“I’m really grateful for this promotion. I never imagined I’d be a major character.” She couldn’t help how fangirl she sounded. According to Declan, all her life, she’d secretly wanted to be an actress. She just never thought it would have been a possibility.
“You have friends in high places.” Ronaldo chuckled. “By the way, you might want to make nice to your husband. He’s going to need some TLC while his jaw is wired shut—someone to make him smoothies and puree his food.”
A blanket of guilt descended over Andie, pressing her chest and making it hard to breathe. She waited for the other shoe to drop. Nothing was ever simple with Declan. The man could manipulate a squirrel out of a nuthouse.
“You still there?” Ronaldo cleared his throat.
“Yes, I mean, I’m sorry what happened to Dec, but he kind of brought it on himself.” Andie swallowed and braced herself.
“Except he could press charges against Cade—criminal charges of assault with intent to cause great bodily harm. Cade could get jail time.”
Jail time? The seriousness of Ronaldo’s voice drew chills up and down Andie’s spine.
“What does he want me to do?” It was up to her to save Cade. With Declan, everything had an angle, a deal to be made.
“Live with him as his wife and take care of him while his jaw heals. Meanwhile, he can be your acting coach.”
Andie’s father had taught her to always offer a counter, no matter how weak her position was. She steadied her breathing to sound more confident than she was.
“I have conditions. I’ll take care of him as a nurse, not a wife, but he has to sign the divorce papers.”
“You drive a hard bargain, missy. I’ll let him know. Meanwhile, you’re excused from work, but make sure to come to my party Sunday where we’ll introduce the cast to my mother and her friends—some of the greatest legends in Hollywood.”
“Sure, okay, I hope I’ll feel better.”
“You will,” Ronaldo said, his voice firm. “It’ll be great fun. The biggest bash of the summer.”
Andie hung up and slumped to the floor. A concerned Gollie wandered over and rested her muzzle in her lap.
“What am I going to do now?” Andie rubbed Gollie’s soft fur. “I can’t let Cade go to jail, but he’s going to hate me for doing this—sucking up to Declan until I get the divorce papers signed.”
“You have any dirty clothes?” Andie’s mother stopped in front of her with a laundry basket. “Cade’s room is a mess, and poor Bret barely has anything clean.”
“You’re doing laundry, too?” Andie felt her face heating. What if her mother came across her torn nightgown from the night before? She hadn’t picked it up from Cade’s bed or was it still on the floor where he’d tossed it beside the spilled condom packets?
“Someone has to keep things clean around here.” Her mother sniffed.
Chapter Eighteen
Cade called Andie as soon as he’d extricated himself from the sauna. Todd had stepped in wrapped in a giant towel and insisted on some face time with Dick.
“After all, I need to present my case too,” he’d said, and Dick was unable to get out of it without being rude.
Andie picked up on the second ring. “Hey, you off from work?”
Her voice sounded guarded, like she was either pissed at him for being late, or unsure of where she stood with him. Why was it she could never relax and admit to herself that he loved her?
“I’m dying to see you, sweetie.” He gave her an audible smooch. “On my way home and wondering if you and your mother would like to go out for dinner.”
“She’s, uh, doing the laundry. She went through your room and picked up dirty clothes off the floor. Uh, what did you do with my nightgown?”
“Slept with it after you went back to your room. Hey, stop worrying, okay? Has she said anything to you?”
“No, just the usual overprotectiveness.”
“So we have nothing to worry about.”
“I always worry,” Andie said. “Mom wants me to go home with her. We can’t keep her here forever.”
Cade breathed in through his nose and swiped his hand over his head. “I know. Looks like I’m going to have to hire a nanny. My mother’s going to be in rehab for a while, and it’s not safe for her to be out on the streets. Someone sent her the dope—expensive stuff, or so the cops say.”
“You think they wanted to get her hooked again?”
“Worse.” Cade’s throat clutched, and he tried to clear it. “She’s been a junky all her life. She doesn’t OD. She knows how much she can take. The drugs were mixed with something stronger.”
“Oh, shit. Maybe we should drop by and see her,” Andie suggested.
“How about your mom? Will she come along? We can stop by and get fast food on the way.” Cade’s voice broke, as anxious as an adolescent on his first date. Would it really be wise for Andie’s prudish mother to meet Barbara? But then, it would be rude to leave her at home when she’d been there the entire day.
“Let me ask her,” Andie replied. “I’m sure Barb would love to see Bret again. How is she?”
“Groggy and apologetic. She swore she was clean, but the counselor said she’d probably been hiding it from me, cut her dosage to not interfere with looking normal or maybe taking something else, like coke or smoking weed, but when she saw the pure white stuff that was sent, she couldn’t help it.”
“Whoever did it was cruel. Any suspects?”
“No, I can’t think of anyone who’d want her out of the way.”
“I can’t either,” Andie sighed. “Did the police find any clues?”
“No, nothing. Obviously, whoever packed the box wore gloves so there weren’t any prints inside.”
“I’m sorry, Cade. Let me talk to my mom, but I agree, we shouldn’t let her out of rehab until we figure out who was supplying her.”
“You’re the best.” Cade smooched her over the phone as he got into his car. “I’ll be there in a bit. Give Bret a kiss for me.”
“He’s adorable, but your dog misses you, too. Bye.”
* * *
Andie hung up and rubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans. Cade might have thought her mother would be okay with visiting a rehab. But then, anything was better than having to fess up that she would be moving into Declan’s apartment to nurse him back to health. Cade would not like it one bit.
What to do? What to do? She wandered up and down the hallway.
Her mother walked by on the way to the laundry room with another basket.
“Let me do those,” Andie said. “By the way, Cade’s thinking of taking us to visit his mother at the rehab clinic. He wants to bring the baby, too.”
“It’s his kid, he can do whatever he wants.” She dumped the basket on the floor. “Meanwhile, we can’t hang around here forever. Your father misses both of us.”
Great. Bring out the big guns of guilt and pile it on.
“I miss him too, but I’ve got a job to do here. Acting lessons while we rewrite the script and a new contract—which means more money.”
Her mother stuffed clothes into the washing machine and slammed the lid. “You’re being corrupted here. Money, fame, loose morals. You think I didn’t know you snuck off last night to sleep with Cade? I hope you’re being careful. He knocked up this other chick already, and the last thing we need is for you to be pregnant, too.”
“Cade didn’t knock up Roxanne.” Andie grabbed at a nit to avoid the larger issue. “He’s just taking responsibility for the baby.”
“Oh, that cockamamie story. I don’t believe it, not one bit.” Her mother spun the dials and started the wash. “Either way, he’s playing dirty, using the baby to get a new contract. Did you notice he even threw that bit in about you and the movie deal? Which sounds preposterous. Why would Silver Studios have anything to do with this baby swap? You know what I think?”
Not really, but her mother would tell her anyway. Andie shrugged and stopped the dryer from beeping.
“You’ve always been naïve and a sucker for a guy with a story. Look at Declan, the redheaded stepchild who had to sleep in the basement while his brother and sister got the big rooms and new toys. Now, this guy whose mother’s a junkie has you wrapped around his fingers. He’s so noble and bighearted he’s even taking care of a baby that’s not his—and dragging you into it. You know why I agreed to help? So I can keep an eye on him, but after last night, the fight, and you sneaking off with him, no more. It’s time to tell Cade to hire a nanny.”
“He was just thinking the same thing, Mom. He’s not trying to take advantage of you.”
“Sure, he isn’t.” Her mother yanked clothes out of the dryer and folded them. “He’s got you to take advantage of already.”
“That’s a low blow, and you know it.” Andie stomped from the laundry room. “Cade’s been nothing but good to me.”
“Oh, really? You’re a brain injured woman who can’t remember how you ended up in LA. He’s grooming you to be the live-in nanny for his supposedly ‘not his’ baby. Guess things didn’t work out with Roxanne, so he talks sweet, acts charming, gives you a bit of low hanging fruit, and you’re lapping it all up.”
Andie threw up her hands and screamed. “Stop running my life. I’ve had it. If you want to leave, go ahead. I’m staying.”
“Have you forgotten your father?”
“No, I haven’t, but what I have in front of me is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get into the movies.”
Her mother rolled her eyes. “Most films are canceled before they see the light of day. Cost overruns, the market changing. The only reason you want to stay is Cade. I’m telling you, he’s using you.”
“How could he? I’m not rich or beautiful. What would he possibly be using me for?”
“To be his baby’s mommy.” Her mother jabbed her index finger at Andie. “He needs a sweet, loving sucker to be his doormat. All the other women out here are too street smart for that. They’d want money, a contract, or marriage, but you—you’re as trusting as Gollie, wagging your tail and all for a couple of pats on the head and ‘good girl.’”
“If that’s how you really see me, you can leave.” Andie turned away from her mother, blinded by tears, and ran into a solid wall of muscle.
“Calm, calm,” Cade said, hugging her. “Don’t listen to her.”
“How long have you been standing here?” Andie’s voice came out in a squeak.
“Long enough. Look, if it’s okay with you, I’m kicking your mother out. She can’t speak to you like that in my house.”
“No, please don’t. It’ll only make things worse. She’s convinced I’m stupid and naïve.” Andie buried her face into Cade’s chest. “If I am, let me down gently.”
“Oh, sweetness.” He dropped to his knees and held onto her, looking up. “If you weren’t still married to that clown, I’d whisk you away and marry you today. Believe me.”
Clap. Clap. Clap. Andie’s mother stood across the hall from them. “A few more days and we’ll see how this charade ends. Meanwhile, I have a baby to take care of.”
Andie could feel how tight Cade was and how much he struggled to keep in control. His chest heaved and his shoulders hunched. “Thanks, Mrs. Wales. I’ll call a nanny agency and get this taken care of. I appreciate what you’ve done for me these last few days.”
“I only want my daughter back safe at home.” She huffed, her nostrils flaring. “You’ve got way too much going on right now, and she needs to heal from her traumatic experience.”
“Puh-please, Mom.” Andie turned toward her. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself, and I’m not going home until after the movie is filmed.”
“Fine then.” Her mother wiped her hands as if shaking the dust from them. “Cade, I’m holding you responsible for any harm that comes to my daughter.”
“There won’t be any, ma’am. Andie is perfectly safe with me.”
* * *
Cade’s stomach ground and his jaw ached from clenching. He hated how weak his position was with Andie’s family. After all, she’d been injured while driving his car, and he was the one who had a baby needing care. He told Andie to meet him in the garage while he went to his room to change.
Maybe he’d taken the path of least resistance and let Roxanne go too easily. She was Bret’s mother, and she should take responsibility. In fact, Dick should hire the nanny. Cade had already done more than his fair share in the deal, and with Todd Irvin snooping around, it wouldn’t be long before word got out that he’d agreed to pose as Bret’s father in return for favoritism on the team. Add that to the blackmail which hung over his head, and his career would be truly doomed.
He called Roxanne, but not surprisingly, got her voicemail. He then placed a call to his agent, Roxanne’s brother, Rob.
“Hey, what’s up?” Rob sounded chipper and relaxed.
“You know where your sister is? She left me with the baby and disappeared a few days back.”
“She said you didn’t need her, that your mother was taking care of Bret.”
“Of course we need her. My mom’s back in rehab.”
“Really?” Rob sounded overly surprised. “What happened?”
“Nothing you need to know about, just that I need Roxanne back here right away. She needs to interview nannies if she wants to work.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. She’s gone to a lawyer to sign away her parental rights.”
Rob’s words punched Cade in the gut. A mother who would reject a sweet little baby like Bret? What was wrong with the world?
“Look, I need her back here at least through the weekend. I can’t keep leaving Bret with my girlfriend’s mother who’s visiting. She wants to go back home.”
“Roxanne already did her part, really. You should let it go.”
“Let it go?” Cade fumed. “It’s her baby, not mine. I’m just the chump holding the bag.”
“Excuse me?” Rob said. “What are you talking about? Of course the baby’s yours.”
“He can’t be. He wasn’t premature. You all lied to me. Hoodwinked me. Well, you know what? I’m not going to play anymore. I’m suspended this Saturday anyway and guess what? I’m going free agent after this season, so eff the contract and whatever deal you had going with Dick Davis.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Rob’s voice went stone cold. “You’re tainted goods. No other team in the league will touch a guy who threw away the Super Bowl, especially with the cloud your sister put you under. Some people won big when the Flash lost at the last minute. Others lost huge sums of cash. If I were you, I’d toe the line. That said, I’ll help you find a nanny, but don’t you ever squeal about the baby, Dick, Roxanne or anything. Got it?”
The line went dead.
Cade’s head reeled as he sank onto his bed. What did Rob know?
Follow the money. That’s what one of his foster fathers, a judge had always said. Follow the money.
Who got rich? And why?
Chapter Nineteen
Cade held Andie’s hand and let her hold the baby as they walked into the rehab facility. The ocean breeze had cooled down the west size of the city, and Andie’s presence helped him calm down after his conversation with Rob. She was so good to him, like a guiding light to a ship in a storm, his safe harbor of love and affection.
“I’ll help you with whatever you need to investigate,” Andie said. “When Roxanne gets back, I’ll make friends with her, and maybe she’ll shed more light on this strange deal you have with Bret’s biological father.”
“Thanks, sweetie.” He kissed her hair and breathed in her passion flower and coconut scent, just another thing he loved about her. “I hate getting between you and your mom. Maybe you should go back to New York, even if it’s just for a visit. I’m sure your father really does miss you.”
“He does, but Mom’s over the top. It’s so creepy how she doesn’t believe your story, like she thinks Bret is really your son and y
ou made up this anonymous rich guy. I mean, you have no motive to do that since I’d already accepted that you’d gotten Roxanne pregnant.” She interlaced her fingers with his and graced him with a sweet smile. “Even though I don’t remember everything we did, I feel like I’ve known you my entire life.”
Her trust penetrated the tightness in his chest and wrapped around him like a lifeline.
“I wish you could remember some of the awesome things we did. We had some really good times, both in New York and here, but I’m okay with making new memories.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Me, too.” She kissed the top of Bret’s head. “My mom thinks I’m stupid for falling in love with someone else’s baby, but how could I not care about him? It’s not his fault he’s got some strange parents who don’t want to take care of him.”
“That’s another reason why I love you so much. Your heart is as big as Texas and what your mother sees as naïveté, I see as innocence and a belief in the goodness of the world.” He pressed his lips on hers, holding the kiss, but not deepening it since they were close to his mother’s room at the rehab facility. “I will never, ever destroy your trust, because it is so precious to me. You are precious.”
“So are you.” She gave his lower lip a tug. “And so is your baby boy. Even though he’s not yours biologically, he feels like he’s yours. I love his eyes, and look how strong he is.”
“Yep, that’s my boy.” Cade tugged at Bret’s feet as his little legs kicked like he was riding a bicycle, and he wiggled in Andie’s arms.
The door to his mother’s room was open since she expected them. Her face lit up at the sight of Andie holding the baby, and she held her arms out to hug her.
“I’m so glad you’re out of the hospital,” Barbara said. “How are you feeling?”
“Pretty good.” Andie handed the baby to her. “I haven’t regained my memory, so I might forget things we did or talked about.”
“It’s quite all right. I’m always losing chunks of memory.” She laughed, but stopped when she met Cade’s eye.
Intercepted by Love: Part Four: A Football Romance (Playing the Field Book 4) Page 10