Free Hot Summer Nights by Laramie Briscoe Page A

watch!” Clementine screamed as she sat in between Billy and David in the stands. They had one lap to go, and it was a door-to-door battle, just like it had been the whole night. Wayne and another competitor that Justin had hired for the night were going at it for all they were worth.
    “He’s settin’ him up,” Billy said as they came around the first corner. Wayne stayed back, waiting until the third corner to start accelerating with all his might. He came out from behind Brent, a young kid from Hardin County, and beat him into the last corner. As they came around the last turn, Wayne accelerated, leaving Brent behind in his dust. He had done it. He’d won. Despite all the nerves and the fear, he’d won for both himself and Kevin. He couldn’t wait to take his trophy to the hospital and show him what he’d done.

Chapter Thirteen
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    “D o you mind if we don’t go straight home? I have someplace I’d like to show ya.” Wayne reached over the console and grabbed her hand, running his thumb over the back of her hand.
    “Sure, I’m not tired or anything. Wherever ya wanna go is fine with me.”
    After the dinner for Kevin was done, the two of them decided they would spend some time together. Before they knew it, it would be time for her to go away for college and their time together would become precious. Even more precious than it was in these brief moments they got alone.
    “It’s a beautiful night out, I figured we could drive around for a little while,” he answered winking at her with a smirk.
    There was something about that smirk and wink that told her they were about to have a good time. The summer hadn’t been everything they had wanted. Time together hadn’t been plentiful, but they’d made the best of a bad situation. She nodded as she stuck her hand out the window of the truck. She sighed as the breeze flew back in her face. She laid her head back on the seat and enjoyed the silence of the night. The only thing that could be heard playing was the local country station in the background—that being the only thing they were able to pick up as far out as they were. A song started playing and Clementine laughed.
    “What?” he asked, grinning over at her. Her laugh did funny things to him and he wanted to bottle it up. Take it with him wherever he went. “This song gives me an idea.” He turned an unexpected left and took a gravel road.
    “Where we goin’?” she asked, sitting up a little straighter as he took the road to an old boat dock she’d heard about while she was in high school.
    “You ever been here?” he asked as he got out of the truck, leaving the radio playing.
    The spot he had taken her to was known far and wide by high school and college kids alike. It was far enough off the road that a little lovin’ could occur without anyone seeing, but was close enough so that you could hear someone coming.
    “Nope, no guy ever wanted to bring me here. They knew my daddy would kill them. See why I had to take you up on the offer of a summer fling? I’m really sheltered.” She laughed as he came around and opened her door.
    He grabbed her hand and took her to the back, letting the tailgate down. He picked her up and placed her there, stepping in between her legs. Moving her hair back from her face, he tried to memorize every part of her. She would be leaving soon and so would he. It wasn’t written in stone when they would be able to see each other again and that worried him. It scared him even. Better relationships, he knew, had not been able to stand the test of time and mileage. And not even he could say how much mileage would be separating them when he started traveling with his team.
    He cupped her face in his hands and bent his head down far enough so that his lips could catch hers.
    “Have you ever brought anyone out here before, Mr. Harper?” she asked as he pulled away.
    He grinned and she laughed. He had a devilish glint to his eyes, and she wasn’t sure if she really