“Teller! You’re late!”

Aubrey’s voice rang out across the lot as Jax pulled his bike into a parking spot. Her tone much less welcoming today than it was yesterday when they’d met. He knew he was late. It was a wonder he’d even showed up after finishing the bottle of Jack the night before but he needed this. He walked over to the stone faced woman whose smile just yesterday warmed his day and now he could feel himself being intimidated by it. Clearly this wasn’t going to go as smoothly as he planned. The mood he was in though, it would take all his efforts not to knock someone out.

“Sorry.”

He mumbled, shoving his hands deep into his front pockets. His head booming at the sound of the busy lot. Squinting his eyes at the bright lights, he approached the counter, hoping for some leniency.

“It’s been a long time since I had a start time at work. It won’t happen again.”

“First and last time, Jax. I ain’t tryin’ chase after my men. You wanna job, you stick to the schedule.”

“Yeah.”

Aubrey narrowed her eyes at his tone, not appreciating the fact that he wasn’t taking this seriously. If it was one thing she prided herself on, it was how she ran this shop. Andy was an amazing mechanic but he left the business sense of the shop to her. She had to be tough in order to be respected by the men since she was the only woman there. Jax Teller was going to learn that pretty quickly. She walked to the supply closet grabbing a pair of the Beckett Auto Repair coveralls, tossing them over to him.

“Get changed and meet Jim by area 4. You’ll be working with him for the week till you get the hang of it.”

“I know how to work on cars.” He defended himself as he caught the grey coveralls.

“Yeah, well you’re working with Jim ‘till you prove it.”

She shot back bluntly as she motioned her hand towards the locker rooms before turning her back towards him, returning to her work at the desk. He bit the inside of his cheek at her coarseness. Nobody would’ve spoken to him like that in Charming. Especially not a woman. He had women like her at his beck and call, yet here she was snapping at him for being late. Making his way to the locker room, unbuttoning his flannel before pulling on the coveralls she’d provided. None of this mattered anyway. All he needed to do was keep his head down and make it throughout the day.

---

Jim was cool. Reminded him of Piney. He was a taller – older man, slightly overweight, no bullshit type but kind in the face. He’d been working with cars since he was a kid and been working for Andy for over 30 years. There was a sense of home about him that made Jax ease his guard. While the two worked on installing a transmission, Jim filled him in on Andy and Aubrey. Andy’s wife had left them when Aubrey was 11. Had dreams of seeing the big city one day and abandoned her family to move to New York. The two hadn’t heard from her since. Aubrey had matured quickly for her age. Andy was very lighthearted and easygoing and Aubrey had to become his backbone: making all the tough calls, keeping the business running smoothly, making sure he took care of himself.

Jax raised his eyes, finding the beautiful glow of blonde curls reflecting in the sunlight. He found himself staring at her, unable to rip his eyes away, as she laughed with a customer at the doorway of the office. A laugh radiating with pure and genuine emotion and for a moment he felt happiness rush through him with an irresistible impulse to smile too. She had the kind of smile that made you feel happy to be alive – to forget everything even for a second, and feel a little more than human. His lips stretched into a smirk when her baby blues met his before he lowered his gaze back to the car he was working on.

“Need a hand liftin’ your jaw off the ground, son?”

Jim interrupted once he’d come back from grabbing them a cool drink. The hot mid summer sun beaming directly above the lot definitely made it hard to work in, keeping the coveralls on was become more of a hassle. Gratefully accepting the bottle of water, he lifted his eyes once more to see that she’d disappeared from the doorway and a hint of disappointment hit him. Looking at Jim, he took a long sip of the water before unzipping the uniform, pulling the top half down.

“So do we get a lunch? Or does queen bee have you workin’ like till close?”

With a raspy laugh, the older man patted his shoulder with a knowing gaze. “You’re on her bad side already ain’tcha boy? She ain’t so bad. Aubrey runs a tight ship, you do your job and there won’t be an issue. I have my lunch at 2, we’re off the clock at 5. She’ll keep you till 6 since you was an hour late so you might wanna wait couple more hours.”

“Alright, do we just go or do we need permission for that too?”

“I’d ask if i were you.”

Jax let out a frustrated sigh as his eyes shifted once more to the doorway only to find her leaning against the frame, arms crossed over her small figure as she stared directly at him. He could see flecks of gold in her eyes as they reflected in the afternoon sun giving a warm appearance but her stare was anything but. It was sharp, determined. He couldn’t read her to save his life. Most people would look away when they were caught staring but not her. She kept her cold glacial eyes on him until he lowered his, then with a blink, she’d disappeared again.

He continued to work again, finally getting done with the car they’d been working on since morning. He wiped the sweat off of his brow before taking another sip of his water. He was starving at this point. Jim had already left for lunch and just like the old man had warned him, he’d be staying later. He hadn’t worked this hard in so long he could feel the soreness of his muscles.

“Teller!”

Her voice rang out again from the office door. He turned his head to look over at Aubrey motioning him over with her finger. There was something so unintentionally sexual about the movement of her body inviting him over and he gladly obliged. Leaving his rag and his water bottle on the cart, he walked across to the air conditioned building to find Aubrey talking to Andy in his office before stepping back out to meet him.

“You get an hour lunch. Not a minute longer, yah’ hear?”

“Anywhere good to eat close by?”

He asked as he ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it back out of his face. She looked up from her work and her face seemed to soften whenever the topic wasn’t about work.

“You can try Minnie’s cafe.” She suggested with a smile. “Serves the best lunch in town. If you take a right off the lot it’ll be on your left a quarter mile up.”

With a nod he took off, following her directions to the cafe which must’ve been pretty popular since the line was practically out the door. Regardless he waited, placing an order for a burger and fries before taking a seat in a corner booth by the window overlooking the street. His eyes wandered about as he waited for the food, observing the people here – their behavior, their manner, the speech – it was all so different. His eyes landed on a couple sitting a few tables away from him. A blonde man with a woman with long brown hair – acting madly in love. The guy would say something and the woman would laugh, a whole-hearted laugh, with love and affection behind it. His mind taking him back to happier times when he and Tara were like that. He would take her out on dates, anywhere she’d want. The pair couldn’t keep their hands off of each other.

“All-American n’ fries?”

The waitress stopped by interrupting his thoughts while placing a plate of food on his table. She was young – college aged – whatever that was. Her long brown hair frazzled as she swept the bangs out of her face, placing both hands on her hips and looking down at him with a smile. She was sweet looking, not like Aubrey, but pretty.

“Haven’t seen your face ‘round here before. Where you from?”

Jax looked up at her a slight smile on his face. Did he stick out that much? “California. Just moved to town night before last, darlin’. Am I that obvious?”

“Maple Hill’s a small town. New faces aren’t hard to come by.”
Her smile was soft like the tone of her words. He’d come to enjoy speaking with the people here. Everyone seemed at such peace and harmony.

“I’m Jenny. “ She continued. “Where you stayin’ at?”

“Jax. I’m at the Maple Inn until I find a house.”

“Oh with the Crawford’s! They’re the best. You watch out now – Norma will keep you there forever! She loves to coddle people!”

He laughed before taking a bite of his burger. Seemed exactly like Norma so far. Two mornings full of homemade breakfast and dinners, made beds, and freshly folded towels. It was making the motivation to find a house almost nonexistent.

“I can see that. You know them?”

“Oh honey, everyone knows everyone in Maple. Words already goin’ ’round bout the new guy.”

“Great.”

He laughed before they heard her name being called from the back of the counter by another girl her age. Jenny turned her head to look before returning her eyes to Jax, taking in his godlike appearance. He gave her a slight smirk as she turned to walk back, it was nice to know that he still had that effect on women seeing as the only interaction with an attractive one had been her busting his balls all day.

Finishing up his lunch, he threw out his trash and headed outside to smoke a cigarette, while he walked down the street checking out the local shops. He found a barbershop he should check out after work. Nobody could replace Floyd but he’d give it a shot. He checked his watch – 10 minutes left on his break – just enough time to head back to the shop.

The curly brown hair of an older man peeked over the desk as he entered the office. Andy lifted his head and shot him a smile – one so similar to Aubrey’s that it was almost eerie. Jax smiled back while his eyes scanned the room for her but she was no where in sight. Mixed feelings of disappointment and relief came over him in a strange sensation as he threw his coveralls back on and returning to work.

---

6 o’clock. Finally time to end his shift. Jax went to the locker room, changing out of his clothes and putting his blue flannel on again. He was exhausted. It had been over 5 years since he’d worked full shifts at TM and he didn’t miss anything about that but now that it was passed he had to find a liquor store and a realtor. With the sun setting, it was nice enough out that he could walk along town, leaving his bike at the Maple Inn’s lot, he decided that was exactly what he was going to do.

As he took the stroll, he took in each and every shop on main street. There were places from Cafe’s to hair salons, libraries, convenience stores, markets. Everything in town was on this one street. His eyes landed on Burford Liquors and without realizing it, his pace quickened with a need to enter. Picking up a few different bottles, he paid the man at the counter and headed for door, satisfied knowing that it’d be a good night’s sleep. He opened the door, open to bump into someone, dropping their bags to the ground.

“Shit, I’m so sorry, darlin’. “

He quickly bent down, lifting her grocery bag and picking up a few of the vegetables that had fallen out. He lifted his eyes slowly taking in the long tan legs in dark denim shorts, with slim waist under a white t shirt and long loose blonde hair hanging over her shoulders. Aubrey. Fuck this woman was a sight everytime he saw her. Never failing to have him stop and stare. She laughed as he stumbled to pick up the rest of the products before handing the bag to her, reminding him of the other day when they’d met. Maybe she was just a bitch at work and with what he’d heard from Jim, he couldn’t really blame her.

“Dear god,  I hope you’re less clumsy at work.”

She smiled at him as he stood up, towering over her 5’3 figure. The smell of motor oil and cologne creating a sweet musty mix as he took a step closer. Biting the inside of her lip she took a step back, adjusting the three bags in her hands, before looking back up at him.

“Got a dinner date tonight or something?”
His gruff voice asked. He couldn’t lie and say he wouldn’t be jealous if she did. Not because he was possessive but because he’d be envious of the person who got to see this side of her all the time.

“No. Andy’s gettin’ out of work at 8 so I’m makin’ him some dinner.”

She shrugged, nodding her head for them to continue walking. He reached out his arms, taking two of the three bags that she was carrying while they walked towards her car.

“Nice of you to do. You still live with him?”

“Nah, I have my own house but if I don’t make him dinner after late shifts, he’ll eat garbage. Can’t have that with his cholesterol. “

“Andy’s lucky he’s got you, Aubrey.”
He smiled down at her with a nod. It was cute how much she cared about him. Taking the place of her mom. Andy was a lucky man. Gemma had gotten with Clay almost immediately after JT died. No time needed to grieve. She was strong sure but her heartlessness towards situations wasn’t something he’d admired. Aubrey radiated strength, not in a way Gemma or even Tara ever had. It was out of the pureness of her heart, not expecting anything in return. As they got to her car, he felt that disappointment in the pit of his stomach again, not really wanting their time to end.

“Thank you.”

She smiled as she popped the back gate of her all black 4 door jeep wrangler, placing her bags inside before shutting it.

“I’ll see you at work tomorrow. Please don’t be late. It really messes everythin’ up for me.”

“I’ll try my hardest.”
He winked with a smile as he watched her hop in the car and take off, leaving a sweet scent of vanilla and roses lingering behind.