Chapter 2
Chapter Two
D amon watched Audra nursing her soda while chatting with her friend across the room. He had to admit to being smitten from the moment he saw her talking to Jacob and her friend.
What was it about her? She was attractive, but he had his pick of attractive women.
She was petite with broad hips, full luscious breasts, and an ample behind prominently displayed in purple shorts. Coupled with her white top, the ensemble showed off the deep brown of her skin—a color akin to the deepest, darkest brown sugar. Her radiant smile, as she laughed at something her friend said, enveloped not only her pretty lips, but took over her entire face.
What fascinated him most of all was that Audra didn’t seem to be trying much. At least not as hard as some of the other women there. She didn’t seem to be trying at all, and the fact that she didn’t know who the hell he was intrigued him.
She glanced his way, her long thick hair swinging over one shoulder. Holding his breath, he was struck again by something electrifying. He smiled as his heart jerked out of control. She smiled back, letting her gaze drift away and back to her friend.
“Heyyyy, Flash.” A sexy woman with copper-toned skin sidled up to him.
“Hey…” He hesitated to say her name because he realized he wasn’t sure what her name was. Keisha? Tanisha?
“Lanisha,” she said, arching an eyebrow.
“I knew that.” A smile slid across his lips.
“Uh-huh.” She didn’t seem upset, which was good and bad. He didn’t want her to be offended, but at the same time, women let him off the hook too much.
“You having a good time?” he asked.
“I’d have a better time if I could have a moment alone with you, to talk,” she replied.
That’s right, he had promised her alone time and flirted with her and several other women in attendance—before Audra showed up and jacked his attention like a mugger with a gun.
“Maybe later? I need to circulate a bit and make sure everyone’s okay.”
“I understand, but don’t forget me.” She trailed a hand down his tattooed arm.
“I won’t.” He watched her sashay away, her pert bottom looking extra nice in denim capris. Life was good.
When he swung his head in the direction of Audra, he didn’t see her. His eyebrows snapped together. Where was she? She didn’t leave, did she?
He turned in a complete circle, and when he still didn’t see her, he walked over to Jacob. “Hey, have you seen Audra? She’s a sexy chocolate sister. Kinda short.She was with a blonde in a hot pink dress.”
“I wouldn’t mind having some sexy chocolate.”
“Did you see her or not?” Damon asked, not in the mood for his jokes.
Jacob smirked. “Why?” He took a sip of beer.
“I want to talk to her, that’s all. I hope she hasn’t left.” He swiveled his head left to right, scanning the room.
As the sun was going down, more people had arrived, and his condo was packed, resembling a club-like atmosphere with the loud music. He didn’t know most of these people, which under normal circumstances was fine, but Audra was short, and the crowded space made it difficult to find her.
“Are you in love ?” Jacob teased.
“Goddamn, I want to talk to her, not marry her,” Damon said irritably.
“You better not. All your other women will have a meltdown if you become monogamous.”
“I don’t have other women,” Damon grumbled.
“Tell them that, not me.” His friend chuckled. “To answer your question, I’ve seen Audra. She and her friend—Claudia—went out to the balcony. You better move fast if you want to get those digits. I saw Eddie heading out there, and you know he moves fast.”
An unreasonable amount of animosity toward his friend waved through Damon. Eddie was probably the biggest player on the team, and he didn’t discriminate when it came to race. If he saw a woman he was attracted to, he made a move on her. Damon couldn't allow his friend to swoop in on the one woman he was genuinely interested in.
With grim determination, he made his way toward the balcony, stopping a couple of times for a quick chat with guests. A number of people were outside, standing around or seated on the patio furniture—drinking, eating, and talking. He spotted Audra right away with her friend, and then there was Eddie, all up in their faces.
As he approached, Audra turned her eyes to him, which prompted Eddie to look over his shoulder to see what had caught her attention.
Slapping his friend on the shoulder, Damon said, “What’s up, Eddie? Everybody okay out here?” With the music locked behind the glass, conversation was easier.
“Yeah, I’m good, man.” Eddie was actually Eduardo, a mixed-race Cuban with dark hair and swarthy skin. The ladies loved him and his damn accent.
“Ladies?” Damon kept his eyes on Audra.
“I’m okay,” she said.
“Me too, although I could eat more of those shrimp things,” her friend said with a laugh.
“There’s plenty more of those in the kitchen. Eddie, could you show her where the food is? I’ll keep Audra company.” Hand still resting on Eddie’s shoulder, he squeezed, sending a signal to his friend.
“Uh, yeah, no problema . I can do that. Claudia, venga conmigo .” Eddie extended his arm.
Claudia shot a quick look at Audra, making sure she was okay being left alone with him.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll wait here,” she said.
“Be right back.” Claudia took Eddie’s arm and let him escort her inside.
Damon took a moment to take in Audra—the luscious curves, the full sexy lips, the smooth dark skin, and her long hair. “You’re still here.”
“I decided to hang around a little longer. The food’s good.”
“That’s the only reason?”
“And Claudia’s my ride, so…” She shrugged.
Damn, Audra was going to be a tough nut to crack, but he was up for the challenge. Time to pour on the charm.
Damon leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Listen, I wasn’t completely honest with you earlier.”
“Oh?” One of her eyebrows climbed higher.
“I’m the owner of this condo and the host of the party. I’m The Flash. They call me that because I’m fast on the field.”
She let out a cute laugh. “No, you’re not. If you were The Flash, you would have told me.”
“I’m telling you now.”
The smile evaporated on her face, and the circumference of her eyes expanded. “Tell me you’re joking. Please.”
“I’m not. I’m Damon ‘The Flash’ Foster.”
Her mouth slowly opened in shock, and all he could think about was tugging her lower lip between his teeth. Audra covered her face with one hand and muttered something that sounded like “Ohmigod.”
Finally, she looked at him with embarrassment etched into her features. “I’m so sorry for getting your name wrong in the kitchen and the smart remark I made about your decorating. Actually, now that I think about it, I really like the minimalist approach.”
Damon bit back a laugh. “Now you’re lying.”
She made an unconsciously sexy move, looking up at him with her big brown eyes and sinking her teeth into the corner of her mouth. His eyes dipped for a second to her lips. He was jealous of her teeth.
“Don’t worry, I’ve been called worse things than Shazam. I thought it was pretty funny. But, if you want to make up for your bad behavior… how about you let me take you out to dinner.” He locked eyes with her.
She seemed taken aback and let out a soft laugh, averting her gaze to the parking lot below.
“What did I say that was funny?” Damon asked.
“I’m flattered, but I’m not interested.”
She was actually turning him down. Huh. That was new. Now he was the one taken aback.
“Why not? You think I’m ugly or something?”
“No!”
He almost busted out laughing at her mortified expression.
“Actually,” she continued in a careful voice, “you’re very handsome, but… let’s be honest, okay? You could have your pick of any woman here. Matter of fact, I’ve seen you in action, flirting and whatnot. You have plenty of choices at this party.”
“I’m not going to deny I have options, but I’m not interested in the other women here. I’m interested in you, Audra Connor.” He continued to make eye contact so there would be no question about his sincerity.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” Damon asked. Heat flushed his neck because he was starting to sound desperate.
“Because…” She paused, then seemed to change her mind about what she planned to say. “I’m not interested in getting involved with anyone right now. To be honest, you remind me too much of my ex.”
“He’s handsome, funny, and filthy rich?”
She laughed again, and it was the prettiest sound. “No. He’s untrustworthy and not into commitment.” The resigned sadness in her voice cut through him.
Some other man had messed things up for him. Bastard.
“I’m nothing like that,” Damon insisted.
Okay, maybe that wasn’t exactly true. Commitment was a foreign word to him, but he could be trustworthy. He tended to lay his cards on the table. Most women understood he wasn’t a one-woman man. Why would he be? He was only twenty-seven years old, in the prime of his life and the peak of his career. Settling down was the furthest thing from his mind.
“I’m sure you’re a great guy, Mr. Flash.”
“Mr. Flash?”
“Damon.” A teasing smile lifted the corners of her mouth. She was messing with him. “But I don’t date famous men, or men chasing fame. They come with too many negatives. It’s nothing personal.”
“So that’s it? There’s nothing I can do or say to change your mind?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Claudia and Eddie returned, both of them carrying small plates of the shrimp tartlets the caterer had made for the party. They were always a hit.
“These are so good,” Claudia popped one in her mouth.
“I better get some before they’re all gone. Come show me where they are.” Audra dragged a stumbling Claudia behind her and back inside.
Eddie sauntered closer. “Struck out, hermano ?”
Damon stared after them until they disappeared among the rest of the guests. “I never strike out. I ain’t even gone up to bat yet.”