Boxed Set: Intercepted by Love (The Complete Collection): Books One - Book Six (25 page)

After a hard morning’s workout, Ronaldo and Cade grabbed towels and headed for the showers.

“I made you eat dirt back there,” Ronaldo bragged. “How are you going to keep up with the Dutch twins? They’re both Olympic beach volleyball players.”

“Beach volleyball?” Cade wet his lips, picturing long, firm legs and boobs bouncing with perky ponytails waving in the sun. Tall women he could kiss and fuck without scrunching his back.

All night, he’d been ordering himself to man up. To get rid of thoughts about Andie. To stop obsessing over someone he couldn’t have—another man’s wife. He’d tossed and turned, punched his pillow, his bed, and resisted grabbing himself when all he’d dream about was fucking the cuss out of her, taking her three ways, ten, heck fifty shades ’til Sunday, and then some. What the hell was wrong with him?

Of course, he had a strong sex drive. It was the way he was built. Ever since puberty, he’d had a woman under him—foster sisters, neighborhood girls, and later on, groupies galore, fan girls, bar maids, all beautiful and slick. But he’d drawn a line in his mind that he wasn’t getting attached to anyone. Because getting attached led to exactly this kind of fucked up mess he was in—being screwed and abandoned.

Ronaldo punched his forearm, reminding him about the twin volleyball players. “Endurance, power, and pure sexy. Hard to handle one, much less two. You man enough?”

Cade cranked the water to hit his chest. Maybe he should get back into the party scene. He’d been depressed way too long, hiding out in Itasca after he threw the game losing interception, and then worried about Roxanne and the baby. Andie came along at a time when he was most vulnerable, feeling like the biggest loser in the world. What if she’d only been a bandage for his ego, a temporary place to hide? Maybe he, too, had been fantasizing about a life he wasn’t meant to have—one with a stable marriage and a loving family—which wasn’t going to happen with Roxanne, the baby, and now Declan hanging onto Andie.

“Blonde and tan?” He entertained the idea of the Dutch twins. It wasn’t as if he, at six foot five and two hundred twenty five pounds couldn’t handle two beach volleyball players.

“Much better. These babes are redheads, quick to the trigger, pop the big ‘O’ faster than blondes and brunettes.”

“Redheads …” Cade turned the hot water higher and dunked his head under the stream, burning his scalp and back. He couldn’t even handle Andie. What was he thinking? Besides, he’d walked out on her yet again while she was explaining in her own cute way. She really was different from the other women he’d known, the way she’d launch into ancient history and draw parallels with modern life.

He switched off the hot water and blasted himself with the cold. Every nerve screamed and moaned with relief at the same time. Redheads were more sensitive to heat and cold, and pain, and emotions. He’d read a scientific study online, explaining why redheads had more sex and were more passionate lovers.

Could it be that Andie felt such extremes of pain and joy, that she lived on an entirely different level than he, with every feeling exaggerated and so intense that she had to hide behind her fantasy life?

Ronaldo turned off the water. “What’s with the cold shower? Thinking of a three-layer cake?”

“No, sorry. No twin towers for me. I’ve got to get this shoulder looked at and check in with Roxanne—make sure she’s eating. She looks like a noodle with a big bump in the middle.”

“You coming to my Twin Day party?” Ronaldo slapped him with his towel. “Bring your own babe, or be your own best friend.”

Cade yanked the towel from the rack and rubbed himself hard. He couldn’t even be his own best friend, never mind Andie’s. His entire body ached to touch her, to hold her and tell her everything would be all right, but those would be empty words. Declan held all the cards.

Besides, he couldn’t allow her to toss away a marriage like it was nothing. He hadn’t grown up in a stable home, but he’d always wished for one, and marriage was sacred to him.

If only Andie had waited for him. But how could she when she hadn’t even known him?

He threw the damp towel into the hamper full force, knocking it down. He couldn’t deal with her problems right now. He was on call in case Roxanne went into labor. The baby was real. His son was real.

He and his son were all the family he needed. Women came and went, but the bond between father and son was forever.

# # #

A week went by, and while Andie stayed at Cade’s place along with his mother, Cade was always out. He was polite to her, but distant, and from the conversations with his mother, Andie gathered he’d been spending a lot of time with Roxanne. Some evenings, even Barbara had gone to be with them.

Meanwhile, Declan had been notably absent from work. According to Leroy, he and his agent were holding out on the contract, trying to extract better terms. He’d been auditioning other roles and called her every evening with an update. He’d go over the part and ask her whether she thought that role would further his career or not. He avoided every mention of the divorce, and acted as if he was her best friend from back home. They’d talk about their old neighbors, classmates, and professors, and he’d ask after her parents, turning up the charm any chance he got.

Which didn’t mean he was worming his way into her heart. No way. But if Andie were to be friendly, maybe, just maybe, he’d relent and act reasonably. It would be better to part as friends than enemies, right?

It was another hot, dry, summer evening in the Hollywood Hills. Dry, being the operative word. The yard was dusty, and the grass had long ago turned brown due to the California drought. Even the eucalyptus trees were droopy and flapped listlessly. A row of pine trees were dead, and Andie longed for the humidity and greenery of upstate New York, her home in the Fingers Lake region.

Still, she’d make the best of living at Cade’s and take an evening walk with the dogs. It was about the only thing she had to look forward to after work these days.

She slathered on sunscreen and grabbed the dog leashes. Sure, Red and Gollie had been walked already, but they were always happy to go for a jog with her.

Andie was slipping on her sneakers, when Cade’s mother called from down the hall, “You heard? Roxanne’s had the baby.”

“She did? Isn’t it too early?” Andie dropped the leashes and rushed toward Barbara. “Is the baby okay?”

“Apparently, he is. He’s a big boy for being premature—takes after my son, I guess.”

“Is he …” Andie didn’t want to come right out and ask if the baby was Cade’s for sure. After all, Barbara had already been suspicious that the starting quarterback for the Flash, Todd Irvin, had been seen at the OB’s office.

“Yeah, it’s Cade’s all right. Big blue eyes, light brown hair, cute as a button, like a little doll.”

Andie’s heart clenched. How she wished she had had Cade’s baby and that at this moment, they were gathered around her bedside with the cute little doll.

“And Cade? How’s he doing?” she asked, not wanting to know.

“He’s relieved. Overjoyed. Here, let me show you a picture he texted.” Barbara scrolled through her phone and pointed it at Andie.

Cade was sitting at the bedside, next to Roxanne, with the baby wrapped in blankets between them. The little guy wore a blue stocking cap and was red faced and chubby.

Pain stabbed Andie as she studied Cade’s proud grin, and the way his eyes were trained on Roxanne and the baby, so loving and caring, like they were his entire world. The slideshow played, showing Cade holding Roxanne’s hand as she was in labor, dipping a cold rag on her forehead, and cutting the cord. The happiness in his face was unmistakable. It was as if he and Roxanne were the perfect, loving couple, with their adorable, perfect baby boy.

Unable to swallow the lump growing in her throat, Andie handed the phone back to Cade’s mother as a text message rolled in.

Barbara swiped it to read, and a smile broke across her haggard face. “He’s on his way to take me to the hospital.”

Andie waited for the invitation, but Barbara was too busy texting. Gollie wagged her way to Andie and picked up her leash, staring at her with big, pleading eyes.

“Uh, well, I gotta go walk the dogs,” Andie said. “Tell Cade congratulations.”

She reached over and hugged Barbara. “I’m happy for you too, Grandma.”

“Call me Nana.” Barbara hugged her back, swaying and humming. “I’m going to spoil this little one. He’s my second chance to make things right. Roxanne wants to go back to work as soon as she can. Looks like with the baby coming early, she might be able to pick up the back-to-school project again.”

Of course. It was only the second week of August and the baby wasn’t due until the end of September.

“When can the baby come home?” Andie asked. “Is he staying here with us?”

Er, or maybe it meant she had to leave, although truth to tell, she didn’t have the guts to find an apartment by herself.

“He’s still getting checked out. Of course, he’s premature, so maybe it won’t be for a while, but I’m so excited.” Barbara bounced on her heels. “Want to go baby shopping with me? I can’t wait to get him a Flash jersey. Team colors, black with a gold lightning bolt.”

Oh, right. The lightning bolt, like the tattoo on Cade’s chest. The LA Flash. So permanent, like he’d planned on staying in Los Angeles forever.

“Sure, let’s do it. Let me know when.” Andie bent to latch the leash to Gollie’s collar. How stupid had she been to fantasize Cade would trade teams to New York to be closer to her family. How incredibly moronic. His life was here. He had his son, his mother, and Roxanne.

“Oh, fun. We should have a baby shower, too.” Barbara’s hands fluttered as if she were a kid blowing out her birthday candles. “I’ve never had a baby shower.”

Andie wasn’t sure she could stomach one, but then, it wasn’t as if she were automatically invited, now that Cade wasn’t even speaking to her. Most likely, Barbara would drag her along, since the two of them had sort of become friends.

“Sounds good. I’m happy for you guys,” Andie said, waving Red’s leash at him. “Come on, boy, let’s go, me, you, and Gollie. It’s a beautiful evening out there.”

Andie, Red, and Gollie took off on an hill segment. The air was dry and acrid, and no matter how much water she sipped, she was still not used to the climate. Down below was LA, the sky hazy and tinged with a hint of smog. Nothing like the old days, according to Barbara, when it was hungover with a thick layer of noxious brown soot.

Andie took a deep breath to feel the burn Barbara described, but it was barely there. She’d gotten to know Cade’s mother and really liked her, despite her rocky past. Andie might not have made the drug mistakes that Barbara had, but getting married on a whim was sheer stupidity.

She gulped as they crested the uphill and lengthened her stride. The dogs pulled eagerly, and she stumbled a few steps before catching her balance.

“Heel, you two. I’ll let you know when I need your help.”

Except it hadn’t been a whim—marrying Declan. Why couldn’t she stop lying even to herself? She’d dreamt of marrying him the moment she laid eyes on him freshman year. She’d crushed on him from a distance until that first magical moment when he’d noticed her. She’d planned and fantasized about their wedding while hinting and bugging him to commit to her. Then when he’d gotten the role of Romeo and had flown her to Vegas to meet his agent, and on a whim—his whim, he’d asked her to drop by the Elvis Presley Wedding Chapel, she’d been more than eager to comply—renting costumes and mugging and dancing with the Elvis impersonator who’d married them.

She was so happy. Thought her dreams had come true—that she’d hit the jackpot. And then, he’d gotten the deal and women had flocked to him, and suddenly, he didn’t want to be exclusive anymore.
Take a number—number one, but still, a number.

Tears burned her eyes as her lungs and legs burned from the running. Why? Oh, why now? When she’d finally met the man she truly wanted, had Declan come to reclaim her?

She thought back to her favorite story,
Michal’s Window
, the romance between King David and his first wife, the princess Michal.

The parallel to Michal’s life was too overwhelming. Not many people knew it, but after David left Michal at her father’s palace, she was married to a man named Phalti or Paltiel. Not much was known about him other than the deep love he’d bestowed on the heartbroken Michal. The two of them lived humbly as husband and wife for years, but when David returned and became king, he ordered his guards to remove Michal from Phalti. The Bible recounted Phalti following Michal for miles and miles, weeping, until he was ordered by the guards to return, never to see his beloved Michal again.

It was hard to imagine a big, hunky man from ancient Israel, back in the days when men didn’t show emotion, trailing his wife and weeping as she was torn away from him by order of a ruthless monarch.

Andie’s fists clenched and she gritted her teeth, pulling the dogs to a stop.
Damn you, David. Phalti’s feelings were of no account to you, when all you wanted was the kingdom and the daughter of Saul to consolidate it. Did you really love Michal or did you only use her? I’d like to think you loved her, but with so many other wives, I’m really starting to wonder.

Andie tilted her head back and looked up at the heavens. She’d never once thought about poor Phalti during all of her studies of Michal and David. Maybe Michal’s true love
was
Phalti, the kind and caring husband, the one who was her friend and companion, and who loved her above his own self—the one who’d sacrificed his own heart for her, and not David with his lying, cheating, murderous ways and complete disregard for others.

Red and Gollie stood in front of her, wagging their tails, with eyes full of concern.

“What? You two think I’m nuts?” Andie ruffled their heads, petting them. “I just had a breakthrough here. I can’t wait to tell Leroy. This David story has taken a tragic turn. The golden boy king had a real dark streak, and it all started with Phalti. Some say he was killed on that roadside when he refused to turn back. But in any case, it was a recapitulation to what he did to Nabal when he married Abigail, Nabal’s wife. Of course, the Bible says God killed Nabal, struck him dead, but … one has to wonder.”

Honk. Honk. The sound of car tires rolled behind her.

“Hey, Andie, out for a walk?” a male voice shouted.

Shit. Speak of the devil.

Declan parked his car and hopped out. “Nice neighborhood.”

Somehow, despite the chill that should have seized her, the boyish tilt of Declan’s chin and his jaunty grin still stirred her pulse.

Andie tightened her jaw and imagined growling. “Yeah, well, I’m staying at my boyfriend’s pad, you know. This here’s his dog, Red, a real guard dog.”

Red stiffened his stance and raised his hackles, not quite growling, but showing his protective presence. But, silly Gollie. She went wagging and lolling up to Declan, and he patted her.

“Looks like your puppy likes me. Girl or boy?”

“Gollie, and she’s a girl.” Talking through gritted teeth would work. Recalling his treachery with other girls, even better.

Declan raised his head back in a loud laugh she once thought endearing, but was now mere cackling.
That’s right. He irritates me.

“Of course, all girls like me. So, what’s been going on with your show? Been interviewing other actors?”

“I can’t talk about that with you. No contract, no comment.” Andie resumed her walk and trotted after the dogs. Hopefully, he’d take the hint and leave.

No such luck. Declan stuck to her side like glue—yucky, slimy, bubbly, snot-like glue.

“I really want to be your David, truly,” he said, his voice smooth and low. “But my agent’s playing hard to get. You know the angle of me and you being married is worth something, especially since you’re working so closely with the scriptwriter.”

With Declan, there always was an angle. Maybe he had once loved her, back when he was a lowly college drama student still undiscovered. Why was it men could be so full of shit?

“Actually the role might be bad for your career.” Andie twisted her lips and made a snarky face. “Being known as David might make you look like a buffoon or worse, a dark, disturbed lunatic, bent on revenge against King Saul, one who’d played the traitor by allying with the Philistines, one who committed genocide when he killed all of the villagers in the south of Judah to cover up for his bad deeds. He killed everyone who was not Hebrew, but lied to the Philistine king and said he killed all the Hebrews to ethnically cleanse the villages for his master, the King of the Philistines. He was a two-timing, double-dealing bastard. And he was a pervert, too. Have we ever checked the ages of his many wives? How old were they when he married them? And let’s not even start about Abigail, how he shook down her husband by asking him to pay for protection. The Mafia had a lot to learn from the tactics of this David.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa there, girl. I thought you were in love with this King David.” Declan raised both his hands, his eyes wide. “We’re supposed to be doing the love lives of David, not all this dirt.”

In love with a historical figure? What a laugh. She’d admired David, okay, maybe even fantasized about him. So she had had a few erotic dreams, but no. David wasn’t real, at least not anymore. This entire mess in front of her was too real.

Now, to irritate the fake wannabe David.

“Ah, but that’s the rub. All this dirt affects the love life of David, and you know what?” Andie blinked and fluttered her eyelids. “Leroy believes David must have been bisexual, not that there’s anything wrong with it, but he plans on delving into his love of Jonathan, and, get this, the love-hate relationship between the teenaged David and his mentor, King Saul, and you know what they say about older men and their protégés …”

“What?” Declan flapped his hands, his mouth wide open. “You can’t put that in. That’s sacrilegious.”

Andie flipped her hair over her shoulder and kept walking, her nose in the air. “We’re not doing a religious documentary, but a salacious, scandal-filled drama. I don’t know, Declan, you’re awfully close minded. I’d think an actor of your stature would welcome diverse roles. Who knows? It could open a lot of doors, especially closet doors, for you.”

“What the hell are you implying?” Declan’s brows drew down. “You’re my wife, so you have to be loyal to me.”

“Right, I’m doing a great job, Declan, living with another man openly. Have you seen the images of us on the gossip blogs? The ones at the Hollywood Bowl? I was practically fucking him in clothes. Maybe having me as your wife is not that great for your image—pussy whipped by a flaming redhead who has the hots for the Flash quarterback.”

“Sorry, Andie, trying to make me hate you is not working.” Declan placed his arm around her shoulder and held her to his side. “Let’s go back to Itasca after all this is over. I’ll help with your dad’s medical bills and teach drama in that little college up there. That’s why I’m trying to get the best contract possible. For us and our family.”

Andie tried to shake him off, but he held her tighter. The liar. He was an actor, for goodness sake. He’d deliver any line to get what he wanted—more drama to heighten his worth for the contract.

Oh no, no. Not again. Declan smashed his mouth over hers and bent her back for a kiss.