Page 50 of Race to the Beach

Maxi gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.“Don’t blame yourself.You believed in the woman that she portrayed to you.It’s not your fault for loving that illusion.”

“For the longest time, I thought I was gutted because I lost the woman I loved.It wasn’t until recently that I figured out that the pain and anger weren’t aimed at her.It was aimed at myself for being fooled.I swore off relationships after her.”He gave her hand a squeeze.“Well, until now.”

Maxi was still walking with him.She was still holding his hand.That conversation had gone so much better than he’d ever imagined.He felt lighter.It was like a load had just been lifted from his shoulders.

He stopped walking and turned to her.“I care about you.And I mean it.This has nothing to do with our fake relationship.The thing is, I can’t tell if you feel the same way.”

Her heart leaped into her throat.

Maxi never had anyone talk to her this way.And there was a part of her that wanted to throw herself into his arms and kiss him.But there was another part of her that warned her that they were just getting caught up in the moment—that they were never going to work out.

“Maxi, what are you thinking?”Owen’s voice drew her from her thoughts.“If I’m moving too fast…”

“Owen, stop.Please.I… I’m not who you think I am.”

His eyes widened in horror.“Are you married?Do you have a child?”

“What?”And then she realized he was thinking about his ex.“No.I’m not married, and I don’t have any kids.”

He expelled a visible sigh.“That’s good.”Then his gaze searched hers.“What do you mean that you’re not who I think you are?I think you’re gorgeous.Wildly talented.And gifted with a wrench and screwdriver.”

His kind words made her heart flutter.She stifled it.She couldn’t let herself get distracted.“You’ve been honest with me, and I’m going to be honest with you.”

“You’re starting to worry me.”He took both of her hands in his.“Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.”

He made it all sound so easy, but it wasn’t.Her life was the way it was for a reason.She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and then she released it.She closed her eyes so she didn’t witness the disappointment in his eyes.“I didn’t graduate high school.”

When he didn’t say anything, she opened her eyes.There wasn’t disappointment in his eyes.In fact, she couldn’t detect any sort of emotion.

She rushed on.“I have dyslexia.That’s a problem with reading.”

He nodded.“I know what it is.”

“Well, my mother used to help me with it.School was challenging, but I was getting through it.Then my mother died, and I struggled.Her loss devastated me.For a while life was a struggle.My father saw that I was having problems in school, and so, he took me out.I became his assistant at the garage.”

“That’s why you know everything about cars.”

“Is that all you have to say?”

Owen blinked.“What am I supposed to say?”

“Don’t you understand.You love to read.I don’t.It always feels like a struggle to me.I didn’t finish school.I’ve been working on my GED, but I don’t even have it either.I’m going to guess you have at least one college degree.”When he didn’t argue, she continued.“Don’t you see?We don’t belong together.”

Tears pricked the backs of her eyes.She’d never had this conversation with anyone—no one had ever meant enough to her to lay it all on the line.And now her heart felt as though it was going to break.

Owen drew her close and hugged her.Her cheek came to rest on his shoulder.She felt so safe there—like it was exactly where she belonged.

“Thank you for trusting me with all of that.”His voice was low and comforting.“If you want to continue your education, that’s great.I would totally support you.But if you don’t want to go down that road, I’d still support you in whatever choices you make.”

“You really mean that?You’re not just saying it to make me feel better?”She held her breath while she waited for his answer.

“I meant every word I said.And none of what you told me would ever come between us if we don’t let it.I really care about you.”

“I care about you too.”

He proved his words by kissing her again.She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d found her very own Prince Charming.He certainly fit the part: handsome, charming and kind.

By the time she made it back to her aunt’s house, her mind had replayed their conversation over and over again.Her aunt was sitting in the living room with a book in her hands.

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