26. Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Six
S he’d won.
She’d really done it.
Maxi stood on the stage with a smile pasted on her face as she shook the mayor’s hand. In her other hand, she held a gold trophy and the prize money. This was a very big moment. She should have been over the moon. She wasn’t.
She’d accomplished what she’d come to the island to do. It wasn’t without its challenges. And that was putting it mildly.
She’d spent enough time in Bluestar. It was time to give her aunt the money and head on home. She needed to put Owen in her rearview mirror. She had to focus on the future—her work at the garage.
As she exited the stage and descended the steps, she saw Owen waiting for her. She had been hoping to avoid him. There was nothing left to say. It was over as soon as she saw him locking lips with Regan.
When her foot touched the ground, she turned to him. There was something that she needed to say to him. She swallowed hard and hoped when she spoke that it wouldn’t betray the emotional turmoil within her. “Thank you for all of your help. Without it, I wouldn’t have won.”
His eyes widened with surprise. “You’re welcome. And congratulations.”
“I should be going.” She hadn’t taken more than a few steps before she felt a hand on her upper arm. She considered jerking her arm away in order to keep walking, but she wasn’t going to run from this.
She turned to him. “We had fun, but it’s over. Please don’t make this more difficult than it has to be.”
“I have something I need to tell you.” He stared deep into her eyes. “I love you.”
The breath caught in her lungs. She couldn’t have heard him correctly. No. It was impossible. She recalled the kiss she’d witnessed the night before. Her mind said not to trust him. Her heart said she loved him too.
Someone bumped into her. There were so many people around them. It was too crowded to have a proper conversation.
“Did you hear me?” he asked. “Maxi, I love you.”
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.
She lifted up on her tiptoes. “I love you.”
Before he could utter a response, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. His embrace tightened, and she leaned against his muscled chest. His lips moved over hers while her heart beat in triple time.
If this was love, she didn’t ever want to be without it—without Owen. She knew they still had a lot to learn about each other, but she had this very distinct feeling she had found her happily ever after. Maybe her mother had been sending her a sign with the heart pin.
When they parted, Owen took her hand in his. His thumb rubbed against the back of her hand. “Would you like to go for a ride on the Ferris wheel?”
“I would love to.” She leaned into him. “But first, more of this.”
He definitely didn’t argue as he readily kissed her back. With the colorful lights and sounds of the carnival in the background, they held onto each other, as though they’d found their anchor. It was just the beginning of what she hoped would be a lifetime of kisses and Ferris wheel rides together.
She wasn’t sure on the details of how they’d make their lives come together, but she knew if they both tried, they would find a compromise.
When they pulled apart, she looked at him. “I have something to do.”
“Would you like some company?”
She shook her head. “I think this is something I should do on my own.”
“Okay. Just call me when you’re free. You still owe me a ride on the Ferris wheel.”
She smiled. “Aren’t you even going to ask me where I’m going?”
“I think I know.”
She arched a brow. “You do, huh? Do you think you know me that well?”
A broad smile lifted his kissable lips. “I think I have a lot to learn, and I’m looking forward to it. But you’ve been talking about giving your aunt the prize money since we joined forces.”
Realizing that she needed to get used to sharing her life, she said, “Hey. On second thought, would you like to go with me to see my aunt?”
He hesitated. “Are you sure you want me to?”
“Without you, none of this would have been possible. I can’t thank you enough.” She reached out and took his hand in hers.
Together, they walked to her aunt’s house. On the way they didn’t have much time to talk, as Maxi was besieged with Bluestar residents congratulating her on the win. She was so touched.
There was something very special about this island. Even though she hadn’t been there very long, she already felt at home. She enjoyed the sun on her face and the sea breeze brushing over her skin. It had been pushing her toward a big decision—a decision that she’d been pondering for a while now.
When they reached her aunt’s house, they found her on the front porch, sitting in one of the white rockers. As soon as Aunt Bonnie spotted them, a big smile came over her face.
“I’m sorry I didn’t stick around,” Aunt Bonnie said. “The sun just gave me such a headache.”
“It’s all right,” Maxi said. “How are you feeling now?”
“Better. What are you two doing here?” Aunt Bonnie stopped rocking. “Shouldn’t you be off celebrating?”
“Well.” Maxi sat down on the porch swing. “I couldn’t do that until we talked.”
Owen quietly took a seat next to her.
Aunt Bonnie’s gaze shifted back and forth between her and Owen. “Are you here to tell me that this thing”—her finger moved between Maxi and Owen—“is legitimate now?”
Immediately, a smile pulled at the corners of Maxi’s lips. She glanced over at Owen. “Should we tell her?”
He smiled and shrugged. “It’s up to you.”
Maxi reached for his hand before turning back to her aunt. “Yes, we’re together.”
Aunt Bonnie beamed with a bright smile as she clapped her hands. “Oh. Yes. I knew it. You won the race and the guy. You’re having a fantastic day.”
“More like a fantastic month.” Maxi glanced over at Owen. “Then again, it’s more like a fantastic year.”
“How about a fantastic future?” Owen stared deep into her eyes, making her heart beat faster.
Maxi nodded. She was so excited about their future—together.
But first she had to do something. She turned back to her aunt.
“I want to give you something.” She reached into her pocket and withdrew a white envelope.
She held it out to her aunt. “This is for you.” When her aunt was hesitant to take it from her, Maxi said, “Go ahead. Take it.”
Aunt Bonnie took the envelope and opened it. As soon as she looked at its contents, she started shaking her head. “But this is yours.”