Intercepted by Love: Part Five: A Football Romance (The Quarterback's Heart Book 5)

P
lease read
Intercepted by Love
: Part One
,
Intercepted by Love: Part Two
,
Intercepted by Love: Part Three
, and
Intercepted by Love: Part Four
first.

Cade is arrested and thrown in jail. To save Andie from danger, he tells her they’re through, done. Instead of abandoning Cade, Andie is drawn into a sting operation to prove his innocence.

Andie disappears on Cade, sending him on a desperate search. Can Andie and Cade unravel all the forces conspiring to keep them apart and intercept the love they both deserve?

C
opyright
© 2015 by Rachelle Ayala

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real events or real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

All trademarks belong to their respective holders and are used without permission under trademark fair use.

Cover design by Rachelle Ayala Publishing, LLC

Contact Rachelle at
http://rachelleayala.me/author-bio/contact/

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C
ade arrested for attempted murder
?

Andie clutched her chest as heart palpitations made her lightheaded. The police car carrying Cade drove down the street and disappeared around the turn. Gollie and Red kept up a chorus of growly barks from behind the fence, and her mother was standing there, holding Bret in one arm and waving the paternity test with the other.

The results said Bret was Cade’s baby. Andie palmed her head to see if the ground would stop rocking and rolling.

Her mother patted her back, trying to guide her back into the house. “Are you okay? Dizzy? You have to lie down.”

“No, there’s no way Cade’s guilty. This is all wrong.” Andie fanned herself and stumbled into the house. “There has to be something I can do to help him.”

“Did you even hear what he said? He broke up with you. He says you’re through, and he asked you to go home.”

“He’s under stress. He’s just saying that to make me go away.” Yet the way he’d turned away from her had an air of finality.
Andie, don’t come visit. It’s over. We’re over. Finished. Go home.
Those words stabbed deep, drawing blood. They hurt. Sure, but Cade was hurting, too.

“Listen to him,” Mom reiterated. “He told you to go home.”

“It’s because he doesn’t want my life ruined with his mess.” Andie couldn’t believe she had to fight her mother on this. “Besides, we can’t just leave the baby by himself.”

“Grrr …” her mother growled. “You are so hardheaded. Do you want your life ruined?”

“No, not at all. I need to figure this thing out for Cade.” She grabbed the car keys from the hook.

“Let the police do their work. In the meantime, you have to let Roxanne know that Cade’s not available for parental duties. After all, she’s Bret’s mother.”

“A horrible one. She’ll probably leave him locked inside a car because she forgot to drop him off at daycare.” Andie gritted her teeth and marched to the garage. “Let me go speak to her. Please hold onto Bret until I find her?”

“Of course.” Mom kissed Bret’s fuzzy little head. “I would never leave you to the wolves, would I? No matter whose son you really are.”

Andie left her mother cooing and fussing over Bret. Her head felt hot, and her hands were jittery. How had everything turned into such a mess? If only she could remember how she’d met Cade and all the things that had happened before her accident. Then she’d know if he could be trusted. If he could be believed.

First things first. She had to notify Roxanne about Cade being arrested.

Andie jumped into Cade’s Porsche and tore out of the garage. Her heart pounded like a tight drum, and sweat rushed over her body like a hot flash. She barely missed a pedestrian as she went flying out of his neighborhood.

Roxanne had a lot to answer for. She must have known Cade was the father all along. How could a woman not know? And Cade? Ugh. What to believe? He claimed the only time he’d slept with Roxanne was New Year’s Eve, but Bret was obviously full term, which meant he had to have been conceived earlier.

Lies. Lies. Lies. Andie’s head swirled. What would be the point of Cade lying? So he slept with Roxanne twice. Was that a deal-killer? Unless it had been an ongoing affair. How much did she really know about Cade? Was she being foolish or was her judgment impaired because of her concussion?

No matter. Cade needed her help and he’d been nothing but kind and understanding, as well as hot and hunky—not that his looks and status meant giving him a pass on lying. Ack. She’d figure it out later.

Andie squinted for the road signs and hooked a turn, last minute, onto a curvy road. If Dick and Cade were father and son, then wouldn’t their DNA be similar? Could it be that Dick was still the father? Except the report had said 99.99% that it was Cade’s. But wait. There was no name on the report, just gobbledygook about samples and markers.

Where had her mother gotten the DNA samples? Was it from the laundry or yuck, gross. Had she dug through the wastebaskets for the used condoms? Ewww!

Andie missed a red light as a loud horn blared.
Sorry!

Okay, okay. Not the condoms. Maybe Cade should flush them despite what the plumbers say, to keep them from nosy mothers. Except her mother was a prude. She would never touch them.

Fine. She could have gotten the samples from the laundry. If Dick’s blood or bodily fluids had somehow gotten on Cade’s clothes, it could still be possible. Maybe Dick had cried on Cade’s shoulder, or Cade had gotten into a fight with Dick. Maybe he punched him in the nose and bloodied his fist. That had to be it.

Her head seemed fuzzy, like she couldn’t really apply herself to logical thought. Being brain-injured sucked. Andie blew out a breath. The only blood Cade had gotten on his clothes belonged to the gangster he’d saved from the train. He’d been covered in the guy’s blood. Bret was the son of some unknown mugger?

No, no. Too coincidental. Impossible odds. She swerved over the centerline and looked back in her rearview mirror only to see a guy shaking his fist at her.
Ooops!

Champion driver she was not. Her tongue stuck to the top of her mouth, and her heart did flip-flops as she careened down the street and screeched to a stop in front of Declan’s Beverly Hills condominium.

Holy canola oil! Cade could have gotten Declan’s blood on his shirt when he broke his jaw. Could it be the baby was Declan’s?

With no parking spot in sight, Andie double parked. She pushed out of the car, narrowly missed hitting a bicyclist with the door, and stormed into the lobby.

A doorman greeted her. “Who would you like me to page?”

She could barely speak, what with her pulse exploding and the jitters zinging her nerves. “Dec-clan R-reed. His w-wife is here.”

The man’s eyes narrowed, and he looked like he swallowed a prune. “Sure. Let me call him.”

Wonder how many women claimed to be his wife? Humph!

A moment later, while Andie rocked nervously on her heels, the doorman hung up the phone and keyed a code into the private elevator. “Good luck.”

“Sure, thanks,” Andie muttered. The door opened with a loud chime directly into Declan’s apartment.

“Andie, what brings you?” Declan said through clenched teeth. “You told the doorman you’re my wife?”

“Yes, I figured you wouldn’t turn me away.” She looked over his shoulder. “I’m glad Roxanne’s here, too. Cade’s been arrested.”

To their credit, both of them appeared shocked with the classical expressions: raised eyebrows and wide eyes. Roxanne’s jaw dropped, and Declan winced when the wires held his jaw shut.

Declan led Andie to the sofa. “Sit, tell us what happened. What did they arrest him for?”

“They claim he tried to murder his mother.”

Roxanne emitted a tiny gasp, and her hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes tilted sideways for a split second before coming back to stare straight at Andie. “That’s horrible. How?”

“They have nothing on him, of course.” Andie didn’t want to give away any information. “Except there’s this thing about blood type that doesn’t make sense.”

“They found blood somewhere?” Roxanne asked. “Is his mother okay?”

“She’s alive.” Andie scooted closer to Roxanne to catch her reactions. “We have to clear everyone who’s been in Cade’s house. My blood type is A, and I wonder what yours is, Roxanne?”

“I’m a B.” Roxanne’s upper lip curled. “Can’t pin anything on me.”

“Declan?” Andie prodded. “How about you?”

“I’ve nothing to hide,” Declan said through clenched teeth. “I’m B, too, and I don’t even know Cade’s mother.”

Andie swallowed hard. The baby’s blood was B and Cade’s was O. Did having Declan’s blood type mean the baby was his? Or was there something about dominant and recessive? Ugh. Why, oh why, had she failed biology?

“I hardly spoke to Cade’s mother,” Roxanne said. “I haven’t seen her since I moved out. She seemed fine then.”

“She absolutely wasn’t fine. She overdosed that day you moved out. I’m wondering where she got the drugs.” Andie drilled Rox with as steely a gaze as she could muster.

“Oh, my. I had no idea.” Roxanne’s eyes popped too wide to be truly surprised. “I was at work. She was supposed to be watching the baby, not scoring drugs.”

“Unless you supplied it to her.”

“Why would I do something that stupid? That’s my baby she’s supposed to be taking care of.”

“Oh, so now you finally remember your baby.” Andie couldn’t help jeering at the world’s worst mother.

“Wow, what’s going to happen to the baby?” Declan looked at Roxanne.

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” Andie couldn’t help sneering. If indeed the baby was Declan’s, then both Roxanne and Declan had pulled off a big heist, pretending not to have known each other.

“I’m working full time.” Roxanne shrugged. “I thought the agreement was for Cade to take care of him.”

“Except Cade’s in jail,” Andie countered, then turned to Declan. “Where were you the day Cade’s mother overdosed?"

“I’ve no clue when it happened,” Declan blinked, giving off that too innocent not to be guilty look.

“The day I got out of the hospital. Ring a bell? I seem to recall that you had a meeting.” Which was why Cade had been able to drive her to his home. Thank goodness.

“Oh, that’s right. I had a meeting.”

“With who?”

“None of your business.” Declan crossed his arms. “Why are you here asking us all these questions?”

“Because Cade’s innocent of the charges.” Andie jutted her jaw and crossed her arms to mirror his belligerent attitude.

“And you think we had something to do with it?” Roxanne’s voice shrilled. “I’m sure the police wouldn’t have arrested Cade without good cause.”

“Maybe you planted evidence against him.” Andie gave her the gimlet eye.

“What’s my motive?” Roxanne screeched. “Huh? Why would I want to get rid of her? She’s the one who’d love to get me out of the way so she can take my baby.”

“Rox, what’s going on? I thought you were giving your baby to Andie.” Declan scratched his head, looking clueless, or was that a studied actor clueless look?

“Maybe she should give the baby to you, Declan,” Andie said in a lilting tone. “Would he, by any chance, be yours?”

“Mine? No way.” His eyes darted from Rox to Andie and back. “You introduced me to Rox. I’ve never met her before.”

“How can you be sure?” Andie’s breath hissed through her teeth, imitating Declan’s closed-mouthed tone.

“Wait, wait, wait.” Rox stood and huffed. “What are you up to, Andie? Coming here and making accusations. You’re the one who wants Bret all for yourself.”

“Bret is a sweetie, but I’m not a baby stealer,” Andie said.

“You’re not, except you want Bret so you can get Cade. Everyone knows you’re not his type. I mean, look at you. You’re trying to look hip, but instead, you look stupid. Paisley shirt, rainbow jeans, and what’s with the daisy headband and rose sneakers? The only reason he’s holding onto you is for the baby.”

“Rox, that’s not nice.” Declan sounded choked, but it could be his clenched teeth. At least he was finally coming to his so-called, beloved wife’s defense.

“What’s not nice is everyone using me.” Roxanne stomped her feet and pointed at Andie. “I’m sick and tired of people using me. You used me to get rid of Declan, and Cade’s mother used me to get what she wanted.”

“What? Get rid of me?” Declan narrowed his eyes, but Andie was faster.

She gripped Roxanne’s bony arms hard. “What did Cade’s mother use you for?”

“Why don’t you ask her? She’s the disgusting one. Ask her what she did while she cleaned bathrooms. I dare you.”

“Oh, I’ll get to her,” Andie said. “But I think you have a motive for killing her. You seem plenty angry about her using you.”

“I’m not the only one. Just the unwilling one.” Roxanne resorted to whining.

“Rox, you’re talking too much.” Declan cut in. “Whatever mess you got into, I don’t want to know. I don’t know you. I just met you, and I’m definitely not the baby’s father.”

Andie turned on him. “Oh, so you wash your hands that easily? What’s your game? You see, Roxanne, how he is? After he uses you, he brushes you away, like stray hairs on a comb.”

She reached over and yanked Declan’s hair, the pouf he wore on top of his cowlick.

“Ow, Andie, what the hell?” he yelped, sounding strained and constipated at the same time. “Have you gone nuts?”

“Not at all. Since I no longer have my starring role as Michal.” She picked up her purse and headed for the elevator. “I’m going to try out for a reality show with you as the chump I’m exposing.”

Andie turned the key and walked out holding strands of Declan’s bright red hair. Some even had the roots attached. Yes! Good enough for DNA testing.