Page 22 of Race to the Beach

"I'm not expecting anyone."

"Me either."Aunt Bonnie headed for the front door.She swung the door open."Oh, hi.I'm so glad you stopped by."

Maxi wondered who was on the other side of the door.If she had to guess, she’d pick one of her aunt’s friends.Maxi scooted to the edge of the couch.She would go upstairs and let them have the room.

"Hello, Mrs.Walters."The familiar male voice made Maxi freeze.

"I keep telling you to call me Bonnie."

"Sorry.Old habits are hard to break."

"I totally understand."Aunt Bonnie swung the door wide open."Please, come in."

There were footsteps, but she couldn’t see him from her spot in the living room.She didn’t know what she should do: sit back and relax or slip away into the kitchen.

"I was wondering if Maxi was here,” Owen said.

"Sure, she is.Come this way."

Oh no.Maxi immediately scooted back on the couch.She used both of her arms to adjust herself on the cushion.She forgot she'd taken the sling off.Her shoulder protested, causing her to grimace in pain.

"Are you all right?"Owen rushed to her side and knelt down.His brows were knitted together with worry.

Maxi breathed in and blew out the pain."I'm fine.It’s just my shoulder."

"Do you need to go back to the emergency room?"

She shook her head.Over his shoulder, she saw her aunt with a worried look on her face."Would you guys quit worrying.I'm fine.It’s just a bruise.No big deal.Although I wouldn't mind some Tylenol."

"I'm on it."Aunt Bonnie rushed out of the room.

Maxi's gaze moved back to Owen.Every time she looked at him, he grew even cuter.How was that possible?

And then she realized he was kneeling down on one knee in front of her.Her heart leaped into her throat.No one had ever gotten down on one knee for her.For just a moment, she imagined him with a ring in his hand.

The image startled her to the core.Was that something she wanted?She’d never really given it much thought.She was always working or exhausted after working long hours.And truthfully, there weren’t any guys in her small town who wanted to date a woman with grease under her nails.

She glanced at Owen again.He was still down on one knee.Not that he was intentionally on one knee to ask for her hand.

She had to fix this situation right away.She patted the couch cushion next to her."Have a seat."

He straightened and took a seat a comfortable distance from her."I'm sorry to bother you.I didn't have your phone number."

"Is something wrong with the car?"And then realizing the ridiculousness of the question, she rushed to add, "I mean in addition to what I already saw."

He shook his head."No.The car is the same as it was when you saw it earlier."

She breathed a sigh of relief."Then what did you want to talk about?"

"I wanted to bring you this.”He withdrew something from his pocket.

When he held his hand out to her, she did a double-take.There in his palm was her heart pin—the one her mother had given her many years ago.

She took it from him.“Wow.I can’t believe you found it.”Her gaze rose to meet his.“Where did you find it?”

“On the sidewalk outside the church after Aunt Carol and Harvey’s wedding.It was right after we bumped into each other.”

“You mean when you stopped me from falling down the church steps.”

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