Just for Kicks by Tracy Solheim

Eighteen

* * *

“YOU’RE ASPREPARED as you can be for this week’s test.” Merrit smiled at Andi from across her kitchen table. “Despite what you think, you do have a head for numbers. And now that you understand the formulas, the rest of the course should come easily.”

“I hope so.” Andi rested her chin on top of Harper’s head. The little girl had climbed onto her lap the minute Andi settled into a chair an hour before. “I really can’t thank you enough. I wish you’d let me pay you.”

Merrit rose and headed to the counter where she opened a bottle of wine. “Nonsense. I told you, I need the brain stimulation. Besides, I’m grateful for the company on a Saturday night.” She handed Andi a glass. “I understand Heath’s reasoning for staying out west between the games, but the kids are used to away games only being overnight. Seven days without Daddy is a long time.” She took a healthy swallow from her own glass. “For Mommy, too. And it’s only night one.”

“Do you ever travel with the team?”

“With two little kids?” Merrit set a cup of grape juice next to the stack of crayons Harper was using. “Not unless it’s the Super Bowl. Well, except for the game in London next month. I’m definitely going to that one.”

Andi picked up one of Harper’s crayons and began to doodle on her worksheet. The Growlers were playing a game in London? Something hovered on the edge of her memory, but she couldn’t quite grasp it. “That’s a long trip to make for a football game,” she said. “I didn’t even know they played American football there.”

“They don’t. We’ll be playing another team from the league. It’s meant to showcase our country’s version of football to other countries. The game is scheduled so both teams have their bye week either before or after,” Merrit explained. “The Growlers are chartering a plane and pretty much all the spouses are going. I’m looking forward to it.”

A lick of unease traveled down Andi’s spine.

“I’m sure Dex will have all his family there to see him play,” Merrit continued. “They must be so thrilled. Have you met any of them yet?”

No. And I’m never going to, either.

Just like that, the memory she was trying to summon surfaced. “Andi won’t be coming to London, Ma,” he had told his mother the morning after their wedding. “She’s afraid to fly.”

The tip of the crayon snapped off, the noise loud in the quiet room. Harper looked up at her with a forlorn look on her face.

“I’m sorry, sweetie,” Andi apologized. With the way this night was going, it was probably Harper’s favorite color.

“I’m the one who’s sorry,” Merrit said. “I didn’t realize. Meeting your husband’s family after you’ve married has to be daunting. I didn’t mean to stress you out. But, if it’s any consolation, we’ll be there if you need to get away from them.”

Andi swallowed painfully. “Actually, I won’t be going.”

Merrit stared at her, wide-eyed. “Why not?”

“School,” Andi fibbed, sweeping her hand over the textbook on the table. “I can’t get away.”

The other woman looked as if she was going to argue, but evidently thought better of it. She cleared her throat. “Well, that’s a shame, but I admire your dedication. Hey, I don’t feel like cooking tonight. What do you say we order some Chinese food and watch a movie? You’ve studied enough for one day. Please stay.”

Harper bounced up and down in her lap. After what she’d just discovered, Andi doubted she’d have much of an appetite. She understood the reason he’d never mentioned the game in London. He’d been upfront with her from the very start. His family would never meet her. Nothing had changed. But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. Her feelings had become so jumbled, her head was beginning to throb. Some wine and a mindless movie might be just the thing.

“Sure,” she replied, even managing a smile.

Merrit responded with a relieved smile of her own. “Great. I’ll get the menu.”

Two nights later, Andi entered the lobby of Dex’s apartment, mentally exhausted after her first exam of the week. She was confident she’d aced it, however, and that gave her a boost going into her accounting exam later this week. Without the added distraction of Dex home, she could study hard the next three nights.

The Growlers lost their game the day before on a last-second field goal by the opposing kicker. Dex surprised her by calling after the game to wish her luck on her test. Despite the loss, he seemed upbeat. She was ashamed to admit she’d dropped several hints about the game in London, but he didn’t bite.

Perhaps she shouldn’t have given him the impression that she wouldn’t miss him while he was gone. It seemed the prudent thing to do, however. She’d agreed to keep things between them light. Her deepening feelings for Dex were something she was still trying to sort out. She didn’t want to give him the impression she wanted more than their contracted agreement. Not when she didn’t know whether or not he did, too. Although she was encouraged by his reluctance to be away on this road trip and his phone call last night.

The truth was, the big empty penthouse was lonely without him, not to mention his bed. Even worse, despite Dex’s threat, Morag hadn’t ceased her taunting. This morning, Andi awoke to discover the cat had torn up several pages of notes Andi left out on the nightstand. Still, the cat was important to Dex, so she wasn’t giving up without a fight. She fingered the new box of catnip in her pocket.

“Andi Larsen.”

The sound of a male voice calling her by her maiden name jerked her from the merry-go-round of her thoughts. She stopped just short of the elevator taking her to the penthouse. A man dressed sharply in a suit and tie stepped up beside. A shiver of unease raced down her spine. She glanced over to the concierge desk where the doorman and the clerk were both keeping a watchful eye on her.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m Agent Figueroa with ICE.” He flashed his credentials at her. “I was wondering if I could have a word with you, Ms. Larsen.”

“It’s Mrs. Fletcher, which you are aware,” she snapped. “And I don’t think so.”

He donned a bemused expression at the mention of her married name. “This will only take a minute.”

“Shouldn’t this meeting be taking place someplace official?” she argued. “With my lawyer present?”

She didn’t have a lawyer, but it sounded like something she should say. Besides, she was confident Mr. Hilbert would step in if for no other reason than because it would help Dex.

“Yeah, funny thing about that. It seems the powers that be have called off any additional investigation into your marriage. All you have to do is stay married to the guy for another few months and the Man with the Million Dollar Leg will no longer be in danger of being deported.”

His statement surprised her. Did that mean the imminent threat of a bed check no longer existed? Had they finally convinced the government they were the real thing? Dex’s immigration status was no longer in jeopardy. He would be so relieved.

“And yet, here you are.” She scrutinized the agent carefully. “If the case is closed, why is it you want a word with me, as you say?”

“I was curious about a seventy thousand dollar student loan debt that was recently paid in full before the first installment is even due.”

Her mouth was suddenly dry.

“A wedding gift perhaps?” he asked quietly.

Her knees shifted beneath her. Or maybe it was the floor. “Something tells me this conversation would be better had with my lawyer present,” she managed to say.

Agent Figueroa waved her off. “As I said, the government is no longer interested in your marriage.”

“Then what do you want?” Andi’s heart was racing. Was she to be robbed again? By a man carrying a badge no less?

“Just doing a good deed. I’ve seen a few of these cases in my career. They never end well for the U.S. citizen spouse. Particularly, the women.”

Andi’s spine stiffened.

“Even if you go into it with eyes wide open, he’s going to come out of this unscathed. He’s the celebrity, after all. You’ll be the pariah who took him for his money. The press, the fans, they’ll tear you apart. Whatever career you’re trying to establish will be ruined. No matter what he’s promised you.” He stepped closer. “Heed my warning. Whatever you do, don’t make the even greater mistake and let your heart get engaged. These types of marriages aren’t built for love.”

He left without another word. It took Andi several painful heartbeats before she realized the doorman was standing beside her.

“Everything okay, Mrs. Fletcher?”

She nodded weakly. “Fine. I’m fine.”

He looked at her like he didn’t agree, but he was paid well enough to keep his thoughts to himself. Instead, he punched the code for the elevator to the penthouse. The doors slid open and Andi mindlessly stepped in.

“Thank you,” she breathed as the doors slid closed.

Marlene was waiting when she arrived. “How was the test?” One look at Andi’s face and the older woman’s own face fell. “That bad?”

Andi wasn’t sure she could form words to offer up an explanation right now. Agent Figueroa’s ugly words clogged up her brain. A shake of her head was all she could muster in response.

“How about a nice grilled cheese sandwich and some tomato soup,” Marlene offered. “That always cheers me up.”

Tears burned the back of Andi’s eyes at the woman’s kindness. Apparently she had let herself get attached to Marlene as well. But was Marlene being kind to her because she worked for Dex? That stupid ICE agent had ruined everything.

How had she been so stupid? How had she thought she could walk away from this at the end of her fake marriage?

Her stomach rolled. “Thank you, Marlene, but I think I’m going to take a hot bath and go to bed. It’s been a long day.”

She made her way down the hall into the bedroom she shared with Dex. Morag sat in the middle of the big bed cleansing herself, her body language screaming “eff you.”

“I can’t handle you right now,” she whispered. Her gaze traveled about the room before landing on his pillow. She knew if she buried her nose in it, his scent still lingered. Her throat burned. “Either of you.”

Hurrying down the hall, she slipped into her old bedroom and locked the door behind her.

* * *

A THICK FOGshrouded the stadium in an eerie light despite the fact it was only four in the afternoon. Dex and his teammates prowled around the field, assessing the conditions before their game scheduled to kick off an hour later.

“This ought to be fun.” Kessler held his gloved hands out. “I can barely see my hands in front of my face. Looks like I’ll be blocking all night. There go my fantasy numbers for the week.”

Dex paced off the scrimmage lines in front of the goalpost. If his team needed a field goal longer than twenty-five yards, he’d be kicking blind. His heartbeat kicked up a notch at the challenge.

“There you are.”

He turned to find Kurt striding down the sideline toward him.

“Looks like Mother Nature has made the game a lot more interesting,” Kurt said.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” Dex replied.

“I’m looking at a kid over at Oregon State on Saturday. I thought I’d come out early and catch your game while I was at it.”

Dex snorted. “You just wanted to get out of attending the gala tomorrow night.”

Kurt laughed. “I’m not going to deny that didn’t factor into my decision. It was cheaper to whisk my wife off to wine country in Oregon for a weekend than what the silent auction at that damn gala usually costs me every year.” He glanced up to the sky. “You may be able to dodge the same bullet if this fog holds.”

Something kicked in his stomach. He wasn’t looking forward to donning a monkey suit and opening his wallet, but he was anxious to get back to Milwaukee. To Andi. She’d been hard to pin down with a phone call all week. He normally didn’t call her on a game weekend, but he’d been keyed up after Sunday’s game and he still had four more days before seeing her again. He was surprised at how much hearing her voice settled him. But since then, his phone calls all went to voicemail. She’d texted saying her schedule was crazy and she’d see him when he got back. He should have been relieved. It was his intention to lessen their connection, after all. But instead, he felt . . . jilted.

Bloody ridiculous.

“Listen, about that thing you wanted me to take care of.” Lowering his voice, Kurt steered him to a deserted area of the sideline. “ICE has formally dropped any investigation of your marriage. Your deportation is no longer pending. Your visa will be renewed at the end of your probationary marriage period.” His agent smiled broadly. “We pulled it off. You and Andi just need to play things out in public for the next few months. Once we receive the approved visa, we can sign the divorce papers and you two can go your separate ways.”

A maelstrom of emotions swirled deep within him. He didn’t have to return home to Scotland. He didn’t have to remain married. His life could continue just as he wanted it.

So why wasn’t he happy?

You two can go your separate ways.

The words were ringing in his ears.

“Declan, did you hear me?” Kurt asked. “Catastrophe avoided.”

“Aye, I heard ya.” He slapped his agent on the back. “Thanks for everything.”

“That’s what you pay me for. Have a good game tonight. Be careful in this fog,” his agent warned before the mist seemed to swallow him up.

That annoying ache was back in his chest again. Dex pulled out his phone and dialed Andi’s number. It rang four times before going to voicemail. He swore violently. Her voice came on the line inviting him to leave a message, except he wasn’t sure what he wanted to say or why he’d even rung her.

“Hey there, lass. I just wanted to wish you luck on your exam tonight.” He hesitated. “I know you don’t need it though. The game will end late your time, but our flight should get in before you’re off to work in the morning. Maybe we can grab a coffee. I’ll see ya then.”

He shoved his phone back into the pocket of his warmups and trotted to the locker room to get dressed for the game.

As it turned out, it was closer to noon when he arrived back at his penthouse, exhausted and frustrated. The Growlers eked out a win over Seattle by one point—the difference maker an extra point Dex managed to get through the uprights despite the visibility being less than fifty feet. Afterwards, the fog kept them stranded on the tarmac in Seattle for seven long hours. He’d spent the morning playing phone tag again with Andi. She’d gone to work early to accommodate all the added appointments brought on by tonight’s gala. Her plan was to meet him at the museum that night, claiming she needed to sort out a situation with the swag bags beforehand. Dex had been relegated to riding with Palmer and Shaina.

This was good, he reminded himself. He didn’t want her to be one of those needy, clingy women. Not if he was weaning his body off her. He’d been right. This road trip was the best thing that could have happened.

“I’d suggest coffee, but you look like you need some sleep first,” Marlene said.

“Aye, Harris kept the whole back of the plane awake with his bloody snoring.”

Marlene nodded. “Your tuxedo and the rest of your clothes for this evening are already set out in your closet.”

He kissed her on the cheek. “You’re a gem.”

She responded with a stiff smile.

“Is something amiss?” he asked.

Just when she looked like she was going to speak, she shook her head. Dex scrutinized her for a long moment, but she offered up nothing else. He shrugged.

“Don’t let me sleep too long,” he warned her before striding down to his bedroom.

Morag jumped off the bed when he entered the room. The cat chorused a few welcoming meows while weaving her way between his feet.

“Well, there’s my sweet girl. You seem to have taken my warning to heart.” He reached down and stroked the cat’s back. Morag purred loudly, butting his hand with her head. “I’m happy to see the women in my home finally living peacefully together.”

Toeing off his shoes, he shucked his shirt before cruising into the bathroom. He stopped abruptly once he passed over the threshold, however. A cold shiver of dread ran up his spine. Something wasn’t right. He glanced at the sink. His toothbrush stood solo in its holder. The hairbrushes and makeup that had slowly encroached on his counter space these past several weeks were nowhere to be seen. He grabbed a towel and sniffed it. Even her scent was gone.

What the hell?He stormed out of the room and over to the bed, yanking up her pillow and inhaling. Nothing. Her hand cream and note cards were no longer littering up her nightstand. The back of his neck was contracting so tightly, it threatened to cut off his breath.

“Marlene!” he bellowed as he jogged toward the guest bedroom and threw the door open. The familiar scent that belonged only to Andi wafted beneath his nose and he gulped in a relieved breath. Her note cards were strewn on the dresser. He fingered a hair tie on the bedside table. In the bathroom, her toothbrush hung alone.

He turned to find Marlene standing in the doorway to the bedroom, a closed look on her face.

“What in the bloody hell is going on?” he demanded.

She shrugged. He narrowed his eyes at his employee. Her shoulders sagged.

“Honestly, Declan, I really don’t know.”

“How long?” He pushed the words out around the boulder in his throat. “How long has she been in here?”

“A few days.”

He drew in a harsh breath. This is what you wanted, he reminded himself. He didn’t have to do anything about their relationship because Andi had already done it for him. He should be dancing a jig. She hadn’t missed him. She hadn’t bloody missed him at all.

“If there’s nothing else you need, I’m going out to run some errands,” Marlene was saying.

Dex waved her off. When he heard the front door close, he sank down on the bed. He traced his fingers along her pillow before pulling it up to his face and breathing it in. Damn, he was tired. He blamed his exhaustion for the fact that he wasn’t elated by this latest turn of events. Forcing his weary limbs to move, he tucked the pillow beneath his head before stretching out on the mattress. He closed his eyes, telling himself it was only for a moment, as he tried not to dwell on the fact that she hadn’t missed him as much as he’d missed her.