“I don’t get it,” Andie said. “Why you? Couldn’t he have paid off any guy without a job to claim the baby? I don’t see why he needs to blackmail you for something you’ve already been cleared from.”
“He said he trusted me to raise his son and love him.” Cade knew how stupid this sounded. Andie was right. Any halfway decent guy without money could have been chosen—someone less well known and less likely to draw attention.
“So, basically, your mother could go to jail and you could be disgraced,” Pam concluded. “It does sound weak. Did he offer you any carrots other than Andie’s job in the movie?”
This was the part Cade had not wanted to divulge. After all, Coach Settles claimed he had earned the part of starting quarterback. If word got out that he had traded his integrity for the job, he would be not just disgraced, but ruined.
“Nothing that I didn’t earn.” Cade hedged. After all, he’d refused that part of the deal. “He did say he’d pay for Bret’s schooling and expenses. I assume he made a similar deal with Roxanne.”
“Sounds like she’s cracking,” Pam said. “I heard her when she left. What did she mean get out of LA? Are we in danger?”
“I hope not.” Cade didn’t want to sugarcoat. “Trust me. I would never endanger you or Andie, but if I uncover anything, I will personally send you back to Itasca on the next flight.”
“So, the baby’s not mine?” Andie laid her hand on his chest and peered into his eyes. “Not yours either?”
“No, but I’m taking care of him until we figure out what the deal is with his real parents.”
She leaned into him and kissed him. “I feel like he should be ours. I feel like I’ve met him before and loved him.”
Her soft, tentative kiss was like a rebirth, filling him with hope and wonder. He’d never felt the same sense of belonging and being accepted as he did with her. And having once tasted this, he’d never want to let it go.
“We’ll see if it’s meant to be.” He couldn’t help kissing her back. “All I know is I love you, and with love, anything’s possible.”
“I don’t even know you, and I believe you.” She opened her mouth and melted into his kiss.
Chapter 9
Andie took a nice long bath, making sure to shave her legs and fix herself up after her ordeal in the hospital. She was missing a patch of hair where the doctors had operated and drained fluid from her brain, but fortunately, it was covered by the rest of her long, flowing hair. Besides, she could wear a bandana to be on the safe side.
The man, Cade, loved her. Could it really be possible in the two years since she’d married Declan that she’d met and fallen in love with a rugged football player? One who was embroiled in a mess of scandals and intrigue? What must her mother think about her kissing Cade right in front of her?
Except it had all felt so right and so true. Every cell in her body was drawn to him, not only in a sexual sense, but in a way that felt elemental, that she belonged with him.
“Ready to video conference with your father?” Her mother knocked on the bathroom door. “I spoke to Aunt Helen and she’s figured out how to set it up. They’re on screen right now.”
“Let me put on some makeup.” Andie peered at her pale face. She really did look like a ghost with bags under her eyes. Her cheeks had thinned, making her face longer. The fringe benefit of being out cold for a week was that she’d lost ten pounds. She rubbed blush on her cheeks and brushed on a light coat of mascara. She picked over the cosmetics arranged on the counter and sniffed the perfumes. Everything was hers, but unfamiliar.
Except for Cade. Even though she couldn’t recollect a thing about him, he felt right—not to mention totally hot, strong, loving, and protective. If only her mother weren’t such a prude and a stickler about that piece of paper she supposedly had with Declan, she’d be exploring her connection with him and enjoying it.
Andie spritzed the perfume with the ladybird on it, Dot by Marc Jacobs. It held a fun energy in it, and she was ready to tackle whatever came up. The kiss with Cade was still tingling on her lips. It wasn’t every day that a girl woke up like Sleeping Beauty to find a man like Cade professing love and devotion, all without her having a clue where he came from. The story he told about the baby, Bret, and the woman, Roxanne, was so bizarre it had to be true. Besides, he seemed honest and trustworthy—a man without guile—good people. And face it, how could she not fall in love with him?
“Andie,” her mother called. “Your father’s getting tired of waiting. We set up the video already.”
“Oh, sorry. I kind of got lost in my thoughts.” She opened the door. “How do I look?”
“Pretty, as always.” Her mother had Bret in one arm as she leaned over and smoothed her hair back.
The screen in the bedroom, some kind of converted home theater, covered the entire wall. Her father and aunt smiled and waved.
“Dad!” Andie held her arms out as if to hug him. “I’m coming home as soon as I can fly. I can’t believe what happened.”
Her father had a tablet computer of some sort propped on an extension of his wheelchair. He moved a joystick with one hand, and a mechanical voice said, “I’ve missed you, sweetie. I’m doing okay.”
“Did Mom tell you I forgot two years of my life? I’m supposedly a consultant on a movie about King David. I’m also supposedly married to Declan and getting a divorce, and I met a guy named Cade this spring.”
Her father moved his hand. “You did. You were supposed to bring him to our house for dinner.”
“Do you like him?”
“I do, if you do,” Dad’s mechanical voice said. “I hear you’re taking care of a baby.”
Andie’s mother rocked Bret and brought him in front of the camera and said, “It’s a long story, but for now, we’re trading childcare for rent and food.”
“Cade’s awfully nice,” Andie said. “He reminds me of Phalti, Michal’s second husband.”
Her father nodded and smiled. He and Andie loved to gossip about ancient characters, especially the ones from Israel and Palestine, her father’s area of expertise in archaeology.
He fiddled with the joystick. “You never liked to talk about Phalti before. What changed?”
“Really? Did I not like him or what? I don’t think I knew much about him.”
“You did not believe Michal loved him, because your theory is that her true love is David.”
She and her father had often sparred over which one of David’s wives he loved the most, but they’d never talked about the men in Michal’s life.
“I’m not so sure anymore,” Andie said. “If you only look at the evidence, David is not coming off that well. He seemed jealous that she was the daughter of Saul, and he wanted badly to be Saul’s son-in-law. He also kept taking wives, even after Bathsheba.”
Her father threw his head back and laughed, in a jerky, uncoordinated manner. He wiggled the stick, and the voice said, “Does the change in heart toward Phalti have anything to do with the football player you’re crushing on?”
Andie’s cheeks burned and her heart fluttered. “A man’s devotion is worth so much more than a flattering womanizer. I figured out why Declan’s not right for me. He’s too cocky, and a lot like David. He told me I’m starring in the movie with him as his concubine. They made up a part for me, and all I get to do is serve him night and day.”
“Pah!” Her aunt Helen shook her head and sneered. “I never liked Declan. Did you, Pam?”
“Oh, no, but he’s legally still her husband,” her mother replied.
Dad was busy with the stick. Finally, the voice said. “I hope you get that divorce. Maybe I shouldn’t have indulged you when you associated Declan with David. Maybe it’s time we forget about the lives of people who are long dead, and time for you to live your own life.”
“I agree,” Andie said. “Even though I don’t remember what happened, I no longer want to live in the past.”
“Give me a hug,” her father’s mechanical voi
ce said.
Andie approached the camera and pantomimed hugging him. “I love you, Dad. You too, Aunt Helen. I’ll be home soon.”
“We will,” her mother said. “I miss you, James.”
“We’re so glad Andie is okay,” Aunt Helen said. “Can’t wait for you guys to get back.”
Her father waved and the voice said, “I love you both.”
Even little Bret got in a few sounds. He kicked his little legs and wiggled when Andie’s mother handed him to her.
“Say bye-bye, Bret.” She kissed his silky little head.
Everyone oohed and ahhed when Bret said, “Oog-la.”
His eyes were as clear and blue as Cade’s. He really was a little cutie. Andie picked up his tiny little hand and waved while her mother said goodbye and cut the call.
“What should we do now?” Andie asked. “Shall we take Bret for a walk?”
“It would be good for you to get some exercise,” her mother agreed. “Cade said the stroller’s in the garage.”
Andie changed the baby’s diaper and dressed him in a baseball outfit. “We really should have a baby shower for him. Wasn’t there someone who was planning it?”
“I’m not sure you should get too attached to him,” Andie’s mother, always the voice of wisdom, said. “His mother could always come back and claim him.”
“I know, but he feels so much like Cade’s son. See those eyes? As blue and clear as Cade’s.”
“You think he was lying and Roxanne staged that fight for us?” Her mother crossed to her side. “Maybe we’ve been fooled.”
“No, I believe him. I don’t know why, but I just know he wouldn’t lie to me.” Andie put a baseball cap on Bret and held him up in front of her. “You’re just the cutest, sweetest little boy in the world.”
Whether he was Cade’s son or not, somehow holding the baby and taking care of him stimulated all of Andie’s maternal instincts. She’d always dreamt of having a family, but had never gotten out of the library to meet anyone that would make it possible. Now, all she had to do was lose two years of her life and wake up finding an instant family, including two dogs. Cool, huh?
Her mother got the stroller from the garage and brought it to the foyer entrance while Andie gathered Red and Gollie with their leashes in one hand while holding Bret with the other.
“Let’s go,” her mother said, opening the door as the doorbell rang.
Red’s hackles rose, and he growled low in his throat.
“Oh, shit.” Gollie’s leash slipped from Andie’s hand.
“Well, well, well, at least someone’s glad to see me.” Declan patted Gollie. “How’s my lovely wife?”
“Not happy to see you at all.” Andie moved to slam the door, but Gollie’s butt was in the way.
“What’s gotten into you?” Declan pulled his phone from his pocket and took a picture of Andie holding the baby. “You really do know how to suck up to Cade Prescott. What do you want? His riches? That you’re willing to play nursemaid to every brat he fathers?”
“You blew it, Dec. It’s coming back to me now.” Andie glared at him. “You sent me divorce papers. You wanted to be free of me so you could play Romeo.”
“No, Andie. The only reason I’d divorce you is for the slut you’ve turned into.”
Slap!
Declan’s head whipped to the side, as Andie’s mother rubbed her open palm.
“Don’t you ever disrespect my daughter or bother her again.” Pam slammed the door.
Chapter 10
The sun was hot and high in the sky, but Coach Settles was relentless. He yelled at Cade and his teammates through drill after drill. Cade must have dropped back and passed so many times, left, right, back, center, that he could have thrown his arm out of the socket.
Todd Irvin was looking sharp, completing pass after pass while Cade fumbled the ball, even at the snap.
“What’s the matter with you?” The coach dragged him aside. “You better turn in a stellar performance at this afternoon’s scrimmage or I’m starting Irvin this Saturday.”
“I’m trying, sir.” Cade blew out a breath and hustled back onto the field.
His arms and legs felt like sandbags the rest of the afternoon, and he was caught dozing off during the video review at the team meeting.
“Baby keeping you up all night?” Todd slapped his back while they were dressing in the locker room.
“He’s doing okay.”
“I mean, that baby just looks so much like you—he’s a spitting image.”
“Yep.” Since when had Todd seen the baby? It wasn’t as if they had had time to make baby announcements. In any case, Cade had no time to banter. He was in a hurry to visit his mother at the rehab facility she had been transferred to.
“Who would have thought, out of all the guys she did the rumpty-tumpty with, you’d be the winner?” Todd sighed exaggeratedly. “Hit the jackpot.”
Cade pulled on his pants and tucked his shirt in. “Love to chat, but I gotta go.”
“Sure seems like you’ve got everything going your way. Baby boy, devoted girlfriend, even your mother drug free and overjoyed to be a grandmother, oh, and starting position on Saturday.”
“Yep.” Cade pulled on his socks and slipped into his shoes. “See you tomorrow.”
“Hey, I’ve got an idea. The guys, we want to do a baby shower for you. Knock back a few beers and do a diaper collection. How about this Saturday after the game?”
“Uh, it’s really not necessary.” Cade closed his locker and picked up his gym bag. “I appreciate the sentiment.”
“Nah, really.” Todd shut his locker and hooked his arm over Cade’s shoulder. “Now that your baby’s doing well, even though he was almost two months premature, we ought to celebrate. Shouldn’t we, guys?” Todd called to the other teammates in the locker room. “I say baby shower for Cade after the game. My place.”
“Sure, let’s do it,” Todd’s buddy, Steve Sanderson said. “Guys only. Make sure you bring the little guy.”
“Yeah, show him off.” Todd clapped his hands. “It’s not every day our starting quarterback clones himself. Don’t y’all think that baby looks just like Cade? Except for the mouth part. Sorry, bud, he must have gotten Rox’s mouth.”
“Lucky kid,” Sanderson said. “Rox has a hot mouth.”
“That’s enough,” Cade growled. “You got a problem with me, bite me. Leave my baby and his mother out of it.”
“Oh, but we love you, your baby, and his mother.” Todd clamped his arm tighter around Cade’s shoulder. “Such an interesting combination of blood groups, how your blood type is O and the baby’s a B?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Cade flung Todd’s hand from his shoulder and strode toward the exit.
“Maybe you’re not as lucky as you want us to think. I smell a fish, Cade Prescott, and I’m getting to the bottom of this, one way or another.”
# # #
“Hey, Andie, remember me? Sylvia?” A woman’s voice called from the intercom later that afternoon. “The boss sent me to give his regards. He hopes you can come back to work soon.”
Sylvia was the admin at Andie’s job with Silver Studios. Andie dimly remembered she was supposed to be friends with Sylvia. And then there was the news that she, Andie, was supposed to be an actress in training. How exciting!
She opened the door and greeted the admin. “Come in, this is my mother, Pam, and Cade’s baby, Bret.”
Sylvia greeted Pam and exclaimed at the cuteness of little Bret. She turned to Andie with sparkling eyes.
“Do you recognize me?” she said, twirling her colorful dress. Half of it was bright, dazzling kente cloth fabric with orange, pink, green, and black geometric zigzags, and the other half was Japanese-style full of cranes, suns, and cherry blossoms in white and red over a turquoise background.
The colors clashed but complimented Sylvia’s light brown skin. Andie, with her pale milky complexion, would be washed out in the cacophony of c
olors.
“That is an interesting combination,” Andie’s mother said, probably to buy time for Andie to recall her friend.
Sylvia looked to be African-American, but her eyes were narrow and slanted, and her hair was black and glossy, pressed straight. A memory of her telling Andie she was a hafu or halfie, biracial, surfaced from the depths of her mind, and an image of Sylvia wearing half a kimono grabbed Andie’s attention.
“I do remember you,” she said. “You have half a kimono. It’s coming back. I work with you and some guy who’s Chinese and wears Israeli clothes?”
“Yes!” Sylvia grabbed Andie’s hands and jumped up and down. “That would be Leroy Chan. You guys are writing the script for the movie about King David and his wives.”
“And we disagree on which wife is the favorite.”
“Exactly. You have to come back to work and meet everyone again. Mr. Silver will be so pleased.”
“Uh, I’m not sure Andie’s ready,” her mother cut in. “She still gets headaches and dizzy spells.”
“Oh, Mom, I’m okay. I can’t stay around here all day trying to remember. I just have to go and see. Maybe more stuff will pop into my mind, and I can capture them.”
“I’ll drive you there and bring you back,” Sylvia said. “In fact, I can pick you up every day. Are you coming to Ronaldo’s party this Sunday? We’ll go as twins, or mirror-twins.”
Andie glanced at the colorful outfit. “I’ll look terrible with all those bright colors. Look at me, I don’t even have a tan.”
“You’ll look great. Who says you have to walk around wearing pastels and shades of gray?” Sylvia turned Andie around and around. “Look how bright red your hair is. We’ll jump out of a cake together. Let’s go shopping. Mr. Silver said I can take you out and we don’t have to go back to work.”
Who could resist Sylvia’s enthusiasm? Certainly not Andie. She turned to her mother. “Are you okay with watching Bret or …”
Boxed Set: Intercepted by Love (The Complete Collection): Books One - Book Six Page 37