Page 55 of Race to the Beach

Yes, she did.She smiled.A very sweet and handsome bachelor.

Chapter Twenty

Herstomachknottedwithnerves.

And yet Maxi kept putting one red strappy heeled sandal in front of the other as she entered the Bluffs restaurant.It hadn’t been so long ago since she’d been there with Owen on a real date.Her heart skipped a beat at the memory.

Aunt Bonnie was supposed to have accompanied her, but she’d come down with one of her headaches.She’d apologized profusely.Maxi totally understood and told her not to worry.She’d check in later.

Maxi looked around at the other ladies in attendance.She glanced down at her outfit and felt a little underdressed.Then again, after spending most of her days in greasy overalls, this was really dressed up for her.

She wore a short white summer dress with large red flowers all over it.It was cute but not over the top.She’d also worn the heart pin.Her fingers moved to her chest just to make sure it was still there.After checking that the pin was secure, she lowered her hand.

The heart pin matched her dress perfectly.It was almost as though it were made to wear with this dress.And it seemed fitting to wear it this evening.After all, Owen had found it for her.And now he’d gone and stole her own heart.

She hadn’t told him she loved him.Not yet.But she was planning to do it before she left the island.She had no idea how they’d make the long-distance relationship work, but Owen seemed to think they’d find a way.

The restaurant was jam packed with people to the point Maxi was certain the crowd must have exceeded the fire code.As she looked around, she saw many of Bluestar’s firefighters in attendance.They must be some of the bachelors up for auction.No wonder they drew such a big crowd.

She wondered if Owen was out and about, socializing.As her gaze scanned the dining room, a bit of disappointment settled over her as she realized he was nowhere to be seen.

With so many people in attendance, it felt like the whole town was there.Though she knew that was impossible, because as big as this restaurant was, it couldn’t come close to holding all of the residents of Bluestar.

The majority of attendees were women.They looked so excited to be there in their fancy dresses while holding a drink in one hand and a canary yellow bid sheet in the other.It was at that particular moment that Maxi realized she had to hurry if she was going to get registered and find a seat before the event began.

She was heading toward one of the registration tables when Lily caught her eye and waved her over.Maxi held up a finger to let her know that she’d stop by in a moment.Then she turned toward the registration tables.

There were four lines including not only young women but some older ladies too.Maxi had never been to a bachelor auction.But the ladies around her were certainly enjoying themselves as they talked and laughed.Maxi highly doubted any of them had been given a wad of cash to bid on their fake boyfriend.

Wait.Was Owen still her fake boyfriend?She recalled those steamy kisses.Those definitely weren’t fake kisses.Not at all.He was most certainly her boyfriend.The thought brought a smile to her lips.

Her life had changed so quickly.Back in Virginia, she kept to herself.She spent her days working at the garage and her evenings curled up at home, watching her favorite television show.Now she had friends to hang out with and a boyfriend to stroll along the beach with, hand in hand.

The beating of her heart sped up as she thought once more about the kisses they'd shared.It had swept her away into a world where there had only been him and her.She'd never been kissed like that before.And she couldn't wait to feel his lips on hers again.

Someone bumped into her, jarring her from her thoughts.She glanced over to find a tall brunette staring back at her.

"Sorry about that," the woman said."I wasn't watching where I was going."

Maxi wasn't sure if she believed the woman or not."No problem."

Maxi was about to turn away, when the woman said, "I’m Regan.”

Regan?The name reverberated in her mind.Surely this wasn’t Owen’s Regan.Of course not.She was long gone.

Maxi forced her mouth to make words.“Hi.I’m Maxi.”

Regan’s eyes widened.“So, you’re Maxi.”She gave her a quick once over as though eyeing up the competition.“Don't tell me that you're here to bid on Owen too."

"Too?"The word slipped past Maxi’s lips before she could stop it.

Regan nodded."It's time Owen and I caught up.I have a lot to say."

Maxi struggled to hold back her hostile words.It seemed this woman had already heard about her.If so, then she probably heard that Owen and her were a couple.And now this woman had the nerve to flaunt in her face that she was going to make moves on Maxi's guy.Her back teeth ground together.

Maxi leveled her shoulders and tilted her chin upward ever so slightly."Owen has moved on.He’s in a new relationship.”

The words struck her.Saying the words out loud gave their romance authenticity.She didn’t know where things would lead, but she wanted to find out.

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