Page 46 of Race to the Beach

He glanced around until he spotted someone off in the distance.He pointed to them.“Yes, there is.”

She frowned at him.“I don’t think they were even paying attention.”

She was right, so he had to come up with a backup explanation.“Okay.I thought we should have our first kiss in private.”

“First?”

He nodded.“We have to make this relationship believable.Right?”

She looked at him in disbelief.“I think it’s time to get back to work.”

Without waiting for him, she turned on her heels and headed back along the shoreline.He raked his fingers through his hair.He couldn’t let that happen again—even though he wanted to repeat that kiss, she obviously didn’t feel the same way.

He rushed to catch up to her.It was only then he realized he was still holding the piece of sea glass.He held it out to her.“Here.”

She glanced down at his hand and quietly took the sea glass.He thought of asking what she was thinking about, but then again, maybe it was best he didn’t know.He felt as though the kiss had shifted the ground beneath his feet and now he didn’t know where he stood.

Chapter Seventeen

He’dkissedher.

Maxi couldn’t believe he’d kissed her.Just the memory made her heart flutter and her lips tingle.She resisted the urge to run her fingers over her lips.

It had been so romantic.A walk along the beach, picking up sea glass and then their gazes had locked.Her breath had caught in her throat when his head had lowered, and he’d pressed his lips to hers.Even the memory caused her heart to pitter-patter.

She hadn’t been expecting the kiss.He’d totally caught her off-guard.And when it was over, she’d panicked.It felt as though it had changed everything between them.

She knew he’d mentioned the kiss was just for show, but she wasn’t sure she believed him.She’d been kissed before, and she’d like to believe she knew a real kiss from a pretend one.That kiss was genuine and made her heart pitter-patter.

Now she didn’t know what to do about it.If she was honest with herself, it was the best kiss she’d ever experienced.It made her feel as though she were floating on a cloud.She hadn’t wanted to be anywhere but in his very capable arms.And that was the part that scared her.

She didn’t want to like him, because once he found out the truth about her—that she had problems reading and that she hadn’t finished high school—he would look down on her like her ex-boyfriend had done.She remembered how her ex had told her that she wasn’t worth his time.If Owen said something like that, it would be devastating.

As they retraced their steps along the water’s edge, neither of them spoke.She kept trying to think of something to say, but she didn’t know if she should pretend the kiss never happened or address the great big elephant sitting on the beach between them.

In silence, they reached the top of the steps leading up to the road in front of Beachcomber Park.A couple of young women were walking toward them.When they noticed Owen, they both smiled.In that moment, Maxi felt Owen take her hand in his.His fingers laced with hers.Just the simple touch caused her heart to once more pitter-patter.

“Hey, Owen,” the blonde said—and did she just bat her lashes at him?

“Hey.”They kept walking with their fingers laced together.

Maxi told herself it was no big deal.The hand-holding was part of their agreement.So, why was her heart racing?

When they’d made their way back to the Purple Guppy, she needed a chance to slow her pulse and get her head back into preparing for the race.She stopped and turned to Owen.“I need to make a stop on the way back to the garage.”

“No problem.Just tell me where, and I’ll drive.”

She shook her head.“Thanks, but this is something I want to do on my own.”

“Oh.Okay.”He got into his cart.“I’ll see you later.”

She nodded, and then he drove off.At last, she could take a full breath.She turned in the opposite direction and headed toward the Lily Pad.

It didn’t take her long to get there.Then again, it didn’t take long to reach any place in Bluestar.Soon she found herself glancing up at a big wooden sign, which had a lily pad and a dragonfly painted on it with the words:The Lily Padscrolled out in black paint.A smile pulled at the corners of her lips.She definitely liked the sign.

She stepped up to the bright red door.She pulled it open and stepped inside to find a number of people exploring the shop.There was no sign of Lily.She was probably busy with a customer.

The aisle ways were narrow, as there were so many shelves with craft supplies.Off to the side, there were shelves holding completed works of art.She found the shop fascinating.

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