Just Beginning: A Prequel to Just Destiny (Destiny #1) by Theresa Rizzo

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  Gabe took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, then settled in next to Uncle George to watch Jenny dance with her dad.

  Damn, that woman’s beautiful. And mine.

  When Gabe caught his first glimpse of Jenny walking down the beach on her father’s arm, all graceful and stunning in that beaded, gauzy dress, she’d taken his breath away. Literally; he forgot to breathe. But Lord help him, when she smiled for him—and it’d been just for him—she made his head spin faster than downing four straight shots of whiskey. He was the luckiest man in the world.

  Jenny laughed at something her dad said then glanced at him. He winked. I’ve got my eye on you, lady. Later you’ll be laughing for me, and giggling, then moaning...

  Gabe shook his head to clear his brain. They had a ways to go tonight before he was free to see what it took to get Jenny out of that gown, and thinking that way would only lead to frustration.

  He reached for his ice water and turned to his uncle. “Having a good time?”

  “Dinner was pretty good.” Uncle George frowned at him. “What’s with her old man and that getup?” He nodded at Mike, dressed in a white embroidered Hawaiian dress shirt, khakis, and sandals.

  “Jenny asked him to dress in traditional Hawaiian clothes, like the other guys.” Ted, Michael, and Dillon were similarly dressed.

  “That’s fine for younger men, but he should know better. Looks ridiculous.”

  “He looks fine.”

  Uncle George raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t.”

  “I’m the groom, not a guest.”

  He watched the way Jenny swayed to the music, her hair moving half a beat behind, brushing bare, silky skin, begging to be caressed.

  Uncle George shook his head. “You gotta do something to keep a looker like that. Judith didn’t look half that good, and, well, we both know how that turned out.”

  “Thanks, Uncle George.”

  “I’m just sayin’ if you’re gonna go to the trouble of marrying the girl, it’s good to see you’re trying to hang onto her. That ring. This wedding. You’re certainly bringin’ your A game.”

  “Glad you approve,” he said dryly. And she still married him after she’d met Uncle George. Gabe shook his head in wonder. When they got home, he was going to have to have a long talk with his uncle about boundaries and guarding his tongue a little better.

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” Uncle George muttered. He scowled and rolled his beer over his blistering forearms.

  “Did you use the aloe lotion Jen gave you?”

  “Doesn't work.” He moved the beer to his other arm.

  “You’d think at your age you’d be able to avoid a sunburn.”

  “I shouldn’t have burned. I’m out in the sun plenty playin’ golf.”

  “The sun doesn’t reflect off the green like it does the ocean. You know that. Besides, Jenny reminded you to put suntan lotion on before we left.”

  “What? She’s my mother now?”

  “Nope. She’s just right.” He smirked.

  Gabe’s uncle had been put out at having to fly all the way to Maui for the wedding, so to make it up to him, Gabe paid a small fortune and gave him the fishing trip of a lifetime. While the ladies indulged in a little retail therapy, Gabe chartered a fishing expedition for the men.

  He gave Michael, Mike, and Dillon their first fishing lesson, while Uncle George and Ted chased marlins. And Uncle George fried his arms. Gabe wasn’t sure he made fishermen of the Campbells, but they seemed to enjoy it well enough, and it was a nice chance for the men to spend a day together.

  When the last notes played, Jenny pulled her subdued brother out on the floor. The photographer darted in and around, getting pictures of the bride dancing with her brother and then some shots of the group.

  Michael wasn’t half-bad. He watched the kid shimmy and move. Geeze, the guy had rhythm. Everybody formed a circle around him, and amid clapping and shouts, Michael threw himself to the floor executing a pretty good version of the Worm that ended with a breakdance twirl.

  To his surprise, Ted pulled Mary to the center and twirled her around a bit before pointing to Cindy and Dillon to take center stage. Alex ran over and held out her hand to Uncle George. “Come dance with me, Uncle George.”

  “Aw, no thanks, Alex. I don’t dance.”

  She tugged on his arm. “You do, too. I’ve seen you.”

  “I don’t know this song.”

  “So? It’s got a good beat. Come on, Uncle George.”

  “Uhh, my sunburn’s botherin’ me. I’ll just watch.”

  Gabe stood to dance with his daughter and let Uncle George off the hook, but then Mike approached. Mike held out a hand to Alex, and jerked his head toward the others on the dance floor. “Come on, Alex. Let’s show ’em how it’s done.”

  “Okay.” Alex beamed.

  “Look like a bunch of fools boppin’ around out there. Back in the day that’s what we did to get in shape for skiing.”

  Gabe sat back down and smiled. “They’re having fun.”

  Gabe was grateful to Mike for dancing with Alex. Until this week and seeing Alex and Ted with Mary and Mike, it’d never occurred to him that his kids had been missing out on the grandparent experience. His parents were dead, and Judith’s lived in North Dakota and didn’t visit often. Dave had an elderly mother living with her sister in Florida, so the kids didn’t see her much.

  It was good to see the generations together enjoying each other. The Campbells were proving a good find, the whole bunch of them. They were fun and loving, and they seemed to have some connection to his kids.

  Uncle George heaved to his feet. I’m gonna go back to my room and get some aspirin.”

  “Okay. You’re coming back, right?”

  “Maybe. I’ll see how I'm feelin’”

  “Come back. It’s only nine o’clock. It’s my wedding.”

  “I might turn in. I’ve got an early flight in the morning, and I still gotta pack.”

  “All right.” He stood and walked Uncle George out.

  Uncle George stopped at the door. “See ya at seven-thirty for breakfast?”

  Obviously his uncle didn’t think that the morning after Gabe’s wedding, he might want to sleep in late, or perhaps share a leisurely breakfast alone with his bride before enjoying a little morning loving. Hmm, breakfast with Uncle George or making love to his sweet, sexy wife?

  Uncle George looked at him with raised eyebrows, patiently waiting.

  “How about nine?”

  “Shuttle picks me up at nine.”

  Forgive me, Jenny. “We’ll meet you in the dining room at eight-thirty.”

  Uncle George grunted and with a nod, turned, and left.

  Good God he was a difficult man. Was it aging or having to share him with Jenny that was making his uncle grumpier? Hopefully once they got home, time would settle him down. Now that they’d won Jenny’s parents over, he fervently hoped Uncle George wouldn’t become a problem.

  Chapter 10