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…”
Oh, no way. Dawn had kept quiet and heard enough. “No. My husband will not be going on any dates with anyone but me. Now, I don’t know if it’s done different here in America, but how about we start again with a greeting to your son of ‘hi, how are you?’ Or even ‘I missed you and I’m happy you’re home.’ You haven’t stopped talking since meeting him at the airport, and I know Gordon is being polite and not interrupting but, damn.” Dawn turned to Gordon. “You couldn’t have butt in when she started with dates with other women?”
The dick laughed and pulled her to him for a kiss. “I like the jealous side.”
“I wasn’t jealous, just, uh, well, your mother was rude.” Dawn felt the heat rise in her cheeks at the blatant lie—she was so jealous. She didn’t want Gordon near any snotty nose society woman. She’d seen enough of those bitches at his party.
Gordon laughed harder, and she glowered at him. “Sprite, I just ignored her,” he whispered close to her ear. “My mother wouldn’t listen anyway. I’ve told her a million times before not to set me up on a date.” He eased away and said louder, “Mother never listens.”
The woman in question sputtered, and Dawn ignored her and narrowed her gaze on Gordon. “You didn’t even tell her who I am and what I am to you. Maybe if she fuckin’ knew she would have stopped.” Dawn was pissed that his parents didn’t know about her. Why hadn’t he told his parents about her? Was he embarrassed by her or did he choose her because he ran out of time. Gordon seemed to like keeping things from people. Doubt swamped her, and Dawn hated how she started to feel.
Gordon cupped her face stroking her cheek, and she fought herself not to melt into his touch. He leaned in, and his lips brushed hers, and when she didn’t react, her worry at why he hadn’t told anyone about her keeping her frozen still, he rested his forehead on hers. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I should have told her.” He leaned back and looked at his mother whose gaze was now locked on Dawn’s left hand that was clenched on Dawn’s lap. “Mother, I’d like you to meet my wife, Dawn. Dawn Wilks. Dawn, my mother, Catherine Louise Wilks.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Dawn tried not to spit her words out, but she was angry with Gordon. Dawn held her hand out, and his mother’s gaze narrowed, and a cruel twist of the first facial expression came across her Botox face.
“What? You got married and didn’t tell me?” Something flashed in her eyes, and for the first time, Dawn saw emotion, pain, and hurt.
“Yes. I met Dawn while I was away in Australia.” Gordon held his hand up. “And before you start, she had no idea who I was. She’s been angry with me for keeping it from her. I had married her before she found out who I am and what I’m worth. Come to think of it... she still doesn’t know what I’m worth unless she looked it up. Dawn thought I was a bartender.”
Damn. She still hadn’t done a thorough search on Gordon. Gordon has turned her into an idiot. She should have investigated him as soon as he told her who he really was. That was something she intended to rectify as soon as she could.
His mother laughed. “Oh, Gordon, you went back to that. Why ever for? Your father and I weren’t around to disappoint or anger.”
Dawn darted her gaze between the two. What was his mother talking about? Was Gordon keeping more secrets from her?
“Mother, I wanted to know she wanted me for me and not my money. I wanted someone who didn’t want our static in society. Becoming a bartender again helped me find what I wanted. I know Dawn doesn’t want me for my money. She’s with me for me—and not what I can give her. I love her, Mother. If you can’t accept that and her than I, we don’t need you in our life.”