[chapter three]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)
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~Jasmine's POV~
(a week later)
If I don't find some coffee soon, there's going to be hell to pay.
I don't know who I'll make pay, but I'll find somebody.
I stumble through the house, almost falling over Scout's shoes as I aim for the kitchen, wincing as I turn on lights. It's Monday, but I have the entire morning off since I was out at a site yesterday, bitching at a contractor about the shoddy wallpaper job they did. On my day off.
After gratefully filling up a mug with hot coffee, blessing Alex in the process, I walk towards the front door to grab the newspaper, only to hear a rumble outside.
I open the door and find a very menacing person all in black sitting in Jimmie's driveway, revving the engine of an extremely nice looking bike.
Wish I could afford one of those babies, I think to myself, trying to figure out who the hell is stalking Jimmie.
The helmeted person turns their head and looks right at me, causing me to look down. We live in a quiet street, in a quiet neighborhood, and generally, no one sees me when I walk outside in my pajamas - clad only in a tiny tank top and short shorts.
Hrm. Probably should have grabbed that bathrobe on the way down the stairs.
The man, I think it's a man, turns off his engine and steps off the bike, walking towards me as he unbuckles his helmet.
I gasp slightly as Jeff Gordon's face pops into view, a blush on his cheeks and a timid look on his face.
"Jasmine. Hi." He says, walking within a few feet of me. "We met the other day? I'm Jeff Gordon."
"Never heard of ya." I shoot back out of instinct, before considering the fact I think I scared him the last time we met.
Instead, I'm rewarded with a warm smile and I can't help but grin, breaking my serious façade.
"I was … uh, looking for Jimmie. He and I go riding on most Mondays?" He says, making it sound like he's asking a question, asking for permission.
I nod, settling myself against the doorframe, my eyes looking him up and down.
He's a hell of a lot more good looking when he's dressed all in black leather.
Not that I care.
"Have you seen him around?" Jeff asks me, and I snap out of my reverie, noting that he's trying really hard to look me in the eyes, when they are obviously trying to roam elsewhere.
Damn, I wish I had that bathrobe.
"He's in Orlando. Aren't you his boss? Shouldn't you know these things?" I ask sharply, but grin slightly to show I'm teasing. He's not used to the Queen of Sarcasm just yet, I sense. Better take it easy on the guy. Wouldn't want him to laugh and break his face or anything.
"Shit. Was that today?" He mutters, scratching his head.
Jeff Gordon just said shit. Holier than thou, 'my car was awesome', Bible bangin' Jeff Gordon just said shit.
I am amused.
"Yeah. He won't be back until tomorrow. Around 5, I think." I answer, and Jeff looks back up at me.
"I'm really sorry I disturbed you so early." He apologizes, backing away a little. "I shouldn't have … well, I'm sure you weren't expecting to have to … I'm really sorry." He smiles a little, apologetically, and turns to walk back across our lawn.
"You always this good with people?" I can't resist asking, teasing him.
"No. Sometimes I'm kind of shy." He says over his shoulder and I laugh out loud, stopping him in his tracks.
"Tell you what."
"What?" He says, turning back around.
"Jimmie is coming over tomorrow night to play some poker. If you meet a few criteria, maybe you can come over. Brush up on those brilliant conversational skills." I say, and delight in watching his cheeks redden.
I made Jeff Gordon blush. Go me!
"Oh no, I couldn't - " He begins and I wave a hand to cut him off. "I would be intruding."
"You'll only be an intruder if you climb in through the window, planning to rob the place." I throw back and he smiles shyly.
"What criteria?" He asked.
"Hrm?"
"What criteria?" He repeats, and I shake my head, figuring out what to throw at him.
"No Bible quoting, no use of the word 'awesome', you can't wear anything that has Dupont on it, and you have to bring beer." I spout off, daring him.
He blinks rapidly, looking at me. I can tell he's trying to find out if I'm serious or sarcastic, but I'm decidedly serious.
Jeff Gordon is the golden boy, the nice, clean cut, boy next door type. And I'm thinking he's a total stick in the mud. Not the type of guy we would ever be friends with.
Time to find out.
Time to find out if he'll take the bait, and come hang out with us. Be one of the guys. Learn to say something other than how awesome his race team is.
"Budweiser or Miller?" He asks after several seconds of silence tick by.
I raise my eyebrows in surprise, before recovering. "Budweiser."
"Done." He says quietly. "Can I ask you something?" He ventures shyly and I nod. "Do you think of me like that? Does everyone?"
"Look at it this way." I say seriously. "Tomorrow night will be your chance to change our minds."
"And if I don't manage to?"
"I'll still be nice to you, because you're Jimmie's boss."
He looks up, his brow wrinkled with trying to figure me out. Figure out if I'm serious.
"But I wouldn't plan on shooting hoops with the guys, throwing back a few brews with us, or staring at my chest as freely as you are right now anytime in the future." I burst out, giving him a sarcastic grin. "But hey, tomorrow night you might get to do all three."
"I wasn't - "
"You were." I say, raising an eyebrow and looking straight at him, baiting him. He drops his eyes to the ground, embarrassed. "But living with three guys for 5 years, you get used to it."
"I wasn't." He says softly. "I promise. I wasn't. I wouldn't. I was never supposed to - " He stops. "I wasn't."
He wasn't. I just wanted to see what he would say. That wasn't the answer I was expecting.
He steps away, backing away. Backing away from me, not looking at me.
I wonder …
"What did she do to you?" I can't resist asking quietly, wanting to know.
"Budweiser. Eight." He mumbles, getting ready to put his helmet back on. "I'll see you then. Thanks. Um, see you later. Thanks."
Oh, we're gonna have a good time tomorrow.