Thanks to those of you that reviewed Chapt 3 so here is Chapt 4 for you, hopefully I won't take as long for the next one!!

Chapter 4

Ashley groaned and mumbled obscenities when she heard the loud and abrupt ringing, coming from somewhere near her head. She kept her eyes closed and with her hand felt around the pillow and across the bed, and in the process making contact with something very soft. She grasped her fingers around the object and tugged. Nothing. She tugged again harder this time.

'Gert off,' a tired and groggy voice mumbled. Ashley opened her eyes flipped the top of the duvet down, and with her fingers still held around the object, her eyes slowly accustomed the lack of light even with a bit of sun streaming through, her face flushed.

'Oh no,' she said as it began to dawn on her the familiar sight of the face and body.

'No, no please tell me I didn't.' she said as she now looked down at herself and seeing the lack of clothes.

'Ok,' she took a deep breath.

'Don't jump to conclusions just try and remember,' she said.

'Remember what?' came the tired voice again, only this time he pulled the duvet up and over his head, she watched him covered up her mind tried to recover events from last night but to no avail.

'Erm…forget it, I'm just going to take a shower,' she said.

'Ok whatever,' he mumbled back and Ashley tugged on the flat sheet holding it tight against her body then slid out of bed. She wandered, awkwardly to her large blue suitcase flipped open the top and rummaged through all the clothing contents until she pulled out a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a matching blue tank top.

'This will do,' she said grabbed the makeup bag and whipped off straight to the bathroom, with the door shut and locked she leant her head against it and breathed deeply.

'Stupid, you had to go and sleep with him!' she growled and banged her head against the door. She had already been down this road before, getting too involved with a man and it only brought disaster for her on an emotional level. Ashley pushed those thoughts now to the back of her mind and got ready for her shower.

When she emerged from the bathroom half an hour later, feeling refreshed and dressed she found Brian sat on the bed with a breakfast tray in his lap, he looked up when she came into view.

'Would you like some breakfast?' he asked, holding out a crisp croissant.

'Sure,' she answered accepting it she took a bite but avoided his eyes white she ate. There was so much she needs to say to him; to explain her feelings but she had no idea where to even begin. She had only just met him yesterday it had gone all too fast.

'So.' He said breaking the silence between them Ashley was relieved that he spoke she nodded her head.

'Yeah, look about yesterday, I —there is something I think you need to know,' she said Brian put his hands up.

'You don't need to say anything, I think I have a very good idea of what you will say,' he remarked she stared at him open-mouthed.

'So, instead why don't we agree that what happened last was a one-off,' he said.

'Sure, that suits me just fine,' Ashley replied.

'Good,'

They ate the remainder of their breakfast still with a bit of awkwardness but at least they could move on.

'When are you heading back home?' he asked.

'Friday morning.' 'Will get to Ireland on Sunday afternoon and be racing that night.' She said.

'With the car you brought here?' he asked she nodded.

'Yeah,' I do own several others but I can't leave one of mine here,' she replied.

'I see,' Brian remarked he rubbed his chin as though deep in thought.

'What other cars you got?'

'Well I have a Skyline GT-R34, BMW M3 GTR, Impreza Sti and Supra.' She answered.

'Not bad.' He said she laughed.

'Hey just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I own girly girls like a Honda S2000,' she added Brian shook his head.

'I figured as much. So then, what is your plan for today, go and race somebody else and beat them I presume,' he said; Ashley shrugged she stood up and gave a stretch then walked to the window over-looking the city's skyline.

'Think it is best I stay in today and rest, been quite an eventful few days,' she said. Brian remembered her telling him yesterday at the restaurant about her travels over the past couple of months.

'You've been on the quite journey just to be ready for one race.' He added, also getting to his feet and joined her by the window.

'Yeah, well I think of it as un-finished business,' she said; Brian intrigued by this comment gave her a little nudge she sighed rolled her eyes.

'It's nothing.'

'No it looks like something so spill,' he encouraged her, Ashley moved away from the window and instead un-locked the balcony door and stepped out into the air Brian followed, and the two of them leant on the railing.

'Ok it sounds a bit stupid, but before the accident with my parents I had always bugged them about wanting to be a street racer. Of course they forbid the idea every time I tried to bring it up. When I heard about this race for the crown that happened at the end of every year I told my parents that one day I would take that honor. They, of course disagreed as always but said if that was my goal I should go for it,' she explained.

'So why haven't you got it yet?'

She shrugged.

'I don't know, probably get nervous or I forget the plan. It is such a big race over there and to win it is like…well making a statement. I had good reason to beat Jonathan because of what he did, in a one-off race, but he still holds that one honor that I can't get.' She answered the frustration clearly visible not only in her tone but her face. Ring! Ring!

'Sorry excuse me a minute,' she said and stepped back inside the room to answer the call.

'Nicole, so did you get the transfer?'

'Ok great I will be there on Friday not to worry. All right see you guys then, thanks,' she ended the call just as Brian came inside and closed the balcony door.

'I should probably go and leave you to it,' he remarked she nodded.

'Yeah sure, do you maybe want a lift?' she asked. He paused a thoughtful expression on his face to her it looked as if he was weighing up the idea, maybe something he had planned and didn't want to be found out she assumed.

'No,' he answered finally and shook his head. 'I'll be fine,'

'All right see you round then.' Ashley said.

'Yeah I'm sure we will,' Brian agreed a soft smile spread across his lips causing her to laugh she waved and he headed out the door. Just as soon as he was out of the room and walked down the corridor to the fire exit stairwell he flipped open his phone and read the text message he'd received a few minutes ago.

Hi Brian, its been a while.

Im in Miami the moment

So thought mayb u wuld like

2 meet up in, say bout an hour

Surfer's heights.

Luv .x. M

* Well what is the harm, we had our time and it is all in the past now. Might actually be good to see her again for a bit * He thought, and closed his phone then headed through the exit door.

***

Ashley tapped her pocket as she walked across the parking lot to double check her room key was still in her pocket, it was so she retrieved her car keys.

'Well, well look at what we have here. The little smart arse,'

She looked up straight ahead to find Rich, the guy she'd beaten in the drift race last night.

'What do you want?' she asked.

'What do you think?' he growled back with arms firmly folded across his chest a deep scowl etched upon his face; she placed hands on hips and returned his scowl.

'If you're looking for a re-match the answer is no. I have better things to do then challenging a loser,' she said and went towards her car only for Rich to stand in her way.

'I said we are not racing again,' she remarked a smirk spread on Rich's lips he made a motion behind him. Ashley's eyes darted behind his back and noticed three more guys she hadn't even noticed earlier appear from behind several of the parked cars.

'Now,' Rich said the smirk on his face became wider.'If you know what is good for you, you will listen to what I say and don't try any tricks,' he added. Ashley stepped back and away from him, at the same time her eyes darted to his friends as they closed in around them.

'I said to listen,' he said.

'Yeah and you think that little threat is going to work on me, well you are sadly mistaken, now if you can't take a hint I don't want to race you, again so get lost,' she answered but Rich shook his head and wagged his finger.

'I am afraid young missy you don't have a say in this, I'm making the decisions here and I say you and me are going to race. However this time things will be different I can assure you because you won't win again.' He said.

'Oh and what makes you think I am going to listen to you?' she asked.

'Just don't push my patience. So be a good girl and get in your car and follow me, oh and don't try any little tricks because my boys will be watching your every move,' he remarked. Ashley glared at him she didn't know what sort of a game he was playing with her but she didn't like it. Rich turned strolled casually towards his car and got in then he wound down the window.

'Come on then sweetheart don't waste time here,' he said, she swore obscenities under her breath she cast a look back at his friends they all had smiles on their faces and one of them even eyed her with glee. There definitely was no way she could get out of this she was cornered with no other option; she walked over to her car climbed in and started the engine. Rich moved his car she follow and his friends were right on her tail. It was only then did several patrons leave the motel talking and laughing as they walked to their own cars Ashley shook her head.

'Typical someone appears now instead of earlier,' she grumbled, she turned her focus to the road ahead behind Rich's car as they moved into the morning traffic.