Winning Dawn (9 page)

Evan’s black Volvo was already parked in the drive. Dawn sighed. She was tempted to come back later, but she had to face him eventually. Might as well get the awkward first post-affair meeting out of the way. She placed the wine bottle on the porch railing and fished Kayla’s key out of her pocket. Before she could insert it in the lock, Evan opened the door. His expression showed his surprise at seeing her there before he quickly hid all emotion.  His dark eyes flicked over her hair, but he said nothing.

He nodded at her and stepped out of the way, holding the door for her. “Thank you.” She put the cheesecake box and strawberries on the table at the entryway and turned back for the champagne only to see Evan retreating to his car. “So that’s it?” she called. “You’re not even going to speak to me?”

He paused before turning. He shrugged broad shoulders. “There’s nothing to say.”

She gripped the slender neck of the bottle and approached him. She really shouldn’t let him go on thinking she was with Reggie again, but anger over the way he’d callously dumped her on the phone held her tongue. Damn it, she had her pride. “Look, this whole thing was your idea. We can avoid each other whenever possible, but I’m not going to cease to exist to convenience you.”

He arched a black brow. “I don’t expect you to.”

“The least we can do is . . .be civil to each other.”

“I agree.”

She studied him. He seemed bored by this entire conversation. She sighed. He was evidently an old pro at severing ties with lovers quickly and efficiently. His emotions were untouched. She’d had some hope when she’d received the package from him on Wednesday. She’d been tempted to call him, but she could see nothing had changed for him. He was resolute in ending their fling. She bit her lip. “Thank you for the emergency kit.” When she’d opened the Amazon.com box and seen the kit, she’d immediately known who it’d come from. She hadn’t needed a card to know the gift was from Evan.

He shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”

“Well…”

He gave a brisk nod. “See you around.”

She returned the gesture. Not wanting to appear like a lovesick fool, she turned on her heel and went into Kayla’s house. She put the cheesecake and fruit in the fridge and left the champagne on the counter next to a large basket of cookies and a pile of Josh’s mail. For now, the newlyweds would be sharing Kayla’s house. They had plans of selling both their houses and purchasing a home together. She went back out to the mailbox, collected Kayla’s mail, and added it to the other assorted letters and magazines.

Chapter 11

Dawn was wrapped in her cousin’s embrace the second the door was opened. She laughed. “I missed you, too.” She hugged Kayla back. It was Sunday morning. Kayla had called her last night to tell her that she and Josh had arrived home safely. They’d invited her over to breakfast. “I can’t wait to hear all about your trip.” Kayla’s skin glowed from a tan, but Dawn knew it was more than that. Her cousin was truly happy with her new husband.

“Well, as you know, we stayed at the Aston Waikiki Beach Tower. It was so beautiful, Dawn. I wish I’d thought to take my art supplies. I’ll have to rely on memories and photos, but I still don’t know if I’ll be able to do it justice.” They entered the kitchen where Josh was flipping pancakes. Josh was also tanned and happier than she’d ever seen him.

He groaned. “You’re still complaining about that? I thought I kept you well occupied.”

Kayla blushed and Dawn laughed. “
Anyway
,” Kayla continued, “Josh gave me more swimming lessons. Not enough to get me on a kayak, but I did go sailing.”

“Sounds like fun. Maybe I’ll go some day.”

“You could go for your honeymoon.”

Dawn bit her lip. “Um, I guess I might as well tell you that that may be a long time in coming. I broke up with Reggie.” She held up her hand as they both made sympathetic noises. “I know what you’re thinking. I ended it the night of your wedding rehearsal. He moved out the next day. So, yes, it’s truly over. This is not yet another temporary separation. And I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to ruin your wedding with my issues.”

Kayla’s eyes had widened steadily as she talked. Josh, for some reason, was grinning widely. Kayla shot him a glare and he turned back to the stove. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Sure, I wasn’t thrilled and it wasn’t easy. But it was
so
time. I-I think this has been building for a while.” She soon found herself wrapped in her cousin’s embrace again.

“Come through to the dining room with me,” Kayla said with an arm lingering around her shoulders. “Josh, bring in breakfast when it’s done.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You have him so well trained,” she said as she took a seat in the dining room. Plates and silverware were already on the table.

Kayla studied her. “Are you really okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine. I missed him at first, but I’m not in love with him anymore, Kayla. I probably haven’t been for some time. It’s one of those cases of hanging onto a man because of what was and not because of what is.”

Kayla sighed and sat. “I really appreciate you helping me see that I wanted Josh. We’re so happy.”

“I can see that.”

“I want that for you, too. I was so worried about you marrying Reggie because I didn’t know if he could make you happy.”

Dawn felt herself tearing up. “The break up was quite a scene, but I knew it was just going to be more of the same from now until eternity. I’m done with that.”

Kayla gave her another quick hug. “Good. You can do so much better.”

“You have to admit he was cute though.”

“Who’s cute?” Josh asked, bringing in a platter of pancakes and sausages. He held pancake syrup in the other hand.

“Nobody,” Kayla said briskly. “What do you want to drink? Milk?”

“Sounds good to me,” Dawn said, and Josh agreed.

“All right. I’ll be right back.”

“Wow, this looks really good.” She eyed the platter of food.

Josh cleared his throat. “So, um, did you happen to see my brother yesterday when he was here?”

“Sure,” she said, not meeting his gaze.

“How did he seem?”

“Usual, I guess.” She shrugged. “Why?”

He leaned back in his seat. “He left us a basket of cookies. Evan bakes when he’s working on a project…or if he’s upset. With the three dozen cookies up in that kitchen, I’m guessing it’s the latter. Have any idea what could have him donning his apron?” He arched a golden brow at her in question.

Her mouth dropped open. “Your brother has serious issues. Baking? Really?”

His lips curled into a bit of a smile and he shrugged a shoulder. “You’d have to ask him why baking. He makes a killer chocolate chip. They’re seriously addictive. You’ll have to take some with you.”

Kayla returned with goblets and a pitcher filled with milk. She gave her husband a knowing look. “Is he grilling you about Evan? He thinks there’s something wrong because he brought us cookies. How can cookies be a bad thing?”

Dawn smiled but refrained from commenting. She sipped her milk when she was served. She eagerly dug into her breakfast. “Josh, these pancakes are delicious.” When silence greeted her, she looked up to find the couple staring at her. “What?”

The two exchanged a glance. “Well, I wanted to ask you to Thanksgiving dinner.”

She sensed hesitancy in Kayla’s words. “And?”

“We’re going to invite Evan. The two of you haven’t been getting along the last few months. Is that going to cause a problem?”

This was nothing less than what she’d expected. Her mother had plans to spend Thanksgiving with her sister Catherine in Atlanta. So she could either spend the holiday alone or spend it pretending not to be disturbed by Evan’s presence. “Of course not,” she answered, but realized her response wasn’t nearly quick enough. The two of them locked gazes again. Dawn wanted to grind her teeth. “Really. I’m fine with it if he is.”

* * * *

“Are you okay with that?”

Evan grunted. The situation was less than ideal, but not completely unexpected. What were unexpected were his lingering feelings for Dawn. He’d made so many batches of cookies that he was running out of supplies. He found the process of baking therapeutic. There were no surprises. It was at once engrossing and precise. He knew what would happen each time. And if it went wrong, he always knew what he’d screwed up. Not so with his relationships. Somehow, they were all inevitably fucked.

“Care to commit to a statement?” Josh asked.

He held the phone tighter until he could hear the plastic of the cordless creak. “I don’t know why you’re even asking me. I don’t care one way or the other.”

“Really? What happened to your plans where she was concerned?”

“I never had any plans,” he denied.

“Good. Then you’re dining with us Thanksgiving?”

“Sure. Wouldn’t miss it.” They said their goodbyes and hung up. “Damn it,” he muttered. The last thing he wanted was to spend Thanksgiving sitting across from Dawn and that ass of a boyfriend of hers.

He remembered how she’d looked so sexy and sassy on Friday with her new haircut. He’d wanted to take her in his arms and lick her all over. He’d walked away to keep from grabbing her and doing just that.

He heard his cell ring and located it at the bottom of his gym bag where he’d left it earlier after playing basketball with friends. Caller ID showed that it was Sylvia. Her calls had been more frequent of late. She served as a constant reminder of why he shouldn’t let himself become entangled in another relationship.

His reasons for marrying her had been sound. He’d been young, only twenty-five, and raising a teenage Joshua all on his own. Their parents were older and surprised when Josh came along. Evan was ten years Joshua’s senior. He’d been dating Sylvia for over a year and he felt Josh needed a female influence in his life after their mother’s passing. It was only after they married that he learned that Sylvia had married him because she believed he would come into a substantial inheritance. She hadn’t expected him to use the money to send Josh to college.

He winced at the mere memory of the fight that ensued when she’d found out he was paying Joshua’s tuition. She’d called him every name in the book and even hurled an object or two at his head. He’d been quiet and let her rant, thinking she would calm down once she’d had her say. His patience only infuriated her more. That altercation had been the beginning of the end.

Sylvia had taken a job at one of her father’s car dealerships. She claimed she needed the extra funds since he was incapable of supporting her, despite the fact that his salary paid all the bills. They weren’t starving or lacking for any luxuries. He hadn’t argued about her taking a job, but figured she’d tire of working within a few weeks.

However, months went by and Sylvia continued to work. She spent her money on designer bags and shoes. She seemed happy and in turn, he was content.

The day he came home early from a meeting to see her stowing her bags in her white Audi, he’d been genuinely confused. She was leaving him for one of her father’s car salesmen. She explained loudly and in front of a gathering crowd of their neighbors that he was unromantic, insensitive and dull.

He’d heard those words and many similar to them throughout his dating career. Women simply weren’t interested in men like him. He offered no adventure. Only stalwart loyalty and honesty. It never seemed to be enough.

Chapter 12

Thanksgiving morning was cool and the sky was overcast. The local weatherman had promised that there would only be scattered showers, if any. When her alarm went off at six, Dawn groaned and hit the snooze. She longed to burrow deeper into the warmth of her sheets. Only her promise to help Kayla with her first Thanksgiving dinner motivated her to actually roll out of bed. She turned off the alarm before heading into the bathroom.

She showered and dressed quickly. She loved the simplicity of styling her new shorter hairdo. It was also surprisingly more versatile than she would have believed. Today, she washed it, added gel, and blow dried it so that it lay in a soft, feathered layers.

An unusually harried Kayla opened the door for her before she even had a chance to knock. She was practically dragged to the kitchen. “No ‘hi, nice to see you’? What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure this bird is thawed. It’s hard as a rock. And it needs to be in the oven now! We can’t have Thanksgiving without a turkey!”

Dawn shook her head. She’d suggested cooking the turkey the day before as her mom had always done, but Kayla had wanted a turkey straight from the oven. Dawn couldn’t blame her. They did taste better fresh. She looked at the bird in the sink. She poked it with a finger. Sure enough, it was solid. “When did you take it out of the freezer?”

Kayla sighed. “Josh was supposed to put it on the fridge side Tuesday night, but um, he got distracted.”

Dawn raised a brow. She laughed as her cousin blushed. “Good grief. Doesn’t he ever get enough? You might want to see a doctor and have him put on a sedative or something. It’s a wonder you ever walk straight.”

“Dawn! You are not helping.”

“Um, do you have another bird?” The glare aimed her way was sufficient answer. She prodded the turkey again. It wasn’t too massive, but still too large to microwave. “Maybe water?” She bit her lip. “Though it won’t be ready in time to be cooked. You are screwed.”

Kayla threw up her hands. Josh entered the kitchen. His hair was still mussed from bed. He dropped a kiss on Kayla’s head. “I’ve handled everything. Evan’s bringing us a turkey.”

“Where will he get a thawed turkey on Thanksgiving day?”

“He already had one.” His mouth twisted. “Said he expected something like this to happen. I mean, you forget to defrost a turkey once or twice….”

Kayla cupped his face between her hands and kissed him soundly on the mouth. “I love you. When is he bringing the turkey?”

“I’m going to pick it up right now. He’ll be over later. Anything you need while I’m out?”

“Nothing. Just hurry.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He kissed her again, his lips clinging to hers. He had one hand on the small of her back and the other curved over her belly.