Intercepted By Love: Part Four Part 1

Intercepted by Love: Part Four.

A Football Romance.

Rach.e.l.le Ayala.

Praise for Intercepted by Love.

"There is power in words and the words that flow from Rach.e.l.le hold more power than most."

- Amber McCallister.

"Just when you think Andie and Cade have a chance at serious happiness, another twist comes up that leaves you on the edge of your seat wanting more!"

- Rebecca Austin.

"The story continues just as it left off in Part 3, making me fall in love with Cade and Andie even more with every page turned!"

- Corissa Palfrey.

"This is a well-written series with twists and turns throughout it."

- Dana Anderson.

"Like any good football game, expect the unexpected: don't just think you are going to pa.s.s and score. The twists and turns in this story will have you yelling 'Foul' and wanting a replay to know just what exactly happened!!" - Debbie Rosa "Every fight is worth it to endure with how deep Cade and Andie's love is for each other."

- Jessica Ca.s.sidy.

"Cade and Andie's story will leave you believing that love can overcome all odds."

- Sharon Coady.

"An amazing love story which will have you on the edge of your seat, rooting for it to end with the game winning TOUCHDOWN."

- Terri Merkel.

Chapter One.

Where am I? What happened to me? Who am I?

Andie felt her way through the smoky mist between spindly gray trees, devoid of greenery. Her lungs ached, and her throat was clogged. A puffing sound whooshed and whirled between her lips, and shadows crept over her eyelids.

The cloth covering her body was rough and homespun, and she wore a pair of leather sandals. She hiked onward, following the swoos.h.i.+ng sound. Was there a river close by? A waterfall?

The clang of clas.h.i.+ng metal and heavy thuds were offset by the guttural howls of men-rough voices, shouting commands mixed with grunts of pain.

Andie felt the marching feet between the pounding of her heartbeat before she spied them. Warriors armed with iron s.h.i.+elds and swords chopped and hacked at each other.

A man with bright red hair led the charge, shouting orders. He was nimble and quick, fending off the enemy from all sides with his sword. He looked familiar, like she should have known him.

He put the enemy soldiers to flight and raised his sword, commanding his followers to give chase and not let anyone get away. He was the hero, the conqueror, the victor. A man who made her heart leap with joy and her knees weak with desire.

David?

A harsh, dry wind wrapped the cloth around Andie, covering her nose and mouth like a veil. The men disappeared. She was lying in a cave listening to a trickling of water and muted conversation in a language she did not understand.

The ground was hard beneath her, and there was no pillow to rest her head. She struggled to sit, but nothing moved. Time stayed still, and the only sound was that of the neverending whoosh and the puff interrupted by an electronic alert.

Darkness overshadowed her except for a single pinpoint of light. Something she should have remembered. Someone. Somewhere. But it was always out of reach, like feathers in the wind, gone before she could catch it.

Who?

Cade glared at d.i.c.k Davis, the owner of the Los Angeles Flash. "Let me understand this again. You're blackmailing me to pretend your baby is mine? Is that correct?"

The older man's gaze remained steady and firm. "Come now, aren't we overreacting? I prefer to see this as a joint favor. You have what I need, and I have what you want."

"I don't see it that way." The hairs on the back of Cade's neck bristled. "Not when you're accusing me of throwing the Super Bowl away on purpose. Not when you put it that way."

"Then how shall I rephrase it? We can either play nice, and you take the starting position with a generous contract, or I destroy you and everyone you love."

"Why me?"

"Why not you?" d.i.c.k wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Now, go. Pick up your baby from the hospital and enjoy the rest of your evening. Please give Roxanne my best regards."

Roxanne. The b.i.t.c.h. She had to have been in on this. We chose you. And Rob? The son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h. Was that how he got contracts for all of his clients? Dirty deals under the table with the owners?

There was no sense arguing or prolonging the interview. Cade was screwed. Plain and simple. He'd already a.s.sumed Bret was his son, bragged about him everywhere, paid for Roxanne's hospital bills and doctor's visits, and dragged his feet on the postnatal paternity test. Heck, for all he knew, Roxanne's doctor was in on this and had faked the prenatal test saying the baby was his.

Cade squared his body off against the owner, showing him he wasn't afraid. "A warning to you. Since the baby is legally mine, don't ever think of taking him back. Don't ever come into his life and mess with him. Don't ever play with his mind. Ever."

Mr. Davis grunted a.s.sent and turned to his steak, sawing at it with fierce concentration.

Cade let himself out of the stadium as fast as his feet could take him. He had a few scores to settle, mainly with everyone who'd lied to him. Roxanne to start with and Rob, her brother, who was also his agent. Bunch of scheming, conniving vipers.

He called Rob first. This time, his agent picked up.

"Hey, Cade, taking the baby home tonight?" he chortled in an overly jovial manner.

"I'm on my way, but had a little detour. d.i.c.k Davis sound familiar?"

Rob took a few seconds before answering, "What did he want?"

"You know the deal. Roxanne chose me to be the designated father."

"Uh, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Stop denying it, Rob. He offered me a generous contract. You have the deets?"

"Of course, the team's taking quite a cap hit on you. Five years, twenty million. Sweet."

"Starting quarterback?"

"Yes, unless you screw it up. Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't let you go after you lost the Super Bowl."

Obviously, Rob was pretending he had no clue about the deal he had with Davis, and it probably wasn't wise to talk about it on the phone.

"I'm going to pick Roxanne up from the hospital. Why don't you meet us there?"

"Can't. I'm in Phoenix right now chatting up a potential client. I'll see you and the baby when I return. We'll have the contract prepared, and all you need to do is sign on the dotted line. You'll be safe for another four years."

Safe from what? Certainly not d.i.c.k Davis's threat of putting him and his mother in jail.

"Sure, Rob. I'll see you when you get back. Gotta run."

A text message chimed on his phone. It was from Joey. We're on our way to your house. Baby's doing great.

Twenty minutes later, Cade pulled into his garage. Andie's parking spot was empty, and there was no sign of the car he'd lent her. She was usually good about returning his text messages, but then again, she could be on the set or in the middle of a script review. He ground his teeth. How could she have taken an acting role with Declan without telling him? But then again, if she was truly going to be a movie star, she would have to kiss other men on a regular basis-leaving her no different than the women he used to party with.

His lips pressed together, and a weight hung heavily over his shoulders. Andie was too innocent to realize the dangerous allure of Hollywood and fame. She'd been protected by her parents and grew up in a small town. How could she even stand the thought of kissing someone as part of a job? It felt like selling part of her body, and he didn't like it one bit. He wasn't one of those men who'd sit back and let her "decide" what she wanted to do if it made him uncomfortable. After all, shouldn't their relations.h.i.+p be more important than a job?

He had to talk to her and convince her that backstage research was better. She had no acting experience, and this entire deal stunk of Declan's manipulation.

Cade texted Andie, I'm home with the baby and Rox. See you soon. Gotta talk.

Red and Gollie greeted him, their paws scrabbling on the floor as they ran circles around him. Behind them stood his mother with Bret bundled in a baby blue blanket.

"Isn't he precious?" his mother cooed. "Roxanne says he's gained weight. He's nursing really well. I got to feed him in the car."

"That's great." Cade hung up his keys without glancing at the baby. "I need a word with Roxanne. Where is she?"

"Oh, she and Joey took off to get her things from Rob's house."

"How long ago?"

"Five minutes before you got here. Why? What's wrong?" Cade's mother stopped rocking the baby and tapped his arm. "Don't you want to hold your baby?"

"Sure, of course." He held out his hands for "his son."

The little guy was quite heavy, solid and strong-alert. Cade raised him to his face and stared at him. The baby's head did not flop around. In fact, he held it firm and stared back at Cade, blue eyes locked and focused.

"Careful, careful. You have to support his head." His mother put her hand on the back of the baby's head.

"He seems to have a strong neck," Cade said. "Look at him, holding it steady as a rock."

"He's premature." Cade's mother sounded panicked. "Be careful with him."

Cade handed the baby back to his mother. "What did they say at the hospital about caring for him? Anything special? Feeding tube? Sleep monitor?"

"Nothing. He's feeding well and sleeping well. Roxanne didn't have him circ.u.mcised because of his prematurity."

"Sounds reasonable." Cade rubbed the baby's head. "Anyway, I have to go help Roxanne. Be back soon."

The more Cade thought about this, the more wrong it was. He couldn't take the contract, no matter how lucrative it was. He also couldn't take the starting job unless he'd earned it-which he had at the moment, since he was outscoring Todd Irvin in completions and yards.

But his career would always be tainted if he took the dirty deal.

As for Bret, was it fair to him to live a lie? He'd told d.i.c.k to stay away from the boy because d.i.c.k wasn't fit to be his father, but at the same time, if he joined in this conspiracy, would he also be unfit to be Bret's father?

Things like this had a way of coming out. There was always a weak link in the chain of secrets. Nothing ever stayed hidden.

What should he do? Who could he talk to? Who could he trust?

Andie, of course. Problem was she was working late, and she had secrets of her own. Perhaps she was avoiding him.

A spire of adrenaline increased his heart rate. Was Andie thinking of moving out? After all, he hadn't discussed the living arrangements with her. He'd only informed her where Roxanne and Bret would live. He was just as guilty as she for not discussing things that would affect both of them.

Sometimes, being in a relations.h.i.+p sucked.

Cade hit his garage door opener and got in his Porsche. He'd swing by Andie's work and have a chat with her before doing anything rash, like throwing Roxanne out or announcing to the world that Bret was not his.

On the way, he'd stop by the hospital and order the paternity test. One way or the other, he had to know.

His cell phone rang as he backed the car down the driveway.

It was an unknown number.

"Cade Prescott? This is Officer Gomez, the one you spoke to earlier about the hit and run?"

"Yes, what can I do for you?" Cade pulled the car onto the street. What if they'd arrested Andie for reckless driving and destruction of property?