by Maya Banks
“Chicken,” Cam drawled.
“Hell, yeah. I’m chicken. I know what side my bread is buttered on. I’ve discovered in a very short time that Ashley’s happiness or sadness has a direct bearing on my own.”
For a moment pain sliced through Cam’s chest, robbing him of breath. He envied Devon with a ferocity that left him bereft. Devon was happy. He’d discovered the joys of marriage and the love of a woman. He was looking forward to fatherhood with the innocence of a man who didn’t realize that happiness was fleeting. That everything could change in a moment’s time. And that you could go from being on top of the world to hell in the blink of an eye.
Cam knew. And if he had any say in the matter, he’d never know that kind of pain again.
“But I’ll wish you luck,” Devon said cheerfully. “If nothing else, you’ll provide me with entertainment.”
Cam sat back in his chair. “You underestimate me.”
Devon studied him for a long moment and then pushed forward in his chair. “What exactly do you want here, Cam? You say you don’t want a relationship. Don’t want commitment. Don’t want anything resembling a permanent situation. And yet you’re pursuing Pippa relentlessly and are frustrated by the fact that she’s giving you precisely what you want, which is a pass on all of the above-mentioned things.”
Cam’s eyes narrowed. It was a damn good question and one he didn’t have a ready answer to. Nor did he really want to examine all the reasons why he was pulling marriage proposals out of his ass. “I want to do everything in my power to make sure she and my child are safe and taken care of.”
Devon sighed. “You can’t protect them from everything. Bad things happen. You can’t live your whole life expecting disaster.”
For Cam, the conversation was over. He ignored Devon’s remarks and steered the conversation to business. But Pippa was very much on his mind, and even as he discussed the latest progress on the resort in St. Angelo, he was already formulating his idea on how to rein Pippa in.
The sooner he was certain of her safety and well-being, the faster his own life would get back to normal. And he’d keep telling himself that until he damn well believed it.
Nine
Pippa dug her hands deeper into the pockets of her coat and hunched her shoulders forward as she hurried down the sidewalk toward her apartment. Snow flurries blew furiously around her and the wind cut ribbons across her body, chilling her to the bone.
She clamped her elbow down on her purse when the wind blew it up and then readjusted the strap over her shoulder so it was crossways over her body.
It had been a dismal day in a long line of dismal days, and to make matters worse she was battling morning sickness and overwhelming fatigue. It disgusted her how much she needed to sleep in order to feel human.
She rounded the corner and breathed a sigh of relief. Just two more blocks and she’d be home. As soon as she got inside her apartment, she was going to put on her jammies, curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and then sleep for about twelve hours.
What a party animal she was. She was one happening chick. From having endless energy and being able to function on just a few hours of sleep a night to not being able to hold up her head unless she got about fourteen hours in. Pregnancy had turned her into a pathetic, boring lump.
She was so deep into her thoughts that she wasn’t immediately aware of the car pulling to a stop on the street beside her. When she did notice, her heart lurched and she stepped hastily back. Just as a hand curled around her elbow.
She let out a startled cry and then quieted when she saw who it was who held her.
“Cam, you scared the life out of me!”
“Get in,” he said tersely. “It’s freezing out here.”
“It’s just a block and a half to my apartment!”
Ignoring her, he steered her toward the open car door and she sighed as a wave of warm air hit her square in the face. Okay, so maybe riding the rest of the way wouldn’t hurt. She slid across the seat, Cam getting in after her. He shut the door and gestured for the driver to pull away.
“You haven’t returned my calls,” he said in a clipped voice. “You have an uncanny knack of never being at home when I come by. Your friends, amazingly enough, have no idea where you are at any given time.”
The sarcasm made her flinch, but guilt made her wince even more.
When the car didn’t slow as they passed her apartment, she leaned forward. “Right here! My apartment is right here.”
“We aren’t going to your apartment.”
She sank back against the seat and sighed wearily. “Look, I know I’ve been avoiding you. I’m not offering any excuses. But, Cam, please, I cannot deal with you tonight. I’m tired. I’m in a terrible mood. I’ll only make you crazy.”
To her surprise, he cracked a smile. “At least you’re honest.”
The sudden change in his demeanor unbalanced her. He was so damn…appealing…when he smiled.
“Where are we going?” she asked irritably.
“Somewhere I think your mood will be much improved.”
“Cryptic bastard,” she muttered.
To her annoyance, his grin widened. But just as quickly, his brows drew together and he turned to face her fully. There was no anger in his eyes, but there was most definitely determination. Oh, yes, he was clearly telling her that he’d finally cornered her cowardly butt and he wasn’t going to let her go this time.
“What gives, Pippa? Why won’t you return my calls? I thought we had an agreement. I don’t even know when your doctor’s appointment is. Or have you already been?”
She frowned. “Of course I haven’t. I told you that I’d let you know so you could come with me.”
“You said a lot of things that haven’t exactly come to fruition,” he said darkly.
“I’ve been busy,” she burst out in frustration. “I’ve got a lot on my mind, including how the hell I’m going to support a baby. Much less myself. I’m stressed beyond your imagination, Cam. Cut me some slack here. Your life may not change so much but mine sure as hell will.”
His eyes grew stormy and his lips tightened into a fine line. She knew she’d gone too far. She knew she’d been careless with her words. She wanted to bite at someone and he was the unfortunate victim because he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Not that it was entirely her fault. She could be at home where she wouldn’t annoy anyone but herself. But he’d played Mr. Kidnapper and Mr. One Thousand Questions, so in her mind he deserved what he got.
Only he didn’t deserve it and she knew it. He’d made the effort. He was doing and saying all the right things. Sort of. But it had been hard for her to come to terms with her pregnancy and what it meant for her. How did anyone do a complete one-eighty in their life and just keep on trucking? Maybe some people managed it, but Pippa wasn’t one of them.
“You think you’re the only one struggling with this, Pippa? Let me tell you, it sucks not knowing what the hell is going on with you. It sucks not to know if you’re okay, if the baby’s okay, if there still is a baby. Would you like living with that kind of uncertainty?”
Guilt gnawed at Pippa like a hungry beast. He hadn’t deserved her avoidance, and maybe, just maybe, if she had been more willing to include him, they could have tackled this whole thing together instead of her worrying incessantly about how she was going to manage alone.
“I’m sorry, Cam.”
She leaned forward and then threw her arms around his broad shoulders, hugging him tightly. He stiffened at first as if he had no idea how to take the impulsive gesture. Then he gradually relaxed and put his arms around her, as well.
She hugged him fiercely, burying her face in his neck. It felt good to just hold on to someone stronger than herself because she needed that support.
“I’m sorry,” she said again. “I’m no good at this. You don’t deserve the way I’ve treated you, Cam. I’m so sorry.”
He gently pulled away and put a finger to her lip
She nodded, and settled back into his arms.
He stroked her shoulders in a soothing pattern and then said close to her ear, “I’ve got a surprise for you that I think will alleviate some of this stress you’ve placed yourself under.”
She pulled away, hating to leave that comforting haven, but she wanted to know what the heck he was talking about. He must have seen the obvious question in her eyes because he shook his head.
“We’ll be there soon. It isn’t far from your apartment.”
With that cryptic remark, he closed his mouth and settled back against the seat. He pulled her into his side and directed his gaze out his window as they navigated through traffic.
Just a few more blocks up, the driver slowed and pulled to the curb in front of an upscale cluster of retail businesses. Cam opened his door, stepped into the cold and then reached back for Pippa’s hand to help her out.
As soon as she stepped onto the pavement, her gaze went to the shop on the corner of the busy intersection. Her mouth fell open as she saw the sassy storefront sign.
Pippa’s Place. Catering Done Your Way.
It was sort of perfect. Hot pink. Flashy. Contemporary. And girlie! It fit her to a T.
She dropped his hand and surged forward to stare into the window. The inside was immaculate. Already set up with a seating area to the left and a large counter with a display for all the yummy things she’d fill it with. There were two registers at each end of the counter.
“Holy crap, Cam, what have you done?”
She whirled around to see him standing there, a smug smile of satisfaction on his face.
“Would you like to go in and see if the rest meets with your approval?”
He held up the keys, dangling them in front of her like the proverbial carrot before the donkey.
“Oh, my God, yes!”
She snatched the keys from him and hurried to unlock the door. She nearly squeaked her delight when a bell above the door jingled, signaling her entrance.
The inside was beautiful. The walls had even been decorated with pictures of cupcakes. Cupcakes everywhere. How could he have possibly known what suited her so well?
“Ashley helped,” Cam said, as if reading her mind.
“I can’t believe you did this,” she whispered.
He gestured toward the doorway to the back. “Better go check out your kitchen and see if it passes inspection.”
She let her hand slide along the countertop as she rounded the end. She could so see herself inside this place. Could practically smell the mouthwatering delicacies she’d prepare.
She burst into the kitchen and came to an abrupt halt as she took in the perfection before her.
Lining the surfaces of the countertops were rows and rows of top-of-the-line appliances. There were multiple stainless-steel ovens, two huge refrigerators and a huge freezer in the back.
Everything she could possibly want or need was right here. In her kitchen. In her shop.
Her knees wobbled. The practical part of her knew she should refuse all of it. She couldn’t afford any of it. She shuddered to even think of what the lease cost. She hadn’t even inquired about this property because she knew it was out of her reach.
The other part of her chafed at refusing such a generous gift. Cam had put a lot of time and effort into giving her the perfect place to work. She would be the biggest bitch in the world if she threw it back in his face.
“Do you like it?”
Her chest caved in at the thread of insecurity in his voice. There was no way she was refusing his gesture. No way she’d put them solidly back to square one again. If he was so willing to try, then she’d damn well do the same.
“Like it?” she choked out. “Oh, my God, Cam, I love it!”
For the second time, she threw herself into his arms and hugged him with all her strength. He took a step back to steady himself and laughed as she wrapped herself around him.
She closed her eyes as relief poured through her. This was the answer to all her problems. She could start work immediately, or at least as soon as she got all the red tape taken care of. But permits and the like were the easy part.
“I’ll make this a success,” she said fiercely. “I won’t let your investment go to waste.”
Carefully, he extricated himself from her hold and then palmed her shoulders as he stared into her eyes.
“This isn’t a damn investment. It’s a gift. I’ve prepaid the rent for two years. Plenty of time for you to get on your feet and start realizing a profit.”
“I can’t believe you did this for me,” she said quietly. “After the way I’ve been acting. I don’t know how to thank you. You can’t possibly know how much stress this takes off me.”
He sent her an admonishing look. “This gift does come with strings. You’ll give me two promises. One, you’ll stop avoiding me so we can work together on the issue of your pregnancy. Two, you’ll hire enough employees that you won’t be spreading yourself too thin.”
A helpless smile worked over her mouth. He was too cute when he was all stern and forbidding. “I promise.” With the money she wouldn’t be spending on a lease, she’d be able to afford to hire actual employees!
He hesitated a moment, his hands sliding down her arms in the gentlest of caresses. “I may not be able to give you what you want or deserve, Pippa, but what I can give you is yours without reservation. You carry my child and I’ll do anything at all to keep the both of you safe and happy.”
How easy it would be to love this man who swore he had no love to give. He seemed so determined to keep her at arm’s length and yet he exhibited caring at every turn.
Unable to resist, she moved into the circle of his arms, leaned up and pressed a kiss to those firm lips. His breath caught and held, his body going tense against hers. No matter what he said, he wanted her. But she refused to use that attraction against him.
“Thank you,” she said again, before slipping away.
He made a grab for her hand, catching only her fingertips as she stepped back. “Let’s go eat dinner. We have a lot to catch up on and I’d love to hear your plans for the shop.”
It was an offer of friendship, one that warmed her even as it left her bereft on the inside. They could have so much more. She ached for more. But it was something at least.
Maybe all she’d ever have from him at all.
She smiled up at him and squeezed his hand, lacing her fingers more tightly with his. “I’d like that.”
Ten
The next morning when Pippa left her apartment, she noticed a car parked directly in front of her walkway and a driver leaning against the passenger door. As soon as he saw her, he straightened and reached to open the door to the backseat.
“Miss Laingley?” the driver queried. “Mr. Hollingsworth wishes me to drive you to your shop and anywhere else you need to go during the day.”
Pippa blew out her breath in a sigh. Okay, this was taking things a bit too far. She’d allowed him to give her the shop. She hadn’t wanted to be ungrateful. But providing her a car and driver when she had only a few blocks to go?
As if sensing her hesitation, the driver dug his cell phone out of his pocket and hastily punched a button. Then he thrust it in her direction. She stared back in puzzlement as he closed the distance between them, holding the phone out to her.
“He said to call him if it looked as though you’d refuse,” the driver explained.
As she took the phone, she heard Cam’s deep voice over the line. She put it to her ear.
“Take the car, Pippa. It’s cold, the sidewalks are slippery and it’s supposed to snow later today.”
She smiled in spite of herself. There was something about his gruff concern that was endearing. “Cam, you can’t keep doing things like this.”
“Can’
Oh, the man was slick. How neatly he turned this back on her. By refusing, she was the bad guy and he was only trying to provide for the mother of his child.
“Oh, all right,” she muttered. “But, Cam, quit it. No more. You’ve already done way too much.”
His amusement was readily evident as he replied, “I believe that’s for me to decide.”
He rang off and she was left standing there holding the phone while the driver waited expectantly for her to get in.
Grumbling about hardheaded males, she ducked inside the car and waited for the driver to walk back around to his side. When he got in, he thrust a business card over the seat.
“This is my cell number,” he said. “Any time you need to go anywhere at all, no matter the distance, you’re to call me. Mr. Hollingsworth’s orders were quite explicit. He doesn’t want you out in the cold on the sidewalks. Weather’s supposed to get nasty.”
She glanced at the card and saw that the driver’s name was John. She shook her head but leaned back as they pulled away. “Okay, John. I’ll be a good girl. Somehow I also think you have orders to rat me out if I don’t use your services.”
He had the grace to blush as he glanced in the rearview mirror. “Yes, ma’am, I do. Sorry, but Mr. Hollingsworth pays my wages so I answer to him.”
She chuckled. “Far be it for me to be responsible for you losing your job. I promise to call when I need a ride.”
He nodded his approval, then refocused his attention on the traffic.
It had begun to sleet, and she was suddenly really glad she wasn’t out in it.
A few minutes later, he stopped in front of her shop and hurried out to open her door for her.
“Remember to call when you’re ready to leave,” he urged as he handed her onto the sidewalk.
She waved and made a dash to the door. To her surprise, it was unlocked. Had she been a complete idiot the day before and not locked back up when she and Cam had left? She groaned, wondering if she even had any of those lovely appliances left.
She pushed open the door, hit the light switch and then jumped two feet into the air when all her girlfriends popped up from behind the counter and shouted, “Surprise!”
She let out a shriek, dropped her keys and then staggered sideways, her hand flying to her chest to calm the rapid uptick in her pulse.
“Oh, my God, you guys scared me!”
Ashley, Tabitha, Carly and Sylvia hurried around the counter and immediately surrounded her, hugging and fussing over her.
Carly squeezed her in a huge hug. “We’re sorry. We just wanted to help you celebrate the new place!”
Pippa stepped back and stared into her friends’ excited faces. “How did you even know? And how on earth did you get in?”
Ashley smiled. “Cam called me. He thought you might like a surprise. He dropped a key by the house early this morning.”
“The place is awesome, Pip!” Tabitha exclaimed. “I can so totally see your customers out here sitting and enjoying your yummy treats.”
An insistent honk interrupted the women’s celebration. At first Pippa wrote it off as normal street traffic, but the horn kept blaring and the women turned, frowns on their faces.
A young man, who couldn’t be more than twenty, stood outside the door waving frantically to them.
“What the heck?” Pippa murmured.
“Be careful, Pip!” Sylvia cautioned when Pippa went toward the door.
The women crowded around as she opened the door to stare out.