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.
****