Page 39 of Race to the Beach

She walked Owen to the door.“Thank you for helping with the dishes.”

“No problem.Thank your aunt for dinner.”

She flipped on the porch light and opened the door.“I will.”

He stepped out onto the porch.By now the sun had set, and it was dark out.“Tell her it was delicious.”

And then he leaned toward her.Maxi’s heart leaped into her throat.Was he going to kiss her?

Her eyes fluttered shut as her heart pounded.Time seemed to stand still.And then his lips lightly brushed her cheek.It was so brief, perhaps too brief.

Her eyes fluttered open.She saw his back as he made his way down the steps to the sidewalk.She stood there, watching him walk away.When he reached the road, he glanced back and waved.

It wasn’t until she had the door shut that she pressed her fingers to her cheek where he’d kissed her.No man had ever kissed her cheek before.It was so sweet, like something out of an old romcom.A dreamy sigh crossed her lips.

She forced herself up the stairs.She didn’t have to wonder if her aunt was still awake, because Aunt Bonnie’s bedroom door was cracked open, and the lights were still on.

Maxi moved to the door, rapped her knuckles on it, and waited.

“Come in.”

Maxi pushed the door open and found her aunt curled up in a comfy armchair in the corner of the room.With a book in her hand, she looked up with a smile on her face.“Is your date over?”

It was time for a confession.Maxi sat down on the edge of the bed.“First, I want to tell you that the food was amazing.Owen sends his compliments.I can’t believe you did all of that.Thank you.”

Her aunt smiled and waved off her compliments.“It was no big deal.”

Maxi knew that wasn’t the truth, but she wasn’t going to argue the point.She just needed her aunt to know how much they appreciated her efforts.

“I just have to know how you baked the apple crisp.Did you get the oven repaired?”

Aunt Bonnie nodded.“The part came in and Joe at the store offered to install it.”

“Aw… That was so kind of him and you to go to all of that trouble to make a delicious meal.”

“I just wanted to do something special for you and Owen.”

Guilt weighed heavy on Maxi’s shoulders.“I need to let you know that Owen and I, uh…we’re not a couple.”When Aunt Bonnie’s eyes widened in surprise, Maxi said, “It’s a long story, but it amounts to this: if I pretend to be his girlfriend to keep women from flirting with him before the bachelor auction and to keep the winner from getting any ideas of starting something serious because he’s already “taken”.Maxi used air quotes.“Anyway, in exchange he’ll help me repair my car.”

Aunt Bonnie was quiet for a moment.

Maxi laced her fingers together to keep from fidgeting.“Is there any way you could keep from mentioning this to anyone?It’s really important to Owen that people think we’re a real couple.And honestly, I can’t blame him.You wouldn’t believe how many women were hitting on him.”

“And all of this is all right with you?”Aunt Bonnie’s gaze probed her for the truth.

Was she all right with it?Maxi thought about them working together on the car.They’d bounced ideas off each other and helped the other when needed.And then at dinner, she’d witnessed another side to him.He was a really good guy.

“Yes.I’m good with it.I like Owen.He’s really nice.”When Aunt Bonnie smiled at her, Maxi rushed to say, “I don’t like him like that.”

“You never know what will happen.”There was a twinkle in Aunt Bonnie’s eyes.

Maxi shook her head.“Don’t get any ideas.I’m leaving after the race.I don’t have any room in my life for a relationship.”

They talked for a bit longer about the car and the damage that had to be repaired before she even had a chance of running it in the race.She told her aunt about the money the townspeople had so generously given her.“I would like to find a way to thank them.Do you have any ideas?”

“I’m sure they don’t expect anything in return.It’s the Bluestar way.When someone needs help, they step up.”

Maxi nodded.“I understand.But I would still like to show them how much I appreciate their help because without it, I wouldn’t have a chance of repairing the car in time for the race.”

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