“Carp carp carp I’m so going to be late again. Blast and double blast I’m talking to myself again.”

I look around like someone might hear me. While knowing no one else is at home. Ugh this habit is humiliating.

I pace back and forth by the front window looking for one of my brothers to come down the drive. I’m going to be late for my shift at The Eagle diner. Corn dogs and crackers I need this job or I will have to go back to work for my brothers at their garage. I’ve only had this job for a week and I’ve been almost late every day. Amazingly, my truck that worked perfectly fine two weeks ago won’t start. There is something fishy going on there and I know it. But what can I do about it? The only mechanics in town are holding my car hostage. Saying they will get to it eventually. My overbearing controlling brothers.

My name is Seraphina Bransan and I got this new job because I need a little freedom from my brothers. I’m the youngest of three and my older brothers are overprotective. I understand why they try to keep me safe and sheltered. We are orphans, our parents were killed in a hunting accident. They treat me like a child sometimes. I just turned nineteen and at 5’ 7” I’m not really tall or short. I graduated from high school a year ago. That is why I got this new job at the diner. To get my brother used to the idea of my not always being around. I plan on moving out soon with my friend.

My best friend Gina Mason took over for me at the garage to get away from her parents. Her dad is very strict and rigid. Gin now works the desk and helps customers in the front of the shop. A job I had since I was 15 and could work legally. I want my brothers to see how mature Gina is so they will let us move into town and get our own apartment. We can both go to college online but still live on our own. We both want out. Well as far out as we can get at least.

Gin’s parents have been arguing a lot lately and my brothers are getting worse. Growling at any male that looks or talks to me. I thought they would lose business if they kept it up so I had to get another job. It was hard enough to find this job. But my car breaking down was over the top even for my brothers. I am sure they broke it somehow.

The part I think is so funny is they don’t have time to fix my car but they can find time to drive me back and forth to the diner five days a week. Some days they stay and glare at any man in my section. Sawyer glared at 83 year old Mr. Elkhart yesterday. I just rolled my eyes and pushed him out of the restaurant.

“Finally! Peanut Butter and Jelly!”

I can see a dust cloud coming up the drive. As soon as the dust cloud got close enough I could tell it was a bike. I hope it is Deven, he's the younger of my two brothers. He is the more laid back of the two, at 23 he is still a little wild. I grabbed my purse and ran out the door. As the bike got closer I groaned it wasn’t Dev it was Sawyer my oldest brother. He was holding up a helmet as I approached the back of the bike. He checked the strap, like I was a child, after I put the helmet on. I wanted to argue but I was going to be late if we didn’t hurry. He took off his leather jacket before he allowed me to climb on, rolling my eyes as I put it on.

“I didn’t need your jacket” I told him as I climbed on.

“Kitten” was all he said.

Kitten meant a lot of things but in that voice it was “put on the jacket I’m not asking”. He was always over protective of me like that. Heck I was surprised he picked me up on his bike at all and didn’t bring his truck. Why can’t I borrow his truck you ask? Well two reasons really one, his truck is huge. Two, I can’t reach the pedals and see over the wheel. As we pulled away I turned to look back at the house, Jimminy Cricket, I left my light on again. I have lived in that house my entire life and I keep forgetting the lights.

Both my brothers were handsome. Sawyer is 6’ 4” with brown hair and Hazel eyes. He looks scary with a cut over his right eye and tattoos on his arms. He protects the family and takes it seriously. Dev was a little more wild; he is 23 with blonde hair, blue eyes and is 6’ 3”. They both ride motorcycles most of the time.

I was a little worried about leaving my light on. It's not like we have a lot of money. We were able to stay in the three bedroom house my parents owned and keep most of the land. Sawyer sold part of it to open up the Leopard Lake Garage. It’s the only mechanic garage in the valley. Now that it's established they had more money coming in but we were still poor compared to some families in the valley.

I hugged Saw's waist tighter around the curves but enjoyed the ride. Nothing was more freeing than riding on the back of one of my brothers bikes. Not that they'd allow me to ride on my own. Saw would definitely kill Dev if my allowed me without his knowledge

As soon as we pulled up in front of the Eagle I was tossing the helmet at him and running for the front doors.

“Thanks for the ride, Saw” I yelled over my shoulder.

I could see the parking lot was full. I went through the first set of doors at a run, not looking as I went through the next set. I was surprised when a set of hands landed on my shoulders. The apology died on my lips as another pair of lips were pressed to mine. Strong muscular hands held my shoulders and warm soft but firm lips moved across mine. The surprise of it all had my mouth opening and a tongue slid in to caress mine.

My arms automatically went around broad shoulders and found the softest hair I had ever felt at the nape of his neck, whomever he was. Something inside me shifted or awakened. I was in heaven. I had never been kissed before. Not that I knew who I was kissing, my eyes had closed and refused to open and leave this dream. Sugar cookies and marshmallows he tastes good.

All that was ripped away when I was jerked away from those lips and none too gently might I add. Someone had grabbed the scruff of the leather jacket I was still wearing. Looking at the hand holding the jacket I found it was my brother that had stolen me away from my dream world and brought me back to reality. Oh what a terrible reality it was. My brother was looking with murderous eyes at the man who had been kissing me. I looked as well. Up close marshmallow man was handsome.

Wow those eyes were beautiful. Thick black lashes and deep blue eyes. Never having been this close to a man before I had no idea I could fall into someone else’s soul. He didn’t seem to feel what I was because his eyes turned cruel and mocking.

The still busy restaurant was now silent, how long had everyone been looking at us? Had they seen the kiss? Of course they had. Did they see who had kissed me? That was a dumb question they were still staring at us.

“Knightly'' Saw growled. “Get your F*cking hands off”