Page 36 of Audra: The Prequel

He pondered the question. “I didn’t make the mistakes.Technically, I was the mistake.”

“Whoa, should I be worried?”

“Nah, you shouldn’t be worried. I know we have something special. I’m not about to mess it up.”

He always said the right things. Sometimes she worried he was too good at it. Too perfect. There had to be a flaw somewhere, but she hadn’t found it yet. All she could do was wallow in the perfection of this relationship, a striking contrast to the mess that had been her relationship with Kerry.

She didn’t have to hound Damon for attention the way she did when she and Kerry were a couple. Damon gave her attention freely, and she ate it up. She looked forward to his morning texts before he started training. “Good morning, sexy” or “Good morning, beautiful” always put her in a good mood for the rest of the day.

When they weren’t together, they spent a lot of time on the phone talking—continuing to chat almost every day. In all this time, somehow, they hadn’t run out of topics to discuss.

“You better not screw up,” Audra said. She spoke lightly, in a teasing tone, but she was happier than she ever imagined and wanted this feeling to last.

“So your whole family will be at dinner, huh?”

“Not exactly. It depends on when you go. Ignacio is hardly ever around because he’s an actor. Thiago—he works at my stepfather’s company—is often out of the country, so he may or may not be there. Of course, you know Maxwell will be there.”

“The one who wanted my jersey.”

“Yes. He’s planning on being a doctor. At least that’s what he says. We’ll see if he sticks to it. Then there’s Ethan, the oldest. Monica might or might not be there because—well, she does her own thing. So, you up for it?”

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to meeting your family and Kerilyn. I’ve heard so much about them, I feel as if I know them already. I’m most excited to meet your daughter.”

“Be careful, once she gets comfortable with you, she won’t stop talking. You’ll be begging her to stop.”

“I doubt it.”

He was staring up at the ceiling, and she studied his profile. The way he talked about Kerilyn prompted Audra to ask the next question.

“You said before that you want kids. How many?” she asked tentatively.

“Lots.”

Her eyebrows shifted higher. “How many is lots?”

“At least five.”

Interestingly enough, she wanted a big family too. “Your future wife is going to be busy,” she teased.

He watched her for a moment, his dark eyes locked on hers. Then he smiled. “Yeah, she is.”

Chapter Fifteen

“You don’t need that,” Audra insisted.

Damon silently disagreed, straightening his tie and critically studying his appearance. “You said your brothers are very protective, and I’m about to meet them, your parents, and your daughter. I want to make a good impression. I don’t want them believing the stuff they read about me online, and I don’t want them thinking I’m going to be like your ex.”

He wore navy slacks and a white shirt, but a jacket and tie would be a nice addition.

Audra marched over, stood in front of him, and tugged off the tie. “You’re going to be overdressed. It’s Sunday dinner at my family’s house, not the White House. I promise no one is going to judge you.” She lifted onto her toes and kissed his stiff lips.

“You’re sure?”

“I’m positive. You’re usually such a confident person, it’s cute that you’re worried about making a good impression, but you have nothing to worry about. I couldn’t resist you, and I know they won’t be able to either.”

“Don’t try to butter me up,” Damon grumbled. He looked at his reflection and then opened the top button of his shirt.

“You look great, hon. They’re going to love you,” Audra said.

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