McKenzie "Mack" Windsor stood with her arms crossed in front of the Ducati 996, staring down at the sleek machine as if it were a prize possession. She'd spent years working on cars and motorcycles, tinkering under the hood until she could fix just about anything that needed fixing.
"You know," Mack said to herself, "I always wanted to be a mechanic when I was younger." As a kid growing up in England, Mack had been fascinated by cars and bikes, constantly taking apart her toys and putting them back together again. But as she grew older, society's expectations of her began to weigh heavily on her shoulders.
"What are you doing out here?" A deep voice startled Mack out of her reverie. She turned around to see a tall, rugged man with sun-kissed skin and piercing blue eyes staring back at her. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, his muscular frame on full display.
"Just taking in the sights," Mack replied, trying not to let her nerves get the best of her. "What about you?"
The man smiled, revealing a set of perfectly straight teeth that would make any dentist proud. "I'm just out for a ride," he said. "Name's Luke."
Mack extended her hand, feeling a spark of energy run through her body as their hands connected. "Nice to meet you, Luke," she said. "I'm Mack."
As they talked, Mack found herself opening up to Luke in ways that she never had before with anyone else. He was easy to talk to and had an infectious laugh that made Mack feel at ease. Before long, the two were deep in conversation about everything from their favorite motorcycle routes to their dreams for the future.
As they said goodbye, Mack couldn't help but think that maybe she had found a kindred spirit in Luke. Maybe this was just the beginning of something amazing between them.