Beyond the Breaking Point (28 page)

Later that afternoon, as Cassidy was finishing her lunch, Phillip called. Thinking he must have already received the papers, she answered her cellphone.

“Hey, how’s my baby doing?”

“Fine.”

“I called last night, but it went straight to voicemail. I even came by your place, but all the lights were off. You must have gotten called in,” he said, fishing for information.

“No, I shut off the phone and went to bed early. Did you want something in particular? I need to finish my lunch,” she said, trying to hurry him along.

“Go ahead and chew. I don’t mind. Listen, I called because I wanted to talk with you.”

“About…” she prompted, spooning up another bite of fruit and yogurt.

“Max.”

“What about Max?” she asked warily, and put the spoon down.

“I talked to him about getting you drunk and seducing you. If he comes around you again, let me know and I’ll take care of him.”

“Max did not get me drunk,” she said indignantly.

“Cassidy,” he said patiently, “Max used you to get at me. After our confrontation yesterday, he may try something with you again. Whatever he tells you, don’t believe him. In fact, I’d feel better if you didn’t speak with him at all.”

“So, let me see if I have this straight. You believe Max got me drunk and seduced me to get even with you for having sex with Amber,” she said carefully.

“I did not have sex with Amber,” he denied. “But yeah, as far as the rest goes. You don’t drink, and you sure as hell aren’t Max’s type. What else could it be?”

“I’m not Max’s type,” she repeated slowly.

“No,” he said, and had the nerve to laugh. “Don’t get me wrong. I think you’re beautiful, but you’ve seen some of the women Max has been with over the years. They all look like Playboy bunnies or swimsuit models. That’s another reason I was surprised he stuck with Amber when he had so many beauties to choose from.”

“Max was your friend. I’m surprised you have such a low opinion of him,” she told him coldly, a sick feeling building in her stomach.

“That’s right.
My
friend, which means I know him better than you. Look, I’m not saying he’ll try anything with you, but if he does, remember he has an ulterior motive. Not that I’m really worried,” he said consolingly. “You’re a one-man type of woman. You’re not the kind to fool around. Hell, I gave you permission to have sex with another man when we went to that swinger’s club and you wouldn’t do it.”

“You gave me permission because you wanted his wife,” she retorted savagely.

“Look, the point is cheating isn’t your style. Not even for the sake of revenge. That’s why I know what happened was all Max. That’s all I’m saying,” he said, obviously trying to soothe her and prevent an argument.

“So what you’re saying is that the only reason a man like Max would want a woman like me is to get back at you, and if he comes sniffing around, be wary.”

Her tone must have warned him he’d put his foot in it, but being Phillip, he couldn’t see the insult he’d dealt her. “Well, yeah. I don’t want your feelings getting hurt or you thinking it’s more than it is. You’re in a vulnerable position right now. You’re pregnant, angry with me—even though you say you aren’t, I know you are—and all it would take is the right dude to come along spouting the right words and you’d be putty in his hands.”

“So now I’m naïve and gullible,” she muttered.

He paused, then asked more hesitantly, “Are you feeling okay? The baby giving you any trouble? You sound kind of…off.”

“No,” she said brightly. “Everything’s honky-dory on my end. Look, I got to go. I’ll speak with you later.” She disconnected the call.

“Arrogant asshole. So, Max’s only interest in me is revenge?” She wanted to laugh it off, but couldn’t. Truth was, she’d seen the type of woman Max went for and it could all be summed up with the three Bs: beautiful, busty, and blonde.

So what does he see in me and why do I even care
?

Cassidy buried the little niggle of hurt worming its way into her heart that Max’s attention might all be a lie. He was a man, and men lied.

She finally laughed, but it sounded bitter.

When Cassidy arrived home, all she wanted to do was hole up in her apartment with the covers thrown over her head. Fortunately, the baby must have realized Mommy simply wasn’t in the mood for her shenanigans because her stomach behaved itself. However, it hadn’t benefited her much since she’d lost whatever appetite she might have had after her conversation with Phillip.

Normally, when she was in a funk she’d call Erika to help get her out of it, but she’d been leaning too much on her friend lately. Erika had her own life and her own problems. She didn’t need to be bogged down with Cassidy’s as well.

Besides, what could Erika say?
“You’re so sexy-licious, if I weren’t straight and in love with my husband, I’d totally do you myself.”
The mere thought of Erika saying something like that was enough to make Cassidy smile.

 She changed into something more comfortable, flipped the channel to Lifetime Movie Network, and settled on the couch with another pint of ice cream—strawberry this time. Yeah, as a doctor she’d have advised her patients against this type of indulgence. “Being pregnant is not a license to eat whatever you want,” she’d said. Screw that! Once again, she was surprised none of her patients had ever told her to get bent!

When the phone rang Cassidy recognized Phillip’s ringtone and ignored it. She was throwing the mother of all pity parties and the guest list only had one name on it—hers. Gradually, she got caught up in a movie, which made her problems look trivial by comparison. Her mother called and was likewise ignored.

The third time it rang, Cassidy picked it up with the intention of cutting off the ringer when she noticed it was Max. She debated. Answer, don’t answer? At the last second, she clicked over. “Yes?”

“Hi,” he greeted her warmly.

“Hello,” she said politely.

“I never told you. I spoke with your lawyer and gave her a statement. I even told her how she might be able to contact Amber.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you all right?” he asked, concern in his tone.

“Just dandy,” she answered a bit flippantly.

He was silent. She guessed he was absorbing her answer. Cassidy gazed back to the television.

“The other reason I called was to invite you to my parents’ tomorrow night for dinner. The whole family is going to be there.”

“Your parents?” she squeaked, sitting up straight.

“Yes, is there a problem? I told my mother about you and she wants to meet you. I’d have taken you there to meet them anyway, even if she hadn’t requested it.”

She reached for the remote and lowered the volume. “Uh, Max, what did you tell your mother about me?”

“That I’m serious about you, and that you’re giving her a grandchild.”

Cassidy pressed a hand to her forehead. “I can’t believe…I thought…Phillip said—”

“Phillip said what?” Max asked, his voice hard.

Realizing she’d made a mistake, she tried to backtrack. “Uh, nothing. I can’t believe you told your mother about this messed-up situation.”

“I don’t consider you carrying my child a ‘messed-up situation.’ I want you. I would want you even if you weren’t pregnant. Now what did Phillip say?” he insisted.

Cassidy bit her lower lip before quietly saying, “It’s not important.”

“I think it is. I’m coming over.”

“What? No. Max!” He’d hung up on her.

She put her hand on her stomach. What to do now? Cassidy glanced wildly around the apartment, making sure everything was clean.
Should I change
? No, she firmly decided. The oversized T-shirt and leggings she wore would have to do. If Max didn’t like it, well, she hadn’t asked him to come over. This was his choice.

She rose and began to pace. This was all wrong. Max wasn’t supposed to want her to meet his parents. He shouldn’t have told his mother about her. They didn’t even know if the baby was his. Now he probably had everyone all angry and excited.

She could just imagine what Max’s mother was thinking. Cassidy knew what would be on her mind in this situation.
“You got a woman pregnant? You say she’s married to someone else?”
Oh yeah, that would go over well.

Hadn’t Phillip said once that Max’s family were devout Catholics?
Oh God!

Cassidy had worked herself into such a state that the knock at the door made her jump. “Cassidy. It’s me. Open up.”

She forgot she’d given Max the code to the door downstairs. He didn’t have to be buzzed up or knock on the apartment door since she’d allowed him to keep her spare keys. Cassidy wiped damp hands on her pants legs and went to open the door.

He strode inside, looking better in a pair of black faded denims and a royal blue pullover than he had any right. When she turned from locking up, he stood scowling at her with his legs spread and fists braced on those slim swimmer’s hips. “What the hell did Phillip say that has you acting so distant with me?”

“If you don’t mind, I’d really rather not discuss it,” she said, putting on a front of calm she definitely didn’t feel.

He came forward until he blocked her path to the couch. “I do mind. What did that asshole say?”

Cornered and frustrated that this was Max, Mr. Laid Back himself, being so aggressive, she blurted, “Just leave it alone, Max.”

“No.” He lifted his hands and used his body to cage her against the door. Lowering his face to hers he said, “This morning you were warm and cuddly in my arms and now this evening, you act like I’m some stranger. As if I didn’t know, intimately, the feel of your body under mine, on top of mine, and how it feels to have my cock cradled in your heat. Haven’t held you in my arms as we both slept.”

Max studied Cassidy. She stared everywhere but at him and she’d hunched in on herself. He thought over what he knew of Cassidy and Phillip and was able to make a reasonable guess of what the man had said. “Phillip told you that bull about me using you to get revenge on him, didn’t he?”

Her flinch and the guilty look she shot him was confirmation. He cursed and spun away from her. He should have punched Phillip in the mouth when he had the chance. Figures he’d try to fuck this up for him. Hell, he probably believed the shit he was saying.