Page 23 of Race to the Beach

He nodded.“Anyway, the pin must have come loose and fallen off as you walked away.”

Her gaze moved from the pin in her hand to his eyes.“And you’ve had it all this time?”

He nodded.“At the time, I didn’t know your name or that you had a relative on the island.”

“So, you just kept it and hoped that you’d see me again?”When he nodded, she said, “Well, thank you.I can’t tell you how much this means.I had resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn’t see it again.”

“I’m glad I was able to help.I also stopped by to see how you would feel about leaving your car in my parents’ garage."

"Why would I do that?"The tone of her voice wasn’t agitated, just curious.

"If you’re serious about wanting to work on it, you can't do that in the school parking lot.For one thing, there isn't any access to electrical outlets.And unless you travel with all of your tools, you'll need to borrow some."

She arched a brow."Why does it feel like you're trying to talk me into keeping my car in your garage?"

He gave her a sideways smile as he shrugged."I don't know.I guess I am."

Aunt Bonnie rushed into the room with a tall glass of water and a couple of pills.She handed them to Maxi."I'm going to be on the back porch if either of you need anything."

Her aunt rushed out of the room but not before giving Maxi a mischievous grin.Oh boy.Her aunt was already jumping to all the wrong conclusions about her and Owen.She would set her aunt straight a little later.

She turned her attention back to Owen."Why are you being so nice to me?You hardly even know me."

He glanced down at his blue jeans and rubbed his hands down his thighs."I don't know.I guess I feel bad for wrecking into your car."

"But I already told you that I don't blame you.If anything, it was my fault for cutting across the lane in front of you.So, why?"Her gaze searched his face.She wasn't used to strangers being so outgoing toward her.

He shrugged."Would you believe me if I said I just want to be nice?"

Normally, she would readily dismiss his words, but she couldn't help but believe him.Was it possible this guy was really that good of a person?Or had she bumped her head in the accident, and she wasn't thinking clearly?

"Listen," he said."I have a proposal I'd like to discuss with you."

"I'm listening."She was very curious to know what he had to say.

He shook his head."I was thinking this would be better said over a couple of burgers and fries."

He was asking her out?Wow.That was fast.And now she didn't know what to say.

"Hold on."He waved his hand at her."That didn't come out the way I'd meant it to.I'm not asking you out."The disappointment must have shown on her face because he rushed on to say, "Not that you aren't beautiful or anything.It's just that I wanted to talk like, uh...like friends."

"Well, I don't know."She glanced toward the doorway that her aunt had exited through."I was supposed to have dinner with my aunt."

Suddenly, her aunt appeared in the doorway with a grin on her face.“I don’t mind if you go out with Owen.”

Maxi gaped at her aunt.Had she been standing there, listening the whole time?Maybe Owen was right.Maybe they should go somewhere else to talk.

Not sure what to make of her aunt’s unusual behavior, she turned back to Owen.“Okay.But let's keep this simple."

"Simple works for me."He got to his feet."Good.Let's go."

"Whoa.Not so fast."

The smile slipped from his face."You already changed your mind?"

"I didn't say that, but I can't go anywhere looking like this."

"Looking like what?You look fine."

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