“More like you know how to fall.”
“In love.” He pressed a kiss on her sweet lips. “Now that you have me, you’ll never get rid of me.”
“I’d never want to.” She hooked her arms around him and molded her body to his.
* * *
Cade’s even breathing showed he’d fallen asleep almost immediately. Andie lay in the bed, stiff and still to not disturb him. Even though exhaustion tried to pull her eyelids shut, she couldn’t relax.
It wasn’t just Gollie who might be pregnant, but Andie, too. Everything had happened so fast, been so beautifully perfect, that she hadn’t asked Cade to stop and put on a condom. But then, she couldn’t blame him. He’d been loopy on pain meds and his emotions had been tumbling all over the place from the near disaster.
He’d been so sweet and loving, and part of her wanted to believe he was the one.
Except, what would she do if she were pregnant? She didn’t make enough with her librarian job to move out, and her parents needed her paycheck for groceries and living expenses.
If she hit up Cade, she’d ruin the trust he’d put in her of loving him without strings and demands. From the way he’d reacted to her suggestion of “puppy support,” she could tell he was suspicious of gold diggers. Besides, his heart was vulnerable from being rejected as a baby, and he would never believe that she loved him and not his celebrity status or the money he seemed to have, despite trying to hide in a dumpy apartment.
In fact, he might end up accusing her of getting pregnant just to trap him!
Miserably, Andie buried her face into her pillow and wept. Life would have been a whole lot easier had she stuck to studying the lives of King David and his many wives. Back then, if David got anyone pregnant, he simply married her and added her to his harem.
* * *
Cade was hurting, when he woke. Every muscle he didn’t know he had screamed and complained.
He stretched and checked the clock radio, then sat up, rubbing his eyes.
Where was Andie?
He’d been looking forward to waking up next to her this morning and every morning after. The suite was too quiet, and the bathroom was dark inside.
“Andie?” Grunting with pain, he hobbled to the bathroom and turned on the light.
A note was taped on the mirror.
Sorry, Cade. I have work in the morning, so I called my mother to pick me up. I had a wonderful time with you, and I’ll always cherish the moments we spent together. You will always be precious to me. Never forget that. Bye, Andie.
Bye? As in goodbye for now, or forever?
Cade reached for the phone and punched in her number, but before she picked up, he hung up.
He’d let her have her space. Maybe this had been too much, too fast. Either that or she’d spied his colored contact lenses on the counter and figured him for an axe murderer after all.
Chapter Eighteen
“Mom, I’m fine.” Andie helped her mother empty the dishwasher the next morning. “He’s okay too. Nothing’s broken, but I’m sure he’s going to be sore.”
“Shall we go by later and help him get back to his apartment?” Her mother set out two coffee mugs. “It must be hard for him not have any relatives around.”
“He’s used to being alone and traveling. Besides, I think he’s more comfortable there.”
“Okay, well, we’d love to meet him. Maybe he can stop by for dinner?”
Andie accepted the cup of coffee and stirred sugar and cream into the mug. “When he feels better. He’s on muscle relaxers and heavy pain drugs. Besides, you need a rest. Why don’t I cook and watch Dad tonight and you can go out with friends.”
Mom squeezed her shoulder. “You’re a sweetie. I’ve been meaning to pay a visit to Fran. I can’t believe she charged us for Gollie’s spaying and never carried through with it. I’m going to ask for our money back.”
“Maybe she had some unexpected expenses. Times are tough for everyone.”
Her mother wiped her gray hair from her eyes and sighed. “Tell me about it. Your father’s medicines are so expensive. I hate to have to ask you if you can cover the electric bills. I know you’ve been trying to save a little nest egg for when you move out.”
Andie set her coffee cup down. “I’ll do it. I don’t think I’ll be moving out any time soon.”
“Are things okay with Cade?” Her mother gave her a sidelong glance while she stirred milk into her cereal.
Andie took a deep breath. “He’s wonderful, but I’m trying not to think about what’ll happen when he leaves. He says he’s some kind of celebrity and he travels around the country. I’m not sure he’s the type to settle in this small town.”
“You’ve just met him. You don’t know what he would or wouldn’t do.” Mom pressed her hand and smiled. “Take it a day at a time and seize every moment. That’s what I’m doing with your dad. Every moment he’s with me is precious. Things could change at any time. But all we have is now, and a life built from nows.”
Andie bit her lip and nodded. “How’d you get so wise?”
“I’m your mother, of course. When you’re ready, let’s change your father’s bed. The doctor’s visiting today.”
* * *
Andie was ten minutes late when she strolled into the Opp Library. She hurriedly stowed her purse in her desk and booted up her computer to check her emails.
She’d meant to call Cade. It wasn’t as if she left on bad terms, but time slipped by. Her father was having a difficult morning. He refused to communicate and kept his face turned away from her mother.
She didn’t know how much longer her mother could shoulder the entire burden, but they had no money to hire a home health aide, and sending Dad to a nursing home or care facility was against her mother’s wishes.
“Yoohoo, I see you had too much fun this weekend.” Andie’s boss, Margo, sauntered into the office and plopped herself into the guest chair. “Wait till I tell you what I found out about that creeper guy who’s been stalking around.”
“Huh? What?” Andie brushed the hair from her face and shut her email. “There’s a creeper here?”
The library tended to draw in people from the community seeking shelter for a few hours. The comfy couches and restrooms provided them with a few hours respite from the cold weather.
“Yeah, you’ve met him. In fact, I saw you walk off with him Friday evening.” Margo’s eyebrows drew together and her nostrils flared. “He’s not who you think he is.”
“You mean Cade?” Andie’s nerves sizzled while warning bells flashed.
“Yep. I caught him defacing library materials.” Margo jutted her jaw with a bulldog demeanor. Her pudgy arms shook with barely suppressed anger.
Andie’s jaw dropped. “He wouldn’t do that. He knows how precious our collection is and how rare some of our manuscripts are.”
“I have proof. I caught him in the act. Follow me.”
Margo marched into her office and picked up a clear plastic unsealed evidence bag. “Sport Holler, the gossip rag of players and playees. Let me pull on gloves before handling.”
“Gloves? Are you calling the police?”
“Maybe, maybe not. But look carefully.” Margo spread the crinkly cover over her desk pad. “Who does that look like?”
The headline read “Not O-Cade,” and the byline said, “Losing quarterback despondent. Will he be let go?”
The man on the cover was a long-haired, non-bearded version of Cade, except his eyes were blue, which explained the colored contacts he’d left in the bathroom.
Andie sank to the guest chair in her bosses office. “Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Maybe he’s gone off the deep end. You see what the article says?” Margo turned the pages and read, “Los Angeles Flash backup quarterback, Cade Prescott, is no stranger to trouble. A reformed juvenile delinquent and born to an alcoholic, he’s had impulse control issues since birth. After starting quarterback, Todd Irvin, was injured in the third quarter o
f the Super Bowl, the Flash tapped Prescott to handle the final drive. He delivered an incredible seventy-five yard drive only to blow it when he called his own play at first and goal, explicitly disobeying his coaching staff. Prescott refused to explain his actions and disappeared shortly after the game. No one knows his whereabouts and there are questions on whether he’s met with foul play or worse.”
His last name was Prescott and not Preston? No wonder she hadn’t located any dirt on him. Poor Cade must have been so ashamed of his big screw-up.
“Stop, stop.” Andie clutched her hands over her mouth. “He’s obviously hiding out because he’s sorry for what he did. I have to find him, Margo. Is it okay if I take time off?”
“Why? Are you involved with him? Actually, if you do find him, bring him here. I’d like an exclusive interview with him in exchange for me not taking this evidence bag to the police. Now that we know who he is, the police will be very interested to find out that he’s defaced library material in our fine town.”
“But, Margo, it’s just a sports gossip rag. I’m sure he offered to replace it. It’s not like this is one of the original Book of the Dead papyri."
“Library material is library material.” Margo thumped her thick hand on her desk. “You may have the day off, but only if you bring Cade over. Who would have thought? A pro quarterback for the LA Flash. Maybe he can swing tickets for their opener in that brand new stadium they have in the Hollywood hills.”
“I doubt he wants to give interviews or hand out tickets.” Andie’s heart was beating like a bat escaping a cave. “Please leave him alone. He must have come here to find peace.”
Margo snickered and crossed her arms. “You’re so naïve. Now that you know his real name, why don’t you find out what he’s really running from? The website of Sports Holler is a good place to start.”
“Let me speak to him first, I’m sure he has a good explanation. I know I don’t have any vacation days left since my father’s illness, but I need to go.”
“Sure, go ahead. Just don’t hold out on me.” Margo tapped her cell phone. “Hold still.”
“What?”
Flash. Margo took a picture of her.
“What was that for?”
“Congratulations, Andie. You’re about to become a celebrity.” Her boss rubbed her hands together while a Cheshire cat like grin slithered over her face.
Chapter Nineteen
Cade ached all over, but he skipped taking the muscle relaxers. Now that Andie was gone, there was no reason to lounge around at the ski lodge. He needed to get back to town, get his cell phone replaced, and see about the dog reward.
Besides, he also had to check in with his agent. If he wanted to move from Los Angeles, he had to put out feelers now and see whether he could get out of his contract. The closest pro team was the Buffalo Warthogs in western New York.
After checking out of the lodge and picking up Red, he drove back to Itasca. Traffic was slow, and he passed several news vans parked near the university. After being detoured around the campus, he arrived at his apartment.
“Come on, boy,” he said to Red. “I bet you need a walk.”
Oh boy was he stiff. Getting out of the SUV was more like rolling out, and he hung onto the frame to ease his muscles so he could stand straight.
As soon as he opened the back door, Red leaped out, knocking him back. Cade’s arms windmilled, and he grabbed onto a street sign just in time.
“Red, Red, get back here,” he yelled. “Red.”
Cade tore off after his dog. What had gotten into him? Maybe being penned up at the ski lodge had done a number to his obedience training. He’d remind his dog-walker to take the dog to refresher lessons once he returned to California.
Woof. Woof. Red darted across a two lane highway and barely missed getting hit. Cade loped a little further up the road before cutting across traffic.
A golden red streak charged toward Red, then bounced around wagging her tail. Gollie!
She ran circles around Red and pounced on him playfully with small excited yips.
Cade lunged and grabbed ahold of Red’s collar. “Come on, boy. We got to get Gollie back to her owner.”
Gollie wagged her tail and sniffed Cade, but when he tried to grab her, she shied away. The last thing Cade needed was to lose Andie’s dog. If she was still in heat, maybe Red could mount her and then while they were stuck together, he could get ahold of the female dog.
Good plan.
He ruffled Red’s fur and let him go. “Go get her.”
Sure enough, the dogs pranced around in a mating dance, flirting and wagging their behinds. They trotted up the hill toward the campus, and Cade could do nothing but follow closely.
Their antics got the attention of the students passing by. Several whipped out their cell phones and pointed them at the dogs. There was a lot of laughter and joshing by the guys and squeals from the girls.
Great. Just great. His dog was going to be in a viral video. But he couldn’t afford to lose Gollie at this point and have Andie pissed, so he stood back and waited for nature to take its course.
* * *
Andie charged out the library and wound her way through the campus toward College Town. She’d called the ski lodge and they told her Cade had checked out. She’d go to his apartment and wait.
Would he be upset with her for finding out his identity? But then, it wasn’t like she snooped or anything. Margo had hit her over the head with it. In any case, she had to get to Cade and let him know she wasn’t after his money or fame. A pro football player. That explained his awesome physique and tolerance of pain. But athletes were some of the worst types of guys to settle down with. They were always on the road and they had oodles of cash, which meant hordes of easily available women. A guy like that wouldn’t be satisfied to settle down with a small town librarian.
The campus seemed awfully crowded. Students milled outside the student union, and there was a large crowded gathered in the engineering quad near the bridge to College Town.
Guys were holding up cell phones and hooting, and the snow was packed by all the foot traffic. What was going on?
As she walked by, she heard girls squealing.
“Oh my, that’s so nasty.”
“The poor dog. He’s attacking her.”
“Oh yeah? She’s getting the best fuck of her life.”
“Go, boy. Woohoo!” Male voices shouted and laughed.
Typical students. Some dogs having sex, and they go wild.
She skirted around the crowd and cut under an overhanging tree, but her way was blocked by the voyeurs.
This was getting freaking ridiculous. She hopped onto a low wall to get around, when her mouth dropped wide open.
“Gollie. Gollie!” She jumped, slipped on the ice, and fell off the wall. A man picked her up. “You okay?”
“No, I’m not. That’s my dog. Get away from her, you brute, you …”
The male was Red. Cade’s dog. What was he doing here, and where was Cade?
Fury exploded from Andie’s chest, and she charged forward, her hands in fists. “Leave my dog alone. Leave her alone.”
She launched herself at Gollie and grabbed her collar. “You can’t keep doing this. You’re going to get pregnant.”
Gollie licked her face, seemingly oblivious to the male dog rutting at her tail end.
“You sweet, sweet girl. What are we going to do with you? And where the hell is Cade?” She held onto her dog and looked around.
OMG. Cell phones were trained on her and the dogs. The guys were leering, and the girls had their mouths covered, giggling. In a few short minutes, these videos would be uploaded to clouds worldwide.
No wonder Cade was no where to be seen. That chicken shit was probably hiding while his lech of a dog was doing the dirty work.
Sure enough, Red was done, but stuck. He had the gall to lick her hand. Ewww … and act like he was her friend, wagging his tail as he panted with satisfaction and the biggest dog
gie smirk she’d ever seen.
Now that the action was over, the students dispersed to go to their classes. Now came the twenty to forty minute wait.
Andie knelt on the ground and hugged her dog. No matter what, she was glad to have her back, even if she had several doggie biscuits in the oven.
“Hey, looks like you found your dog,” Cade said, appearing at her right side. “You happy?”
“Where were you this whole time?” She lifted herself from the snowy ground. “Were you standing back watching?”
“I’m thinking I owe you a latte with white chocolate and peppermint candy canes.” His mouth curved with a lazy grin.
It was his eyes, however, that caught her heart. They were clear blue, the brightest blue she’d ever seen. His true color. She touched his face and stared into them, mesmerized.
“Your eyes, Cade. They’re blue.”
He blinked and turned away. “I’ll get the lattes.”
“No, don’t go.” Her hands snaked around his waist. “I know who you are. Margo showed me the magazine you defaced.”
His shoulders sagged and his face drooped. “I don’t know what to say. You’re not mad, are you?”
“No, why should I be? I shocked, and I don’t know what to think, but you’re still you under the fake name and colored contacts.”
“Did you read what they wrote about me?” His voice was guarded.
“Margo read some of it to me, but Cade, I don’t believe everything I read in the press. It’s just like all the things they said about King David. A historian’s job is to figure out the truth by analyzing the actions of all the players, and not just what was told about them.”
“I wish everyone thought like you.”
She tipped on her toes and drew his head down for a kiss. “Everyone’s not as smart as me.”
“Oh, Andie, you’ve just made me the happiest man in the world.” He bent toward her and captured her lips.
Intercepted by Love: Part One: A Football Romance (Playing the Field Book 1) Page 9
