancing began. He stayed through the dinner with Olivia on one side and Lilli on the other. Gilly sat with them at the singles table. Thankfully, Jane wasn't sitting at their table. As Max stood to leave, Ian and Olivia got up to dance. He thanked Alicia and kissed his mother before leaving. He didn't know when he would see Olivia again, but his training was the only life he knew.

Traffic was heavy on Saturday evening, so it took him three hours. He had left before the cake, so he stopped at the diner for a piece of pie.

Denise smiled then frowned. "Where were you? A funeral?" He had taken off his suit coat and tie.

"No, a wedding. I left before the cake."

"You need something to sweeten you up."

"Pie. I'll take the lemon meringue."

"Good choice. Who tied the knot?"

"A childhood friend."

"That's nice. Did you see your family?"

"For a nanosecond. I drove six hours, round trip, to be there for about twenty-four."

"How's your brother?"

Max smiled. "He has a girl."

"Not the blonde." Max shook his head. "Good, because she only had eyes for you." It figured that Denise noticed. "What are you gonna do about it?"

"About what?"

She shook her head. "About the girl who loves you."

"Love is a strong word."

"Is she beautiful?" He nodded. "Is she still single?" He nodded. "You should ask yourself why?" She held up her hand. Don't answer, it's for you to think about, doctor genius. Enjoy your pie."

She walked away and Max took a bite of the lemon, as he tried to see a future. There were too many long hours in the way.

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