Page 38 of Race to the Beach

His gaze searched hers.“You want to call off our deal already?I thought we were off to a good start.”

She shook her head.“It’s not that.I’m just not comfortable with letting my aunt think that we’re something we’re not.”

He was quiet for a moment.“Maybe you’re right.Do you think she’d keep this information to herself?”

Maxi nodded.“I think she would if she knew it was important to me.”

“Then do what you feel is right.”

She couldn’t believe he hadn’t given her a hard time about her decision.She smiled at him.There was so much more to this man than she’d originally thought.

She felt her body relaxing.Maybe this dinner wouldn’t be so bad after all.“Have you always lived on the island?”

Owen took a bite of green beans, chewed, and swallowed.“Yes.My family has been on the island for generations.”

“How many siblings do you have?”

“I have four brothers and one sister.I’m the youngest.”

“Wow.A big family.That must have been fun growing up with so many siblings.”

He shrugged.“It had its good points and not-so-good points.The good was that you were never lonely.The bad was you were never alone.”

“Are you all still close now that you’re grown up?”

He nodded.“We are.I couldn’t have asked for any better siblings.If I need anything, they are there for me.And if they need anything, I drop whatever I’m doing to help them out.”

“And they all live on the island too?”

“They used to, but Jack moved to Manhattan for work and love.Everyone else is here on the island.My sister, Josie, and her husband, Lane, own the Brass Anchor Inn.My brother Kent took over the family business, Turner Home Furnishings.Liam is a carpenter.And I think you met my oldest brother, Grant.He’s a doctor and in charge of the new hospital on the island.”

She paused to search her memory.“Oh, yeah.I did meet him.He was very nice.”

“He’s a good guy and very smart.”Owen looked directly at her.“And what about you?Do you have any siblings?”

She shook her head.“There’s just me.My mother died when I was sixteen.And my father passed last year.”

“I’m sorry.That must have been rough.”When she nodded but didn’t speak, he asked, “Do you have any other family in Virginia?”

“No.Just my aunt here in Bluestar.”

They continued to talk as they finished their dinner.Maxi noticed her aunt even went to the effort of making them an apple crisp for dessert.She wondered how she’d baked it since the oven was broken.

It made Maxi all the more determined to do everything she could to win the race.Speaking of which, she had work to do that night to find some parts for the car.

After they finished dessert, Owen asked, “Would you like to go for a walk on the beach?We could finish our conversation.”

She was truly tempted to spend more time with him.During dinner, she’d seen him in a new way, and he intrigued her.As much as she’d learned about him, she knew there was so much more to uncover.

And yet, she couldn’t let herself forget the reason she’d come to Bluestar.“I should get these dishes cleaned up.”She got to her feet.“I have some internet searches to do tonight before I go to sleep.”

“I understand.Maybe we can go another time.”He stood and reached for the serving dishes.

“I’d like that.”The words crossed her lips before she could stop them.And then realizing that he was helping her clear the table, she said, “You don’t have to do that.”

“I insist.There’s no way I’m leaving you here to clean up all of this on your own.”He sent her a warm smile before heading to the kitchen with his arms loaded with dishes.

After the leftovers were put into the fridge, Owen washed, and she dried.While they worked, they talked about the celebration for the opening of the new hospital.And before she knew it, the dishes were washed and put away.The dining room table was wiped off, and the silk flowers were placed back in the center of the table.It was as though the intimate dinner had never happened, but that wasn’t quite true, because the memory of it would stick with her long after she was back in Virginia.

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