Page 54 of Race to the Beach

“It’s the car.”Birdie frowned as she stared at it.“I thought it would be further along than this.”

“We’ve been working on it…” Maxi began.

“I’m sure you have been.”Birdie frowned.“Would some more hands move things along?”

Maxi looked at the car and wondered who Birdie had in mind to help them.She hoped they knew something about mechanics.Still, they had everything they needed; they just needed to get it all put together.“Yes.”

Birdie smiled.“Good.I’ll be right back.”

As Birdie stepped away, thoughts of the auction came to her.She checked the time.The bachelor auction wasn’t that far off.No matter what, she was going to keep her word to Owen, even if it meant she didn’t get the car completed in time for the race.

The next thing she knew, two of the Turner brothers showed up and said Birdie let them know they needed help.Kent and Liam rolled up their sleeves and got to work.Next Josie and her husband, Lane, arrived ready to get to work.Others trickled in including Sara, Aster, Sam, and Lily.Everyone who showed up wanted to help.And no one was turned away.

A few minutes before five o’clock, they finished piecing the car back together.It had definitely looked better, but considering just days ago it was wrecked, it looked really good.

And then the big moment came.Owen handed Maxi the key.It was time to see if it would start.A ball of nerves settled in her stomach.

“No.”She held the key out to Owen.“You do it.”

He shook his head.“Stop worrying.It’s going to fire right up.”

“But what if it doesn’t?”

“Then we’ll keep working on it,” Kent said.

“Yeah!”cheered the rest of the crew.

All of their encouragement helped her get past her nerves.She sat down in the car for the first time since the accident.She had a brief flashback to that moment when her fear of hitting the goat had shifted to her fear of hitting the wall.At the time, she hadn’t even been sure that she would be around to fix it.

She pushed away the unwanted memories.When she held out the key to put it in the ignition, she noticed the slight tremble in her hand.Would it start?

“Go ahead.”Owen’s voice was gentle as he crouched down beside her.

She pushed the key into the ignition, said a little prayer, and then turned it.The car spit and sputtered but died.Oh no.

She tried again.It did the same thing.But this time instead of acting like the nervous driver, she took on her mechanic persona and listened with a professional ear.

She got out and adjusted a couple of things including the carburetor.Then she got back in the driver’s seat.Without hesitation, she turned the key.

The engine turned over.It was a bit rough, but she knew with a few more adjustments it would purr like a kitten.

She got out and immediately hugged Owen.“If it wasn’t for you, none of this would have happened.Thank you.”

When he pulled back, he looked into her eyes.“You know that I really want to kiss you, don’t you?”

Heat rushed up her neck and set her cheeks ablaze.“You do, huh?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“You two need to get ready for the auction,” Lily said.“Get going.”

Maxi’s gaze moved to the car.“But I need to…”

“We’ve got this,” Lane said.

She wanted to ask if any of them were professional mechanics, but she didn’t get the chance as Owen took her arm and led her away from the garage.

“Come on,” he said.“You have a bachelor to win.”

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