The late afternoon sun filtered through the half-drawn curtains of the old beach house, casting a warm, golden glow across the wooden floors. Mia had always loved this place—its creaky stairs, the salt-kissed air, and the way it felt like a secret hideaway from the rest of the world. She’d invited Jake up for the weekend on a whim, telling herself it was just to catch up with an old friend. But the way his eyes had lingered on her when he arrived that morning told a different story. They’d spent the day walking the shoreline, laughing over shared memories from college, splashing each other in the waves like kids. Now, back inside with sand still dusting their skin, the easy camaraderie had shifted into something thicker, more electric. “You’ve got a little something right here,” Jake said softly, stepping closer in the kitchen. His thumb brushed a grain of sand from her cheek, but he didn’t pull away. His touch lingered, warm and deliberate. Mia’s breath caught. She looked up at
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