Gordon's Dawn (9 page)

“You can’t leave your birthday party.” David gave her a glare that she was sure with other women would scare them, but on her, it just pissed her off.

“Sure, I can. Dawn and I only have two other nights here before we fly to Dallas, so tomorrow, I want to take her around Vegas, and then she wants to see a burlesque show.”

“She wants to see a burlesque show?”

“Yes, she does, and she is right here,” Dawn growled at David. “I also want to go to the Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur, a Gondola Ride at the Venetian, the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio, and I’m not missing M&M’s World. Do you have a problem with any of those?”

Gordon chuckled, and David’s eyes grew large—they reminded her of an owl. “I’ll go to the burlesque show with you.”

“Nah, three’s a crowd.”

“Dawn,” Gordon berated her and swatted her arse.

“Fine. You can come to the show with us.” She’d make an effort but only for Gordon.

David nodded. “Go, I’ll make your excuses to the guests.”

He didn’t have to tell her twice. She grabbed a hold of Gordon and left.

****

He’d seen a
bunch of different burlesque shows including the one they went to tonight, but this had been his favorite. Dawn had been fascinated with the show, and Gordon spent his night just watching her reaction and enjoyment of the show. She was now in their room talking with her sister and friend telling them everything they’d done.

During the day, they’d gone to M&M’s World, and Dawn had gone crazy buying stuff—a black top with a blue M&M, and a black with red M&M’s, Who’s Your Candy Adult Lounge Pants. That was just some of the clothes. She also got cups, pillows, and silly straws. Dawn had fought him in front of everyone at the checkouts that she was paying. Fortunately, for him, with her angry and talking fast, the poor cashier girl couldn’t understand Dawn with her accent and had happily accepted his card. Dawn bought only blue and black M&M’s and tonight sat back and ate them as she watched the burlesque show.

He now sat in the bar room of his suite with David drinking scotch and catching up on what he’d missed while in Australia. “Talk is Swarovski and Daringhurst are looking to other companies as they weren’t being given their usual special treatment. The Stockton deal you lined up fell through, and the Hectdom deal is looking to go south, too.”

“Fuck, you were right. The investors are worried. I was sure a year wouldn’t have them too scared. I’ve come back just in time then.” Scrubbing his face, Gordon tried not to think of the emails, business meetings and lunches, and the workload he had ahead. He wanted to enjoy time with Dawn, not go back to fourteen hour work days. It made no sense though why so many companies were looking to jump ship, something wasn’t right. A year away with his father there as head again shouldn’t have them all uneasy.

“I told you your father was good, but he’s not you. You’re the one who tripled sales and revenue since being CEO. You have your work cut out for you when you get home. A lot of clients like the gold class treatment you give them. Your devotion to your work is different from what your father has. They will need wooing back.”

Shit, Gordon had known it was a risk, but it had still been worth it. Dawn was a one of a kind. He didn’t doubt he could win the clients back, but it would take time, money, and a lot of enticing.

David’s gaze darted to the hall and back to him. “Do you regret it? She’s different. Nothing at all like what I expected. Gordon, when you told me about her, you never said she was young enough to be your daughter. She is the total opposite of anything I could have imagined.”

“The first answer is easy. No, I don’t regret it. Dawn is amazing. I can sit and talk to her for hours. Do you know most nights I just sat on the sofa and chatted about work and then we’d watch TV? She’d snuggle up and fall asleep on me. Do you know how many women I’ve done that with?” He stared at David, and he just shrugged. “A big fat zero. Do you know I watched her play soccer with her nephew, play at the park and build Legos with him? Not only did she bake cookies, cakes, and homemade meals for her nephew, but she did it for me, too. She looked after her nephew to help out her sister and didn’t expect anything back from her. Dawn did it because she loves her sister and nephew. Dawn will be a wonderful mother I have no doubt. I’m happy I’ve found someone who I can talk to and just sit and to relax with. I’ve learned that is important. If you can’t sit together on a sofa for a couple of hours doing basically nothing, how are you going to survive marriage? I could find a woman who I have everything in common with, but if I can’t spend a quiet evening in just relaxing with her, then how will a relationship work out?”

David nodded. “I’m beginning to understand. Does all that work with how she dresses and her looks? I mean, Gordon, you went from models to not just the opposite, but a girl.”

What the hell. Narrowing his gaze on David, he wondered what was going on with him. Gordon had never heard him be such a dick. “What do you mean by that?”

“Don’t play dumb, Gordon. Not only is she a girl.” He pointed toward their rooms. “She’s a baby. She has tattoos, is into that whole black theme, and to top it off, is short and well-rounded everywhere.” He tsked. “She’s fat. That isn’t what you need for a wif—”

Gordon didn’t let him finish. He’d never been so angry. David was supposed to be his best friend. He should be supporting him, not criticizing who he’d chosen. He punched David right in the face shutting him up. “Get out.”

“Gordon, what the hell?” David shouted as he clutched his face, his lips cut and bleeding.

“Get out now, David, or so help me God, if you don’t, I will hit you again.” David stumbled back and stared at him as if he’d grown another head.

“Gordon, you’re overreacting, I—”

“Out,” he yelled. “I expected better from you.” He advanced on David angry that his supposed best friend was reacting so badly. David clutched his nose with one hand and held up the other to ward him off.

Dawn ran in. She paused between them, her gaze going back and forth for a moment before she rushed behind the bar, got ice and a cloth before coming around to David holding the ice pack to his swelling face. “What happened?” she asked.

There was no way he was going to repeat what David said. Gordon glared at what he thought was his friend. After a while, David sighed and then winced as the breath puffed out hitting his cut lip. “I may have been an ass.”

“What. You? No. Never.” The sarcasm was thick in Dawn’s voice as she raised her eyebrow at David.

Dawn let go of the ice pack as she placed David’s hand up to hold it. Then she came over to Gordon and grabbed his aching hand, brought it up and kissed each knuckle before dragging him behind the bar. She got another cloth and ice to place an ice pack over his hand.

“I thought you two were friends.” She turned accusing eyes on both of them. “This isn’t something I expected to see from two grown men who are supposed to be friends.” She turned the full force of her brown eyes on him. “I’m disappointed in you. Since meeting David, he’s been nothing but an arsehole, so I expected something stupid from him, but you?” She shook her head and turned to David giving him a disappointed look.

“Damn, Gordon, you were right. I don’t even think any of my nannies made me feel this ashamed. She’ll be an awesome mother. I’m sorry I was a jackass.”

The look that passed over Dawn’s face had Gordon doubling over with laughter. He didn’t want to admit to David being right about anything, but what he said about how Dawn just acted was true. He’d never been scolded or felt so guilty in his life.

“Argh, you two deserve each other.” Dawn pushed against him and stormed out of the room. This only made him laugh harder.

“I’ll admit when she’s angry she’s cute,” David muttered, and then he let out a long-suffering groan. “I’m sorry. I was out of line.” He closed his eyes. “I’m jealous,” he whispered. “I’ve seen the way you look at her. I’ve seen the way she gazes at you. I only needed to see you two together to know how much you mean to each other. In the last couple of days, I’ve never seen you smile so much. You spent the entire burlesque show just watching Dawn, smiling and grinning like a loon. I wonder if she knows how much she touches you. She seemed to do it without thought, but you’re the same. I’ve never seen anyone in our circle act like that.”

“David, let me get one thing straight. I love that woman. I love her hair, lips, style, height, body, and everything about her. To me, she is the most beautiful woman ever. I was worried about how she would be treated because she’s not stick thin, from money, or had the best education money could buy. I never thought you would be the one who would judge her. Her shapely body is damn sexy, and I’ve never been happier.”

“I really am sorry, Gordon.”

Running his fingers through his hair, Gordon studied his friend. He looked like he meant it with his shoulders hunched and his eyes cast down. “I forgive you, but it’s not me you need to grovel to, it’s Dawn. She’s different, David, and I love that about her. She didn’t marry me for my money or the stance I can give her. She didn’t even marry me because of who I am and what I can do for her family. She married me for just plain old Gordon. The guy she thought worked as a bartender, the guy who ate all her food, and who she couldn’t get rid of.” Smiling at David, he walked to the exit. “You can have what I have to—you just need to be willing.” Leaving the room, Gordon yelled, “You can let yourself out. I’m going to go soothe my wife’s feelings.”

Gordon went straight to their master bedroom. Dawn sat on the bed, her laptop open, and she was talking with someone. As soon as she saw him, her gaze narrowed on him, and she muttered, “I’ll call tomorrow. The idiot just came in.” She shut her laptop and placed it on the bedside drawers.

He knew he shouldn’t chuckle, especially when she was calling him an idiot, but she looked so cute. Her hair was in a messy bun, all her make-up was off, and she wore a black tank top with matching short shorts. Her toenails and fingers matched her shirt and shorts.

Stripping to boxers, he climbed on the bed. “I’m sorry for being an idiot, sprite.”

She rolled her eyes but opened her arms, and he fell into them, settling his body on her side and bringing her so she lay on top of him. “Did you and David kiss and make up?” 

He kissed her head and squeezed her tight. “Yeah, David and I made up. But the only kissing happening will be you and me. I love you, Dawn. I had a great day with you.”

“I love you, too. I had an awesome day. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio and my dinner and Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur.”

“Me, too. Me, too.” And he was. Anything he did with Dawn he enjoyed. Easing into bed, he hugged her tight and closed his eyes content.

****

Vegas had been
amazing, and Dawn couldn’t wait to go back. The next time, she hoped she could take her sister or Amber.

Gordon had surprised her this morning when, instead of going to a commercial airport, they went to a private airfield where they got on a luxury jet. The private plane was a hell of a lot different from the commercial one she’d been on before. The seats were big and comfortable leather, and there had been a bloody bed, too. Flying in luxury was a lot more relaxing than flying commercial, and Dawn had no idea how Gordon had gone from flying in luxury to how he flew to America with her.

The plane landed fifteen minutes ago in Dallas, and they were now getting off.

Dawn went to grab her small hand luggage and bag. “Don’t. Leave it. The staff will get that and bring it down. It will all be put into the waiting car.” Gordon linked her arm through his and walked to the exit. He then held the stair rail with the other hand, and together, they came down the stairs and onto the tarmac.

A limo sat on the tarmac, and they walked toward it. When they were only a couple of steps away, the door was opened by a man in a suit and a gorgeous rail thin tall bleach blonde woman got out.

Gordon groaned. “I’m so sorry.” He squeezed her hand and then gazed at the woman. “Mother, I wasn’t expecting you.”

Now that they were closer, Dawn could see the woman was older. Her face didn’t seem to move when she stared at her son. Everything was pulled tight, and there was barely a wrinkle. Her eyes were blue like her son, but that was the only feature they seemed to share.

“You should have. I haven’t seen you in a year. Do you know what they’ve been saying at the country club? Regina has had her head held way too high for my liking and strutting her son around.” Gordon’s mother gave an elegant shake of her head. “I have had to double my charity donation, so they don’t think we are in trouble.” She sniffed with a snobby air and got back in the limo. “Oh, do hurry, Gordon. I have already booked a dinner I must tell you about.”

Wow. Dawn could only stare at the woman, who not once had come over to hug her son or tell him she missed him. She hadn’t even asked how he was or given a simple greeting, let alone acknowledged her. Gordon sighed and held her hand tight as Dawn followed behind him as he got into the limo. His mother didn’t stop talking the whole time about what she had done and what she wanted of Gordon. The limo moved, and ten minutes later, Gordon’s mother was still talking.

“You will be going on a date with Lesley’s daughter. The snooty witch thinks you’re not good enough now…”