The day was unusually hot, the kind of heat that clung to your skin and made every breath feel heavier. Kaya was used to it, though. As the only woman working at the local garage, she had grown accustomed to sweating it out under the sun, wrench in hand, fixing up cars alongside the other mechanics. Her blue work shirt was damp from the sweat, her fitted shorts providing some relief from the heat, though it made her the center of attention more often than she cared for.
She was bent over a car’s open hood, tinkering with the engine of an old sedan, her focus fully on her task. She had no idea that across the garage, someone was watching her every move. Luca, the garage owner’s friend, had been in and out of the shop for the past week, helping out with repairs when needed. He was tall, with a confident air about him and an easy smile that made him popular with everyone at the garage. But today, his attention was firmly on Kaya. From the moment he saw her crouch down next to the car, her body moving fluidly as she worked, Luca couldn’t tear his eyes away. There was something so effortlessly captivating about her. It wasn’t just her curves, though those were certainly hard to miss; it was the way she carried herself, the confidence in her movements. She knew her stuff, and she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
Luca’s eyes trailed down her back, following the curve of her waist, lingering on her hips. He swallowed hard, his pulse quickening as he took a step closer, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Kaya, sensing his approach, straightened up and wiped her hands on a rag, her gaze flicking toward him. “Need something?” she asked, her voice steady but with an edge of playfulness.
Luca grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just admiring the work. You seem to know your way around an engine.”
Kaya raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. “I’d hope so. Been doing this for years. You got a problem with your car, or are you just here to stare?”
Her bluntness caught Luca off guard, but it also intrigued him. He wasn’t used to women calling him out like that, but there was something about her fiery attitude that only made her more attractive.
“I’m just appreciating the view,” he said, his voice dropping a notch lower, testing the waters.
Kaya rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. “If you’re not here to help, I suggest you stop distracting me. I’ve got work to do.”
“Mind if I give you a hand?” Luca offered, stepping closer.
Kaya glanced at him, considering the offer. “You know your way around a car, or are you just saying that to get closer?”
Luca chuckled. “I know enough. Let me prove it.”
With a shrug, Kaya tossed him a wrench. “Alright then, show me what you’ve got.”
Luca joined her at the hood, his arm brushing against hers as they both leaned over the engine. The closeness made her hyper-aware of his presence, the heat from his body mixing with the warm air around them. She tried to focus on the car, but the scent of his cologne filled her senses, making it harder to concentrate.
They worked together in silence for a few minutes, the tension between them building with every stolen glance, every accidental touch. Luca was good—he knew what he was doing—but Kaya found herself more interested in the way his muscles flexed under his shirt, the way his voice sounded when he spoke low and quiet about the car.
“So, how’d you get into this?” Luca asked, breaking the silence as he tightened a bolt.
“Grew up around cars. My dad owned a shop, and I spent most of my childhood fixing engines with him,” Kaya replied, wiping her brow.
“Impressive,” Luca said, his eyes flicking toward her again. “Not many women in this line of work.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not like most women,” Kaya shot back, a playful glint in her eyes.
Luca chuckled softly. “I can see that.”
There was a pause as their eyes met, the air between them thickening with an unspoken attraction. Kaya’s heart pounded in her chest, her breath catching as Luca stepped closer, his hand resting on the edge of the car next to hers. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, the space between them shrinking by the second.
“You know,” Luca murmured, his voice low and husky, “you’re kind of amazing.”
Kaya blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his tone. “What makes you say that?”
“Just watching you work, the way you handle yourself, it’s… well, it’s kind of sexy,” he admitted, his eyes darkening as they roamed over her face.
Kaya’s pulse quickened, her skin tingling with anticipation. She knew where this was heading, and despite herself, she couldn’t deny the spark between them. The tension had been building since the moment they’d laid eyes on each other, and now, standing so close, it was almost unbearable.
Without thinking, she leaned in, her lips brushing against his. It was soft at first, tentative, but when Luca responded, the kiss deepened, their bodies pressing together as months of pent-up desire finally ignited.
Luca’s hands slid down to her waist, pulling her closer, and Kaya wrapped her arms around his neck, losing herself in the heat of the moment. Every touch, every kiss sent shivers down her spine, making her forget about everything except the feel of him against her.
They broke apart for air, their breaths ragged, their foreheads resting against each other’s. “You’re trouble,” Kaya whispered, her voice breathless.
Luca grinned, his hands tightening on her hips. “You don’t seem to mind.”
Kaya laughed softly, shaking her head. “Maybe I don’t.”
They stayed like that for a moment, savoring the closeness, the electricity that still buzzed between them. But reality slowly crept back in, and Kaya pulled away slightly, glancing around the garage.
“We should probably get back to work before someone catches us,” she said, though there was a teasing smile on her lips.
Luca nodded, though his grip on her waist remained firm. “Yeah, you’re right. But this isn’t over.”
Kaya raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. “I didn’t think it was.”
As they returned to their task, the air between them was lighter, the tension replaced with something warmer, more comfortable. They worked side by side, the occasional brush of their hands or lingering glance keeping the spark alive.
And as the afternoon wore on, Kaya knew that this was just the beginning. The attraction between them was undeniable, and it was only a matter of time before they found themselves under the hood together again—both in work and in play.
