The Tycoon's Secret Affair (The Anetakis Tycoons #3)(31)

She grimaced. “I think she’s playing target practice. She’s has uncanny accuracy for kicking that precise spot.”

“I’m sorry. I know it must be painful for you.”

“The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about, so I’m grateful for her movements.”

“Has the doctor been by to see you yet?”

“He came by while you were out. He said if all goes well today and I have no further contractions, that I can be released tomorrow. I’m to be on strict bed rest for a week and then I can get up and around as long as I don’t overdo it.”

“And I will see to it that you obey his instructions to the letter.”

She was careful not to laugh, but she grinned in amusement. “Why do I get the feeling you’re going to enjoy my convalescence?”

He gave her an innocent look. “Why would you think such a thing?”

“Because you’re a man used to bossing people around and having them obey you implicitly,” she said darkly.

“You say this as if it was a bad thing.”

This time she did chuckle and promptly groaned when her belly protested. Piers gave her a disapproving frown, and she rolled her eyes.

The past several days had been good considering she was stuck in a hospital bed. After the first day, the nurse had come in to help her get up, and Jewel had spent fifteen minutes trying to argue that there was no need for her to get up when every movement nearly split her in two. It was the threat of a catheter that finally gave her the motivation to endure sitting up and standing.

Piers had been wonderful. The brooding man who’d so insolently told her there would be no divorce had seemingly disappeared, and was replaced by someone who saw to her every need. She had to admit that he was trying very hard to put their past disagreements behind them.

A light knock sounded at the door, and to her surprise, Piers’s brothers and their wives crowded into her room. She must have looked as mortified as she felt because Piers squeezed her hand.

“Don’t worry, yineka mou. You look beautiful. They won’t stay long enough to tire you. I’ll see to it.”

He was lying through his teeth, but she loved him for it.

The thought hit her between the eyes and was more painful than the stapled incision in her belly. Love? Dear God, she’d fallen in love with him.

She tried to smile, but what she wanted to do was crawl into a deep, dark hole. How could she have allowed herself to fall in love with him—with any man? Apparently she hadn’t had enough hurt in her life. No, she obviously wanted to pile on more pain and disappointment.

It was all well and fine to want to be loved, but to offer her love on a silver platter? She was just asking for rejection.

“Jewel? Have we come at a bad time?” Marley asked quietly.

Jewel blinked and saw that the two couples were standing at the foot of her bed, studying her intently.

“No. No, of course not. I’m sorry. I’m still a bit muddled. It’s probably all the pain medication they’ve funneled through me.”

Beside her Piers frowned, and she just hoped he’d remain quiet about the fact she hadn’t had pain medication in three days. The doctor hadn’t wanted her to be on any narcotic for an extended period of time. It was too risky for the baby.

She smiled brightly at Bella and Marley and opted to keep her gaze away from Chrysander and Theron. They intimidated the hell out of her, and she wasn’t in the habit of giving up that kind of advantage to anyone.

“How are you feeling?” Bella asked as she moved forward.

She perched on the side of Jewel’s bed and flipped her long dark hair over her shoulder.

“Has Piers been bullying you? Marley and I can take him outside and rough him up for you.”

Jewel smiled and swallowed to keep from laughing.

“Don’t make her laugh,” Piers growled. “It hurts her too much. Besides, I have you and Marley wrapped around my finger, remember?”

Chrysander let out a loud guffaw. “Don’t let him fool you, Jewel. All either woman has to do is look at this idiot brother of mine, and he gives them whatever they want, much to mine and Theron’s dismay.”

“As if you both don’t spoil them shamelessly,” Piers said dryly.

“That may be true, but a woman can never have too many men at her disposal,” Marley said cheekily.

“There is only one man at your disposal, agape mou,” Chrysander growled. “And you would do well to remember that.”

Jewel watched the interaction between the three brothers and Bella and Marley, and for the first time, she didn’t feel like an outsider. The horrible feeling of intense longing didn’t hit her like it did the first time she’d met them. This time she felt more of an equal, as if she belonged in this intimate circle of family members.

“You must be feeling better,” Bella said from her perch on the bed. “You’re smiling so beautifully. You look quite radiant for someone who has just undergone surgery.”

“It’s the pregnancy,” Theron said slyly. “A woman never looks more beautiful than when she is pregnant.”

“Nice try,” Bella said dryly. “Your flattery will get you nowhere. And if you start lusting after pregnant women, I’ll make it so you’ll never be able to father children.”