Part 4 (1/2)

I give him a small smile as I watch him grab my bottle of suntan lotion from my beach bag and pour some into the palm of his hand. ”You're lookin' a little red, and the last thing I need is for you to get sunburned and have to cancel our hot date.”

The idea of him running his hands over my body makes my heart stop and jump start again. Last night, just that kiss he gave me had my resolve crumbling. I am trying to be smart and take things slow, but he makes it almost impossible to do so when he's constantly tempting me to throw caution to the wind and do everything my body is screaming at me to do.

It's so hard to decide who to listen to when your head and your body are both screaming at you to do two different things.

Chase programmed his number into my phone today at the beach, and then called it so mine could be saved into his, so around five o' clock, I wasn't too surprised to receive a text from him. He wrote me, saying to wear shorts, a tank top, and bring a hoodie. That was his only request for our date, and even after asking him a million times, he refused to tell me where he was taking me.

He was so sweet, and looked as handsome as ever when he knocked on the beach house door at six sharp. He was wearing cargo shorts, and a tight-fitting blue s.h.i.+rt that made his ocean blue eyes s.h.i.+ne even brighter.

We took his Silverado, but he promised tomorrow he'd take me for a ride on his motorcycle. I continued to try and guess what we were doing for our date, but he refused to give me even the smallest clue. His lips were sealed, and when we got about three minutes away from our destination, he made me cover my eyes until he was parked.

So here we sit, and finally, he tells me I can look, and I literally laugh out loud as I take in the sign that says NASCAR Speedpark. Of course he brought me to a go-kart track. He is too cute. He has the biggest grin on his face, and it's contagious. Seeing him so excited for our date has me bursting with excitement of my own.

I tell him professional or not, I'm so going to beat his a.s.s. I love go-kart racing. It's one of my favorite things to do besides miniature golf when my friends and I go out.

After waiting in line, in which Chase signs a few autographs for some kids, seeming to make their year by chatting with them and signing their pamphlet for the go kart track, we finally get to pick our cars at the Slidewayz Track. This place has a variety of tracks to choose from. I'm excited to race on this one, and hopefully a few others. There's even one where you get to race in mini versions of a NASCAR car!

I pick the go-kart just behind Chase and buckle myself in, quickly getting myself all situated. I'm ready to see Chase in his element and having fun. I feel like I'm seeing a part of him not many get to see, and it makes this date that much more amazing.

”Hey! You ready to eat my dust?” I shout at him.

He spins around and gives me his best game face. It's adorable how seriously he is about go-karts. ”You sure can talk the talk, Myers, but can you walk the walk?”

I shake my head at him using my last name. He is so in the moment right now it's highly amusing. I just pray I can beat his a.s.s fair and square, because if I do, I am going to victory dance all over the track.

Rolling my eyes, I push my eyebrows together and purse my lips up at him. ”You can just wait and find out. Whatever you do, don't say I didn't warn you.”

The guy running the go-karts comes over the loud speaker, telling us they're powering our cars up, and instantly, they rev to life. They're so loud I can't hear anything but the roaring vehicles around me.

Finally, we get the green light, and I press my peddle to the floor and shoot off towards Chase. I launch forward with so much force my body gets pressed against the seat. I can't contain my laughter as people behind and beside me b.u.mp into my car, but I continue to maneuver around the track, keeping them from getting around me.

I shout towards Chase, doubting he can hear me, ”I'm gonna catch you, Kenzington!” I love how his last name sounds on my lips. Almost as amazing as his lips feel pressed against mine.

I see his head shake side to side as he jerks the car from one side of the lane to the other, maneuvering around kids and adults alike. I mirror his actions, pa.s.sing everyone too. As I pull up right behind him, my body is humming with excitement as adrenaline pumps through every inch of me.

”h.e.l.ls to the yeah!” I shout as I jerk the wheel, b.u.mping into Chase's back tire, causing his car to skid towards the tires lining the track. I get just enough s.p.a.ce to scoot around him. I turn my head to look up at him, and so wish I hadn't, because his crystal blue eyes sparkle down at me while he gives me his mega-watt smile. I become distracted just long enough for him to shoot back by me.

”d.a.m.n you, Chase Kenzington, and your way-too-cute smile!” I shout at him as he peers back at me laughing. He is such an a.s.s!

If I didn't know it before, I do now; I have it bad for this guy.

After we do a few more laps around the track and have fun pa.s.sing each other, we get serious for the final lap. No more playtime. I put on my game face and don't hold back. I run anyone and everyone out of my way, even the dad with his kid in the kart, racing beside me. I know...it's not my proudest moment, but I'm determined to win!

With the checkered flag flying ahead, I floor it as fast as my car will go and find myself right beside Chase. I'm screaming with excitement as we race towards the finish line. We pa.s.s over it side-by-side, tying.

Seriously?! I'm a little disappointed, but I guess tying with a soon-to-be professional NASCAR driver is still pretty good bragging rights.

Climbing out of my car, my body feels numb from all of the excitement I'm feeling. My legs feel like Jell-O as I walk towards Chase. He reaches his hand out and I take it, but instead of walking beside him, I tug on his hand, pulling him to me. Releasing his hand, I wrap mine around his neck and bite my lip as I gaze up into his bright, playful eyes.

His hands slide into the back pockets of my shorts as he pulls me flush against him. Images of us in a similar position to this just last night flashes through my mind, and I can feel my cheeks heat.

Leaning down, he presses his lips to my ear. ”You're adorable when you get fl.u.s.tered,” he whispers before pressing a kiss to my neck. I s.h.i.+ver as his soft lips tickle my skin.

”It's your fault. You get me fl.u.s.tered every second of the day.”

”Then I must be doing something right.”

Sliding my fingers into his hair, I lean up on my tip-toes, giving him a soft peck on the lips. I don't dare do more than that, since this is a family place.

”Thanks for bringing me here tonight. This was so much fun. I may not have made you eat my dust at the end there, but I'll settle for a tie.”

Chase lets out a low, husky chuckle that vibrates against my chest. ”You're a feisty one. I felt bad for that poor kid you ran off the road...well, only for a second, because I did the same thing more than once trying to outrace you.”

I bite back a smile as I draw circles on his neck with the tips of my fingers. I love touching him. Every chance I get, I find my hands on his body one way or another. ”So what do you have planned for us next?” I ask as I slide out of his embrace and lace my fingers with his as he leads me off the track.

”You'll just have to wait and see,” is all I get out of him, and I know there's no use prying, because he loves leaving me in suspense.

WE SPENT TWO MORE HOURS at NASCAR Speedpark, miniature golfing and go-karting. I am having such an amazing day with Chase that I'm dreading the point when we'll have to say goodnight and part ways.

We just grabbed a quick dinner at Broadway Bill's Bar & Grill, and now we're heading down to the water to walk along the sh.o.r.eline. It's already almost ten, but I am trying to prolong this day as long I can. It has been by far the best date of my life, and the most fun I've had with a guy since I don't even remember when.

I have my flip-flops in one hand and holding Chase's with the other as we make our way down the beach. It's dark, with the only light coming from the stars and the streetlights that line the boardwalk. There's no one else on the beach, so we have the entire place to ourselves.

Chase and I have been talking about our favorite movies, childhood cartoons, and vacations we've taken. I love seeing this side of him. He's so sweet and funny. Every second I spend with him makes the idea of walking away at the end of the month that much harder.

I'm not stupid. I know what we have right now is just for the summer, but I plan on making the most of it. Every girl dreams of having a hot summer fling they can look back on. I know deep down no summer will ever compare to this one.

I hope once we do say goodbye that we'll still keep in touch over texts or Facebook; there's no reason we have to break all ties. I know it would break my heart to never see or speak to Chase ever again. I push away the negative thoughts clouding my head and try to focus on just us right now.

Tugging on our entwined hands playfully, Chase pulls me closer to him so he can press a kiss to my temple. This is the perfect way to end our day, walking together on the beach, listening to the waves roll in.

”So what's your major in school? What does Ashlynn Myers want to be when she grows up?” he asks me with a flirtatious smirk as the pad of his thumb rubs circles on the back of my hand.

I can barely think straight with his scent tickling my nose and the feel of his lips still tingling on my temple. He makes it impossible for me to ever focus when I'm around him.

I feel silly telling him my major, when he's on his way to becoming the biggest name in Nationwide Racing. ”I'm majoring in English and Literature. My dream is to one day be able to write full-time. I love reading, and have always dreamed of being an author one day, with my books being read by millions around the world.” I keep my eyes down at our feet, watching the cool waves roll over us before was.h.i.+ng back out to sea.

Chase stops walking and gives my hand a gentle squeeze. ”Ashlynn, look at me.” I let out a shaky breath and lift my eyes up to his. ”When you talk about your dreams, I want to see your face light up and hear the excitement of the possibilities that are waiting for you in the future. Don't ever talk about your dreams as if they're crazy or not good enough. I think if you set your mind to it, you'd be a wonderful writer, and I hope maybe you'll base an extremely s.e.xy character off of me some day. ”

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I pull my body into his and try to hide the smile on my face. I'd be past embarra.s.sed if he knew I started writing a s.e.xy romance novel with him in mind.

I can't help but laugh, because I've actually been working on something since we got here. I'm only two chapters into it, but the male character's looks are based on Chase's. Like I said, he's burned into my brain and I can't escape him, even in my writing. ”What if I really, really suck and no one has ever told me?”

Reaching out with his free hand, he cups my chin and tilts my face up to his. ”I seriously doubt that. One day, when you're famous, I'll track you down and get a signed paperback from you. Mark my words-you will achieve your dreams, Ashlynn.”

I've never met a man who captivates me the way he does. He is handsome, but there are many good-looking men in the world. h.e.l.l, we have a plethora of smoking hot guys at the University of Georgia, but there's just something about Chase's face. Everything about it, from his light scruff to his beautiful blue eyes, and his perfect lips I could spend every waking second kissing, has me falling for him.

To hear him talk about my dreams, letting me know he believes in me, means more to me than he'll ever know. Evan, from the moment we started dating my freshman year, had constantly told me I was wasting four years on a degree that'd lead me to nowhere but living with my parents. He told me I should go a more prestigious' route, either majoring in Psychology or a Medical Degree.

I hate it's making me emotional hearing Chase talk like this, telling me he believes in me and my dreams. I blink away the tears threatening to fall. Thank G.o.d it's dark outside so Chase doesn't notice.