Chapter 26

Jake drove Dawn to the hotel, neither of them saying much on the drive. He carried her bag and his once they reached the hotel. They rode up the elevator without saying much to each other.

When the elevator dinged, Jake waited for Dawn to get off before following her.

"Down this way," Jake told her, leading the way towards her room. He slipped the key card into her lock and then handed the card to her.

Dawn's eyes slowly met his as her hand reached for the card.

"Are you staying?" she whispered.

Jake's eyes widened at the invitation.

In answer his mouth crushed down on hers. Dawn walked backwards into the room and Jake kicked the door shut behind him, taking her into his arms.

Their tongues met and tangled. Dawn's hands ran through Jake's thick black hair as his hands stroked down her body.

Dawn pulled her mouth from his and started untying the tie around his neck. She flung it across the room as Jake slipped out of the tuxedo coat. Dawn helped him unbutton his shirt, pulling the tails of the shirt out of his trousers.

Then she stepped back and unzipped the back of her dress, shrugging it off her shoulders.

Dawn smiled up at him, unbuttoning his trousers and unzipping them.

He picked her up, carrying her to the bed, laying her down on the edge. Jake leaned over her, capturing her mouth with his.

His mouth left hers to trail his tongue down Dawn's neck, nibbling and licking as he went.

"Oh Jake," Dawn sighed and for a moment Jake was startled. He had been lost in what he was doing and the change in voice had shocked him. She was gone. He was with this woman now. The other had betrayed him and was gone from his life.

Banishing the other from his thoughts, he made Dawn his.

"I'm falling in love with you Jake," Dawn boldly told him afterwards.

Jake tightened his arms on the woman in his arms and kissed the top of her head. He wanted to fall in love with her too and he felt he was well on his way.

At that moment, he vowed never to think of the other one again.

Dawn and Jake met the rest of the family, minus Kit, Cricket, Bryan and Cara who were already on their way to Hawaii, for breakfast the next morning.

Everyone noticed Jake holding Dawn's hand immediately. Then they noticed the softness in his eyes. A softness they hadn't seen in almost a year.

Mom put her hand over her mouth to keep a sob inside. Dad gripped her hand in one of his, squeezing her fingers. Both parents were thrilled to see their youngest son happy again.

Nate, Adam and Quinn grinned at their little brother. The three of them recognized the signs. They were happy for him. They liked Dawn, from what they knew of her. They didn't know Dawn as well as they had known Sam, but they did like her.

"Good morning," Mom greeted the couple.

"Good morning," Dawn smiled at everyone.

Jake held out a chair for her and everyone else at the table grinned. Oh yeah, Jake was doing much better.

The guys grinned at each other. The wives smiled at Dawn. Mom wiped her eyes and Dad rolled his.

"What time did they get off?" Jake asked putting some food on his plate.

Quinn teased Jake by saying something under his breath.

Jake met his eyes and Quinn smirked. Jake's mouth twitched. He had to admit, he was happy. Happier than he had been in a long while.

Jake didn't have to tell anyone that. They could see it in his face and in his eyes.

"About six," Dad answered Jake's question.

"Do all of you go to Hawaii for your honeymoons?" Dawn asked, helping herself to some coffee.

"Yes," Debi nodded, smiling brightly at Dawn. She too was happy for Jake. She was happy for Dawn too.

Dawn felt warm and welcome at being with the Elys. She thanked her lucky stars that she had gotten a flat tire that day on the highway.

"Dawn, will you come and stay with us for a few days?" Mom asked.

Dawn glanced at Jake who gave her an encouraging look.

"I'd have to stop at home first since I don't have anything to wear," Dawn responded.

"Jakey won't mind," Quinn quipped.

"Quinn!" Maxine scolded him.

Everyone else laughed. Dawn blushed a bit.

"I'll drive you home and you can pack something and drive back if you want," Jake told her.

"Okay," Dawn was excited to spend more time with Jake at their ranch.

"Now that Jake's the only one left at home, we have lots of extra room," Mom went on.

Quinn opened his mouth.

"Don't even say it," Mom warned him. Everyone started to laugh again.

"What?" Quinn tried to act innocent.

"Oh don't even try," Mom rolled her eyes at the youngest of her twins.