“And Cade? How’s he doing?” she asked, not wanting to know.
“He’s relieved. Overjoyed. Here, let me show you a picture he texted.” Barbara scrolled through her phone and pointed it at Andie.
Cade was sitting at the bedside, next to Roxanne, with the baby wrapped in blankets between them. The little guy wore a blue stocking cap and was red faced and chubby.
Pain stabbed Andie as she studied Cade’s proud grin, and the way his eyes were trained on Roxanne and the baby, so loving and caring, like they were his entire world. The slideshow played, showing Cade holding Roxanne’s hand as she was in labor, dipping a cold rag on her forehead, and cutting the cord. The happiness in his face was unmistakable. It was as if he and Roxanne were the perfect, loving couple, with their adorable, perfect baby boy.
Unable to swallow the lump growing in her throat, Andie handed the phone back to Cade’s mother as a text message rolled in.
Barbara swiped it to read, and a smile broke across her haggard face. “He’s on his way to take me to the hospital.”
Andie waited for the invitation, but Barbara was too busy texting. Gollie wagged her way to Andie and picked up her leash, staring at her with big, pleading eyes.
“Uh, well, I gotta go walk the dogs,” Andie said. “Tell Cade congratulations.”
She reached over and hugged Barbara. “I’m happy for you too, Grandma.”
“Call me Nana.” Barbara hugged her back, swaying and humming. “I’m going to spoil this little one. He’s my second chance to make things right. Roxanne wants to go back to work as soon as she can. Looks like with the baby coming early, she might be able to pick up the back-to-school project again.”
Of course. It was only the second week of August and the baby wasn’t due until the end of September.
“When can the baby come home?” Andie asked. “Is he staying here with us?”
Er, or maybe it meant she had to leave, although truth to tell, she didn’t have the guts to find an apartment by herself.
“He’s still getting checked out. Of course, he’s premature, so maybe it won’t be for a while, but I’m so excited.” Barbara bounced on her heels. “Want to go baby shopping with me? I can’t wait to get him a Flash jersey. Team colors, black with a gold lightning bolt.”
Oh, right. The lightning bolt, like the tattoo on Cade’s chest. The LA Flash. So permanent, like he’d planned on staying in Los Angeles forever.
“Sure, let’s do it. Let me know when.” Andie bent to latch the leash to Gollie’s collar. How stupid had she been to fantasize Cade would trade teams to New York to be closer to her family. How incredibly moronic. His life was here. He had his son, his mother, and Roxanne.
“Oh, fun. We should have a baby shower, too.” Barbara’s hands fluttered as if she were a kid blowing out her birthday candles. “I’ve never had a baby shower.”
Andie wasn’t sure she could stomach one, but then, it wasn’t as if she were automatically invited, now that Cade wasn’t even speaking to her. Most likely, Barbara would drag her along, since the two of them had sort of become friends.
“Sounds good. I’m happy for you guys,” Andie said, waving Red’s leash at him. “Come on, boy, let’s go, me, you, and Gollie. It’s a beautiful evening out there.”
Chapter 9
Andie, Red, and Gollie took off on an hill segment. The air was dry and acrid, and no matter how much water she sipped, she was still not used to the climate. Down below was LA, the sky hazy and tinged with a hint of smog. Nothing like the old days, according to Barbara, when it was hungover with a thick layer of noxious brown soot.
Andie took a deep breath to feel the burn Barbara described, but it was barely there. She’d gotten to know Cade’s mother and really liked her, despite her rocky past. Andie might not have made the drug mistakes that Barbara had, but getting married on a whim was sheer stupidity.
She gulped as they crested the uphill and lengthened her stride. The dogs pulled eagerly, and she stumbled a few steps before catching her balance.
“Heel, you two. I’ll let you know when I need your help.”
Except it hadn’t been a whim—marrying Declan. Why couldn’t she stop lying even to herself? She’d dreamt of marrying him the moment she laid eyes on him freshman year. She’d crushed on him from a distance until that first magical moment when he’d noticed her. She’d planned and fantasized about their wedding while hinting and bugging him to commit to her. Then when he’d gotten the role of Romeo and had flown her to Vegas to meet his agent, and on a whim—his whim, he’d asked her to drop by the Elvis Presley Wedding Chapel, she’d been more than eager to comply—renting costumes and mugging and dancing with the Elvis impersonator who’d married them.
She was so happy. Thought her dreams had come true—that she’d hit the jackpot. And then, he’d gotten the deal and women had flocked to him, and suddenly, he didn’t want to be exclusive anymore. Take a number—number one, but still, a number.
Tears burned her eyes as her lungs and legs burned from the running. Why? Oh, why now? When she’d finally met the man she truly wanted, had Declan come to reclaim her?
She thought back to her favorite story, Michal’s Window, the romance between King David and his first wife, the princess Michal.
The parallel to Michal’s life was too overwhelming. Not many people knew it, but after David left Michal at her father’s palace, she was married to a man named Phalti or Paltiel. Not much was known about him other than the deep love he’d bestowed on the heartbroken Michal. The two of them lived humbly as husband and wife for years, but when David returned and became king, he ordered his guards to remove Michal from Phalti. The Bible recounted Phalti following Michal for miles and miles, weeping, until he was ordered by the guards to return, never to see his beloved Michal again.
It was hard to imagine a big, hunky man from ancient Israel, back in the days when men didn’t show emotion, trailing his wife and weeping as she was torn away from him by order of a ruthless monarch.
Andie’s fists clenched and she gritted her teeth, pulling the dogs to a stop. Damn you, David. Phalti’s feelings were of no account to you, when all you wanted was the kingdom and the daughter of Saul to consolidate it. Did you really love Michal or did you only use her? I’d like to think you loved her, but with so many other wives, I’m really starting to wonder.
Andie tilted her head back and looked up at the heavens. She’d never once thought about poor Phalti during all of her studies of Michal and David. Maybe Michal’s true love was Phalti, the kind and caring husband, the one who was her friend and companion, and who loved her above his own self—the one who’d sacrificed his own heart for her, and not David with his lying, cheating, murderous ways and complete disregard for others.
Red and Gollie stood in front of her, wagging their tails, with eyes full of concern.
“What? You two think I’m nuts?” Andie ruffled their heads, petting them. “I just had a breakthrough here. I can’t wait to tell Leroy. This David story has taken a tragic turn. The golden boy king had a real dark streak, and it all started with Phalti. Some say he was killed on that roadside when he refused to turn back. But in any case, it was a recapitulation to what he did to Nabal when he married Abigail, Nabal’s wife. Of course, the Bible says God killed Nabal, struck him dead, but … one has to wonder.”
Honk. Honk. The sound of car tires rolled behind her.
“Hey, Andie, out for a walk?” a male voice shouted.
Shit. Speak of the devil.
Declan parked his car and hopped out. “Nice neighborhood.”
Somehow, despite the chill that should have seized her, the boyish tilt of Declan’s chin and his jaunty grin still stirred her pulse.
Andie tightened her jaw and imagined growling. “Yeah, well, I’m staying at my boyfriend’s pad, you know. This here’s his dog, Red, a real guard dog.”
Red stiffened his stance and raised his hackles, not quite growling, but showing his protective presence. But,
silly Gollie. She went wagging and lolling up to Declan, and he patted her.
“Looks like your puppy likes me. Girl or boy?”
“Gollie, and she’s a girl.” Talking through gritted teeth would work. Recalling his treachery with other girls, even better.
Declan raised his head back in a loud laugh she once thought endearing, but was now mere cackling. That’s right. He irritates me.
“Of course, all girls like me. So, what’s been going on with your show? Been interviewing other actors?”
“I can’t talk about that with you. No contract, no comment.” Andie resumed her walk and trotted after the dogs. Hopefully, he’d take the hint and leave.
No such luck. Declan stuck to her side like glue—yucky, slimy, bubbly, snot-like glue.
“I really want to be your David, truly,” he said, his voice smooth and low. “But my agent’s playing hard to get. You know the angle of me and you being married is worth something, especially since you’re working so closely with the scriptwriter.”
With Declan, there always was an angle. Maybe he had once loved her, back when he was a lowly college drama student still undiscovered. Why was it men could be so full of shit?
“Actually the role might be bad for your career.” Andie twisted her lips and made a snarky face. “Being known as David might make you look like a buffoon or worse, a dark, disturbed lunatic, bent on revenge against King Saul, one who’d played the traitor by allying with the Philistines, one who committed genocide when he killed all of the villagers in the south of Judah to cover up for his bad deeds. He killed everyone who was not Hebrew, but lied to the Philistine king and said he killed all the Hebrews to ethnically cleanse the villages for his master, the King of the Philistines. He was a two-timing, double-dealing bastard. And he was a pervert, too. Have we ever checked the ages of his many wives? How old were they when he married them? And let’s not even start about Abigail, how he shook down her husband by asking him to pay for protection. The Mafia had a lot to learn from the tactics of this David.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa there, girl. I thought you were in love with this King David.” Declan raised both his hands, his eyes wide. “We’re supposed to be doing the love lives of David, not all this dirt.”
In love with a historical figure? What a laugh. She’d admired David, okay, maybe even fantasized about him. So she had had a few erotic dreams, but no. David wasn’t real, at least not anymore. This entire mess in front of her was too real.
Now, to irritate the fake wannabe David.
“Ah, but that’s the rub. All this dirt affects the love life of David, and you know what?” Andie blinked and fluttered her eyelids. “Leroy believes David must have been bisexual, not that there’s anything wrong with it, but he plans on delving into his love of Jonathan, and, get this, the love-hate relationship between the teenaged David and his mentor, King Saul, and you know what they say about older men and their protégés …”
“What?” Declan flapped his hands, his mouth wide open. “You can’t put that in. That’s sacrilegious.”
Andie flipped her hair over her shoulder and kept walking, her nose in the air. “We’re not doing a religious documentary, but a salacious, scandal-filled drama. I don’t know, Declan, you’re awfully close minded. I’d think an actor of your stature would welcome diverse roles. Who knows? It could open a lot of doors, especially closet doors, for you.”
“What the hell are you implying?” Declan’s brows drew down. “You’re my wife, so you have to be loyal to me.”
“Right, I’m doing a great job, Declan, living with another man openly. Have you seen the images of us on the gossip blogs? The ones at the Hollywood Bowl? I was practically fucking him in clothes. Maybe having me as your wife is not that great for your image—pussy whipped by a flaming redhead who has the hots for the Flash quarterback.”
“Sorry, Andie, trying to make me hate you is not working.” Declan placed his arm around her shoulder and held her to his side. “Let’s go back to Itasca after all this is over. I’ll help with your dad’s medical bills and teach drama in that little college up there. That’s why I’m trying to get the best contract possible. For us and our family.”
Andie tried to shake him off, but he held her tighter. The liar. He was an actor, for goodness sake. He’d deliver any line to get what he wanted—more drama to heighten his worth for the contract.
Oh no, no. Not again. Declan smashed his mouth over hers and bent her back for a kiss.
Chapter 10
Cade picked up his mother at the house. It seemed awfully quiet with no sign of Andie and the dogs.
“If you’re wondering where Andie is …” His mother snorted at his questioning gaze. “She took the dogs for a walk.”
His shoulders slumped as he held the car door. “Did you tell her about the baby?”
“Yes, I showed her pictures. She says congratulations.”
“She didn’t want to come?”
His mother glared at him, wide eyed and unblinking. “Come on now, is that appropriate? You need to decide what you’re going to do about her first. Ignoring her isn’t going to help.”
“Sure.” He shut the door and got into the driver’s seat. He wasn’t used to communicating with anyone, especially since he’d never grown up in a close family. He was more of a physical kind of guy. “Except what I want to do to her isn’t legal.”
“Humpf, spare me the details. I don’t wanna be called on the witness stand.” She held her hand up. “Plead the fifth.”
His mind whirled with all the ways he could propose to Andie, or even better, steal her away and marry her where it didn’t matter. Too bad one could no longer sail across the ocean to Australia and get a fresh start. As long as she was staying at his house, he had jurisdiction over her. So why couldn’t he enjoy her and make love to her and marry her?
Oh, right. That piece of paper, and the fact that he was an honorable man. If he weren’t under contract with the Flash to be a goodie-two-shoe, he’d string Declan on a rack and torture him good and hard until he signed. Dammit.
His mother prattled on about the baby. “Did you and Rox name the baby yet? I can’t wait to hold him. Is he strong enough?”
Cade jerked himself out of the darkness of what he’d like to do to Declan and eased on his “understanding son” game face. “They have him in the incubator, but he seems to be fine. Breathing on his own. You should have heard his yowl.”
“Strong, like you? I knew it. Maybe he’ll play ball when he gets bigger. I can’t wait to take him around the ol’ hood. Show all my friends. I’m going to spoil him rotten.”
“Well, you might get a chance. Rox asked me about finding daycare.”
“Already? And you volunteered me, didn’t you?”
“Of course. There’s no one better.” His mother, for all her faults, was trying like mad to make up for her past. And the truth was, everyone had a past. “I’m not sure about living arrangements, though. Rox’s apartment’s too small, and well, I can’t have her move in since we’re not, you know, together.”
“Yeah, well, plus there’s Andie. What are you going to do about her? Oh, right. Not legal.”
Cade’s heart felt soggy inside his chest. He hated losing to that punk douchebag of an actor, but he had to be sure. He wasn’t going to risk marrying a woman who had settled for him only because she couldn’t get her first choice.
Now that Andie’s first love was back, she had been given another chance. He’d researched the Reeds. They were an upstanding family in Northern California. Wealthy and pedigreed, hailing to the American revolution.
Cade turned the corner up his street and gassed the engine over the crest. He had a son, a newborn son. Even if it was with the wrong woman, this son was his heritage, a new little Prescott.
“Rox and I agreed to name him Bret. Do you like it?” he asked his mother.
“Bret Prescott. Yes. A nice, strong name. Love it.”
A flash of red hair flailing in the wi
nd gleamed from the direction of the sidewalk. Cade’s heart stopped, crashed, and careened off the cliffs like the Hollywood sign disintegrating in an earthquake.
Declan had Andie dipping to the street, and he was kissing her. Her legs were stiff, and she was either struggling or that was one heck of a passionate kiss, while the two dogs were on either side of them.
His dog, Red, lunged and pulled on his leash when he spied Cade’s car, causing Andie to fall on her behind. The other dog, Gollie, ran circles around them, her leash tangling Declan’s legs, causing him to fall on top of Andie.
Cade screeched to a halt and was out of the car in a flash.
“Cade, get back here,” his mother yelled. “Leave them be.”
No douchebag should be forcing himself on a woman who’d told him to get lost. He’d do serious violence to Declan if Andie was hurt in any way, shape, or form. He ran up to Andie and pulled her to her feet. Even if she wanted to kiss that ass, she could have been hurt, maybe broken her tailbone.
“Are you all right?” He practically growled.
Andie’s eyes glittered as if he were her savior.
“I’m okay, now that you’re here.” She swiped at her mouth with the back of her hand and spat. “I need a restraining order. I can’t even go for a peaceful walk without being attacked by that clown.”
Cade’s chest puffed, and he tugged Andie into his arms. She hadn’t wanted Declan’s attentions. She’d been waiting for him to come to her rescue. He gave her an extra squeeze and pointed her to safety. “Go to the car. I’ll deal with the punk.”
“Can someone get this dog off me?” Declan was flat on the ground with Gollie licking his lips and eyes, slobbering all over him. Her leash had him hogtied, and he wasn’t going anywhere.
Cade grabbed Declan by his armpits and lifted him clear off his feet so that his pathetic face was level with his. “You’re going to sign those divorce papers if you know what’s good for you. She doesn’t want you.”
Boxed Set: Intercepted by Love (The Complete Collection): Books One - Book Six Page 26
