The End of Beginning

Julia's flight was long, but the hours seemed to melt away as she lost herself in the rhythm of sketching and daydreaming. Her mind would frequently wander back to Joe. She couldn't stop thinking about him—the anticipation building the closer she got.

When the plane finally touched down, Julia felt a nervous excitement swirling inside her. She texted Joe immediately.

JULIA: Landed! Finally here!

A few seconds later, she saw a message pop up from him.

JOE: I'm so glad you're here. Gonna be stuck filming a little later than expected, though. One of the interns on set will pick you up. He's a good guy, so you'll be in good hands. I'm dying to see you!

Julia felt a little disappointed that Joe couldn't pick her up personally, but she understood. Still, the thought of seeing him soon made her heart race. She grabbed her bag and headed for the exit.

The air was milder than usual for late November, but there were still patches of snow scattered across the ground, a reminder that winter was never far behind in Alberta. She walked outside and found an intern waiting for her, a guy in his mid-20s wearing glasses.

"Hey, you must be Julia," he said, offering her a quick handshake. "I'm Thomas. Joe mentioned you'd be arriving today."

"Yep, that's me," Julia smiled, relieved that the ride would be short.

When they arrived at the studio, the intern led her through the lot and straight to Joe's trailer. "He's finishing up a scene, but he should be here any minute. You can wait inside," the intern said, gesturing to the trailer door.

Julia nodded, but didn't step inside right away. Her nerves were flaring, so she wanted to embrace the cool outdoor air while she waited for him. She had been texting Joe throughout the journey, keeping him updated, but he hadn't yet read most of her messages.

She only waited a few minutes before she saw him approach from the distance. She could see his beaming smile before anything else.

Her heart skipped a beat.

But then, her eyes landed on the rest of him.

Joe was dressed in his sheriff costume: camo cargo pants, black combat boots, a black short-sleeve shirt, and tactical gear that looked a lot like real police gear—clearly part of his character. His hair was slicked back with his crisp buzzed sides, every inch of him looking confident, sharp, and so damn hot.

Julia froze for a second, unable to stop herself from staring as he got closer. The sight of him—so commanding and sexy in that uniform—was enough to make her feel lightheaded.

Joe reached her in a few long strides, his arms going around her as he pulled her into a big, tight hug.

"Hey," he whispered, his voice warm against her ear. "You made it."

"I made it!" She hugged him back, still a little dazed.

Joe grabbed her hand and led her up the stairs into his trailer. Her eyes slowly checked him out again.

Julia said, breathless, "I can't believe how hot you are in that outfit. It's even better in person."

Joe chuckled, meeting her eyes with a smirk. "Yeah? Is this doing something for you?" His voice was low, a hint of seduction slipping through.

Julia's breath caught in her throat. She had no idea how much seeing him would affect her, but standing there with him, she could feel the heat rising between them.

"Yeah," she admitted quietly, her voice a little shaky. "It is."

Joe's eyes flickered with amusement as he stepped closer to her. He placed a hand on her waist, the other hand leaning against the trailer wall next to her head.

His body was inches away, their faces dangerously close. She could feel the weight of his gaze as it roamed over her face, and her pulse sped up. His breath was heavier now, just like hers.

"Joe..." she whispered, almost breathless.

Without a word, Joe closed the space between them and kissed her.

The kiss was urgent, hungry, and it took everything in Julia not to melt into him completely. He pressed her against the wall of the trailer, his body pushing into hers, and her hands instinctively roamed up his torso to his upper arms. She could feel his muscles flexing before she slipped her hands behind his neck.

His actions were deliberate, intense—almost a little more aggressive than usual. Julia was so turned on, her body responding to the intensity.

The kiss deepened, his tongue teasing hers, a perfect rhythm forming between them. Julia was drowning in the sensation—her heart pounding, her body aching for him.

But just as it was escalating, a loud knock on the trailer door interrupted them.

A voice from outside shouted, "Hey Joe, we need you for a quick wrap-up. Just a few minutes and you can be done for today!"

Joe pulled away reluctantly, his face flushed with desire. He smirked, looking at Julia with a mix of frustration and amusement. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere."

He quickly adjusted his outfit and rushed out of the trailer, leaving Julia standing there, breathless and full of desire.

Her heart was still pounding, her mind spinning. She was overwhelmed, flustered, and more than a little turned on.