[chapter six]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)
**
Alexa was tugging nervously on the lanyard around her neck when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Spinning around, she smiled when she saw Robby grinning down at her.
"Hey." He said. "Having fun?"
Alexa let out a deep breath. "Having a blast, but I feel like a geek just standing around, not knowing anyone. Sorry about the race…" She added quietly, her face full of sympathy.
Robby shrugged. "Wasn't our night, goddammit." He cleared his throat. "I mean, um, darn."
Alexa laughed at his correction. "Fuckin' Burton had a rocketship out there." She grinned and then Robby laughed and nodded.
"I think I'm all done here - sorry it took me so long to find you. I wanna go congratulate Jimmie and then we can get out of here." Robby said.
"Uh…okay." Alexa said unsurely. "My car is…over there." She said, pointing vaguely towards Turn 2.
Robby laughed, imagining the chaos in the parking lot. "I'll get us out of here and get you home. We can get your car tomorrow."
"Robby…I work tomorrow!" Alexa protested. "And come to think of it, don't you?"
Robby laughed again. "Yeah, I guess. I'll drive you home, pick you up in the morning, and then we can come get your car after work."
Alexa regarded him for a moment. She didn't really know this man from Adam, except for a long lunch and several conversations inside RCR over the last week. And yet, he was volunteering to chauffeur her around, to pick her up…
She wondered if there was an ulterior motive, or if Robby really was that nice a guy. Not quite the hot-tempered ogre everyone took him for.
"Are you sure?" She asked, cocking her head to one side.
"Yep. Let's go find Jimmie."
Alexa's heart raced as she imagined meeting the 48 crew and driver, then sped to new heights as Robby grabbed one of her hands in his and tugged her towards Victory Lane.
Bobbing and weaving, Robby sped them towards the activity in the center of pit lane, his hand warm around hers. Moments later, they skidded to a halt, Alexa almost banging into the back of Robby. He dropped her hand as he cupped his hands to yell out.
"Richard!" He called out and Richard Childress, MR. Childress, spun around. "I'm gonna say hi to Jimmie, and then I'm taking off. You need me?"
"Nope…we'll see you at the shop tomorrow." Richard said easily. "Go ahead and take off."
"Oh Richard?" Robby said with an evil grin. "This is Alexa Carmichael. She's one of our interns at RCR, and she's been dying to meet you."
Alexa threw Robby a horrified glance which he returned with a who-me-I-didn't-do-nothing grin. "Ms. Carmichael, a pleasure. Don't run around with this character too much - he's a bad influence." Richard smiled as he shook her hand.
Alexa nodded and reminded her brain to kick on and speak. "Mr. Childress, it's an honor. I'll do my best for the team. And I promise to stay away from Robby as best I can." She smiled faintly.
Moments later, they were back to heading down pit road and Alexa smacked Robby in the shoulder. "How could you DO that to me?" She squealed.
"You wanted to meet him." Robby said wickedly, stopping to turn and face her, bringing them eye to eye. "So…more or less nervous than meeting me?" He asked, unable to contain himself.
"Less nervous, but I'm thinking of reconsidering my position on meeting you at all." Alexa managed to return with a charming smile.
Robby laughed as he took her hand in his again before taking off for Victory Lane.