Boxed Set: Intercepted by Love (The Complete Collection): Books One - Book Six

by Rachelle Ayala

  At least he was wearing proper business attire, unlike the people who worked for him. Andie hurried to the restroom and glanced at her outfit. Was she dressed too conservatively for the creative job she had? Her mother had bought her a few skirt suits from the consignment store and some casual dresses more suitable for church than work.

  She definitely stuck out like a country bumpkin. Maybe she’d better ask Ronaldo to take her to a hamburger joint so she wouldn’t look so unfashionable.

  Forty minutes later, Andie and Ronaldo were seated at Nouveau Richer, an upscale restaurant in Beverly Hills. In front of them were two one-hundred dollar burgers.

  If Andie thought she was underdressed at work, she was entirely outclassed at the swank restaurant.

  “Take a bite,” Ronaldo said, gesturing at the expensive burger.

  “What does it have again?”

  “Butter infused Wagyu beef, shaved black truffles, cave-aged Cheddar, sautéed foie gras, Beluga caviar, and uni, or sea urchin gonads.”

  “What’s that last bit? Sea urchin gonads?” Andie stared at the monstrosity, unsure if she could crank her mouth open wide enough. She’d definitely not be able to take a graceful bite and not get the stack of expensive ingredients splattered over her clothes.

  “Yolo! Ready? Let’s take the first bite together.” Ronaldo grasped the thick burger and opened his mouth wide.

  She could do this. She had to fit in and do a great job. This man was her boss. Closing her eyes, Andie bit into the squishy expensive burger. The mixture of tastes burst left and right, salty, greasy, and cheesy, coating her tongue with a pleasant savor.

  “Umami, I say.” Ronaldo wiped his mouth with a napkin. “You like it?”

  “Yes, very much. I can’t believe it’s more expensive than my rent.”

  “Rent? Cade’s charging you to live at his place?”

  “Uh, well, no. I insisted.” She dabbed her mouth and took a sip of the IPA beer Ronaldo had recommended.

  “Interesting. Does that mean you’re spreading your wings?”

  Andie hazarded to take a small nibble of the burger. “Spreading my wings? In what way?”

  “In the game, in play?”

  What did he take her as, a woman of loose morals?

  “Uh, I’m renting a room.”

  “Right, so your relationship with Cade is not exclusive?”

  Oh, great. Andie’s heart sank. What should she say? Admit that there was no relationship or lie to avoid Ronaldo coming onto her? If Cade was Ronaldo’s buddy, had he filled him in already, and Ronaldo thought she was in play or spreading her wings, whatever that meant in LA?

  “Cade and I are good friends.” She opted for neutral territory.

  “With benefits, I presume.” Ronaldo took a large bite of his burger and let the juice swim down his lips.

  Andie couldn’t afford to get huffy with her boss, so she nodded. After all, Cade gave her a driver and a car, as well as the benefit of a dog walker for Gollie.

  “Cade’s been more than generous.” She smiled and shrugged, picking at her burger with a fork.

  “I’ll bet. But since everything’s out in the open, he wouldn’t mind us going to dinner every now and then.”

  “No, I’m sure he wouldn’t. He doesn’t much care what I do. We get along great.”

  Ronaldo touched her wrist, lightly caressing her. “You and I are going to get on just fine. You see, unlike Cade, I’m not stuck on a single woman. The human man is not by nature monogamous.” He raised an eyebrow and gave her a sidelong glance. “I wonder if the same can be said about the female of the species.”

  Wait. What was going on here? Was he asking as an academic question or was he talking about her? Andie’s head reeled, and her heart expanded and contracted, unsure of whether the earth had shifted or the room had turned around. Cade was stuck on a single woman? Meaning Roxanne? Or was he seeing someone she didn’t know about?

  Ronaldo must have taken her silence as agreement. Casually, he leaned across the table and planted a kiss on her lips—one that was sweet and salty, and an explosion of flavor. One she should not have liked. One that she should back away from, but she didn’t.

  Chapter 10

  “You should have come to me for advice earlier.” Cade’s mother swung her feet in the pool at the house he’d bought her. Even though he resented her for not taking care of him his entire life, he couldn’t turn his back on his flesh and blood. Besides, deep inside, he wished she could be like a mother to him, however that was supposed to feel.

  “I didn’t come for advice.” He sat at her side, his feet dangling. Why did he come? It couldn’t be for the family time, because even though she had this house, none of his siblings lived there. They’d come and go whenever they needed a meal or to bug his mother to ask him to lend them money.

  His sister, the gambler, used to sell the fixtures off the house until she’d pled guilty to money laundering. Thankfully, the evidence turned up at her trial had exonerated him from anything to do with the betting that had gone on around the Super Bowl. A review of the odds showed that it had already shifted once the starting quarterback was injured—as if having Cade in the game sucked even before he’d thrown the interception. Besides, it was the nature of bratty sisters to bet against a team when their brother played, at least that was what Joanie had said at her trial.

  His mother punched his shoulder to get his attention. “Why are you here when the woman you’ve been holding out for is holed up at your place? What happened, she bite your head off?”

  Cade stirred the water with his foot. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “I told you it was all wrong. She wasn’t going to like that surprise. Didn’t I say that?” His mother was obviously going to keep talking, and maybe that was why he’d stopped by.

  Even though she’d abandoned him when he was a baby and left him in foster homes because she’d been too drugged up to take care of him, now that he’d bought her a house, she always had a meal and a friendly shoulder for him.

  His requirement of complete sobriety as the price for seeing him had seemed to work. That and the fact that most of her friends were dead or in jail helped. With the rehab he’d paid for, she’d been able to keep herself from drugs.

  “Yes, ma’am, you did.” He hadn’t gotten to the point of calling her ‘Mom’ yet. It didn’t feel right to give her that title since she’d never cared one lick for him when he’d needed her growing up.

  “Besides, with the baby coming along, I’d say she’s frightened.”

  “Of a baby? Whatever has my baby done to her?” Cade’s muscles bunched, and he felt the familiar weight of rejection tighten his chest.

  “If it’s your baby,” his mother drawled. “You didn’t spend the entire night with her. How do you know she didn’t sleep with someone after you?”

  “She says I’m the only one she slept with that night.”

  “Maybe you’re the only one she remembered.” His mother huffed.

  Cade’s stomach clenched, and he closed his eyes. Of course, his mother would think that way. She claimed not to remember who his father was.

  “I want to do the right thing for the baby. I want to be the best father I can be.”

  His mother wouldn’t understand. She didn’t have a parental bone in her body. Cade was definitely not going to let his child end up in foster care.

  “Anyway, instead of fixating yourself on that baby, you should figure out what that woman who has you tied up in knots wants.” She pushed to her feet and headed for the barbeque to turn the steaks.

  Hadn’t he already done what Andie wanted? She didn’t want to be a number and didn’t date man whores. She’d had an ex who’d slept around and that had hurt her. She also didn’t want his baby, and that was a show stopper.

  “I’m not turning my back on my baby for a woman,” Cade said when his mother came back to the poolside. “She’s upset about Roxanne’s pregnancy.”

  “Well, duh.” Hi
s mother pinched his arm lightly. “What woman wants to sit around thinking about another woman pregnant with the baby she thinks should be hers?”

  That was confusing. Why would Andie want Roxanne’s baby to be hers?

  “Anyway, you should get her to fall in love with you first, and then when the baby’s born, she’s not going to turn away from you.”

  “How do you know?” A surge of bile hit the back of his throat. “Everyone turns away from me when I have problems. They want me when everything’s clear sailing, but hit a snag, and boom, they’re gone.”

  “If you think that way, I can see why you’re sitting here with me instead of making love to that sweetheart of yours. Steak’s done if you’re still hungry.”

  The burning question was at the edge of his lips, but he couldn’t let it go. Her answer might hurt him too much. He’d seen the ugly pictures of him with the cleft palate. One of his foster parents had saved a bundle of pictures for him with his social worker who’d handed them over when he turned eighteen. He wasn’t cute. He was ugly, with a gaping hole below his nose where his tongue poked from the flap of his deformed lip. His first foster mother had had to tape his nose and mouth and feed him from the side of his lips with a special shaped nipple. Not that his real mother had bothered to do any of it. It had been far easier to dump him into the system for others to deal with.

  “I’m not hungry. I gotta go. I’m not letting my baby down. No matter what.” He felt like he’d been repeating himself so much, even he was sick of trying to convince himself he’d be a good father.

  She blocked him, her hands on her hips. “I wasn’t sober back then. You really think a druggie like me could have taken care of you? You really think I could have dealt with the surgeries and the care before and after?”

  “You could have if you loved me. You could have sobered up long ago. But no, you cared more about your drugs than about your baby boy.” He stood and pulled on his T-shirt. “I’m glad you’re sober now. I just wish I had been a good enough of a reason.”

  His mother grabbed his T-shirt. “You had a better life than Donnie and Joanie. I kept them and look where they ended up. Juvie hall, drugs, gambling, jail.”

  “I don’t want to argue and make you feel bad.” Cade backed away from her with his palms out.

  “You’re hurting and feeling sorry for yourself, but if you want that woman to love you, you have to be a man who’s good enough for her to love. And right now, you don’t think you’re good enough.”

  # # #

  As far as first days went, this one had been a disaster. Andie hurriedly unlocked the door to Cade’s house and waved goodbye to Ronaldo. As soon as he drove off, she shut the door behind her and took deep breaths.

  Red and Gollie scampered to her for a greeting, and she squatted on the floor to hug them. Stroking their furry bodies lowered her blood pressure and heart rate. She held her breath and quieted herself. Was Cade around?

  The house was dark, and she had yet to scout out the floorplan to know where he’d spent the night. Her bedroom ascended a set of spiral stairs up from the great room, and as far as she could tell, she was over the kitchen. There was another set of double doors leading away from the formal dining room, as well as a regular staircase on the other side of the great room.

  She petted Red. “Is Cade home? Or did the dog walker leave you here?”

  He wagged his tail, whatever that meant.

  “Okay, you two, I’m going to let you run around the yard while I get ready for bed.” She crossed to the French doors leading out to the fenced in yard and let the dogs out.

  Andie heard the garage door as she ascended her spiral stairs, but she didn’t wait for him. How could she, when she’d allowed Cade’s friend to kiss her? Not that she’d kissed him back, but she hadn’t stopped him, either.

  She hurried to her room and shut the door. What if what Ronaldo said were true, that humans were not naturally monogamous? What if the only reason she’d ever dated one man at a time was because there was only one man interested in her at a time?

  Oh, holy kielbasa. What was she turning into? She couldn’t stay at his place while carrying on with someone else, not that she wanted to, or did she?

  Ronaldo’s kiss had melted in her mouth, and he was as smooth as butter. Handsome and refined, he was used to the finer things in life: a silver Ferrari, expensive suit, diamond cufflinks, and an address in Beverly Hills.

  Not that she’d drop her panties for him since he was definitely a player. She had to stick to her rule. After Declan Reed stole her heart, then trampled on it with a string of women, she’d sworn to herself she’d put faithfulness as her top criteria in choosing a man, followed by honesty.

  Except an online quiz told her she valued good in bed. Grrr … Fine. Faithfulness and great in the sack. Which Cade was, if what he said was true. She’d better add back honesty.

  Cade’s footsteps stomped around the kitchen. He was right below her. Andie shuddered and shook her fists at herself. If she wanted faithfulness and honesty, she should be the same.

  It was only fair. Taking a deep breath, she opened her door and clambered down the stairs, heading for the kitchen. Cade had a tray of food, steaks from the look of it.

  “I was wondering if you’d eaten,” he said, putting the tray on the kitchen table.

  “I went out and had a hamburger already,” she said. There was no sense lying. Ronaldo was sure to fill in Cade about their dinner date. Hopefully he wouldn’t kiss and tell.

  “Oh, well, I have two steaks, mashed potatoes, green beans and well, do you mind watching me eat or do you want some?”

  He blinked, looking expectant and unsure. Guilt curdled in Andie’s stomach at the kiss she’d shared with Ronaldo. She’d never pegged herself to be the cheating kind, and yet it had felt exciting to have two men wanting her, at least if she assumed Ronaldo had been referring to her as the one woman Cade was stuck on.

  Time to find out. If he’d really changed to a one woman man, he wouldn’t be kissing her if she weren’t the one.

  She swiped her hand up Cade’s arm and tipped on her toes, her eyes searching for a clue. He seemed to shy away, clearing his throat and gesturing to the table.

  “I’m hungry, so if you don’t mind,” he said.

  “Sure, no problem.” She stepped back, flustered with a pang of disappointment. “I’ll stay and watch you.”

  “Great, have a seat.” He pulled out a chair for her. “What will you have to drink?”

  “Water’s fine.”

  “Water it is.” He poured her a glass and took his place at the table. “I’m really glad you’re here, Andie. You’re right about us being just roommates, at least for now.”

  Had she blown it and been friend-zoned? Or even worse, roommate-zoned?

  “Sounds good,” she mumbled, unsure of what it meant. “Do we have any rules or guidelines about what we do together or separately?”

  He cut a juicy piece of steak and chewed it. “I guess it means we each get our own food and keep our own schedules. I don’t expect you to eat with me or go out with me, and you’re free to come and go as you please.”

  “I should be buying my own groceries. Can I tag along when you go shopping? I don’t have a car.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I’ll still have my driver take you to and from work, unless you want to borrow one of my cars and drive yourself once you feel comfortable around here.”

  What could she say? This was above and beyond roommate territory, but she didn’t have the money for a car.

  “Thanks, Cade. That’s very kind of you.”

  “De nada,” he said. “If you want to go out on dates, with me or with others, that’s fine too.”

  “With others?” Her heart dropped. Did he already know about Ronaldo?

  “Yes, I’m not dictating who you see or go out with, and at the same time, I’m going to see other people. I now realize I was asking too much to think that just because I stopped seeing other people for
five months that somehow I would be rewarded with your love.”

  “But … I don’t get it.” Andie blinked as her heart clenched with pain. “You want to see other people?”

  “I’m worth it, aren’t I? I mean, women like me and I’m generally pretty desirable.”

  “Uh … you are, Cade. But I thought you changed … maybe not.” She shoved the chair back and wobbled to her feet. “I’m tired, and I have to go to sleep.”

  She dashed from the kitchen before she could burst into tears. Ronaldo hadn’t wasted any time telling Cade about her little escapade, and now he’d given up on her. He no longer wanted to earn her love. He was going back to his old playboy ways.

  She stumbled up the spiral staircase and threw herself into her room. What was she doing sleeping here in his house? She’d never be able to stomach it if he started bringing women around.

  She had no choice but to move out. Tears blinding her eyes, she dragged her suitcases from the closet and started packing.

  Chapter 11

  Cade opened the French door to the patio to check on the dogs. On summer nights, he let Red sleep outside if he wanted. Red headed for his wooden doghouse, but Gollie clung to him, wagging her tail and begging for pets, so he let her in.

  “You’re a sweetie, aren’t you? I bet you like snuggling up with Andie in that big bed of hers.” He took a doggie brush from a basket near the TV and sat on the floor cross-legged.

  The dog climbed into his lap and let him brush her. Her fur was silky yet textured, more reddish than a golden retriever, and she had collie markings, with white patches on her nose. She lay relaxed on his legs as he went through her coat, picking out twigs and burrs.

  “You’re a pretty girl. You like it here with Red? You two are best friends?” He wished the same could be said about him and Andie.

  She’d acted weird when he said they could be like regular roommates. It was exactly what she wanted. Ah, heck, maybe she had a stressful day at work. Ronaldo Silver was not an easy man to work for. The dude was demanding and arrogant. Bet he pictured himself a king like David.