Chapter 20: Getting Car Parts

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"Hey," Dom said.

"Hi," July replied.

"Ready to go?"

"Yup," she said taking a step back from the door.

Dom grabbed his keys and then came out. He smelled masculine and clean and July couldn't help but take a deep breath in; he smelled good. Dom's shirt was unbuttoned on the top and she could see a smooth expansion of tan muscle. Tingles rippled across her flesh as she envisioned what lay beneath the shirt.

Snap out of it, he's going to think something's wrong with you if you just stand there staring, July said to herself.

"Let's go," Dom said after noticing that July was staring and decided to break her out of her reverie. He saw the faint blush that tinted her cheeks and started to study her. July looked up to see Dom staring at her just as intently as she had.

Well, two can play that game, July thought with a smirk.

"Okay," she said and turned around. She confidently walked down the steps and looked over her shoulder to see if he was following; he hadn't. "Yo, Dom, are you just going to stand there all day and look at my butt or are we going to go get parts?"

Dom couldn't stop the shock expression that crossed his face but when he realized she was playing with him, he grinned back at her.

"Yeah," he said, slowly walking down the steps.

"Yes to which part?"

"Both," he replied laughing and July rolled her eyes at his typical make reply.

They both got into the Seven and after stepping down on the clutch, Dom started the car. Releasing the emergency brake, he slid it into reverse and rolled down the driveway.

"This is nice," July said admiring the car. It was a really nice car; there was no doubting that.

"Thanks," Dom said as he put the car into first and shot off with a squeal and a slight burn of rubber. July scrambled to get her seat belt on and Dom laughed at her. "Don't tell me you're scared."

"No, I'd just like to live to see tomorrow," she snapped back and Dom chuckled. He slowed down his driving a bit and saw her settled more comfortably into her seat. As Dom drove, July took mental notes of all the stops and turns and they soon arrived at Racer's Edge.

"Here we are," Dom said, pulling the car into a parking spot. "Oh, Jesse wanted me to give you this," he said handing her the scrap of paper with the list of parts on it.

"What's this for?" she asked reading it over.

"Jess just told me to give it to you and said if you wanted to race, this is what you would. We never really question what Jesse says about the cars, he's always right. So if Jesse says you need this, then you need it." He saw her read over the list again and glanced over at him.

"This is going to cost quite a bit," July muttered and contemplated buying the parts. She had the money, more than enough, but she didn't know if she should buy them.

"If money is an issue then wait or just buy a part or two."

"No, it's not really an issue, I'm just not sure whether to buy it," she said and started to chew on her lip. This automatically caught Dom's attention and he was drawn to her lips. Dom wetted his lip and started to lean forward, he didn't have a clue what he was doing. They were both startled when Dom's pocket began to ring. Dom quickly leaned back and took out his cell phone.

"Talk," Dom growled into the phone. "Okay…Maybe…We'll be back in a while…Bye."

While Dom was talking, July figured that she would buy the parts but after this, she wasn't going to touch the money unless she needed to. She would need a job; she wouldn't be able to sit around the house all day and do nothing.

"So what was that about?" she asked Dom as soon as he hung up.

"Just Vince, Jesse wants a couple of parts while we're down here."

"Oh."

"You still want to get the parts right?"

"Yeah, we didn't make this trip for nothing. I'm not leaving here empty handed."

"Believe me, you won't," Dom said.

They both got out of Dom's car and headed into The Racer's Edge. July was amazed. This was definitely a racing parts store. She didn't think she had heard of some of the stuff that was sitting on the shelf. Rims lined the walls near the ceiling and there were a variety of racing parts in display cases.

"Hello Dom," a man behind the counter greeted. He was kind of stocky and his dark blonde hair was starting to gray a bit. He wore a happy smile on his face and stuck out his hand for Dom to shake.

"Harry," Dom said taking the offered hand and shaking it.

"And who is this lovely lady?" Harry asked turning towards July.

"This is July, she's new," Dom said. "July, this is Harry. He's the owner."

July and Harry shook hands and she couldn't help the feeling of familiarity that Harry also gave her.

"So what can I do for you?" Harry asked turning back to Dom, but he simply turned to July, nodding at her.

"I need some parts. Here," July said, bringing out the list she had made. "The front is parts for a 1991 Toyota Soarer and on the back is a list for a 1968 Chevy Nova." She put the list on the counter. Harry picked it up and looked over it.

"Jesse's list?" Dom asked.

"Oh yeah." July pulled out the second list and put it out on the counter.

"This is Jesse's list for the Soarer," Dom said as Harry picked it up and read it.

"Sweetheart, these are going to cost a pretty penny, you sure you want them all?"

"Yup."

"Why don't you go look around, see if there is anything else you like while I talk to Harry?" Dom whispered into July's ear. She nodded at him and then turned and went exploring around the store.

"Now Harry, I consider you a great partner in business. Wouldn't want to mess that up now would we?" Harry nodded his head no. "So do you have the parts she needs or not?" Dom asked.

"I've got the general," Harry said typing on the computer. "Jesse's list is going to be a bit harder to get along with the parts for the Nova. I got all the general stuff she'll need like the fluids and coolant but the other specific parts, I don't have those, or anything on Jesse's list. I'll put the order in but they won't be here till Monday. That's the best I can do."

"Monday is good," July said, startling Dom and Harry.

"You sure?" Dom asked.

"Yeah, if we just get the general stuff for now that's fine. Plus Mike and I can come get everything on Monday when he comes."

Dom turned around to tell Harry to get the stuff when July's sentence sunk in. July drifted across the store as she caught sight of some rims she liked and was totally oblivious to Dom who was staring at her and mouthing the name 'Mike'.

"So you want the what I got in stock?" Harry asked again for clarification.

"Yeah and place the order for the other parts. I also need some parts too," Dom added and relayed what Vince had said Jesse needed.

"Want me to put that on your tab?"

"Sure," Dom said as July came back over to them. "Find anything you like?" Dom asked smiling.

"Oh yeah," she said grinning. "So how much do I owe you Harry?" Harry calculated the bill and July paid for it with her bankcard. Dom's curiosity went into overdrive as she paid the large bill without so much as a blink of an eye. Something was definitely up. Now way could this girl have that much money on her without being involved in something.

"Okay, I'll go get what you guys need and then you can either come in Monday and pick up the other parts or we can deliver them," Harry said giving her a list of her purchases.

"I'll be by Monday to pick them up. I want Mike to see this place," July said looking around. Mike would absolutely love it. Harry chuckled at July before disappearing into the back.

"So who is Mike?" Dom asked as they were left alone.

"Mike is my best friend. He's coming Monday," July answered absentmindedly, her eyes not leaving the display case she was studying.

"From Texas?"

The question caught July's attention and she turned to look at Dom. "Yes. He left this morning or at least I hope he did."

"He's going to be staying with you?"

"Yeah, he's my best friend, where else would he stay? Plus my house is big. I've got two guest rooms, and if I needed to I could make room for people to sleep in the basement or the attic. I have plenty of room, so there is no need for him to stay in a motel."

Dom didn't say anything. July got the feeling that he didn't like the fact that Mike was going to stay with her and she couldn't figure out why.

"What are you doing tonight?" Dom asked after a moment.

"Nothing. I'm not going to start on the cars yet because I promised Mike I would wait for him. Why? What's going on tonight?"

"Well, I figured if you weren't doing anything tonight you could come to races with me," he suggested as he leaned against the counter so he was closer to her face.

"Really?" July asked, hoping Dom wasn't messing with her.

"Yeah, I mean, if you want to race you need to get to know your competition."

"Sure," she replied without hesitation. "Sounds like fun."

"We always have a party afterwards at the house."

"Why is it always at your house?"

"Because this fool always wins," a voice said from behind them. They both turned to find a Hispanic guy standing there with a grin on his face.

"Hector," Dom said shaking his hand.

"Dom, and who is this gorgeous chica?" Hector asked turning toward July. July smiled and stuck out her hand.

"I'm July."

"Hector. Never seen you around before," he said shaking her hand, as he looked her up and down.

"I'm new here," July replied.

Before Hector could ask his next question, Harry interrupted him.

"Dom, it's all ready," he said, standing behind the counter again. "If you want to bring your car around the back so we can load it up."

"Sure," Dom said, nodding to Hector and walking towards the door.

"You going to races tonight?" Hector asked July as she started to follow Dom out the door.

"Yeah."

"Well I'll see ya there," Hector said with a wink.

July walked out the door, waving bye and got into Dom's car.

They pulled into the back of Harry's store and loaded up the stuff and then left. The ride home was filled with idle chatting which had lulled to silence by the time Dom had pulled into her drive way and shut off the car.

"Thanks for helping with the parts Dom," July said unbuckling her seatbelt.

"No problem," he replied.

They got out of the car and Dom opened the trunk while July opened the garage. They carried in the parts and set them on the workbench. Dom looked around and was impressed. The garage was spacious and July had almost every tool she would need. Then his gaze landed on the cars and he fell silent. The cars glistened with the light that was coming in through the door. Slowly, Dom circled the cars and analyzed them. July just watched as he trailed around and ran his hand over them.

"So what do you think?" she asked.

"They're nice," Dom answered, coming to stand next to her and look at the cars.

"Yeah, I can't wait till I get them running," July said just as her belly gave a loud rumble and she blushed slightly.

"You hungry?"

"Yeah, I didn't eat too much this morning," July admitted, looking down at the parts.

"Come on, let's go get lunch. I know this really good place."

July agreed and together they closed up the garage and got into Dom's car again.

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tbc…