Page 10 of Audra: The Prequel

“I was smiling?” she asked.

“Yes,” the other employee said.

“Are you going to tell us who the flowers are from or not?” Claudia demanded.

Audra looked at the older woman, and she looked at Audra. There was a moment of awkward staring before the woman shrugged and walked away.

Audra lowered her voice. “They’re from the baseball player at the party we went to over the weekend.” She handed the card to Claudia. “We didn’t exchange numbers. How did he find me?”

“Um… I might have had something to do with that.” Claudia returned the card.

“Excuse me?” Audra said.

“Don’t get mad. Jacob and I talked on Sunday, and he asked me questions about you that Damon wanted to know. Finally, I gave in. I told him you were single, but I couldn’t give himyour number. I did explain that we work at the same place.” She grimaced, as if bracing for impact.

“Claudia…”

“I know, I know, but this is nice, isn’t it? Not only did he try to get your attention at the party, he used one of his friends to get more information. Now the flowers. Audra, you must have made quite an impression.”

“It’s very flattering, but…”

“Give him a chance. Kent doesn’t do anything like this. If he did, I would be all over him.”

“Yeah, well, I’d love to find a good man to date, but I’m not sure this man is the right choice.” Audra tucked her purse in her drawer.

“What could it possibly hurt?” Claudia asked.

If only she knew, getting involved could hurt quite a bit. Kerilyn’s father had taught her a valuable lesson. Plus, Damon wasn’t exactly her type. Too GQ. Too handsome. Too put together.

Her ex had dreadlocks and an untamed beard, and while he was taller than Damon, Damon was muscular where he was lanky. She suspected Kerilyn would end up tall like her father instead of staying short like Audra.

“He has plenty of women to keep him busy. He doesn’t need me in the mix,” Audra said.

“You could be the woman who makes him change his ways. You should go out with him.”

“Thank you for the advice, but I know how to handle this,” Audra said.

“Women like you make me sick!” Claudia hissed. “You have men falling all over you, and you’re so blasé about it. Teach me your ways.” She pressed her hands together in fake prayer.

Audra brushed her away with a laugh and a wave of her hand. “I do not have men falling all over me. Stop being silly. You’re the one who has men eating out of your hand.”

“If I did, my man would behave and treat me better.” Claudia spoke lightly, but Audra saw the shadow of disappointment nestled in her eyes.

She squeezed her friend’s arm. “He loves you.”

Claudia sighed. “I know, but I want him to act like it.” She sighed again and then perked up, straightening her spine. “I’m sure you have work to do, so I’ll leave you alone now. I certainly have work to do. See ya later.”

Audra sat in her chair and turned on her computer, except she couldn’t concentrate. The scent of the flowers filled the small space of her cubicle and posed a fragrant distraction. Unable to resist, she pressed her nose to the bouquet and inhaled their scent.

She looked at the card again. Should she send a message through Claudia?

No. Shaking her head, she tucked the card into a pocket of her purse.

From what she had seen online, Damon could have any woman he wanted, and she’d noticed how they panted after him at the party, their attention palpable. Women came effortlessly to him.

She still wasn’t sure what she wanted to do but decided not to give in so easily. Damon Foster was going to have to work for her attention, and that would let her know how serious he was.

The flowers didn’t stop coming.

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