Just Beginning: A Prequel to Just Destiny (Destiny #1) by Theresa Rizzo
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They headed north on Lake Shore Drive. The drive along the water relaxed Jenny as usual. She loved watching the twinkling green water with gliding sailboats, racing speedboats, and profusion of fat Canadian geese waddling along the shoreline or the elegant swan pair that had taken up residence around the Crescent Club.
They passed Saint Paul’s Church, the Farms Pier, then the Yacht Club to Grosse Pointe Shores. Gabe turned down a narrow gravel drive and parked in front of a medium-size brick house.
She perked up and looked around with interest. “It’s on the water?”
“It’s smaller than I’d wanted, but the realtor thought there’d be room to add on.” He switched off the ignition. “That must be her.”
The house sat dwarfed by a huge oak tree, looking somewhat sad and neglected amongst weed-filled dried-out grass, overgrown yews, and dogwoods. Jenny lifted her hair off her sticky neck and stepped into the shade. Even in this humidity, the lawn needed watering. She glanced at the water beyond the driveway. Wonder if they were allowed to use the lake to water their yards. Probably not.
Gabe took her hand, and they walked up the cracked cement sidewalk to where wooden barrels of wilting impatiens flanked the porch in an obvious attempt to infuse the house with some cheerful color. The owners didn’t have much of a green thumb.
A smiling blonde stood in the doorway of the house, framed by peeling white-painted brick and covered by a slanted red tile roof. Her high heels showed off shapely calves, and her welcoming smile was much, much wider than the brief skirt that almost covered her butt.
Jenny frowned and cocked her head to the side. How the heck did she manage to sit in that thing without giving all nearby males a cheap thrill? As Barbie realtor batted her big doe eyes at Gabe, Jenny’s imaginary hackles rose.
With one delicate claw on his arm, Barbie tried to draw Gabe into the house.
Gabe disentangled himself from the woman’s grasp, pulled the door wide, and with a warm caressing hand at her back, urged Jenny forward. She inwardly smiled in feminine satisfaction as she brushed past the other woman.
The realtor chatted brightly while giving them the tour, handed Gabe information, and then left them alone in the house while she went to her car to make some phone calls. Jenny stood in the family room before the wall of glass admiring the lake.
“Not much of a backyard with that slope,” Gabe observed. “Must be a pain to cut the grass.”
Jenny looked at the dried out straw masquerading as a lawn. “It’s not that steep. Healthy green grass would look lovely. I bet a good landscaper could come up with a fabulous design. Maybe something terraced...besides, you’d have a whole lake for your back yard. It even has a boat dock.”
“What do you think of the house though? It needs work. Plumbing and electricity need updating. Undoubtedly a new roof.” He frowned and glanced at the kitchen. “Kitchen needs to be completely redone and opened up, bathrooms gutted...”
“And the yard needs reworking and it’s just crying for an enclosed porch off the dining room.” She bit her thumbnail, thinking about how her parents’ home flooded periodically and how much work it was to clean up the basement. “The foundation looked solid—no cracks or sign of flooding or water damage, but you’d have to have it inspected.”
“Lot of work. And I’d want it done right away—enclosed before the winter.”
“It’s vacant, so you wouldn’t have to wait for the owners to move out, but getting a builder and permits immediately would be challenging. Winter seems ambitious.”
“Not if you know the right people and are willing to pay. Still, it’s a lot of work.”
“Yeah. But look at that view.” Jenny sighed and pivoted toward the lake. “And it’s close enough to the hospital and your office. I like it.”
Gabe wrapped his arms around Jenny, back to chest, and rested his chin on her head. “You do?”
She tilted back until she leaned flush against him. “Yup.”
“Enough to help me remodel it?”
“Sure.” It’d be a fun project.
Lulled into a lazy, satisfied complacency, she stared at the lake. The calm water gently lapped at the concrete retaining wall. Miles away, a huge gray freighter, flying a flag Jenny couldn’t quite make out, lumbered by, not even coming close to obscuring their view of Canada.
It must be wonderful to watch the sunrise each morning from here.
“Enough to share it with me?”
Jenny turned to the side, craning in his arms to look at his face. “You want to live together?”
Gabe’s hands slid down her arms and turned her to face him. Taking her hands in his, he threaded his fingers through hers. “I want to marry you.”
“Marry?” As in, get married? As in wedding? As in husband and wife, marry?
He nodded. “We’re good together—great together. And you make me happy. You’re so...” He frowned, struggling to find the right words, “passionate and sincere.” Pausing, his eyes locked onto hers. “I love you, Jenny. Will you marry me?”
Jenny’s heart lifted, and her breathing slowed. He loved her. The thought both thrilled and humbled her. Wow. Gabe wanted to marry her. “But we’ve only been together four months.”
“I knew after four days—after our first date. This just feels right. We’re right. I know you feel it too.”
She nodded. She did feel it. She felt good, strong, and complete when she was with Gabe. Jenny enjoyed every moment they spent together, but she’d never really thought about marriage.
Jenny Harrison? It sounded good. It sounded great. As Jenny Harrison, she could forget her screwed-up past and begin anew. As Gabe’s wife, and Alex and Ted’s stepmother, she could wipe the slate clean. Marriage to this wonderful, sexy man would allow her to put those haunting mistakes to rest and become reborn, a completely new and better person. She could do it. She could.
Tell him. Tell him now, an inner voice urged. He wants to marry you—he has a right to know. It’ll be okay; he loves you. He believes in unconditional love, the voice reminded.
Jenny’s hands suddenly felt cold in his larger, warmer ones. Her gaze dropped to scrutinize his shirt button, peeking out from beneath the protection of his skewed silk tie. Unconditional love—for his children.
She bit her lip, knowing that the love from a parent to a child was far different than this. Gabe had loved his children for eighteen years. They were a part of him—flesh of his flesh. Would he be so forgiving with a love he’d only had for mere months? She wanted to believe so.
Besides, he respected and loved her honesty. How could she tell him she lived a lie? She couldn’t. She couldn’t bear to see regret and disillusionment cloud his eyes. He may still love her, but she couldn’t take that risk.
She’d always had to earn love, and she was willing to work for Gabe’s. But if he knew about her past, she’d never have a chance. She’d lose his respect for sure, and she couldn’t live with that loss—another loss.
“Jenny?” he prompted. “Don’t fall all over yourself accepting. I’m not sure my ego could take it.”
Conscience prodding her, Jenny pulled out of his embrace. She couldn’t believe she was going to blow this, but she had to be fair—for his sake. Avoiding his earnest gaze, she looked down and wrapped taut arms over her nervous stomach.
“Umm... I... I haven’t made very good decisions in the past.” She frowned and looked away.
“I’ve made a few bad calls, too. Who hasn’t?”
“I don’t trust my instincts anymore.”
“Then trust mine.” Gabe moved closer until she could feel the heat from his body and smell his sexy cologne. He hooked a gentle finger beneath Jenny’s chin, lifting it until she met his warm gaze. “My instincts say you should marry me and we’ll be crazy happy together.”
Jenny closed her eyes and pulled away. “But what if we’re not? What if I screw it up?” That was what she did. Jenny was a master at getting herself in trouble, and afte
“You won’t. You couldn’t.”
Jenny’s eyes popped open, and she cocked her head. Oh, don’t challenge me that way. If only you knew.
But it wasn’t a challenge. His unwavering stare spoke of confidence and sincerity. He had that much faith. He believed in her, in them. This wasn’t some spontaneous suggestion blurted out; Gabe seriously wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Her stomach quivered in excitement that he loved her that much.
“Trust me.” He took her cold hands and warmed them between his. “Do I make you happy?”
“Yes.”
He paused, searching her face. “Do you love me?”
She swallowed hard. With all my heart. “Yes.”
His face lightened, but still he didn’t smile. He squeezed her hands. “Then marry me.”
Could it really be that simple? He makes me happy. I love him. He loves me. Of course he made her happy, happier than she’d ever been. And she loved him more than anything. He believed in her. He completed her in a way no other could. In such a short time, he’d become so very important to her that she couldn’t imagine life without him. But could it really be that simple?
Frightened to say the words aloud as if she’d jinx them if she did, Jenny looked at him and nodded.
“Yes?” Widening eyes matched his emerging smile.
She nodded again, grinning.
“You’re sure? You’re not just marrying me for this fancy house on the lake and my car?”
Her credit card balance and rent money problem flashed to mind, but Jenny promptly pushed those worries away. She’d get that waitress job and wouldn’t spend a cent until she’d paid off all her debts. She loved this man, and she was going to marry him.
Jenny shook her head and threw her arms around his neck. “Your body. I’m marrying you for your sexy body.”