Chapter Thirteen: Two Brothers
1338 Words
Hannah spent an hour at the realtors office situating her new place. She couldn't wait to move. She dreaded the thought of going back to Green Valley. She was exhausted from all the emotions that the day had brought upon her. She wanted nothing more than a hot bubble bath and a book. However, she knew that she had one more place to go before she could go home and try to relax.
It was 1:30 pm. when she pulled up to Grease Monkey Garage. Hannah took a big sigh, pulled up her big girl panties, and walked inside.
"Hi there," a younger man greeted her with a warm smile.
He was probably about 25 years old, very cute, and very attentive.
"Welcome to Grease Monkey Garage," the man added.
"Thank you. My name is Hannah, and I was hoping that someone would have time to look at my car today," she stated.
"Well, Ma'am, we may be able to fit you in, depending on the problem," the man stated. "By the way, my name is Blake. It is a pleasure to meet you," he shook her hand. "So what exactly is the problem with your car?"
"Well, I don't know how to say this, but I think someone may have put a tracking device on my car, and possibly even a wire tap. I'd like someone to completely look it over," Hannah explained, almost embarrassed as she said the words.
Blake gave Hannah a Hugh sigh of shock. He had never had a customer ask for such a thing before.
"Well, since it's not an emergency, we may be able to fit you in in a little while if you want to wait, but right now, we are booked straight. Would you like to hang out for an available technician," the man asked kindly? "We have a nice quiet waiting area in the other room over there," Blake pointed.
"Yes, please, that would be great. Thank you," Hannah breathed a sigh of relief as she handed him the keys.
Hannah then went on her way into the waiting room, sat in a leather recliner, grabbed a magazine, and began to flip through it to kill some time.
Thankully for Hannah, the waiting area was quite comfortable. She had been so stressed that day that once she finally relaxed a little bit, she could have easily fallen asleep. After about 30 minutes, she switched from the magazine to the TV that was on for the customers. She watched the History Channel with a little old man, who must have been about 85 years old.
An hour and a half later, Hannah felt a tap on her should. Blake gently put his hand on her. She had indeed fallen asleep.
"I'm sorry to wake you, Ma'am, but your car is ready," he told her kindly.
Hannah smiled at him appreciatively and began to stand up. However, Hannah immediately got light-headed from this sudden movement. She began to lose her balance.
Fortunately for Hannah, Blake caught her before she went down. Holding her in his arms, Hannah felt safe, which was something she hadn't felt in a while.
"Thank you.... I'm okay," she gained her bearings again.
"Are you sure? You look pale," Blake described her appearance.
"I ahhhhh....I guess I just didn't eat today, that must be it," she assured him.
"Well...okay...if you are sure you're okay to stand," he began to let go of her.
In that very moment, Cole walked through the front door. He took one look at Blake holding Hannah, and he stopped in his tracks. He locked eyes with her, completely in shock. She was the last person he had expected to see in his shop. He then switched his gaze to Blake.
"I don't know what you're doing, Blake, but I don't pay you to cahoot with the customers," he gave him the word!
"She fainted, Cole," Blake barked back!
"I guess she is lucky that you were there then," Cole responded, a little less harsh.
Cole glanced one more time at Hannah and then back again to Blake.
"She seems to be fine now. Please get back to the desk," he ordered cooley and continued walking towards the back room.
Hannah stood up and smiled at Blake and trying to not be too distraught by the arrival of Cole.
"Thank you," she said warmly.
"Don't worry about him, Ma'am. My brother's just in a bad mood. He has been for several weeks now," Blake tried to explain his brother's actions.
"His brother," Hannah picked up on! That explains a lot. Now that she thought about it, they do have similar appearances. They also both have a very caring side, even though Cole wasn't showing it today. She wondered why he acted this way towards her. He didn't even so much as acknowledge that he knew her.
Here, all this time, she thought what they had was special. She had felt a spark, a real connection with Cole. Clearly, though, he was just an asshole in disguise. Hannah was glad that she learned it early on. She could have easily fallen hard and fast for him. She knew that as a fact.
Blake then escorted Hannah to the counter.
"Well, it turns out, Miss Hannah, that you were correct. Someone did put a tracking device on your car. We removed it, so you should be all set," Blake added as a comfort.
"I knew it," she said, "that bastard!"
Blake was a little shocked by her reaction.
"Anyway, your total is $39 dollars. I'll need a last name for the records also," he indicated to Hannah.
"Hanson," she said to Blake as she handed him the cash.
He smiled at her hearing this. "What a coincidence! Did you fall in love with me already and take my last name," Blake joked!
Hannah appreciated the sarcasm.
"Why, I thought you loved me, kind sir," she gave out her best southern belle accent!
The two of them chuckled together.
"I should tell you that you'll need to make a follow-up appointment to get that spare tire changed out. You shouldn't leave that one on long-term. Do you want me to put you in the books," he asked?
"Yes, please! I had almost forgotten about that," Hannah admitted.
She then started to feel a little lightheaded again. She gripped hold of the counter for some additional support to stabilize herself.
Feeling like dejavu, Blake ran around and steadied her.
"I'm taking you to eat," he ordered. "You can't drive in this condition!"
"No, I can't...," She tried to say.
However, Blake cut her off.
"I'm not taking no for an answer from you! Wait right here; I'll be right back? he advised!"
Blake hurried to the back. Hannah could hear him talking with Cole. It didn't seem like a corgile conversation, either..
"Where are you going," Cole asked?
"Out! Cover the desk for a while for me, Brother," Blake demanded and took off back toward Hannah. He then put one hand under her arm, another behind her back, and helped her toward the door.
Hannah gave one final glance toward Cole, as he was now entering the room, seemingly trying to catch up to his brother. Their eyes locked again. In that moment, she saw a bit of jealousy in them, which caused her heart to ache.
Blake escorted Hannah to his Jeep, and he helped her inside.
Althoughshe didnt know why, but she trusted him fully.
"Chinese, Mexican, Burgers, pasta, what do you fancy," he asked her?
"I'm so hungry, I could go for anything," she admitted. "Surprise me!"
"Okay, Madam, your wish is my command," Blake happily assured her as he bolted out of the Grease Monkey Garage parking lot.
One large jolt forward reminded Hannah that she should buckle. Blake seemed to be a daredevil driver. Hannah quickly clicked her belt around her waist.
"Hold on tight!" Blake tugged on her seat belt! "Good food waits for no one," he winked at her!
- Writer
