Page 25 of Audra: The Prequel

She had also sent him suggestions on how to improve his home, and he liked the ideas, promising he would order the items right away.

Hand in hand, they walked to a side door, which was opened from the inside by a uniformed guide. The young man—who looked a few years younger than Audra—greeted them with a cheery “Welcome!” and ushered them inside.

Deliciously overwhelmed, she felt like a princess walking through the empty aquarium after hours. The interior was dimly lit, the large tanks filled with water and emitting soothing light in shades of blue and green.

The guide led them to a table covered with a crisp white tablecloth.

“This is nice,” Audra breathed, taking in the shimmering light from the tank beside them and the colorful fish darting through the water.

Damon picked up the bouquet of flowers from the table and presented them to her. He was comfortably dressed in high-end black deerskin sneakers, a short-sleeved navy Henley, and khaki slacks.

Audra pressed her nose to the flower petals and inhaled their perfumed scent. “What is all this for?” she whispered.

“I want tonight to be unforgettable, so the next time I ask you out, you don’t hesitate.”

“I didn’t hesitate when you asked me out.”

“Yeah, you did. You took way too long to respond to my text.”

“Because I wasn’t by my phone when you texted,” Audra explained. She couldn’t remember anyone ever going to this much trouble for her before. Even more impressive was that he’d planned the entire night without her input. “I don’t know what to say. Who raised you, Casanova and Cupid?”

Damon chuckled and pulled out her chair. “I’m going to assume that means I’m doing a good job.”

“You are. I feel very special.” She settled into the seat and placed the flowers on the table. “I don’t know a single person who can say they had dinner with sharks and fish watching.”

“Now you’ll be the one to tell that story.” His brown eyes sparkled across the table at her. He appeared as excited to unveil the evening as she was to experience it.

The guide left and was replaced by a server, a woman with short blond hair wearing a starched white shirt and black slacks. After she greeted them, she explained the two options for dinner.

They both ordered the caprese salad to start and the herb-roasted chicken breast as an entrée. Audra was happy for the poultry option because she didn’t feel right eating fish in front of the fish. While she had the grilled vegetables, Damon opted for the mashed potatoes.

Throughout dinner, conversation flowed easily between them. At the end of the meal, Audra dabbed her lips and placed her napkin on the table. “That was delicious.”

“It was,” Damon agreed.

She studied him across the table. “Do I talk too much about my family?”

“Nah, you don’t. It’s nice. Sounds like you have a lot of fun.”

“We do. I just don’t want you to get bored.”

“I’m not. I promise. Ready to walk off all this food?”

“I am. Should we wait for the server?” Audra looked around for the woman who had waited on them all night.

Damon stood. “No, we’re good. Everything’s taken care of. Come on.”

Audra cradled the flowers in the crook of her arm and took Damon’s hand. The same young man from earlier was waiting nearby, and he led the way through the halls. He explained about the animals they were seeing in the various exhibits and shared interesting facts, making the occasional joke along the way.

The last time Audra had been there, she had been preoccupied with keeping track of the children and making sure they all enjoyed themselves. This time, she felt like the kids must have felt. She oohed and aahed over the manta rays and stepped closer to the glass to examine the sharks and other sea creatures.

“This is amazing,” she whispered. “I’ve been here before, but it’s so different with no distractions and being able to leisurely walk through and check out the exhibits.”

Damon nodded. “It’s different for sure. I wish everybody could experience it like this.”

“Me too.”

The beluga whales were her favorite. They were playful, and one of them swam up to the glass, examining the couple in the same way they were examining him.

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