Chapter 19, The Project.
They arrived home. There was a race meet that night the team was going to but she cried off to stay home and work on the car. She told him that she wanted to bath and read for awhile and she was not in the place for the loudness of the race meet. Dom wanted her there but was secretly happy that she trusted him enough to let him go without supervision. Letty would have gone even if she was sick as a dog just to make sure he didn't talk to or look at any racer chasers. Torrie was confident he would not do anything beyond talk. They all left and she headed out to work on the car.
The whole engine was going to need to be rebuilt and the body was wrecked. She started the body work first cause that is what she was good at. She ordered the parts she needed for the engine and body and she decided to replace the worst of the panels as they would be all fill if she did not. That meant replacing most of them, all the front clip was toast too. She hoped that this project was not too ambitious. She could not just go buy him a new Charger, it had to be this one. She would salvage what she could but a lot of it would have to be new. She got the interior put back to rights that night and took off all the wrecked panels. She made a list of what to order and was glad she could get lots of it at the store. She went down and let herself in. She placed her order then went home.
It was late that night when the Team came home. She had been waiting for them. She knew Dom raced and of course would have won. She wanted to look nice for the party she knew would happen at the house. She put on a top that was silver, it was like a bikini but it had fringe on the bottom to just above her belly button, with only a string strap around her neck and back. She paired it with a black mid thigh skirt that like most of her clothes since she got so thin, bared the straps of her thong, and knee high boots. She did her makeup dark and left her hair down long all around her. She watched the team and all the other racers arrive and could tell by the look on Dom's face everything went well. He opened the door and she jumped at him. She locked her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
"Missed you baby. I should have gone with you. Congratulations."
Dom kissed her. "Yum, you smell so good." She had found time to take that bath so her story would hold up. "I missed having my prize cheering for me and riding with me but I hope you enjoyed your relaxing evening." He was walking into the living room with her still hanging from his neck.
"Well of course I did but I missed you Dom. It is lonely here with the whole team gone."
"You were lonely eh?" Well you won't send me off to a race night on my own again then. Besides I miss you when you aren't around, chattering and making comments."
"Well missing me is good because now we can make up for lost time." She giggled.
"That sounds good." He kissed her again and when he came up for air there was a rousing round of applause. Torrie blushed but they got to the partying.
They partied all night and danced for hours. Torrie had a little too much to drink but nothing like last time. But she and Dom were all over each other all night. This was a piss off for all the racer chasers that came to the house only for a chance at Dom. His new girlfriend was still keeping his attention. They were not happy. Torrie was worried in the back of her mind they had never discussed what they were to each other. They just seemed to morph into more then friends with no more discussion on the matter. She was worried Dom would take that to mean she did not expect anything. But she did.
The other girls watched as Dom carried Torrie up to bed at 3am. He was so tender and sweet with her and it only made them want him more. He never came back down and if they could see upstairs they would know he fell into bed exhausted with Torrie. Torrie loved sleeping with Dom. He kept her feeling safe. And often tired her out before bed of course which helped her sleep too. No more nightmares with her prince watching over her in the night. Dom could take on anything or at least that is how she felt about him. He was her mate. They were two of a kind.
Torrie definitely had her plate full she thought the next day. She worked on the car every minute that she could steal away without Dom getting suspious but she could tell he was anyway. They were so close that how could he not be. It was going to take forever to do the engine and the body work. Brian quite honestly told her he could not handle it, he did not have the knowledge. She had to get Vince in on it. He thought it was such a nice thing and such a good idea that he assured her of course he would not tell Dom and ruin the surprise. The plan was to be finished for his birthday to give him the car as her present.
She had to tell Dom she was not going down to the garage till after lunch cause she had to go to 'The Racers Edge' for awhile. This was a lie but they were sending the charger off to have the frame straitened today and she needed to be there. But he needed to be gone. He almost saw them towing it off to have the frame fixed because he fought with her about missing time at the garage. She told him he knew she still had to oversee some things at the store and she was sorry but it was just for one morning.
The people came and got the car. The frame was very screwed up, they did not know if they could fix it. She hoped it could be put back to rights. If not then the front suspension would not go on right and then no car. It was stressing Torrie out and it was making her act secretive where as before Dom had believed the innocent act. It was blissful for her while the car was gone. It was going to take days to get the frame fixed and since the car was not there she would not have to make time for it. She spent the remainder of the first day watching Dom work in the garage.
She loved watching him work on cars. The play of his muscles while he lifted heavy things and used tools was spectacular. She was learning more about cars then ever before too. She had known a lot before but Dom was teaching her all the little things that her dad had always taken care of for her. She sort of stressed about whether they would be able to fix the charger or not but she figured if not then that was that.
On that first day it was gone she brought lunch to Dom on her supposed way from the store.
"Hey Dom, where you at boy?"
"Back here Torrie. You're early!"
"I got done early and went and got some lunch."
"Great I am starved. Whatcha get us?"
"Chinese food. Yum. I hope you like spicy food though cause that's how I like it."
"Of course I like it hot." He raised an eyebrow at her and she broke out laughing at his implication. They ate in the office on his desk. As they walked in he slammed his laptop closed and she thought she saw her name on the screen. Oh well she did not want to fight with Dom so she didn't ask. But she was sure it had been her name. Maybe it had been a work order or something. They ate and cleaned up the mess from the office.
"So now what Dom, you have a project for me?"
"Yep. You get to mask off the black Integra for its new paint job."
"Oh joy. You gave me that job because you know I hate that part."
"Nope I gave you that job because I hate that part and since I'm the boss I don't have to do it, I can tell one of the employees, that's you, to do it for me. But you get to paint it too."
"Ok then, as long as I get to do the fun part too. Is it going to be black again or did they pick a new color?"
"It is going to be nighthawk black instead of basic black."
"I love nighthawk black. I need a second car so I can have a black one. I love the paint on the Nissan too much to change it. Well I need a new project car anyway since there is nothing left to do to the Nissan." That should throw him off the trail of the charger. If he thought she was looking for a project then he would not think she was working on a car in her spare time.
"Well someone needs to either fix Jesse's Jetta or build him a new car. We can start looking for a car for him and you can work on it with him if you want."
Damn not what she had wanted. "Ok Dom, isn't he attached to the Jetta. Isn't it his dads?"
"Yep and his dad would be pissed about it if Jesse had not come so close to not being with us anymore. His dad will be out in two years."
"Well lets fix the Jetta for him then. We can make it better then ever. Maybe the boy can learn to race." She giggled. "He's the best mechanic I have ever seen but he is not much of a racer."
"Hey, the best mechanic you have ever seen?" Dom came and stood in front of her chair and looked down at her, faux hurt look on his face.
"Well Dom he is better with engines then you. You are the sexiest mechanic I have ever seen. You look better with tools then any other man alive. Does that make you feel better?"
"Only because you are the only woman I know that looks good covered in dirt and grease wearing nothing but my shorts falling off your ass and a wife- beater." She lifted his tank and kissed his tummy just above his bellybutton.
"You are too funny. Your shorts almost fit better then mine Mr small hips." He laughed at that and Torrie went off to mask the Integra for it's new paint job.
She was worried about the Charger still. The frame was the first thing she got done other then the interior which she had done that first night. She knew none of the other parts would go together right if the frame was still bent. She called the body shop that was doing it and they said that they had looked at it and were not sure if they could pull it or not. But if not they might be able to do something with it. She hoped so. Such as she could buy another charger with a good frame and rebuild in on that. She didn't want to do that because it seemed like the car would be too much new material then. She wanted to do a frame off restoration on this charger. She told the guy she really wanted it to be this charger as much as possible and he told her they would do their best.
They finished up their work at the garage for the day around 5 and headed home. They spent the night playing video games and watching TV then went to bed.
The next day Torrie was in a bad mode over the news that the car might not be fixable and was quiet at breakfast. And to make things even better she had to go to 'The Racers Edge' for real today and Dom was going to freak, thinking she was taking off on him two days in a row. She was quietly talking to Mia about the fact that she had to go to the store two days in a row and she was worried about what Dom would do when the man himself came into the kitchen and sat down at the breakfast table.
"How are my beautiful ladies this morning?" Dom was in a good mood. He looked at the black look on Torrie's face. "What's the matter Torrie?"
"Dom I have to go to the store again this morning. One of the clerks called in sick and the manager made her cry over it. She is one of the best workers we have and she might quit over it. So beyond the fact that it is the busy season and we are short staffed this asshole may have driven our best employee to quit on me."
"Torrie that is two days in a row you have taken off on me. This is not acceptable at all. The fact that we are involved does not give you special privileges you know!"
"It's not even about that Dom. You knew that I still had to take care of the store in some capacity when I came here so irregardless of what is up with us I still have to take care of my store. It is just half a day again and I can make it up tonight before we go racing."
"Well you'll have to cause you have to get the Integra ready for paint today. I mean it has to be masked, primed, sanded and ready for the base clear tomorrow."
"Fine Dom, It's not like I would chose dealing with this asshole over spending the day with you if I had a choice you know."
"I know, I know but we need you now that we are use to having you around helping us out you know."
"And when I settle this the store should not need me much for awhile. Unless Stacy quits, then I will be screwed."
"Well go try to save her and try to come back to the garage by lunch time."
"Yes sir!"
Mia had watched that exchange go down and was not pleased with Dom or how he handled it. She waited for Torrie to leave the house and listened for the throaty growl of the Nissan. Then she started in on Dom.
"Jesus Dom, what are you thinking treating her like that?"
"Mia this does not concern you."
"Yes it does cause Torrie is my friend. She can't help it if things come up. She did not start out to miss work today. Besides you owe her a day off for when you made her work sick. And telling her she was looking for special treatment because she is seeing you was totally uncalled for. Dom you really don't get women at all do you?"
"I get it fine but I don't see why the store runs itself for weeks and now all of a sudden she has to spend days in a row there."
"Well like she said Dom she would not chose to get yelled at by some ass manager over working with you so if she says she has to go then I think you owe her the benefit of the doubt."
"I guess so Mia but we really do need her at the garage and I don't want her to think that this is not a 'real job'. She can't play at it. She has to treat it like a real responsibility."
"And she told you she would make the time up tonight. I think I know math and that means she was up at 8, goes to the store till 12, gets lunch. Works for you from 1 to say 8, gets to eat something, goes to race meet with you till 12. That is one hell of a long day don't you think?"
"Ok ok, she is not doing it to cheat me I get it Mia. Point taken. I'll tell her I'm sorry when she gets to the garage this afternoon."
"Good Dom, she's a good girl but sensitive too. You need to think of her like you think of me, like a lady not a grease monkey. She was an only child and had indulgent parents. She never learned to cope with the kind of adversity we have dealt with."
"Mia I can't like of her like I do you, that's against so many moral and legal laws." He laughed at this.
"Dom Gross, go to work." He hugged her and ran out the door to head down to his garage. He had his own project to get done today.
They arrived home. There was a race meet that night the team was going to but she cried off to stay home and work on the car. She told him that she wanted to bath and read for awhile and she was not in the place for the loudness of the race meet. Dom wanted her there but was secretly happy that she trusted him enough to let him go without supervision. Letty would have gone even if she was sick as a dog just to make sure he didn't talk to or look at any racer chasers. Torrie was confident he would not do anything beyond talk. They all left and she headed out to work on the car.
The whole engine was going to need to be rebuilt and the body was wrecked. She started the body work first cause that is what she was good at. She ordered the parts she needed for the engine and body and she decided to replace the worst of the panels as they would be all fill if she did not. That meant replacing most of them, all the front clip was toast too. She hoped that this project was not too ambitious. She could not just go buy him a new Charger, it had to be this one. She would salvage what she could but a lot of it would have to be new. She got the interior put back to rights that night and took off all the wrecked panels. She made a list of what to order and was glad she could get lots of it at the store. She went down and let herself in. She placed her order then went home.
It was late that night when the Team came home. She had been waiting for them. She knew Dom raced and of course would have won. She wanted to look nice for the party she knew would happen at the house. She put on a top that was silver, it was like a bikini but it had fringe on the bottom to just above her belly button, with only a string strap around her neck and back. She paired it with a black mid thigh skirt that like most of her clothes since she got so thin, bared the straps of her thong, and knee high boots. She did her makeup dark and left her hair down long all around her. She watched the team and all the other racers arrive and could tell by the look on Dom's face everything went well. He opened the door and she jumped at him. She locked her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
"Missed you baby. I should have gone with you. Congratulations."
Dom kissed her. "Yum, you smell so good." She had found time to take that bath so her story would hold up. "I missed having my prize cheering for me and riding with me but I hope you enjoyed your relaxing evening." He was walking into the living room with her still hanging from his neck.
"Well of course I did but I missed you Dom. It is lonely here with the whole team gone."
"You were lonely eh?" Well you won't send me off to a race night on my own again then. Besides I miss you when you aren't around, chattering and making comments."
"Well missing me is good because now we can make up for lost time." She giggled.
"That sounds good." He kissed her again and when he came up for air there was a rousing round of applause. Torrie blushed but they got to the partying.
They partied all night and danced for hours. Torrie had a little too much to drink but nothing like last time. But she and Dom were all over each other all night. This was a piss off for all the racer chasers that came to the house only for a chance at Dom. His new girlfriend was still keeping his attention. They were not happy. Torrie was worried in the back of her mind they had never discussed what they were to each other. They just seemed to morph into more then friends with no more discussion on the matter. She was worried Dom would take that to mean she did not expect anything. But she did.
The other girls watched as Dom carried Torrie up to bed at 3am. He was so tender and sweet with her and it only made them want him more. He never came back down and if they could see upstairs they would know he fell into bed exhausted with Torrie. Torrie loved sleeping with Dom. He kept her feeling safe. And often tired her out before bed of course which helped her sleep too. No more nightmares with her prince watching over her in the night. Dom could take on anything or at least that is how she felt about him. He was her mate. They were two of a kind.
Torrie definitely had her plate full she thought the next day. She worked on the car every minute that she could steal away without Dom getting suspious but she could tell he was anyway. They were so close that how could he not be. It was going to take forever to do the engine and the body work. Brian quite honestly told her he could not handle it, he did not have the knowledge. She had to get Vince in on it. He thought it was such a nice thing and such a good idea that he assured her of course he would not tell Dom and ruin the surprise. The plan was to be finished for his birthday to give him the car as her present.
She had to tell Dom she was not going down to the garage till after lunch cause she had to go to 'The Racers Edge' for awhile. This was a lie but they were sending the charger off to have the frame straitened today and she needed to be there. But he needed to be gone. He almost saw them towing it off to have the frame fixed because he fought with her about missing time at the garage. She told him he knew she still had to oversee some things at the store and she was sorry but it was just for one morning.
The people came and got the car. The frame was very screwed up, they did not know if they could fix it. She hoped it could be put back to rights. If not then the front suspension would not go on right and then no car. It was stressing Torrie out and it was making her act secretive where as before Dom had believed the innocent act. It was blissful for her while the car was gone. It was going to take days to get the frame fixed and since the car was not there she would not have to make time for it. She spent the remainder of the first day watching Dom work in the garage.
She loved watching him work on cars. The play of his muscles while he lifted heavy things and used tools was spectacular. She was learning more about cars then ever before too. She had known a lot before but Dom was teaching her all the little things that her dad had always taken care of for her. She sort of stressed about whether they would be able to fix the charger or not but she figured if not then that was that.
On that first day it was gone she brought lunch to Dom on her supposed way from the store.
"Hey Dom, where you at boy?"
"Back here Torrie. You're early!"
"I got done early and went and got some lunch."
"Great I am starved. Whatcha get us?"
"Chinese food. Yum. I hope you like spicy food though cause that's how I like it."
"Of course I like it hot." He raised an eyebrow at her and she broke out laughing at his implication. They ate in the office on his desk. As they walked in he slammed his laptop closed and she thought she saw her name on the screen. Oh well she did not want to fight with Dom so she didn't ask. But she was sure it had been her name. Maybe it had been a work order or something. They ate and cleaned up the mess from the office.
"So now what Dom, you have a project for me?"
"Yep. You get to mask off the black Integra for its new paint job."
"Oh joy. You gave me that job because you know I hate that part."
"Nope I gave you that job because I hate that part and since I'm the boss I don't have to do it, I can tell one of the employees, that's you, to do it for me. But you get to paint it too."
"Ok then, as long as I get to do the fun part too. Is it going to be black again or did they pick a new color?"
"It is going to be nighthawk black instead of basic black."
"I love nighthawk black. I need a second car so I can have a black one. I love the paint on the Nissan too much to change it. Well I need a new project car anyway since there is nothing left to do to the Nissan." That should throw him off the trail of the charger. If he thought she was looking for a project then he would not think she was working on a car in her spare time.
"Well someone needs to either fix Jesse's Jetta or build him a new car. We can start looking for a car for him and you can work on it with him if you want."
Damn not what she had wanted. "Ok Dom, isn't he attached to the Jetta. Isn't it his dads?"
"Yep and his dad would be pissed about it if Jesse had not come so close to not being with us anymore. His dad will be out in two years."
"Well lets fix the Jetta for him then. We can make it better then ever. Maybe the boy can learn to race." She giggled. "He's the best mechanic I have ever seen but he is not much of a racer."
"Hey, the best mechanic you have ever seen?" Dom came and stood in front of her chair and looked down at her, faux hurt look on his face.
"Well Dom he is better with engines then you. You are the sexiest mechanic I have ever seen. You look better with tools then any other man alive. Does that make you feel better?"
"Only because you are the only woman I know that looks good covered in dirt and grease wearing nothing but my shorts falling off your ass and a wife- beater." She lifted his tank and kissed his tummy just above his bellybutton.
"You are too funny. Your shorts almost fit better then mine Mr small hips." He laughed at that and Torrie went off to mask the Integra for it's new paint job.
She was worried about the Charger still. The frame was the first thing she got done other then the interior which she had done that first night. She knew none of the other parts would go together right if the frame was still bent. She called the body shop that was doing it and they said that they had looked at it and were not sure if they could pull it or not. But if not they might be able to do something with it. She hoped so. Such as she could buy another charger with a good frame and rebuild in on that. She didn't want to do that because it seemed like the car would be too much new material then. She wanted to do a frame off restoration on this charger. She told the guy she really wanted it to be this charger as much as possible and he told her they would do their best.
They finished up their work at the garage for the day around 5 and headed home. They spent the night playing video games and watching TV then went to bed.
The next day Torrie was in a bad mode over the news that the car might not be fixable and was quiet at breakfast. And to make things even better she had to go to 'The Racers Edge' for real today and Dom was going to freak, thinking she was taking off on him two days in a row. She was quietly talking to Mia about the fact that she had to go to the store two days in a row and she was worried about what Dom would do when the man himself came into the kitchen and sat down at the breakfast table.
"How are my beautiful ladies this morning?" Dom was in a good mood. He looked at the black look on Torrie's face. "What's the matter Torrie?"
"Dom I have to go to the store again this morning. One of the clerks called in sick and the manager made her cry over it. She is one of the best workers we have and she might quit over it. So beyond the fact that it is the busy season and we are short staffed this asshole may have driven our best employee to quit on me."
"Torrie that is two days in a row you have taken off on me. This is not acceptable at all. The fact that we are involved does not give you special privileges you know!"
"It's not even about that Dom. You knew that I still had to take care of the store in some capacity when I came here so irregardless of what is up with us I still have to take care of my store. It is just half a day again and I can make it up tonight before we go racing."
"Well you'll have to cause you have to get the Integra ready for paint today. I mean it has to be masked, primed, sanded and ready for the base clear tomorrow."
"Fine Dom, It's not like I would chose dealing with this asshole over spending the day with you if I had a choice you know."
"I know, I know but we need you now that we are use to having you around helping us out you know."
"And when I settle this the store should not need me much for awhile. Unless Stacy quits, then I will be screwed."
"Well go try to save her and try to come back to the garage by lunch time."
"Yes sir!"
Mia had watched that exchange go down and was not pleased with Dom or how he handled it. She waited for Torrie to leave the house and listened for the throaty growl of the Nissan. Then she started in on Dom.
"Jesus Dom, what are you thinking treating her like that?"
"Mia this does not concern you."
"Yes it does cause Torrie is my friend. She can't help it if things come up. She did not start out to miss work today. Besides you owe her a day off for when you made her work sick. And telling her she was looking for special treatment because she is seeing you was totally uncalled for. Dom you really don't get women at all do you?"
"I get it fine but I don't see why the store runs itself for weeks and now all of a sudden she has to spend days in a row there."
"Well like she said Dom she would not chose to get yelled at by some ass manager over working with you so if she says she has to go then I think you owe her the benefit of the doubt."
"I guess so Mia but we really do need her at the garage and I don't want her to think that this is not a 'real job'. She can't play at it. She has to treat it like a real responsibility."
"And she told you she would make the time up tonight. I think I know math and that means she was up at 8, goes to the store till 12, gets lunch. Works for you from 1 to say 8, gets to eat something, goes to race meet with you till 12. That is one hell of a long day don't you think?"
"Ok ok, she is not doing it to cheat me I get it Mia. Point taken. I'll tell her I'm sorry when she gets to the garage this afternoon."
"Good Dom, she's a good girl but sensitive too. You need to think of her like you think of me, like a lady not a grease monkey. She was an only child and had indulgent parents. She never learned to cope with the kind of adversity we have dealt with."
"Mia I can't like of her like I do you, that's against so many moral and legal laws." He laughed at this.
"Dom Gross, go to work." He hugged her and ran out the door to head down to his garage. He had his own project to get done today.