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Audra – The Prequel: Episode 15

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.

“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.

He sighed. “All right, if you’re sure, let’s get out of here.”

On the drive over, Audra told him that Ethan, Thiago, Bruno, and Maxwell would be at the house, in addition to her parents and Kerilyn. She warned that while her mother would be welcoming and kind, her stepfather was a toss-up because he could be protective like her brothers. Kerilyn was excited that she’d finally meet her mother’s friend.

When they arrived at the property, Damon parked on the side of the house and followed Audra up the stairs and into the foyer. As soon as they entered, her parents approached.

“Hello and welcome. It’s nice to meet you.” Rose was a petite woman with a glowing smile.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Santana,” Damon said, clasping her small hand in his.

“Please, call me Rose.”

Benicio’s greeting, while not cold, was cooler as he assessed Damon with curious eyes and a firm handshake.

He was a bearded Hispanic man with salt-and-pepper hair. “Nice to meet you,” he said in accented English.

“Nice to meet you too,” Damon replied.

“Please, come join us in the great room. We’re waiting for the rest of the family.” Rose extended a hand to guide them through a trio of arches toward the back.

The room contained a fireplace and seating arrangements that promoted conversation. They all sat down, with Audra and Damon on one sofa across from Rose and Benicio on the other.

He quietly took a deep breath, anticipating the questions that were coming.

“What’s for dinner? The food smells delicious,” Audra said.

On the way to the room, Damon had also smelled the meal, which reminded him that he hadn’t eaten much because he had saved his appetite for dinner.

“Rodolfo prepared herb-crusted lamb chops with ratatouille, and for dessert, vanilla panna cotta with strawberry compote. Rodolfo is our chef,” Rose explained to Damon.

Before they could continue the conversation, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. Other members of the family strolled into the room.

“These are my brothers. That’s Ethan, Bruno, and Thiago,” Audra said.

Damon stood to greet them, and as he shook their hands, he remembered everything she had told him about her siblings. Ethan, the serious oldest brother, was quickly amassing a real estate empire. Bruno was a chef who looked like a younger version of his father with dark hair and gray eyes. Thiago worked with their father and was in town for a few weeks.

The sound of girlish giggles preceded the appearance of a little girl racing into the room with a teenage boy running behind her.

“Gotcha!” He scooped her up.

When he saw their company, he slowly lowered her to the floor.

“You must be Maxwell. I’m Damon.” He extended a hand.

The teen grinned. “I know who you are. Nice to meet you. Did Audra tell you I said thanks for the jersey?”

“She did.” Damon smiled at Audra’s daughter, who looked up at him with curiosity as she sidled closer to her mother.

“Keri, this is my friend, Damon. Remember I told you about him?”

Kerilyn nodded and folded her hands in front of her. “Hello,” she said in a polite voice.

“Hello, Kerilyn. It’s nice to meet you.”

Benicio came to his feet. “That’s everyone. Now that we’re all here, we can make our way to the dining room. I am starving.”

They filed into the dining room, where a long table was set to accommodate them. Audra’s parents sat at either end, and everyone else settled into chairs on each side of the table.

As Rose placed a napkin across her lap, she said, “I hope you brought your appetite, Damon. We have plenty of food.”

“I do have a hearty appetite, ma’am, and I love a good home-cooked meal.”

Staff entered and placed plates of watermelon and feta salad in front of each person.

Initially, the conversation centered around the absent family members. Ignacio was filming on location, and Monica was in Europe with friends, living her best life now that she had graduated.

Rose brought the conversation around to Damon. “Do you travel a lot during the season? I admit I don’t know much about baseball.”

Damon dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “We play 162 games, and half of those are away games.”

“My goodness, you’re gone quite a bit. He travels more than you, honey.” She directed the comment at her husband.

Benicio grunted. “Now that you know the situation can be worse, maybe you will not give me such a hard time.”

Rose pursed her lips. “All that traveling must be difficult,” she said to Damon.

“It keeps me busy, that’s for sure, but I make time for what’s important.” He shot a glance at Audra beside him, and she blushed as she placed a piece of watermelon in her mouth.

Rose’s gaze bounced between them, but Damon couldn’t read her expression.

“Do you have any children?” Bruno asked as a member of the staff lifted his empty plate from the table.

“No, I don’t.”

“Siblings?” Benicio asked.

“No. Just me, my mother, and father.” He kept his voice neutral, but tension coursed through his muscles. He’d known they would ask personal questions, but he still became uneasy whenever those questions arose.

“But you date a lot of women,” Thiago said slowly. He had a full beard and dark eyes, and more than once Damon had caught him staring, his gaze unwavering.

Audra’s head snapped up, and an uncomfortable silence filled the room.

“I read about you online,” Thiago said by way of explanation.

“I used to,” Damon admitted.

He wanted to be careful how he spoke because he wanted to impress Audra’s family, but he also wasn’t about to let her brother intimidate him. This one, in particular, seemed to be an ass. At least the others were pretending to be nice.

“Used to?” Ethan, the eldest, latched on to the words. His eyes were cool and penetrating.

“Yes, past tense. Is there something wrong with dating?” Damon asked, laughing to lighten the mood.

“No, as long as all parties know what is going on and no one is playing games.” Thiago again. What was the problem with this guy?

Damon met his gaze directly. “I don’t play games off the field, and I wouldn’t have come here to meet Audra’s family if I didn’t care about her.”

Silence filled the room as both men stared at each other.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Benicio said in a warning tone, shooting a glance at his son. “Let’s keep things civil. Damon is our guest.”

Hopefully, that would be the end of the tension in the room. If Benicio hadn’t interrupted, Damon had a sneaking suspicion the questions were about to become more antagonistic.

Audra squeezed his knee under the table. “Damon used to play for the Twins before he signed with the Braves.”

He was impressed by how much she’d progressed in her baseball knowledge since they first met.

“Did you like it there?” Maxwell asked.

As he replied to the question, Damon relaxed. He told the family about his experience and how much he had appreciated signing with the Braves.

“My hope is to retire as a Brave,” he said.

“I want to play baseball too.” Kerilyn directed the statement to Damon. She sat between Ethan and Thiago.

“What position would you like to play?” he asked.

“I like to throw the ball,” she answered.

“In that case, you’d like to be the pitcher.”

She nodded vigorously. “I don’t throw very far right now, but maybe I can throw far when I’m bigger.”

Damon smiled across the table at her. “You can do anything you put your mind to. Size doesn’t matter. Heart does.”

A grin spread across her lips.

From then on, the conversation remained relaxed. The Connor-Santanas learned about Damon, and he learned about them, as well. He found out that Audra’s Hispanic brothers had a connection to Colombia on their mother’s side and learned about Ethan’s dream of creating a multi-billion dollar residential development one day.

Maxwell’s siblings teased him about the many girls he dated, and Kerilyn added to the conversation by exclaiming that she was not looking forward to the end of summer vacation and going back to school.

When dinner ended, Damon said his goodbyes, and Audra walked him out. As soon as the door closed behind them, she flung her arms around his neck.

He hugged her back, laughing. “What’s this for?”

She gazed up at him. “You were great. They love you.”

“How do you know?”

“I know.” She couldn’t stop smiling. “Thank you for coming. I wanted them to see how great you are.”

“I enjoyed myself, but things were a little rough at the beginning.”

“That’s just Thiago.” Audra rolled her eyes. “He can be an ass, but if he’s on your side, there’s no one more loyal or who goes harder for you.”

Damon nodded. “I can see that. He’s got your back. Your whole family does.”

“And Kerilyn likes you.”

“She’s a cutie. Maybe… if you’re open to it, we could do something together with her one day.”

She looked immensely pleased. “I would like that.”

With one arm around her waist, Damon bent his head and kissed either side of her mouth. “I love being with you, Audra. Thank you for inviting me.”

She pressed a hand to his jaw and kissed his lips, and he felt his body stir. She barely had to touch him for him to become aroused.

“I’ll see you when you get back,” she whispered.

He’d be on the road for the next five days and had never hated travel more than he did now because it meant being away from Audra. “See you then.”

He gave her one more kiss and then jogged down the steps to his car.

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 15 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 14

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.

After checking the roast in the oven, Audra strolled into Damon’s bedroom. He was sitting up against the headboard, and when she entered the room, a slow smile eased across his lips.

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” he said.

She looked down at the T-shirt she wore. It was one of his—blue with Nike in gold letters. “I’m naked under here.”

“Like I said, too many clothes. You should be walking around this place completely naked.”

“You’re just horny all the time.” She crawled across the bed and slipped under the covers, throwing an arm across his chest.

Damon pushed his hand under the T-shirt and rubbed her bare bottom.

Audra squirmed. “Behave,” she said with a laugh.

“It’s hard, baby. You’re so damn fine.” He squeezed her tight and kissed her forehead. “When’s dinner gonna be ready?”

“I swear the only reason you keep me around is for sex and food.”

“Mhmm. But when’s that roast gonna be ready?”

Audra laughed again. “Thirty more minutes, greedy man.”

His fingers traveled a light path down her hip. “You’ve spoiled me with all that good home cooking, woman.”

“You have a personal chef.”

“It’s not the same,” he said.

He’d told her that before, which always made her feel special.

“Well, you spoil me too.” Audra kissed his cheek.

Earlier, they’d had a bout of intense lovemaking, and she was still in the hazy sex bubble that always enveloped her after she and Damon made love.

Made love.

That’s how she’d started thinking about it lately. Not sex. Certainly not hooking up. They made love—whether it was slow or fast, rough or gentle, she savored every moment in Damon’s arms.

In the past few weeks, they’d explored all kinds of positions, and most recently had incorporated the use of toys. With him, she was a willing pupil, and his lessons opened up a world she hadn’t known existed.

Their relationship had also been discovered. A hazy photo of them had been taken inside a restaurant while they ate dinner. Probably a fan, though the image was shared by a popular gossip blog on Instagram. Audra wouldn’t have known about it, but Damon shared the image with her after one of his exes—were they an ex if he claimed they were never in a relationship?—sent him the photo demanding to know who he was having dinner with.

According to the article, she was “the mystery woman with Flash Foster.” Claudia thought the whole situation was exciting, but Audra was less enthusiastic.

Despite all that, she had no intention of cutting her time with Damon. Finally in a healthy relationship, she was enjoying herself too much.

Damon tugged on his earlobe. “I’m thinking about getting another diamond, so I’ll have one in each ear. What do you think?”

Audra lifted onto her elbow and took a good look at him. “I could see it.”

“Yeah?”

“Two diamonds would be cute.”

“Cute?” he repeated, sounding disgusted. “I’m trying to be sexy, not cute.”

“Fine. You’ll be sexy. You and your ego.” She shook her head in mock annoyance.

“Thank you. Much better.”

Audra played with a hair on his chest. “Hey, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Shoot. You know you can ask me anything.”

That wasn’t entirely true. He tended to clam up whenever she tried to find out more about his childhood in Arkansas, which was odd, because he spoke fondly of his parents, and they seemed to have a good relationship. As a matter of fact, she had heard him talk to his parents on the phone a couple of times and couldn’t detect anything less than warmth and affection in his voice.

She suspected something had happened to him as a child, but it was clear he wasn’t ready to share with her yet. Meanwhile, she was an open book. She probably shared too much.

“I want you to come to dinner and meet my parents,” Audra said.

She’d thought about it for a while and now felt confident enough in their relationship to introduce him to her family.

“Okay.” He dragged out the word, a faint frown creasing his brow. “Are you sure?”

“Would you like to meet them?”

“Yes, but I want you to be sure about it. That means meeting your daughter, too, right?”

“Yes.”

“So I finally get to meet the mini-Audra. Or that would be the mini mini-Audra. Get it, ’cause you’re—”

“So short. Yes, I get it. Ha. Ha.” He liked to tease her about her height.

He chuckled and then threaded his long fingers into her hair. The humor disappeared from his face, and his expression turned serious. “I would love to meet your parents and your daughter. Will you be doing the cooking?”

“No, and although you pay me lots of nice compliments, I’m not the best cook in my family. Don’t forget I have a brother who’s a chef.”

“Bruno.”

“Yes. He and I learned to cook from my mom. She cooks often, although we still have a chef and housekeeper. We have a whole staff, actually, though it’s not as big as when I was growing up and everyone lived at home. Sometimes she cooks, and sometimes she uses the help. It depends on her mood.”

“I don’t care who’s cooking. I just wanna eat. When were you thinking we should meet?”

“How about the next time you’re off on Sunday, you can come over? That way, you can meet my brothers too. They can be a little overbearing, but I’ll warn them ahead of time to be on their best behavior.”

What she didn’t tell him was that more than her brothers, she wanted her parents—especially her mother—to like him. Rose Santana’s eyes spoke volumes, and Audra sensed the concern. She likely had done her research on Damon and worried Audra was making another mistake.

Sunday dinner would serve two purposes. Not only did Audra want the man in her life to meet her family, but she also wanted to show them what she knew—that he was a funny, charming, kind soul, and she was lucky to have him in her life.

“I don’t blame your brothers. If I had a sister, I’d probably be an asshole to any man she brought home.”

“It doesn’t help that my last serious relationship went up in flames.” Audra grimaced.

He combed her hair with his fingers, smoothing the strands away from her face. “That’s in the past. People make mistakes in relationships. It’s part of life.”

“Have you?”

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.”

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 14 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Go Big or Go Home: The Appeal of Grand Gestures in Romance

How do you feel about grand gestures in romance? Personally, I love them.

They’re not in every romance novel, but when they are, they capture my attention. In my opinion, they reflect the fearlessness of love and confirm that taking a leap of faith can result in a heart-melting happily ever after.

What is a grand gesture?

A grand gesture is a dramatic act by one of the characters—usually the hero—that demonstrates his deep love for the heroine. The bold, heartfelt action leaves no doubt that the hero is madly in love with her and can’t live without her.

Why I love grand gestures

A lot of times they’re extravagant, but what matters is that the heroine was chosen by this man to receive his love and affection. He’s showing her that she’s worth the effort and cost, no matter what those may be.

Their emotional appeal isn’t just about the act itself, but what it represents:

vulnerability on the part of the herothe hero’s willingness to go above and beyond the normal expression of lovea reminder that love is worth fighting forrelief for the reader—that despite the troubles the characters endured, they will be together in the endWhen do grand gestures occur in romance?

Grand gestures are the payoff after the emotional buildup in the story, which means we as readers have to care deeply about the characters. Only then will such a sweeping act of love be truly impactful.

Because of that, although they can take place at different points in the story, they’re most often seen in the last quarter of the novel, after the black moment (or the breakup) but before the very end. The dramatic display of love then serves as the catalyst for proving the hero’s devotion so he can win back the heroine.

Grand gestures can also occur in the middle of the novel, such as after the couple has faced a big challenge or overcome some type of obstacle. In that case, we’re more likely to see a stronger relationship afterward, or deeper intimacy between the hero and heroine.

Examples of grand gestures

I’ve occasionally written grand gestures into my novels, and I’m going to share examples from three of them: The Rules, Deeper Than Love, and Princess of Estoria.

Be forewarned, spoilers are incoming if you haven’t read these titles yet.

The Rules (The Johnson Family, book 4): This is an example of a grand gesture taking place in the middle of the story. After Terri’s building burned down, Gavin moved her into a private residence at the Four Seasons. When she hesitated to accept his gift, he said, “What kind of man do you think I am? How could I not take care of you when I have the means to do it?” Swoon.

Deeper Than Love (The Brooks Family, book 6): A grand gesture doesn’t require spending a lot of money. What makes it special is the sincere display of love for the heroine. When Nina is about to marry another man, Reese disrupts the wedding ceremony, fighting off security to yell, “Nina, marry me instead!” A man willing to lay it all on the line? Yes, please.

Princess of Estoria (Royal Brides, book 2): Prince Andres and Angela were madly in love, but his people wouldn’t accept her as his bride. So, he refused to ascend the throne and was willing to walk away from royal life to be with her. Call me clairvoyant, but the year after I published this story, which was inspired by Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry, Prince Harry walked away from the royal family. True love is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?

Are grand gestures realistic?

Who cares? I enjoy the fantasy, love reading them, and will continue to write them.

Your turn

Have you read an amazing grand gesture in a book or seen one in a romantic movie that stuck with you? Share your favorites in the comments.

The post Go Big or Go Home: The Appeal of Grand Gestures in Romance appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 13

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.

In the bedroom, Damon’s hungry eyes ate her up as he peeled away her white bra and cobalt panties. She wished she had worn matching lingerie, but he clearly didn’t mind. [Due to the content, most of this episode is on the next page]

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 13 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 12

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.

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.

He pushed open the door and dropped his bag on the floor. “I’m home!”

Audra came flying around the corner with a bright smile and leaped into his arms. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he cradled her bottom in his hands and kissed her hard and with passion.

“Damn, I’ve missed you,” he muttered against her lips.

“I missed you too. Welcome home.” She rubbed his bearded jaw and then slid her hand over his short-cropped hair. The comforting gesture immediately relaxed him.

“Thank you, baby.” He sniffed the air. “What’s that delicious smell?”

“Nothing fancy. A little something I threw together—pot roast, potatoes, and vegetables. I didn’t know if you’d be hungry when you came home, but I figured you’d like a home-cooked meal.”

Damon was speechless. Other than his mother and his personal chef, he couldn’t recall any woman cooking a whole meal for him and was surprised she’d gone to all that trouble.

“Was it okay that I used your kitchen?” she asked.

Probably because he hadn’t responded.

“Of course. Hell, I appreciate you doing that. Smells delicious.”

Anxious to see her, he hadn’t thought much about food because having someone waiting for him wasn’t something he’d ever experienced before. Normally, he came home and warmed something from the freezer that his personal chef had prepared or stopped to pick up food from a local restaurant. Having her waiting for him made coming home sweeter.

Audra dropped to her feet and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Put away your bag, change into something more comfortable, and I’ll finish up in the kitchen. Then we can eat.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He kissed her neck, taking a deep whiff of her scented skin, and groaned.

She was driving him crazy. With her here, cooking a meal, and looking all sexy in tight jeans and a red top that hugged her curves, he was definitely appreciative. He wanted more of this kind of living.

He watched her walk into the kitchen and released a heavy breath. “Hang in there, bruh,” he muttered, gently patting the front of his pants where his semi-hard penis threatened to embarrass him.

He took his bag into the bedroom and changed into sweats and a T-shirt. Checking his appearance, he smoothed a hand down his beard and then went to the kitchen. As he approached, he heard Audra talking.

“You promised, Kerry,” she said, tension in her voice. She was standing in front of the range and holding the phone to her ear.

Her daughter’s nickname was Keri, but Damon doubted that’s who she was talking to. Probably her ex.

She heaved a sigh and dropped her head in defeat. As he hovered in the doorway, Damon immediately wanted to fix whatever was wrong.

“You don’t get it, do you? She wants to see you. You’re her father.”

Her words confirmed what he had suspected.

Damon backed out of the kitchen to give Audra privacy, but he didn’t like the sound of heavy disappointment in her voice. From the little he’d heard, he guessed that her child’s father had flaked on plans, upsetting her—and not for the first time.

In the living room, he could hear her talking but could no longer discern the words. He stood in front of the glass doors looking out at the parking lot and waited until he no longer heard her voice. Then he returned to the kitchen.

“Hey.”

“Hey.” She pulled plates from the cabinet without facing him.

Damon walked over. “Everything okay?”

Audra nodded, but her hair had fallen across her cheek, hiding her expression from him.

Grasping her chin, he turned her head to face him. “Talk to me.”

Her lower lip trembled, and she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “I was talking to my ex, Kerilyn’s father. He promised to come see her next weekend, but now he says he can’t because he has a gig out west. I didn’t tell her that he was coming because I didn’t want to get her hopes up until I was certain he’d follow through. I’m glad I didn’t because of course he called to say he can’t make the trip now. At least this time I didn’t have to see the disappointment in her face and explain that it’s not that her father doesn’t love her or want to spend time with her, it’s that he’s so busy.” Her face crumbled, and her voice cracked on the last word.

Damon pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, Audra.”

“It’s so unfair. She doesn’t deserve this,” she said, her voice trembling and thick with tears.

He held her for a few minutes until she was able to compose herself. Wiping her eyes, she looked gratefully at him. “I shouldn’t be laying this on you.”

“I don’t mind, and I care about you. Because I care about you, I care about your daughter. I hate that she’ll be disappointed. Some people become parents without understanding the magnitude of their decision and how the way they treat their child will affect them for years to come.”

“They don’t understand or they don’t care,” Audra said bitterly. She sniffed, and then a soft smile touched her face. “When she was a baby, I used to stand over her crib and watch her for hours.”

“Hours?” Damon asked, teasing.

“Seemed like it. I couldn’t get enough of watching her little fingers and toes and listening to her breathe. And you know how babies smell—oh, I loved her little baby smell. Every time I looked at her or held her, I was amazed by this tiny person I’d created. I still can’t believe she’s already six years old, has such a big personality, and is so loving. She loves kisses and hugs and is very affectionate.” The light dimmed in her eyes. “I know she wants to give kisses and hugs to her daddy the way she gives them to me and her grandparents and her uncles, but he never makes time for her.”

“Not everyone was meant to be a parent.”

“True.”

“It sounds like you have a great support system with your parents and your brothers. I know it’s hard for her not to have her father in her life, but having a loving family—who shows her that she’s loved—I promise you, it helps.”

Audra looked at him with curiosity. “Are you speaking from experience?” she asked gently.

“I have two loving parents,” Damon said, unwilling to divulge more. He brushed the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “The good news is, she isn’t disappointed again like she’s been in the past. She didn’t know, like you mentioned.”

“Yeah, I’m learning.” She breathed through her lips and then fixed a smile on her face. “Ready for dinner?”

“I am, but are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, and thank you for listening.” She rose onto her toes and gave him a kiss.

Damon groaned and grabbed her bottom, pressing his lips against hers when she was about to pull away.

Audra licked his lips and placed her hands on his shoulders. “How about you fix our drinks while I prepare our plates?”

“All right.” He slapped her bottom, and she yelped.

Chuckling, Damon went to the refrigerator. He poured them each a glass of punch that his personal chef had whipped up and left for him.

During dinner, he told her about his trip, complained about where he thought he could have improved, and generally appreciated that she listened. After dinner, he washed the dishes and put away the leftovers while she relaxed on the sofa. When he joined her, she shifted closer and curled up next to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

He never would have thought a relaxing night at home would be enough to satisfy him, but with a full belly and his arm around Audra while they watched TV, he felt as if he’d won the jackpot. He pulled her closer. This was happiness. He had no interest in going out—not if she couldn’t be there with him.

He hadn’t seen himself getting married for at least a few more years, but there was something about Audra that made him look deep into the future and think about forever.

Forever with her.

***

“Baby, wake up.”

Audra heard Damon’s deep voice as if from far away. Her eyes fluttered open, and she lifted her head from his shoulder.

“Have I been asleep long?” Yawning, she covered her mouth and blinked rapidly. The room was dark because he had turned off the television. Beyond the windows, the lights of the city’s buildings and moving cars brightened the night.

“Thirty minutes or so,” Damon answered.

She knew why he’d woken her up. It was time for her to go.

His lips brushed over her forehead, slipped across her cheek, and moved lower to the corner of her mouth. She snuggled closer. She didn’t want to go home. Leaving him was getting harder and harder, and tonight felt particularly difficult. She wanted to lose herself in his arms.

Everything leading up to this had been foreplay: the gifts he sent for weeks, the dinners, dancing, the weekend retreat, and the late-night phone conversations. He’d torn away her hesitations, and now she trusted him. Completely. And wanted to lose herself in his arms.

Audra stroked her hands down his chest. “Damon,” she whispered.

“Hmm?”

Their eyes locked, and they both stilled. She didn’t need to explain.

He immediately pressed his lips to hers, and she welcomed him with an open-mouthed kiss as her body became consumed with the heat of desire.

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 12 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 11

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.

“How are things?” Claudia hung over the wall of Audra’s cubicle, one eyebrow arched in inquiry.

Audra didn’t have to ask what she meant. She knew right away that Claudia was inquiring about Damon. “Before I answer, how are things with you and Kent?”

Claudia blushed, looking very pleased with herself. “As you know, he’s been very attentive ever since he thought he would lose me to a baseball player. That really shook him up, and our relationship has blossomed ever since. I can’t complain. He bought me this.” She extended a hand to show off a shimmering tennis bracelet.

“That’s gorgeous. What was the occasion?” Audra asked.

“No occasion. He just wanted to surprise me.”

“Look at you,” Audra said.

Claudia giggled happily. “I can’t stop smiling. I really took a risk because you know how much I love that man, but I couldn’t continue with the way our relationship was going. He wasn’t considerate of my feelings. Now our whole relationship has changed. I guess I had to let him know what I’d put up with and what I wouldn’t, and that made him straighten up.”

“I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you,” Claudia said with heartfelt appreciation. “Now, what’s going on with you and Damon?”

“So far, so good.” The past few weeks had been magical as they grew closer together.

“So he’s nice and good to you?”

“Yes.”

“No drama?”

“No drama,” Audra confirmed.

Claudia lowered her voice. “Great in the sack?”

Audra paused. “We haven’t…”

Claudia’s eyes widened. “What? You’ve been seeing each other for almost two months now, right?”

Audra nodded. “We’re taking things slow.”

“Huh. No pressure, I guess.”

“No pressure, but…” Audra sighed.

Initially, she had thought that going slow was a good idea because she hadn’t been sure about Damon, but sexual frustration was now a constant companion. Every time she came into contact with him, her libido drove her to run her hands all over his delicious body. He reciprocated, driving her mad with teasing kisses and caresses. While her fingers trailed over the warm muscles beneath his shirt, his hands cupped her bottom and cradled her breasts. Every time they separated from each other, she was left wet, horny, and frustrated.

“I know. He’s so hot,” Claudia whispered.

Audra vigorously nodded, and they both erupted into giggles.

“Claudia, could you come here for a minute, please?” one of the managers called from his doorway.

“Sure thing.” Facing Audra again, she rolled her eyes. “He probably needs me to hold his hand while he makes a phone call.”

Audra swatted her hand. “Stop it, you’re so bad.”

Claudia gave an evil laugh. “Yes, I am. Lunch later?”

“Yes.”

“All right. See ya.”

Audra watched her friend saunter toward the manager’s office on the other side of the floor. She couldn’t blame Claudia for being annoyed. He was one of the needy ones.

Gently gnawing on a fingernail, her mind wandered as she worked on the report for her supervisor. She rested her chin on her hand and looked at the last text exchange between her and Damon. She wanted more of him.

“Stop being greedy,” she muttered to herself.

After all, each week they spent hours talking on the phone, especially when he was out of town. She had started going to his games, and when they were together, they made the best of every moment.

Dinner and dancing at an exclusive spot owned by one of his acquaintances, where they enjoyed themselves without the worry of someone taking photos or bothering him for an autograph. Then there was the private wine tasting at Chateau Elan, where they explored the winery’s offerings and then had a delicious meal that evening. They also had a couple of double dates with his famous friends and their partners. Each and every time, he put forth significant effort to create a unique experience.

Audra fiddled with her pen. She needed to do the same. She needed to show how much he meant to her, and it was long overdue. She’d been busy basking in his attention and hadn’t reciprocated the planning of their times together, partly because she was worried about doing too much.

That was her problem. She wished she were like her younger sister, Monica, carefree and determined never to marry. But Audra imagined herself as a mom with several kids, being a domestic goddess—cooking and decorating. It wouldn’t kill her to put forth a little more effort in the relationship. Stop taking and start giving.

Instead of working, she scoured the internet and came up with an idea. There was a retreat located thirty minutes south of Atlanta where she, Monica, and their mother had stayed before. Couples massages, farm-to-table cuisine, and quiet walks along the nature trails might be something Damon would enjoy. At lunch, she told Claudia about her idea, and she loved it.

By the time Audra arrived at home, she was excited about the trip for the next time Damon was free, but there was one more thing she wanted to do.

Her knowledge of baseball was practically nonexistent. Half the time, she didn’t understand what was going on at the games, and there had been conversations when Damon talked to her about the sport, and she had no clue what he was talking about. She needed to rectify that.

Audra knocked on the bedroom door of her youngest sibling, Maxwell, and then pushed her way inside. “I need your help,” she announced, standing in the middle of his room.

Unlike the typical teenager, her brother was a neat freak. His room was spotless—the bed made, his office supplies neatly lined up on the desk, all his clothes put away—and he knew when anyone had been in his room and moved an item.

The seventeen-year-old sat with his feet crossed atop his L-shaped corner desk and looked up from texting on his phone. His curls had grown long, coming down past his ears and falling across his forehead to touch his eyelashes.

“Ever heard of knocking first?”

“I did knock,” Audra said.

“You’re supposed to wait until I say you can come in,” he said pointedly.

Audra moved closer. “If you don’t want people coming into your room, lock the door.”

“I’ll be sure to do that. What do you want?”

“I need you to explain baseball to me.”

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 said pointedly, 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.

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 11 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 10

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 Aquarium?” Audra exclaimed, eyes wide as the chauffeur pulled up to the building.

When Damon had told her to dress casually and wear comfortable shoes, she had silently worried about what that meant but was open to new adventures. Anticipating an outdoor activity, she wore black jeans, a floral, loose-fitting top, and wedge heels.

This, however, was a surprise.

The Georgia Aquarium was an animal sanctuary of more than 600,000 square feet and contained more than eleven million gallons of water. She hadn’t visited in two years, when she had been a chaperone for her daughter’s preschool class trip.

“This ain’t no regular schmegular trip to the Aquarium. You’re about to get the VIP access tour.” Standing outside the car, Damon extended a hand and helped her out.

“Oooh, VIP? I can’t wait.”

They had stayed in touch the entire week and talked almost every day on the phone—even when he was out of town. She loved hearing his voice and discussing everything under the sun, which made her feel closer to him, as if they’d known each other for years.

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.

When he waved a flipper, Audra laughed. “Did you see that? He must know you’re famous and wants an autograph.”

Damon grinned. “Or he’s trying to steal you away from me. Not gonna happen though.” He slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.

Audra wrapped her arm around his waist and nestled against his side. He was solid and warm, and she was completely at ease being close to him.

After the next round of explanations, the guide left them to explore on their own.

“How old is your daughter?” Damon asked as they strolled along.

“She’ll turn six this summer.”

He looked down at her with surprise.

“Yes, I had her young,” Audra said. “I was nineteen. Having her put me on the straight and narrow path.”

“You gave your parents hell, huh?”

“You could say that.”

He tsked and shook his head. “It’s always the quiet ones.”

“I’m not bad… I don’t know, I had a rebellious stage, I guess, and I stressed out my parents from time to time.”

“It’s a rite of passage for some people.”

“Did you have a bad period?”

“Let’s just say my parents were glad when I got really involved with baseball.”

Audra chuckled softly to herself. “So, you don’t have any kids?”

“Nope.”

“Do you want kids?”

“One day. I can see myself as a dad.”

Audra didn’t know him well at that moment, but for some reason, she could see him as a father too. He was the strong, silent type, and she imagined he’d be the kind of father who didn’t yell much, but with one stern word, his kids would straighten up. But there was a playfulness about him that would make him a fun dad, as well.

The evening ended too soon, and then they were on their way back to her house. The drive home passed quickly, and Audra longed for more time to talk and laugh with him.

At the doorway of her house, she clutched the flowers to her side and turned to face him while the driver waited. “I had a wonderful night.”

“So did I.” Damon stepped closer. “So next time I call or text, can I expect a quicker response?”

“Yes, Damon, if I see your text right away.”

“Good.”

Slowly, the smiles faded from their faces as they gazed into each other’s eyes. Audra held her breath, her heart knocking against her ribs in a nervous rhythm.

Kiss me, she silently pleaded.

As if he heard her, Damon’s eyes dropped to her lips, and without saying a word, he slowly bent his head and brushed his mouth against hers. In response to the fleeting touch, she inhaled deeply and curled her fingers into his shirt.

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 10 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 9

This serial is connected to the Family Ties series and 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.

Damon didn’t have a game tonight, but he was on his way to the gym to work out. After he merged into traffic, he dialed his father’s number in Arkansas.

Chadwick Foster tended to rise early, sitting out on the back porch as he sipped his coffee, so Damon wasn’t surprised when he answered at this hour.

“Hey, Pop, how’s it goin’?”

“Hey, son. Going all right out here. How’s your shoulder?”

Damon rotated his right shoulder, which had suffered a minor injury weeks ago during spring training.

“Much better. I’m headed to the gym now to work out. Where’s Ma?”

“She left the house early today. You remember Joanna from down the street? Her husband died, so your mom has been keeping her company and helping her out since she doesn’t have any family living close by. They have an appointment at the funeral home this morning.”

That didn’t surprise Damon. His mother was that kind of woman—very caring and in tune with other people. No surprise, since she had been a social worker for years.

“What can I help you with?” Chadwick asked.

“What makes you think I need help with something?” Damon replied.

“You have that sound in your voice.”

He chuckled softly. His father knew him well. “You’re right. It’s about a woman.”

“Uh-oh.”

“It’s not bad. I met someone, and I really like her. Real talk, I’m obsessed with her.” He gave his father a quick explanation of how he met Audra, the flowers and gifts, and their first date a couple of days ago.

“I think she had a good time, but before she agreed to go out with me, she treated me like a regular dude and took a long time to give me a shot. She probably wouldn’t have if I didn’t go up to her job. That’s why I have my doubts. I want to call her, but I don’t want to come across as a stalker.”

“Too late,” his father quipped.

“Damn.”

Chadwick chuckled. “Let me see if I understand what you’re saying. You went on a date and had a good time, but now you’re worried about calling her too soon. Do I have that right?”

“Yes.” He never had this problem with other women he dated. They understood he was seeing multiple women at the same time, and they were happy when he called. He knew he couldn’t treat Audra the same way, but at the same time he didn’t quite know how to move with her.

He’d been an athletic star since middle school and was used to being catered to—by women, teachers, fellow students, and adults. This was the first time he had to put in the work and didn’t want to mess things up.

“Have you communicated with her at all since the date?” his father asked.

Damon checked his side mirror and switched lanes. “I sent a text after I dropped her off on Saturday night. That’s it. Nothing since then.”

“So you put in all that effort to win her over, and now that you’ve got her, you’re pulling back. Do I have that correct?”

“When you put it that way…”

“That’s not me. That’s how this young lady will see your lack of communication, son. Now she’s probably thinking you didn’t have a good time or were somehow disappointed by the date. She probably thinks you’re no longer interested.”

He had never considered that angle. “I don’t want her to think that I didn’t have a good time, but it’s only been a couple of days. I don’t want to be too pushy.”

“But you’re interested?”

“Hell, yeah.”

“Well then, it’s time to let her know. Talk to the young lady. Make plans for another date. If she’s not interested, she’ll let you know. Then you can move on.”

Move on. Those words sounded so final. “I don’t know if I could.”

“What do you mean?”

He’d thought long and hard about his feelings for Audra, and only one answer made sense. “I think Audra Connor is my future wife.”

There was silence on the other end for several moments.

“I’ve never heard you talk like that before,” his father finally said.

Damon enjoyed the women he spent time with—models, actresses, female athletes, unknowns. Yet no one had captured his interest the way that she did.

“There’s something about her.”

“Well then you better hurry up and call her, because if she’s that amazing, someone else is going to swoop her up.”

“I’m not letting that happen,” Damon said with determination.

“She must be something.”

“She is. She has the best laugh, a beautiful smile, and a great sense of humor. She’s fine as hell, and the fact that she doesn’t care about my career or who I am is kind of nice, you know?”

“I know what you mean. I experienced the same with your mother,” Chadwick said, his voice sounding wistful. “It’s like coming home.”

Warmth filled Damon’s chest. “Yeah. That’s the feeling. Like I’m home. Safe.” He swallowed. That word—safe—had slipped from his lips unexpectedly.

“You doing okay otherwise?” Chadwick asked in a gentle voice.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m cool. Just dealing with the usual stuff on the field and off. Audra’s a temporary distraction.”

“Good to hear.”

For a moment, awkward silence hovered between them like a dark cloud before a rainstorm. Damon knew his father wanted to say more but probably wouldn’t because he knew Damon didn’t want to hear it. The nightmares from the abuse had stopped years ago, but the memories lingered. Unfortunately, he would never fully be free of them. He couldn’t control his thoughts, but he could control whether or not he gave those painful moments any space in conversations with his loved ones.

“Listen, I better go. Thanks for the talk, Pop.”

“Any time, son. Take care.”

After he hung up, the pressure in Damon’s chest eased. He cursed under his breath, hating that he continued to have such an adverse reaction to what had happened to him as a kid.

But life was better now. Much better.

His mind shifted to Audra, and like the sun peeking through the clouds, the memory of her radiant smile pushed aside the last trace of his pain. He breathed easier.

He’d give her a call today. He’d gone long enough without hearing her voice.

***

Today hadn’t been the best day for Audra. Several times she’d caught herself doodling distractedly on her notepad.

Except for a short Good night text, she hadn’t heard from Damon since Saturday. In the meantime, he’d taken over her mind. As she typed a memo at her desk, she kept seeing his white-toothed smile against milk chocolate skin. She heard his deep-throated, sexy male laugh and felt the tingles from the intense way he studied her, as if he hung on every word she spoke.

He hadn’t even kissed her—well, not a real kiss—but she still felt his soft lips on her skin and the brush of his beard against her cheek.

Why didn’t he kiss her properly!

That’s what she had been expecting when he gazed down at her, and that’s all she could think about now: kissing him. She knew he’d be a good kisser too. With lips like that and all that swagger, no way that man wouldn’t deliver.

With a loud sigh, Audra pushed away from her desk and went to copy a document. She placed the duplicates in an interoffice envelope and dropped them in the outgoing mailbox near the door.

Back at her desk, she sank into her seat and stared at the report on her computer screen. Maybe he didn’t enjoy himself.

Audra buried her face in her hands. Get back to work! she screamed inside her head. And that’s what she did, forcing Damon from her mind and concentrating solely on the work at hand to preoccupy herself.

After lunch, she had a quick meeting and then returned to her desk to see a missed call on the phone in her drawer.

Damon.

She gasped, her pulse jumping erratically. He’d followed up the call with a text.

Hey there, hope you aren’t ignoring me. I called to see if ur free on Saturday night. If not, clear your schedule. I’m taking you out again.

Biting her bottom lip, Audra replied. Was that a question or a demand?

A minute later, he responded: Which one would have you saying yes?

Honestly, either.

Good to know. So you’re free?

Yes.

I’ll pick you up at 7:15 for dinner. Casual dress. Comfortable shoes. We’ll be doing a little walking after our meal.

I’ll be ready.

“What are you smiling about?” Claudia stood beside Audra with a hand on one hip. Her blonde hair was styled in a single braid that rested over one shoulder.

“I have another date,” Audra said. She had been worried she wouldn’t hear from Damon and couldn’t stop cheesing because she had.

“Is it with the person I think it’s with? Mr. Foster of the Atlanta Braves?” Claudia asked.

“Yes, it’s him.”

Claudia let out a quiet squeal, and Audra joined her.

“Aren’t you glad you came with me to that party?”

“I was already glad because I had a good time. Now I’m doubly glad,” Audra admitted.

“Keep me posted.”

Claudia sauntered off, and Audra sat at her desk, staring at the messages exchanged between her and Damon.

Saturday was too far away.

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 9 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 8

This serial is connected to the Family Ties series and 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.

After their delicious meal, Damon didn’t want the night to end. He wanted to prolong his time with Audra and invited her to go for a walk. Thankfully, she said yes.

He grabbed an unmarked cap and sunglasses from his vehicle—a “disguise” he kept for when he wanted to go incognito. He pulled the cap low on his forehead before they set off down the sidewalk.

They walked in comfortable silence for a while. Occasionally, cars passed by, and every now and again a pedestrian approached, nodding a greeting as they walked by.

“Do you miss being anonymous?” Audra asked.

“Sometimes,” Damon admitted. “But then I remember how blessed I am. I mean, I get to play baseball, a sport I took up when I was a kid—and make a ton of money doing it. Being recognizable is a small price to pay for the privilege, and most times it’s not too bad. Like right now, no one expects to see me walking down the street, so even if they recognize me under this cap and behind these sunglasses, they’ll think they made a mistake.” He paused. “The worst part isn’t the fans, although they can sometimes become outrageous.”

“Outrageous how?”

“Doing anything to meet me, which includes hiding in my hotel room or something else crazy.”

“My brother Ignacio is an actor, and as he becomes more famous, the stories become more outrageous, so I know what you mean. My father was an actor too, and boy, does he have tales to tell!”

“You understand where I’m coming from.”

“I do,” Audra said with a nod. “So what’s the worst part?”

“The media, or what they call media nowadays. Every person with a camera and a mic is a journalist now, and the real journalists have become sensationalists to keep up. Stories from anonymous sources, hearsay, and plain old gossip about shit they don’t know.”

“Jumping to conclusions without the facts,” Audra said.

“Exactly. Shit is exhausting sometimes. Mostly I ignore the stories, unless it’s something so bad I need to get my PR team involved. Other times, we use them, creating our own publicity for whatever we want.”

“Sounds sneaky.”

He shrugged. “I call it making lemons out of lemonade.”

As they continued walking and talking, Damon realized he was very relaxed. Being with Audra was low pressure. He didn’t feel the need to perform and didn’t have to be “The Flash,” the way he did with other women. He could simply be Damon.

Every now and again, their arms brushed, and awareness seeped through his shirtsleeves and rippled over his skin. He wondered if she experienced the same sensation.

“I have a question for you,” he said.

“Okay.” She dragged out the word, sounding cautious.

“Don’t sound so worried. It’s a simple question. You dissed my house when you were there, so—”

“I didn’t diss your house,” she said, sounding appalled.

“You said it was colorless and cold. Is that a compliment?”

“I mean…”

“That’s what I thought. So, you dissed my house,” Damon continued. “What would you change?”

“Are you asking me for decorating tips?”

“A little. I don’t know anything about decorating. I thought about hiring someone to help me, but I figured I could do okay on my own. I’m kinda frugal. We didn’t have much when I was growing up, and I know I won’t play ball forever. Hell, I could get injured this year, and my career could end, so I’m really careful with my money.”

“Which means you want me to help you for free?”

“Yes,” he confirmed.

She laughed—and once again, he was smitten by her beauty when she did. The tightness in his chest—an unfamiliar stirring—suggested he felt more than attraction, but he didn’t want to delve too deeply into his innermost thoughts at the moment.

“Your place isn’t bad, but you definitely need more color and different textures. Everything is hard and white.”

“I was going for a clean, finished look.”

“You can still achieve that with a few changes. What you have now could be the baseline, and then you layer in the changes.” She spoke with her hands as she explained. “That’s my opinion.”

“Okay,” Damon said, nodding.

“I’ll text you some suggestions and examples of pillows and furnishings you can add. They’ll be nice pieces that aren’t expensive. Nothing drastic—if you’re really open to change.”

“I am, and that would be great. Thanks.” He saw this as a good sign that she was interested in communicating with him in the future, and if her voice was any indication, she seemed excited about pulling together items for him.

They approached the restaurant again, and Damon felt disappointment trickle through him. They came to a stop near the door. “If you like, I can drop you at home instead of you having to call another car,” he suggested.

She gazed up at him. “I don’t want to inconvenience you. I live far from here, south of the city.”

“I don’t mind at all. Besides, it’ll give us a chance to talk some more about how you can improve the decor in my condo. Now there’s a word I never thought I’d hear myself say—decor.”

One of her pretty smiles lit up her face. “If you don’t mind, I don’t mind.”

“Right this way.” He extended his arm, and she took it.

He escorted her to his SUV and helped her climb into the passenger side. He went around to the driver’s side, removed his hat and sunglasses, and placed them in the back.

On the ride to her house, they talked more about their work lives. He told her about baseball, though it was obvious she knew very little. She told him about the work she did at her stepfather’s company as an administrative assistant. She mentioned wanting to move up in the company, but he suspected her heart wasn’t in it. She didn’t become animated the way she did when she talked about changing the decor of his place.

She also talked more about her family and her daughter. She never once mentioned her daughter’s father, though. Was he in the picture, and how much of a problem would he be if he was?

They both fell silent as he took the long, tree-lined driveway toward the impressive mansion she called home. Her parents’ money was obviously long.

He parked in front of the stairs leading to the double front doors. “Home sweet home,” he announced.

After he helped her down from the SUV, they slowly climbed the stairs.

Audra took a deep breath. “Well, I had a really nice time tonight. Thank you for a delicious dinner.”

“And great conversation,” Damon added.

She laughed briefly. She seemed nervous all of a sudden, which he thought was adorable. She was like a breath of fresh air, with no agenda.

“I enjoyed the conversation too,” she admitted.

Damon looked around the property. “This place is huge. I feel like you’re out of my league.”

“Believe me, I’m not. This all belongs to my parents, and I just live here for the time being. My father built this place to accommodate all of us.” She cleared her throat. “So, I—”

“Audra, I want to see you again.” He looked into her eyes so she’d know he was serious.

“As friends?” she asked in a teasing tone.

Damon didn’t smile. “Nah. More than friends.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. “I know you think my lifestyle is a bit intimidating, and I understand. Being in the public eye definitely has its drawbacks, but no one has to know about us right now. We can keep things low-key, get to know each other without all eyes being on us. Unless…”

“Unless what?” she prompted.

“You and Kerilyn’s dad are still…”

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head so vehemently her hair fell across her face. “No. Absolutely not.”

She was so adamant, he almost laughed. Damn. Her ex must be a real jerk.

“Okay, so I don’t have to worry about him.”

“He and I are done and have been for years. His name is Kerry. Yes, I named my daughter after him.” She rolled her eyes in disgust at her own decision-making. “Anyway, let me repeat—he and I are done.”

Damon stepped closer. “In that case, we can see each other again.”

She frowned slightly. “You can have any woman you want,” she said, sounding perplexed.

“Except you?”

Uncertainty flickered in her eyes. “I’m not looking for a serious relationship right now, and I know you aren’t either—obviously.”

“Obviously?”

“You’re a serial dater. You don’t stick to one woman very long, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” she added hastily. “I enjoyed myself with you, but I have to be honest. I’m not sure dating you would be a wise decision, and I make terrible decisions.”

He didn’t particularly like her assessment of his dating life, but she was right about one thing—a serious relationship wasn’t in the cards for him right now. He was young and rich, and though he did want to spend more time with Audra, he didn’t know how long his interest would last and didn’t want to make her any promises he might break.

She wasn’t like some of the other women he dated. She didn’t seem like the type looking to get pregnant and be set for the next eighteen years. Nor was she an up-and-coming celebrity or model seeking free publicity by being on his arm. From everything he’d learned about her tonight, she seemed like a regular person, and right now, he wanted regular. He craved it in a way he never thought he would.

“We can take things slow if you like. I enjoyed myself tonight, and you enjoyed yourself. We can kick it and see where things go.”

“Just kick it, huh?” Audra said, uncertainty remaining in her expression.

Damon took her hand and gazed into her eyes. “You have to at least help me decorate my place, right? Might as well get the perks of dating me too. What do you think…?”

“You’re persistent, I’ll give you that,” Audra said with a short laugh.

“Does that mean I’ll see you again, Audra?” He held his breath, his belly oddly tight with the stress of worrying that she’d answer no.

Finally, she smiled. “Yes. I look forward to it.”

He grinned. He wanted to pull her into a kiss but suspected that would be too much for her at the moment. He carefully brushed her hair away from her face, and for a moment, his eyes dipped to her upturned lips. Full, lush, temptingly red.

Using monumental self-control, he kissed her cheek instead. Her skin was soft, and she smelled like heaven. Biting back a groan of hunger, he stepped back.

Audra seemed surprised.

“Good night,” he said.

“Good night, and thank you for a great evening.” She studied him for a moment, as if trying to figure him out. Then she disappeared inside the house.

Grinning, Damon jogged down the steps and climbed into his SUV.

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 8 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Audra – The Prequel: Episode 7

Today is release day for Audra – The Prequel! It explains how Damon and Audra from the novel Audra (Family Ties, book 3) met, but you can continue reading chapters of the prequel as a serial every Tuesday and Thursday until The End.

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

“We were talking about you before the phone call, weren’t we? So you’re an only child?” Audra asked.

Damon nodded. “Yes.”

“Did you always play baseball, or were you interested in other sports?”

“I played other sports but excelled at baseball. Nowadays, it consumes my life, but that’s normal for someone playing sports at a professional level. When we’re not playing, we’re training or preparing by watching film. We also have to be careful about our diet.”

“But you love it.”

“I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

“When you’re not training or playing, what do you do?”

“Well, I’ve been working on some business ventures and ideas for life after baseball. In my downtime, I try to do some mentoring, but I’m not able to do it as much as I’d like. In between all those things, I sometimes squeeze in time to pursue a woman who interests me.”

“I see. Making time for the important issues.”

“Of course.” Amusement filled his eyes.

“By the way, I never verbally, out my mouth, thanked you for the flowers and the gifts—so, thank you. Each delivery brightened my day.”

“Good to hear.”

“I especially liked the puzzle made out of a photo of you.”

He let out a throaty laugh. “You liked that, huh?”

“It was a top-notch gift.”

“It’s one of a kind. You’re the only person in the world who has one.”

She liked his sense of humor. “I figured so.”

“Have you tried to put it together yet?”

“Not yet, but I’ve put it on my to-do list.”

“I’m going to check in with you to see if you’ve done it,” Damon warned.

“Darn, I shouldn’t have told you my plans. Now there’s so much pressure.” Audra sipped her wine, thoroughly amused by their conversation.

Damon swirled his drink. “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything. What makes Audra Connor tick? What’s important to you?” His eyes remained on her.

“Those are interesting questions. I’ll tackle the second question first and say my family is important to me. As I mentioned, I have a little girl. She’s very smart. I know every parent says that, but the other day she showed me how to change a setting on my phone, and she’s a whiz with the iPad. She always tries to stay up later than her bedtime, and she can sometimes convince my mother to let her—we live with my parents—stay up and have ice cream and cake and whatever else her heart desires. Being the first grandchild has its privileges.”

He laughed softly. “I bet.”

“I’m going on and on.” Audra twisted the napkin in her lap. She was more out of practice than she realized. What man wanted to hear about a woman’s kid on their first date—or whatever this was?

Damon sat forward and rested his hand on the table, his expression earnest. “It’s fine. Matter of fact, I’m glad you’re sharing stories about your daughter. Gives me insight into your relationship.”

Audra smiled appreciatively. “She’s the center of my universe,” she said honestly.

He nodded, as if that declaration had revealed something to him. “You have siblings?”

“Oh yes,” she said emphatically, followed by a laugh.

He arched an eyebrow. “What does that answer mean?”

“I come from a big family. Blended, actually. There are seven kids, plus my parents—so a family of nine.”

His eyebrows shifted higher. “You weren’t kidding when you said big.”

“No, and—”

The waitress arrived and placed a sizzling dish of stuffed mushrooms in front of them.

After she left, both Damon and Audra placed one on their plates. Audra was the first to try it and hummed her satisfaction.

“Yeah?” Damon said.

“Really good.” She watched as he placed the appetizer in his mouth and then raised his eyebrows, clearly impressed.

“You know what? I think I’m gonna finish this on my own.” He pulled the dish toward him, and Audra grabbed his wrist.

“Hey! I want more too.” She dragged the dish back to the middle of the table.

He chuckled. “I guess I shouldn’t come between you and your food.”

“Never ever,” she advised, scooping out another mushroom and shooting him a mock angry look.

He grinned. “Okay, so finish telling me about your big blended family. Explain the dynamics of it.”

Audra finished chewing her bite. “My mother had three kids—me, my sister, and my older brother—when she met my stepfather, Benicio. He’s Mexican and had three boys of his own. Then they had a child together, a boy, the one we call the baby.”

“He’s number seven.”

“Exactly.”

“So, two girls and five boys.”

“Yes, and the boys were nightmares sometimes. They terrorized us.”

“But I bet no one ever messed with you.”

“Absolutely not. They could terrorize us, but no one else was allowed to. To this day, they’re very protective.”

“It would be nice to have a big family,” Damon said, a note of wistfulness in his voice.

“Being an only child, I understand why you would say that, but trust me—it wasn’t all fun and games.” Audra sliced a particularly large mushroom in half.

“I bet it wasn’t with seven kids. I’m sure there was plenty of chaos.”

“Mostly when we were younger,” Audra admitted. “Imagine blending not only families but cultures and having to deal with language barriers. It was… interesting at first. We had a housekeeper and a chef, but my mother learned to cook Mexican dishes. Then they had their own traditions for the holidays, which were different from ours. They’re Catholic, we were raised Baptist. You get the picture. Eventually, we started gelling, and you couldn’t convince me that my Mexican brothers are not kin.”

“That’s the way it should be. Family isn’t defined by blood. Family is in the connections we make and the bonds we build with people in our lives.”

He spoke with a fervency that caught Audra’s attention.

“Sounds like you know a little bit about that,” she commented.

For the first time, the smile on his lips seemed forced. “Long, ugly story. One of these days, I’ll tell you about it.”

“I guess that means I better stick around.”

“I guess so.”

The post Audra – The Prequel: Episode 7 appeared first on Romance Author Delaney Diamond | Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.