Page 25 of Absolute Valor

The best relationships are the ones you didn’t expect to be in, the ones you never saw coming.

—Unknown

“I’m not with Lucas in the sense we are in love, or even a traditional couple. He and I have never exchanged those words, he wouldn’t have meant them if he had. Lucas is the type of man who when he has a need, he takes care of it. I’m more selective and still want to believe in the fantasy of a white picket fence and loving husband.” Audrey took a deep breath as she turned her face away from mine, looked out into the open parking lot, shakes her head, and then looks back at me.

“Yes, I was crying, but not because of something you did…well not entirely. I didn’t feel comfortable keeping the money. I didn’t earn it, and I would have worried what it was going to cost me in the long run.” Her eyes plead with me to understand where she was coming from. A part of me does, but the core of me, the side where I can’t let a lady open her own door or buy her own lunch, is protesting for me to tell her we can’t stop being who we are.

“Audrey, let me ask you somethin’.” I returned the look she gave me seconds ago. “You seem to stand pretty firm on how you want to take care of yourself, worried about the underlying motives of kindness. Clearly this comes from your upbringing; somethin’, or someone, taught you to feel this strongly about it.” She glanced to the ground and back to me, nodding her head in agreement. “It’s the same for me when I’m trying to take care of you, my momma, or any other lady I have in my life. It’s a part of me, just like taking care of yourself is a part of you. Question is,” I placed my thumb alongside her jaw. “How do we balance the two and make us work.”

Her eyes are full of doubt, and something tells me Audrey Helms is a show-me type of girl. She may not be in a relationship with this fuck stick Lucas, but he has damaged her and made her believe some bullshit he concocted to make himself feel better. Motherfucker better believe if I catch his ass on the street, it won’t be pretty.

“How about we start with you letting me buy you dinner tonight? No strings, no expectations, only a platform so I can tell you the story behind the necklace you’re wearing.” I can see the wheels turning in her head with the way her eyes were flicking back and forth. She is waiting for the court jester to come out and laugh, to tell her she’s on one of those reality shows. “It’s against my better judgment, but I’ll even take you to one of those chain places, not spending more than what you shoved back at me.” I grinned, tapping the place in my pants where the cash still sits after she shoved it there earlier. Audrey tries hard not to smile, dropping her eyes as she shakes her head back and forth. Lowering myself so as she can’t avoid me, I meet her eyes. “Is that a yes?” I pull her hands toward me, my body still lowered to her eye level.

“Yes,” she answers, her giggles filling the air around us. I can’t help myself as I engulf her in a hug, lifting her feet off the ground and spin her around. Her head is tossed back with her laughter, and it would be so effortless to lean in and kiss the spot where her neck, and shoulder meet. Today I will resist, keeping my word to her of my intentions coming with no strings attached. Someday, and I hope it will be soon, my lips will touch the skin of her neck and every inch which covers her body.

“Come on, Audrey, before they send a search party out for us.” I’m unable to bring myself to release her completely, but I’ll take holding her hand for now. Tonight, we will sit down and have dinner in a restaurant I know she will fuss about, but there are no chain restaurants on the ground where our hotel is located. Maybe it was wrong of me to swear to her we can go out cheap. Granddaddy would have called it a matter of angles, as the money in between my underwear and skin will cover the tip.

As we approached the crowd, which had thinned considerably, I feel Audrey slow down slightly. Glancing over my shoulder, I see her eyes fixed on something to our right. Following where her gaze landed, I see what Dylan had warned me about when we got the bikes out of the trailer this morning. Meghan Price stood with her friends surrounding her, her bright red hair blowing in the breeze, a solo cup in her hands.

“You know Meghan?” I curiously test the waters with Audrey. Meghan could be a real pill when she wanted, thinking her family name carried more weight than it did.

“No, never saw her before today.”

Pulling her up beside me, I exchange her hand for her shoulders, wrapping my arm around her. “Meghan Price, only daughter of Melvin Price and heiress to the family fortune—if there is any left. She thrives on attention. She will do most anything to piss off her daddy and get her picture in the papers. Today, her search includes riding half naked on the back of an old dude’s bike.” Audrey’s eyes are squinted, mulling something over in her mind. “Tomorrow, it will be something, or someone, else. I’m surprised she showed up today, on account of her being afraid of Miss Priscilla.” Audrey looked up at me, surprise in her eyes and her gaping mouth. “Oh yes, Priscilla Morgan does not care for Meghan or any of her followers. About two years ago, she tried everything she could to get Dylan into her bed. Momma called her up and had a nice conversation with her. Which is why I’m surprised she showed up today.” It was mostly the truth, although an abridged version at best. I personally wasn’t there for the conversation, but I did get an email from Dylan on how he watched a miracle, the day when our sweet, loving momma dropped an F-bomb.

“Looks like they’re about ready to head out.” Pointing at my brothers putting their gear back on. Our plan had been to ride back with the others who signed up for the run. Austin had made a comment about how close to Florida we would be, and how it would be a shame not to see our girls in next to nothing, drinking something cold by the ocean. At the time, I was picturing Harmony, funny how life has a way of changing plans and creating new ones.

“Lainie mentioned only the fam—I mean only ya’ll were going to Florida, not the whole group.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to hide my smile at the truth behind what she thought slipped out. “You had it right the first time, Sweetness. The family is going on down to Florida.”

Having Audrey on the back of my bike, knowing how much trust she has to have in me, is pretty much the most incredibly amazing and fucking frustrating feeling in the world. Where I love having her close, I can’t touch her as much as I want; a squeeze to her leg or tugging at her hand isn’t enough. I’d never let a thing happen to her, not even if she decided she doesn’t want what is brewing between us.

Austin took the lead as we turned off the highway just inside the Florida state line. He’d researched the shit out of this resort, wanting to make an impression on Lainie. With all the shit the two of them have been through this year, they deserved some time alone. I hope she isn’t too pissed about what he has planned for her.

Crossing over bridges and down winding roads, I can feel Audrey moving her head from side to side, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the ocean. Omni Amelia Island Resort, the white lettering standing out against the gray stucco marquee. Manicured flowerbeds greeted us as we turned onto the gated entry. Huge palm trees lined the road as we followed Austin down the long drive.

I can imagine the panic settling inside Audrey as we rounded the entrance, parking beside cars of high value and assumed prestige. Austin was already off his bike and jogging up to the check in desk—a man on a mission. I pulled alongside Dylan, his head shaking as he laughs behind Austin back.

“Oh, my God.” I heard momma say as I removed my helmet. Austin has shown us so many pictures of this place in the last few days that I’m no longer impressed, just anxious to see it through Audrey’s eyes. “Where did he find this place?” I wanted to roll my eyes, but I know she’ll slap me hard if I do. Coming here is important to Austin and, by association, important to me. His need to disappear for a little while later will fall perfectly into my plans of talking with Audrey.

Extending my hand out, I offered her help from the bike. “You ready, Sweetness?” As she stands beside the bike, her expressive eyes taking it all in. A young valet rushes over, wide eyed at the prospect of climbing on one of these bad boys and parking it.

“Afternoon, Sir, welcome to the Omni Resort.” Audrey spins around, her helmet falling to the ground in the process. “Sorry, Miss, didn’t mean to startle you.” The attendant bends over, retrieving her helmet from the pavement before I can get the rest of the way off my bike.

Not liking the way he is looking at my girl, I take the helmet from his outstretched hand. “Thanks, Dexter, but I’ve got her.”

He finally takes me in, as I tower a foot above him. His eyes and his head keeps moving up as he swallows hard, and then scurries off.

”Chase,” Momma scoffs. “Behave.”

I ignore her, only because Audrey is gigglin’; twice in one day I’ve managed to make her happy and I ain’t done yet. Austin comes back out just as Momma was about to say something else. Daddy is shaking his head and whispering to Dylan.

“Okay, I got everyone their room keys and pool passes.” He starts handing out credit card shaped keys, with the hotel’s name on them. Audrey looks at hers as if it’s about to do back flips or something. “We’re all on the same floor. I put Audrey across from Momma and Daddy, right next to you, Chase. Dylan, you and Claire are on the other side of him and Lainie and I are clear down at the other end of the hall.”

Audrey hasn’t taken her eyes off the key; she keeps turning it round and round in her hand. “Sweetness, you okay?” She blinks a few times and then starts to say something, but I don’t give her the chance. Knowing she chose living in a closet over renting a hotel room for the night, it doesn’t take much to guess what’s running through her head. “You didn’t think we would make you sleep in a bathtub now did ya?” By the blank look in her eye and lack of words, I knew I hit the nail on the head. “Come on,” I chuckle, pulling her close as we get ready to head in. “A cold beer and the pool are calling my name.” The automatic doors open and the welcome chill of the air-conditioning hits me in the chest.

“Wait, aren’t you going to park the bikes in the lot?”

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