Gordon's Dawn(32)

All the missed calls were from Gordon. Guilt assaulted Dawn because she had snuck out the back from the other shop. She wasn’t used to being told what to do so much. Having so many restrictions was taking its time to sink in. Dawn studied Bran. He was nice. He looked to be in his late twenty early thirties, and before Gordon, he was definitely what she would have drooled over. He had a body full of artwork, lean, green eyes, and dark short hair. Bran, she had learned from when she’d been in his other shop, also liked the same music and had the same taste in art. It had been nice to talk to someone so like-minded.

Dawn didn’t have much experience with men. Was Bran asking her out? Or Amber? Or was he just being nice? She frowned and glanced down at her left hand, which held her wedding and engagement rings. Surely, he’d seen them and was just being nice and was asking for Amber. “I like exploring, but I have someone if I need company. Amber may want to go, though.” Gordon would come, but she knew he was stressing at the moment over the loss they’d taken while he was away and was making sure the people he promoted transitioned well. Dawn was trying to be an understanding wife, especially since he’d brought her best friend over, but she missed him and the time they used to spend together like crazy. She knew without Amber, she would have been lonely though. “I may need to get a job though, just to make some new friends.” She couldn’t stand many of the rich snobs she’d been introduced to so far.

Bran’s eyes lit up, and he smiled. “Since you’re great with the computer, you know how to book appointments. You said you worked at a tattoo parlor in Australia. Would you like to work here in the afternoons for a couple of hours?”

“I’d love that.” Without thinking, she hugged him. “Thank you.”

“Holy shit,” Bran whispered before he pushed her behind him, and she stumbled and righted herself. Turning to see what Bran was swearing about, she groaned. James and Brad, security she knew of Gordon’s, invaded the front of the tattoo shop. At least Gordon wasn’t with them.

Sighing, Dawn pasted a smile on her face. “Hi, guys. I see you found me. How’d you do that?”

Brad raised his eyebrow. “Gordon activated the tracker on your phone.”

“Crap, does that mean he knows I’m here or did he activate it before today?”

Brad actual smiled, which Dawn thought was kinda scary. “What do you think?”

Turning to Bran, she kept her fake smile in place. “Thanks again so much. I’ll be by tomorrow to take pictures and show you what I have in mind.” Dawn could see the question in Bran’s eyes, and then they grew large once again, and Dawn heard the door open and she knew who he was seeing.

“I think your dad’s here,” he whispered

Not able to help it, she burst out laughing. She laughed so hard, she almost doubled over. Looking up, Dawn saw no one was laughing with her. Well, Brad smirked like he wanted to laugh and so did James. “Sorry,” she mumbled. Dawn stared at Gordon, and her laughter stopped. He had the Gordon she didn’t like up. His eyes were shrewd as he assessed everything, and his body radiated power.

Going to him, he snatched her hand once she was within reach and dragged her against him. “Introduce me, sprite.” The bit in his voice had her wincing.

Fine, if he were going to be like that, she could do it, too. “Bran, I apologize for all this. I’d like you to meet Gordon Wilks. Gordon, this is Bran, the owner. He is employing me for his website and offered me a couple of afternoons to work and meet new people and make friends.” Gordon’s gaze narrowed, and she smiled sweetly up at him. She loved him, but right now, he was pissing her off.

Bran wasn’t saying anything. He just stared bug-eyed at Gordon. “It’s nice to meet you, Bran. I’m Dawn’s husband.” Fuck. Bran looked about ready to pass out.

“Husband,” Bran whispered. “You’re Gordon Wilk’s wife?” Bran looked her up and down, and then went to her left hand. “Real?”

Frowning, she glanced down at her ring and then back at Bran. Why would he think she’d wear a fake wedding and engagement ring? Did he think she was too young or did the ring look to good to be true for someone like her? “Yep, you’re going to tattoo the date we meet and our wedding date as branches tomorrow.”

Gordon squeezed her hand, stepped closer, and she felt his lips come down on her neck before he rasped against her ear, “I love you.”

Relaxing against him, her annoyance at how he was acting and what Bran thought evaporated. “I love you, too,” she said loud and clear.

Bran seemed to gather himself. “It’s nice to meet you, Gordon. Your wife and I were discussing what time she should come tomorrow.”

Dawn felt the tension leave Gordon the more he and Bran spoke. Amber wandered back in with her hands full of shopping bags.

By the time they were ready to leave, Bran was behind on his appointments, but had gained someone interested in a business venture that could earn him some big bucks. He was getting her to come back tomorrow to talk about the website, working at the shop, and adding to her tattoo. Dawn felt like a piece of her new life was coming together. Now she just needed her sister and nephew to move to America.

Gordon and Bran were shaking hands and saying their goodbyes. She stood from the sofa, beyond ready to go, and if she admitted it, quite hungry. Stretching, a light headed feeling washed over her and before she could sit back down, blackness clouded her vision.



****



He’d called and told James and Brad where Dawn was, and he’d arrived, packed, and watched his security enter the tattoo parlor. As he waited for an okay from James or Brad, he called Mathew and told him to deal with the police on the threat until he had the chance to get to it. He gave Mathew a quick rundown of Dawn and told him he wasn’t sure how long he’d be.

He got out of the car and moved closer to the shop. When he saw the clear interest in the guy talking to Dawn, his blood had boiled, and he decided not to wait and followed his security into the shop. Bran wasn’t as bad as he thought. He’d stayed and talked to him, and by the time they were ready to leave, Bran knew his place and had also been given an opportunity and a potential business venture for Gordon.

Amber was back, and they were all ready to go. Gordon gazed over at Dawn to see she looked tired and a bit pale. Shaking Brans hand, he turned to Dawn to help her but she stood on her own and stretched. Then, as if in slow motion, she swayed, and all the color left her and she dropped to the ground. Amber screamed, and he bolted the last couple of steps to her fallen form, kneeling.