Page 62 of Race to the Beach

He bit back his words because it didn't appear to matter what he said to her.She didn't listen.But somehow over dinner, he had to make her understand that there was only one woman for him—and that woman was Maxi.

It was the first time he'd admitted it to himself.But now that he had, he didn't want to take it back.He was falling for Maxi hard and fast.

But could he get her to trust him again?He didn't know, but he would deal with that after he went on this oh-so-brief date.It definitely wouldn't be short enough for him.He wanted to go see Maxi and repair what he'd broken.Was that even possible?

She'd made the biggest mistake of her life.

Maxi had taken a walk on the beach and even that was a mistake because it only made her remember her time there with Owen.It made her broken heart hurt more.

Even though she'd only seen Owen moments ago, she missed him intensely.There was now this immense divide between them.She was amazed at how quickly she'd come to rely on their friendship.Right now, she needed her best friend to vent to about the guy who just broke her heart, but she could no longer open up to him.

She couldn't help but wonder what else he was keeping from her.The part that hurt the most was having to learn about his almost-engagement from his ex.And now he was out on a date with the woman that he'd at one point wanted to marry.How much would it take for him to fall for her again?

Maxi turned away from the beach.Her stomach growled with hunger, but she didn't really have an appetite.Instead of taking time to eat, she headed in the direction of the parking lot at the school.

Owen’s brothers had called to ask if they could move the car to its respective white tent, and due to the time constraint, she had agreed.Her heart wasn't into the race any longer.Still, if she won, it would help her aunt, and for that reason, she would stick around and give the race her best shot.

When she entered the tent, she was amazed that they’d made it to this point.She walked to the front of the car and stared at the corner that had gone into the wall.The repair wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but it was passable.And they weren’t able to match the paint color.So, it was a slightly darker shade of red than the rest of the car.She could repaint the whole car when she got back to Virginia.

As much as she tried to distract herself with thoughts of the car, her thoughts immediately circled back around to Owen.She didn't know if she'd ever look at this car without thinking of Owen.

She turned away from the car and began walking again.She had so much pent-up energy she still wasn’t ready to go back to her aunt's place.She knew, eventually, she'd have to face her aunt and answer her questions.

Maxi needed the walk to collect herself.Even though her heart ached, she felt as though she should put on a strong front with her aunt.She didn't want her aunt to worry about her.She would be fine.Someday.

Maxi didn’t know how long she’d walked when she found herself back on Main Street.When she turned a corner, she couldn't believe her eyes.There was Owen with Regan in his arms.

Maxi came to a halt.She continued to stare, not believing what she saw.She blinked, but they were still there wrapped in each other’s arms and now his lips were pressed to Regan’s.A painful gasp tore from Maxi’s mouth and tears stung the backs of her eyes.

Unable to stomach the scene, Maxi turned away.How could he do this to her?And right here in the middle of town for anyone to see.Her chest tightened as though in an effort to keep her heart from crumbling into a million pieces.

Gathering herself, Maxi turned and retraced her steps.Anger surged through her veins.They had gotten back together much faster than even she had imagined.Tears burned the back of her eyes.They blurred her vision.She blinked, but they splashed onto her cheeks.She swiped them away.

She never ever wanted to see Owen again.It was over.They were over.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Thewalktodinnerhad been awful.

The few bites he’d taken had been tasteless.

And the conversation had been stilted.

Owen couldn’t wait until this evening was over.When Regan had at last finished her meal, he'd paid for it and made tracks to the door.At last, he'd gotten through to her that they were never going to be anything to each other.Not friends.And certainly nothing romantic.That ship had sailed when she'd lied to him about being married and having a child.He felt as though he'd never truly known her at all.The woman he’d loved had been nothing more than fiction.

When he'd told her that he had real feelings for Maxi, he hadn't been lying.He didn't mention that he might have blown his chance with Maxi by failing to mention the depth of his prior relationship with Regan.Although none of it was any of Regan’s business.

When they stepped outside the restaurant, he intended to go in the opposite direction of Regan.He could only hope that she was leaving the island as soon as possible.

What he hadn’t anticipated was Regan throwing herself at him.One moment she was standing in front of him and the next, she was pressed against him, and her lips were on his.For a second, he didn’t move.He blamed it on shock.

In the next second, he had his hands on her waist as he peeled her off him.He wiped his mouth off.“What are you doing?”

“Reminding you of the good times.”

“Well, you failed.Those times are dead to me.Don’t ever do that again.”He turned and strode away.

All he wanted to do was put as much distance between himself and Regan as he could.He had just turned a corner when he practically ran into his brother Grant."Where are you going in such a hurry?"

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