THE MAN WITH NOTHING

The rain continued falling as the old motorcycle moved down the narrow road.

Amara sat behind the stranger, holding tightly to his jacket. She hated the cold rain and the smell of gasoline.

Yet beneath the discomfort was something unfamiliar.

Freedom.

For once, nobody was following her. No bodyguards. No driver. No father telling her where she needed to be.

Just the sound of rain and the motorcycle.

Amara leaned closer.

Amara: "How much farther?"

Adrian: "Not far!"

Amara: "You said that five minutes ago!"

Adrian: "Because it wasn't far five minutes ago!"

Amara rolled her eyes.

Amara: "You're annoying!"

Adrian: "And yet you're still holding onto me!"

She immediately loosened her grip.

Amara: "I can let go!"

Adrian: "Please don't!"

She smiled despite herself. She couldn't explain why she cared.

A few minutes later, the motorcycle stopped in front of a small repair shop. Amara climbed off, her dress soaked and her expensive shoes covered in mud.

She looked down at herself.

Amara: "My father is going to kill me."

Adrian removed his helmet.

Adrian: "Why?"

Amara: "Because of my car."

Adrian: "Why would he care?"

Amara: "Because it's expensive."

Adrian shrugged.

Adrian: "Cars can be repaired."

Amara: "Not if you don't have money."

Adrian laughed.

Adrian: "Then you're lucky."

Amara: "Why?"

Adrian: "You look like you have plenty."

Adrian: "I knew it."

Amara: "Knew what?"

Adrian: "You look expensive."

Amara stared at him.

Amara: "That's an insult."

Adrian: "It wasn't."

He held out his hand.

Adrian: "I'm Adrian."

Amara shook it.

Amara: "Amara."

Adrian smiled.

Adrian: "Nice to meet you, Amara."

Amara: "You're really a mechanic?"

Adrian: "Unfortunately."

Amara: "Why unfortunately?"

Adrian: "Because cars don't pay me enough."

She laughed.

Amara: "You complain a lot."

Adrian: "You ask a lot of questions."

Amara: "Maybe I'm curious."

Adrian: "Maybe you're spoiled."

Her mouth fell open.

Amara: "Excuse me?"

Adrian laughed.

Adrian: "I'm joking."

Amara: "You're lucky you're helping me."

Adrian: "You're lucky I'm helping you."

Inside the shop, Adrian spoke with the owner. The owner examined Amara's car.

Owner: "Battery's completely dead."

Adrian: "I can replace it."

Owner: "Do you have money for a new one?"

Adrian reached into his pocket and pulled out a few crumpled bills.

Adrian: "Not enough."

Amara heard him and reached into her purse.

Amara: "How much?"

Adrian looked at her.

Adrian: "Don't pay for it."

Amara: "Why?"

Adrian: "Because I don't want your money."

She frowned.

Amara: "You don't even have enough."

Adrian: "I'll figure it out."

Amara: "That's ridiculous."

Adrian: "Maybe."

She pulled out her wallet.

Adrian stopped her.

Adrian: "I said no."

Amara: "Why are you being stubborn?"

Adrian: "Because if I accept your money, I'll always wonder whether you helped me because you felt sorry for me."

Her expression softened.

Amara: "I don't feel sorry for you."

Adrian: "Good."

Amara: "I just don't want you to struggle."

Adrian looked at her.

Adrian: "Everyone struggles."

Amara: "Not everyone."

Adrian: "You're wrong."

He looked around the small repair shop.

Adrian: "I grew up with nothing. My mother worked two jobs. My father left when I was young. I learned how to fix cars because I needed money."

Amara: "And now?"

Adrian smiled.

Adrian: "Now I fix cars."

Amara: "That's it?"

Adrian: "For now."

There was determination in his voice.

Amara: "You have plans?"

Adrian: "Big ones."

Amara: "What kind?"

Adrian looked through the window at the rain.

Adrian: "One day, I'll own my own garage."

Amara: "Just a garage?"

Adrian: "A big one."

Amara: "How big?"

Adrian smiled.

Adrian: "Big enough that nobody can tell me I'm not good enough."

Amara knew what it felt like to have someone decide what she was supposed to be.

Adrian turned toward her.

Adrian: "What about you?"

Amara: "What about me?"

Adrian: "What do you want?"

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Her father had already decided her future, her career, and even the kind of man she should marry.

Adrian waited.

Amara finally answered.

Amara: "I don't know."

Adrian smiled.

Adrian: "Then figure it out."

Amara laughed softly.

Amara: "You make it sound easy."

Adrian: "It's not."

He handed her a cup of warm coffee.

Adrian: "But you have time."

Hours later, her car was repaired.

Amara stood beside it while Adrian walked toward her.

Adrian: "You can go now."

Amara nodded.

Amara: "Thank you."

Adrian: "You're welcome, Princess."

She smiled.

Amara: "I told you not to call me that."

Adrian: "I remember."

Amara: "Then why do you keep doing it?"

Adrian: "Because you hate it."

She laughed.

Before getting into her car, she looked back.

Amara: "Will I see you again?"

Adrian shrugged.

Adrian: "Maybe."

Amara: "That's not an answer."

Adrian: "Then come back if your car breaks again."

Amara smiled.

Amara: "Maybe I will."

She drove away.

Adrian watched until her car disappeared.

He had no idea who Amara Kensington really was.

And Amara had no idea that the poor mechanic she had just met would become the greatest love of her life.

For the first time, she wasn't thinking about Nathaniel, her father, or money.

She was thinking about Adrian.

The poor mechanic with impossible dreams.

The man who refused her money.

The man who called her Princess.

And the man who had somehow made her smile on the worst day of her life.

She didn't know it yet, but this was only the beginning.