CHAPTER 2: PT 1; CELEBRATION OR DATE NIGHT?

It was late in the night. I felt so great after winning that afternoon, and Sally gave me one of the best victory kisses I think I'd ever gotten from her. Tonight was supposed to be our special date night, but of course I had a race scheduled for today. Now that I'd won, my sponsors Rusty and Dusty, my agent Harv, my pit crew, AND Sally all had to go out for dinner. At least she understood about it. After all, the Piston Cup was in only two weeks, our anniversary was in 6 days, and Chick Hicks had already started making death threats to me and my crew.

"You ready, Sal?" I asked as I sat down on the sofa. I looked apprehensively at the room's front door, waiting for Doc or Mater to hurry us own to the cab or limo or whatever was coming to pick us up. With my sponsors, there's no telling where you'll end up every night.

"Almost, Stickers," She hollered from the bathroom. It was about 5:30 and we were in our hotel room. It was inside the beautiful new Marriot in downtown Indy. Rusty and Dusty had done the kindness of giving us a room together this time instead of me getting stuck with Mater. Don't get me wrong, I love Mater like a brother, but he snores louder than a semi and he stays up 'till 12 every night.

The only thing I didn't like about the evening was the fact that I had to wear a suit. I love dressing up, but my old suit had a rip in it from a rough car trip a year ago, so Sally made me go shopping to pick out a new tan suit.

But of course, you know women and men's fashion. She won't just make you buy a suit, oh NOOO. She makes you buy a new shirt, jacket, a pair of pants, loafers, a new watch, cufflinks, and the whole enchilada. Sometimes I think she likes the fact that I'm rich just so she can turn me into her own personal Ken doll, complete with WAY-TOO-EXPENSIVE accessories.

We were eating in downtown Indy; my sponsors had reserved my crew and ourselves a
lovely dinner tonight at La Ploume de T'Route. Other than the free food like most guys love, I was ecstatic for two reasons:

Number One: I was born and raised in Indy, so being home again was exciting for me. After all, I'm a 23 year-old racecar driver; I didn't exactly go to college to become one, and I after I graduated I wanted to be out on my own A.S.A.P.. Not to mention I was gonna meet my parents tomorrow with Sally, Doc, and all the others.

Number Two: I'd taken Sal shopping last weekend for a new dress on my tab. I figured since the retarded airport security lost the one extra bag she kept her dress and shoes in that she PAID to have flown to Indy, she'd want a new one. She'd refused to buy it with my money like I offered, but I persuaded her to go ahead and do it since I make 30 million a year and only use about 100,000 a year for rent, food, and clothes, (Not to mention no girl I've met would turn down a Juicy Couture dress with matching shoes and a Coach handbag.)

I don't know what dress she bought, but it was red, sexy, and I was about to see it in 2 minutes.

*Insert Sheepish Smile*

I looked down at my watch; 5:32. 'Great! We're gonna be late,' I thought. Then, I heard the sink stop, the toilet flush, and the door slowly open. I stood up to look at her.

"I'm ready, Stickers," She said in a low, slow tone. I could see her laugh as my jaw dropped.

Oh God, she looked good. And that dress… a strapless, low-cut, dark red dress that exposed half of her beautiful back. The dress ended halfway between her knee and hip. As she walked toward me, my eyes followed down her shining, smooth legs to show a pair of 2-inch black heels. She carried a small, black coach wallet, and a silk black drapery scarf-thing that hung behind her back and over her arms.

I swear, I thought I was looking into the eyes of Aphrodite, I was just at such a loss for words. I mean, I'd seen her in some pretty dresses and clothes before, but she was a knock-out, better than Megan Fox and Rihanna and any other hot chick you can think of COMBINED. She came up to me and looked me straight in the eyes, then lightly grabbed my tie and stroked it to straighten out. She put her left arm around my neck and pressed her lips colored by red lipstick into mine.

All I could do was let out a small guttled moan and wrap my arms around her waist. After what felt like an eternity, we pulled away smiling, leaning our heads in to touch foreheads.

"You like my dress?"

"God, yes… you look so… so… beautiful, Sal."

"Hmmm…" She laughed, "…Maybe later we could-"

"Hey, you two, stop suckin' face and come on!" We immediately pulled apart, blushing. I glanced over at the door, Mater stood with a smirk and a 'Look Who's Havin' Fun!' kinda glance. Sally looked up at me as my face turned bright red. I didn't know whether to smile, laugh, or yell.

"Daaaang, Lightnin'. Your face is redder than yur car!"

"Get outta here, Mater!" I yelled.

"Awww, shoooot. Don't be mad, I wuz just sayin' that the cab's here."

"Sorry, dude. Just go on out. We'll be there in a second."

He left as I glanced back over at my girl. She looked up and smiled. I returned the gesture, and thought for a second as I picked up my wallet from the table and put it into my pocket.

"So… what can we do later?" I asked, trying to sound sexy.

"I'll tell you later," She said with a smile. "See you in the cab." She gracefully made her way to the door, looked back at me, then left with a haunting grin that only made me want her even more than I already did.

I am so lucky to have such an amazing girl. A jackass like the old me, pardon my French, never deserved such a beautiful, intelligent woman. I had to do something special for her; after all, our anniversary was in a few days.

"Lightning!" I heard Doc yell from outside. I snapped out of my thoughts and ran out of the hotel room and shut the door.

"Comin' Doc!"

A/N: I hope no-one minds, but I was going to make this one chapter and ended up elaborating on the lovebirds so much that it would've made a RIDICULOUSLY long chapter. So it'll be in two parts. Sorry 'bout that.

QOTC: If you could date any rich/famous person in the world, who would it be and/or why?