They hadn’t even kissed. Not even an almost-kiss like when they first met. Despite what she told her friends, that had definitely been an almost-kiss. And Julia hadn’t stopped thinking about it since. What would have happened on the beach if Andie hadn’t come along and interrupted the moment?

In her dreams last night, she’d gotten her answer.

Julia closed her eyes, remembering. Alone on the beach, they’d kissed. Hell, they’d done a lot more than kiss. Her body grew warmer, a pulsing ache building inside. She sifted through her mind for details of the dream while her hand drifted lower, fingers stroking the source of that throbbing heat. Her legs grew heavy and she let them fall open, relishing the slide of smooth sheets against her bare skin, reveling in the freedom to spread her thighs as wide apart as she desired, stretch her legs out as far as she wanted.

She pointed then flexed her toes. Imagined she was lying in the sand. Digging her heels into the mattress, she lifted her hips and rocked against her fingers. Back and forth, slow and easy, the friction sending a ripple of pleasure through her. Like the tide outside her window, gently rolling in and out. She increased the pressure, sensations building in intensity. When her fingers dipped inside, she imagined his fingers there.

Fuck, what he could do to her with those hands. Ever since the Chris conversation at dinner, Julia had thought about Luke’s hands. She shivered, recalling how his long, elegant fingers had stroked over hers, one at a time. By the time the pie had arrived, she was ready to be his dessert.

Eyes still closed, she pictured his gray gaze, and her body lit up with awareness, the way it did every time he looked at her. Yes.

“Julia.”

He was calling her name.

“Julia.”

“Yes.” She turned her head and moaned into the pillow. So close now.

She bit her lip. Yes. Her hips and hand began to move faster. Yes. Yes. Yes.

“Julia!” A knock sounded at her door.

Julia’s eyes snapped open and she froze.

“Jules?” a voice called, louder now. Andie’s voice. “Are you awake?”

“Yes,” she croaked. With a sigh of frustration, Julia rolled across the bed. “Coming!” She struggled to untangle herself from the sheets, now wrapped around her in a strangled mass from all her excessive thrashing about.

The knock came again.

“I’m coming,” she repeated, peevishly wishing she actually was. Ugh. This was just like watching a rom-com fade to black. A disappointing interruption right before the good stuff happened.

Giving up on the detangling efforts, Julia bundled up armfuls of bedding and bunny-hopped her way to the door.

Andie stood there, freshly showered and wide awake. “Are you feeling well? You didn’t forget to pack your meds, did you?”

“Yes, I’m feeling fine. And no, I didn’t forget my prescription. But thanks, Mom.”