I didn’t see Uncle Joe again until the night of the party. He was lying low I guess, not even hanging out by the pool. I was kind of disappointed, but understood why he was doing it. I should have been doing the same, not constantly hoping to catch a glimpse of him or accidently run into him. But as it was, our paths didn’t cross until the party was nearly over.

The evening was well underway. There were about fifty people, all family and very close friends of Daddy’s in attendance. The backyard had been transformed into something soft and intimate with tiki torches and round lanterns hung about the place. A stringed quartet was playing under the gazebo and a marquis had been set up with tables and chairs. Dinner had been a formal affair and speeches ensued thereafter, long and boring.

Now though the atmosphere was relaxed and wait-staff slipped between the crowd, wine, champagne and spirits freely flowing. Daddy was standing at the centre of a crowd basking in all the attention. Mum had really gone all out on this one figuring you only turned fifty once.

I had managed to dodge TJ for most of the evening. But Uncle Joe had managed to dodge me too. I’d spotted him once at the start of the evening, sitting at a far table and hadn’t seen him since. So I was feeling kind of, not neglected, but kind of disappointed and lonely as I stood leaning against the railing of the gazebo listening to the quartet play soft chamber music. I was lost in my head, daydreaming about nothing in particular and just enjoying the music, when I felt pudgy fingers pinch my elbow hard, making me jump.

I yanked my elbow away and cried out angrily. “Ow!”

“Hey Cuuuz.” TJ drawled thinking my pain was amusing.

I just barely stopped the all out sneer my face wanted to jerk into, seeing that TJ had finally cornered me. I suppose I could have just turned and walked away, but mum had told me to be on my best behaviour tonight, and to be nice to TJ. Yeah right, like that was ever gonna happen. Still, I behaved and tried not to cause a scene. I looked at my cousin and I didn’t quite manage to stop my lip from curling back as I said his name. “Terrance.”

I watched him scowl. He hated being called that, much preferring his acronym, thinking that is set him apart from his dad. However, TJ was the spitting image of his father, fat, sweaty, with squinty little eyes that were always leering and made my skin crawl.

“What ya doing?” He wheedled, trying to make small talk.

I wasn’t in the mood to be gracious and so my answers were somewhat clipped. “Nothing.”

“Did you hear I got a new car for being in the top five percent in my class this year?”

“Good for you.” I replied not really interested. I was trying my hardest not to give him an opening so he’d lose interest and bugger off.

“You should come over one time and I’ll, ah... take you for a ride.” His smile was leering.

Was it just me or was he making innuendo’s? “Ahhhh... I think not.” I said dismissively, the thought abhorrent to me.

“Geez Charlotte why’ve you gotta be such a bitch?” TJ insulted using my full name as pay back.

“I don’t know Terrance, why’ve you gotta be such a dick?” I countered.

TJ reached forward faster than I thought he could move and before I could react, pinched me hard on the elbow again. “Ow!” I cried jerking away once more. “Touch me again Terrance...!” I warned.

TJ laughed and rolled his lip back in a sneer. “And what?” He said; his voice mocking and mean.

“And they’ll never find the body.” Uncle Joe’s low, angry voice sounded from behind him.

TJ spun around and instantly his demeanour changed to one of solicitation. “Uncle Joe! Hi, I didn’t see you there.”

“No you didn’t. But I saw you. And if I catch you anywhere near Charlie again I’ll break your fucking fingers. Now piss off.” TJ blanched and didn’t wait to be told twice. He quickly hobbled away, his fat body wobbling as he went. TJ was a bully; it was all right when he had the upper hand over someone smaller than him. But as soon as he was faced with someone bigger and tougher, well like all bullies he was a chicken at heart!

“Thanks.” I said once TJ was out of ear shot, rubbing my arm, trying not to stare at Uncle Joe.

Joe was still staring after TJ, his demeanour tense. “Little asshole.” He growled before turning his attention back to me. He reached over and ran his hand down my arm, his thumb rubbing against the area TJ had pinched. “Are you okay?”

I nodded silently. I glanced down at my hands and picked nervously at the quicks. “Yeah I’m good.” I said and then shivered as fire burned across my skin where Uncle Joe touched me.

He let go of my arm. “Does that happen often?” He asked staring hard at me. It took me a moment to realise he was referring to what had taken place between me and TJ and not the way my body was reacting to his touch. He glanced towards the way TJ had taken off and then back to me.

I shrugged, “Only when he can’t get the better of me.”

I saw Uncle Joe’s jaw clench tight. “I should go kick his ass the little punk. Teach him some fucking manners.”

I huffed through my nose. “I doubt whether the lesson would stick.” Uncle Joe just looked at me some more. I could tell from his body language that he was really pissed off. The last thing he needed was an incident, hell the last thing I needed was an incident, so I thought I’d better try to calm him down. I gave him a half smile and shrugged again trying to ease the tension. “While an ass whoopin’ always sounds like a good idea, he’s not really worth the aggravation, Uncle. But thank you. I probably would have ended up with a few more bruises on my arm if you hadn’t come along. Besides I think you scared the shit out of him and I doubt he’ll leave his mommy’s side for the rest of the night.” I took a half step closer to him and turned, leaning back against the balustrade that was between us. I tried to focus my attention on the musicians but glanced sideways at him.

Joe stepped forward and leaned his elbows on the top of the railing, his shoulder just barely touching me, his elbow near mine. He held his drink between his hands, rolling the glass in his palms. I glanced at him furtively and saw a smile on his lips as he watched the musicians too. “You’re probably right.” He said and then added as an afterthought. “Now see, if I’d been allowed to have a smoke this afternoon, I’d be all peace, love and mung beans right about now. Not ready to tear some little jerk’s head off his shoulders.” He half joked; glancing back the way TJ had gone.

I gave him a half smile. “Well I’m glad you didn’t break your promise. Otherwise you’d be trying to stop me from doing the same to him, or maybe dragging his drowned carcass out of the pool.” I told him looking over at the pool.

At that he chuckled and nudged me with his elbow. “With that much body fat he’d be excessively buoyant. He’d keep popping to the surface like a cork.”

I couldn’t stop the giggle. I glanced sideways again and gave him a wicked smirk. “Not if I were standing on his neck...”

Uncle Joe merely shook his head at me. “Why do I believe you when you say that?”

“Why wouldn’t you? I’m a believable kind of girl. Besides, TJ would look good with a boot mark on the back of his neck.” I half joked. I was so nervous I didn’t know what I was saying. I could feel little tremors of excitement flashing through my stomach, churning it up so badly I felt like I might be sick.

He chuckled again. “You may be right.” He said; then still looking ahead, added in such a low voice I thought I was hearing things. “You look beautiful tonight, Charlie Bird.”

I blushed with pleasure at the compliment. I was wearing a pale lilac, silk and chiffon baby doll dress that was tailored to fall ‘A’ line from the waist to just above my knees. It had a gathered bodice and spaghetti strings, and I had on little strappy sandal heels.

“Thanks.” I said with a smile only half looking at him. “You clean up nice too.”

And he so did. I think it was the first time I had ever seen him in a suit. Well ‘half’ a suit. He was wearing tailored dress pants that were snug and emphasized how great his legs and butt were... and showed off the bulge really well too. A tailored white shirt cut in to accentuate his ‘V’ line, from broad shoulders to trim stomach and waist and it contrasted nicely against his tan skin. He also wore a pale blue tie, done in a double Windsor that sliced down the centre and broke up the assembly of clothes quite nicely.

His hair was still scraggly, but artfully so, looking clean and shiny. He was freshly shaven, his sharp features sleek and polished. I’d never seen him looking so clean cut, so yum! And oh god he smelled like heaven, in a half suit. A subtle spicy cologne wafted delicately from him driving my senses wild. It smelled like sea salt and sex and God it was maddening. I wanted to turn around, mash my lips against his and shove my tongue down his throat. But I knew I couldn't... more I knew I shouldn’t.

As much as I wanted it too; it was never going to happen.

I swallowed; my throat suddenly dry, my heart beating fast. I'd never really seen him dressed in anything other than painfully casual attire, and hence I had never really seen him as a part of the family because he went against the grain so very much. But tonight, well tonight that all changed, for the first time ever, my Uncle Joe, looked like he belonged in the Gregory family, and sweet mother if that didn’t make me want him more.

“Thanks.” He replied as he took a swig from his glass. He kept his glass raised, just in front of his face as he laid his left arm along the top of the railing and tucked his hand in front of his elbow, where it rested on the rail... right near my arm.

I didn’t give his movement a seconds thought, well that was until I felt the backs of his knuckles as they brushed oh so lightly against the back of my arm. It was so light, so glancing, that I wasn’t sure if he’d done it on purpose or by accident. I swallowed again, my heart thudding in my chest as I felt excitement swell in me. Instantly I felt that pulse centre between my thighs and this time, I did squeeze my legs together to counteract the ache, the action hidden by the fall of my dress.

He used two fingers, and his touch was so light I felt my body tingle all over. He flicked a look over his shoulder, blocking the view of his hand from the rear. And when I felt his fingers stroke back up my arm, there could be no mistaking his intent. I shivered.

He turned back towards me, using that movement to bring his head closer to my shoulder and as he shifted I felt his warm breath sear across my skin before I heard him inhale deeply. He kept turning, dropping his hands away from me before straightening up, until he stood with his back to me.

He scanned the crowd for a short time before leaning his hips back against the gazebo railing and casually crossed his legs as he dropped his gaze to stare into his glass held before him. “Enjoying the night so far Charlie Bird?” He asked softly, his voice only the tiniest bit strained.

“For the most part.” I told him just as softly, breathlessly, as I resolutely stared at the band. In my peripheral I saw him nod. “I’m glad you came over when you did though.”

He “hmmed” ambiguously as his head came up and he took another drink.

“How’s your night been? Not too bad I hope.” I asked recalling his words from the other day.

He casually dropped his left elbow down on the rail, which skewed his body towards me. Now when he spoke, he tilted his head a little as he turned it to face me, which brought it close enough I could feel his breath on my shoulder.

He snorted derisively and when he spoke his sarcasm was rich. “It’s going great. Guess we’re in the same boat there huh?”

“The Family giving you a hard time?” I queried sympathetically, trying to remain calm.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” He answered wearily then added. “Although my tongue’s sore from all the times I’ve had to bite it.”

I huffed through my nose, “Awww diddums! Want me to kiss it better for you?” I told him in my bitchy, ‘toughen up princess’ voice I used with my friends when they were complaining about something silly. Not that Uncle Joe’s situation was silly, but it was almost an automated response, hardwired into my teenage makeup and meant to make fun of the person... and I realised it was totally inappropriate as soon as I’d said it.

I blushed so hard I wanted to die. I swallowed and stammered out an apology. “Sorry! ... I ... sorry I ... didn’t mean it like that.” I turned my head away from him in embarrassment.

Uncle Joe’s chuckle sounded slightly awkward though forgiving. “It’s okay I get it. I should stop acting like a little bitch and man up huh?”

I looked back at him and pulled an apologetic face. “Sorry.”

“Forget about it.” Uncle Joe told me with a wink and a half smile that set my heart fluttering again. “I should have come and found you earlier. My night might have been a hell of a lot better if I had.”

His words had been soft and I didn’t want to read too much into them, but I was sure there was more meaning behind them than the obvious. I grew quiet as I looked at him, my breath quickening fractionally as he stared back, his eyes sparkling, teasing.

I shivered and looked away again, my nipples aching and pulling tight against the silk of my bodice. I shifted slightly, simply changing the leg I placed my weight on, and felt my shoulder and arm come into contact with Uncle Joe’s. I chewed on my bottom lip nervously, my tongue licking at it inside my mouth as I wondered what would happen next.

The silence between us was almost deafening. I picked at my cuticles nervously as I tried to keep my gaze centred on the quartet and not Uncle Joe. Uncle Joe on the other hand made it look way too easy. He was scanning the crowd, and looked as though he didn’t have a care in the world. Perhaps it was just me, perhaps I was reading too much into his light caress and soft words, the look in his eyes.

My stomach was still churning, my pulse was erratic and it felt like I was being scalded where Uncle Joe’s shoulder touched mine. I could feel a warm flush travelling across my entire body as everything kind of ganged up on me again. His appearance, his chivalry, his aftershave, God but most of all; just his presence and that light touch of his shoulder against mine... it was so hot, exciting, intoxicating.

My whole body throbbed with need, so intense that I felt sick with nerves again. I needed to break the silence that had gathered around us, before I passed out from sheer longing and holding my breath.

The tension between us was palpable, well at least it was to me, and all it did was make me think of sex. Which in turn got me thinking about how this whole incident started, right here, in this very gazebo.

The image of Uncle Joe’s hand, lazily stroking along his large, hard cock suddenly filled my mind, and I could almost see his ghostly image superimposed over the area where the small orchestral quartet sat. I clenched my jaw tight as I just managed to cut off the small whine of sexual longing at the back of my throat.

I felt the muscles of Uncle Joe’s arm bunch tight against my arm. Oh God, he’d heard it....