Boxed Set: Intercepted by Love (The Complete Collection): Books One - Book Six (21 page)

Book Three

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Awesome read. Still on the edge.
- Marie Smith

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Dedication

#37 Ronnie “Bull” Settles

“How is it possible that both Roxanne and the baby are gone from the hospital?” Los Angeles Flash quarterback Cade Prescott shouted into the voice mail of his agent, Rob Cash. “I know you know where they are. Call me back.”

This was not good, not at all. A few days ago, the woman pregnant with his baby had gone to the hospital in premature labor. His baby was only thirty-two weeks along, too early. If the baby were born now, he could have serious complications.

Cade grabbed his gym bag and flexed his sore shoulder. Something was going very wrong, and they were keeping him in the dark.

He called Roxanne’s cell phone and got her voice mail. He tried not to think of the worst case scenario. If she was able to walk out of that hospital, things couldn’t be that bad, at least for her. But the baby? Had something happened that they didn’t want him to know about?

Cade called his mother back and asked her to wait for him at the hospital. He showered and changed into his street clothes. His shoulder was still sore from the late hit, nothing unusual for a quarterback who was the target for every defensive back to sack. He’d deal with team politics later.

Sure, he was cutting out on practice again and would be fined for leaving, but he had no choice. His baby could, at this very moment, have either been born or … he shook off the chill creeping up his spine. No sense going there.

Forty minutes later, he and his mother hurried into Roxanne’s doctor’s office. En route, Cade had called his lawyer to notify the doctor that, as the father of the baby, he had a right to be notified of the baby’s health.

“Cade Prescott? Dr. Benson will be with you shortly,” the receptionist said. She blinked at him in a star struck manner, then palmed her cell phone. “Is it okay if I get a picture with you?”

His public persona was to be gracious with fans, but he couldn’t afford to have his picture taken inside an obstetrician’s office. Besides, he was in no mood for fan appreciation.

“How about I autograph something for you?”

“I’d rather have a picture.” She handed her phone to his mother. “Can you take this for us?”

This was the part he hated about being a minor celebrity. He couldn’t imagine what movie stars had to go through. Didn’t people know to leave them alone and let them live their lives?

Fortunately, the doctor buzzed the receptionist and said, “Let Mr. Prescott in.”

Cade’s mother gave the woman’s cell phone back to her. “Isn’t there a rule about doctor-patient confidentiality?”

Cade didn’t wait to hear her response. Instead, he pushed through the doorway to the doctor’s office. His mother followed him in and stood at his side.

Dr. Benson greeted them, “Come in, come in. Sit, please. Water? Or a cup of coffee?”

Cade waved it aside. His pulse rate was already elevated from fighting the traffic and worrying about the baby.

“What can I do for you?” the doctor said, as Cade and his mother sat.

“What’s going on with the baby? How’s his condition?”

“I got your message already and understand you’re worried. Frankly, I am too, but this can’t be helped.”

“Get to the point. Is my son okay?”

“Last I heard, the baby is fine. Still in utero and not under distress.” Dr. Benson tapped a few keys on his computer. “Ms. Cash left the hospital against medical advice and is no longer under my care.”

“What?” Cade slapped the top of the desk. “That means the baby’s in danger.”

How could the doctor sit there so calmly and act like he wasn’t concerned?

“In my professional opinion, birth is imminent, and I would have preferred he be born in the hospital. Yes.”

“This is unacceptable. Why didn’t you call me as soon as Roxanne checked out?”

“I’m sorry you’re not communicating with Ms. Cash, but it’s not my place to call you with an update.” The doctor blinked behind metal rimmed glasses. “In fact, I’m no longer her physician.”

“Then who is? I need to get in touch with him.” Cade’s stomach twisted in on itself. What game was Roxanne and Rob playing? Did they not care about the baby’s health? Or were they pissed at him for offering to have her stay at his house under a strict bed rest regime?

The doctor rose from his desk. “You can ask my receptionist if the new physician requested a transfer of records. As it is, I’ve a busy day with patients. I’m sorry I can’t shed any more light on this situation.”

Cade and his mother had no choice but to retreat from the doctor’s office. Prick. He’d come highly recommended by the guys on the team and was supposedly an old friend of Dick Davis, the owner of the LA Flash football team. Why was the doctor stonewalling Cade when he was the one who paid the bills?

“Hey, it’s not the doctor’s fault,” Cade’s mother said, laying a hand on his shoulder when they were back in front of the receptionist’s counter. “Patients run away from hospitals all the time. I mean, when I was in rehab, we had a—”

“Not now.” Cade caught the receptionist’s eye. “I need to know who Roxanne Cash’s new doctor is. Could you give me his name and phone number?”

“What was it you wanted?” The receptionist chewed on a pencil. “I’m sorry I can’t tell you. Patient confidentiality and that sort of thing.”

She leveled an eye roll at Cade’s mother.

Cade leaned across the counter into her face. “I’m the father of the baby. I have a right to know whose care my baby is under.”

The receptionist wagged her eyes from side to side. “Depends on if you’re really the father.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cade glared at the receptionist. “We had the prenatal blood draw done right here in this office, and the test came back positive for me being the father.”

“Yeah, you know how those prenatal tests are. Stuff could have gotten mixed up. Plus you weren’t the only guy we ran the tests against.”

“She’s playing with you,” Cade’s mother cut in before he could question her further. “She doesn’t know anything.”

“Oh yeah?” The idiotic woman took the bait. “You’ll be surprised how many famous people come through these doors.”

“Too bad you can’t say anything. Patient confidentiality.” Cade’s mother smacked her gum and glanced around the wood paneled waiting room where the other patients hid behind raised magazines and dark glasses. “I bet that other doctor’s receptionist gets all the scoop. It’s boring here.”

“Let’s not waste any more time,” Cade said, tapping his mother’s arm. He had to get back to training camp before the coaches noticed he’d taken off.

They headed toward the door and exited.

A few seconds later, the door swooshed open behind them and the receptionist called out, “Wait. If you take a picture with me, I’ll show you the picture of the guy who came by before you.”

Cade’s mother rolled her eyes. “Like we care so much. Who was it, Brad Pitt?”

“No, serious. He was also asking about your girlfriend and whether the baby’s been delivered.”

“Like we believe anything you say, right Cade?” his mother drawled and yawned.

“Seriously, here, look.” The receptionist scrolled through her phone and flashed a photo in front of Cade.

Cade’s jaw plunged to the floor. Todd Irvin? The pretty boy quarterback who happened to be married was cheesing with the receptionist. The background looked suspiciously like the office he’d just left.

“Wait.” Cade’s mother grabbed the phone. “Irvin’s black. If he’s the father of the baby, it’ll be obvious.”

“Not saying if he is or not,” the receptionist said. “Just that you owe me a pic.”

“So you can show it to the next chump?” Cade flung his arm from her grasp. “Sorry, babe. One word to your boss that you’ve been peddling information—”

He made a cut mark across his throat. He wasn’t in the mood to be charitable, and this woman had crossed the line with her rudeness.

As he walked away, the flash from her phone camera bounced from his ass. That was all she’d get, a departing butt shot.

“What now?” his mother asked when they exited the building.

“Find out why Todd Irvin was visiting Roxanne’s doctor.”

# # #

Arms and hands lifted research assistant Andie Wales off the carpet at her workplace. Another hand held a cup of water. She was vaguely aware that she had just come out of her boss’s office when she’d suddenly gotten dizzy.

A large manila envelope lay on the floor next to her. It had been returned to sender. Of all things, it contained her divorce papers—her unfiled divorce papers. After two years lost in the postal system, it showed up right when she’d finally found a new boyfriend, Cade.

“Are you okay?” Her coworkers bent around her with concern etched on their faces. “What happened?”

“I’m okay. I’m fine.” She swiped her hair from her face. “Didn’t eat breakfast. Low blood sugar.”

“Maybe you should go to the doctor,” Sylvia, her boss’s admin, said. “I have a friend who has a heart condition, and she faints all the time for no reason whatsoever.”

Andie definitely had a reason to faint. Finding out she was still married to Declan Connor Reed, her playboy ex, was up there with nuclear catastrophe and a mass outbreak of ebola.

Her boss, Ronaldo Silver, stood behind Sylvia with a scowl on his face. “Sylvia, take her to the cafeteria and get her something to eat. We need Andie on the set today to go over historical apparel and the placement of furniture.”

Geez, that man really had it in for her. Andie gritted her teeth and nodded. “I’m fine. Really. I’m looking forward to going over the details of the set.”

“Good.” Ronaldo grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Remember what we talked about. Declan’s going to be there getting acculturated to ancient Israel. You better figure out where you two stand.”

“I’ll be professional about it. Please don’t worry.” Pinpricks of sweat dampened Andie’s armpits, but she had to hold it together. She should be glad to have a few moments alone with Declan. If he signed the divorce paperwork, she could file it and not have to tell Cade anything.

He had enough to worry about with the baby and bed rest Roxanne needed, as well as competition for the starting quarterback position on the team.

As for Ronaldo, he’d told her to fix it, and she couldn’t imagine him gossiping with Cade like old hens pecking at the grapevine.

Declan was simply a bump in the road in her past. Not a big deal.

“Where’ve you been?” Coach Settles lowered his brows and glared at Cade when he returned to the training facility. “I told you to get your shoulder looked at, not to take time off.”

“I had a family emergency,” Cade said. He wasn’t going to admit to anything else, and if they fined him, so be it. Playing football was like being back in high school—every hour was regimented and scheduled from game day to game day.

“You should have checked with me ahead of time. First, Irvin goes missing this morning and now you. What’s the matter with you two? Starting quarterback not worth competing for?”

“It is, Coach. I’m on it.” He trotted out onto the field, as Todd ambled off, removing his mouth guard and spitting.

He gave Cade a pat on the shoulder just hard enough to cause him to wince, then said, “Watch your back, man.”

“Sure, later.” Cade grunted. As if he cared. For all Cade knew, Todd had encouraged his buddy, Sanderson, to hit him hard the other day.

But then again, the defensive backs were full of adrenaline and known for hard hits. Their motto was to go right through a man, not just to stop him. The Flash defense was infamous for double teaming a quarterback and hitting him high and low at the same time.

He hadn’t figured they’d go so rough during training camp and risk injuring their own teammates. Unless …

Cade shook off the dark thoughts, or at least tabled them. Mind games were a big part of the competition. Todd must have been significantly worried about Cade getting the starting nod, enough so that he was snooping around Roxanne’s doctor’s office. Probably trying to dig up dirt to discredit him with the owner and coaches. It was doubtful Todd had fathered Roxanne’s baby, especially in these days of accurate paternity tests, unless … What if the entire baby situation were made up to fuck with him? Make him lose concentration while competing for the starting job.

Cade huddled with the guys, called the play, and got behind the center for the snap. The only thing that mattered now was the next play. Nothing else.

The offensive line held while he dropped back into the pocket looking for an open receiver. No such luck. Not even the tight end was free from his defender. Cade could do the chicken shit thing and throw the ball into the sidelines for an incomplete, but that wasn’t how he played.

Tucking the ball under his arm, he rushed forward behind the blocking of the fullback, Polu Rivera, half-Samoan, half-Puerto Rican powerhouse. Cade wasn’t like those wimpy quarterbacks who held the ball in throwing position once the running game started. Nope, he wasn’t afraid of the line of tacklers.

Defensive back Steve Sanderson was charging on his right, but Cade broke free of the tackle and pounded forward. Only one player, the strong safety “Fig” Figueroa, was in front of him. Cade pushed into a sprint down the sidelines, and when Fig dived for him, he shoved him with his free arm and danced into the end zone.

Holding the ball high, he slammed it to the ground and took high fives from his elated teammates. Who said a scrimmage didn’t count? The coaching staff would be busy studying the videos in the weeks to come to select the starter. Even though he’d thrown away their Super Bowl with a game-losing interception, he was still a contender today. In the game of football, guys didn’t dwell on the last play. It was always the next one, and the next. In this game, everything was redeemable as long as one performed.

Which couldn’t be said about real life.

After the team meetings, ice tubs, massages, and another meeting to view videos and go over the offensive formations, Cade was finally released to go home for the day.

Home meant Andie, his girlfriend. He’d never had one before, never felt the need when women piled on him three deep, but everything changed once he met Andie Wales one wintry day in the bowels of a university library.

Just thinking about her made him half-hard, which wasn’t a good thing in the locker room. He couldn’t wait to get home to their media center bedroom, explore her every nook and cranny, get his hard dick between her soft folds. He’d turn off all the lights, pull the room darkening shades, deprive them of all sight and sound, nothing but the thrill of his cock surging inside her—no other music than the sound of her coming and the slap of their bodies, like pounding surf and crashing waves, and her moans reverberating deep into his soul.

He adjusted his loose fitting pants and looped a windbreaker over his arm to cover his crotch area. Like all pro-football players, he was a horny man, and there was no aphrodisiac more effective than all the hitting and spiking of adrenaline on the playing field to prime his pump.

Time to get home to Andie.

He threw his towel into the hamper and strode to the parking lot at a quick pace. Unfortunately, Todd Irvin was parked next to him.

The star quarterback smirked and gave him a fist bump. “How’s the baby? Heard you had quite a scare.”

“Baby’s doing good.” Cade wasn’t about to give his competitor any indication things weren’t on the up and up. “Is your wife expecting? Or do you like to hang out at the baby doctor’s office?”

Todd’s eyes shuttered with an unreadable expression. ”Maybe she is, maybe she isn’t. What’s it to you?”

“Nothing, except Roxanne’s going to redo the paternity test after she delivers the baby, so, maybe you need to start cloaking the captain next time you play.”

Irvin’s brows ridged, and his upper lip curled into a sneer, ruining his picture perfect image. “You play, you pay. Me and my wife, we’re church going folks. You won’t catch us on the wrong side of the Sport Holler website.”

“Then watch who you take selfies with.” Cade flipped his key fob in the air, caught it, and beeped open the door to his Porsche.

# # #

Andie’s nerves were frazzled by the end of the day. The afternoon passed in close company to Declan without the ability to speak to him in private. His over-expansive cologne invaded the stuffy set, and the tiny touches he’d bestowed on her were irritating, as if he still possessed her.

The set designers hovered around taking notes as Andie explained the historical significance of every article, from cloaks to pottery, to the pieces of bronze used as mirrors and the jewelry a desert princess would possess. She should have been excited to be inside an ancient Israeli bridal tent, taking note of the headdress, veil, and other accoutrements of the royal wedding, but with Declan’s presence, all she could do was keep her sentences short and to the point and try to stay away from her very present not-so-ex-husband.

Finally, the consultation was over, and they exited the set. The two designers walked one way, and Andie headed back to her cubicle. Declan followed her down the corridor, dogging at her heels. Didn’t he have any place to go now that the consultation at the set was over?

“You’re really good with the details,” Declan said, brushing his fingers over her shoulder to swipe her hair back. “Who would have known you couldn’t mix wool with linen?”

“That’s what they’re paying me for.” Andie gritted her teeth as she placed her laptop in her messenger bag. She took a deep breath while his hand wandered over the back of her neck. His touch was giving her the creeps, but she didn’t want to get on his bad side before he signed the paperwork.

She extracted the battered mailing envelope from her bag. From the markings on the envelope, it looked like it was Declan’s fault for not leaving a forwarding address. Unfortunately, it had taken the post office two years to return it to her. It was better to just get this over with now, rather than delay confronting him.

When she turned to face him, he was openly leering at her with a smirk on his face. “So, now that we’re done with all of the historical aspects of your job, how about we have dinner to catch up?”

“Actually, I have a piece of business I need to clear up with you. Let’s go to an empty conference room so we can talk.” Andie led him to a room, closed the door, and handed him the envelope with the divorce papers.

“What’s this?” Declan raised an eyebrow.

“Our divorce papers. Somehow they got lost in the mail.”

“No way.” Declan removed the papers from the envelope. “I don’t believe you.”

“What’s not to believe?” Andie spread out her hands. “Remember, you had them prepared and mailed them to me to sign? You told me to send them back so you could file it, since it’s easier to get a divorce in California, a no fault state. We agreed.”

Declan wagged his finger at her. “And here I thought you’d changed your mind, you little heartbreaker.”

“Never, please sign it, and I’ll be on my way.” Andie grabbed a pen from her purse and held it out to him.

Please, please, please.

Declan’s nose crinkled. He made a big show of flourishing his hand through the sheaf of papers, flipping them one by one until he reached the last page.

Sure enough, there was Andie’s signature, but nothing from Declan.

“Are you going to sign?” She waggled the pen, and he took it, tucking it over his ear.

“First, let me read it.” He turned his nose to the air. “I never sign anything without reading it thoroughly.”

“But you were the one who drew it up.” Andie tried not to sound like a whiny mouse. “Better hurry and sign before you get a contract. California’s a community property state. It means all marital assets are split fifty-fifty.”

A sideways grin tilted Declan’s cheeky face. “You don’t say. Seeing as I have nothing but debts, and you, my darling wife, are gainfully employed. How much was your sign-on bonus?”

“Whoa, wait. That’s not fair.” Andie crossed her arms. “We agreed a long time ago. It says here no one owes the other person anything and that it’s no one’s fault. The ink hadn’t even dried on our marriage certificate before we decided to split.”

If only she hadn’t been so stupidly starstruck two years ago by the fact that Declan was going to Hollywood. What an idiotic ninny she’d been. Stopping at that silly Elvis Presley chapel with her supposed leading man had been the worst mistake of her life.

Declan hovered the pen above the line with the ‘x.’ “Eenie, meenie, miney, moe, shall I sign or get the dough?”

“Wh-what?” The air deflated from Andie’s lungs. “Please, please sign. I really don’t have much money. My father had a stroke and he’s paralyzed.”

“Ah … bring out the violins, why don’t we?” He shoved the papers back into the envelope. “How about we go to dinner and I’ll think about it?”

“But, that’s not fair,” Andie sputtered. “For two years I thought we were divorced.”

“And I thought we were still married. What’s the rush?”

The rush? Cade, of course, but if she let on how desperate she was, Declan would only milk her eagerness for some unknown advantage.

“Fine. I’ll go to the ladies’ room and be right back.” Andie left the papers with him and hurried to the restroom to freshen up her makeup. She had to think of a plan. Maybe she should say she was the one in debt and that she was a gold digger. That could work.

She’d stick to dollars and sense. The less emotion she put into this transaction, the better. As soon as Declan signed the papers, she’d be free to breathe again. Then she could devote all her thoughts to Cade and enjoy the newness of their love affair, while everything was hearts and roses. She couldn’t wait for this day to be over so she could be back in Cade’s arms, free and clear. He’d said something about an evening baseball game under stadium blankets. Hmmm …

Darn, she really, really didn’t want to cancel her date with Cade just to beg Declan to sign. She’d turn it around. If he signed, they could have a drink to celebrate—some other night.

Her spirits sank when she returned to her cubicle. Not only was Declan hanging out with Leroy, whose cube was next to hers, but Sylvia and two copywriters were also standing around.

“Hey, there’s my wife!” Declan hooked an arm over Andie’s shoulder.

Oh, no, oh, no, oh, no.
The creep had blown her cover.

“Wife?” Leroy raised both eyebrows and glanced between them. “You’re joking.”

“No joke,” Declan said. “It’s not every day you walk into a building and find your long lost wife.”

“Ex-wife, or soon to be.” Andie stretched her hand out for the envelope with the divorce papers. “These are our divorce papers.”

“Wait,” Sylvia said when she recognized the envelope. “That’s what was in it? It was postmarked two years ago.”

“Apparently lost in the mail, but found today,” Andie said. “Declan initiated the divorce because he didn’t want me gold digging. I think he should sign now before he gets that big contract with Silver Studios, don’t you?”

Leroy’s and Sylvia’s eyes popped out, as did the other two coworkers’, who looked from Andie to Declan and back again.

“If you’re digging for gold, you’re welcome to dig for my nuggets.” Declan’s lips curled with a good-natured grin as he put his arm around Andie and gave her a peck on the cheek.

“Awww … how sweet in a pervy kind of way,” Sylvia said with a smirk. Today, she was wearing a T-shirt with half a happy face and half a sad face. Her makeup was sprightly on one side of the face, and droopy and vampish on the other. What was with these theatric types? The copywriters, a hipster male and female pair, giggled and snorted at what they most likely thought of as entertainment of the reality type.

Declan gave Andie’s shoulder a firm squeeze. “I want another chance. It must be fate or kismet or the universe that put us together at the Matt Damon prints outside the Chinese Theatre. We, Andie, me and you, were meant to be.”

“I don’t know,” Leroy cut in, scratching his decidedly not-King-David beard. “You haven’t seen the big bruiser she’s been hanging out with.”

“Actually, I know who he is,” Declan said. “He’s the anti-glorious dirt bag who threw the losing Super Bowl interception. I’m surprised they still have him on the team. So, Andie, is he the real reason you want to toss our fairytale romance aside? You know, he’s nowhere near as cultured as I am. I’d say he’s a real Philistine, whereas I, baby, can be your King David.”

Icy chills crunched Andie’s gut. Ever since the shock this morning of finding out she was still married to Declan, Andie had tried not to think about Cade, although it’d been nearly impossible. She loved that big bruiser. Loved him with a vengeance, and no one was going to hurt him.