15 Building a Home

"Does Vince hurt you, Mia?" Shayna probed the younger girl once they got in the car and were away from Vince. She was truly worried about her living in that house with him.

"No, he hasn't hurt me but he's starting to become….less… ah, what's the word, patient, less understanding. More aggressive in his advances." Mia told them honestly. She felt that she could talk to them and they would understand. She didn't feel embarrassed or intimidated by the two men and she really liked Shay.

There were a few moments of silence and Taylor and Sean looked at each other. "You can come and stay with us for a while." Sean offered as he turned his eyes back to the road. He hated to see a woman being forced to live where they didn't feel safe. "You know what's what with us, Mia. Could you deal with that?" Sean asked, referring to their three-way relationship.

Mia watched them for a moment and then shrugged her shoulders and looked over at Shayna, "Whatever makes you happy. I'm a lot more open minded than Vince or my brother."

Taylor turned and looked at Mia, "The man I grew up with, that I took a bullet for, couldn't accept us." He said, pointing at each one of the trio. "Dom does. He is a lot more open-minded then you think, Mia. I bet if you asked him, told him the reasons you wanted to come stay with us, he'd let you." Taylor told her gently.

"He doesn't have a right to tell me what to do." Mia stated firmly and defiantly. She was sick to death of men trying to run her life.

"But he does. He's your brother and sworn to protect you, even from yourself. I'm not sure if he really wants you and Vince together, but I know he'd kill Vince if he knew he was being aggressive with you." I just might do it for him..., Taylor thought.

"Dom's different, since he got back," Mia added thoughtfully. "What really happened down there?"

"People change, Mia. They grow up; open their eyes to real life. Dom is starting to realize that life doesn't have to be lived full throttle all the time." Shayna told the younger woman.

"Maybe you're right. I'll think about it. Thanks for the offer." Mia said as she looked out the window.

"Our offer stands, Mia, any time you need it." Shayna said and then started to bounce in her seat when the pulled into a driveway.

They could hear dogs barking out back and she just about jumped out of the truck before Sean put it in park.

Shayna launched herself into Taylor's arms when he got out and closed the door. "Are you excited, Shay?" He asked her nuzzling her neck.

"I've never had a dog before. I can't believe it. Are we really gonna get one?" She turned and looked at Sean. Her eyes were sparkling and there was no way he could deny her anything… Damn you, Taylor. He wasn't ready for a puppy yet, let alone two.

"Only if we find the right ones, Shay. They'll pick us." Taylor said as he grabbed her hand as he followed the sound of barking dogs.

The breeder came out and introduced himself as Bob. He took the four of them into the back and to a grassy fenced in portion of the back yard. He showed them the male and female parents of the puppies.

The male was huge, he had to have gone about 150 pounds and the female was only slightly smaller coming in about 125.

"Holy shit, Taylor. They're huge." Sean grumbled.

"The house is big, Sean." Taylor told him simply.

"Look how pretty they are," Mia said in awe. "I want one."

"I'll give you one of my pups," Taylor told her quietly, not wanting Bob to hear him. He didn't want the other man to know that he was going to start breeding them also.

They looked at the little fluffy balls of fur that were yipping happily around their mother's paws.

"Are any of these taken yet?" Taylor asked.

"No, so far none are claimed. We got three males and four females. You said you want two? One of each?"

"Yeah, Taylor, can I pick the girl one?" Shayna asked.

Taylor turned and looked at the man. "Can we see all of them?"

Bob nodded and then let them into a small enclosure off to the side of the mother's pen. Bob usually let them run around but not when she had the pups, she was very protective of them and he didn't want her to get aggressive with strangers.

Taylor let the mom sniff him before he sat down on the grass and waited for all seven of the puppies to be released. He gestured for Shay to join him and she sat next to him.

The puppies were released, ran over and attacked all of them with little playful nips and licks.

Mia and Shayna laid on their backs as the puppies crawled all over them, making the men laugh when one peed on Mia's leg and one licked the inside of Shay's mouth.

"Hey, Bud, that's my job," Taylor said as he picked the pup up and looked at him.

Even Sean was even smiling. He liked dogs, he was just worried it was too soon but seeing the joy in Taylor and Shay's face, he was cool with it.

After a while, the dogs calmed down and started to sniff around. "Which ones do you want, Tay?"

"Hum, just wait. Sit back and relax." Taylor leaned back on his arms and waited.

Bob watched him and smiled. He knew what Taylor was doing. He was waiting for the puppies to come to him.

After about five minutes, one wondered over, curled up on his lap and went to sleep. Taylor stroked his soft fur absently, "Puppy number 1," a few more minutes passed before another came and settled itself between Shayna and Taylor's legs, let out a big sigh and went to sleep. "Puppy number 2." He smiled and looked at them.

They were black and tan and already their paws were huge. They would be big, strong and protective dogs. Just what he wanted. He turned and looked at Bob who nodded, "Seems like they've found you."

"When are they ready to come home?" Shay asked breathlessly as she snuggled the little female one that lay between her and Tay.

"We can pick them up in a few days, once we get everything we need." He turned and looked at Bob with a smile, "Didn't plan on getting them yet. We were gonna wait till the house was done but I couldn't pass up the ad."

"What are we gonna name them?" Sean asked as he lay on his stomach and scratched the head of the male who as sleeping contentedly in Taylor's lap.

"Don't know yet. I had a name picked out but when I saw them, it just didn't feel right." Taylor said.

"They need full first and last names for the papers," Bob said as he put the other five pups back with their mom.

They visited with the puppies for a little bit longer, and then began to make their way to the beach house.

-

"Ohmygod, Sean! Look, we got walls." Shay said.

"Well, they aren't actually walls, Shay, they're just framed in." Sean told her with a smile.

"Still, it's only been a few weeks, and look what they have done." They all got out of the Escalade and looked around. "It's beautiful here, Sean. You didn't tell me how beautiful it was." Shayna told him as she came over and hugged him.

"I didn't think it would be so close to the beach." Mia said looking at the short two hundred feet to the water.

"Yep, our own private beach, you like it?" Sean asked tentatively to Shay and Taylor.

"It's perfect, Sean." Taylor assured him. He knew the other man was nervous. This was his property and he wanted to know if Taylor and Shay approved of it.

They chatted with the builders, found out they were going to start to put the tresses on the roof and then went to stand on the beach.

Sean and Taylor stood and looked at the wooden frame that was to be their house. Taylor took a deep drag of his smoke and exhaled slowly. "We can't stay at Dom's till this is done, Sean."

They may have walls, but they were still months away from being able to move in.

"I know, Tay." Sean said as he too exhaled deeply.

"I'll kill him; I swear to God I'll kill him if he yells at either one of us or the girls again. I've killed for less." Taylor told Sean honestly. He needed the other man to know what a fine line Vince was walking on.

"So have I, Tay. I'll call Sexy today, see if we can crash at his place."

"No, don't. Don't want to stay at anyone else's place. It ain't worth the heartache."

"What other option do we have? Guess we can get a room or something… maybe rent?" Sean suggested as he turned watched Shayna and Mia run through the surf.

Taylor turned and smiled at the women. They were laughing and splashing each other like children. "My van's here. I'm gonna drive that home." Taylor told Sean who nodded.

Sean's truck and both of their motorcycles were there also. They arranged for their other stuff to be put into storage along with the stuff Sean saved from his first house.

They watched the women for a little while longer before they decided to start back to Dom's. Taylor stayed for a few more minutes alone. When he was sure they were out of sight, he walked over to the house next door and knocked.

An older woman answered and smiled, "Can I help you Sir?" She asked him.

"Yeah. I'm friends with Sean Vetter, the man that's building the house next door." She nodded at the name. "Well, I see you're house is for sale."

"That's right."

"I'd like to buy it, today. I can pay with cash."

"Cash, oh boy. Sir, that's a lot of money."

"I'm good for it, Ma'am." Taylor told her with his most non-threatening smile.

"Ok, well let me call my agent. Please come in Mr.," The older woman said.

"Toretto. Dominic Toretto." Taylor said with a smile.