Page 99 of Ungodly Rich

“I still can’t believe this beach.” She gestured to the white sand, dotted with lounge chairs and striped peach umbrellas. “All the Georgian beaches I’ve seen have grainy yellow sand, with seashells crunching under your feet. I always thought that this kind of powder was only in the Caribbean.”

“It was kind of overkill, I agree,” Harry muttered.

Overkill? Perhaps his family had imported the sand when they built the resort. Instead of asking, Julia leaned her hips back into Harry’s. As always, the simple sensation of him holding her, the sheer physical closeness, steadied her heartbeat.

“Should we go surfing tomorrow before all the guests arrive? I saw that the hotel offers lessons.”

Harry laughed, a gruff sound that seemed to rumble deliciously through her body. “You just want to remind me that you kick my ass at surfing.”

“I wouldn’t say I kick your ass,” Julia admonished. “It’s not much of a competition when you refuse to try.”

“I told you, the ocean is not where I’m strongest. But I’m happy foryouto surf,” Harry offered. “I’ll stay at the resort and deal with whatever wedding nonsense pops up.”

“You must really love me, to jump on the wedding-planning grenade.”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it up to me.” Harry ran his hands down her sides in a way that sent a little zing of pleasure through her.

“We could surf in Sicily,” Julia pointed out.

The morning after the wedding, they would leave for their honeymoon in Italy, where they planned to rent a car and drive down the Amalfi coast. Julia had insisted on a relaxed itinerary: they were staying at locally owned bed-and-breakfasts, exploring coastal towns along the way. Not a single five-star restaurant or Ellene hotel for the whole two weeks, until they ended in Taormina, Sicily, at a small private villa.

“Or we could hike,” Harry suggested instead. “There are some great coastal trails along the shore.”

“What if we hiked Mount Etna?” Julia asked. “I’ve always wanted to hike an active volcano, and that’s one of the safest ones. Even if itissupposedly where Zeus buried Typhon.”

Harry let out an amused breath, though his grip on her arms tightened almost imperceptibly. “Sometimes I forget how many Greek myths you know.”

“Just the ones that were painted all over vases.” Julia smiled and closed her eyes, relishing the sensation of sunlight on her face. “Consider yourself lucky I’m not dragging you to Pompeii while we’re in Italy.”

“I’ll do Pompeii. I’d like to see Tour Guide Julia in action,” Harry teased.

She chuckled, grateful that they could joke about their former life, their old minimum-wage jobs. “Be warned, I take my art tours very seriously.”

For a moment they just stood there, nestled together in the afternoon quiet. Then the angry whine of an electric saw cut through the softer sounds of ocean and wind.

Julia glanced down at the team of uniformed staff who were setting up enormous metal poles, complete with a polished floor that would be installed several feet above the grass. The tent’s walls and ceiling weren’t made of white fabric, as Julia had imagined, but some kind of clear PVC that made the structure look permanent.

“I thought we were getting a wedding tent. Not a wedding palace,” she said softly.

“I know it’s a lot,” Harry said ruefully. “My parents are welcoming you into the family the only way they know how. That is, with a lot of excessive fanfare.”

It was just a wedding, Julia reminded herself. Just a party. Then she and Harry would spend the rest of their lives together, building their own family, their own traditions.

She twisted around to look up into Harry’s handsome face. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He glanced up at the sun, almost like an old-fashioned sailor telling time by its position. “Should we head down? I bet Percy is already at the bar.”

The three of them had decided to get drinks before the rest of the family gathered for dinner.A casual family meal,Tara had called it, though Julia was wise enough, now, to realize that it would be anything but.

As she and Harry walked through the lobby, she was startled to see a familiar figure near the check-in desk, dressed in baggy Harvard sweatpants, a hot-pink neck pillow slung over her shoulder. Trust Abby to still wear the free sweats that they were given as freshmen, Julia thought fondly. She started running across the lobby.

“Julia!” Abby exclaimed into their hug. She stood back, taking in Julia’s outfit. “Okay, who is this fashionable stranger and what has she done with my best friend?”

“Trust me, I’m still me. I’d rather be wearing those sweatpants you’re rocking,” Julia whispered.

Abby laughed, then turned to hug Harry, too. “Congratulations, Harry. I’m so excited for this weekend.”

“We didn’t know you were coming today,” Harry said warmly. “Once you’re checked in, please join my family for dinner. We’d love to have you.” He gestured across the lobby toward the hotel bar, where Percy was already waiting, a martini glass in hand. “I’ll let you two catch up.”