Gavin (A Redemption Romance #3) (5 page)

“You’re just as delectable as you were years ago. I wonder, would you taste as sweet as I think you would, if I took a bite out of you right here?” He asked, as he ran his nose across the skin of my neck.

My entire body had frozen, was he serious? Would I like him to bite me? What the hell? I didn’t know what to do, I thought he was probably just trying to get a rise out of me, the irritable bastard that he was, it seemed just his style to try and scare me this way. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

Feeling Zach’s hot breath across my chilled neck, I shuddered with revulsion. Sadly, he took that as encouragement and pressed in farther. I thought I heard something from behind us, but ignored it, I was entirely too focused on my next move. I knew that my stillness had given him some modicum of false confidence. His cockiness was just what I needed now.

“I think you’d love it; you want me to bite this, right here, don’t you?”

Completely over Zach’s aggressively sexual come-on, I was ready. I pulled my arms forward and threw one elbow back, hard into his stomach. At the same time, I stomped on the top of his foot and shoved back into him as hard as I could. The triple-assault took him by surprise and he lost his balance.

I took advantage, turned my body, planted my hands on his chest and pushed him again. He was a solid wall of muscle, from his years of service in the military, but I was able to gain enough space to wiggle out of his reach.

I turned to face him head on. Putting my hands on my hips, with legs spread and knees soft; ready to defend myself, I was ready for just about anything this jerk would throw my way. I glared at the angry man as he held his side and screamed obscenities at me.

“You shut-the-fuck-up! Zach McNeil, I should call your CO and report you for being a douche bag. There is no excuse for treating me that way, for saying those horrid things to me. I do not – not now – not ever – want you to touch me in any way.”

“You liked it, you stuck up bitch!” Zach snarled back at me.

Was he absolutely insane? I had no idea, and I wasn’t about to stay and find out.

“You’re nuts. Stay away from me. Once I’ve calmed down, I’ll decide if you should be reported. How would that look in your file?” I asked angrily, still glaring at him.

I watched as his face paled, but he masked his concern quickly.

“I didn’t do anything to you, little fucking cunt, you’re a dick tease, you came on to me, then when things got interesting, you turned on me. It’s my word against yours.”

“And mine.” I heard Gavin’s low, angry voice from behind me. Whirling to face him, I was shocked, and relieved to see him there. In the shock of seeing him, I wondered, briefly, if the mothers had a hand in his presence here today.

“Stay out of this, dick-head.” Zach growled. “You’ve always wanted in her panties, fucking pussy couldn’t finish it, now you’re going to lie for her?”

“It isn’t a lie, I’ve been standing here long enough to know the truth of what happened, Zach. I was about to step in when Dawn kicked your ass.” Gavin’s smirk was adorable. He was going to intervene? I knew he’d been my protector growing up, but I had no way to know the kind of man he’d grown into.

The door opened behind Gavin, and out stepped Nicole, Peter and my mom, Sarah. Shit, I didn’t want Nicole to know what her son had just done. He’d said lewd things to me, obviously, and I’d felt threatened, but he hadn’t hurt me, I was pretty sure that he wouldn’t have. Would he?

“What’s going on here?” Nicole asked, her voice concerned but wary. Peter’s arm went around her and pulled her close, offering her support and comfort. I was glad to see that, Peter Davies was a kind and loving man. I only wished that he’d come along sooner, maybe he could have done something to help Zach.

“Nothing, mom, don’t worry about it.” Zach said, hands spread out in front of him, as if he was trying to convince her of his innocence already.

Gavin reached out and pulled me into his chest. I hadn’t realized that my entire body was shaking, but he held me tight and rested his cheek on the top of my head. His hand stroked up and down my back, soothingly. I relished his comforting touch, and for a moment, allowed my body to melt into his.

“Zach, did you do something to Dawn?” Nicole asked sharply. I could only imagine the spectacle Gavin and I were making, but I didn’t care, we’d been such good friends once, and I needed that again now. I couldn’t look at Nicole, couldn’t look at Zach. I was embarrassed and couldn’t imagine what Zach would accuse me of.

“Mom, we’ll talk later, okay?” Gavin said quietly, not lifting his head, not stopping his soothing strokes on my back.

She didn’t say anything else, but my mom did, of course she did.

“Dawn, what happened? Are you okay?”

I nodded, but realized that I was snuggled so far into Gavin’s strong chest that she probably couldn’t see it. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Let me take you home.” Gavin spoke softly, tilting his mouth to my ear. The shiver that went down my back this time, was pleasant, very pleasant actually, nothing like the feeling I got from Zach.

“I’ve got my car here.” I protested, though only half-heartedly.

“I can drive it back later.” My mom offered, way too willing to help.

I loved my mom, but she’d never been self-less. She’d become a mother so young, had fallen in love with my illusive father at the tender age of eighteen, she hadn’t grown out of her self-centered ways. He’d seduced her, slept with her and left her all before she ever found out she was pregnant with me. She’d always been a little naive, a little self-centered, and a little too starry eyed. She’d been convinced for years that my dad would come back for her, that he’d come back and take us both away, which was why we’d never moved away from the neighborhood she’d grown up in. Even after her judgmental parents kicked her out of the house, once they discovered her pregnancy, she stayed in the same area, just blocks away, hoping that someday, he’d be back for her. Now, I was suspicious of her motives, but not enough to deny her help.

“Thanks,” I muttered as I pulled back from Gavin. I made the concerted effort to avoid Zach altogether, I said good-bye to Nicole and Peter as they walked us to the front door, then before I knew it, I was seated in Gavin’s truck.

There was no good reason that I’d needed a ride. I was perfectly fine to drive; it wasn’t like Zach had hurt me or anything. He was a jerk, obviously, but that was all.

On the drive, we stayed quiet, but it was comfortable. My mind kept going back to Zach’s strange behavior and the way I’d stood up to the bully. When I’d been in Gavin’s arms, I didn’t think my need for him was born of fear of Zach as much as it had just been in the pleasure of Gavin’s embrace.

I directed Gavin to my house and in no time, he pulled into the driveway, then helped me down. What was it with these guys and their big trucks? Gavin had one as long as I could remember, though this one was a lot nicer. The first truck he’d bought when he was sixteen was an old rust-bucket, but he’d worked hard for it and had loved it. I wondered for a moment what had ever happened to that thing.

“Thank you so much,” I said as I started to walk to the front door. What I hadn’t realized, was that Gavin was following me. When I turned to wave, he was standing right behind me, so, of course, I invited him inside. The funny thing was, when Zach had been in my space, I’d hated it, now that Gavin was, I wanted him to get closer.

I did my best to ignore the rioting feelings pulsing through my body. He was here, as a friend, helping me, supporting me, even though I really didn’t need it.

Walking into the kitchen, I asked what he wanted. I spent a little more time than necessary, getting us drinks. I needed a minute, to pull myself together, to come to terms with Gavin being in my house. It was odd, after all these years, to have my old friend right here.

Once we both had an iced tea and were seated in the living room, I looked at Gavin and waited. There must be something he had to say, after all, he’d followed me in here.

“Dawn, I – are you okay?” He stuttered and then asked.

“I’m fine. I was so angry with Zach, but I wasn’t afraid. He was just being a jerk.”

Gavin nodded, but didn’t commit to it. I could see the anger bubbling just under the surface.

“Don’t worry about it, I knocked him down a peg and told him I’d report him, I don’t think he’ll bother me again.”

“I hope not.” Gavin replied, a clear thread of irritation in his voice.

We sat quietly for a few minutes, until Gavin spoke again, changing the subject.

“How was your week?”

Slightly taken aback at the casualness of his tone, and maybe annoyed with him, that he hadn’t gotten in contact all week, my reply was sharper than I’d intended.

“Fine, why do you ask?”

Gavin’s gaze shot up to mine, questioning my curt tone. He looked at me quizzically for a few beats, trying to read my expression if I had to guess.

“Mine was long, really busy. I wanted to connect with you, but I don’t have your number, and I didn’t have time to stop in the store again.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound bitchy.” It had never been in my nature to behave so rudely, and it hurt me to act that way with Gavin, again. My defenses were on high alert, and I could admit – if only to myself – that the way I’d been embarrassed, all those years ago, caused me to be afraid of him now; I was terrified that I'd show too much and the same would happen all over again.

Gavin shook his head and grinned. Since he’d looked down at his clasped hands, I couldn’t see his face, I couldn’t read his expression.

“When is your next day off?” He asked, meeting my eyes once again.

“Sunday,” I wanted to ask why, but didn’t.

“Good, where do you want to go to dinner?” He was completely straight faced, damn, he had some balls.

“I’m sorry, were we going to dinner?” I asked, I wasn’t angry at his audacity, but was surprised.

“Yes, we’re going to have dinner. We’re friends, right? Let’s go to dinner.”

Friends, right. We could be friends. Right? Could I really be friends with Gavin? I’d fancied myself in love with Gavin once upon a time, but that was so long ago, I had moved past that years ago. So, yes, I could, I would be friends with Gavin again.

“Sure, Mexican?”

“Sounds good, I’ll pick you up about six-thirty?”

I nodded my ascent and we exchanged numbers. Gavin stayed for a little while longer, then left. The interaction had been friendly, nothing more. Our dinner on Sunday would just be two old friends catching up, not a date. I needed to keep my mind focused and not allow old, girlie fantasies to take over.

When I walked him out, I heard the roar of Harley pipes, a sound I’d been trained to listen for, as a very young child. As strange as it was, it was a sound that still brought a smile to my face. Mom had always listened, then watched and waited, when she heard them. She’d longed for my father to come riding up, and she was just sure that every single set of pipes she heard, were going to be his.

As the rider went by, he moved slowly on the street, and seemed to pay particular attention us Gavin and me. I didn’t feel afraid, though I thought that maybe I should have. Maybe, my freak out meter was broken, after the whole Zach thing earlier.

“You know that guy?” Gavin asked, getting a good look at the older man and seemingly taking note of his cut.

Shaking my head, I turned my focus back on Gavin, thanked him again for bringing me home, and promised I’d see him the following night for dinner.

Later that day, when my mom came by, I’d heard the pipes again, just before I hopped into the car to drive her home. I watched as she whipped her head around and looked, but neither of us saw a bike. I almost laughed at how silly we must look, behaving that way.

Once we were finally on our way, I survived her incessant questions. When she discovered that I didn’t have much to say, or wasn’t sharing it, she gave me the low down. Apparently, Gavin had gone back to Nicole’s house, but when he’d arrived, Zach was long gone. Gavin spoke with his mother privately for a while, probably telling her what he’d witnessed, but my mom didn’t know for sure.

I was relieved when we pulled up in front of her house and she exited the car. She’d promised to call me later, which I knew, would be in a few days, unless she thought something juicy was going on in my life.

As I lay in bed that night, waiting for the elusive sleep to come, my phone vibrated from the nightstand. Rolling over, I grabbed it and read.

Gavin: Was great seeing you today, Zach’s crazy ass excluded of course. Can’t wait to see you Sunday.

Dawn: Good to see you too. Don’t worry about Zach, it wasn’t that big of a deal.

Gavin: It was, I’m sorry he acted like that.

Dawn: Thanks, I’m fine.

Gavin: Sleep well, beautiful girl.

Seeing his words light up on the small screen, a wide grin spread across my face, before I set it down, rolled over and slept.

Saturday morning came way too early. I’d failed to close the drapes in my room all the way the night before, so the sun shone right into my eyes before I was ready to wake up. Stumbling into the kitchen I made a strong pot of coffee and downed my first cup before I went in to get ready for the day.