Winning Her Love (13 page)

He shook his head and his eyes rested on hers. “Go get the paper on the kitchen table and come back to me please.”

The
please
had her easing off him and padding across the concrete, going back inside to get the paper. The paper was spread out on the table, and she rolled it up and went back to her spot on Chad’s lap.

Staring up at him, she nibbled on her lips nervously. “Is there something you want to tell me before I open this?”

He shrugged. “I work in the public eye. Everything I do is watched. I should have done something so it didn’t come out like this.” He stroked her cheek. “I’m sorry.”

Lana felt her breath hitch, and she nodded. Unrolling the paper, she gasped as the front page headline became visible.

From Teammate Brawls to Illegitimate Love Children, Chad Douglas Has Been Busy

There were two big pictures beside each other. One of Olivia in Chad’s arms after the game, beaming at him. The image beside that one was of Chad gripping Tim’s shirt and his fist about to connect. Lana didn’t want to read the article; she knew she wouldn’t like what it said. But the bottom of the page caught her attention, there was a small photo of her and Chad kissing. Under the image was her name and that she worked at Pick a Bunch. Dreading it, she read the article, cringing at the words
gold digger
,
lying
,
pursuing
, and
new friend to the family
.

Lana felt sick. What would it do for her job? Would Ann be angry the business had been mentioned? What would this do to her and Olivia?

She needed to get to Olivia. Getting off of Chad’s lap, she ran back to the bedroom and gathered her clothes, shoving them on. Chad came in as she struggled with her shoes. Giving up, she placed them in her hands. Shooting her gaze up to Chad, she walked toward the door. “We need to go to your parents’ now. I need to get my baby. I need to go home. I need to call Ann. I need to—”

“Stop. You need to stop. Olivia is fine with Mum and Dad. Our daughter is safe.” His arms came around her.

Lana stayed stiff in his embrace and gazed up at him. “It was the front page.” Her whole world felt like it was crashing down. “What will everyone think?”

Chad pulled her tighter into him. “Oh, angel, I’m so sorry.” He used his thumb to wipe the tears that now slid down her cheeks. He guided her to the bed and they both got on and sat up. Chad held her against him, stroking her back. “I called my manager. He’s going to help with damage control. My phone has a bunch of missed calls, but it’s you I want to talk to and make sure you know what will happen and know how I feel.”

Taking in deep breaths of his fresh, woodsy smell, she sighed. “I’m listening. I’m calmer.”

“Good. Lana, I will have to tell them about Olivia. We need to figure out what you want said about her and us.” He tilted her chin so she looked at him. “I want to say we are together now. I want to tell them you and my baby girl will be moving in. I want everyone to know how I feel about you.” Chad kissed the tip of her nose.

Lana felt her heart start to race and a warmth spread through her at Chad’s words. “You can tell them we are together. I’m scared about what we say about Olivia.” Sitting up, she knelt in front of him. “I’m so embarrassed I got so inebriated that I blacked out and don’t remember that night. I sound so slutty that I don’t even remember the night my daughter was conceived.”

“Lana, we won’t tell them about that night. It’s no one’s business but ours. I was thinking of telling people that you went away with your family before you realized you were pregnant, and we talked and kept in contact. You decided to come back after finishing your course and are ready to give us being together a chance. I don’t think more needs to be said about the past. What do you think?”

What he’d said didn’t sound bad. “You would lie for me?”

He brushed his lips over hers, and a shiver ran through her at his gentle touch. “I would do anything for you.” He swept back some of her hair that had fallen forward, and her breath hitched at his words. Her heart soared, and she knew she still loved him with everything she had.

“Do you need me there with you at this press conference?”

Chad pulled her so she straddled him and his mouth took hers. His fingers delved into her hair, bringing her closer. Drowning in the feel of Chad, she eagerly took what he offered, rubbing herself against him. When he eased his mouth from hers and rested his forehead against hers he panted, “I always need you. I would really appreciate you and Olivia being there.”

Lana knew how important this was. She could face this for Chad. “Sure. Olivia and I will be there.”

* * * *

Lana clutched her daughter against her, hoping if she held her that they wouldn’t be pushed further into the flashing camera lights. At the moment Chad and Tim were playing nice. They were smiling for the camera and answering questions.

“Chad, were you marking your territory?”

“Tim, are you and Lana Cage having a relationship behind Chad’s back?”

“Since Chad is the bigger name, will you be moving to another team, Tim?”

“Chad, will you be taking time off?”

The questions kept firing until they were solely about her, Olivia, and Chad. Brent moved her forward, and she gripped Olivia tighter and told herself to breathe. Chad came over and pulled the chair out for her to sit down before he sat in the one next to her.

As soon as they came into the limelight Olivia turned shy and Lana froze, terrified when Olivia flung herself across to Chad and buried herself against him, hiding. The cameras went crazy. Chad’s arms came around their daughter and he slowed his explanation down of what had happened and how Olivia had come to be.

Lana gazed up and avoided the crowd. She couldn’t look at them with her heart feeling like it might stop beating. They all seemed focused on them now, and they were the center of attention. It wasn’t fun. Chad told them the situation and what had happened. The media was nasty, and they all seemed to make her out to be the baddy. Like she had intentionally kept Olivia from him, nagged him to date her, that she only became friends with the Douglases to get to know Chad, and so on.

Questions flew around like crazy and Chad answered them. Lana’s heart sank with each well placed nasty question. She told herself to ignore them. She knew if she listened she would only get more upset. That much she was learning. One reporter call her a gold digger, another ask if she planned Olivia to get child support out of Chad. Lana pasted a smile on her face and dug her fingers into the seat, needing an anchor.

Chad was a pro at answering and avoiding the more prying questions. Lana worried for Olivia, and she knew after this she would never let her or her daughter be put through this again. Olivia slowly came out of hiding and watched her father.

Lana was shocked when an obviously blind reporter at the front asked, “Have you done a DNA test? Is Olivia yours?”

Chad raised his eyebrow. “I think you need to go to the optometrist. Clearly there is something wrong with your eyes. My daughter looks just like me.”

Olivia stuck her head out and gave her best furrowed brow, angry look. “I dos. My grandma showed me a picture of Daddy and he looks like me. He would be a pretty girl. Just like my grandma said.”

Everyone laughed, and Chad chuckled. “Thanks, princess.”

Lana bit the inside of her cheek to stop from giggling as her gorgeous baby girl continued. She stood up on her father’s legs and put her forehead to his. “Wes have the same eyes too. See.”

Everyone laughed again, and Lana couldn’t hold back her giggle. The logic of an almost three year old—she didn’t realize people couldn’t see their eyes when she was staring at her dad like she was.

Chad held Olivia so she didn’t fall. He kissed her forehead and eased her away, turning her. She faced everyone now and beamed the smile she gave when she was right about something.

Grinning at her daughter, Lana felt her courage appear. If her daughter could stick up for herself, Lana could stand up to the media. She turned to the reporter who had asked the questions. “I think my daughter has answered all your questions.” Lana had had enough. They’d been there for a couple of hours. First getting prepared, next as everyone introduced themselves, and then the explanations and questions. It was time to finish. Lana wanted to take her family home. Enough was enough. “Okay, last couple of questions. Chad has answered enough, so make them count. It’s time we go.”

Chad stood and held out his hand. The other clung to Olivia as she wrapped her arms tight around her father. Lana got up and slid her fingers together with Chad’s.

Chad nodded to his manager who pointed to a woman at the back. Lana followed where he pointed and felt relief when she saw it was Steph. “How long have you known the Douglases, Lana?”

Lana tried not to roll her eyes at the question, because Steph damn well knew how long she’d known them. “Sixteen years. I have been best friends with Stephanie Douglas since kindergarten.”

Chad’s manager pointed to someone else in the back, and Lana decided she liked Brent as Lockie winked at her before he said, “Since you have arrived back in Australia have you asked Chad out on a date? Have you called him to pursue him even once? Actually, have you ever asked him out?”

What the hell game was Lockie playing? She narrowed her gaze on Lockie before turning to Chad to see if he expected her to answer. Chad nodded. Okay. Lana had no idea what angle they were going for, but she supposed they knew what they were doing. She thought back to even before Olivia was born, and she had never once done any of what Lockie asked. She may have the night she conceived Olivia, but she didn’t remember that, so did it count? Lana didn’t think so since they weren’t talking about that night and she didn’t remember it.

“Nope. No, I haven’t done any of those things.” Lana studied Chad now and kinda felt guilty.

Brent smirked. “Last question.” He pointed again to the back.

Lana sighed when Chad’s mother spoke. “Have you denied Chad, or any of his family members, access to Olivia?”

Lana tried not to cry as she figured out what they were doing. “No, I haven’t. I never will.” Lana meant that. If she’d known Olivia was Chad’s she would have moved back to Australia as soon as she found out.

Chad leaned down and kissed her. Olivia giggled in his arms, and when he pulled away he smiled at the media. The Douglas family now stood on stage and gathered around them.

“Thank you all for coming. I feel we have answered all your questions. My family and I will be going now. I’d appreciate it if you would respect our privacy.” Chad turned his back, and Brent stepped forward, talking to the bunch. Lana happily followed Chad, eager to get out of there.

* * * *

After the press conference, they’d all gone back to Chad’s parents’ house, ordered a bunch of take-out, and had a family night. Lana basked in the feeling of family and love that surrounded her and felt so blessed that Olivia had the same.

By the time they got home Olivia had fallen asleep in the car and Lana knew she wasn’t far behind her daughter. After she’d showered, her and Chad had gone to bed, neither waking until a little munchkin came in and jumped on them, giving them cuddles and telling them she was hungry.

With a groan they both got up, and as Lana got breakfast ready Chad went and got the paper from the front. Lana dreaded seeing the paper, scared of what it might say. Yesterday, as she was surrounded by family and knew she had their support, Lana decided she would move in with Chad no matter what the papers and media said. After Chad’s display she knew she could trust him.

He came in with the paper and a smile on his face. Turning off the stove, eager to read what had been said, she snatched the newspaper out of his hand and sat at the dining room table. Taking a deep breath, she unfolded the paper and looked down.

Chad Douglas Sets the Record Straight

She laughed when a picture of Olivia glaring at the reporter was the main photo. The caption read
Olivia Douglas, who stole everyone’s hearts yesterday, set It People reporter straight when he asked a silly question
.

The bottom image of Chad holding Olivia and kissing her had Lana tearing up. The look on his face made it clear how he felt about her. Obviously, the reporter felt the same as the caption read
Chad’s gaze barely left Miss Cage’s. He is clearly besotted with his family
.

Standing, she threw her arms around him. “I love you. I’m ready to move in here if you still want me and Olivia.”

Lana squealed as he picked her up and spun her in a circle. “Of course I want you here. This is yours and Olivia’s house now. We’ll go get your things today.” Olivia giggled and jumped off her seat to join in, and Chad stopped to pick her up and hugged them both. “I’m going to go call my brothers and we can organize a truck. I want all your things here as soon as possible.”

She shook her head. “I have to work today. I’m going to ring Ann and see if everything is all right after Sunday’s article.”

Chad sighed. “I’m sure it will be fine. Tell her to read this morning’s article.” He placed Olivia down and kissed her. “I’ll move in the bigger things. I can get the team to help too.”

Before Lana could say anything else Chad was off down the hall and on his phone. Lana felt bad about breaking her lease, but was looking forward to being with Chad.

* * * *

Work had been flat-out all week long. The articles boosted business, and Lana had to stay late and work even on her half days. Chad had been picking up Olivia from daycare and helping with dinner. Lana hadn’t had a chance to move in until this Sunday. The next couple of weekends Chad was playing away games, so today they got up early and Lana had been surprised to see over ten cars parked around her house and most of Chad’s team and family standing out front waiting for them. In no time at all her house was packed and all her things at Chad’s house, now their place.

Olivia was fast asleep, and Lana was looking forward to having Chad all to herself tonight. After cleaning up Olivia’s toys she showered and got dressed in her nighty. She smiled as Chad lay on the bed watching her as she went to the dressing table to apply her lotions.