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Audra – The Prequel: Epilogue

 

 

This serial is connected to the Family Ties series and is available for purchase as a complete novel. It explains how Damon and Audra from the novel Audra (Family Ties, book 3) met. You can see my inspiration for each character on their Pinterest page.

Thanks to an unexpected pregnancy, they both realize that some risks are worth taking—especially when love is at stake.

Audra woke up, shifted, and checked the bassinet beside the bed. It was empty, and for a split second, she panicked before she saw movement out the corner of her eye.

She could just make out her husband’s shadowy form in the dark, seated in a chair in the corner and holding their son.

She moved again, wincing and making a sound in her throat when pain shot through her.

“You okay, baby? You need anything?” Damon asked.

She had given birth two days ago, and he was consistently attentive. “No, I’m fine. You’re holding Junior again?”

“He made a noise, so I checked on him. I didn’t want him to start crying and wake you up. He stopped whining when I picked him up.”

“He’s going to be so spoiled.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” Damon said. “Now I understand why you used to stare at Kerilyn. I can’t stop staring at this kid.”

With her eyes adjusted to the dark, Audra could see Damon better as he gazed down at the bundle in his arms.

“I’m never gonna hurt you,” he promised in a whisper.

Her heart seized with pain. Damon’s abusive upbringing often crossed her mind. She had grown up in a loving household, and her heart broke thinking about the trauma he had endured.

“What time are your parents coming in the morning?”

Dena and Chadwick were coming to see their grandson in person, though they had already been bombarded with plenty of photos and videos—courtesy of their doting son.

“Their flight lands at ten. I’m going to meet them at the airport.”

His parents were going to stay at a hotel nearby. With Audra, the baby, and Kerilyn in the condo, they didn’t have space for his parents, which prompted Damon to start looking for a bigger place. They discussed buying a property with a big yard for their future five kids to run around in.

He continued to hold their son for a little longer and then finally placed him in the bassinet on Audra’s side of the bed. A handmade teddy bear with a bejeweled bow sat on the table, one of several gifts from Monica, who was over the moon at becoming an aunt again. Her sister had playfully told her to keep the teddy bear nearby to watch over their son, and Audra adhered to her request.

Damon climbed in bed beside her. “Are you good?”

“Always, when I’m next to you.”

She closed her eyes, content in the knowledge that she was loved. Her parents didn’t kill her when she announced her second pregnancy, and Kerilyn had been excited about becoming a big sister. The first time she saw her little brother, she cried happy tears. The transition from the mansion to Damon’s condo had been a drastic change, but she was now fully adjusted with her stepfather loving her the way she’d always craved.

Audra had gotten everything she wanted, and she looked forward to a happy, magical future with the man she loved.

_____

This is the last episode in the prequel. I hope you enjoyed reading about Audra and Damon. Their story continues in the novel, Audra. To learn more about the rest of her siblings in the Family Ties series, start with Ethan, a billionaire contemporary romance. 

The post Audra – The Prequel: Epilogue appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 23

 

 

This serial is connected to the Family Ties series and is available for purchase as a complete novel. It explains how Damon and Audra from the novel Audra (Family Ties, book 3) met. You can see my inspiration for each character on their Pinterest page.

Thanks to an unexpected pregnancy, they both realize that some risks are worth taking—especially when love is at stake.

Audra looked at him with fear in her eyes. “Did you hear me? Say something.”

Damon sat up in the bed. “Yes, I heard you.”

“We weren’t always careful, like just now,” she explained, as if he didn’t know how babies were made.

“When did you find out?”

She sat up, holding the sheet to her breasts. “Coincidentally, the same day you contacted Claudia and sent the message. I was at the doctor’s office when she called me.”

“Did you plan to tell me?”

“Yes, of course.”

He nodded, satisfied with the answer, and slipped from the bed. “We need to get dressed. I can’t have this conversation naked.”

They moved quietly through the condo, collecting their discarded clothes and putting them back on. During those few minutes, Damon’s mind raced with possibilities.

A father. He couldn’t believe it.

Finally, they sat down on the sofa facing the balcony, and he took Audra’s hand. She looked nervous.

“Why do you look like you’re about to throw up?” he asked.

“Because I’m pregnant again. My parents are going to kill me.”

“Then let’s get married.”

Her eyes went wide. “What? No.”

“Why not? We love each other.”

“Damon, I appreciate the offer, but this is sudden. We weren’t planning to get married five minutes ago.”

“Plans change. You adjust.”

“We’re talking about a baby and marriage. Those are major decisions and life-changing events. We can’t make these decisions lightly.”

“I’m not making this decision lightly.” A smile broke out on his face. “We’re having a baby. That’s good news.”

Clearly, she hadn’t expected him to say that. She shot him a look of confusion. “How is this good news?”

“Because we’re in love, and we’re about to have a baby.”

His gaze dropped to her midsection, and his smile widened. He hadn’t noticed any difference when they made love, but eventually, her waistline would expand with his child.

Audra eased her hand from his. “Damon, you do know what me being pregnant means, right? That means you’re going to be a father. That means all kinds of other responsibilities besides playing ball. When you have a kid, your whole life changes. Forget about sleeping in on your days off. A baby doesn’t care if it’s one a.m. or one p.m. When they’re ready to eat or have their diaper changed, they will scream the whole house down until their needs are satisfied. Don’t get me started on teething.

“A baby causes strain on the best of relationships, and we haven’t been together that long. Less than six months. We’re still getting to know each other. I haven’t met your parents or anyone else in your family yet! Weekend trips like the one we took to the retreat are out the window. We were only able to do that because my daughter is older. I won’t leave our child with other people to take care of for a weekend when they’re that little.

“And they’re expensive!” Audra continued. “They need clothes they’ll outgrow within months, there’s private school if we want to go that route, college down the road—and everything in between. Being a parent changes you forever, and it’s not an easy job. Your life is no longer your own because your child takes over your life. Do you understand that?”

She had said a mouthful, but nothing she said had changed his mind.

“I understand more than you know, and despite everything you’ve said, I’m still excited. I’m willing to put in the work because the reward is great.” He leaned toward her. “I want someone to look at me like the world revolves around me. I want to take care of our son or daughter and protect them and let them know how much they’re loved.”

He paused as emotion swelled inside him.

“I’m looking forward to their first smile, their first steps, and when I get to teach them to ride a bike. I’ll teach them to throw a ball and work with their hands. We’ll go biking, swimming, camping—everything. I’m looking forward to a little you or a little me—a combination of both of us. I already know it’s not always going to be easy, Audra, but I want this baby, and I want this baby with you.”

She looked stunned, her mouth hanging halfway open.

Damon continued. “You’ve already shown me what kind of mother you’ll be. I can’t think of anyone else I’d want to have a child with, and one thing’s for sure: my kid will never, ever doubt that they’re loved.”

Her brow puckered, and she placed a hand on his jaw. “What happened to you when you were younger, Damon?” she asked softly.

His jaw tightened as he struggled with a surge of emotion. Then he pulled back. “You don’t want to hear my dirt.”

“If we’re going to raise a child together, I think I deserve to know your background.” Her voice was gentle, cautious.

Damon stood abruptly and went to stand in front of one of the windows. He heard her get up, and she came to stand beside him.

He didn’t want to talk about his childhood and had effectively kept her in the dark this entire time. Turning away, he returned to the sofa and sat down, unsure where to begin—unsure if he wanted to begin.

Audra followed him again, but this time she straddled his thighs.

“Audra…” he said in a warning tone.

“Talk to me. Please.” She cupped either side of his face in her hands and forced eye contact. Sympathy filled her eyes.

Damon knew he had to open up, but damn, was it hard. Finally, he pushed the words past his lips. “I’m adopted.”

“I don’t remember that in any of the articles I read about you.”

He dipped his gaze. “I don’t talk about it. Dena and Chadwick Foster are my parents, and that’s all that matters. The same way all your siblings are your siblings, whether they’re related to you or not.” She had told him that the first night they went out to Prime Table.

Audra nodded her understanding. “Do you mind sharing how you ended up getting adopted?”

His body tensed. He didn’t want to tell her but sensed this time he wouldn’t be let off the hook.

“I grew up in an abusive home. My father terrorized us with punches… and kicks… yelling and weapons—knives, a gun, a baseball bat. Didn’t matter to him, and he smashed stuff all the time. He was the one who destroyed my Spiderman kite, for no reason except he was in a bad mood, and I came home from the park at the wrong time. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t scared to go home from school or anywhere, for that matter. I was always worried that I’d say the wrong thing and set him off. He used to beat my mother too. Eventually, I was removed from the apartment, and that’s when I met the woman who would become my mom. She was my social worker. My biological parents gave up their parental rights, confirming that they had never wanted me.” He swallowed as the memory of their rejection tightened his chest. “But Dena, my mother, she wanted me. Which is crazy, because looking back, I can admit I was a handful. I don’t know what made my case special compared to all the others she had handled. Luckily, my father was open to adopting a troubled eleven-year-old.”

Damon stared unseeing at a point beyond Audra.

“Damon, I… I’m so sorry that happened to you. I had no idea.”

He lifted his gaze to hers. “I don’t want your pity, Audra. I’m fine now.”

“I don’t think you are,” she said gently. “Have you thought about going to therapy?”

He let out a scoffing laugh. “For what? That shit don’t work. I don’t need a therapist. I know who I am, and I know what kind of father I’ll be.”

“I wasn’t suggesting you wouldn’t be a good father,” Audra said hastily. “But it’s obvious that what happened to you still affects—”

“I’m fine,” Damon insisted in a harder voice. “I’m going to be an involved father. Not only to the baby you’re carrying, but to Kerilyn too. When we get married, I won’t treat her any differently than the kids we have together. We already know we’re in sync in a lot of ways. I’m not worried or scared. I want this.”

She stared at him for a moment, as if she couldn’t believe her ears. Then, slowly, relief crossed her face. “This is the real reason why they call you The Flash. You move fast. You don’t waste any time.”

“Why waste time when you know what you want? I love you. You love me. I know it’s scary because we didn’t have plans to get married and raise a family right now.”

“It’s very scary,” Audra admitted.

“But it feels right—don’t it?”

The happy smile that broke out on her face was the only answer he needed. “Yes, it does. You know, my mother told me once that there’s no timeframe for love. For some people, it happens quickly. For others, it takes longer. The only common feature is that love grows. You might not be aware of it, and then one day… one day you need that other person in your life, because your life won’t be complete without them.”

“That’s exactly how I feel about you. I want this, Audra. You and our baby. It’s not too soon. It’s right on time.”

He pulled her in for a deep, heartfelt kiss.

Despite the fame, wealth, and the opportunity to do what he loved, he had never felt completely satisfied. That changed with Audra, and he was young—younger than he had expected to be when he got married and started a family—but all he saw was a future with her. Nothing else mattered because his life was finally going to be complete. He’d have a family of his own.

They spent the rest of the night discussing their dreams and marital expectations. Their belief systems and desires for the future were very compatible.

Damon had no doubt that getting married and starting a life together would be the right decision.

 

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 23 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 22

 

 
Only a few more episodes left, and in this one, Audra has something very important to say to Damon…
 

This serial is connected to the Family Ties series and is available for purchase as a complete novel. It explains how Damon and Audra from the novel Audra (Family Ties, book 3) met. You can see my inspiration for each character on their Pinterest page.

Thanks to an unexpected pregnancy, they both realize that some risks are worth taking—especially when love is at stake.

What am I doing here?

Audra stood beside her car, her gaze lifting to encompass Damon’s condominium complex. She could hardly breathe, her heart was racing so fast. She hadn’t seen him in six weeks—in the flesh, anyway.

She had watched a couple of his games, rooting for him and the team, but seeing him had been unbearably painful—the heaviness of longing stifling her under its weight.

When Claudia said he’d sent a message about picking up her belongings or having them mailed to her, she jumped at the chance to come pick them up.

Pathetic.

She could have even asked him to leave the box with the concierge, but she wanted to see him. Who could blame her? She hadn’t stopped loving him. She hadn’t stopped thinking about him or missing him. Every day without Damon was like standing under storm clouds, yearning for the sun to break through and chase away the chill in her bones.

She entered the building and greeted the doorman.

“Hello, Ms. Connor,” he replied with a nod.

She took the elevator to Damon’s floor and then stood outside his door, staring at the gold numbers—eleven-fifty. This was where it had all started, and this was where it would end.

She rang the doorbell and waited.

The door opened, and Damon stood before her in a cream shirt that molded to his defined chest and showed off his biceps and tattooed arms.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey.”

“I’m here for the box.” Stomach tight, Audra half-expected him to shove the box of clothes into her chest and send her away.

Instead, he stepped aside and widened the door, silently inviting her in. She crossed the threshold and spotted the cardboard box on the floor near one of the sofas.

“You want to check and make sure everything is in there? I can help you take it down when you’re done,” he said.

“Sure, thanks.” The box was large and probably heavy, so she wouldn’t mind the help.

Audra crouched in front of it and did a cursory inspection of the contents, unconcerned if everything was in there. Nothing she had left at his place was irreplaceable.

Standing, she rested her hands on her hips. “That looks like everything.”

“Good.” His gaze flicked over her.

She had taken extra care with her appearance. Fall had ushered in cooler weather, so she wore a cropped jacket over a plum-colored blouse and tight jeans that showed off her ass. She had also made sure her hair looked fabulous—fixing it into voluminous curls that cascaded around her face and onto her shoulders.

“You been okay?” he asked.

She nodded, his considerable attention leaving her tongue-tied.

A wary pause bloomed between them.

Damon cleared his throat. “How’s Little Bit doing?”

Audra smiled at the nickname he had given Kerilyn. “She’s fine, keeping me on my toes, as usual. She’s doing well in school.”

“That’s nothing new,” Damon said.

“No, it’s not,” Audra admitted proudly. “She asks about you.”

A pained expression crossed his face. “What do you tell her?”

“That you have to travel a lot, and…” Her breath hitched as her chest burned with emotion. “The last time I told her that, she looked sad, and I know she was feeling the same disappointment she experiences when her dad doesn’t have time for her—and it’s my fault. Maybe I shouldn’t have introduced you. Maybe I shouldn’t have ended things between us. I… I thought a clean break was best, but now I’m…” Her voice broke, and a runaway tear streamed down her cheek.

Damon quickly closed the small space between them and clasped her face in his big hands. “Do you want to take the box, leave, and we never see each other again? Or do you want to try again? Because that’s what I want. I want you.”

Audra took a quivering breath. “I want you too,” she said in a trembling whisper. “Everything I did—the lack of trust, cutting you off, was because I didn’t want to be what I had been with my ex. Weak. Giving in. I made a fool of myself over him. The harder I tried, the less he wanted me, and looking back, I behaved like such an idiot. He didn’t want the life I wanted—or at least, he didn’t want it with me. So I needed to be tough this time—to protect my sanity. That’s why I had to cut you off, Damon, because I was worried I’d give in and make a fool of myself again.” Her lower lip trembled. “I’m sorry.”

She saw nothing but empathy in his face. “I’m sorry too. I should have told you about the damn party with Nami right away.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t care. I miss you.”

They moved at the same time, and their mouths connected in a searing, sensual kiss. Audra sighed happily as their tongues touched, reigniting the flame that had extinguished inside her.

Straining onto her toes, she let her fingers climb into his hair so she could caress the curly strands and smooth her hand down the back of his strong neck. She had missed touching him, loving on him, feeling every inch of his tall frame pressed against her.

They stumbled toward the bedroom, hastily stripping away their clothes and shoes along the way. Standing beside the bed, Audra flattened against Damon and lost herself in the erotic sensation of skin on skin.

“I love you,” Damon said in a taut whisper against her neck, his hands moving lower to cup her bottom.

Audra jerked back and stared at him. “Wh-what did you say?”

His slumberous eyes gazed down at her. Whenever he looked at her like that, it made the blood in her veins pump hotter. “I’m in love with you, Audra.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I love you so much,” she admitted in a whisper.

A faint smile tucked into the corners of his lips. Then he kissed her hard, and they fell onto the bed as they devoured each other with feverish kisses and roaming hands.

Audra wrapped her legs around his backside and clenched her arms around his neck. His growl of satisfaction filled her ears as he sank his teeth into her soft earlobe and sucked.

She was overheating, dying from the exquisite pleasure of his amorous kisses and touches. She had missed the sensation of his weight on her and his warm breath on her skin. Reaching between them, she took him in her hand and stroked his rigid flesh. Damon shivered above her and buried his face in her neck, his butt tightening beneath the heel of her foot.

“Now. I need you now, baby.” His voice was a guttural plea.

Audra moaned, grinding against him in blatant invitation. Shoving his fingers into her silky hair, Damon surged into her with a low growl, and she gasped as electrifying shocks raced through her. He set the pace with rhythmic thrusts of his hips, rocking her on the mattress, forcing her throat muscles to expel whimpering cries.

Gasping and panting, Audra tightened her legs around Damon while her hands swept over his broad back and shoulders. Throwing back her head, she surrendered to the pleasure of his powerful body claiming hers. When his pace increased, she kept time with him, biting her lip as she savored each deep, deliberate stroke.

“You got that good shit, baby. That good shit,” Damon groaned.

Angling his hips, he hit her spot, and Audra screamed and clawed his muscular back. She knew for sure they must have heard her all the way down in the parking lot.

“That’s it. Come for me, baby,” Damon coaxed huskily.

That was all it took. Her intimate muscles contracted around him, and he swelled inside her. Her thighs trembled around his hips, and they came at the same time, bodies bucking against each other, their cries filling the air in the room.

Damon collapsed on top of Audra, and she welcomed his weight. It had been so long since she experienced the pressure of his solid body between her thighs that she didn’t want to let him go.

Winded and shaken, she closed her eyes and let her thundering heart slowly return to a normal pace. She pressed her cheek against Damon’s and savored the scruff of his beard against her soft skin.

He kissed the underside of her jaw and then her chest before easing from between her legs.

“Well,” he said. “Welcome back.”

“That was quite the welcome.”

“I do what I can.” As if he couldn’t help himself, he dropped another kiss on her lips.

Enjoying the contact, Audra held his face between her hands to prolong it. Briefly, she swept the tip of her tongue along his lower lip, and he moaned.

“I missed you,” she whispered.

“Missed you, too, baby.” Damon rolled off the bed and strolled toward the bathroom.

Audra admired his graceful walk and the beauty of his muscular body and thought about how lucky she was. He returned from the bathroom with a warm washcloth. After they cleaned up, they lay facing each other under the covers.

“You know I’m never letting you go again, right?” Damon asked, rubbing his knuckles along the slope of her cheek.

“I don’t know, the makeup sex might be worth it,” Audra teased.

“Nah, we need to find another way to have crazy good sex,” he said.

She let out a little laugh and smoothed her palm over his chest. She never grew tired of touching him.

Damon frowned as he looked at her. “Everything okay?”

Despite their time apart, he was still attuned to her moods.

Audra licked her lips. “I have something to tell you.”

He sobered. “You’re making me nervous. What’s wrong?”

Her mother’s words came back to her: When the right man comes along, he’ll show you through his actions, not just his words—how important you are to him. She was about to find out how important she was to Damon.

“I don’t know how to say this because I can’t believe it happened again.”

He raised up on his elbow. “What’s happened again?”

Audra took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she looked directly into Damon’s face.

“I’m pregnant.”

 

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 22 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 21

This serial is connected to the Family Ties series and is available for purchase as a complete novel. It explains how Damon and Audra from the novel Audra (Family Ties, book 3) met. You can see my inspiration for each character on their Pinterest page.

Thanks to an unexpected pregnancy, they both realize that some risks are worth taking—especially when love is at stake.

“F*ck her. Excuse me, Pops.” Agitated, Damon paced the length of his living room with the phone glued to his ear.

His father had brought up Audra, and the curse word slipped out. He was accustomed to using colorful language around his father, but he’d never dropped the F-bomb before.

Chadwick let out a sympathetic sigh. “Are you telling me you’re done with Audra?”

“It’s been four weeks since I saw her. My calls go to voicemail, and she doesn’t respond to my texts. I’m fairly certain she blocked me.”

Despite the blunt way they had spoken to each other, he had reached out with the hope of reconciliation. He figured that since he had cooled off, she probably had too. Clearly not.

“I’m done chasing her. I told her the truth, and she doesn’t believe me. That’s her problem.” He stopped at the window and stared at the cars going by on the highway.

He still wondered who the man was she had been having drinks with when he saw her at the tapas place. Had she already moved on, and that’s why she hadn’t wanted to fix their relationship?

He didn’t believe that for one second, but knowing the truth didn’t stop the acidic burn of jealousy from eating him up from the inside out. Maybe he shouldn’t have come at her with so much anger, but he had been pissed off because she had been ignoring his texts.

Because of traffic, he had shown up late to her job. When he saw her car parked in the lot, he realized she had to be somewhere in the vicinity—or he hoped so. Then he found her calmly sipping a chocolate martini with another man while he was going crazy missing her, and something inside him snapped.

He deeply regretted his behavior, especially since photos of them arguing on the sidewalk had shown up online. The articles identified Audra as the woman he’d gone to dinner with months ago and speculated about a love triangle between him, her, and Nami.

“You do understand why she might be keeping her distance, don’t you?” Chadwick asked.

“Whose side are you on?” Damon demanded.

“I’m on your side, son, but I also know you can be less than forthcoming with information.”

Damon sank onto the sofa and let his head fall back. “I know my limitations when it comes to communicating, and I’m working on getting better. But as soon as she sent me the text, I reached out to explain. I didn’t avoid her.”

“True, but you were quite the ladies’ man before you became involved with this young lady, so surely you can understand her doubts.”

“That’s in the past. I’m not that man anymore.”

“It seems she’s not so sure.”

Damon blew out a frustrated breath. “Doesn’t matter now. We’re done,” he muttered.

How could everything have gotten so messed up? One minute he was in a dream relationship with his woman in the stands during his home games, and the next he was dismissed and cut off.

“For the record, she had no reason to doubt me. We talked all the time, and for months I hadn’t been seen with anyone else but her.”

“I suppose her relationship with her daughter’s father didn’t help.”

Damon had told Chadwick about Audra’s problems with her ex.

“He’s the one who sent her the link,” Damon informed him.

“He was trying to create problems.”

“Worked like a charm.”

Damon’s gaze landed on the set of colorful pillows Audra had suggested he buy after their first date. He’d also purchased a few other items she suggested, including plants that didn’t need constant attention since he traveled so much.

“You need the greenery,” she had said. “They add visual interest, and bonus, studies show having plants reduces your stress levels.”

The silence on the other end of the phone forced him to reflect on his true feelings, and the anger and frustration drained out of him.

“I lost her.”

His father didn’t respond right away.

“Sounds like you’re in love,” he finally said.

There it was—the truth Damon had been avoiding all along. What he felt for Audra was undeniable and unlike anything he’d ever experienced with another woman. It wasn’t just attraction or fleeting passion—it was deeper and terrified him as much as it pulled him in.

There was so much more he could have said—so much more he should have said. He should have told Audra that he loved her. He should have said the thought of living without her was unbearable.

He would never wake up next to her warm body again or reach out in the middle of the night to pull her closer and press his nose into the curve of her neck. He couldn’t believe he’d never see the laughter in her eyes or listen to one of her funny stories about her daughter or something a member of her family had done.

He wanted her at the condo when he came home. He wanted surprise dinners that she had cooked, and he wanted to shower her with everything her heart desired. There was so much more he wanted to do for and with her, but they were done.

“You’re sure there’s nothing you can do? You were happy with her. I could tell this relationship was different,” Chadwick said.

“She’s stubborn as hell. The truth is, she didn’t want to get involved with me in the first place. I spent weeks trying to get her attention. She was worried I’d be like her daughter’s father. The guy’s a real piece of work. He had a good woman like Audra that he let go because he’s busy living the rock star life. Meanwhile, his adorable daughter never sees him because he apparently can’t find time to spend with her.” Men like Kerry disgusted him.

“So it’s truly over?” his father asked.

“Yes. It’s over.”

A few more minutes passed in conversation before Damon ended the call and sauntered into the bedroom. He walked over to the dresser and opened the drawer filled with Audra’s blouses, slacks, and other clothing. This was everything she’d left behind, minus a few accessories like purses and a couple of pairs of shoes he had placed in a box in the closet.

With a clenched jaw, he retrieved the box and piled her clothes on top of her other belongings. Each item was a piece of her, a reminder of the days and nights she spent at his place, turning his bare, empty condo into a warm space filled with joy.

There was nothing else of hers in the room, so he emptied the bathroom drawer that held her toiletries and removed her vitamins from the medicine cabinet. He tossed all of those in the box, as well.

He exhaled slowly, his chest tightening as his gaze lingered on the contents.

Baseball season was almost over, and the Braves would play their last game in a couple of weeks. After the season ended, he’d contact Claudia to send a message to Audra. Tell her to come pick up her things, or he could send them to her—whatever she preferred.

Once her personal belongings were out of his home, that would be the end. Maybe that was why he hadn’t returned her things yet.

He released a bitter laugh.

Her clothes leaving his home signaled the end of them for good. After that, there would be no reason for them to have contact with each other. Her absence would become permanent, not only in his house, but in his life—leaving a void he feared he’d never be able to fill.

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 21 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 20

Things are about to go from bad to worse for Audra and Damon!

This serial is connected to the Family Ties series and is available for purchase as a complete novel. It explains how Damon and Audra from the novel Audra (Family Ties, book 3) met. You can see my inspiration for each character on their Pinterest page.

Thanks to an unexpected pregnancy, they both realize that some risks are worth taking—especially when love is at stake.

The following week, Audra walked out of the building with her co-workers. To keep her mind off Damon, who she hadn’t heard from in several days, she agreed to go out for drinks with Claudia and Kyrie, one of the guys from the mailroom.

However, Claudia received a call from Kent. He had popped in for a couple of days to surprise her. Her friend didn’t have to say a word. Both Kyrie and Audra waved her off to go be with her man, laughing as she practically ran across the street to collect her car and go home.

“He better marry her,” Kyrie said.

“Agreed. Because boy, does she love that man.”

“Did you still want to go grab drinks? You can cancel if you want,” Kyrie said.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Audra asked, narrowing her eyes with playful suspicion.

“No way. I’ve been looking forward to this all afternoon.”

“Same. A couple of hours tossing back drinks and eating fatty food that’s no good for me is exactly what I need.”

“Same. Today was rough, wasn’t it?”

“It sure was.”

All the execs were in a bad mood as they worked on a multi-million dollar deal. Negotiations with their partner in Argentina were tense, and an agreement seemed on the verge of falling apart. Audra didn’t know much about the details because she wasn’t privy to them, but she’d overheard Benicio and Thiago talking about the issues, and they both planned to fly down to South America to smooth the negotiations if they couldn’t come to an agreement within a few days.

She and Kyrie walked a couple of blocks to a small tapas place nearby. When they entered the restaurant, the hostess seated them right away, and they ordered drinks.

Kyrie sighed as he sipped his frozen margarita. “Damn, I needed this,” he said.

Audra indulged in a huge sip of her chocolate martini and sighed too. “So good,” she whispered.

As she replaced the drink on the table, her eyes landed on a sight she never expected: Damon, walking toward them.

Her breath caught, and her heart knocked against her chest as she drank him in, eyes absorbing every inch of his tall, athletic frame in a long-sleeved white shirt and charcoal pants.

He stopped beside their table and locked eyes with her. “Hi,” he said.

“Hi.” She swallowed and shot a look across the table at Kyrie, who appeared confused.

“We need to talk,” Damon said.

“Right now isn’t a good—”

Slamming a hand on the table, Damon leaned toward her, giving his back to her co-worker. “Don’t play games with me, Audra. You haven’t responded to my last two texts, and I know you got them.”

“Now is not a good time, Damon.”

“Well, since I can’t reach you to set up another time, right now will have to do.”

“Hey, what’s your problem?” Kyrie asked.

Hand still resting on the table, Damon shot a glare at him over his shoulder. “I don’t have a problem. Do you?”

Kyrie’s frown deepened. “Do I know you?”

“No, you don’t.” Damon returned his attention to Audra. “Can we go somewhere and talk?”

“I already ordered—”

He leaned closer. “Or do I have to haul you out of here?”

By the look in his eyes, she didn’t doubt he meant the threat, and the last thing she wanted was to make a spectacle of herself. Several customers nearby were already turning around and whispering, having recognized him.

“Fine, I’ll come with you.” She tossed an apologetic look across the table to Kyrie. “I’m sorry, I need to go. When my food comes…”

She rummaged in her bag for her purse, but before she could pull out any cash, Damon dropped two bills on the table. “That should cover whatever she ordered and your food too.”

Then he took her arm and pulled her none too gently from the chair.

“Excuse you,” Audra muttered out the side of her mouth as they walked briskly toward the front door, her shorter legs barely keeping up with his.

He didn’t say a word. He kept walking and didn’t release her until he’d exited the building and marched her in front of the window of a closed store next door that sold trinkets and home furnishings.

Audra rubbed her arm. “You didn’t have to grip my arm so hard.”

“You’re fine,” Damon said dismissively, which infuriated her.

“You behaved like a caveman. I’m not fine.”

He flicked his gaze over her appearance. She was wearing her hair straight and sleek today, one side tucked behind her left ear. She had kept her makeup to a minimum but added a hint of color to her lips. Her outfit was simple but molded to her figure—plaid pants and a bright-colored top.

“You look beautiful. You’re fine,” he remarked.

Her face heated up, and she mumbled a “thank you,” then mentally kicked herself. She didn’t need to thank him for anything. She was mad at him.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“To talk. To explain about Nami.”

“What is there to explain? You were on a date with a Victoria’s Secret model, weren’t you?”

He looked frustrated. “I already explained we weren’t on a real date.”

“Right. I forgot.” Audra crossed her arms over her chest.

“Nothing is going on between me and Nami. Nothing happened that night. Do you forgive me?”

His voice was antagonistic, as if she’d done something wrong.

Two couples came toward them. When they had passed, Damon lowered his voice. “I didn’t cheat on you.”

“That’s the thing, Damon. I don’t know if you did or not. You say that night was all orchestrated for publicity, but how do I know that?”

“Because I’m telling you. You have to trust me.”

“No, I don’t have to trust you. That’s where you’re wrong. Trust has to be earned, and—”

“What have I done that suggests you can’t trust me?”

“Are you serious? Let’s forget about the fact that you didn’t do commitment and were technically a mistake for other women—your words, not mine. Every time I try to have a deep conversation with you about your past or your family, you clam up! So no, I don’t completely trust you because you act like you’re hiding some deep, dark secret. For all I know, you could be involved in criminal activities.”

Shaking his head, he bit his lip as if biting back words of anger. “You don’t really believe that.”

“No, I don’t, but that doesn’t change the fact that you keep parts of yourself from me.”

“So because I don’t tell you my deepest, darkest secrets, you think I’m lying about Nami?”

“I’ve been here before. I told you about my ex, remember? Kerilyn’s father.”

“I’m not him!”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t see the signs and recognize similar behavior. The problems start like this, with a perfectly reasonable explanation that makes it seem as if I’m overreacting, but the truth is, I’m not. If you cared about me—about us—you would have told me about the deal with Nami ahead of time.”

“I told you that I couldn’t. I can’t tell you about every single move I make before I make it.”

“We talk almost every day!” Audra screamed, frustrated.

“Time.” Damon slammed the back of his right hand into his left palm. “I didn’t have time to tell you before she and I went out.”

“Time.” Audra slammed the back of her right hand into her left palm. “You should have made the time to tell me. A text would have been enough!”

He looked like he wanted to throttle her, but she stared him down, unintimidated.

“I told you from the beginning there’s a lot of bullshit I have to put up with from the media—innuendo, lies, gossip.”

“And you used it to your advantage in New York. But here’s the thing, Damon, you say you want to be in my life, but do you really? You can’t continue doing things like that. I will not be embarrassed on a national stage.”

“That’s what this is about? You’re embarrassed?”

She shook her head in disgust. “No. It’s about trust, and I cannot trust you right now. You keep things from me, but more than that, before you and I started seeing each other, there were already so many women in your life. I was a fool to think you would settle down and want to be with one woman. You’re young and having the time of your life.”

“I have the time of my life when I’m with you. Why can’t you see that?”

“I’m convenient.”

“That’s not true,” he grated.

“Why deny it? Enjoy your freedom and your ability to attract women. You’re young and rich, and you should enjoy yourself. But I want more.”

She hadn’t realized how important it was to her until she said the words out loud, and her heart seemed to swell in her chest—the pain of knowing they weren’t on the same page tearing through her. She did want more. She deserved it.

She deserved the husband and the kids and all the things she wanted. She recalled her mother’s words. There’s much more in store for you than this moment of pain.

“I don’t want to see you again.”

He stared at her in shock. “You’re kidding me, right?”

Sometimes the wrong person has to come along to make you aware of what you truly deserve…

That didn’t only apply to her. It applied to him too.

“I mean it. Go live the life you want, and eventually, you’ll find your person. We both will.”

She tried to walk past him, but he grabbed her arm.

“I don’t want anyone else.”

Audra yanked her arm away. “Stop!” He seemed surprised by her anger.

She had never given Kerry the verbal thrashing he deserved, mainly because he was Kerilyn’s father, and she wanted to maintain a good relationship with him so her daughter would have him in her life. So, a small part of her needed this outlet—needed to let off steam and yell and give Damon a piece of her mind.

Resting a hand on her hip, she glared at him and jabbed her finger at his face. “I will not, I mean absolutely not turn a blind eye to your indiscretions. You want to hoe around while in a committed relationship, look elsewhere. I am not the one.”

“So that’s it. We’re done? You’re going to walk away from us—after months of being together. Okay, Audra, cool, but you’re making up excuses, and you know it.”

“I am not making up excuses. I told you—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know you have trust issues. You think you’re the only person in this relationship with trust issues? You think you’re the only one who’s ever had people you care about hurt you? You know what, f*ck you, Audra.”

Her mouth fell open. “F*ck you, Damon. And go to hell!”

“No, you go to hell.”

They glared at each other, chests heaving, their angry curses hanging in the air between them.

Then the gravity of the situation hit her. They were through. Done. Kaput.

“Don’t ever call me again,” Audra said in a choked voice.

The angry mask slipped from his face for a fraction of a second, and he swallowed hard before the mask slipped back into place. “I won’t.”

Audra spun on her heel and rushed away as fast as she could so he wouldn’t see her burst into tears.

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 20 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 19

This serial is connected to the Family Ties series and is available for purchase as a complete novel. It explains how Damon and Audra from the novel Audra (Family Ties, book 3) met. You can see my inspiration for each character on their Pinterest page.

Thanks to an unexpected pregnancy, they both realize that some risks are worth taking—especially when love is at stake.

Audra finished combing Kerilyn’s hair into long twists and snapped a clip at the end of the last one. Her daughter was excited that she would be spending time with her cousins on their farm. She loved feeding the chickens, milking the cows, and chasing the goats around the yard. For her, the experience was an adventure—something different from the norm. For them, managing the farm was work, which had expanded beyond their roadside stand selling fruits and vegetables.

In recent years, they had added a petting zoo, the option for guided tours, and a small store that sold baked goods made from their yield. In the fall, they offered wagon rides throughout the property and allowed people to pick their own apples for a fee.

Kerilyn hopped up from the ottoman and took a look in the hand mirror.

“I look pretty,” she announced with a smile.

“Yes, you do. Always,” Audra said. “Time to get dressed. Cousin Joe will be here soon to pick you up.”

Kerilyn scampered away and raced up the stairs ahead of Audra. In her pink-decorated room, Audra added a few more items to her daughter’s small suitcase before zipping it shut.

“That’s everything?” she asked Kerilyn.

Her daughter nodded.

“You’re sure? You won’t be coming back before the weekend is over.”

“I’m sure.”

“You’re not taking any stuffed animals this time?”

Kerilyn shook her head. “I don’t need them.”

The doorbell rang.

“That’s Cousin Joe. Let’s go,” Audra said.

At the top of the stairs, they saw Cousin Joe—a couple of years younger than Audra—being welcomed inside by a member of the household staff. Joe worked on the farm with his parents and younger siblings and was dressed in overalls and a baseball cap, looking every bit like a country boy.

“Hey, Joe,” Audra called as she carried the suitcase down the stairs.

“Cousin Joe!” Kerilyn raced over and gave him a big hug.

He embraced her and patted her back. “Hi, Keri. I hope you’re ready, because we have a lot of work to do,” he warned in his slow drawl.

“I’m ready!” Kerilyn straightened up like a soldier, indicating she could handle whatever he tossed her way.

“She’s been talking about this weekend ever since you called,” Audra told him.

Her mother walked into the foyer carrying a paper sack with a handle, a local boutique’s name emblazoned on the front.

“Hi, Aunt Rose,” Joe said.

“Hi, Joe. How are you?”

“Getting by. This heat ain’t no joke.”

“You’re not working too hard, I hope,” Rose said with sympathy.

He laughed easily and placed a hand on Kerilyn’s shoulder. “Nope. I leave that for the younger ones.”

That wasn’t entirely true, but Joe was the kind of person who didn’t like to toot his own horn. He was the main reason the family had expanded beyond the stand and now included other ways to make money from the farm. He had suggested adding strawberry picking for next year, which would be another stream of income for the family.

Rose handed over the bag. “This is for your mother. It’s that new hand cream she wanted.”

He took the package. “I almost forgot she told me to make sure I brought it back.” Grasping the handle of the suitcase, he gazed down at Kerilyn. “Ready to go?”

She nodded, and Audra and her mother watched from the doorway as they descended the stairs and climbed into Joe’s truck. As they drove away, Kerilyn waved, her smile as wide as her entire face.

Rose shut the door. “She gets so excited about these trips, doesn’t she?”

“She loves the idea of working on the farm. If she had to do it for real, I doubt she’d have the same enthusiasm. Joe said they might have her help at the roadside stand this time—handing over purchases and taking money—that kind of thing.”

“She’ll learn a lot, that’s for sure.”

“I think she’s more excited about seeing her cousins and running around the property,” Audra added.

“You kids were like that when you were little too. You loved being on the farm.”

“I remember.”

Rose’s eyes narrowed. “Everything okay?”

Her mother was very perceptive, but Audra tried nonetheless to hide her feelings. “Yes. Why do you ask?”

“You seem rather quiet lately, and you didn’t go to work yesterday. You’re not sick, are you?”

She had skipped work, unable to deal with all of her emotions and knowing she needed to make a decision about her and Damon before he returned to Atlanta.

“I’m fine. I…” Audra’s voice faltered. The concern in her mother’s voice and face was too much. Why fight it? She needed someone to talk to. Her shoulders drooped lower. “Can we talk?”

“Of course.”

Rose ushered her through the arches that led to the rear of the house. Leading the way into the great room, she sat on the sofa, and Audra settled beside her.

“What’s wrong?” Rose asked, her voice gentle.

“Promise not to say I told you so?” Audra asked with a self-deprecating laugh.

“Never,” Rose said.

Audra pulled air into her lungs and launched into the story about Kerry sending her the photos of Damon and Nami.

When she finished, Rose said, “That’s why you’ve been so quiet.”

“Yes,” Audra admitted. “I should have known better,” she said in a sullen tone.

“Has Damon tried to explain at all?” Rose asked.

“Yes, but I’m not sure I believe him.” She told her mother about their phone conversation.

Since then, Damon had reached out a couple of times, but she ignored his texts. She had meant it when she said she wanted time to think without him influencing her decision-making.

“I know he swears the situation with Nami was nothing more than a publicity stunt, but how many times did Kerry tell me some groupie was his friend or that I was misreading a photo of him in an intimate embrace with a ‘fan’? I don’t want to deal with those feelings anymore. He turned me into someone I didn’t like—angry, bitter, hurt. This situation with Damon has me headed in the same direction.” She swallowed and shook her head. “I-I really liked him, Mom.”

Rose’s eyes were sympathetic. “You more than liked him, didn’t you?”

Biting her bottom lip, Audra nodded.

Rose stroked her hair. “I know. I could tell.”

“I can’t avoid him forever, but he won’t be back for a couple more days. That gives me time to figure out what I want to do.”

“What happens when he comes back?” Rose asked.

“I don’t know,” Audra said, head bent as she picked at her thumbnail. “I have to talk to him at some point. I’ll… wait until I absolutely have to, I guess. Or maybe he’ll give up.”

Rose covered Audra’s hands and gazed into her eyes. “Say the word, and your father will make sure he doesn’t come anywhere near you if that’s not what you want.”

Benicio would probably hire a bodyguard or take some other drastic measure to keep him away.

“I know. I’ll let him know if I need help,” Audra whispered, grateful that she had support if she needed it. “How could I have been so wrong again?” She didn’t really expect an answer but hoped her mother would have advice to help her feel better.

Rose squeezed her hand. “Love is always a risk, no matter who you fall for. Taking a chance on love takes courage, and you’re not wrong to open your heart to someone.”

A tear rolled down Audra’s cheek, and she angrily swept it away. “But my relationships keep ending in heartbreak. Maybe I’m not meant to be with someone else.” Her shoulders slumped.

Looking deeply into her eyes, Rose squeezed her hands again. “Don’t you dare believe that. There’s much more in store for you than this moment of pain. Sometimes the wrong person has to come along to make you aware of what you truly deserve, and then you find the right one, and poof! Everything makes sense.” She smiled gently. “It’s okay to grieve and cry and get it all out, but don’t lose faith in yourself or in love. When the right man comes along, he’ll show you through his actions, not just his words—how important you are to him and how much he loves you and wants to be with you.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Later, lying in bed and staring up at the ceiling, Audra made a decision. It was time to move on from Damon, but the two of them needed to talk.

When they did, she would let him know how much he had disappointed her, and then she’d walk away.

To be free for the right man to come into her life.

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 19 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Hunted Through Italy Giveaway!

How would you like an early copy of Hunted Through Italy, my May 2025 release from Harlequin Romantic Suspense?

Ten (10) winners will become early readers when they receive their paperback copy in the mail. Use the widget below, and enter for your chance to win! Open to international entrants.

The post Hunted Through Italy Giveaway! appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 18

This serial is connected to the Family Ties series and is available for purchase as a complete novel. It explains how Damon and Audra from the novel Audra (Family Ties, book 3) met. You can see my inspiration for each character on their Pinterest page.

Thanks to an unexpected pregnancy, they both realize that some risks are worth taking—especially when love is at stake.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

In the locker room after taking his shower, Damon stood with a towel wrapped around his waist, staring at the screen of his phone and the text that had come in from Audra. She couldn’t have been clearer, though she hadn’t typed a word. All she had done was send the link to the People article.

Why had they posted it so soon? The photos weren’t supposed to go to press until next week’s issue. Instead, they had published them online right away.

“Yo, Flash, you coming out with us tonight?” Eddie asked from the doorway.

Damon lifted his attention from the screen. “Nah, I got something I need to take care of.”

“All right, hermano. If you change your mind, you know where we’ll be.”

Damon finished getting dressed and grabbed his bag. On the way to the car, he called Audra, but the phone rang and went to voicemail. He called two more times on the way to the hotel. Each time, no response.

Head throbbing, he entered his room and tossed his bag on the floor. He paced the carpet in frustration, trying to figure out what to do. They had two more games against the Mets, and then they were headed to Ohio to play the Guardians. He wouldn’t be back in Atlanta for another week.

He yelled out a curse and lifted his hand above his head to toss the phone across the room. At the last moment, he thought better of it and lowered his arm.

Maybe she was busy. He’d wait a while before calling her again.

Damon ordered room service and ate dinner while reviewing film to prepare for tomorrow’s game. Every so often, his eyes strayed from the iPad screen to the phone on the table, as if he’d miss a text or call from Audra with the device right next to him.

When he finished eating, he placed his dishes outside the door and called her again. She picked up this time, and the relief that flooded his veins forced him to drop onto the bed.

“Audra, baby, I know what you’re thinking.”

“You don’t know what I’m thinking.”

He was accustomed to her excitement every time he called, so the lifeless, dull sound of her voice gutted him.

“You have to let me explain,” he said.

“What is there to explain? The photos are self-explanatory. You and Nami looked cozy dancing at the party, and you were holding her hand as you left. Probably to go somewhere to screw her brains out, am I right?”

“No,” Damon said immediately. “You’re wrong. Listen to me, remember when I told you that sometimes as celebrities we create our own publicity? This is one of those situations. The whole evening was a stunt arranged by Nami’s people.”

“Why would Nami’s people arrange something like that?”

At least she was willing to listen, so Damon gladly continued explaining. “Nami signed with a new designer. They’re small and have a limited budget. We spent ten minutes at the venue and then left, but being seen there was great publicity for them because the dress she was wearing was one of their designs.”

“You mean the slip?” Audra asked.

Damon winced. Admittedly, the dress had been short and showed off the model’s slender frame. “It’s a dress. A one-of-a-kind,” he murmured.

“Good for her for finding a creative way to publicize the outfit, but why did you participate in something like that if you’re in a relationship?” Audra demanded.

“Hardly anyone knows about you and me, Audra, so I didn’t see the harm in helping her out.”

“Oh, is that what you call helping her out? You took her dancing?” she asked with a sarcastic edge to her voice.

Damon temporarily closed his eyes. This was going to be hard as hell. With other women he’d dated before, he could tell them anything—the truth or lies, didn’t matter—and they always understood. They always forgave him. It was clear he would not have such an easy time with Audra.

“You know what I mean,” he said.

“And you don’t get anything out of this arrangement? You did it because you’re a nice guy?” Audra asked.

“I do get something out of it, but not what you think. I’ve been figuring out ways to generate income after baseball. I’ve done a little modeling, but I want the opportunity to do more. My agent and Nami’s manager are old friends. Nami’s manager agreed to help me make those connections in exchange for getting eyes on Nami while she was in New York.”

“You must be really excited to start modeling because you looked like you were having the time of your life. The way you two were smiling at each other—if that was fake, you deserve Academy Awards.”

“Audra, of course I was acting.”

Silence reigned on the other end of the line. He waited her out.

“You should have told me,” she said.

“I didn’t have time. It all happened so fast. My agent tossed me the idea, I said yes, and Nami and I went out after the game. The photos weren’t supposed to be printed until next week, so I thought I’d have time to explain everything to you.”

“Well, you didn’t have time, and maybe the whole world doesn’t know about our relationship, but my family does. Do you have any idea how humiliated I’ll be if any of them see those pictures? And you know what, if you’re such a great actor, how do I know you’re not acting when you’re with me?”

Elbows to knees, Damon buried his face in one hand. “You know me, baby. Come on. I would never hurt you like this. I would never risk us and what we have.” He blew out a breath. “How did you find out about the photos anyway?”

“Kerry called and told me.”

Her ex. Motherfu—

“I’m glad he did because I might not have seen them otherwise. To be honest, Damon, I don’t know if I can trust you.”

His head snapped up. “What are you saying? Are you going to let this ruin our relationship? Audra, I don’t want our relationship to end over a damn misunderstanding.”

“It’s more than a misunderstanding! You were with another woman under very suspicious circumstances. I don’t travel with you, so how do I know what you’re doing when you’re at the away games? You’re gone for days at a time.”

“Baby—”

“I have to figure out if what you’re saying is true, and I’m not so sure.” The finality in her voice propelled Damon to his feet.

“Listen to me. I screwed up. I admit it. I take full responsibility. I should have called or texted you right away. That’s my bad, but I’m not willing to give up on us. Tell me what to do.” Damon held his breath as he awaited her reply.

“I’m not sure what you can do. Maybe nothing.” Her voice trembled.

“Don’t say that, sweetheart.” His world was crumbling around him, and there was nothing he could do? This couldn’t be happening!

“I have to go,” Audra said in a thick voice. She sounded on the verge of tears.

“Audra, baby—”

“Good night, Damon. I need time to think. Don’t call me for a while.”

“Don’t say that. Baby—”

Click.

The line went dead. The sound was like a kick to the heart.

He remained frozen with the phone to his ear, unable to move. The silence on the line was deafening, each second dragging by in a never-ending loop as realization cut through him like a knife.

I’m going to lose her.

He lowered his hand. Numb.

He should have told her right away. Even if People magazine had printed the photos next week as originally planned, someone at the party could have shared pictures of him and Nami online beforehand, which could have also gotten back to Audra.

He hadn’t been thinking. Over the years, he’d grown accustomed to living his own life and doing his own thing without answering to anyone. Being in a monogamous relationship was… different. Life didn’t center around Damon “The Flash” anymore. Every major move he made affected not only him, but them as a couple.

Mind racing, he ran a hand over his short-cropped hair.

A misunderstanding couldn’t, and wouldn’t, be the end of them. He refused to let their relationship end like this. He had to convince Audra of the truth, that’s all. He’d reach out to her when he returned to Atlanta and force her to talk to him face to face.

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 18 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 17

Here comes the first major test in their relationship, and it’s not good. This is the incident Damon told his friends about in the gym.

Audra’s phone rang as she was placing her shopping bags in the back of her BMW. She had found some good deals, including a few trinkets that would make great gifts for friends.

She slammed the trunk closed and fished her phone out of her purse. Inwardly, she groaned when she saw her ex’s name.

What does he want? she thought irritably.

“Hello?” she said as she climbed into her car.

“Hi, Audra.”

“Can I help you with something?” She intended for the conversation to be short and kept her voice cool, the way she always did since she had given up hoping for a future where the two of them raised their daughter together.

“How are you?” Kerry asked.

Sitting in the parking lot, she stared out the window and frowned at the question. Since when did he care about her wellbeing? They rarely had much to say to each other that wasn’t related to Kerilyn.

“I’m fine. How are you?”

“Doing great, actually. We kick off our European tour in a couple of weeks. Merch is selling well, and streams of our music are through the roof.”

“Congratulations. Things are going well for you,” Audra said.

Kerry was a great musician, and she wasn’t surprised the band was seeing increased success. He wasn’t only the drummer. He wrote some of the group’s songs. She wished he worked half as hard at fatherhood as he did at music.

“If you want to speak to Keri, she’s not with me. I’m out shopping. She’s at home with Mom.”

He cleared his throat. “Actually, I called to speak to you.”

Now he really had her attention.

“Why?” Audra asked, suspicious.

“How are things with you and your baseball player boyfriend?”

He knew Damon’s name but refused to say it. As a courtesy, she had told Kerry about Damon and Kerilyn meeting and the time they were all spending together. Not that she had much choice. Kerilyn talked non-stop about Damon, and Audra knew it was only a matter of time before she mentioned him during a conversation with her father.

“Everything with us is fine.” Not that it’s any of your business, Audra silently added. “Why?”

“I know you don’t pay much attention to what’s going on online, but er… I was doing a little research on your boyfriend—”

“Whatever you have to say, I don’t want to hear it. I already know Damon was out there before we became involved. He’s not like that anymore, so whatever dirt you think you’ve found, you can keep it to yourself.”

“What I found isn’t old, Audra. The two of you are in a relationship. An exclusive relationship, right?” her ex asked.

“Yes, Kerry.” Audra was hard-pressed to keep the annoyance out of her voice.

“Are you sure about that?” He asked the question with quiet confidence.

A cold chill went through Audra, and she straightened in the seat. He sounded as if he had a piece of juicy gossip he couldn’t wait to rub in her face.

She shouldn’t entertain his messiness but heard herself ask, “What are you talking about?”

Kerry blew out a breath, as if what he had to say was difficult to divulge. “I don’t know, Audra, it might be nothing, but… I saw a couple of photos of your man with someone else.”

Her stomach tightened, and her heart started pounding. Still, she dismissed what he said. “You’re making that up.”

“I’m not. I wouldn’t do that.”

Audra swallowed hard, hesitant to ask the next question but knowing she had no choice. “What’s in the photos?”

“Look, I didn’t know if I should say anything since—”

“What did you see, Kerry?” Audra demanded, the pitch of her voice sounding particularly high inside the car.

He blew out another breath. “I saw a couple of photos of your man—with another woman. Looks like they were on a date, but like I said, it’s probably nothing, Audra.”

“It was one of those blogs, wasn’t it? Which one?” she asked, her throat tight.

“It wasn’t a blog. It was People magazine. I’ll send the link, but don’t overreact. Give the man a chance. Find out for sure what’s going on before you go off on him. The photos could be innocent.”

“Thank you for the relationship advice,” Audra snipped. The gall of him.

“I know things didn’t work out between us, but I don’t want to see you get hurt. I also don’t want you to give up on a good relationship—assuming it’s good.”

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not,” Kerry insisted. “But I do find it interesting that you made all kinds of complaints about me and the pictures I took with other women. Then you end up with a man who obviously can’t keep it in his pants. Before you, he was working his way through every Black model and actress in the country. I’m surprised he had time to play ball!”

“Are you done?” Audra asked through tight lips. She wanted this conversation to be finished and for him to send the link so she could see for herself these allegedly damning photos.

“Yes, I’m finished. I’ll give my baby a call tomorrow when I have more time to talk to her.”

“I won’t mention it in case your plans change.”

He muttered a curse. “You couldn’t help yourself, could you? Guess what, Audra, if I didn’t work so hard, I wouldn’t be able to send those monthly child support checks. So maybe act a little more grateful that I’m not one of these men out here refusing to take care of his kid.”

His words bristled with anger, which kept Audra quiet. No point in arguing with him anyway because her head was spinning, preoccupied with chaotic thoughts about his Damon accusation.

Please let it be innocent. Please let it be innocent.

She desperately hoped Kerry was just being messy. Even if the photos looked bad, there was probably a very reasonable explanation.

“I can see you don’t want to talk to me anymore. I’ll hang up and send the link,” Kerry continued.

“Thank you.” Hurry!

Audra stayed in the parking lot, unable to drive away until she received the text. When it came through five minutes later, she hastily clicked the link and read the headline: “It’s a Home Run! Flash Foster and Supermodel Nami Deagan Heat Up NYC Party!”

Audra scrolled lower to the photo of Damon, who looked sexy as hell—but when did he not?—in a light-colored shirt open almost to his waist, exposing several gold chains against his chocolate skin.

With him was a woman she didn’t recognize, but the caption identified her as Victoria’s Secret model Nami Deagan. She was as tall as Damon in a pair of high heels, the two of them dancing up close, Damon’s arm resting on her waist. Nami wore a champagne-colored dress with spaghetti straps that shimmered against her umber skin. The short dress stopped mid-thigh and showed off her long legs. There was plenty of room around them, as if the other partygoers had cleared out of the way to give them space to dance.

Another photo showed the couple hand in hand, leaving the venue, with Damon leading the way. The wind blew Nami’s straight raven hair as they hustled out the door. Knowing Damon the way she did, he was probably horny from grinding on Nami while they danced, so he was taking her to a place where he could satisfy his sexual appetite.

Tears blurred her vision.

They looked amazing together—two impossibly beautiful people basking in the glow of flashing cameras. Audra desperately wanted to believe the photos were harmless and that there was nothing more to the story, but betrayal and disappointment settled in her chest like immovable twin boulders, squeezing the air from her lungs. A hollow ache spread through her. Seeing Damon with the supermodel suggested that she had been wrong about him—about them.

She didn’t bother to read the article. She didn’t have to. What more evidence did she need to see that he couldn’t be trusted—which she should have known?

The allure of multiple women and living on the edge was too seductive. She had learned that lesson with Kerilyn’s father but had wanted to believe in the fairytale. Damon had convinced her he was different.

When was she going to learn her lesson? How many more mistakes did she need to make before she understood that men—especially those focused on their careers and courting the limelight with all that entailed—could not be trusted?

And she’d introduced him to her family. He’d met her daughter.

She groaned, slumping in the seat.

“Dammit, Audra, you’re such an idiot,” she muttered, blinking back tears of anger and hurt.

What a fool she had been to believe this time was different. What a fool she had been… to fall deeply and madly in love with him.

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 17 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 16

They’re relationship is getting stronger! Now Kerilyn is in the mix.

Leaning back on her hands, Audra watched Kerilyn and Damon with the Princess Tiana kite he had bought.

He wore his cap backward and was dressed casually in a dark T-shirt and jeans for their afternoon excursion at the small park. Kerilyn was adorable in a shorts set, her mouth open wide in awe as she gazed up at the soaring kite.

He was so good with her. Patient. Friendly. Audra thought again about what a great father he would be.

“Mommy, look!” Kerilyn called out. Damon had let her take control.

“I see you.”

Kerilyn pranced around the grass, looking back every so often at the kite overhead.

Minutes later, Damon jogged over and dropped onto the blanket beside Audra. “Hey, beautiful.”

“Hey, handsome.” She kissed his cheek.

He angled his chin toward Kerilyn. “I think Little Bit has the hang of it now.”

“She has a good teacher.”

“We didn’t do so well with the baseball earlier, though.” When they first arrived at the park, he’d shown her how to throw the ball and helped her catch it.

“I warned you she’s not athletic,” Audra said.

She watched Kerilyn stumble and then right herself. Her daughter glanced over at them.

“You’re doing great, baby,” Audra called out.

With the encouragement, her daughter started running again.

“I’m going to keep working with her on the pitching and catching,” Damon said in a determined voice.

“That’s up to you, but she’s having a great time with the kite. Where did you find that particular one, anyway?”

“As soon as you told me that she liked Princess Tiana, I started my search. I found it at a specialty store and ordered it rush delivery so it would arrive by this weekend.”

She vaguely remembered mentioning her daughter’s preference when they talked on the phone. A man who listened. Unbelievable.

“I’ve never flown a kite before,” Audra murmured.

“Never?”

She shook her head.

“I used to fly kites all the time. A few of the neighborhood kids and I used to make our own. One time, I made a Spiderman kite. Man, I was so proud of that thing. My boys and I would go to the park and fly our kites until it got dark.”

“How old were you?” He so rarely shared stories about his childhood, Audra was anxious to learn more, especially hearing the excitement in his voice.

“About nine. The park was close to our apartment complex, so we walked over there and spent hours running around.” He laughed, shaking his head.

Then she sensed a change in him. The smile slowly faded from his face, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed.

“How long did you keep making kites?”

“Not long. I quit after a while.”

“Why’d you quit? Sounds like you enjoyed it a lot.”

“My Spiderman kite got messed up, so it wasn’t fun anymore.” He shrugged.

“How’d it get messed up?”

He tore at the grass. “Someone messed it up. He destroyed it.”

“Oh no. Why? Who did that?”

“Nobody important.”

“Was he a bully?” Audra asked, although she couldn’t imagine anyone bullying Damon. But nine years old was a far cry from the twenty-seven-year-old athletic machine known as The Flash.

“No.”

He didn’t offer more information, and right then Kerilyn came running over. She dropped onto the blanket, panting.

“Did you see me?”

“Yes, we saw you. You did such a good job,” Audra praised.

Damon took the kite spool from Kerilyn. “Very impressive. Good job.”

He lifted his palm overhead, and Kerilyn gave him a high five.

Audra handed her daughter a small bottle of water to drink. As she gulped the liquid as if she’d been running through the desert for days, Audra watched Damon from the corner of her eye.

Why would someone destroy his kite? It was a very specific, mean thing to do. If they weren’t a bully, who were they?

“Excuse me.” A blonde woman and a little blond boy approached. The woman looked embarrassed. “I’m sorry to bother you, but are you Damon Foster?”

“I am.”

“See, Mommy? I told you!” the boy exclaimed.

“I hate to disturb you and your family, but do you mind if we have your autograph?”

“No, not at all.”

“Thank you,” the woman said with profound relief.

“What’s your name?”

“Jason.”

Damon scribbled a message and his signature on the notepad the woman handed him. “Would you like to take a picture?” he asked.

The woman looked like she was about to say no, but the boy perked up. “Yes!” he exclaimed.

Damon hopped to his feet, and the woman removed her phone from her purse.

“If you’d like to be in the picture, I can take the photo for you,” Audra offered.

“Are you sure?” the woman asked.

“Yes. It’s no problem.”

Audra stood and took multiple photos of the three of them. She returned the phone to the boy’s mother. “You have several to choose from.”

“Thank you very much, and again, I’m so sorry to bother you.”

“It’s no bother. I appreciate the fans, especially the young ones,” Damon said, fist-bumping the little boy.

After they left, Kerilyn looked curiously at him when he sat down again. “Are you famous?” she asked.

“A little bit,” he replied.

“So that means you’re very busy?” Kerilyn asked cautiously.

Sadly, Audra suspected she was thinking about her father, who was always too busy to spend time with her.

“Sometimes, but I like to have fun.”

Kerilyn perked up. “Playing catch.”

“Yes. And flying kites.”

“And racing.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Did you say racing?”

She nodded vigorously. “I run very fast. Don’t I, Mommy?”

“She does. She’s as fast as a cheetah,” Audra confirmed.

Damon whistled. “That’s fast. I don’t know, though. I’m pretty fast myself.”

“Not as fast as a cheetah,” Kerilyn said. She hopped to her feet. “Bet you can’t catch me.”

“We’ll see about that.”

Kerilyn dashed off, her laughter echoing in the wind as Damon rose slowly to his feet.

“She’s going to wear you out,” Audra warned.

“I consider myself in peak condition, but I’m actually worried you might be right.”

He jogged after Kerilyn, intentionally running slowly so she could stay ahead. Audra watched, laughing as her daughter zigzagged across the grass to escape him.

Finally, Damon picked up his pace and caught up to Kerilyn, sweeping her into his arms and spinning her around.

She squealed happily. “You got me!”

“I always catch cheetahs,” he said.

He placed her back on the ground, and the two of them raced over to the blanket, with Kerilyn leading the way.

“Are you going to sit here all day?” Damon asked.

Kerilyn placed her hands on her hips. “Yeah, are you gonna sit here all day, Mommy?”

“Oh, so the two of you are ganging up on me?”

Giggling, Kerilyn grabbed Audra’s hand and tugged. Groaning, Audra pushed to her feet.

“I want to race again,” Kerilyn announced.

“How about from here to the picnic table this time?” Damon suggested.

“Count to three.”

“Okay. One, two—” He broke off when Audra and Kerilyn sprinted away from him.

“Hey!” Damon yelled after them.

Laughing uncontrollably, Audra and Kerilyn bolted toward the table hand in hand.

They spent the rest of the afternoon flying the kite, tossing a ball, and chasing each other around the park.

Despite having a good time, Damon’s story was never far from Audra’s mind.

Who had destroyed his kite and why?

She wondered if she’d ever know the answer to that question.

***

Audra reached blindly for her ringing phone in the dark.

“Hello?”

“Hey.” It was Damon.

Immediately, she smiled. “Hey. What time is it?”

“After twelve.”

“Congratulations on the win tonight,” she whispered. He was in Cincinnati, and they’d played the Reds.

“They almost whooped our asses.”

“But you came back.”

“We did. But that’s not why I called. Why’d you send me that picture?”

“Did you like it?” she asked coyly.

“Hell, yeah.”

She had texted him a photo of her looking over her shoulder in one of his T-shirts that barely covered her backside. She had never done anything like that before, but the teasing shot didn’t involve any nudity, and Damon made her feel safe.

“Your butt looked amazing in my shirt, but you already know that.”

She giggled softly. “You have a one-track mind.”

“What was I supposed to think when you sent me a picture like that?”

“I was saying hello and showing you how well your shirt fit.”

“Uh-huh. You’re in trouble when I get back.”

“Promises, promises.”

She missed him so much, and hearing his deep, inviting voice made her long for him even more. The days between seeing him were too long, and the time they spent together was too short.

“You know, I was thinking about Kerilyn and came up with something else we could do together. How about you bring her to the game on Saturday? She can come down on the field and warm up with me and the rest of the team.”

Audra heard the smile in his voice. She glanced at her daughter asleep in the bed beside her, arms spread wide and her chest rising up and down. Since the weekend they spent at the park, she had joined them two more times for activities in the past couple of weeks.

“She would love that.”

“I thought so. I’ll let her throw a couple of pitches and show off her skills.”

Thanks to him, her daughter had gotten better at playing catch, and he was probably just as excited as Kerilyn would be. She couldn’t be more pleased that he enjoyed spending time with her daughter, and Kerilyn enjoyed spending time with him too.

Audra laughed softly. “She’s like her momma—not very athletic—so again, don’t expect much.”

“I won’t be too hard on her.” He sighed heavily. “Damn, I miss you.”

“I miss you more,” Audra whispered.

She wanted to say I love you but didn’t want to be the first to spill what was in her heart—and did Damon feel the same? He would have to express that emotion before she mustered the nerve to tell him her feelings.

“What did you do today?” he asked.

Her answer led them into a conversation that lasted for two hours. When they finally hung up, Audra rolled onto her side. She couldn’t adequately describe what she was feeling—maybe disbelief that this was her reality.

Thanks to Damon, she had learned to trust again. Trust her judgment. Trust in a man.

The clasp around her heart had loosened, and she was open to love. She was confident it was only a matter of time before he told her that he loved her.

She didn’t want to get her hopes up, but she was fairly certain that he was the One. Their relationship was going so well, she couldn’t imagine anything coming between them.

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 16 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.