"Fake goodness. Broken promises. Lies. I've never touched the stuff, because G.o.d knows I wouldn't be half as strong as you to come clean for as long as you have."

"You can do it, Barb," Andie said. "You have to. For us, and for Bret, but most of all, for you."

A tear trailed down his mother's face. "I wish I had your faith, Andie. Never stop believing in real goodness and true love."

"I'm still coming to the game," Andie said to Cade after they'd driven home and put baby Bret in his ba.s.sinet for the night.

"What? To watch me sit on the bench? You should spend time with your mother. Maybe take her out. Roxanne's coming back. Funny how fast she appeared once I offered to pay her."

"Pfft. Pay her to watch her own son?" Andie couldn't help the sneer curling her upper lip. "Tell her not to bother. I'll stay home with Bret. My mom's not the type to go out, and she could probably use the rest or read her Bible."

"Thought you were coming to my game?" Cade took her hand and pulled her onto his bed. "Move in with me."

"What?" She poked his ribs. "I'm already living in your house."

"I know, but in another room and sleeping in the same bed with your mother."

"I can't." Andie's heart stuttered. "It would be flaunting it in her face."

"You're a grown woman, you have needs." Cade nuzzled the sh.e.l.l of her ear, whispering.

Andie leaned back, arching against him, as her insides creamed, and warm tingles stirred her desire. She was absolutely incapable of resisting Cade Prescott, not that he'd given her any reason to. "How about I move into the room across the hall?"

"That's Roxanne's room." He shook his head. "I want you here in my bed, so she doesn't get any ideas."

Ideas? An alarm bell clanged and jerked Andie from the l.u.s.tful fog she was smothered in. Hadn't Roxanne stayed across the hall from Cade the entire time Andie was in the hospital? Had she tried anything with him then?

"I thought she wasn't into you." Andie couldn't help the quaver in her voice.

"She's not." Cade snapped a little too quickly. "Before your mom showed up, I was planning on moving in with you and letting my mother stay in this master suite with Bret. Maybe I can still do that after your mother returns to New York?"

"I don't know." Andie avoided his intent gaze.

"You seem hesitant? Is everything okay?" Cade touched her cheek. "I don't want to scare you. Just tell me to back off."

"No, you don't scare me at all." Andie hooked her arm around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. Forget about ruining the mood. She'd tell him about Declan's threats tomorrow or think of a way to weasel out of the deal. Somewhere out there in all of Los Angeles was a woman who'd gladly take on the job. She just had to find her. Sylvia might know of someone.

At this moment, she had Cade right where she wanted him, and she wasn't going to spend one more second worrying.

With a light moan, she brought him to her lips and kissed him, loving the way he felt, all hard and tender at the same time. She caressed the back of his neck, dragged her fingers through his fuzzy cropped hair, and moved her lips slowly, lazily exploring his mouth, lingering on the fullness of his bottom lip between hers, then his upper lip, grizzly with pinp.r.i.c.ks of stubble.

Gently she pressed him down onto the bed so they were side by side, facing each other, and she looped a leg over his hip and an arm over his shoulder while her other hand unb.u.t.toned his shirt and slid over the hard planes of his chest.

She'd been wild and crazy last night, riding him hard, but tonight she just wanted to savor, to draw out their pleasure with a slow, loving burn. She had tonight.

Whatever tomorrow brought, no one could take tonight away from her.

Cade glided his fingers through Andie's mane of fiery red hair, his gaze intent on every curve of her gorgeous face. She was so incredibly beautiful, so feminine and perfect in every way. The fact that she'd gone with him to visit his mom at the rehab facility spoke more than words ever could. She was the woman he'd never known he'd needed-the one who responded to him and cared about him, felt for him, and stayed at his side.

He stroked the sensitive area behind her ear and gazed in her eyes, green like precious jewels. "Is it working? Are you remembering what we felt before the accident?"

"I don't need to remember." Andie's lips slipped into a faint smile. "Because I'm falling for you all over again."

Billows of emotion swelled in Cade's heart. She was opening her heart to him again. And this time, it was sweeter than ever. She knew his baggage and all the trouble he came with, and still, she cared for him-maybe more.

He trailed his finger over her upper lip, letting her kiss it, and then nuzzled his nose against hers. The moment was still too sacred to dive into a wet, hungry kiss. Instead, he brought her face close to his, relishing the gift she'd bestowed by her presence.

Her eyelashes fluttered against his face, tiny b.u.t.terfly kisses, and he drank in her scent, perfume mixed with her essence, and relaxed in her embrace.

For once, he was no longer an outsider, looking in at other people who belonged. With Andie, he would always be included in her innermost circle.

He dotted kisses over her face, brushing her cheeks with his fingers, and soon his lips found hers, wet, open, and willing. He kissed her gently at first, sipping her lips like fine champagne, but when her hands weaved their way down his chest to his waist, desire kicked up a notch, or two, and even though he wanted to take it slow, he couldn't fend off the fiery licks of pa.s.sion building between them.

He deepened the kiss, drawing out a mewing moan as his hands caressed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Not wanting to plunge and devour her yet, he moved away from her lips to nibble at her earlobe, whispering, "What would you like me to do with you? My sweet love."

She moaned loudly as she squirmed in his arms. The leg looped over him tightened and she breathed harder, panting sweet puffs of need against his cheek. "Everything. I want you, Cade. All of you."

Oh yeah. He wanted to taste all of her, too, savor every moment with her. "I want to love you, Andie, and cherish you, take care of your every need and want."

Her gasp and the way she held him closer did more to gratify his heart than any words could ever do.

Flipping her onto her back, he lifted her tank top and helped her pull it over her head while she removed her bra. He sucked in a breath at the beauty unveiled for his eyes only. Her rosy nipples peaked up, reaching for him over the sweet curves of her firm, round b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

"So beautiful," he breathed as he drew one breast into his mouth and caressed the other one. His tongue rolled around her nipple and he licked and sucked, causing her to arch and pant. The invitation was too much to wait for, and he immediately buried his face between them and feasted on them while she made the s.e.xiest sounds deep in her throat.

"I love you, Andie." The words slipped from his mouth when he rose for air. "You have no idea how much."

"Oh, I do." Her voice was a cross between a sigh and a whisper. "There's no love like Cade. You said that in a dream."

"I did, eh? Then I'll have to show you."

He lowered his mouth to her belly and kissed his way down to the waistband of her jeans while ma.s.saging her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She was softness in just the right places, but also strong and kindhearted. Even as he wished he could take it slow, his body ached to bury deep inside of her, to stroke her and love her, and to know her to the core.

The pink flush of desire radiated over her fair skin as he unzipped her jeans and pulled them down. Holy h.e.l.l! She wasn't wearing any underwear.

Cade's c.o.c.k hardened further as fire blazed through his veins. He spread her legs around his shoulders and licked her inner thighs while probing a finger into her channel. She was hot, juicy, and so ready for him, and if his c.o.c.k weren't trapped inside his pants, he'd jump the gun and finish everything too soon.

Instead, he dragged his eager tongue between her folds, licking the sweet honey between her thighs. His finger curled into the knot of pleasure inside, making her wiggle and squirm, as he circled her c.l.i.t and kissed it with his lips. Swiping his tongue in long strokes, he drank in her juices, his body shaking with urgent pa.s.sion.

Her mewing sounds made his d.i.c.k throb and the pulses building up in her had him almost creaming in his too tight jeans. He lapped her with his tongue and thrust two fingers into her. She gasped and grabbed his shoulders, bending and flexing her body as her breathing sped and she panted, "Cade, Cade, Cade."

His fingers thrust faster, building to a fevered frenzy. She tightened her thighs and he kissed and flicked her c.l.i.t at a rapid pace. With his free hand, he grabbed her a.s.s, digging into her flesh. She jolted and arched, and the spasm grew from deep inside her, rising into an explosive o.r.g.a.s.m, and she came with a burst of taste in his mouth.

"Oh, Caaade!" she cried in a long, drawn out groan. Her hips jerked, and her lush b.r.e.a.s.t.s jiggled as she flailed her head from side to side, and the flush rose over her entire body.

Cade licked his lips and took one last taste of her juices. He'd just ripped her one h.e.l.l of an o.r.g.a.s.m, and he was the luckiest motherf.u.c.ker in all of history. But his c.o.c.k raged and roared with frustration, and Andie's fingers were soon on his fly, unzipping his jeans. She grabbed at him, her eyes ripe with pa.s.sion as she helped him remove his pants.

"There's no love like you, Cade." Her words flung away his restraint, and when she spread her legs below him and pulled his hips, he plunged in.

Her wet heat hugged him, surrounding him with love, acceptance, and inclusion. He would never be left out again, never be the little boy no one wanted. She felt so good and perfect, and as he moved in perfect rhythm with her, he lost all his ability to think.

She grabbed the sides of his head and pulled his lips to hers as he kept himself propped on his elbows. Her legs wrapped around his hips and she arched and bucked, loving him like no one had ever done before.

Soon, her walls tightened around him, wet and luscious, embracing him, and she cried out his name, moaning with urgent gasps as the entire world throbbed and pulsed, slinging a pure rush of ecstasy from his c.o.c.k to his brain.

She gripped him and quaked while he thrust his love deep into her. Wave after wave of pleasurable sensation swept over him, and in one long blissful moment, he knew he would never be abandoned again.

Chapter Twenty.

Cade stood by himself on the sidelines as he watched his teammates rush onto the field. The coaching staff spoke into headsets, and cameramen jostled up and down the field. His agent, Rob, was standing next to Coach Settles, but instead of viewing the action, he was on the phone.

Why did he bother hanging out on the field if all he was going to do was yak on the phone? Cade crossed his arms and stared at the field in front of him. Instead of seeing the play progress or hearing the slap of the shoulder pads or the grunt of the linebackers, his mind reeled back to the Super Bowl. He'd watched the videos over and over, wondering what he could have done differently, or whether he should have handed the ball off to Devon despite the short stumble. Then it would have been Devon's fault for losing yardage. Devon was the golden boy son of the owner who never took anything seriously. He'd joked about fumbling in the end zone and running the wrong direction.

Follow the money. He'd gone over his mother's bank statements. They were full of small deposits, fifty dollars here, eighty dollars there. Had they been cash deposits? Most likely. If so, who was giving her money and what was it for? Babysitting or housekeeping? Or something worse-like dealing?

The roar of the crowd drew everyone's attention to the playing field. Todd was going deep into the end zone, a pa.s.s to wide receiver Joey Monzon. Touchdown! The Flash was ahead in the first quarter, and the home crowd was lapping it up.

The players ambled off the field, slapping each other and congratulating Todd and Joey while the kicker pulled on his helmet to take the field for the extra point.

"Good throw," Cade said, tapping Todd on the shoulder pad.

The quarterback spit out his mouth guard and smiled. "Yep, all that conditioning's paying off. Never felt better."

Rob, their agent, gave Todd a fist b.u.mp and hooked his arm over Cade's shoulder. "Think of the buzz with both of you competing for the starting spot. I'm going to put the thumbscrews on d.i.c.k to sweeten your contracts, both of you."

"Mine better be twice his." Todd knocked his head back and took a drink of water.

"Hey, Prescott," Coach Settles yelled. "Out on the field to hold for the extra point."

Todd spewed water all over Cade and slapped his thighs, laughing. "Good job, Cade. Don't flub up the hold."

Cade plugged in his mouth guard and ignored his rival. It was Coach Settle's philosophy that everyone played in every pre-season game. Trying to appear unconcerned with Todd's jibe, Cade loosened his shoulders and jogged onto the field to take the snap.

He caught the ball and placed it point down on the turf as the kicker stepped toward the ball for the routine kick.

Ow! A sharp pain seared through his left hand when the kicker's foot tore through his fingertips. The ball wobbled and was blocked by the defense.

Cade's hand throbbed in pain. What had just happened? Was that on purpose?

Apparently. The kicker, Carmine Carmona, swaggered off the field and high-fived Todd. It figured, they were from the same neighborhood. Meanwhile, the fans booed and jeered at the loss of a point in a game that didn't matter.

"You okay?" The team doctor rushed to examine Cade's hand.

"He kicked my hand instead of the ball. He never misses." Cade winced as the doctor probed his fingers.

"You might have a break here. I saw it. The hold looked perfect. We better get this X-rayed."

"Hey, sorry about that." Carmine swaggered toward them. "I must have slipped when I planted my foot wrong. You're not hurt, are you?"

Behind him, Todd grinned. "Looks like Daddy's boy's out for the season."

Andie stood by Roxanne as she struggled to change Bret's diaper. The woman's fingernails had to be at least an inch long each, and she used them to dangle the diaper wipe, afraid to touch anything icky.

She'd decided to miss the game since Cade wasn't playing and Roxanne needed supervision. Both she and Cade were worried about leaving the baby alone with her, especially when Andie's mother decided to go back to Pinball Alley for a playoff party. She really did deserve a day off.

"He's going to get a rash if you don't wipe off all the p.o.o.p," Andie said. "Cade usually gives his b.u.t.t a warm water wash after number two to keep it clean."

"Well, I'm not Cade. Maybe you can show me what he does?"

"Gladly, but you're going to have to trim those nails so you don't hurt his precious little b.u.t.t." Andie picked up the wiggling baby and smiled at the little boy's sweet face.