“Are you ready to go?” Chase asked, as he reached down and grabbed my hand.
As our fingers touched, I felt a jolt of electricity rush through me. As my hand fit securely in his, I had a warm feeling of home and safety overtake me. I was almost overwhelmed with the positive energy brought on by such a simple touch. I wanted his face between my legs and that thought alone had me questioning my own sanity again.
“Where are we going?” I asked, as my voice broke. I was getting hot and heavy already and we hadn't even left the building yet.
“That’s a surprise.” Chase winked, as he led me out of the Casino and onto a very busy sidewalk.
Waiting just outside the hotel entrance was a bellhop. Smiling, the older man tipped his gold hat at me as he walked over to a large SUV and opened the passenger-side door. “Good evening miss,” he said, in a sweet voice.
Looking over at Chase, he simply smiled as he motioned for me to get in. Keeping my hand in his Chase helped me into the car and then closed the door for me while I buckled in. I watched as he ran around the car and opened the driver’s side door. Waving at the bellhop, Chase turned the ignition.
“Whose car is this?” I asked, as Chase began to drive.
“Mine,” he said, as he watched the traffic around him.
The inside of the massive SUV was covered in dark colors. The seats wore black leather as the interior had a dark gray finish. This was a very impressive car and from the looks of it, I could tell Chase must have some money left over from his years of fighting MMA.
“This car is beautiful. It looks brand new,” I said, as I admired the interior.
Quickly glancing at me, Chase nodded his head. “Well, it is new. I just traded in my Corvette for this,” he said.
With raised eyes, I knew I looked shocked. “Seriously? When did you find time to do that?” I asked. I realized I was being too intrusive and I needed to take a step back. “Sorry, I don’t mean to pry. It is none of my business, really.”
Chase slowed the car down at a red light and I finally stole a glance outside the dark, tinted windows. We were driving out of the city and toward the desert. I wasn’t sure where we were going, but I was growing curious.
“Please, don’t apologize, Lizzie. I already shared my dark past with you. I let you in on my secrets, so now you can ask me anything you want,” Chase said, as he looked deep into my eyes. “Don’t feel though that you have to tell me anything you are not ready to share. If you are running from something or someone, you can trust me. I just want you to know that with you, I am an open book,” he reiterated again. Sighing, Chase took a deep breath before telling me his insane decision. ”I traded in my Corvette today. To be honest, when you agreed to go out with me, I wanted to make sure you would be safe. A fast sports car shouldn't drive you around. This bad boy,” Chase said, as he pointed to the monster vehicle we were currently sitting in, “will protect you and keep you nice and comfortable,” he finished.
The way Chase spoke made me believe he knew I was hiding more than what I had let on. I wasn’t sure I liked the way he seemed to be searching my eyes for something. Maybe an answer?
Deciding to change the subject, I went back to the car discussion. “So, you just traded cars?”
“Sure. I just decided an SUV would be safer than a sports car.”
Shock and absolute bewilderment overcame me. Did he really just say that he traded in a sports car for an SUV because of me? This couldn’t be right.
“Ha, ha. You can’t be serious,” I teased, praying he would tell me that he was just joking with me.
“I am serious,” Chase said. “Lizzie, you are different from any other girl I have met. I just feel like I need to protect you,” he said, as his eyes bore into the road ahead.
I was speechless. I didn’t have words to question his motives or express just how insanely sweet his gesture was. No one had ever done anything even remotely close to that for me. Chase was overprotective for sure, but he also was caring. I decided it would just be best to sit back and not ask any more questions for now. I didn’t want to pry into his life any further because I needed to hold on to my own privacy. So, I sat back and watched as the Vegas skyline faded into the distance.
We drove for ten more minutes when Chase took a sharp turn and drove the SUV off the road and onto a gravel side road. I was taken aback by the quick movement and almost screamed out as my body bounced in the seat.
“Sorry,” Chase said, as he noticed me trying to adjust my dress.
“Where are we going?” I asked again. This time I was getting a little nervous. There was no one or nothing around us.
“I want to show you something special,” Chase said, as he turned off the ignition and jumped out of the car.
Running over to my side, he opened the car door and helped me out. As my feet hit the gravel, I heard a loud crunch under my sandals. Taking my hand, Chase led me up a slight incline that was overgrown with a few weeds.
I nervously followed his lead and didn’t say anything else. The sun was setting in the background and I feared we might be out here after dark. I had heard horror stories about what animals both the four-legged and two-legged kinds, lurked in the desert at night.
While I made sure to look at the ground so I wouldn't trip or fall, I ran right into the back of Chase when he stopped walking. “Sorry,” I mumbled, as I caught myself.
Turning me around, Chase showed me what he had brought me out here for. Far off in the distance, sparkling lights flashed through the fading sky. We were on a small hill facing the Vegas skyline and it was breathtaking with the sun setting nearby. All of the lights and colors flashing seemed to dance through the sky together.
“Wow,” I breathed, as I took in the sights. Red mountains of rocks and cacti in the desert sand surrounded us.