Page 9 of Audra: The Prequel

“Okay, Miss Thang.”

Laughing, her sister left the bedroom.

Kerilyn flung her arms around Audra’s neck from behind. “Can I sleep in your room tonight?”

Audra kissed her daughter’s wrist. “Yes, you can. If you promise not to kick me in your sleep.”

“I promise!” Kerilyn said immediately.

“Okay, you can sleep with me,” Audra said, though she knew her daughter wouldn’t live up to the promise.

Later, as Kerilyn slept soundly beside her in the bed, Audra remained wide awake. She couldn’t stop thinking about Damon. Every time she saw him at the party, her eyes lingered. She liked to watch him walk. Considering he was called “The Flash,” he didn’t move quickly. His gait was smooth and graceful with a sprinkle of swagger.

“What the hell,” she muttered.

Succumbing to temptation, she rolled over and plucked her phone from the bedside table. She searched for information on Damon, clicking on article after article about him. She read about his prowess as a baseball player and his prowess as a ladies’ man. The images of him online were as intriguing as thearticles. Whether wearing a suit or casually dressed in jeans, he was eye-catching. Sexy, with a self-assured white-toothed smile and a diamond stud in his ear.

As she perused the photos, the lower part of her stomach became warm. She was definitely attracted to him. There were lots of photos of him, many of them with women—holding their hand as he led the way, smiling beside them at a red carpet event, hazy pictures of him at dinner with another one.

She sighed. Monica wasn’t kidding. He was definitely a ladies’ man.

She replaced the phone on the table. If the gossip blogs, tabloids, and magazines were correct, she’d dodged a bullet by avoiding him.

He was probably worse than her ex because he was richer, more handsome, and better known.

Chapter Four

“Iam stuffed,” Claudia moaned, rubbing her flat belly.

“Same. I shouldn’t have eaten all that food, but it was so good,” Audra said.

They had just returned from lunch at a nearby Italian restaurant. Bad idea. The rich sauces and heavy pasta made her want to curl up in a ball and take a nap instead of going back to work.

Both women were administrative assistants at Santana International, Audra’s stepfather’s company. Audra worked for one of the teams that provided marketing services for several of her stepfather’s businesses and hoped to advance to join the team one day.

Claudia worked on the opposite side of the floor for a different team. She groaned as they strolled past the cubicles—some empty, others occupied with employees who had already returned from lunch.

“I should have never listened to you. You’re such a bad influence,” she muttered.

“Me?Youinsisted on going to lunch there. Next time you make a bad suggestion, I’m going to remind you of this day—” Audra pulled up short.

A huge bouquet of beautiful spring flowers sat on her desk.

“Wow,” Claudia said. She shot Audra a look.

Audra frowned. Who in the world would send her flowers? She approached the arrangement as if it was a hissing snake. An older female employee walked up, her eyes alight with curiosity. “What’s the occasion?”

“There’s no occasion,” Audra replied, staring at the flowers. It wasn’t her birthday, and there was nothing special about the date.

“Client, maybe?” the woman suggested.

“I doubt it. I guess there’s only one way to find out.” Audra read the card.

I hope these flowers bring a smile to your face. - Flash

Her heart skipped through her chest at a faster rate.

“That smile says it all. Who is he?” Claudia tried to peer at the card, but Audra hugged it to her chest.

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