Undone by Her Tender Touch (Pregnancy & Passion #4)(25)

The past couple of months had been terrific. Cam had lightened up. He had seemed to relax his guard around her and didn’t act so freaking stiff and uptight all the time anymore. They’d had fun together. If nothing else, they had become friends and for the first time Pippa hadn’t looked to the future with gnawing uncertainty that somehow Cam wouldn’t be in it for the long haul.

So much for that assumption.

What the hell was wrong with him?

John pulled up to her apartment but Pippa sat in the backseat for a long moment. Frowning, she leaned forward. “John, where did Cam say he was going? Do you know where he is now?”

“I believe he’s returned to Greenwich.”

Home? Home? What the ever-loving hell? This big emergency brought him home? Oh, hell, no. She’d had about enough of his volatile moods.

She sat back with a bounce. “Take me to Greenwich, John.”

John did a double take in the rearview mirror. “Pardon?”

“You heard me. Take me to his damn cave.”

“Perhaps it would be better if you called first. Mr. Hollingsworth doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s in residence.”

“I don’t give a damn what Mr. Hollingsworth likes,” she said sweetly. “Either you drive me or I’m taking a cab the entire way.”

With a resigned sigh, John pulled back into traffic.

She stewed for another hour, and by the time they rolled up the long winding driveway of Cam’s home, she was in a foul mood. He’d messed up everything and she was going to hear what his excuse was or else.

When John stopped in front of the house, Pippa was out before he could open his own door. She marched up the steps, considered knocking, but then decided if she came all this way she wasn’t going to chance that he wouldn’t answer.

She shoved the door open and went inside.

“Cam?” she yelled belligerently. “Where the hell are you?”

She stood a moment, waiting for him to appear, but she was met by resounding silence.

“Cam!” she yelled louder. “Get your ass down here!”

A moment later she heard footsteps and then he appeared at the top of the stairs, his brows furrowed.

“What the hell are you doing here, Pippa? Is something wrong?”

If it wouldn’t take so much effort, she’d march up the stairs and punch him. He had the nerve to act like he’d done nothing?

She shook her head, her fingers curling into a tight fist. She was already fantasizing about decking him.

“You ruined the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me and you have the nerve to ask if anything’s wrong?”

He descended the stairs in a slow, methodical manner, his footsteps sounding ominous in the quiet. When he reached the bottom, he took a few more steps until he was a short distance away and then he stared coldly at her.

She shivered under his scrutiny. There was no warmth in his eyes. None of the friendship and caring he’d demonstrated over the past weeks.

“What on earth is your problem?”

“You came all this way to ask that?”

She refused to be put off by the censure in his tone. She closed the distance between them, poking her finger into his chest.

“I thought we were friends. I thought you cared a little about me or at least about our child. Friends don’t pull what you pulled today. What were you thinking? You left me alone in that exam room and then had your driver come for me? I want to know what the hell your problem is.”

“Not everything is about you, Pippa.”

The ice in his voice just served to piss her off more because she knew he was holding back. Knew that something was wrong and he didn’t trust her enough to tell her what it was. But what right did she have to pursue it? They were “friends.” Nothing more. He didn’t owe her anything. It hurt to remind herself of that little fact.

“I thought we were at least friends,” she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.

She turned away, realizing just how stupid she’d been to come here at all. It was the one place she wasn’t welcome. Had never been welcome since that night when they’d first slept together. He hadn’t been able to get rid of her fast enough the next morning and he’d never, ever brought her back here. They met in the city. Never here.

She needed this reminder because she’d come dangerously close to building larger expectations. Creating a fantasyland where she actually had a chance at a future with this man.

“Don’t bother coming to the next appointment,” she said stiffly, her back still to him. She began walking to the door and had almost reached it when he caught her hand. She hadn’t even heard him come up behind her.

“Pippa.”

The single word conveyed a wealth of emotion. Regret. Sorrow.

She paused, her hand trembling in his.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “Please don’t leave like this.”

She yanked around, fighting to keep angry, frustrated tears at bay. “Why, Cam? Give me one good reason. You don’t want me here. I don’t even know why we’re pretending to have any sort of a relationship at all. Let’s just cut our losses and get it over with now.”

“I don’t like anyone to come here,” he said harshly. “It’s not personal to you. But… Just stay. I’m sorry for the way the appointment went. I was an ass. I ruined your moment.”