Page 11 of Race to the Beach

He let out a laugh."A little confident, aren’t you?”

She shook her head.“No.Just stating a certainty.”

“Well, if you’re so confident about who is going to win, maybe we should make a wager.”

A wager?She wasn’t so sure about this.Still, she liked the thought of proving to him that she could beat him.“What do you have in mind?”

He crossed his arms over his broad chest as he eyed her up.“Normally, I’d make a monetary wager, but in this case, I think it should be something else.”He paused as though considering the options.“I know.Loser buys the winner lunch.”

“You’ve got yourself a bet.”The words slipped past her lips before she could weigh her decision.

He smiled once more, making her stomach dip.He once more held his hand out to her.“Shall we shake on it?”

She hesitated.Then, not wanting him to think he had gotten to her, she placed her hand in his.His grip was firm but not too tight.After a quick shake, he released her hand.As soon as he pulled his hand away, she missed the feel of his touch.

With a quick goodbye, he was gone.It was only after he was out of sight that she realized the error of making the bet.He was way too good-looking.He totally distracted her with his smiles.And she could easily drown in his blue-gray eyes.

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she halted it.She wasn’t falling for anyone—least of all someone who didn’t believe in her capabilities.So, when she won the race, she’d just tell him there was no need for him to buy her lunch.Yes.That was exactly what she would do.

She turned her attention to getting ready for the practice laps.As far as she was concerned, this was as important as the actual race itself.Because if she couldn't win this, she didn't have any hope of winning the actual race.

Chapter Six

Heshouldn’thavedonethat.

He shouldn’t have flirted with her.

It was time for the practice laps, and all Owen could think about was Maxine.There was something very special about her, but he couldn’t put his finger on what that might be.Maybe it was her beauty.No.It was much more than that.

Maybe it was the inquisitive look in her cyan blue eyes that reminded him of cloudless days on the lazy ocean.Maybe it was the way she verbally sparred with him, not willing to let him get the best of her.Or perhaps it was all of those things combined into one stunning package.

Owen zipped up his coveralls and climbed into the car.This was the first time since his disastrous breakup last summer that he had an inkling of interest in a woman.He kept thinking of Maxine and her dazzling smile.

As he fired up the engine, his past came roaring back into his thoughts.He remembered the way he’d been lied to and had his heart stomped on.He wasn’t going to let that happen again.So, he’d let Maxine treat him to a victory lunch, but then they’d go their separate ways.Nothing gained but then again nothing lost.

He put the car in gear and slowly eased out of the tent.It was best he just focused on his career.After working for the same gaming company for the past ten years, he’d worked his way up to team leader.It was a good job, and he liked the people he worked with, but he wanted more.

He was preparing to turn in his resignation and venture out on his own.It was a huge step—one he didn’t take lightly.The truth of the matter was he’d been planning this move for years.

He had plans for an epic new digital game.He'd been working on it in his spare time.It was still in the planning stages, but he knew there was still something missing.The game plans didn't have that special zing that was needed to make a game go viral.But it would.He just needed to work on it some more.

He turned his attention back to the practice race.It was time to head to the start line.When his car was outside the tent, he found there was nowhere for him to go.The other race cars were in a solid line as they waited to jockey into position behind the starting line.

Eventually, the congestion broke up.Even so, it was slow going.When he maneuvered his white Mustang into position, he pushed the distractions from his mind.He was going to focus on the race and hope the repairs he'd made to his grandfather’s car held up.

The raceway was lined on either side with hundreds of concrete Jersey barriers.As he waited for the flag to drop, his gaze strayed to the cars next to him.He instantly knew who he was looking for—Maxine.He silently admonished himself, but it didn't stop him from continuing to look for her.He was hit with disappointment when he found neither of the drivers on either side of him were Maxine.He didn’t even know what sort of car she drove nor its color.

As the engines revved, he focused once more on the task at hand.This was it.Any moment now, they would drop the flag, and the drivers would be off.He'd never been in an auto race before, but his adrenaline was pumping through his body.To win this race would make it possible to resign earlier from his current position.The thought definitely appealed to him.Of course, this was just a practice race, but it didn’t hurt to treat it like the real thing.

He double checked that his helmet was securely strapped.With a cloudless sky that morning, the sun was blindingly bright.He lowered his tinted visor.

The engines around him continued to rev.He didn't see the point, so he let his car peacefully idle.

He spotted a pink car two rows in front of him.Was it possible that was Maxine's car?He could envision her driving a pink car.As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he rejected it.He knew absolutely nothing about Maxine.For all he knew, she might hate the color pink.

It was then that he saw the flagger take his position in an elevated platform off to the side of the raceway.Owen stared at the man while his hands tightened on the steering wheel.His left foot hovered over the clutch while his right foot pressed down on the brake.His body tensed.His fingers tightened on the steering wheel.

The solid green flag waved.Engines roared.Tires chirped.The race was under way.

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