At first, after Luke’s postkiss disappearing act, Julia had been wary of seeing him again. He’d skipped out on her at dinner, then missed breakfast. It wasn’t the time they’d been apart that bothered her so much as the timing. She’d learned from painful personal experience that these were signals not to read too much into what was happening between them.
Also, she couldn’t help but notice one of the first things he did when he saw her today was ask about Kat. Another sign that shouldn’t be ignored. Julia had seen the movie He’s Just Not That Into You. But he was so easy to talk to that when she was with him, she forgot to worry about the stuff that usually fed her anxiety when she was on a date.
Whoa. Julia tapped her mental brakes. Nothing she and Luke had done or said qualified as a date. They’d spent some time together. Had some fun together. Made out together …
Okay, so maybe a few moments ventured into date-like territory.
By the time they neared the beach, she had a cheek ache from smiling. What she’d told Luke was true; she was enjoying herself. She peeked up at him from beneath her lashes. At turns grumpy and goofy, sage and silly, there was an endearing awkwardness about him that she was finding irresistible. She glanced at his hand, wondering how it might feel to hold it while walking along the lakeshore, toes in the sand. Now that would be a date-ish activity for sure.
“There you are!”
Julia turned, surprised to see Sally and Harry waving from the bottom of the trail. She waved back, saying to Luke under her breath, “I wasn’t expecting to see those two for a while.”
“Me neither,” Luke murmured. “Do you think they did it somewhere along the way?”
“If so, bravo to them.” Julia suppressed another grin as they joined the couple on the beach.
“We were worried you’d gotten lost,” Harry said.
“Sorry. I’m moving a bit slower,” Luke admitted, wincing as he smacked his palms against his thighs.
“I didn’t hurt you when I knocked you down, did I?” Harry wondered, worry creasing his brow.
“Not even my pride,” Luke assured him. “Thanks for saving my tail.” He turned to Sally. “And thank you, too. That was some great shooting out there.”
“It was pretty great, wasn’t it?” Sally beamed. “Not as good as you, though,” she said to Julia. “My goodness, you were a regular Annie Oakley.”
“It was damn impressive,” Luke agreed.
Julia’s skin flushed at his praise, heat blooming in her chest and rising up her neck and face.
“Where’d you learn to shoot like that?” Harry wondered.
“I had an excellent teacher,” Julia explained. “My father.”
“Sharpshooter, eh?”
“How did you know?” Julia wondered.
“Educated guess.” Harry chuckled. “Army?”
“Marine Corps.” She paused a moment before adding, “Expert.”
The older man whistled in admiration.
She smiled, though some of the happy glow from earlier dimmed with thoughts of her dad. She loved him, but he didn’t exactly inspire the warm-and-fuzzies. A breeze gusted in off the lake, carrying snatches of laughter and conversation. “We should probably go meet up with the others,” she suggested.
“You two go on ahead,” Sally encouraged, waving a hand toward the crowd gathered farther down the beach.
“Oh? You won’t be joining us?” Julia asked, studiously avoiding Luke’s eyes.
“We, er, need to head back to the hotel.” Harry wrapped an arm around his wife and fumbled for an excuse. “To finish up … something.”
“We just wanted to make sure you two were okay,” Sally explained, blinking rapidly—and not, Julia decided, from the sun and wind.
“Very considerate of you.” Luke thanked them, suppressed humor vibrating in his voice as he said, “Enjoy the rest of your afternoon.”
“We will!” Sally assured him.
As the couple headed up the trail to the resort, Julia added quietly, “I bet they will.”
Luke snorted. “Come on. I’ll race you to the beach.”
“Really?” Julia glanced up at him, sure the doubt in her tone was stamped all over her face.
“No,” he admitted, “but I will walk backward very fast.”
“Luke!” she yelped, as he grabbed her hand and stepped backward, tugging her toward the lake. Her skin tingled where he touched her, setting off a string of little sparks zinging up her arm. She let him pull her forward, glancing ahead to make sure he wasn’t about to crash into anyone—or anything. “Is that an ice cream cart?” she asked, squinting.
“You’re just trying to make me look,” Luke accused.
Julia shook her head. “I’m serious. I think they’re serving ice cream down there.”
Luke turned, gray eyes lighting up with interest. “Okay,” he said, dropping her hand. “Now I’ll race you.”
Neither of them would be winning any medals, but a few seconds later they’d reached the spot on the beach where her friends were settled on chairs under the shade of a jolly red-and-white-striped umbrella.
“Nice of you to join us,” Andie said. “Want some ice cream?” She elbowed Curt. “He’s buying.”
“I am?” Curt asked, wiping a pink mustache of strawberry ice cream off his upper lip.
“Losers treat the winners,” Andie insisted, sparing Curt a gloating glance before turning her full attention back to her double-scoop cone.
“Fair enough,” Curt agreed, another strawberry mustache already forming. He dug into his pocket and forked over some cash with an easy shrug.
“Keep it.” Luke shook his head. “I can’t claim any credit for that win.” He winked at Julia and strode over to where two teens in white paper hats were selling ice cream cones from a pushcart.
“Like that victory was fair, anyway,” Zach pouted.
“It’s not my fault you got distracted.” Kat blinked innocently.
“Sounds like someone is a sore loser,” Julia observed, sharing a wicked grin with Kat. Their little plan had been inspired by 10 Things I Hate About You, which the actor had proclaimed was one of his favorite rom-coms.
“I’ll admit, there are worse ways to lose.” Zach sighed, lowering his sunglasses to eye Kat’s cleavage appreciatively.
“Is that so?” Kat licked her ice cream cone, provocatively sliding her tongue all the way up one side and down the other.
“I might even say it was a win,” Zach added in a husky growl.
Kat laughed and lifted her cone to his mouth. The actor proceeded to prove he could be just as suggestive, swirling his tongue around the mound of ice cream in slow erotic circles.
Luke returned, mouth twisting into a scowl as he observed their antics.
Why did he seem so bothered by Zach’s interest in Kat? Julia’s good mood faltered, but she pushed the gloomy thoughts away and mustered a faint smile. “Is one of those for me?”
“Uh, yeah.” Luke blinked and held out a cone. “I hope chocolate is okay. It’s all they had left.”
“Chocolate is always okay.”
He nodded toward the shore. “Wanna take a walk on the beach?”
She glanced at her friends. Kat was busy letting Zach suck ice cream from her finger while Andie and Curt were debating who’d taken out more opponents during the game. They wouldn’t miss her.
“Why not.” She kicked off her shoes, then handed Luke her cone so she could slip off her socks. Tucking them inside her shoes, she scooted them under one of the chairs.
“Ready?” he asked, handing back her ice cream.
Julia took a taste, savoring the first swipe across her tongue, cold and rich and sweet. Like the sun breaking through the clouds, her mood brightened. It would be nice to spend more time with Luke, especially if they would be alone.
“Ready.” She stepped past him and moved toward the water. “Just promise to walk forward this time,” she instructed playfully. “And remember to keep your eyes open.”
He caught the reference at the same moment he caught up with her, laughing sheepishly. “I only do that when I’m trying to work through a problem.”
His adorable self-deprecating smirk made her heart wiggle like one of the resort owner’s fluffy-butted corgis. Made her want to lick his face instead of her ice cream. Good Lord, she was ridiculous. Julia shook herself. “You can’t walk and think at the same time?”
He bristled. “I was walking.”
“Not very well, if I recall,” she said, provoking his prickly side on purpose.
“I would have been fine if someone hadn’t been standing in my way,” he harrumphed.
“Someone you would have seen if your eyes had been open,” she insisted, taking another lazy lick of her ice cream and relishing his reaction. It was so deliciously fun to see him get all spiky and out of sorts.
His only response was a smirk that looked both annoyed and amused. But then his gaze dropped to her mouth and his expression froze.
Julia paused midlick, the intensity of those gray eyes stopping her in her tracks. With effort, she forced herself to swallow around the sudden lump in her throat.
Meanwhile, Luke hadn’t moved. He stood frozen in place, eyes still on her mouth, while his own cone listed sideways. Then slowly, as slowly as the melting chocolate dripped onto the sand, he bent toward her.
It was just like that first day on the beach, when there’d been this magnetic pull. This feeling drawing her to him. With her shoes off and his still on he seemed even taller, the distance between them stretching and then shrinking as she dug her bare toes into the sand and arched toward him, his lips coming closer … closer …
A piercing cry from above shattered the moment. Julia fell back on her heels, dropping her ice cream in surprise as a flash of white sped toward her. “Ack!” she screamed, jumping back just as the ivory terror swooped in, snatching up her cone.
Chocolate ice cream rained down, splattering across Luke’s face and chest. He blinked. Shook himself. Then glared skyward and shouted, “You evil air weasel!”
“At least it’s not poop this time,” Julia offered.
He groaned, eyeing the damage. “This is one of my favorite shirts.”
“A Pac-Man fan, huh?” She reached out and dabbed at a streak of chocolate on his cheek.
“Yes,” he grumbled. “And I refuse to be embarrassed about it.”
“Why should you be?” she asked, wiping away another smear. His skin was warm beneath her thumb. “I like Pac-Man.”
“You do?” He eyed her suspiciously, shoulders stiffening as if he was bracing for her to make fun of him.
“I do. Who doesn’t like Pac-Man?” She smiled gently as the tension eased from his body.
“What’s the highest level you’ve ever gotten to?”
“Um … it’s been years since I actually played,” she admitted. “How many levels are there?”
“Two hundred and fifty-five.” He paused. “Technically, there are two hundred and fifty-six, but there’s a glitch on the last level that turns it into a kill screen.”
“Well, as much as I played, I never made it even close to that far, trust me.” She shrugged, tracing one toe in the sand. “I spent a lot of time on military bases when I was a kid. The day care or summer camp or whatever program my parents stuck me in always had some old video games. Usually Pac-Man and Frogger.”
“I’m guessing you were probably bored, but I would have loved it,” Luke admitted. “Sorry about your ice cream.” He held out the drooping remnants of his own melting cone. “Do you want mine?”
“Um, I’m good, thanks.” Even as she said it, the cone collapsed, landing in a soggy pile of goo at Luke’s feet.
Julia bit her lip, trying hard to suppress the bubble of laughter rising in her throat.
Luke lost it first. A rumble of laughter in his chest expanded outward. When he finally caught his breath, he snarled, “I’m going to kill that winged demon.”
“I don’t believe you’re the kind of person who would commit avicide.” Julia shook her head, laughing so hard tears were forming.
He stared at her, nonplussed.
“That’s a fancy word for killing birds,” she added, suppressing another burst of laughter at his distinct lack of amusement.
“Yeah, I kind of figured that one out.” He wiped at his shirt, which only smeared the chocolate more, giving Pac-Man a handlebar mustache.
Julia burst into giggles again.
“You don’t think I’ll do it, but I will. I’ll assassinate that thieving little jerk, and then I’ll stuff him and give him to you as a present. You like stuffed animals, right?”
“Not real ones!” Julia wheezed. She was going to get the hiccups.
“Picky, aren’t we?” He heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. I won’t commit avicide,” he agreed, grinning down at her, gray eyes crinkling. “At least not today.”
The cheek ache was back in full force, but Julia couldn’t help returning the smile. When he looked at her like that, her insides went all light and fluffy. She bit her lip and turned away, inching out into the water until the gentle afternoon tide swirled around her bare ankles. “I appreciate the offer, though,” she finally said, struggling to keep the light, playful tone of their conversation. “Do you give all the girls you kiss stuffed animals as gifts?”
He shrugged. “Would you believe me if I said I haven’t kissed that many girls?”
“The taxidermy might be part of your problem,” she teased.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He chuckled. “Though if I was serious about taking that up as a hobby, I might need you to give me shooting lessons. You said your dad taught you?”
“He did.”
“I heard you tell Harry he’s a marine.”
“He was Brigadier general. Retired now.” Julia kept walking, feet splashing through the water. “Since I never plan to own a gun, learning to shoot might have been a bit wasted on me.”
“I think our paintball team would disagree with you.”
“I suppose.” She tried to suppress the proud smile tugging at her lips. “And I was quite the hustler at carnival games.”
Luke shook his head. “Here I am, trying to tempt you with one measly stuffed animal, and you already have a collection of giant teddy bears.”
“My mom got rid of all that stuff ages ago. I only saved one.” She grinned. “A jumbo-sized taco.”
“A treasure destined to become a family heirloom,” he teased. “I’m sure your dad is very proud.”
“I don’t know about that.” Julia laughed, but the happy sound ended on a hollow note. She didn’t want to weigh this moment down, didn’t want to delve into all the ways she felt like her choices had not been the ones her parents wished she’d made. “He wasn’t around a lot when I was growing up, but when he was, he made sure to teach me three things. How to shoot a gun, change a tire, and cook a steak.”
“Interesting combination,” Luke mused.
“Being independent and self-sufficient was a big deal to him. And I get it. I understand he wanted to make sure I could manage on my own, that I would grow up never having to count on anybody else…” Julia hesitated, watching the waves roll in and out, water cresting in frothy white bubbles. “But I also think it might be nice to have someone around to help. To do things for me. Not because I need them to but because they want to. And I’d do things for them. Because I want to.”
“If you ever want to cook a steak for someone, I’m here for you,” Luke said solemnly.
Julia rolled her eyes and pushed him, forcing him to dodge the waves so his shoes didn’t get wet. She knew he was playing around, trying to lighten the mood, but the reality was, the idea appealed to her. She liked the thought of doing something for him. Maybe not cook a steak exactly, but something nice.
“I’ll think about it,” she finally said, regretting the words almost immediately. It was a foolish idea. She barely knew him. It’s not like she could invite him over to her place for a dinner date.
Could she? It was only Tuesday, and yet it already felt like so much had happened between them. At this rate, what would things be like by the time she left on Sunday?
Julia pulled back from that line of thinking. It was just five more days. Things would be the same as they were now. Maybe she’d know him slightly better—assuming of course that anything about the person she was interacting with was the real him, and she had to imagine it was, at least a little bit. She was pretending to be someone else, and yet, aside from hiding the fact that she was the reviewer, pretty much everything she said and did was just her being herself. Especially around Luke. When they were together, she forgot all about her role as a reviewer. She was just a girl …
“You mentioned your dad wasn’t around a lot when you were growing up.” Luke paused, as if testing the temperature of this conversation before wading all the way in. “Were your parents divorced?”
“No, they’re still married.” Julia shook her head. “Dad’s work took him all over the place. As a family, we moved a lot, but not nearly as much as he got bounced around. It was like they would occasionally relocate us to a different hive, and he buzzed in and out.” She scrunched her toes, watching the patterns she made in the sand disappear with the tide.
Rather like her parents’ marriage. They’d been together for decades but felt nothing for each other beyond a pleasant, tolerant regard. Julia stared ahead, taking in the miles of shoreline stretching before her. No matter how far she walked or for how long, eventually the waves would sweep in and smooth things over. Her footsteps would be erased. Forgotten.
Filled with an aching sadness, she wondered, as she often had before, whether her parents had ever felt something deeper for each other. She wanted to believe they’d started their journey together in love, but that somehow made it worse, knowing feelings that had once been there were gone, washed away over time. “They’re still together, but I’m not sure if they’re happy.” She exhaled. “They’re not unhappy, just not … happy.”
Luke nodded, gray eyes pensive. It was a few minutes before he spoke, voice so low and quiet it was almost swallowed by the tide. “My parents were definitely unhappy.” A sardonic smile curled one corner of his mouth. “Very unhappy.”
“Divorced?” Julia asked.
“Yeah.” He picked up a handful of pebbles, sending them skittering across the waves.
“I’m sorry.” She wasn’t sure if an apology was the right thing here. The way he’d answered seemed to indicate he wasn’t interested in condolences. But she didn’t know what else to offer him.
“Don’t be.” More pebbles bounced into the water. “You know how you said you thought it might be nice to have someone around to help? To do things for each other because you wanted to?”
“Uh-huh,” she said softly, tiptoeing around the sharp edges their conversation had exposed.
He bent and scooped up another fistful of pebbles, this time tossing them into the lake one by one. “My parents weren’t really the type to enjoy doing things for each other. Hated it, actually. Always acted like it was some kind of personal insult to have to help each other with anything. I’m amazed their marriage lasted as long as it did.”
Her heart twisted at the bitterness in his voice. “How old were you?”
“Eighteen.” He wiped his hands on his jeans. “I was fine. But my sister was only twelve. She needed them. Really, really needed them. And they were too selfish to put her needs first.”
“I know it may not seem like the right thing to do,” Julia began, treading carefully, “but sticking it out isn’t always the best option.”
Luke jerked his head toward her. “Do you have siblings?”
“Only child,” she answered simply. Julia sensed she’d hit a nerve, but she was determined not to let him change the subject. “I grew up with two parents who stopped loving each other years ago. But they chose to stick it out.”
“I admire them for having principles.” Luke snorted. “My parents were too selfish for anything like that.”
“You’re missing my point.” A wave crested and Julia kicked at the water in frustration. “What they did was selfish, too. They’re not still together because they care for each other but because they didn’t care enough to do anything else!”
A muscle rippled in Luke’s jaw. His face shuttered, emotions pulling back, as if he’d drawn a curtain behind those stormy eyes.
Part of her wished she hadn’t said anything, that she’d kept her mouth shut and her opinion to herself. But it felt worse to leave things half-said, so she soldiered on. “I know it sounds irrational, but I used to wish my parents would fight. I wanted to see them angry with each other because then it would feel like they actually cared. Like they were invested in the relationship.” She stopped walking, suddenly running out of steam. “Like they were invested in me.”
He stared down at her in broody silence.
“Luke?”
“De Morgan’s law.”
“Huh?” Julia wondered if she’d pushed him off the deep end with her emotional tirade.
“De Morgan’s law.” He blinked, warmth seeping back into his eyes, thawing the chill. “It’s a theorem used in computer programming.”
“Oh.” Yep, she’d definitely pushed him over the edge. Served her right for indulging in a feelings dump about her parents. He was a guy she’d known for two days, not her therapist.
“For developing logic gates,” he added.
There was nothing logical about the current situation. Julia realized her feet were still in the water, the rising surf now tickling her shins. She pointed at the sand, gesturing at the tail of the wave snaking closer to where Luke stood. “Your shoes are going to get wet.”
“I don’t care,” he said. “What you said makes sense.”
“Okay…” Julia eyed him warily. Luke might think she was making sense, but at the moment, he had her completely confused.
“I’d never considered things from that angle. Your take is the opposite of my view. Yet both conclusions have the potential to be true.” He shrugged. “You’ve given me a lot to think about.” He splashed closer to her, shoes squelching in the wet sand. “Thank you.”
“Any time,” she said faintly, unsure what Luke was thanking her for. She was about to ask, when he bent his head and kissed her. His lips were warm and tasted of chocolate where they brushed against her own, and Julia decided to simply accept this token of his gratitude.
Sometimes it was better not to ask questions.