Gordon's Dawn(3)

Dawn was making what she called a sorry cake and lasagna. The lasagna was on the stove cooling, and she was now putting the icing on the chocolate cake. Her sister, Destiny, had been offered some extra morning weekend shifts and would be there with Dawn’s nephew in an hour. She had wanted it all done before she arrived, and Dawn would have to explain to Destiny what she was doing. Destiny was still an emotional mess since Mark broke up with her. Destiny was in her post-breakup of all men were pigs. Dawn knew her thinking like that wouldn’t last—it never did.

When the cake was decorated with the word sorry, Dawn got the cling wrap out of the cupboard, put it over the lasagna, and then placed the cake on it resting so she could carry both. Picking them up, she held them carefully as she opened her front door making sure the latch was on so it didn’t lock so she could get back in. She walked to the next duplex and balanced her goodies as she knocked on the door. He took a while to answer, but after she had knocked a second time, the disheveled looking blond hunk of a neighbor yanked his door open. “What do y’all want?”

Her throat suddenly felt dry as she stared up into the gorgeous masculine face before her. He was even better in the daylight. He wasn’t at all her usual type—no tattoos, blond hair instead of dark, and blue eyes, not green. She’d never been attracted to older men before, but this guy, well, he was even better than what she remembered. And his accent, damn. “Um… I… Well. Here.” She shoved the cake and the lasagna at him. He stared down at them.

“Are you trying to poison me so I’m gone, and you can play your music?”

Dawn couldn’t help wincing. Okay, so she hadn’t been very neighborly, and her music might suggest she was hostile. “No. They are a peace offering.” She continued to hold out her offerings.

Slowly, he took her food. “Thanks.” He turned to go back inside and slammed the door in her face.

Dawn frowned. “Well, bye. My names Dawn, if you need anything,” she yelled before turning back toward her own home.

How rude. If he was going to be like that, then fine. She’d made peace and didn’t need to know his name. She’d play her music as loud as she liked until two-thirty, and then she’d change to her earphones. Dawn wouldn’t have anything to do with Mr. Hottie next door again.



****



So he’d been an ass, but the girl, er, Dawn—he’d heard her yell through his door—had woken him up. He now couldn’t get back to sleep, and his stomach was grumbling. Getting out of bed again, he went to the kitchen opening the cupboards and then fridge, the lasagna and cake staring back at him. Nothing else was in there besides milk and beer. Sighing, he got the lasagna out. “I at least know where she lives if she poisons me.”

Grabbing a fork out of the drawer and then unwrapping the lasagna, he dug in. The first mouthful was small, but once the amazing flavor hit him, he shoved more in. This was amazing, the best lasagna he’d ever tasted. Before he realized it, he’d eaten a third of it. Putting the cling wrap back on, he placed it back in the fridge, eager now to try the cake. Taking the cake out, he sat it on the bench and got a spoon. This time he didn’t bother with a small bite. He scooped up a large spoonful and shoveled it in. He moaned when heaven hit his taste buds, and he closed his eyes savoring the sweet taste. Wow, Dawn could cook. He’d never have guessed it.

After enjoying a decent slice of cake, he put it back and went to the bathroom, showering and doing his morning routine. Once dressed, he left his house and knocked on his neighbor’s door. This time, when it opened though, it wasn’t Dawn, but a little boy with black curly hair and green eyes.

“Hi. Who are yous?” the kid said.

“Um… Hi. I’m Gordon, and I came to see Dawn.”

The little boy nodded and then screeched, “Aunty Dawn, a man’s at the door fors you.”

Dawn came running out, her hair wet and still doing up buttons on a lacy black tank top. She stopped when she saw him. “What do you want?” She glanced down at the kid. “Dilan, go have some cookies.” She pushed him toward the kitchen.

Okay, so he may have deserved her hostility with how rude he’d been, but she hadn’t been all sunshine and roses, either. “I came to thank you for the lasagna and cake. I appreciate you not poisoning me.”

“The thought did cross my mind, but I didn’t want to deal with the cops again.”

The little sprite had an attitude. Her face was clean of make-up, her skin light, almost white, and blemish free. Her dark brown eyes were huge with long thick black lashes—definitely one of her best features. Her little button nose was perfect on her oval face, and her plump lips added to her allure. She was very young, maybe even still in her teens. Crap, he now felt bad for lusting after her when she was only a baby.

Running his fingers through his hair, he put his most charming smile on and set it on Dawn. “Thanks for the food. Is your mom around so I can thank her?”

Dawn’s raised her eyebrow. “Why would you thank my mum?”

“Don’t you live with your parents?”

Dawn lips quirked up. “Nope. I haven’t lived with them for almost four years.”

What! Surely, her parents didn’t leave their child alone. Maybe she moved in with a sister or a brother. “Do you live with a sister or brother?”

He tried not to zone in as she nibbled on her bottom lip. “No. I’ve lived in this duplex alone since I moved out of the flat I lived in two years ago.”

“But, you can’t be any older than nineteen.”

Dawn burst out laughing. “Thank you… I think. I’m twenty-two though, so old enough to live by myself.

She was older than Gordon thought, but Dawn was still too young for him. Sure, he’d dated some models in their twenties, but that was a couple of years ago. They had been in their mid-twenties and looked at least their age. Dilan came back munching on a cookie, and it smelled and looked divine. “Are they home baked,” he asked the kid.

Dilan nodded. “Yep, Aunty Dawn made ‘em for me.”

Looking behind Dawn and Dilan to the kitchen, he saw a bunch of baked goods cooling. Pushing past the sprite into her house, he grinned and went straight to the kitchen. “You cooked more food?”

“Yeah.”

Shoving what looked like a choc chip cookie into his mouth, he groaned at the heavenly taste.

“Hey, they aren’t for you.” Dawn came over and whacked his hand as he went to grab another. “I baked these for my nephew.”