Undone by Her Tender Touch (Pregnancy & Passion #4)(22)

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’t I? I thought we came to an agreement last night. Are you already calling off our truce?”

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.