“You can’t pin this one on me.” Roxanne glared at her in the mirror. “You think I have the kind of money to buy drugs for her?”
Strange. How did she know the heroin was high grade stuff?
“Well, if I were you, I’d be careful who I let take care of my baby. This little guy’s so precious. Aren’t you sweetie?” Andie shut off the faucet and dabbed him dry with a towel. “Next, we put diaper rash ointment on him.”
“You guys are doing just fine. Since you came along, I figured Cade wasn’t going to marry me, so why should I care about his baby?”
“Uh, Roxanne, the baby isn’t his, and he’s taking way better care of Bret than you are.”
Roxanne’s eyes widened, and she pointed her fingernail at Andie. “Who told you? Cade?”
“I was there when you two had that big argument. Remember when you stormed out of the kitchen?” Andie gave Bret a kiss on his tummy and laid him on the changing table.
“You’re not supposed to know the deal, but since you’re in on it, let me tell you, I was coerced into having this baby. Yes, forced.”
“Oh, give me a break.” Andie wiped cream onto Bret’s behind and fastened the tapes of his diaper. “You didn’t have to even tell whoever that rich guy was that you were pregnant, unless you wanted money. I bet that was it, wasn’t it? They paid you off to have the baby, and now both of you want to dump it on Cade. You slept with all these guys before deciding which one would be the one you’d nail by faking the paternity tests.”
“That’s not how it went down.” Roxanne crossed her arms and shrugged. “Since you don’t know, I’m not telling.”
“Whatever, like I’d believe you.” Andie dressed the little baby and cuddled him. “If you want to sign away your parental rights, go ahead.”
“Actually, since you love my son so much, I’m going to need a little incentive.”
Grrr … What a money hungry, greedy witch. No wonder both Gollie and Red hated her. Andie had a glimpse of the witch wearing furs—precious pelts cut from animals. Where would that have been?
She turned away from Roxanne and exited the bedroom, barely able to control herself. What she wouldn’t give to rip her a couple of new orifices, and that was putting it politely. Cade was way too naïve thinking Rox would move back in and take care of her own baby.
“Well? What’s he worth to you?” Roxanne’s heels clickety clacked over the river rock floor in the great room.
A lightbulb flashed, and Andie twirled around so fast she almost tripped. “I might have a job for you. He’ll be much easier to take care of than this little guy. I can’t pay you, but I promise you the reward would be excellent and well worth your time.”
“Oh, really? And who’s this guy that’s so easy?”
“He’s really easy, Rox, and easy on the eyes, and well, ahem.” Andie licked her lips and faux-sighed, trying to look dreamy. “He’s ultra hot but needs some tender, loving nursing care.”
“How old is he?” Rox’s eyebrows narrowed over her forehead. “I’ve been there, done that, sick and tired of being pawned off to old, rich geezers.”
“Geezers are more lucrative, I’d say. But, bless your little heart, this man’s only twenty-six years old.”
“Who is he? Is he famous?” Rox leaned toward Andie with a hungry look in her eye.
“He’s an actor, and Cade broke his jaw. He’s also my husband, so the way I see it, let’s trade duties. I’ll take care of Bret, and you take care of Declan Reed.”
“Declan Reed!!!” Roxanne’s shrill squeal drew goose pimples down Andie’s arms and shoulders. “I love Declan Reed. I didn’t know he’s your husband.”
“Sadly, he is, and he’s still in love with me.” Andie sighed and swiped her hand over her forehead in a resigned fashion. Maybe she was getting good at acting, too.
“What do you want me to do?” Roxanne took Andie by the elbow and led her to the sunken living room. “Let’s sit and strategize.”
Andie balanced herself on the plush couch and stood Bret in her lap, bouncing him gently. “I need you to get Declan to sign my divorce papers and in exchange, I’ll adopt Bret and take him off your hands.”
“I don’t know.” Rox picked at her decorated fingernails. “It depends on how much you can donate to my Kickstarter campaign. I have a new line of clothing I want to launch.”
“It should be enough that I take Bret off your hands. After all, I bet the rich man isn’t paying or he would have sent a nanny. Besides, Declan signed a big contract with Silver Studios. If I don’t get that divorce soon, it’ll be part of community property and I might get saddled with his riches.”
“Oh my!” Roxanne’s eyes gleamed like shiny silver saucers.
Andie could swear she saw dollar signs rolling in her eyes like spinners on a pinball machine.
“I know, huh? So, it’s up to you to rescue me from Declan’s money. I know you can do it.” Andie placed a consoling hand on Roxanne’s thin arm.
“There has to be a catch.” The stick-thin woman chewed on her lips. “What do I have to do? You said he needed nursing care.”
Andie lifted her chin to look down on the scheming witch. “Of course, there’s a catch. Declan wants me to nurse him back to health. He wants me to live at his place and tend to him. How can I do that when I need to take care of poor little Bret here? You know how he gets colicky and won’t sleep all night? And then there’s the projectile vomiting. He might be little, but boy, can he spew. Couple that with the explosive diarrhea he gets on a daily basis, I’m doing laundry around the clock.”
Roxanne’s mouth dropped in horror. “What does Declan need?”
“Not much. His jaw is wired shut because Cade punched him out for being a dick, and he needs someone to prepare his favorite foods, grind it into a puree and feed it to him with a giant syringe.”
“That’s all? Sounds too easy.”
“Yep, it is, except the big drawback is …”
“What? I knew there was a catch.”
“He can’t kiss and give head.” Andie shook her head in a sad and wistful manner. “Six long weeks. I’m not sure you can handle that.”
“Of course I can. There are other ways …” Roxanne wiggled her skinny shoulders. “So, if I get this right. You want me to feed Declan through a syringe and convince him to sign the divorce papers.”
“Yep, and also get him to sign an affidavit that he’ll never sue Cade for his injuries. After all, if he hadn’t had his jaw wired shut, he would never ever have met you, Roxanne.”
“You’re talking, girl.” Roxanne flipped her hand, limp wristed. “You just give me the papers and directions to his house and I’m on it.”
“I don’t have the papers, but you can go online and fill it out. I don’t want any of his money.” Andie shuddered as if the money were a big pile of steamy dog poop. “Just make sure it’s no fault, no exchange of assets, and done as speedily as possible.”
“You got it, sis.” Rox tapped Andie’s shoulder and stood on her spindly heels. “I’ll also get the adoption papers ready for you to sign.”
“I get a baby and you get an actor, what a great deal.” Andie whooped. “I knew me and you make a great team.”
“Woohoo! I can’t wait to tell my brother, Rob. I get free access to his lawyers, so I can make this happen. You’re the best, and I wish you and Cade many happy returns.”
She kissed Andie on her way out, but forgot all about the sweet, little blue-eyed baby in Andie’s arms.
Andie shut the door as Red and Gollie growled their farewells.
“Is it just me, or did you two smell a skunk?”
Chapter Twenty-One
Broken, and out for six weeks, at least. Cade swallowed the pain killers and watched the doctor buddy tape his pinkie to his ring finger. Granted it could have been worse, but the thought that his own teammates were gunning to injure him without any repercussions galled him.
If this was the culture of the LA Flash, he wanted no part
of it. Cade texted a message to Rob. I want out of the Flash. Free agent. Try to get me a deal with the New York Warthogs.
He didn’t know how it would all work out, but one thing was sure, Andie would not be able to stick around Hollywood for long. She missed her father, despite her brave face about making him proud of playing Michal in that farce of a project Ronaldo was running. Sooner or later, the movie project would be cancelled, and Andie would have to make a decision.
Cade returned to the football field and took his seat on the bench. He wasn’t about to miss the rest of the game. Maybe the third-string rookie quarterback would outperform Todd and get the starting dibs. Someone had to knock that glory hog down a peg or two, although to be fair, if Dick had played favorites, then Todd had every right to complain.
Rob took a seat next to him and pointed to his hand. “Broken?”
“Just a finger. It could have been a lot worse, torn ligaments and my entire hand—career ending.”
“Got your message.” He shifted in his seat. “I thought I already told you. It’s unlikely any other team would pick you up.”
“Not true. I know I didn’t do anything wrong.” Cade bristled at the implications. “Why is it so important for Dick to pin this on me? I’ve been over the videos in detail. Devon screwed up, and everyone made me believe I was the one who threw for the end zone on a whim.”
“You did. No one made you do it. You could have thrown an incomplete.”
“That’s not how it works. The refs would have gotten me for intentional grounding.”
“Still, a penalty’s better than an interception.” Rob stroked his mustache. “You’re in a shit situation. You’re lucky Dick’s keeping you on. It’s why I worked the deal with the baby. Of all my players, you needed it the most, and luckily you and Dick resemble each other enough to pull it off.”
“You know what?” Cade patted his knees and stood. “I don’t need your rescuing. Consider yourself fired. I’m getting another agent.”
“Good luck. No one’s going to touch you with a twenty-foot pole.” Rob sneered, his eyes blazing with hatred.
Cade turned away. What the hell was that about? What had he ever done to Rob?
* * *
Andie and her mother were already asleep by the time Cade returned to his house. Where was Bret? He peeked into the room Roxanne was supposed to stay in and found it empty. No suitcase, nothing.
Red and Gollie followed him from room to room as he searched for his son. A spear of adrenaline made its way down to his gut. What if Roxanne had taken Bret? What if she’d had a change of heart and decided she and Dick should raise the baby together?
He patted his male Irish Setter, the one who hated Roxanne the most. “You wouldn’t have let her take Bret, would you?”
Red only wagged his tail while Gollie lay on the floor, spreading her legs and begging for a tummy rub—just like the way Andie’s mother had described her—gullible and too affectionate.
What if Andie’s mother were right and he was taking advantage of her? After all, Andie hadn’t moved to California to be a baby’s substitute mother, and he had waylaid Andie when she first arrived, pretending to be the limo driver and practically kidnapping her to stay at his place.
But then, this entire Love Lives of King David movie was a farce—something Dick funded to make him take on the baby. What sucked was his so-called buddy Ronaldo going along with it. Had that guy ever truly produced a real movie or mini-series?
His parents were Hollywood icons, but all Ronaldo had done was a cancelled motorcycle reality show. His only other claim to fame was crashing on the motorcycle racing circuit and pissing off the engineer who built the specialized bikes—to the point he refused to make him another one, no matter how much money he was offered.
Cade swallowed his frustrations and tip-toed up the spiral staircase. His baby had to be somewhere in this house. Why had he trusted Roxanne? What if Andie went with her mother to Pinball Alley and Roxanne was left alone with Bret?
The door was locked. He could jimmy it, but with his luck, Pam would wake up and accuse him of stealing into the room while two women slept.
Cade sat on the landing against the door and wrapped his arms around the two dogs. “Is Bret in there? Can you tell me?”
They wiggled in his embrace and licked his face while he texted Roxanne. Do you have Bret? Let me know.
He couldn’t very well call the police on her. She was, after all, Bret’s mother.
Sighing, Cade lay on the carpet and made himself comfortable. Bret would be awake in two hours for his night feeding and his cries would wake him if he were ensconced in there with Andie and his mother. Otherwise, he would have to trust Roxanne with her own baby. At least she wasn’t a junkie.
* * *
Cade woke with a start. Sunlight streamed through the skylight overhead, and his two dogs were missing. The door to the bedroom Andie and her mother shared was wide open.
“Andie? Pam?” Cade peered into the room and his jaw dropped to the floor. They were gone. Why didn’t they wake him?
He picked up the note from the middle of the bed. It was in Andie’s handwriting.
We took Bret to church. You were sleeping so soundly we didn’t want to wake you. Roxanne moved in with Declan. I should have good news soon. Andie.
Cade re-read the note. Unbelievable. Why would Roxanne move in with Declan? He texted Andie, I have to go somewhere. Thanks for taking care of Bret. Talk later.
When she didn’t reply, he glanced at the time. Nine forty-five. She was probably inside the church and had silenced her phone.
He’d have to trust them to look after Bret. He had to visit his sister and find out what she knew about the gambling mess. As it stood, he’d hardly have any time left before visiting hours closed at the prison. What a shit show.
Four and a half hours later, he pulled up to the Valley State Prison in Chowchilla with only half an hour to spare.
His sister, Joanie, was two years younger than him. Her father had been one of a long list of drug dealers his mother had slept with—another mystery man who supposedly had ties to organized crime.
He stepped into the visiting room and faced his sister across the security divider, forcing a smile on his face at his sister’s sullen appearance. She was of mixed blood, part Asian, although she also had no clue who her father was.
She shuffled to the counter across the divide from him and picked up the phone receiver. “What d’ya want?”
“Just checking up on my baby sister,” Cade drawled lazily, not giving her any indication of how anxious he was inside.
“You springing me from this joint?”
“Maybe. But you gotta tell me who you took the bets for.”
“Can’t.” She snorted.
“They treating you okay in here?” He raised his eyebrows and glanced around.
“Sure, I’ll be out on parole in a few months.”
“Still … you got enough spending money?”
She narrowed her eyes and flared her nostrils, leaning forward. “What do you want?”
“Can’t I visit with my baby sister?” He folded his arms and cradled the phone receiver between his shoulder and ear. “You know, Mom’s in rehab again.”
Joanie’s mouth gaped and she slapped her hand on the counter. “What’s wrong with her? Why can’t she keep clean?”
“This time it wasn’t her fault.”
“Of course it’s never her fault.” Joanie sneered. “She’s a master at putting the blame elsewhere.”
“True, but she overdosed. Almost died. If I hadn’t gotten there. I put her in rehab again.”
“What?” His sister shook her head. “Nuh uh, I don’t believe you. Mom’s street smart. She knows exactly how much to dose herself with. She’s always said to go a little lower than she’d like to. Besides, the stuff on the street’s shit these days. Nothing like the so-called good ol’ days, according to her.”
“Apparently someone wanted to give her
a real high like the good ol’ days. You ever hear of packets marked ‘HEA?’”
“What the hell is that? I’ve heard of ‘DOA,’ but what’s it supposed to mean, happily ever after?”
“Whatever it was, it almost killed her. According to the police, it’s expensive stuff.” Cade watched his sister carefully.
She flinched and blew out a breath. Yep. She definitely had suspicions. For some reason, the kingpins behind her money laundering scheme wanted to get rid of his mother.
“I can’t believe it.” Joanie threw her hand up and wiped her hair back. “Do you think Mom’s safe at the rehab facility?”
He pursed his lips and shook his head. “It might be a glitzy place by the beach, but you know how lax security is. If we don’t find out who’s behind this, they could try again.”
“Dick.” His sister’s lip sneered. “I mean, what a bunch of dicks.”
“Oh, really? Are you telling me Dick Davis is behind this?”
His sister’s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth, shaking her head. Without answering him, she hung up the phone receiver and turned away from the booth.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Andie and Sylvia preened in front of the dressing room mirror at Ronaldo’s grandmother, Amanda Silver’s estate. It was hard to believe that after everything that happened, Andie was going to a party in Beverly Hills held at a luxurious house where the mirrors were trimmed with gold and marble covered every surface.
“We look like real twins, don’t we?” Sylvia put her arm around Andie and snapped a selfie.
“Only in the abstract sense.” Andie fluffed her teased hair. “More like yin and yang.”
“Yep, light and dark.” Sylvia twirled in her black lace dress while holding it up against Andie’s white lace dress. “Ready to jump out of the cake?”
“Sure, as long as there are breathing holes, and I don’t get frosting all over my hair.”
Intercepted by Love: Part Four: A Football Romance (Playing the Field Book 4) Page 12
