She had worn him out. With all the standing positions, he had been the one to bear the brunt of the muscular workout while she enjoyed orgasm after orgasm.
“Next stop after dinner is bed.” Cade slumped in the booth, stretching his legs and nudging Andie’s calf.
“Oh no. What about the nightlife? There’s dancing and we absolutely have to see the shows.”
“I’ll take a raincheck.”
She slipped her foot from her stiletto and ran her foot up his thigh. “I’m the one who should be tired.”
“You feeling okay after the overdose?”
“Not that, silly.” She stuck her tongue out at him. “Anyway, let’s see what we should order.”
“I can’t believe it, a restaurant full of buns.” Cade glanced at the picture menu. There were the assortment of Chinese pork buns, beef buns, black bean buns, but also Italian calzones, and Andie’s favorite, the shrimp and lobster rolls.
“What will you two have to drink?” the waitress stopped at their table. “We have a selection of fine wines as well as beer.”
“No alcohol for me,” Andie said, winking at Cade as if they’d had some secret agreement. It wasn’t as if his mother, a former alcoholic was present. But then, Cade had gotten himself in trouble with alcohol on New Year’s Eve.
“I’ll take an ice tea,” he said.
“Mineral water for me,” Andie said.
“Have you two decided on appetizers or are you ready to order?”
Cade glanced at Andie and she said, “A lobster roll, and for an appetizer, we’ll share a beanie bun, sesame flavor.”
“Actually I want the Nutella bun for dessert,” Cade said. “But for dinner, I want two lobster and shrimp rolls and a Chinese barbecue pork bun.”
After the waitress departed, Cade narrowed his eyes at Andie. “What’s this ordering dessert as an appetizer? Are you up to something?”
She shrugged. “I can’t believe you’re so dense.”
“Dense?” Cold sweat broke over his nose. Oh, right. She was probably expecting a proposal. What was it he’d said right before they plugged the oxygen mask over her face? Marry me. No preamble, no show, no fanfare. No wonder she hadn’t said ‘yes.’
Cade shifted in his seat, his skin prickling like ants were crawling over him. He took Andie’s hand and rubbed it, stroking her fingers. “You’re not expecting a ring, are you? Because I haven’t had time. I want to buy you something big, something that you deserve, and I have to take the time to find the exact right diamond.”
“Cade.” She tapped his thigh with her foot and chuckled. “You’re blabbering. I can’t believe I have the ultra cool professional quarterback, Cade Preston, sitting here babbling.”
He swiped a hand over the back of his neck and shrugged. “I didn’t want you to be disappointed.”
“I’m not. You’ll see.” She took his hand and held it. Her liquid green eyes caressed him with warmth and acceptance, something he’d missed his entire life.
The waitress was back. She set their drinks on the table before placing a small bun in the center between Andie and Cade. “Your sesame flavored beanie bun.”
“Uh, we haven’t had dinner yet,” Cade protested. One of his foster mothers had never allowed him to spoil his appetite before eating.
“I know, enjoy.” The waitress winked and departed.
“Okay,” Cade said. “I know you’re dying to dig in. Although I don’t see what’s so special about a bean bun.”
“I want you to share it with me.” Andie gestured to it.
“No, I’m saving my appetite for dinner. No dessert for me.”
Andie pouted, looking so cute, like a little girl mad at Santa Claus.
“What?” Cade shook his head. “What’s so special about this?”
“Split it in half and give me a piece.”
“What, you don’t have hands?” He gave her some snark. She sure was acting strange.
She kicked him under the table, and he noticed the waitress was back holding a cell phone camera.
“What? Oh, no, you didn’t.” Cade’s mouth opened wide. “You got a ring? But I was supposed to get it.”
“Just open the bun,” Andie said as the wait staff gathered around, ready to embarrass him.
He hated how she’d jumped the gun. Wasn’t the man supposed to take the lead? To do the proposing? What kind of woman bought her own ring? Sweat popped over his forehead. Even worse. What if it were a ring for him?
But the waitress was recording, so he’d better act suitably mushy. He gave Andie a look of adoration, even though inside, he wanted to tickle her to death.
After suitably registering his sweet smile with her, he picked up the bun and cracked it open, expecting a diamond solitaire to drop out.
Instead, a tiny plastic baby, a little bigger than the size of a quarter, was lodged inside the bun. Cade’s heart was floored and his hands flew up, and then he was reaching across the table. “We’re having a baby? You’re not pranking me, are you?”
“We’re pregnant, and no pranks.” She put her hand over her abdomen. “How is it that you’ve never heard of anyone having a bun in the oven?”
Tears of joy sprang into his eyes, and he grabbed her shoulders, hugging her across the table. “I love you, Andie Wales, and don’t worry, I’ll gladly pay puppy support, as much and as often as you want.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
February of the next year.
Andie’s mother propped her up on pillows, and her father wheeled his chair next to the bed. Andie’s divorce from Declan was final, she was twenty-eight weeks pregnant, and she was confined to bedrest due to premature labor. There was no better place than home with Mom and Dad, since Cade was in Santa Clara, California at Forty-Niner Stadium for the Golden Super Bowl, where the Los Angeles Flash would take the field against the New York Warthogs.
Cade was the starting quarterback for the Warthogs against Todd Irvin, who still played for the Flash.
As for the events following the sting, Rob Cash was tried and found guilty of influencing the game along with some of the players, including Devon Davis, the kicker, Carmine Carmona, and a few of the linebackers. Dick died from the gunshot wound, but Barbara had survived.
During Rob’s trial, Roxanne took a plea bargain and ratted out her brother and every player who was guilty. Devon had bought the drugs on Dick’s behalf to get Cade’s mother hooked again. They hadn’t meant for her to overdose, only to get her dependent so that when she wanted more drugs, they could shake her down for the password to her bank account. Roxanne never admitted to stealing Cade’s credit card, and they couldn’t prove she left the threatening notes in his pillowcase since the notes weren’t written in her handwriting.
She definitely wasn’t all that innocent even though she played the victim, complaining that Rob used her to sleep with team owners to extract better deals for his clients. She pled guilty for extorting money from Dick and was given a suspended sentence and probation.
Declan was only in this mess for the publicity and when it turned bad, he dropped Roxanne like a hot potato. Although, some of the notoriety helped him audition for bad boy roles, he never made the cut and ended up taking a role in a children’s production.
Meanwhile, Barbara had disappeared after recovering from her wound, a bullet graze. It was speculated that she’d handed the chips to Cade’s brother Donnie, who’d cashed them in and left the country.
“Time to watch your daddy,” Andie’s mother said, holding Bret on her lap as the Super Bowl continued after a commercial break. On TV, the crowd cheered loudly, drowning out the announcers.
Bret gurgled and laughed. He was a happy little fellow and Cade’s biological son after all. It was Barbara’s idea to trick Dick into thinking Bret was his son so she could milk him for more money. As for how Bret was conceived, well, as Roxanne explained, Barbara used to clean Cade’s bathroom as a side job, and Cade never flushed his condoms down the toilet.
Yuck.
It made Andie want to barf, but then again, after Roxanne confessed to being paid to have Bret for blackmail purposes, she’d signed Bret over to Andie and Cade, so Bret was now her son legally.
Andie reached over and tickled Bret’s fat tummy, eliciting squeals of delighted laughter.
The game progressed back and forth. First the Flash led and then the Warthogs, who were the underdogs. Despite the turmoil earlier in the season with the Flash, Dinah Silver, Dick’s widow, was able to take control as the owner and assemble a formidable team, even with salary caps in place. She vowed to root out all cheaters, and apparently, the commissioner was satisfied that she had had no part in Dick’s dirty dealings. Devon, of course, was in jail for his role in killing his father, even though he claimed it was an accident.
Andie’s heart leaped every time Cade took to the field. No matter how many times she’d seen him play, she would never get over the excitement and pure joy of watching her favorite pro quarterback in the world.
The game tightened in the fourth quarter. The Flash led by seven points, but Todd Irvin was sacked for a loss, and the Flash had to punt. The commentators speculated that there was only time for one more drive, or if the Flash were able to force the Warthogs to punt, they would be in position to win by running out the clock.
Cade completed pass after pass as the Warthogs drove down the field. Each pass stopped the clock, and the crowd was in a frenzy.
“This is turning into a replay of the last Super Bowl,” the announcer said. “Cade Prescott has got to be feeling the pressure.”
“That’s true,” the second commentator said. “He’s led a seventy yard drive, and it’s first and goal with less than a minute left. Only his team is seven points down. A touchdown and extra point would tie and force the game into overtime.”
“Let’s see what he does. There they go, breaking the huddle and lining up. The ball’s snapped, and Prescott drops back in the pocket. Oh no, none of his receivers are open. He’s stepping back, back, Johnson’s broken through. Is this going to be a sack?”
“He’s going to throw it! Long and deep. Just like last year. He’s insane. There’s no recei—Touchdown! Unbelievable. Cade Prescott has thrown a touchdown.”
“Yay! Hooray!” Andie’s family whooped and cheered. Even baby Bret squealed loudly, joining in on the hooting.
“Cade did it.” Andie bounced in the bed, but stopped when her womb contracted.
“Don’t get too excited.” Her mother rubbed her back. “Deep breaths. Deep breaths.”
Beside her, her father smiled and gave her a thumbs up. He’d been regaining motion slowly but steadily, and was a pro with the speaking machine by now.
They turned their attention to the field.
“The special team is setting up, and it looks like Cade Prescott is going to be the holder for the extra point,” the first announcer said.
“Didn’t he injure his hand pre-season when he tried that last time?” the second announcer remarked.
“That’s right. It’s inconceivable that the Warthogs would use their quarterback to hold for the extra point, unless …”
“The ball is snapped. You’re right. Instead of placing it down, Prescott stands up for a pass. He doesn’t have a man free. Oh no, he’s scrambling now, the defense has broken through. This has got to be the worst play of any Super Bowl. Worse than the interception last year.”
“Go, Cade, go!” Andie yelled at the TV. “You can do it.”
As they held their breath, Cade tucked the ball and ran. He broke a tackle, then he was jumping toward the goal line, as the entire team from both sides piled on top of him.
“What happened? Where is he?” Andie had her hands over her mouth, her heart in her throat.
The referees blew their whistles, and the camera zoomed in on the pile as players were peeled away.
“Two points!” the announcer roared. And there was Cade hugging the ball just over the goal line. “Warthogs win the Golden Super Bowl. I have no doubt Cade Prescott, super number ten, will be the Super Bowl MVP.”
Andie grabbed Bret and hugged him while her mother hugged her Dad, and then hugged her. This was truly her best day ever.
Cade and his teammates were celebrating on the field as the clock ran out. Tears of joy ran down Andie’s face. Cade had been vindicated. He was truly the hero in more ways than one.
Todd Irvin, the Flash quarterback, congratulated Cade, and so did his former teammates. Black and white confetti flooded the stadium and the announcers were going crazy.
“Prescott has broken all Super Bowl records, completing forty-one passes, going ten for ten on the last eighty yard drive.”
“That’s right, lucky number ten, that’s Cade Prescott’s number ever since he started playing football.”
“Yes, and you never know what to expect from him. The most extraordinary play was going for the two point conversion over the almost guaranteed extra point kick. That takes balls.”
“I’ll say. Cade Prescott has vindicated himself after the LA Flash scandal that took down his former agent and the former owner.”
“As well as his half-brother, who’s sitting in jail on murder charges.”
“What a story, we’ll have the presentation of the Vince Lombardi trophy after these messages.”
The TV cut to commercials as phone calls flooded in on Andie and her family. Her cell phone was busy, as was the landline. Andie turned on her tablet and her social media exploded.
Her mother took call after call, and then the TV cut back with the presentation of the trophy. The silver trophy with a big football on top was brought through the line of players, who touched it or kissed it. As it made its way toward the stage, Andie kept her eyes peeled for Cade. He was near the end of the line and when the trophy passed by, his teammates hoisted him on their shoulders and passed the trophy to him to hold. He handed it to the commissioner who was onstage already. It was the same commissioner who had reviewed all of the videos of the previous year’s Super Bowl and exonerated Cade one hundred percent. His actions, emotions, and every movement had been scrutinized and cleared, but it took Rob’s trial and Devon’s downfall to convince most skeptics, especially the gossip press who couldn’t believe the Warthogs had taken him on.
The commissioner gave a speech, followed by the coach. And then it was time for the MVP.
Cade stood on the platform, sweat still glistening on his face and grease paint striped under his eyes, sporting a huge grin.
“I’m very proud of this team and the great defense we had on the line, as well as the best receivers in the league.” His deep voice echoed throughout the stadium. “I appreciate all your faith in me and the support I got from the league. Victory is always a lot sweeter when you have someone to share it with.”
“That’s so true,” the emcee said. “We’re proud to present you the Golden Super Bowl MVP. We have someone on the line for you. Ladies and gentlemen, look up on the jumbotron …”
Andie followed the TV camera which pointed to the jumbotron. It has a split screen with Cade on one side and Andie’s picture on the other side with the flashing words, “making video call.”
At the same time, ringing sounds zinged from her tablet.
“No way,” she yelped. “He’s calling me in front of everyone?”
“Answer it,” her mother said.
“The entire stadium awaits one woman named Antoinette Marie Wales to answer her video call,” the announcer commented.
Oh my! She’d better answer or Cade would be embarrassed. Andie clicked ‘on’ to answer.
“Hey, you’re there,” Cade said.
“Congratulations. Wow, I can’t believe it,” she replied, sounding stupid. Everyone in the world could see her sitting in bed with her hair all mussed up. Bret waved his hands, so she lifted him and said, “He’s mighty proud of you, too.”
“Hey, there little guy.” Cade waved and the fans in the stadium said, “Aww…”
Suddenly, Cade bent onto his
knee and looked up at Andie, his eyes beaming true blue.
Andie’s jaw dropped and fireworks exploded in her chest. What was he doing? Was this it? The big romantic moment?
Cade raised his hand and popped open a velvet box with a huge marquise cut blue diamond. It sparkled continuously under all the stadium lights and flashbulbs.
A giant hush descended on the stadium as Cade said, “Antoinette Marie Wales, the best interception of my life was when you jumped out of nowhere and grabbed my heart. You are my MVP and I would like nothing better than to huddle with you the rest of my life. Will you do me the honor and marry me?”
Andie held Bret close and hugged him tight. She nodded and hiccupped as happiness danced over her. “Yes, yes, I will. I love you, Cade. Now, give me that ring.”
She made a swipe at the camera and the entire stadium burst out in laughter.
The End
Thank you for reading Cade and Andie’s story. While their love is secure, Cade’s mother is still at large. Turn the page for the description of Intercepted by Love: Part 6, a bonus story covering Cade and Andie’s wedding. Will Barb be back?
Victory should be sweet for pro quarterback, Cade Prescott. He’s won the Super Bowl MVP, has a baby on the way, and is marrying the love of his life, librarian Andie Wales.
Raised by foster parents, Cade yearns to be part of a real family. Unfortunately, his mother is running from the law, and Andie refuses to plan the wedding unless her future mother-in-law is included.
Will Cade and Andie’s special day result in reconciliation or utter ruin?
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Be sure to pick up Intercepted by Love: Part 6 for the heartwarming wedding, including the entire cast of Andie and Cade’s friends and the exciting finale.
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Whole Latte Love Excerpt
If Andie and Cade were opposites, then Carina and Dylan are on different planets. Carina Chen is an uptight investment banking intern who doesn’t waste time dating. Her roommate, sinfully sexy Dylan Jewell, is a typical underachiever—barista, guitar player in a blues rock band, and homeless advocate. Carina holds out for upward mobility, but when opposite hearts collide, anything can happen. Will Dylan rock her world or will she leave him behind in her search for success?
Intercepted by Love: Part Five: A Football Romance (The Quarterback's Heart Book 5) Page 13