How she hated cilantro.
How she sang the wrong lyrics intentionally because it annoyed Luke.
How she cried when Emma was born.
How she once drove forty miles because Luke casually mentioned wanting pie.
He saved the file.
The next day he recorded another.
He never told Raven.
Not then.
Raven came back the following Saturday.
Then Wednesday.
Then another Sunday.
Always with some reason.
Motorcycle adjustment.
Helmet she forgot.
A question about the temporary fuel line.
Eventually Luke said:
“You know I already replaced the permanent line.”
Raven stood beside the workbench.
“I know.”
“And the bike is fine.”
“Yes.”
“So what are you doing here?”
She looked toward Emma, who was painting a birdhouse outside.
“Maybe I like powdered lemonade.”
Luke smiled.
“That is the first dishonest thing you’ve said to me.”
Raven laughed.
The visits became less explainable.
Raven brought nothing expensive.
At first.
The one time she arrived with a box containing a professional diagnostic scanner Luke had admired online, he made her take it back.
“You need this.”
“I want this.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
“You fix cars with a scanner older than Emma.”
“It works.”
“Barely.”
“Take it back.”
Raven stared.
“You are impossible to buy for.”
Luke looked at her.
“I’m not for sale.”
The words came out harder than he intended.
Raven went still.
Luke regretted them immediately.
“I didn’t mean—”
“Yes, you did.”
She turned toward the door.
Luke caught her wrist lightly.
Then released it immediately.
“Raven.”
She stopped.
“I’m sorry.”
She looked back.
“I know you’re not Graham.”
“Who’s Graham?”
“My ex-fiancé.”
“That sounds promising.”
“It isn’t.”
She leaned against the workbench.
“He loved being engaged to Raven Steele.”
“I’m still uncertain whether he ever loved Raven.”
Luke understood more than he wanted.
“And the scanner?”
“I saw you looking at it online.”
“You remembered.”
“Yes.”
“That’s different from buying me.”
Raven’s expression softened.
“Can I give it to the garage?”
“No.”
She groaned.
“Can Emma give it to the garage?”
“No.”
“Can I accidentally leave it here?”
“I’ll sell it and donate the money.”
“You’re horrible.”
“So I’m told.”
She took the scanner back.
Two weeks later, Luke’s old diagnostic system died completely.
Raven said nothing.
Luke tried repairing it.
Failed.
The next morning, a used scanner appeared for sale at a nearby equipment dealer at a price Luke could afford.
He bought it.
Three months later, he discovered Raven had nothing to do with it.
That mattered.
Not every good thing came from her money.
Their first real date happened by accident.
Emma had a school astronomy night.
Luke’s babysitter canceled.
Raven arrived at the garage just as Luke was calling the school to say they would not make it.
“Why?”
she asked.
“Why what?”
“Why are you canceling?”
“No sitter.”
Raven looked toward Emma.
“I can come.”
Luke stared.
“To an elementary school astronomy night?”
“Yes.”
“You have a board meeting tomorrow.”
“At ten.”
“You live two hours away.”