Page 70 of Race to the Beach

She had heard him correctly.She took his hand and pulled him toward the beach.“We can’t talk here.”

He didn’t say a word.Instead, he tightened his fingers around hers.She noticed how their hands fit together like they were made for each other.She halted her thoughts.She wasn’t going to be his “other” woman.

They crossed the road and took the steps down to the beach.When they reached the beach, she released his hand.She couldn’t say what she needed to when they were touching.

She crossed her arms and frowned at him.“Why do you keep pushing this…about me and you?”

“I thought I already explained this.I love you.”

“Stop saying that.”It kept messing with her heart.Besides, she didn’t know what she was supposed to do with his pledge of love.It wasn’t real.It was time to call his bluff.“I saw you.”

His brows scrunched together.“Saw me what?”

He was really going to make her say it.She drew in a deep breath.It was painful enough to think about without having to put words to it.But she wasn’t going to let this go on any longer.She released the breath.

She narrowed her gaze on him.“I saw you with her last night.”

“You mean Regan?”When Maxi nodded, he said, “Of course you did.She won that stupid auction.Who spends that much for a date?Especially with a person who doesn’t want to be with you.”

Maxi shook her head.“Stop.I know you’re lying.You want to be with her.”

As the water lapped against the shoreline, confusion shone in his eyes.“Maxi, I don’t know what you think you know, but the only woman I want to be with is you.”

She inwardly groaned.Why was he making this so hard?“Then why were you kissing her?”

His eyes widened.“You… You saw that?”

She nodded.There was a lump in her throat that blocked the words from coming out.

“It isn’t what you think.”He took a step closer.“Maxi, you have to believe me.I didn’t kiss her.”

“And yet your lips were pressed to hers.”She stared down at the sand around her feet as she tried to keep her emotions in check.

“She kissed me.She came back to the island to tell me that she’s divorced now, and she wanted to pick up where we left off.I already told her before dinner and during dinner that I had moved on, and I am with you now.She must have thought a kiss would change my mind.If you had hung around long enough, you would have seen me push her away.”

“You did?”Maxi hadn’t meant to utter her thought.

“Yes, I did.”Owen reached out to her.His fingers lifted her chin so their gazes met.“There’s only one woman I want to kiss.The woman that I love.The only woman that I love.”

Her heart pounded in her chest.It recognized the truth of his words.But she was still hesitant.

“But this won’t work,” she said.“You live here, and I live in Virginia.”

“Logistics can be worked out.”His gaze searched his eyes.“The real question is, do you want to make it work?”

She swallowed hard as her heart fluttered in her chest.“I… I do.”

“Whoa there.I think you’re jumping too far ahead.”He sent her a teasing grin.

She gasped as heat rushed to her cheeks.“I, uh… That wasn’t what I meant.”

“Maxi, relax.”His hands reached out to her waist.He pulled her closer.She willingly followed his lead.“I want to see where this thing with us will go.Do you have the internet?”When she nodded, he said, “That’s all I need to do my job.”

She couldn’t believe what he was saying to her.“You would move to Virginia?”

He shrugged.“Sure.Why not?”

She couldn’t believe he was saying all of the right words.This felt right.They felt right.But he wasn’t the only one considering moving.

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