Tears slid down her face, and Dawn’s heart felt like it was being crushed. “Why me?”
“Who else would I choose? You’re perfect.” His lips brushed hers, but she kept still. Gordon sighed, “Dawn, give us try. I love you. You’re my wife. I married you because I wanted you and no one else.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I have never told another woman I love her.” He wiped her tears. “Please forgive me. I meant my vows to you. I want you as my wife. I want to be your husband.”
Dawn could feel her resistance fading. She had never loved another man except her father. She didn’t know if she would ever love someone how she loved Gordon. She wanted to move off him so badly, but as she thought everything over, his fingers stroked the back of her hands in a soothing circle, and she fought her body not to relax against him. She was so angry. Then she thought about what she overheard. “What did you put a rush on? Who were those men?”
The circles on her hand never stopped. “I need you to keep an open mind. I put a rush on getting you a Visa. You can do your internet job from anywhere. I need to be here at least for a little while.”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not packing up and leaving my home. I can’t move away from Destiny and Dilan. She needs me. I need her. I promised myself I wouldn’t move to another town or place ever again. I don’t just have my internet business. I work at Razors tattoo shop, too. Not to mention, I can’t just move to America. I need permission. There is a process.”
“I’m American, you’re my wife. You don’t need permission. I’ve filed the paperwork. I’m sure your sister and Dilan can come and live here, too. We have plenty of room at one of our houses.”
Holy crap, he just said houses with an s. She looked around the room and groaned. Why she was surprised he had said that, she didn’t know. “I can’t just pack up my sister and nephew and move them to live here. I don’t have that kind of money, and I’m not spending yours.”
He growled and rolled so she lay on the bed beneath him. “I have more money than I’ll ever be able to spend, more than my children and grandchildren can spend. You’re my wife. The money I have is now yours. I know you didn’t marry me for my money. You didn’t sign a prenuptial agreement, and I don’t plan on you signing one, either. I won’t divorce you. I love you.”
Dawn felt as if her brain was going a million miles an hour. Pushing at him, she rolled away and got up. “I need time. Let me just think.” Going to her bag, she grabbed it and hooked her laptop bag over her. “I’m tired. I need to talk to my sister. Give me time.” Dawn didn’t wait for his response. She left the master suite and went down the extravagant hall to a bedroom as far from Gordon as she could get. Dumping her suitcase, she jumped on the bed and opened her laptop bag. She groaned once the computer came on, and she saw what time it was in Australia. She had at least three or four hours before she could call Amber or Destiny.
Falling back on the bed, she closed her eyes. “Fuck it. Destiny is my sister. I would take her phone call at any time so she can take mine.”
Sitting back up again, she logged into Skype and called her sister. It rang out the first time, but the second time, she answered, groggily. “What? You do realize what crazy time it is?”
The dam broke. Dawn crashed, crying her heart out. “He’s not who I thought he was. Destiny, I did something really stupid and just found out something huge. I’m such an idiot.”
Destiny came instantly awake, and the tiredness left her voice. “Dawn, you need to calm down. Sis, I can’t understand anything with you crying. Come on, I’m sure it’s nowhere near as bad as you’re making it out. Take deep breaths.” Destiny repeated herself and spoke for a good while just calming her down.
When Dawn had calmed enough, she babbled everything to the Destiny. She even told her about the presidential suite they were now staying in. She finished up with him wanting her to live here in America and offering for her and Dilan to join them. Destiny was quiet for a while after Dawn got everything out.
“Dawn, I love you, you know that, right?” Dawn nodded. Destiny sighed dramatically. “I might say something you don’t like, but hear me out. It needs to be said.” Destiny cleared her throat loudly. “You, we, are not our parents. You, Dawn, are not me. We don’t, nor have we ever had the same taste in men. You don’t have to be my savior. There is nothing here in Australia to tie you here.” She put her hand up to the screen. “Yes, I live here, but it sounds like Gordon would happily pay for mine and Dilan’s airfare to visit, or if we choose to move there. I believe him, Dawn. I wouldn’t want to tell people who I was if I were him, either. Look, I know you’re angry. That’s okay, be angry, but… Well, give it a chance. Be with him. Even before your relationship turned into more, you were so happy just spending time with him, and the last couple of weeks, I haven’t seen you smile so much. I mean, come on, Dawn. You bought a bunch of dresses, and you’ve been wearing them. You frigging giggle. You’ve never giggled before. You’ve come out of your shell. He’s also right that you can do your work from anywhere as long as there is internet.”
Destiny smiled, and then she continued, “I wish I could hug you right now. But I need you to promise me you’ll give him a chance. That man loves you. All you have to do is look down at that ring. I couldn’t have picked a better one for you, and I’m your twin. Don’t be hard on yourself. Love is blind, and you love that man. That’s why you didn’t see who he really was. Be angry with him, but you’re married now—don’t throw it away.” Destiny grinned. “I want you to have fun the next couple of days in Vegas and wherever he takes you next. I don’t want to hear from you unless it’s super important like you’re hurt, dying, or the world is ending. Go be a newlywed. Have fun. I love you, and I promise I’ll be here whenever you need me. Now go.”
Destiny disconnected before Dawn could even think to reply to anything her sister had said. Groaning, she closed the laptop and got up. She was in Vegas. She was going to go explore. Maybe getting out and thinking everything over would help.
****
Gordon hardly slept. He was tired and cranky. So far, it wasn’t the best start to his fortieth birthday. Brad had called him yesterday to say Dawn had gone out exploring. She’d walked up and down the strip. He debated about going to join her but knew she needed to cool off and to think.