by Hazel Gower
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.”
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.
Gordon didn’t know how many times over the last few months he’d wished Dawn was older, wished she wasn’t so quiet and into her gothic theme. She was loving, great with children, and the best cook—just what he was looking for, but the other things bothered him.
His search for a wife wasn’t going so well. Sure, the women were different to what he was used to, but to him, they just seemed like a different kind of crazy. None had everything he wanted. Someone he had chemistry with, a great body, smart, confident, good with children, not money hungry, loving, and patient. He could find some who ticked half the boxes, but never all. He was running out of time.
Lifting a now sleeping Dawn, he carried her to her bed and placed her in it, kissing her forehead and gently brushing her hair from her face. She sighed and mumbled, “Mmm, Gordon.” He smiled as he gazed down at her talking in her sleep about him. She was beautiful with her thick long black lashes and her clear porcelain skin. She always smelled of fresh baked cookies no matter the time of day. He knew she had feelings for him, and it was getting harder and harder to fight his own, especially when he heard her mutter his name again. “Oh, Gordon.”
Backing away, his stomach flipped, and he knew it was time to go before he did something stupid like, slip into her bed to join her. Leaving her room, he went back out to the living room, turning the TV off, and locking up her house before he left.
Back at his own house, he was surprised that Tracy sat on his lounge watching TV. “Hi, you’re back.”
Okay, no more nice guy. He’d given the break-up speech twice, and she still didn’t seem to get it. “Yeah, I’m back. Why are you still here?”
Tracy stood, and that’s when he saw the red baby doll lingerie. Her body was amazing for a woman in her mid-thirties with a young child, all slim and toned, but she did nothing for him. Frowning, he stared at her—she was what he usually went for.
Gordon watched her strut to him and snaked her arms around his neck. At the contact, he stiffened in her embrace. This wasn’t doing anything for him. What the hell was wrong with him?
“I’m here to give you what you’ve been waiting so long for.”
What? He hadn’t been waiting for anything. He stumbled away from her as the realization hit him that for the last almost three months since he had been dating Tracy, he hadn’t had sex. Tracy almost lost her balance as he escaped her, but righted herself and gave a pout. “I’ve broken up with you twice now this last couple of weeks. This,” pointing to him and her, “isn’t working. I need you and your kid out of my house.”
“I… I just, I mean, I thought you were breaking up because I wouldn’t have sex with you straight away.”
“No. I broke up because this isn’t—didn’t work.” It looked like it was sinking in, her mouth opened and shut. “I’ve been doing this all wrong.” He had, and now he was starting to see it. “You’re wrong for me.”
Tracy’s eyes were wide as she stared at me. “Oh, my God, I’ve made a fool of myself.” She rushed down the hall and opened my spare room. He waited, unsure of what he should do with her next. After a good ten minutes, she came out dressed and carrying her little boy. She didn’t say a word to him as she rushed by and out his front door.
Locking up the house, he went to his room and got his phone out. He needed to talk to his friend. Glancing at the clock, he hoped David didn’t mind being woken up. David answered just as Gordon was about to hang up.
“You do realize it’s four-thirty in the morning here?” David grumbled as he answered.
“I’m an idiot.”
“You called me and woke me up to tell me something I already knew. Why?”
“Ha, ha. No, I mean I’m idiot for not seeing something right in front of me.”
“Argh, Gordon, it’s way too early to understand your riddles.”
“I think I’ve found her.”
“Found who?”
“The woman I’ve been looking for. The woman we talked about.”
“That’s great. Then marry her and get your ass home.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Sure it is.”
“No, it’s not. She knows nothing about me. Well, the real me.” Closing my eyes, Gordon wondered who the real him was. He’d been so different since moving to Australia, he was almost a new person.
“So, tell her.”
“I can’t just come out and tell her. I haven’t even tried a real more than friend’s relationship with her.”
David groaned on the other end. “Well, you better hurry. Your father has pushed me into organizing you this huge fortieth birthday in Vegas. You had better bloody show. I think even your mother misses you. She’s setting me up women. I can’t take it. So get home.”
“I don’t kn—”
“Don’t,” David said cutting him off. “Don’t you dare change your mind. Your father is good at what he does, but no one is as good as you are. The company was doing good before you became CEO, but when you took over, we doubled our profits. The company is going to need a lot of catch-up when you get back. It needs you.”
Sighing because he knew David was right, Gordon opened his eyes and stared at
the blank walls of his room. He may be comfortable in this life, but it wasn’t really who or what he was. It wasn’t really his life. “No, you’re right. I promise I’ll be there for the party. I’ll come home.”
“Good. I’ll email you the details. I look forward to meeting this woman and you being home and talking to me at a decent time.”
“Yeah, thanks for the chat.” Hanging up, he placed the phone on his bedside drawer top. He had a lot to think about and not a lot of time.
****
Dawn walked into the bar area of the leagues club with her best friend, Amber and their two friends, Lacey and Nessa. They found a table close to the dance floor and sat. Tonight was Rock night. It wasn’t the heavy metal she and Amber liked, but it was better than pop music.
“You get the first round.” Amber nudged me and winked. “Your boyfriend is here so he may give you a discount.”
Shouldering Amber, Dawn darted her eyes to the bar. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Oh, your hot neighbor then, who doesn’t seem to ever leave your house and who you spend most of your spare time with.” She smirked and then tried batting her lashes innocently when Dawn scowled at her. Nessa and Lacey laughed.
“Yeah, Dawn, go work your charm and get us some cheap drinks,” Lacey said between giggles.
“I want a fruit tingle,” Tessa buzzed in.
Knowing they wouldn’t stop badgering her until she did what they wanted, Dawn got up and went to the bar side Gordon was working. The bar was busy, and Gordon was working with three other bartenders. She pushed her way to the front elbowing a couple of big guys who didn’t move. Once at the bar, she got Gordon’s attention, by waving him over. Gordon smiled when he saw her.
“What do you want, sprite,” he yelled and his gaze widened when she dug into her bra and pulled a fifty-dollar note out.
“Two fruit tingles, one vodka and lemonade, and creaming soda for me please.”
