Page 4 of Race to the Beach

He turned in the opposite direction of his apartment and started toward the Brass Anchor Inn.He was going to a reception where he intended to return the heart pin to its owner.He slipped the piece of jewelry into his pocket and kept walking.

Who was that?

As Maxi walked in the opposite direction of the other wedding guests, she couldn’t help but think of the man who, just moments ago, was holding her in his arms.Just the memory made her heart beat faster.

She recalled looking into his blue-gray eyes, and the rest of the world had slipped away.She’d noticed how easy it would be to get lost in his stare.In fact, she might have stared a moment longer than was appropriate.How could she not?

If it hadn’t been for Aunt Bonnie, she might never have crossed the man’s path.After Maxi’s pink dress had been ruined with soot, her aunt had gifted her the most beautiful blue dress.Maxi felt like a princess wearing it.It was a long way from her usual coveralls.

When Maxi had initially refused to accept the very sweet gift because she didn’t want her aunt spending her money on her when there were so many things around the house that needed replacing, her aunt had pressed her hands to her sides, and in a firm voice but with a smile on her face, she’d insisted that Maxi accept it.In that moment, Maxi knew that if she were to refuse it, it would hurt her aunt, and that was the very last thing she wanted to do.

When she tried on the dress, it had fit her perfectly.It was as though it had been made for her.She wondered if this was what it felt like to have a fairy godmother.

As Maxi continued walking, her gaze strayed across a colorful flyer on a light post.It was an advertisement for an upcoming vintage car race.Her aunt had been pestering her to take part in it.Even though it was tempting, she’d turned down her aunt.She couldn’t afford to keep traveling back to Bluestar Island.It wasn’t just the gasoline but also having to shut down the garage.She couldn’t afford to lose the customers she still had.

She continued along the sidewalk, all the while returning friendly smiles and greetings from passersby.If she had to give a one-word description for Bluestar Island, she would struggle because there was just so much to admire about this place.It was beautiful.It was fun.But most of all, it wasfriendly.

She’d only been on the island for a week, and she already felt at home.She’d met many of her aunt’s friends—many she recalled from her prior visits.

Her aunt had offered to have Maxi move in with her.But Maxi gently turned her down.She couldn’t just walk away from her home in Virginia or the garage her father had left her.After all, finding another job would never be easy for her—not when she didn’t even finish high school, and she struggled to read.

But she didn’t want to think about any of that right now.She’d rather think of the handsome man she’d literally run into back at the church.Just the thought of him brought a smile to her face.

Sadly, it had all happened so fast that she didn’t have a chance to catch his name.There had simply been no time.Not that it mattered.She was leaving in the morning to drive back to Virginia—back to her family home—back to the family business.They were the only things she had left of her parents.

Still, her steps slowed.She was so tempted to go to the reception just so she would have a name to put to the handsome face.She had a feeling that memory would come to her when she was back in Virginia, leaning over the motor of a car with a wrench in her hand.

But she didn’t have time to waste.If she wanted to do something special for her aunt, she had to hurry.Even though it was a Saturday, the stores would be closing at six.She picked up her pace.

Once in the store, it didn’t take her long to find what she needed.The only thing she hadn’t counted on was the weight of the box.She didn’t count on having to carry it five very long blocks back to her aunt’s house.Still, she summoned the strength and walked fast—well, as fast as she could in high heels.

Chapter Three

Inandout.

That was all the time he would be there.

Owen stepped into the ballroom of the Brass Anchor Inn.The ceiling was strung with numerous strands of white twinkle lights.They gave the ballroom a warm glow.With flameless candles on all of the tables, it gave the ballroom a cozy ambiance.

Between the thousands of little lights and the green ivy trailing up each white post, the room took on a sense of stepping into a fantasy world where anything was possible—like some of the digital games he’d created over the years.

Because part of his job required him to pay attention to small details, he’d found himself slowing down in real life and taking in his surroundings.Each of the tables was covered with white linens, flameless candles, and tulips.The flowers were in varying shades of pinks and purples with a few white blooms mixed in.He supposed it was nice for a romantic setting.He wouldn’t know, because he wasn’t the romantic type—at least that was what his ex had told him before she’d stormed out the door with her luggage in hand.

As he stood off to the side, he took in the smiles and laughter coming from the other guests.With his thoughts meandering, he didn’t notice his mother, along with Birdie Neill and Agnes Dewey, approaching him until it was too late.He was surrounded.The smiles on their faces made him inwardly groan.What did they all want with him?

He swallowed hard.“Nice wedding, huh?”

His mother arched a brow.“I didn’t think you’d noticed.You look like you’d rather be anywhere but there.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could utter a word, Birdie spoke up.“What he needs is a pretty young lady by his side.”Birdie smiled, and her eyes twinkled as though she had something in mind.“Maybe we should set him up with someone.There are plenty of single young women on the island.”

Immediately, the image of the woman from the church steps came to mind.She was definitely pretty, but he wasn’t sure she was single.

“Hmpf.”Agnes crossed her arms and frowned.“Seems to me that he never dates any locals.Maybe that’s the problem.”

Again, his thoughts returned to the mystery woman.She definitely wasn’t a local.He would never forget such a beautiful face.But this whole conversation was pointless.He wasn’t dating right now—not since his last relationship imploded in the most awful way.

“Well, then I have the perfect lady for him,” Birdie said.

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