Page 24 of Race to the Beach

She frowned."Fine isn't good enough.I'll be right back."

She grabbed her sling, which was lying over the arm of the couch.Then she rushed to the kitchen.After Maxi told her aunt the plan, her aunt didn't even bother to hide her delight.Maxi insisted that this was nothing but two competitors grabbing a bit to eat.She didn't think her aunt heard anything after she said they were going out to eat.

As Maxi rushed upstairs to change clothes, she couldn't help but think that her aunt would have their wedding planned by the time she got home.Oh my!

This wasn’t a date.

And yet that’s exactly what it was starting to feel like.

Owen had a hard time not staring at Maxine.She'd switched from baggie shorts and a T-shirt to fitted jeans and a pink cotton top that flattered her.Instead of her hair being pulled back in a ponytail, she wore it down past her shoulders.His fingers tingled with the desire to reach out and run them through those silky strands.

He gave himself a mental shake.What was he thinking?Maybe it was best he didn't think—at least not in that moment with Maxine seated in his cart.Her presence had a way of short-circuiting his thoughts.

Instead, he focused his attention on the roadway.Bluestar was at the height of its tourist season, and then there was the added congestion from spectators that had arrived early for the grand prix.The race was turning out to be a big boon for the island.

He noticed how quiet Maxine was on the way to the Lighthouse Cafe.He worried that she'd changed her mind about having dinner with him.

He glanced at her before focusing back on the roadway."If you changed your mind about grabbing something to eat, I can take you back to your aunt's."

"Uh.No.I'm fine.And if I go back now, Aunt Bonnie will be all upset."

"Why?"It took him a second to figure out what she was referring to.“Oh.You mean because she thinks we’re on a date?”

“Don’t worry.I made it abundantly clear that this was in no way a date.She heard me, but she still had this glint of hope in her eyes."

He smiled at the way Maxine got all flustered."Well, we wouldn't want to take you back early and disappoint her."

He was surprised by the number of carts lining both sides of the street.A glance at the cafe let him know they were crowded.They'd be lucky to get a table.But they were there now, and he didn't want their evening to end so abruptly.

He could just imagine if he took her back to her aunt’s without even buying her dinner.The gossip around town would be that he was a jerk.His reputation would be run through the wringer.He didn’t want that.

He drove past the cafe and headed farther down the road before he came across the first available parking spot.It was a warm evening, and they'd taken no more than a few steps when he heard someone call out his name.He glanced up in time to see Becky Pardi headed toward them.

When she drew close, she said, "Hey, I heard about next weekend."Her smile broadened as she reached out to run a hand down his bicep."I'll make sure to bid on you."

He didn’t smile.In fact, he didn’t say anything.He just kept walking.

When he chanced a glance in Maxine’s direction, he noticed she gave him a quizzical glance.He knew he should explain what Becky was referring to, but he really didn't want to get into the subject of the bachelor auction.Just the mere thought of it put him in a sour mood.It was a subject best left alone.

Needing to break the silence, he asked, "How long are you on the island?"

"Just until the race on Saturday.Well, that was my plan before the accident.Now, I don't know.If I start working on the car and find the repairs are too extensive, I might as well pack up and leave early."

"You'd just give up?"He glanced over at her in time to see her shrug as a frown pulled at her rosy lips.He wondered what she was thinking.

"I’m a good mechanic, but I’m not a miracle worker.In that case, my time would be better spent heading to Virginia..."

"Virginia, huh?I was wondering where you were from."The more he learned about her, the more he wanted to know about her."And what is waiting for you in Virginia?"

She shook her head."Nothing interesting."

"Do you have family there?"

"Not anymore.My father passed last year."

"I'm sorry to hear that."He felt there were a lot of layers to her and that if he was gentle, he might be able to peel back a few more of those layers to get to know the real Maxine—the part of her that she hid from the world."So, there's just you and your aunt?"

Maxi nodded."She's been a constant in my life since my mother died when I was a teenager."

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