14. Chapter Fourteen #2
His brows drew together. “Used to what? Having dinner made for me? Or the matchmaking?”
“The matchmaking.”
He shrugged. “This is the first candlelit dinner I’ve been tricked into, but there are no complaints from me.”
His words touched her. “I should tell my aunt the truth about us. I was going to this evening, but I didn’t get a chance.”
His gaze searched hers. “You want to call off our deal already? I thought we were off to a good start.”
She shook her head. “It’s not that. I’m just not comfortable with letting my aunt think that we’re something we’re not.”
He was quiet for a moment. “Maybe you’re right. Do you think she’d keep this information to herself?”
Maxi nodded. “I think she would if she knew it was important to me.”
“Then do what you feel is right.”
She couldn’t believe he hadn’t given her a hard time about her decision. She smiled at him. There was so much more to this man than she’d originally thought.
She felt her body relaxing. Maybe this dinner wouldn’t be so bad after all. “Have you always lived on the island?”
Owen took a bite of green beans, chewed, and swallowed. “Yes. My family has been on the island for generations.”
“How many siblings do you have?”
“I have four brothers and one sister. I’m the youngest.”
“Wow. A big family. That must have been fun growing up with so many siblings.”
He shrugged. “It had its good points and not-so-good points. The good was that you were never lonely. The bad was you were never alone.”
“Are you all still close now that you’re grown up?”
He nodded. “We are. I couldn’t have asked for any better siblings. If I need anything, they are there for me. And if they need anything, I drop whatever I’m doing to help them out.”
“And they all live on the island too?”
“They used to, but Jack moved to Manhattan for work and love. Everyone else is here on the island. My sister, Josie, and her husband, Lane, own the Brass Anchor Inn. My brother Kent took over the family business, Turner Home Furnishings. Liam is a carpenter. And I think you met my oldest brother, Grant. He’s a doctor and in charge of the new hospital on the island. ”
She paused to search her memory. “Oh, yeah. I did meet him. He was very nice.”
“He’s a good guy and very smart.” Owen looked directly at her. “And what about you? Do you have any siblings?”
She shook her head. “There’s just me. My mother died when I was sixteen. And my father passed last year.”
“I’m sorry. That must have been rough.” When she nodded but didn’t speak, he asked, “Do you have any other family in Virginia?”
“No. Just my aunt here in Bluestar.”
They continued to talk as they finished their dinner. Maxi noticed her aunt even went to the effort of making them an apple crisp for dessert. She wondered how she’d baked it since the oven was broken.
It made Maxi all the more determined to do everything she could to win the race. Speaking of which, she had work to do that night to find some parts for the car.
After they finished dessert, Owen asked, “Would you like to go for a walk on the beach? We could finish our conversation.”
She was truly tempted to spend more time with him. During dinner, she’d seen him in a new way, and he intrigued her. As much as she’d learned about him, she knew there was so much more to uncover.
And yet, she couldn’t let herself forget the reason she’d come to Bluestar. “I should get these dishes cleaned up.” She got to her feet. “I have some internet searches to do tonight before I go to sleep.”
“I understand. Maybe we can go another time.” He stood and reached for the serving dishes.
“I’d like that.” The words crossed her lips before she could stop them. And then realizing that he was helping her clear the table, she said, “You don’t have to do that.”
“I insist. There’s no way I’m leaving you here to clean up all of this on your own.” He sent her a warm smile before heading to the kitchen with his arms loaded with dishes.
After the leftovers were put into the fridge, Owen washed, and she dried.
While they worked, they talked about the celebration for the opening of the new hospital.
And before she knew it, the dishes were washed and put away.
The dining room table was wiped off, and the silk flowers were placed back in the center of the table.
It was as though the intimate dinner had never happened, but that wasn’t quite true, because the memory of it would stick with her long after she was back in Virginia.
She walked Owen to the door. “Thank you for helping with the dishes.”
“No problem. Thank your aunt for dinner.”
She flipped on the porch light and opened the door. “I will.”
He stepped out onto the porch. By now the sun had set, and it was dark out. “Tell her it was delicious.”
And then he leaned toward her. Maxi’s heart leaped into her throat. Was he going to kiss her?
Her eyes fluttered shut as her heart pounded. Time seemed to stand still. And then his lips lightly brushed her cheek. It was so brief, perhaps too brief.
Her eyes fluttered open. She saw his back as he made his way down the steps to the sidewalk. She stood there, watching him walk away. When he reached the road, he glanced back and waved.
It wasn’t until she had the door shut that she pressed her fingers to her cheek where he’d kissed her. No man had ever kissed her cheek before. It was so sweet, like something out of an old romcom. A dreamy sigh crossed her lips.
She forced herself up the stairs. She didn’t have to wonder if her aunt was still awake, because Aunt Bonnie’s bedroom door was cracked open, and the lights were still on.
Maxi moved to the door, rapped her knuckles on it, and waited.
“Come in.”
Maxi pushed the door open and found her aunt curled up in a comfy armchair in the corner of the room. With a book in her hand, she looked up with a smile on her face. “Is your date over?”
It was time for a confession. Maxi sat down on the edge of the bed. “First, I want to tell you that the food was amazing. Owen sends his compliments. I can’t believe you did all of that. Thank you.”
Her aunt smiled and waved off her compliments. “It was no big deal.”
Maxi knew that wasn’t the truth, but she wasn’t going to argue the point. She just needed her aunt to know how much they appreciated her efforts.
“I just have to know how you baked the apple crisp. Did you get the oven repaired?”
Aunt Bonnie nodded. “The part came in and Joe at the store offered to install it.”
“Aw… That was so kind of him and you to go to all of that trouble to make a delicious meal.”
“I just wanted to do something special for you and Owen.”
Guilt weighed heavy on Maxi’s shoulders.
“I need to let you know that Owen and I, uh…we’re not a couple.
” When Aunt Bonnie’s eyes widened in surprise, Maxi said, “It’s a long story, but it amounts to this: if I pretend to be his girlfriend to keep women from flirting with him before the bachelor auction and to keep the winner from getting any ideas of starting something serious because he’s already “taken”.
Maxi used air quotes. “Anyway, in exchange he’ll help me repair my car. ”
Aunt Bonnie was quiet for a moment.
Maxi laced her fingers together to keep from fidgeting. “Is there any way you could keep from mentioning this to anyone? It’s really important to Owen that people think we’re a real couple. And honestly, I can’t blame him. You wouldn’t believe how many women were hitting on him.”
“And all of this is all right with you?” Aunt Bonnie’s gaze probed her for the truth.
Was she all right with it? Maxi thought about them working together on the car. They’d bounced ideas off each other and helped the other when needed. And then at dinner, she’d witnessed another side to him. He was a really good guy.
“Yes. I’m good with it. I like Owen. He’s really nice.” When Aunt Bonnie smiled at her, Maxi rushed to say, “I don’t like him like that.”
“You never know what will happen.” There was a twinkle in Aunt Bonnie’s eyes.
Maxi shook her head. “Don’t get any ideas. I’m leaving after the race. I don’t have any room in my life for a relationship.”
They talked for a bit longer about the car and the damage that had to be repaired before she even had a chance of running it in the race. She told her aunt about the money the townspeople had so generously given her. “I would like to find a way to thank them. Do you have any ideas?”
“I’m sure they don’t expect anything in return. It’s the Bluestar way. When someone needs help, they step up.”
Maxi nodded. “I understand. But I would still like to show them how much I appreciate their help because without it, I wouldn’t have a chance of repairing the car in time for the race.”
Aunt Bonnie paused as though giving her request some serious consideration. “There is the carnival at the park. They were looking for some help running the information booth.”
A little confused, Maxi asked, “Information about the carnival? How big is this carnival?”
Aunt Bonnie let out a laugh. “The information isn’t about the carnival. It’s information about the island and the various businesses and sights to see.”
“Isn’t there already a tourist center on the island?”
Aunt Bonnie nodded. “There is, but they are hoping to reach more people.”
“I don’t know if I’m the right person for the job. I mean, I’m not a local. And I don’t know that much about Bluestar.”
“But you know enough.”
Maxi paused to think about it. “If you really think so.”
“I do. I’ll let Birdie know.”
“But I need time to work on the car.”
Aunt Bonnie nodded in understanding. “You can’t work mornings or afternoons. What about evenings?”
Maxi nodded. “I can do that.”
“They will be happy to have you.”
Maxi walked away, happy that she could show the people of Bluestar Island how much she appreciated their generosity. The smile slipped from her face. She needed to know more about the island.
And then a thought came to her. She rushed to her room and closed the door.
On the dresser, she found the book about the history of Bluestar Island that Owen had given her.
She carried it to the bed and turned the light on its brightest setting.
And then she rested the pillow against the headboard and settled in to read.
It was slow and painstaking, but she didn’t quit.