Page 29 of Audra: The Prequel

His brow puckered in confusion. “Why? Since when are you into sports?”

“Do you know who Damon ‘The Flash’ Foster is?”

“Of course,” Maxwell replied, sounding insulted. “He’s one of the most popular players on the Atlanta Braves.”

“He and I are dating, and?—”

Maxwell dropped his feet to the floor and placed the phone on the desk.“You’re dating The Flash?Since when? Did you know who he was when you met?”

“No, I didn’t, but I do now. Anyway, we’ve been seeing each other for a couple of months, and he and I are getting close.”

“Ew,” Maxwell said with a wrinkled nose. “I don’t want the details.”

“I wasn’t giving you the details, dork. Considering all the girls you mess with, you don’t need to be judgmental.”

He shrugged. “They say I’m charming.”

“Anyway, as I said, I need your help. I want to understand the game, and I need a crash course. I’ve been reading up on baseball, but some of it I still don’t understand, and I want to learn about Damon’s stats and what’s considered good and all that. Will you help me?”

Maxwell tapped his chin. “Hmm. You need my help.”

Here we go.Audra blew out a sigh of resignation. “What do you want?”

A grin spread across his face. “A signed jersey from The Flash—one that he’s actually worn.”

Audra’s mouth fell open. “Are you serious?”

“Yes. I need to smell his funky sweat all through the fabric.”

“What the heck for?” Audra demanded.

“It’s not for me! There’s this girl—Sharonda—and she’s a big fan of the Braves. She actually understands the sport,” he saidpointedly, which made Audra glare at him. “She goes to every home game with her dad. I’ve tried to talk to her, but she won’t give me the time of day. If I give her a signed jersey from Damon Foster, maybe I’ll have a shot with her. Help a brother out?”

Resting her hands on her hips, Audra said, “You’re putting me in an awkward position.”

“You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. Or you can go back to reading Wikipedia or whatever you’re using to study up on the game.”

The silence stretched between them. Neither budged nor lowered their eyes.

“Deal.” Audra extended her hand, and they shook. “When can we start the lessons?”

“As soon as I get the jersey.”

“You’re not gonna help me before?”

“Nope.” Maxwell stood and walked toward his open door. “Get to work. You help me impress Sharonda, I’ll help you impress Damon,” he said, slipping out of the room.

Audra muttered curses under her breath. What was the point of having brothers when they were so difficult?

Shaking her head, she exited the room behind him.

Chapter Twelve

After the driver dropped Damon at his building, he took the elevator to his floor, anticipation thrumming in his blood. He couldn’t wait to see Audra after being on the road for so long. He had called, told her what time his flight was landing, and that he’d love to see her. When she offered to wait at the condo, he quickly agreed and instructed the concierge to let her in.

He enjoyed their late-night talks, but he longed to hold and kiss her—which was becoming increasingly difficult because his body ached for more. His most vivid fantasy was of her riding him, her tousled mane of hair falling around her shoulders.

Truth be told, he hadn’t gone this long without sex since high school. He wanted to make her toes curl and find out what his name sounded like when she screamed it in his bed. The only time she had been in his bed so far was one afternoon when she’d taken a nap there.

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