“How is everything?” she asked, surprised how normal her tone could sound when in reality her entire world had been turned upside down.
While she listened, Kyle relayed in great detail what had happened thus far.
“That’s good to hear,” Lily said finally. “I’ll pick him up at nine o’clock.” Which was way past her son’s normal bedtime. “Yes, I’ll see you then.” She ended the call, not sure whether she was more irked about the whole ordeal or relieved that her son was fine.
Gannon looked at her expectantly. She set her phone on the coffee table and sank down on the sofa, catty-corner from him. “Lucas seems to be having the time of his life with his cousins. Of course, the film crews are having a field day with all the footage.”
Gannon considered the implications. “Maybe that’ll help Bode get what he wants.”
“Yeah, well, what will help me?” Lily shot back before she could stop herself.
Gannon grinned and reached for her, as if he had just the answer.
She gasped as he hauled her onto his lap, and her makeshift cover came partially undone.
He pushed the edges of the soft throw aside even more. Her breath caught as his fingers skimmed the insides of her bare thighs. “Gannon...”
He tugged it all the way off and gathered her closer still. Pressing kisses in her hair, along the top of her ear, the nape of her neck, he growled playfully, “That’s Mr. Montgummy to you.”
She released a shaky laugh despite herself. Not sure whether she wanted to make love with him again, or run away, or both. All she knew for certain was that he made her feel vulnerable. He made her feel...loved. Aware what a ridiculously crazy notion that was, she tried to fight against it. But when he continued to look at her with all the tenderness she could have ever wished for, she could feel her heart opening all the more. “You’re going to make me cry.”
“Well, we can’t have that,” Gannon told her gruffly.
And then he made love to her all over again.
* * *
THE HOUSE PHONE rang as Lily stepped out of the shower.
It was still only eight o’clock, but she had insisted she and Gannon call a halt to any further amorous activity, just in case Lucas had another meltdown or decided he wanted to come home early.
Hurriedly, she wrapped herself in a robe and rushed downstairs. Gannon was already headed her way. “Did you get that?”
Gannon nodded. “It was Liz. She wants us to check the message boards for the Gladiators website. She said they’re going crazy.”
Lily turned on her computer. Together, they scrolled through the team’s site.
Lily blinked in surprise. “For every fan who feels sorry for Bode, there seem to be two or three who think he’s a deadbeat dad—at least when it comes to spending time with his son.” Her spirits lifted. “Maybe this won’t work out so well for him after all, then.”
Gannon grinned. “Could be, justice will prevail...”
Lily hoped so. In any case, they would soon find out.
* * *
“I GOT TO sit on Daddy’s lap and talk to the reporter” was the first thing Lucas said to Lily and Gannon once all his goodbyes and thank-yous were said.
Lily looked at Gannon, relieved to find she wasn’t the only one concerned. Doing her best to hide her inward tension, she put her son in her SUV. “During the putt-putt game?”
“No.” Lucas yawned and smiled at Gannon. “While we were eating our dinner. The reporter lady said I was cute. So did the PB&J lady.”
It took a moment for Lily to decipher that. “The PR lady?”
“That’s what I said.” Lucas beamed proudly. “She said the football fans were just going to go crazy over me and my daddy. An’ it was gonna turn the whole thing around...” Lucas’s small body sagged as he rubbed his eyes. “But that’s not even the best part. Mr. Cartoon...”
Lily paused to decipher the mangled name. Finally, she guessed, “Mr. Carter?” It made sense Rex would show up at something like that. “The man who used to be the mayor of Laramie?”
Lucas nodded. “He said that my daddy was going to come back to Laramie and eat the best chili and be a great big star of the festival, too! And Daddy said no problem, he would talk about it on TV.”
Of course, Lily thought. It wouldn’t have been Bode if there hadn’t been some sort of self-serving, aggrandizing publicity involved.
Chapter Eleven
Lily called Rex Carter as soon as she got Lucas to sleep. To no avail. The former mayor wasn’t answering.
Meanwhile, Gannon, who had rolled up his sleeves and loosened another button on his shirt, used her desktop computer to do his own research.
“Okay, it looks as though Bode taped an interview with ESPN—to be aired this weekend—and another with a local Dallas TV station that’s airing tonight on the ten o’clock news.”
It was a little stuffy downstairs, so Lily opened two windows in the family room. Cool evening air floated in, giving immediate relief.
“I can’t see it on TV—since we don’t get that channel on our cable—but we can watch it on the web.” She pulled up a chair.
Gannon scooted over slightly to make room for her. Still feeling warm, she took off her cardigan, or tried—one of the sleeves was stuck to her blouse. Gannon helped her.
Lily flushed, aware the last time he’d helped her remove an article of her clothing, they had ended up in bed, making love.
But this time, he was a perfect gentleman.
They waited anxiously through the breaking news headlines. A six-car crash on the Central Expressway. A school board vote. And finally, the third big story of the day. Bode Daniels.
First, they showed the Gladiators’ formal announcement regarding Bode’s future being read to the press by the current general manager of the team. Then Bode’s own comments in his abbreviated press conference that very morning.
“Fortunately,” the pretty sports reporter continued, “KJTW was able to get an exclusive interview with the renowned quarterback.” They cut to the tape. The same reporter appeared, asking questions. At first, the shoot was in the den of Bode’s Dallas home, where he sat surrounded by all his trophies, Gladiators paraphernalia and team photos. His wife was next to him. Smiling, too.
Toni Foley, the reporter, crossed her legs and leaned toward Bode urgently. “It’s public record that your future with the Gladiators is up in the air. But what do you say to those who blame you for the team’s losing season?”
With Viviana cheering him on wordlessly, Bode turned and looked straight into the camera. “I accept full responsibility for the Gladiators not making the play-offs last season. A team can only go so far without their QB being at the very top of his game. I wasn’t.” Bode paused, his expression fierce. “If contract negotiations go as I hope and I stick around next season, I will be a force to be reckoned with. I can promise you that. I don’t accept failure, and neither should anyone else who roots for me.”
Toni ruffled through the papers on her lap. “Some are saying your personal life is to blame here, too. Specifically, your estrangement from your four-year-old son with Laramie, Texas, mayor Lily McCabe.”
Lily moaned. “I wish they hadn’t mentioned that.” Now the town hall would be getting calls about that, too.
“Some are even questioning why Lucas does not carry your last name, but instead goes by the surname of McCabe.” Toni looked perplexed. “Was that your choice?”
“More like Viviana’s,” Lily fumed, as Bode reached over and clasped the supermodel’s hand. “She didn’t want any children but hers carrying Bode’s last name.”
On the monitor, Bode paused, clearly considering how to answer that. “I was never okay with that. But—” he straightened in his chair and pushed on “—it was what Lucas’s mother wanted, and it had
already gotten so ugly between us...” He paused, shook his head, playing the total victim now.
“Only because you refused to admit paternity and publically accused me of lying about it!” Lily wadded up a piece of paper and threw it at the computer screen.
Bode continued with a rueful shrug, as if asking for forgiveness. “I didn’t want to fight her on anything else at that point.”
“So the rumors are true? The two of you are in an ongoing custody battle for your son?”
Bode didn’t answer. But it was clear the answer to that was yes.
Lily groaned again.
Onscreen, Toni rushed on. “Is this what was distracting you last season? An inability to even see your only son?”
Bode glanced away a long moment.
“His PR team is probably mouthing the answers he should be giving,” Lily said, fuming.
“Probably,” Gannon agreed. He draped a protective arm around her shoulders and squeezed.
Finally, Bode looked back at the camera, with a mixture of feigned sadness and determination. “It’s a terrible thing when a father can’t see his son, but my lawyers and I are working to remedy that. And in fact, you’re welcome to tag along with us, Toni, to meet the little tyke, if you like...”
The next shots were taken at the putt-putt golf course in Laramie. Bode swinging Lucas up in his arms for a playful hug. Then later, sitting at one of the picnic tables, enjoying the local barbecue.
“Lucas,” Toni said, as the cameras moved in close. “Is this your daddy?”
Lucas basked in the attention. “Yes, it is!” Then he held up a toy Gladiators football for the reporter to see. “And he’s a quarterboy, too!”
Everyone laughed, as Bode corrected playfully, “Quarterback...”
“One more thing,” Toni said, reacting to a piece of paper just given her. “The word is you’ll be back in Laramie on Friday to be the grand marshal of the parade and head judge for the First Annual Laramie, Texas, Chili Cook-Off and Festival on Friday.”
“Wait a minute,” Lily cried, suddenly understanding what her son had tried to tell her. She turned to Gannon. “You’re the head judge and grand marshal!”
Gannon shook his head, seemingly impressed by all the machinations, despite himself. “Apparently, not anymore...”
Toni continued reading from the paper in front of her, “It’s a two-day event over Valentine’s Day weekend, folks, so if you want to see Bode in person and throw him your support, that would be a great time to do it!”
Bode looked straight into the camera and turned on his megawatt charm. “I hear there’s going to be dancing and music both nights. The food is going to be outstanding. And all proceeds go to the local charities. So my son and I hope to see you all there!”
The film cut.
“So there you have it,” Toni concluded with a satisfied smile over her exclusive interview. “Though whether or not Bode Daniels will remain with the Gladiators is yet to be seen...”
The story over, the newscast moved to the next piece.
Lily leaped to her feet. “I can’t believe any of that!” She shoved her hands through her hair, not sure whether to scream or cry, just knowing she wanted to do both. “Bode lied about me! Then he used Lucas to evoke sympathy for his plight.”
Nodding grimly, Gannon sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his broad chest. “And trampled all over you and your reputation in the process.”
Yet again, Lily thought. She looked at Gannon, knowing she had never felt this miserable. “He really is a bastard, isn’t he?” she whispered, pressing a trembling hand to her lips. “I mean, you were right when you told me I shouldn’t go out with him even once.”
Gannon rose and took her in his arms. He smoothed a hand down her back and held her close, pressing a kiss into her hair. “I might have had an ulterior motive there,” he confessed.
Lily drew back to see into his face. “What?”
He brushed a thumb across her cheek, the brooding look back in his eyes. “The fact I didn’t want you dating anyone but me.”
Lily extricated herself and stepped back. “But you had stopped asking me to go out with you by then! Stopped even wanting to be my friend, really.”
“I’ve never liked tilting at windmills.” With an impatient sigh, he continued, “Thinking I’d ever have any kind of future with you back then seemed like just that.”
Lily had barely had time to absorb that confession when her house phone rang. She rushed to get it before it could wake Lucas. It was Liz Cartwright-Anderson. Then her parents called—on her cell—which had a much softer ringer. Followed by all five of her sisters and a couple of her cousins, as well as friends.
Finally, Lily recorded a new message on her machine that said she was fine, she wasn’t alone and she would talk with everyone tomorrow.
And she realized, in amazement, turning off the ringer on her phone, she was fine. Mostly because Gannon was with her.
She hadn’t yet had a chance to catch him up on the latest. “Liz wants to meet at her office, after I drop Lucas off at school tomorrow, to craft a strategy to respond. I’m going to invite my immediate family.” She paused, not sure how he would feel about this. “I’d like you to come, too.”
He looked down at her, all calm, implacable male. “As a legal consultant to Liz?” he asked huskily.
A shiver of need swept through her. She took his hand in hers, clasped it warmly. “That, and my friend.”
Smiling with satisfaction, he wrapped his arm about her waist and drew her close. “Well, from one friend to the other, I don’t think you should be alone tonight,” he murmured.
“Don’t worry...I won’t be.”
“Oh, really?” he asked tenderly. “Who’s spending the night with you?”
Lily took another gigantic leap of faith. She looked deep into his eyes. “You. I hope. Although it will have to be on the couch, since Lucas might wake up, and I wouldn’t want him to think...”
Gannon hugged her close, and then gently kissed her temple and the top of her head. “I understand,” he whispered against her ear. “And I’d be happy to stay.”
For a moment, Lily luxuriated in the feel of the strong arms around her and the steady thrumming of his heart. It was a new experience, leaning on a man for support. She was surprised by how much she liked it.
Not that it was going to be easy, by any means.
Lily drew back slightly and tipped her head up to his, cautioning softly, “Reporters could show up here by tomorrow morning, hoping to get a comment from me.”
He studied her protectively. “You need someone to run interference?”
Lily offered a shaky nod. “And maybe get Lucas out the back door without being seen or accosted by reporters.”
* * *
AS IT HAPPENED, by six the next morning, there was one news truck in front of Lily’s house, setting up. Within half an hour, two more showed up. So she went out the front and told everyone she’d have an official statement and mini press conference for them at eleven o’clock at the town hall, while Gannon and Lucas slipped out the back, through her neighbor’s hedge and onto the next street over, where he had parked his truck.
Lucas got to preschool with no problem.
Lily went straight to Liz’s office, arriving about the same time as Gannon and the rest of her family.
Everyone was upset. Especially her parents. “The stuff they’re posting on the messages board at the news station and all the sports websites is just awful!” Violet declared. “The gist of the rumors is that this is all about money... That Lily is trying to shake Bode down for more...”
“Now, everyone who knows the facts of the case is aware that isn’t true,” Gannon muttered.
All turned to him in surprise.
The gle
am in his eyes was formidable. “I’ve read the file. I know, as well as probably everyone in this room, that Lily never asked Bode for one cent of child support.”
Silence fell. Family members nodded.
“But, as it happens, it doesn’t matter whether a mother wants a father’s financial assistance or not. The state of Texas feels any and all fathers should be fiscally accountable for their offspring,” Gannon continued firmly, with that same look of utter concentration and ruthless determination he had whenever he talked law. “So once paternity was established, Bode was deemed responsible for his son. The court awarded Lucas a sum based on what Bode would earn in a regular job, post pro-football career.”
He paused again, looking at one and all, before nodding reverently at Lily. “Lily easily could have fought that decision. Legally, her son was entitled to enjoy the same standard of living with his mother that he would have enjoyed with his father—at the time support was awarded.” As they locked eyes, his gaze gentled. “She didn’t do that.”
“For good reason,” Lily interjected, turning back to her folks. “I didn’t want things getting complicated unnecessarily.” She hadn’t wanted to see stuff like this happening. Hadn’t wanted it all to come down to money.
“Someone should speak out on behalf of Lily and make sure the public at large knows all of this,” Jackson McCabe said.
Lily could see her handsome and accomplished physician father was more than ready to do it. Which, in her view, would only make things worse. She cut in, angry now. “No. The financial arrangements are no one else’s business.”
“But we have to do something!” Lily’s mom said, upset. Like Lily’s dad, Lacey was wearing blue hospital scrubs. “The things Bode implied in that interview just aren’t true!”
Gannon and Liz exchanged lawyerly looks. Eventually, Gannon said, “If you go back and listen carefully to the interview, you’ll see how carefully parsed Bode’s actual words were. He implied he didn’t like his son not having his last name. He never actually said anyone prevented that from happening. Just that he didn’t want to fight Lily on anything more at that point.”
Lone Star Valentine (McCabe Multiples) Page 14
