6. Braxton

Getting to see Rowen throughout the day has been nothing short of amazing. I'm already rethinking this whole keeping-us-a-secret thing when I hear a new vehicle pull up outside of the bay I'm working in. The car I'm working on is more rust than car, but that's not my problem. No, that would be getting the old alternator out to replace it. Most times, I love my job, until a car like this comes in. It's not like I can tell the owner, ‘Hey this thing belongs in a junkyard.' Especially since it's an elderly lady who I know for a fact is on a fixed income, which means she'll be getting a good discount once I can get this old part out of her delipidated vehicle.

I look up after I hear the slamming of a door. The music is lower on the volume side today. The only time I turn it up like it was yesterday is when the guys are gone or close to leaving for the day and I'm working later. Which I know for a fact Rowen must have been watching to know that I'd be by myself.

"What's up, Bridger? You looking for Rowen?" I ask him while still attempting to work on loosening the bolt but looking at him before going back to my job at hand.

"Not much. Yeah, Dad mentioned you were working on her car and gave her a job. What's wrong with her car?" he asks.

"What's not wrong would be a shorter list. She's in my truck until I can make sure it's good from top to bottom." I nod my head towards the door leading to the inside of my office, not sure how I'm able to maintain my composure and not be pissed as hell at him for letting Rowen drive on bald tires and fucked-up brakes. I won't even start on the fact that she barely had any oil in it and there was a slight knocking when I pulled it in. Christ, that woman needs me in her life for more than what's going on between us.

"Send me the bill," he grumbles.

"I'm not touching that with a ten-foot pole. You'll have to take that up with your sister." I know her. She won't take his handouts. Hell, when I mentioned I'd take care of it, she wasn't having any of that either, throwing her attitude at me. It was cute as hell and had me kissing her to shut her up.

"I wish she had told me it was that bad." Bridger is looking around the shop. I don't usually let people who aren't on my payroll in here for insurance purposes, but with Bridger, I know there's nothing to worry about.

"Apparently, she did tell both you and your pops. I don't know when it was, but she said other shit was going on." I finally loosen the bolt, and it makes a loud bang. That's about the time Rowen comes out, papers in her hand, hair up in a bun with a pencil shoved through it, and the reading glasses she uses while on the computer.

"Fuck, not that I'm ungrateful she came to you for her car being fixed. And that better be all she's coming to you for too. I'm not a fucking idiot. She's had her doe eyes on you for years. I respect you, but I'll go to any lengths to protect my baby sister, even if that means protecting her from you." His finger is pointed at me. Rowen heard the whole fucking conversation. He really is a fucking tool.

"Are you freaking kidding me right now? You're coming into my place of work acting like some overbearing dumbass. I'm pretty sure I can take care of myself. And my love life is my own, even if it is non-existent at this point. If you or Dad can't handle it, then I suggest you look the other way. Not that it's any of your business anyways. Get this straight right now, Bridger Robert Jennings. I am your sister. A sister you're meant to treat with respect, and the way you're acting right now, I'm not sure I want to look at you, much less talk to you." Rowen's face is beet red. Not only that, the way Bridger was talking earlier, his voice might be deep, but it carried, so I'm sure Rowen's more pissed that the two other mechanics on duty just heard her brother talk about her like she's a child, right after she gained their respect earlier this morning. I shake my head because as much as I want to step in, Rowen would have my balls if I did.

"Ro." Bridger swallows, trying to come up with the right words. Something tells me there's nothing he could say right about now.

She ignores him completely. "Mrs. Williams is on the phone and would like to set up a payment plan. I did that for her. She could only afford ten dollars a month. I know that's not something you usually do, but she can't do much more."

"That's fine. Make sure she gets the senior citizen discount too. It's in the papers I gave you this morning." I nod at her, letting her know I agree with what she did. Rowen's face turns soft when she sees she didn't fuck up, unlike her brother here.

"Bridger, if you don't have an apology for not only me but for Braxton, please don't say anything at all. I really thought more of my brother. You're lucky that Kellie deals with your pain in the ass self." She turns on her heel and marches away.

"Shit, my sisters sure know how to put me in my place. I better go and beg for her forgiveness, but I'll be damned if I apologize to you." He runs his hand down his face.

"I'll only say this once. You keep pushing, you're liable to lose her, and I am not for one minute going to let you get between Rowen and me, not when she and I are the only ones in this equation." So much for Rowen and me keeping shit to ourselves. But after the way he talked about her and then how he talked to me, there's no fucking way I'll stand for that.

"I'll deal with you later. If she goes home upset, Mom will know, and then it could land her in the hospital. Nice job, asshole," he tries to pin this bullshit on me.

"Low blow, even for someone like you. You're the only person who's upset her today. I'm making up for three years' worth of hurt. It's only the beginning for me, but at least I'm man enough to admit my mistakes." With that, I get back to work. Bridger is left standing there once again without a word to say. Something has to give, and I'm sure as hell not going to have him throw blows even if they are verbal to me or Rowen.

"Son of a bitch," he mumbles before he stomps out of my garage bay like he's a toddler. Rowen isn't wrong. I'm not sure how Kellie deals with him. Then again, I'm not sure how Rowen has dealt with me and my shit all this time. Now that shit is out in the open, I'll be taking my woman on a proper date. The Fall Festival will be just the ticket. I know it's Rowen's favorite thing to do every year. Yeah, I'm going to love making up with her. I get back to work, giving Rowen some breathing room before letting her know the shit that went down after she left.