Page 30 of Audra: The Prequel

He pushed open the door and dropped his bag on the floor. “I’m home!”

Audra came flying around the corner with a bright smile and leaped into his arms. Her legs wrapped around his waist as hecradled her bottom in his hands and kissed her hard and with passion.

“Damn, I’ve missed you,” he muttered against her lips.

“I missed you too. Welcome home.” She rubbed his bearded jaw and then slid her hand over his short-cropped hair. The comforting gesture immediately relaxed him.

“Thank you, baby.” He sniffed the air. “What’s that delicious smell?”

“Nothing fancy. A little something I threw together—pot roast, potatoes, and vegetables. I didn’t know if you’d be hungry when you came home, but I figured you’d like a home-cooked meal.”

Damon was speechless. Other than his mother and his personal chef, he couldn’t recall any woman cooking a whole meal for him and was surprised she’d gone to all that trouble.

“Was it okay that I used your kitchen?” she asked.

Probably because he hadn’t responded.

“Of course. Hell, I appreciate you doing that. Smells delicious.”

Anxious to see her, he hadn’t thought much about food because having someone waiting for him wasn’t something he’d ever experienced before. Normally, he came home and warmed something from the freezer that his personal chef had prepared or stopped to pick up food from a local restaurant. Having her waiting for him made coming home sweeter.

Audra dropped to her feet and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Put away your bag, change into something more comfortable, and I’ll finish up in the kitchen. Then we can eat.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He kissed her neck, taking a deep whiff of her scented skin, and groaned.

She was driving him crazy. With her here, cooking a meal, and looking all sexy in tight jeans and a red top that hugged hercurves, he was definitely appreciative. He wanted more of this kind of living.

He watched her walk into the kitchen and released a heavy breath. “Hang in there, bruh,” he muttered, gently patting the front of his pants where his semi-hard penis threatened to embarrass him.

He took his bag into the bedroom and changed into sweats and a T-shirt. Checking his appearance, he smoothed a hand down his beard and then went to the kitchen. As he approached, he heard Audra talking.

“Youpromised, Kerry,” she said, tension in her voice. She was standing in front of the range and holding the phone to her ear.

Her daughter’s nickname was Keri, but Damon doubted that’s who she was talking to. Probably her ex.

She heaved a sigh and dropped her head in defeat. As he hovered in the doorway, Damon immediately wanted to fix whatever was wrong.

“You don’t get it, do you? She wants to see you. You’re herfather.”

Her words confirmed what he had suspected.

Damon backed out of the kitchen to give Audra privacy, but he didn’t like the sound of heavy disappointment in her voice. From the little he’d heard, he guessed that her child’s father had flaked on plans, upsetting her—and not for the first time.

In the living room, he could hear her talking but could no longer discern the words. He stood in front of the glass doors looking out at the parking lot and waited until he no longer heard her voice. Then he returned to the kitchen.

“Hey.”

“Hey.” She pulled plates from the cabinet without facing him.

Damon walked over. “Everything okay?”

Audra nodded, but her hair had fallen across her cheek, hiding her expression from him.

Grasping her chin, he turned her head to face him. “Talk to me.”

Her lower lip trembled, and she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “I was talking to my ex, Kerilyn’s father. He promised to come see her next weekend, but now he says he can’t because he has a gig out west. I didn’t tell her that he was coming because I didn’t want to get her hopes up until I was certain he’d follow through. I’m glad I didn’t becauseof coursehe called to say he can’t make the trip now. At least this time I didn’t have to see the disappointment in her face and explain that it’s not that her father doesn’t love her or want to spend time with her, it’s that he’s sobusy.” Her face crumbled, and her voice cracked on the last word.

Damon pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, Audra.”

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