He shrugged. “Fine, so it’s been more like Gordon telling everyone how beautiful he thinks you are. How lucky he is that you agreed to marry him and move to America. There was a comment about your fuller figure, and after he finished talking, I see the benefits.” His gaze roamed her body, and she shivered, her skin crawling.
Was this guy for real? The more he spoke, the more she wanted to slap him.
“It’s love, or so he says. I’m not convinced, though. What do you two have in common?”
Blinking, because Dawn couldn’t believe the balls on the guy before her—he was supposed to be Gordon’s friend. “Have you ever heard the saying opposites attract?” She shrugged. “Probably not, because you’re a wanker.” Dawn had had enough. “I don’t have to explain to you or anyone. It’s mine and Gordon’s choice who we’re with. I will ask you this, though. What do you want in your own relationship? Ask yourself and see if you have it because I have everything I want and need with Gordon.” With that, she stomped away—well, the best she could in her heels.
Dawn went over to Gordon, who was talking to a group of men who had women clinging to them like a fashion accessory. “Gordon, I’m tired. I’m going back up to our suite,” she said into his ear.
Gordon’s arms slid around her, and he turned from the men. “I’ll come with you. Let me just say bye to—”
“No, you stay. Enjoy yourself. I’ll see you later.” She wiggled to get out of his embrace, but he wouldn’t give her up.
He turned them so they faced the group again. “Thank you for coming. It was great to see you all, but if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to leave with my wife.”
Dawn knew she was grinning like a loon as the men stared, shocked at Gordon, then nodded and bid him goodnight. They were probably surprised he chose her over them, over staying. Her smile faded when he walked them over to David. “I’m leaving. If anyone wonders where I’ve gone, please make my excuses.”
“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?”