Beautifully Broken (2 page)

             
I went into the back and pulled out the things I’d need for the day, brake cleaner, paper towels, and a tube of grease. My tool box was bright pink, a gift from Harry and the guys after I’d hit six months here. I loved it. In the garage we only had one bay with a lift and that’s usually where I ended up so that’s the side where my box sat. I put my supplies up on the top of the box and grabbed my hair tie and bandana and headed towards the wash room. The washroom wasn’t somewhere I visited often. It was covered with grease and oil and god only knows what else. Don’t get me wrong I was far from prissy and even farther from being girly but this was one thing I would avoid. I’d walk across the street to pee before chancing anything in here. Once inside I quickly went to work getting myself ready for the day. My coveralls were tied around my waist already so I didn’t bother with that. I pulled my bangs and pinned them up and out of my face, carefully avoiding looking into my eyes. Next I pulled my long hair up tightly into a ponytail before tying up my bandana to keep any fly aways out of my face. Once I was finished I made my way back into the office to tidy up. I liked helping Susan keep things neat. Susan ran our office for the most part and was Harry’s wife. She’s a sweet older woman and someone I would imagine would be an amazing grandmother. Unfortunately for me I had never known my grandparents and judging the way my parents turned out I highly doubted they were anything like Susan. Harry reminded me of a slightly taller Danny DeVito. He was stocky with a round belly and balding head that he struggled to cover with barely there hair. Susan was your everyday southern grandmotherly type. Her white hair was always perfectly curled and her glasses hung from her neck by a gold chain. She was thin and dainty and I couldn’t imagine how a southern belle like her got with a man like Harry, but they loved each other and no one could deny that.

             
Thankfully when I applied here, Harry and Susan let me work under the table. So no need to provide them with any kind of identification. I gave them a name and they took it to be my real one. No one in sleepy Oliver knew who I really was and it was best that I kept it that way. The less they knew the better. I unlocked the office door just as I seen Susan and Harry pull up. Not even a minute after we opened the bell chimed notifying me of our first customer. “Hello again.” I heard the amusement in his voice before I even turned around. “Cole! My boy! It’s good to see you back!” Harry was slapping the poor guy on the back and giving him a bear hug that a grizzly would be jealous of as I turned around. Cole smiled and took the whole thing in stride as he watched my face. “Good to see ya Harry. Miss Susan.” He said politely as Harry let him go, leaving his once smooth button up shirt wrinkled with a smudge of grease on the front. I found it funny Harry hadn’t even started work and already he was covered in muck. “Oh my where are my manners at today!” Susan cried. I shook my head vigorously, already knowing where this was going. “No, no Miss Susan, we already met!” I yelled, trying to cut her off before she made introductions. Cole smiled wider as he lazily hung his thumbs from his snug blue jean pockets. “I’m sorry miss, you must be mistaken. I’d remember meeting a gal like you.” He drawled and I narrowed my eyes at him. I had to give him credit. The guy was good. “Well Cole Bradley, this here is our Marley girl.” Susan said sweetly as she squeezed my shoulders together.

             
Cole smiled and stuck out his hand as he had done a few times already. This time I took it and squeezed as hard as I could. The man didn’t even grimace. That stupid smile stayed stuck on his face, enhancing dimples I hadn’t seen before. “It is great to meet you Marley. Do you have a last name?” He asked. I opened my mouth to let out a sassy retort but Miss Susan jumped the gun yet again. “Marley Masters. Isn’t that just the sweetest name you ever heard?” She cooed. You would think she was gushing over her own grand babies the way she was cooing. “The very sweetest.” Cole laughed as I finally let him go. I was standing next to Miss Susan, grumpily waiting for Cole to get to the point of his impromptu visit. “Well Harry, I heard you had one of the best new mechanics in town so I wanted to bring Old Louise to them. See if they can’t get that knocking squeal outta her.” I rolled my eyes and groaned, knowing exactly what was to come next. “Well Marley Masters here is my finest mechanic. She’ll get Louise up and running and with an extra fifty years on her by the time she finishes up.” Harry announced proudly. He even stuck out his chest which for a man of his robust size was a feat for it to noticeably stick out over his waist. “Well then. Marley Masters. Would you do me the honor of fixing up old Louise?” a playful smile threatened his lips and I could tell he was struggling to hold it together.

             
I sighed, “Yes I am Harry’s finest mechanic, and I am also his only mechanic.” I growled. I didn’t want to help this cocky grinned golden boy any more than I wanted to roast myself in a pit. Cole and I stared at each other, me with my sour puss face and him with his amused grin and delicious dimples. Those damn dimples made him too dagum attractive for his own good. “Well looks like it’s settled than. Are you ready?” He asked. I found his arching eyebrows way to sexy as I watched him. “What?” I asked, totally missing what he just said. “Louise is at my house. I can’t get her to crank.” I looked hesitatingly over at Harry and Susan praying they would give me an out. I knew I wouldn’t be that lucky as both Harry and Susan smiled widely. “Sure! You two go right ahead!” Harry beamed. I however, wasn’t giving up that easily. “How do you expect me to work on the vehicle with no tools?” I asked smugly. Of course Cole leaned against the door frame and leveled me with an equally smug grin. “I have tools. And before you say it, I have a lift, and everything else that you will need.” Man…this guy was good. He covered all of his bases and then some. He hitched his thumb in a motion to guide me and I grumbled as I stalked forward. “You kids have fun!” Susan called out.

             
Once outside the sun was finally shining brightly. “Would you mind driving? I haven’t driven in over a year and I’d rather not start with you.” Cole laughed. We climbed into my mustang and I looked over. “Where to oh golden child.” I asked spitefully. Cole laughed and pointed up the hill, “Bradley farm.” I was familiar with the Bradley’s. Loved them even though I tried not to. Miss Michelle was the best cook in three counties and I would die a happy woman if I could get my hands on those apple sugar cookies of hers. “Good, hopefully your momma’s cooking today.” I could barely contain my drool Cole chuckled and shook his head. There were those dimples again and try as I may ignoring the flutter he produced in my stomach was going to be hard.

Chapter Two

             
Oliver wasn’t a big place so the drive out to the Bradley farm barely took five minutes. As I pulled up to the cream and green colored house I was struck with how beautiful it was. It didn’t matter how many times I would visit, which depending on what Miss Michelle was baking could be a lot, it was always so beautiful and my favorite place to be. Colorful flowers lined the area around the porch and a wide green yard spread out in front of it, complete with a thick tree, dripping with Spanish moss and a tire swing. The huge grey barn was off to the left and Adam Bradley was walking out of it. Adam Bradley was the town’s go to guy when it came to practically anything. He was the town’s mayor as well as our town physician. Truthfully I was surprised he wasn’t the sheriff too. Overall he was a pretty swell guy. I never even put two and two together that the two Bradley’s were related. Although watching Adam come out of the barn was more like a duh moment. Even though his hair was a couple shades darker and streaked with grey, his blue eyes unmistakably matched Cole’s.

             
Adam noticed my car and a wide smile spread across his weathered face. The Bradley’s also owned the biggest farm in Oliver. “Marley!” He called out in greeting as Cole and I exited my car. He enveloped me in a strong hug that I loved. He always smelled vaguely of tobacco, peppermint and farm and oddly enough I found that mixture comforting. “Mr. Bradley. Is Miss Michelle inside?” Michelle Bradley was the type of mother that I would have dreamt of having. She wore her stretch marks, wrinkles and grey hair with motherly pride. “She sure is darlin’ and if I’m not mistaken she is pulling out some fresh baked apple cookies.” My mouth watered instantly at the mention of her apple cookies and I took off without a second glance towards Cole.

             
The screen door smacked closed behind me as I entered the Bradley’s kitchen. My first week here Michelle Bradley treated me to a box of her freshly baked apple sugar cookies and I’ve been hooked ever since. Michelle had a thing for apples. And when I say a thing, I really mean obsession. Her white frilly curtains were covered with apple trees and a waiting wheel barrow sitting underneath to collect falling apples. Her utensils all were adorned with decorative apples and even her wall paper finishes off with a design of apples. “Marley!” Michelle turned and smiled and there were those dagum dimples again. How did I miss this? “Miss Michelle.” I said as I snatched a warm cookie from her cooling tray. “What brings you round here?” She asking popping a tray of cookie dough into the oven. Mrs. Bradley always smelled like apples, vanilla and something that distinctively smelled like baked goods. She was warm and friendly and wasn’t shy about anything. I also found her stunning. She was a bit more on the stocky side with an hour glass shape that rivaled Marilyn Monroe, Her shoulder length brown hair was streaked with gray and her lips were puffy and full.  “Your son needs me to look at his truck.” I said barely containing the huge bite of cookie in my mouth. “Oh that’s wonderful that you met Cole!” Her eyes twinkled as she spoke of him. “He’s such a good boy.” She sighed. I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying something smart.

             
The screen door opened and slammed causing me to jump and almost drop the remainder of my cookie. I glared at Cole as he sauntered into the kitchen. “Did you come here to steal cookies from my momma or did you come here to fix my truck?” Cole asked as he leaned against the counter and smiled. Miss Michelle swatted him with a towel as I swallowed my last bite of the heavenly cookie. “Both. Point me in the direction of Old Louise.” I said as I jumped off the countertop. Miss Michelle’s eyes grew wide. “You’re having her fix up Old Louise?” Miss Michelle’s voice was full of astonishment and something else I couldn’t seem to place. “Well Harry did say she was the best mechanic in town. Why not?” Michelle jutted out her hip and leveled him with a glare only a mother was capable of, “Cole Elijah Bradley! You know exactly why not!” She scolded. My confused stare passed between the two as I watched them. Slowly I reached behind Miss Michelle and stealthily snatched another cookie. No sense in wasting the trip after all. “Momma, if anyone can figure out Old Louise it be her. Even Harry said so.” He argued. A strand of his sun kissed blonde hair fell into his eyes and I had to fight the urge to push it aside. Michelle rolled her eyes dramatically before breaking out into a wide dimpled smile. “Alright. Take her out back and show her where she is.” Cole smiled and threw himself forward, wrapping his arms tightly around her and kissing her loudly on her cheek. I wanted to laugh, smile, and show that I thought the gesture was adorable but I couldn’t afford that kind of display. I couldn’t open up that much.

             
Cole waved his hand for me to follow and we took off out of the heavenly smelling kitchen and towards a path that took us past the barn. “Are you taking me out to the field to murder me?” I asked jokingly to break our silence. We were passing another one of Adam’s large barns that housed the cows. Cole chuckled and the sound sent shivers across my skin. “Not today Marley Masters.” I rolled my eyes at the fact that he insisted on calling me by both my first and last name. “Just in there” he pointed at a decrepit looking garage and I couldn’t help but look at him like he was insane. The garage was tall with boards missing around the structure and a broken window off to the left. The doors were barely holding together and I’m pretty sure the roof was caving. “I knew it! With a garage like that you are trying to kill me!” He laughed, this time a full bellied, knee slapping typical county boy laugh. “No I swear! I’d like to get to know ya more before I consider something like that. I promise she’s a lot sounder on the inside than she appears.” Cole winked at me and I had never had such a strong simultaneous urge to both poke and kiss someone’s eye. “You best believe that if I feel it’s unsafe I’m taking my happy ass right back into town and leaving you high and dry.” I warned. He stuck up two fingers and crossed his hand over his heart. “Boy scouts honor.” He swore. I sighed, “You would be a boy scout wouldn’t ya.” I began to move towards the garage and pull open the door when my breath caught. “Oh sweet jesus! Do you know what that is?!” I screamed. He was smiling that dagum dimpled grin at me again, you know the one with that saying, what is it? Something bout a cat catchin a canary. I didn’t wait for him to respond before I screeched excitedly, “That’s a nineteen fifty six Chevy Silverado!” I burst forward not even carrying how sound of a structure it was. I had to touch that beautiful piece of machinery. “Oh my god, she even has step sides!” I ran my hand along her side and practically cried.

             
It was rusted all to shit and the left fender was broken but it was still beautiful to me. I could barely contain my smile that was struggling to burst free of my cheeks. These trucks were solidly made and with proper maintenance they would stay running for a long time. It used to be cherry apple red and somehow that didn’t surprise me in the least. “Get inside and pop the hood” I requested eagerly. Cole shook his head and rounded the front, opening the door with a loud squeal. He popped the hood and turned the key and….nothing. “Okay well first thing is jump the battery.” I mumbled as stared into the engine.