Gordon's Dawn(4)

Gazing down at Dilan, Gordon raised his eyebrow. “I’ll give you a fifty if I can eat some.”

Dilan grinned. “Deal.”

Dawn nudged his hand away from her nephew before they could shake. “Don’t you dare, Dilan.” She then turned pegging her gaze on him. “You.” She pointed her black nail polished finger into his chest. “I’ll take that fifty and make you some.”

His stomach did a strange fluttering, and Gordon was sure it was just it thanking him for eating the delicious food. Surely, it had nothing to do with the young gothic looking girl in front of him.

“Deal.” He looked up and noticed the TV on. She had cable. “I’ll wait.” Stepping forward, he wrapped his arm around Dawn’s shoulder and smirked down at her. “I think this is the start of a delicious new friendship.” He shoved another cookie into his mouth, let Dawn go, and walked to the sofa and sat. He grabbed the remote and got comfortable. At least while he searched for a wife, he wouldn’t starve.





Chapter Two


Nine months later



Dawn couldn’t help laughing as she watched a shirtless Gordon climb over the fence, creep across her lawn and slip into her house through the sliding door. “Quick, hide me.”

“Who from this time?” Dawn’s computer table looked out at her backyard. She didn’t glance away from her computer screen even though she wanted to. Gordon shirtless was a spectacular sight. He was lean but muscular, not bulky but enough if she looked, she’d have to battle herself not to stare and drool.

“Tracy. She brought her kid again because he apparently didn’t break enough the last couple of times. He isn’t like Dilan. That kid is awesome. This one is breaking all my stuff. I’m telling you, he’s evil.”

“I highly doubt that.” Rolling her eyes, she glanced over her shoulder to see Gordon in her fridge getting out the lasagna and a coke. “Do you ever eat your own food?” Shuddering, as he didn’t even bother to heat it up before shoveling it into his mouth, she turned back to her computer before her gaze traveled south.

“Why would I do that when you cook for me?”

She didn’t bother replying because, as much as she’d like to deny it, she did make sure she cooked extra for him and always made sure she had some special casserole. Pushing her chair back, she got up and walked over to him snatching the lasagna. “You’re so gross. Can you at least get a bowl or plate?

Gordon snatched it back from her and held it up high out of her reach. “I’m saving you washing up.”

“Pffft, yeah, that one plate. It’s a huge help. Thanks,” sarcasm dripping thick in her voice. Nudging him with her hip, she shook her head, as he didn’t even budge. “So why did you sneak over here and not just let Tracy down by giving her the break-up speech, like the many, many other women.”

“It hasn’t been that many,” he mumbled as he went over to her sofa and sat down, eating.

“Ha, I bet you don’t even know the number.”

“We can’t all be celebrant like some people.” Gordon winked at her.

“I am not.” Dawn resisted the urge to sigh because he was right, she just would never admit it to him. “I go out with men, just not when you’re around.” She was asked out at work, but she had turned them down. Destiny, her best friend Amber, and Gordon had enough relationship mishaps for her to learn from their lessons and stay away from dating.

Gordon chuckled. “Oh, really. So what? Like nine or so months ago?”

“Fuck you. I date. I just…” She didn’t, but she didn’t want Gordon to know that. Glancing around her tiny two-bedroom duplex, she tried to think of a reason why she didn’t date that she was willing to tell him. She knew what she wanted, but the men she would meet never seemed to meet what was on her list. “I’m just making sure my company gets off the ground before I get into anything serious.”

“Uh-huh, I believe you. Millions wouldn’t, but I do.” He winked again.

Grabbing a pillow off the sofa she threw it at his head then plonked down next to him. “You’re an arse.”

“Only for you, sprite.”

Blowing a raspberry his way, she calmed her body before it started to heat at being so near Gordon. “So how long are you staying? Do you think Tracy has got the hint that you want out?”

His blue eyes stared down at her, and she told herself not to get lost in them. “I gave her the break-up speech twice already. To be fair, I did date her for the longest and was considerate of her wanting to go slow.”

“What, two months?”

“Eh, I think close to three.”

“You’re such a ho.”

He exaggerated fluttering his eyelashes. “Yeah, but you love me.”

Yeah, that was the problem. Since she made him that first lasagna and cake, she hadn’t been able to get rid of him. He grew on her. At first, he was her annoying neighbor who she couldn’t get rid of. He was like mold or a fungus who ate all her food. Then he became a friend, and over the last few months, her crush turned into something more.

Gordon wrapped his arm around her and pulled her against his side leaning down to kiss her forehead. She bit her tongue to stop her sigh escaping at the touch of his lips against her. His bare chest was warm through her shirt and tingles coursed through her at his contact. She clenched her fist as she thought of anything that would stop her growing arousal.

Closing her eyes, she thought of dead puppies, sharks attacking, naked, wrinkly old grandpas, and the zombie apocalypse. Once she had her body somewhat under control, she opened her eyes, grabbed the TV remote, and flicked through until she found a movie on cable about to start. Snuggling against Gordon, she told herself for the millionth time, not only was Gordon a man slut and a bossy arrogant man who thought he knew it all, but he was also too old for her. She needed to be happy with what they had. It may not be much, him coming over eating her food and watching TV with her, but it would have to do. He didn’t stay in relationships long. He didn’t have any kind of security if anything happened. He wasn’t stable. He wasn’t what she was looking for.



****



With the movie finished, he knew he had to leave, but didn’t want to. Dawn’s home was small, but she made it welcoming and comfortable. Over the last few months, he spent less and less time at his own place and more at Dawn’s home. This life was so different to his other, but Dawn made it easy for him, she made him feel like he was home, content.