Gavin (A Redemption Romance #3) (3 page)

“Yeah, he was at a party that I was at, that’s all.” I did my best to sound easy-going and to make it seem like a random coincidence. If she knew he was part of a small group of friends, who I was now becoming acquainted, she’d never let it go.

“Mmmhm, interesting. Well, keep me in the loop, sweetheart.”

“Okay, mom. Hey, love you, but I’ve got to run, okay?” Thankfully, I was able to disconnect without any further difficulty. The last thing I wanted was for her to be in my business, especially since she was still close to Gavin’s mom. Knowing those two as well as I did, they probably already had something in the works.

Hearing the chime on the back door, Aurora rounded the corner, giving me a huge smile. She looked way too eager to see me. Sure, she was friendly, but this was ridiculous.

“Well, good morning,” she called in an overly sweet sing song voice.

“Hey.”

An eyebrow rose, as she studied me closer, but she didn’t say anything more, not yet anyway. Why did I feel like everyone, from Gavin, to our mothers to our friends, have some plan to put me into an extremely awkward position?

I had begun to realize that it had been a miracle that I hadn’t seen Gavin before yesterday. I’d only been in town for a couple of months, but still, it was a small, close knit area, especially when we had so many people in common.

I would be polite. I would be friendly. I would be mature and behave in a professional manner at all times. I would not, under any circumstances, let down my guard around any of these people. Tyler was my confidant, always, I had him to lean on. No matter how hard it was, I wouldn’t let Gavin see me sweat, not again. I’d embarrassed myself once, it wasn’t his fault, but I’d never burden him with that again.

The thing that really sucked, was not only had I put both of us in an awkward situation that ultimately ended ten years of friendship, but I treated him like shit afterwards. Could I say I’d been a good friend to him? I should have reached out, and apologized. He’d been deployed and in all that time, I hadn’t sent him a letter, not a birthday card, nothing. Had he missed me?

I’d missed him, even more than in a romantic way, I’d missed his friendship. Part of me was truly embarrassed about the way I’d behaved that night, but more, I was mortified at the way I’d treated him after. I’d thrown him away like he’d never meant anything to me. What kind of a friend had I ever been to him?

Gavin

“Fuck!” I yelled, standing on the sidewalk where Dawn’s yellow mini had just been. I almost laughed to myself, realizing how well the tiny car fit her personality.

Stomping back up the steps, I slammed the front door behind me and looked around the room. Aurora and Amber seemed to be purposely ignoring the spectacle I was making, but I didn’t let them, I walked right up and interrupted their conversation. Staring up at me with widened eyes, they waited to hear what I was about to say.

“Where does she live?” I asked the two evilly grinning women.

“We can’t tell you that.” Amber stated, like that would stop me.

I glared down at them and demanded; “give me her fucking phone number.” Apparently, I needed to work on my demanding voice, because instead of offering up the information I wanted, they both cracked up.

“Why the fuck, are you yelling at my woman?” I heard Luke’s angry tone behind me. As I turned to look, I saw Trent was giving me the death glare too. Whatever, if they were in this position, they’d do the same shit.

“Dude, what’s up with her? I gave her my pissed off voice and she wouldn’t listen? Do you have her so used to your asshole behavior that she’s immune?” I wanted to defuse the situation, I didn’t need Luke pissed too. One of us was enough.

I wanted Dawn’s number, I needed to know where she lived. I had to go over there, call her, something, I was going to figure out a way to talk to her, to get her to listen to me, to figure out what the fuck was wrong with her. Was she seriously still so pissed at me, after eight years, that she wouldn’t talk to me? She couldn’t be that ridiculous. Could she? Women were an odd breed; I’d never understand how their minds worked.

Luke tried to get me what I wanted, but Aurora wouldn’t give up the information for him either. She said that if Dawn was ready to talk to me that she would. Damn women, why wouldn’t they just do what we wanted? I didn’t really understand what she meant by
ready
either why wouldn’t she be ready to talk to me?

“Hey Mom, how are you?” After leaving Luke’s I picked up the phone and made the only call that had a chance of helping me.

We’d lived across the street from Dawn and her mom for years, but my mom had gotten married again and now lived in a much nicer area.

Peter Davies was perfect for my mom, Nicole McNeil, now Davies was a fun loving sweet spirited woman. Sadly, the light in her eyes had been tempered by my father, an abusive asshole.

He had died, leaving her a young, scared woman with two sons. It took her years to feel safe again, and to stop acting like the frightened rabbit my father had forced her to be.

Peter, on the other hand was easy going and seemed very gentle with her, he put her on a pedestal where I thought she’d always deserved to be. I respected him greatly.

Since they’d been married, she didn’t live near Sarah Adams, Dawn’s mom, anymore, but the women were still close. On rare occasion, Mom would give me updates about Dawn. They hadn’t been often, or overly detailed, but no one had mentioned her moving home. I’d thought about her often over the years, but until seeing her again, had chalked it up to missing an old friend. Now, I knew, with just one look, that my body had reacted physically, in a way I never had to another woman. She was still the one I wanted, and now I was in a position to make that happen.

“Well, hello Gavin, how are you, Sweetie?” Her soft, joyful voice usually put a smile on my face, but not today. I was too agitated by Dawn.

“What’s the deal with Dawn?” I asked, getting right to the point.

“Dawn? Dawn Adams?”

“Yeah, I just saw her, where does she live?”

“Why didn’t you ask her?”

“Mom, do you know?” I immediately felt guilty for speaking to her like that. She didn’t deserve my irritation.

“Sorry, Mom, I just, I don’t know, I want to talk to her. Do you know how I can get ahold of her?”

“I can ask Sarah, I don’t see Dawn often, but I can ask.”

“No, that’s okay, it’s not a big deal. Thanks, Mom.”

“Gavin, what’s going on? Was she all right? Why do you want to talk to her if you just saw her?”

“I don’t know, I just, well, I miss our friendship. I wanted to try to reconnect.”

“Cut the crap, son, I wasn’t born yesterday.”

“Sorry, you’re right. I saw her at Luke’s house, she works for Aurora at the store. We were all there to watch the game. I tried to talk to her, but she kept slipping away, then she left when I was in the bathroom.”

“Hmm, interesting. I think something happened between you two just before that deployment, is that true?”

“Yes, no, not really. She kissed me, but it wasn’t the right time, so I told her that we couldn’t that it wasn’t the right time, but I said it all wrong and she hasn’t spoken to me since.”

My mom was silent a long time. I felt odd being so open with her about all this, but frankly, who else could I talk to about it? Not only was my mom smart as hell, but she’d also known Dawn as long as I had.

“Ah, that makes sense. Seems like you’ll need to work to mend that before you can be friends again, or did you hope to become more than friends?” Damn, my mother was nosey. She had crazy intuition too, how she inherently knew things like that, I’d never understand.

We talked a little longer, I’d been able to evade that last question, barely, before I promised to come see her soon, then we disconnected the call.

I spent the next several days thinking about Dawn, trying to come up with a plan while at the same time, trying to help Jake with Hope’s stalker issue.

Work had been crazy; it seemed like as soon as a few guys went on vacation, the other guys got sick, and two wives had babies. It was crazy how all that shit happened in the same damn week, I needed a break to figure out my own shit. I’d been pulled into a homicide investigation when they were short and had two SWAT call-outs just since Sunday.

I was a detective with the Collin County Sheriff’s Department, as was Trent. It was good to work with someone I was so close with, we’d worked together so long, it would be strange to try and get used to someone else.

Just seeing Dawn again had been a shock; I’d felt that pull between us again. Regardless of how busy I’d been; I hadn’t stopped thinking about her since Sunday.

I even cancelled the date I’d planned for Thursday night, not wanting to even think about another woman with Dawn around. The desire I’d had for her all those years ago had only grown and I knew, to my core, that I wanted her to be in my life. The question, was how to get her to agree.

After serious thought, and really no other options, a plan was in place. I walked into Indulgence, Aurora’s super feminine store where Dawn worked.

It was Saturday morning, and I’d gotten confirmation from Luke that Dawn would be there today. I didn’t want to be a douche and overwhelm her, but I was going to see her. I had to get her to trust me again, to remind her of the friendship we’d once shared before, I’d fucked it all up, then I would make my move.

The damn bell over the door made a light little ting, alerting the women of my arrival. I watched as both Aurora and Amber smirked and looked at each other with wide, excited eyes. Dawn was nowhere to be seen. I raised an eyebrow at Aurora, silently asking her where the hell Dawn was.

“Good afternoon, welcome to Indulgence.” Amber greeted, overly loudly.

I wondered what she was playing at. Why the hell was she practically yelling? Jesus, I was thirty, not eighty-five, I could hear her just fine. Aurora giggled and walked over to me, grabbed my arm and guided me to a display of fancy scarves.

“Okay, this is the plan,” she whispered, like we were getting ready to rob the place. “Dawn’s in the back with Hope, getting more of these,” pointing to the display.

“All right, and why am I looking at them?”

“You’re shopping; don’t you have someone you need to buy a gift for?”

“Not really.”

She narrowed her eyes at me and I think she growled. It was actually kind of cute. “You’re not helping. If she thinks you’re here to see her, she’ll freeze up and hide, we’ve been trying to get her to talk to us about you all week, but she won’t. I like you, so I’m helping you. Don’t make me regret it.”

I nodded in understanding and actually released a long breath, appreciating her wisdom.

“Here are the new…” Dawn stopped right next to Aurora with several scarves and some other circle looking things draped over her arms.

“Oh, good. That’s just what you need Gavin, don’t you think these are perfect?” Aurora asked excitedly, holding one up to show me. “You can put them on the shelf, let me help.” Aurora directed her enthusiasm to Dawn, who stood frozen, staring at me.

“What are you doing here?” Dawn finally asked, her face was pale and her words were hesitant.

“Buying a gift for my mom’s birthday.” I said quickly, just pulling out the first thing I could think of.

“Your mom’s birthday is in February.” Dawn replied dryly, but with a slight tilt to the corners of her lips. Well, at least she was amused.

“Can’t ever be too early.” Aurora commented sweetly, obviously trying to help me out again. She was one hell of a girl, if it weren’t for her help, I’d have fucked it up already. Waving her hands, she indicated that I could select something from here and went back behind the counter where she, Hope and Amber watched like nosey old women.

Holding up a blue and green scarf with a swirly pattern, I showed it to Dawn. “What do you think of this one?” I asked, wanting to engage her in conversation.

“It’s nice, but I think your mom would really like this one.” She said, holding up another with pink and purple things all over it.

Nodding, I agreed, put the one I held back on the shelf, and accepted hers. “What else, maybe earrings or something?” I wasn’t ready for our time to be over. She was finally relaxing around me, I wanted her to be comfortable with me for what I had planned next.

Walking toward a display of jewelry, she picked up a necklace and pin, showing me the combination with the scarf. “I think this would be nice.” Of course, I agreed, I wasn’t about to argue with her.

“Thank you, I really appreciate your help.” I smiled at her and was pleased to see her return it. “What time do you go to lunch?” I asked as we walked to the counter.

Apparently, I’d asked loud enough for the other women to hear too, because instead of Dawn, Aurora piped up. “She can go now.”

Her cheery voice took Dawn by surprise, if the stunned face Dawn gave her was any indication.

“Great,” I answered back before Dawn had a chance to argue. “I know Reed really likes that Thai place down the street, do you want to go there?”

“Um, I guess, I was just going to eat a sandwich in the back.” Her timid reply told me that she wasn’t sure what I was up to.

“Come on, I’m hungry, don’t make me eat alone.” I gave her my best sad puppy eyes; the ones she’d never been able to deny when we were younger.

“Your total is two hundred, fifty-three dollars, please.” Dawn hadn’t answered me, but that thought went out of my head when I looked down at the three items I’d selected. Apparently, I should have looked at the price tags. Instead of scoffing or freaking out, I just handed over my card.

Amber had disappeared into the back and returned with Dawn’s sweater. “Have a good time,” she called to us as I guided Dawn toward the front door.

It had all happened so fast, I didn’t think she was really on board with my plan, but I’d take advantage anywhere I could.

I held her chair out, and Dawn settled in and took her menu from the hostess. She looked uncomfortable, but I planned to make small talk, I wasn’t going to bring up our past, not yet.

“What looks good?” I asked, having no idea if she even liked Thai food. It certainly wasn’t something we ate as kids.

“The pumpkin curry, I think.”

We placed our order and sat awkwardly across from each other. She played with her napkin and looked out the window, her anxiety was apparent, but I had a plan to help put her at ease.

“How do you like working at Indulgence?”

“I love it,” she beamed, the first true smile I’d seen. “Aurora and Amber are great, it’s so much fun. I like to help women find their style, pairing pieces together that they might not have thought of, helping them find the perfect dress or outfit. We hardly ever have cranky customers, so it’s a really easy place to work.”

I’d found that to be the safe topic. I could sit and watch her talk forever, even about stuff I didn’t really understand, especially, if it kept that happy glow on her face.

“It sounds perfect for you; you’ve always had great style. Have you worked there long?”

“No, just a couple of months. I was working for one of the bigger department stores in LA. I’d wanted to be a buyer, but right out of college, I couldn’t get a job at that level, so I took a job as a low level assistant in the buyer’s office. It was basically grunt work for very little pay.” She took a breath, but continued; “it wasn’t a very happy place to work, everyone was stressed out all the time, when I had an opportunity to move back, and found Indulgence, I knew it was a better fit for me. The pay is a lot better and I get to do what I like. Aurora even lets Amber and me select items for the store. We help with display and assist customers. It really is a good all-around job.”