Cade swallowed, his throat dry. “Is Andie up for this? She’s had a long day.”
“I’m fine. All I’ve been doing is sleeping.” She wrapped her arms around her nightgown. Sometime during the evening, her mother must have roused her and changed her clothes.
“I’ll change the baby first.” Cade retreated from the kitchen toward the bedroom where his mother had been staying. Things were spiraling out of control, and he felt like the little Dutch boy with his fingers and thumbs in the dike.
Maybe it was better to let it out. Andie didn’t exactly remember him, but she hadn’t rejected him either. It was her mother who had to be convinced.
Outside, dogs barked under the window. Great. He’d forgotten to let Red and Gollie in. He changed Bret’s diapers and put him in a onesie, then wrapped him in a thin blanket. It was August, after all, and there was no sense overheating the poor little guy.
When he returned to the kitchen area, someone had already let the dogs in. Andie was on the floor with them, petting and kissing Gollie while Red sniffed at her, wagging his tail.
She looked up at him. “I remember Gollie. She’s my dog. Mom, I remember getting her from Fran, and then she got lost.”
Cade’s heartbeat ratcheted. Did she remember him driving her around looking for Gollie? He wished he could speak to Andie in private and figure out what she could recall, but he owed it to them to tell the truth, wherever it would lead.
“Here, let me take the baby,” Pam said. “I know you have to work tomorrow, so don’t worry about him. We’ll watch him since we’re staying with you.”
“Thanks, I’m really up a creek without a paddle.” He let her take Bret, then extended a hand to Andie. “Let’s sit on the couch in the living room.”
“I’m still not sure how I know you, but I’m ready to hear it,” she said, letting him pull her to her feet. Her fingers clasped around his. The connection between them was electric, warm, and real.
“I promise you the whole truth, but like your mom said, I won’t push memories into you.” It was enough that she trusted him. He’d have to earn her love all over again. Even though his heart was bursting and every yearning in his body was to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless, he’d have to move at her pace. He wouldn’t make the mistake of demanding her affection or claiming a spot in her memories. If she’d fallen in love with him once, hopefully she can do it again. The chemistry was more than enough, if she felt anything like he felt just from touching fingers.
Together they settled in the sunken living room on the expansive leather sectional. The shades were up and the night lights of Los Angeles twinkled below them, silhouetted by the tall spindly palm trees with heads like scruffy dogs.
He put his arm around Andie and drew her close, then kissed the top of her head, while her mother settled catty corner from them. She held Bret and put the bottle to his mouth. “I can’t believe what I heard about this baby, so maybe you should start there.”
It wasn’t the best place to start, especially since Andie appeared not to know anything about him, but he’d take it, since Pam seemed to have accepted her role in helping him with Bret.
“Sure, except right now, I need a promise from you two not to expose what I’m about to tell you, at least not until I have a plan. I haven’t figured out who is behind this scheme and which people can get hurt. I’m trusting you not to mention it, especially to Declan.”
“Sounds fair,” Pam said.
“Same here,” Andie agreed. “Declan’s already lied to me. He said all my clothes were destroyed in the car accident and pretended we had just gotten married, when in reality, two years had passed. I’m interested in figuring out all the missing pieces.”
“Okay.” Cade took a deep breath, unable to help the shudder that rattled his throat. “The baby is Roxanne’s and a married man’s child. I got roped in because I threw the game losing interception for the LA Flash in this year’s Super Bowl. I admit I slept with Roxanne New Year’s Eve, but I never suspected she could be pregnant. I met Andie in New York where I went on vacation after the Super Bowl, and Roxanne found me there. She claimed I got her pregnant, so I came back to LA and accepted the baby because Roxanne showed me a prenatal test which came back positive for me being the father. Once the baby was born, I scheduled another test with the blood drawn from the umbilical cord, but before I got the results, the real father called me. He told me he’s married to a rich woman and that if I didn’t claim the baby, he would say I purposely threw away the Super Bowl to help my sister’s gambling cronies. She’s in jail for racketeering and money laundering for the mob. This man also says he could put my mother in jail for embezzlement and that he put up the funds for the movie Andie’s working on about the life of King David.”
“Who is this man?” Andie’s mother asked. “Did he threaten Andie?”
“Only to the extent she would lose her job. Mostly it was my family and me. He could ruin my career.” Cade rubbed Andie’s arm gently as she leaned against him, still relaxed, even as her mother cross-examined him.
“But we’ve heard the gambling rumors already,” Pam said. “You’ve been cleared by the commissioner. Why would this man’s word be taken over yours?”
Cade swallowed a lump the size of a golf ball and bit his bottom lip. “He’s very powerful, and if I don’t have to tell you who he is, I’d rather not. My friend, the guy who’s putting up the movie, said it could get dangerous. I don’t know if we’re dealing with the mob or not. Apparently, it has something to do with the revitalization of Los Angeles and rebuilding projects, and of course there is the bookmaking and sports gambling connection.”
“I don’t get it,” Andie said. “Why you? Couldn’t he have paid off any guy without a job to claim the baby? I don’t see why he needs to blackmail you for something you’ve already been cleared from.”
“He said he trusted me to raise his son and love him.” Cade knew how stupid this sounded. Andie was right. Any halfway decent guy without money could have been chosen—someone less well known and less likely to draw attention.
“So, basically, your mother could go to jail and you could be disgraced,” Pam concluded. “It does sound weak. Did he offer you any carrots other than Andie’s job in the movie?”
This was the part Cade had not wanted to divulge. After all, Coach Settles claimed he had earned the part of starting quarterback. If word got out that he had traded his integrity for the job, he would be not just disgraced, but ruined.
“Nothing that I didn’t earn.” Cade hedged. After all, he’d refused that part of the deal. “He did say he’d pay for Bret’s schooling and expenses. I assume he made a similar deal with Roxanne.”
“Sounds like she’s cracking,” Pam said. “I heard her when she left. What did she mean get out of LA? Are we in danger?”
“I hope not.” Cade didn’t want to sugarcoat. “Trust me. I would never endanger you or Andie, but if I uncover anything, I will personally send you back to Itasca on the next flight.”
“So, the baby’s not mine?” Andie laid her hand on his chest and peered into his eyes. “Not yours either?”
“No, but I’m taking care of him until we figure out what the deal is with his real parents.”
She leaned into him and kissed him. “I feel like he should be ours. I feel like I’ve met him before and loved him.”
Her soft, tentative kiss was like a rebirth, filling him with hope and wonder. He’d never felt the same sense of belonging and being accepted as he did with her. And having once tasted this, he’d never want to let it go.
“We’ll see if it’s meant to be.” He couldn’t help kissing her back. “All I know is I love you, and with love, anything’s possible.”
“I don’t even know you, and I believe you.” She opened her mouth and melted into his kiss.
Chapter Nine
Andie took a nice long bath, making sure to shave her legs and fix herself up after her ordeal in the hospital. She was missing a pa
tch of hair where the doctors had operated and drained fluid from her brain, but fortunately, it was covered by the rest of her long, flowing hair. Besides, she could wear a bandana to be on the safe side.
The man, Cade, loved her. Could it really be possible that in the two years since she’d married Declan that she’d met and fallen in love with a rugged football player? One who was embroiled in a mess of scandals and intrigue? What must her mother think about her kissing Cade right in front of her?
Except it had all felt so right and so true. Every cell in her body was drawn to him, not only in a sexual sense, but in a way that felt elemental, that she belonged with him.
“Ready to video conference with your father?” Her mother knocked on the bathroom door. “I spoke to Aunt Helen and she’s figured out how to set it up. They’re on screen right now.”
“Let me put on some makeup.” Andie peered at her pale face. She really did look like a ghost with bags under her eyes. Her cheeks had thinned, making her face longer. The fringe benefit of being out cold for a week was that she’d lost ten pounds. She rubbed blush on her cheeks and brushed on a light coat of mascara. She picked over the cosmetics arranged on the counter and sniffed the perfumes. Everything was hers, but unfamiliar.
Except for Cade. Even though she couldn’t recollect a thing about him, he felt right—not to mention totally hot, strong, loving, and protective. If only her mother wasn’t such a prude and a stickler about that piece of paper she supposedly had with Declan, she’d be exploring her connection with him and enjoying it.
Andie spritzed the perfume with the lady bird on it, Dot by Marc Jacobs. It held a fun energy in it, and she was ready to tackle whatever came up. The kiss with Cade was still tingling on her lips. It wasn’t every day that a girl woke up like Sleeping Beauty to find a man like Cade professing love and devotion, all without her having a clue where he came from. The story he told about the baby, Bret, and the woman, Roxanne, was so bizarre it had to be true. Besides, he seemed honest and trustworthy—a man without guile—good people. And face it, how could she not fall in love with him?
“Andie,” her mother called. “Your father’s getting tired waiting. We set up the video already.”
“Oh, sorry. I kind of got lost in my thoughts.” She opened the door. “How do I look?”
“Pretty, as always.” Her mother had Bret in one arm as she leaned over and smoothed her hair back.
The screen in the bedroom, some kind of converted home theater, covered the entire wall. Her father and aunt smiled and waved.
“Dad!” Andie held her arms out as if to hug him. “I’m coming home as soon as I can fly. I can’t believe what happened.”
Her father had a tablet computer of some sort propped on an extension of his wheelchair. He moved a joystick with one hand, and a mechanical voice said, “I’ve missed you, sweetie. I’m doing okay.”
“Did Mom tell you I forgot two years of my life? I’m supposedly a consultant on a movie about King David. I’m also supposedly married to Declan and getting a divorce, and I met a guy named Cade this spring.”
Her father moved his hand. “You did. You were supposed to bring him to our house for dinner.”
“Do you like him?”
“I do, if you do,” Dad’s mechanical voice said. “I hear you’re taking care of a baby.”
Andie’s mother rocked Bret and brought him in front of the camera and said, “It’s a long story, but for now, we’re trading childcare for rent and food.”
“Cade’s awfully nice,” Andie said. “He reminds me of Phalti, Michal’s second husband.”
Her father nodded and smiled. He and Andie loved to gossip about ancient characters, especially the ones from Israel and Palestine, her father’s area of expertise in archaeology.
He fiddled with the joystick. “You never liked to talk about Phalti before. What changed?”
“Really? Did I not like him or what? I don’t think I knew much about him.”
“You did not believe Michal loved him, because your theory is that her true love is David.”
She and her father had often sparred over which one of David’s wives he loved the most, but they’d never talked about the men in Michal’s life.
“I’m not so sure anymore,” Andie said. “If you only look at the evidence, David is not coming off that well. He seemed jealous that she was the daughter of Saul, and he wanted badly to be Saul’s son-in-law. He also kept taking wives, even after Bathsheba.”
Her father threw his head back and laughed, in a jerky, uncoordinated manner. He wiggled the stick, and the voice said, “Does the change in heart toward Phalti have anything to do with the football player you’re crushing on?”
Andie’s cheeks burned and her heart fluttered. “A man’s devotion is worth so much more than a flattering womanizer. I figured out why Declan’s not right for me. He’s too cocky, and a lot like David. He told me I’m starring in the movie with him as his concubine. They made up a part for me, and all I get to do is serve him night and day.”
“Pah!” Her aunt Helen shook her head and sneered. “I never liked Declan. Did you, Pam?”
“Oh, no, but he’s legally still her husband,” her mother replied.
Dad was busy with the stick. Finally, the voice said. “I hope you get that divorce. Maybe I shouldn’t have indulged you when you associated Declan with David. Maybe it’s time we forget about the lives of people who are long dead, and time for you to live your own life.”
“I agree,” Andie said. “Even though I don’t remember what happened, I no longer want to live in the past.”
“Give me a hug,” her father’s mechanical voice said.
Andie approached the camera and pantomimed hugging him. “I love you, Dad. You too, Aunt Helen. I’ll be home soon.”
“We will,” her mother said. “I miss you, James.”
“We’re so glad Andie is okay,” Aunt Helen said. “Can’t wait for you guys to get back.”
Her father waved and the voice said, “I love you both.”
Even little Bret got in a few sounds. He kicked his little legs and wiggled when Andie’s mother handed him to her.
“Say bye-bye, Bret.” She kissed his silky little head.
Everyone oohed and ahhed when Bret said, “Oog-la.”
His eyes were as clear and blue as Cade’s. He really was a little cutie. Andie picked up his tiny little hand and waved while her mother said goodbye and cut the call.
“What should we do now?” Andie asked. “Shall we take Bret for a walk?”
“It would be good for you to get some exercise,” her mother agreed. “Cade said the stroller’s in the garage.”
Andie changed the baby’s diaper and dressed him in a baseball outfit. “We really should have a baby shower for him. Wasn’t there someone who was planning it?”
“I’m not sure you should get too attached to him,” Andie’s mother, always the voice of wisdom, said. “His mother could always come back and claim him.”
“I know, but he feels so much like Cade’s son. See those eyes? As blue and clear as Cade’s.”
“You think he was lying and Roxanne staged that fight for us?” Her mother crossed to her side. “Maybe we’ve been fooled.”
“No, I believe him. I don’t know why, but I just know he wouldn’t lie to me.” Andie put a baseball cap on Bret and held him up in front of her. “You’re just the cutest, sweetest little boy in the world.”
Whether he was Cade’s son or not, somehow holding the baby and taking care of him stimulated all of Andie’s maternal instincts. She’d always dreamt of having a family, but had never gotten out of the library to meet anyone that would make it possible. Now, all she had to do was lose two years of her life and wake up finding an instant family, including two dogs. Cool, huh?
Her mother got the stroller from the garage and brought it to the foyer entrance while Andie gathered Red and Gollie with their leashes with one hand while holding Bret with the other.
; “Let’s go,” her mother said, opening the door as the doorbell rang.
Red’s hackles rose, and he growled low in his throat.
“Oh, shit.” Gollie’s leash slipped from Andie’s hand.
“Well, well, well, at least someone’s glad to see me.” Declan patted Gollie. “How’s my lovely wife?”
“Not happy to see you at all.” Andie moved to slam the door, but Gollie’s butt was in the way.
“What’s gotten into you?” Declan pulled his phone from his pocket and took a picture of Andie holding the baby. “You really do know how to suck up to Cade Prescott. What do you want? His riches? That you’re willing to play nursemaid to every brat he fathers?”
“You blew it, Dec. It’s coming back to me now.” Andie glared at him. “You sent me divorce papers. You wanted to be free of me so you could play Romeo.”
“No, Andie. The only reason I’d divorce you is for the slut you’ve turned into.”
Slap!
Declan’s head whipped to the side, as Andie’s mother rubbed her open palm.
“Don’t you ever disrespect my daughter or bother her again.” Pam slammed the door.
Chapter Ten
The sun was hot and high in the sky, but Coach Settles was relentless. He yelled at Cade and his teammates through drill after drill. Cade must have dropped back and passed so many times, left, right, back, center, that he could have thrown his arm out of the socket.
Todd Irvin was looking sharp, completing pass after pass while Cade fumbled the ball, even at the snap.
“What’s the matter with you?” the coach dragged him aside. “You better turn in a stellar performance at this afternoon’s scrimmage or I’m starting Irvin this Saturday.”
“I’m trying, sir.” Cade blew out a breath and hustled back onto the field.
His arms and legs felt like sandbags the rest of the afternoon, and he was caught dozing off during the video review at the team meeting.
Intercepted by Love: Part Four: A Football Romance (Playing the Field Book 4) Page 5
