But once a month or so for the last three months, they’d been coming in. Oil was low, steering fluid was low, a tire had mysteriously gotten a puncture in it. It was always something small that could turn into something deadly. And she always had this look in her eye. Not innocent anymore, more mischievous, and Loch knew his nameless girl was at the center of it all.
The biggest problem was not knowing how young she was.
Not legal.
Not his.
After talking to Nox when they were watching a football game neither had been interested in, his brother tried to encourage him to go for it. To give her a shot, become friends, something. Anything that beat the fuck out of not interacting with her. He couldn’t, though, his morals wouldn’t allow him. Conversely, his heart wanted nothing more than to claim her as theirs. To know everything about the young woman.
At one point, confessing to Levi, his other brother, that all he wanted to do was steal her away. Hide her from the nasty looks her parents were constantly shooting at her. Levi had reiterated almost exactly the same advice as Nox.
Fight for her.
They didn’t understand the age difference, though. They didn’t know how it felt to see the girl of your dreams sabotage her parents’ car just so she could spend time with you. They didn’t know what it was like to have everything you’ve ever wanted right in front of your face, and yet be so far out of reach.
Keeping clear so she didn’t see him, Loch called to Levi as he watched them enter the shop. “Where the hell are you?” Levi called, not catching onto his need to remain silent.
“Over here,” Loch called quietly from behind the connecting door to the main office. “She’s here,” he muttered.
Confused, Levi walked over to him. “Who’s here?”
Loch levelled him with a look, and it hit him. “Yeah, her,” he whispered as Levi looked around the door.
His brother’s gaze landed on her as she came into sight. “You wanna know her name, right?” Loch nodded. “You know how old she is?”
“Not a damn clue.” One of his biggest regrets. The hurdle they needed to jump.
“Let’s go.” Levi pulled the door open before Loch could argue and announced their arrival. “Welcome, I apologize for the wait. How can I help you?”
“Oh, hello, I was hoping to see Mr. Hogan.” The older woman’s face grew serious and her tone was put upon.
“I’m one of the Mr. Hogans.” Levi stuck his hand out to her. “Call me Levi.” His own gaze was glued to her.
“Mrs. Marlowe,” she replied back. “I’ve been dealing with another man for a while. I’d like to see him.” Her tone was getting less and less friendly, and she wouldn’t take his hand.
Levi suddenly pointed towards Loch, and he straightened his stance. “That’s my other brother Lochlan. Was it him you were dealing with?”
“No, well, sometimes,” she damn near snapped. “But I want the other one. Perhaps, I’ll just come back.”
Her smile died, and Loch froze just as he was about to walk forward. Panic seized him at the thought of her nearness. About to move on in his life once again and still not knowing her name.
“Alright, Mrs. Marlowe. If you and…” Levi’s voice hung in the thin air with that open question.
“Sage,” the girl whispered. Loch’s heart sung.
He didn’t hear anything else that was said following that. Now, he knew her name.
Sage Marlowe.
He’d finally noticed her. His smile, the dimples. Sage was on cloud nine recalling the way Lochlan looked at her. When he heard her name, his entire demeanor shifted. She knew he would try just a little bit harder next time and maybe speak to her.
Mother had hustled her out of there so quickly, she’d barely gotten to see him.
“You’ll have no part of them,” Alma snapped from the driver’s seat of their car. “That one is not meant for you. Morgan will make a fine husband.”
She cringed at the much older
man’s name. “Morgan is old enough to be my father,” Sage whispered. Over the past few months, both of her parents had gotten more and more violent with her. It appeared every time she opened her mouth for anything but prayer, she was being backhanded.