“Because banker is idiot.”
“That is not financial strategy.”
“It has worked.”
“Barely.”
“Still worked.”
They argued.
Then laughed.
Then kissed for first time three weeks after hospital.
It happened in garage.
Naturally.
Sophie was at school.
Riley sat on workbench while Daniel adjusted Triumph.
He wiped hands.
She watched.
“What?”
He asked.
Riley smiled.
“You know…I’m starting to think I come here more for you than the motorcycle.”
Daniel looked up.
“Good.”
She raised eyebrows.
He stepped closer.
“Because I started fixing things slower when I knew you were coming.”
Riley laughed softly.
“Careful, Daniel.”
“What?”
“Say things like that and I might stop pretending this is casual.”
He stood between her knees, not touching yet.
“Then don’t pretend.”
Her breath changed.
“I haven't been casual about you for a while.”
Riley touched his shirt.
“Neither have I.”
Daniel kissed her.
Gentle first.
Testing.
Riley’s hands moved behind his neck.
The second kiss was not cautious.
Daniel pulled back before they forgot garage door was open.
Riley smiled.
“Responsible.”
“Sophie’s school bus in twenty minutes.”
“Very responsible.”
He kissed her once more.
“Eighteen.”
“Minutes?”
“Yes.”
She laughed.
“Mechanic.”
“CEO.”
They separated before bus arrived.
Barely.
February brought a new problem.
Riley bought a house.
Small by her standards.
Enormous by Daniel’s.
Three streets from garage.
Mountain view.
Porch.
Kitchen large enough to cook.
She did not tell Daniel price.
He looked it up.
Then called her.
“You paid what?”
“Good afternoon.”
“Riley.”
“It was market rate.”
“Your market needs supervision.”
She smiled.
Sophie helped unpack.
She labeled mug cabinets.
Moved Riley’s bowls without permission.
Declared one corner ideal for snow boots.
By second evening, Daniel stood in Riley’s kitchen looking toward mountain sunset.
“Nice place.”
Riley handed him coffee.
“Good neighborhood?”
“I've heard mechanic nearby is excellent.”
“I've heard adequate.”
“He charges sixty dollars for repairs other places charge three hundred.”
“Bad businessman.”
“Good mechanic.”
Daniel looked toward her.
“Maybe.”
They stood side by side.
Snow began lightly.
Sophie had gone to aunt’s house for evening.
Quiet belonged only to them.
Riley said:
“I want to tell you something.”
Daniel looked.
“Okay.”
“I've spent ten years learning what things are worth.”
He listened.
“Companies.”
“Contracts.”
“People, in transactional sense.”
“I’m good at valuation.”
Daniel smiled.
“I know.”
She turned.
“And I have never once been as certain about anything as I have been since that first night.”
He became still.
“About what?”