Undone by Her Tender Touch (Pregnancy & Passion #4)(49)

If she was asleep, then she’d never know he was here. He could watch her for a while and know that she was safe. He eased the door open farther and stepped inside, his gaze immediately seeking her out in the semidarkened room.

She was lying on a narrow bed with her back elevated. She was sleeping as the nurse had said, but she didn’t look at all comfortable. She was sagging to one side and seemed precariously close to sliding off the bed.

He took another step closer and for a moment he couldn’t breathe. Fragile had been a good word to describe her. She looked so small against the bed. Her hair was in disarray. He could smell the faint scent of smoke.

She was pale and her face seemed thinner. There were dark smudges underneath her eyes. His gaze dropped to her hands and he frowned to see scrapes on her palms.

She looked worn through. As Devon had said, past her limits. Cam had pushed her there.

Unable to resist, he lowered his fingers, simply wanting to touch her. He traced the lines of her face, gently pushing back a tendril of hair that rested close to her mouth.

Then he bent and gently kissed her forehead, closing his eyes and allowing his mouth to rest there for the briefest of moments.

“I love you,” he whispered.

* * *

Pippa awoke with the nagging sense that she’d missed something. Her dreams had been odd, occupied by Cam and infinite tenderness instead of flames, smoke and fear. They had been nice but bizarre.

There was no clock in the room and if it weren’t for the bright sunlight streaming through the small window, she’d have no idea it was daytime.

She automatically smoothed her hands over the bulge of her belly and smiled when the baby kicked. Relief was sweet. She and the baby were going to be all right.

Just then, her door opened and Gloria Copeland bustled through, looking determined and agitated. But the moment their eyes met, her gaze softened and she rushed over to the bed to enfold Pippa in her arms.

“My poor baby,” she crooned. “Are you all right? Devon told me what the doctor said but I’ve been so worried about you.”

To Pippa’s never-ending shame, she started crying again. It was becoming ridiculous how easily she became a watering pot.

“Oh honey,” Gloria said. “Don’t cry. You know you’re coming to stay with me. I have a bedroom all ready for you. I’m putting you next to Ashley’s old room. I’m hoping she and Katelynn will stay a few days and it’ll be just like old times. Having my girls around will be such a delight. I can fuss over all of you.”

“I love you, Mrs. C.” Pippa sniffled.

Gloria smoothed Pippa’s bedraggled hair from her face and then kissed her forehead. “I love you too, baby. It’s going to be all right. I promise. It may look bad right now but we’re going to get you back on your feet in no time.”

Pippa squeezed Gloria’s hand. “I’m so lucky to have you and Ashley. You’re the only family I have.”

And Pippa knew it was true. Blood didn’t count for much at all. Miranda may have given her life, but family wasn’t necessarily about blood. It was about uncompromising love and support. About always being there no matter how hard things were.

This was what she wanted for her son. And she’d give it to him no matter what she had to do.

Gloria hugged her again, and really, Pippa was perfectly happy to be hugged all day. Each time, a little more of her melancholy drifted away.

“Tell you what we’re going to do. I’m going to take you home and put you to bed. As soon as you’re up to it, we’re going to have a spa day. If that doesn’t put the pep back into your step, I don’t know what will. We’ll bring Ashley, too.”

Pippa smiled. A girlie day with Ashley and her mom sounded…wonderful.

“There now, see? You’re smiling already,” Gloria said. “Seriously, honey, I don’t want you worrying about a thing. I’ll have William sort out your hospital bill. You’ll stay with us until the baby’s born. There’s no sense you shouldering the stress of trying to find a new apartment when you should be focusing on your baby. We’ll have great fun. You’ll see.”

Pippa wouldn’t refuse Gloria Copeland’s hospitality even if she wanted to. Nobody ever stood a chance against her. She was a force of nature and Pippa loved her for it.

Then she frowned as reality crashed in. “What about my bakery? I can’t just leave it.”

“Of course not,” Gloria soothed. “We’ll manage. You have employees who can handle things for a few days while you rest and recover. After that, we’ll work out a way for you to get to work each morning. William will be more than happy to provide a driver for you.”

Pippa smiled again. “Thank you. Seriously. I don’t know what I’d do without you and Mr. C. and Ashley.”

Gloria beamed. “William will be glad to hear that. You know he loves you just as much as I do even if he can be an old goat sometimes.”

Pippa snickered.

“Now, let me find out when they’re going to let you out of this place,” Gloria said. “The sooner we get you home, the better. We’ll have our physician check in on you daily just to make sure all is well.”

Pippa leaned back against the pillows and sighed. Things were already looking up. She’d get beyond this with the help of the people she loved.