The Tycoon's Secret Affair (The Anetakis Tycoons #3)(43)

Reynolds nodded solemnly. “Who?”

Bella smiled in satisfaction and leaned back in the seat once more.

“He’s really an okay guy when he doesn’t have a corncob wedged up his arse.”

“I heard that,” Reynolds commented.

Bella grinned and winked at the other two women.

“Okay girls, a day at the spa it is. Then we’ll get Jewel to the airport and on her way to Miami.”

Piers stared broodingly into the surf, hands shoved into the pockets of his trousers—pants that he hadn’t changed out of in three days. He looked and felt like he’d been on a monthlong bender. He hadn’t showered or shaved. The staff avoided him like the plague, and when he did come into contact with them, they all glared at him with disapproving eyes. As if he’d been the one to drive her away.

And he had, in a way. He hadn’t made it easy for her to stay. No, he hadn’t asked her to leave in so many words, but what woman would stay with a man who’d been so cruel, so derisive?

He closed his eyes and inhaled the sea air that Jewel so loved. She loved the ocean like he loved her. Passionately.

Love was supposed to be without barriers or conditions. He’d never offered that to Jewel. He hadn’t even offered his unconditional support. No, he’d demanded and she’d given. He’d taken and she’d offered.

What a bastard he was.

How was she supposed to have ever been able to tell him the truth when he made it impossible for her to do so? He’d all but told her that he’d toss her out without thought if he found out she’d lied.

And the truth was he didn’t care.

He’d realized it the moment he’d found her gone. He didn’t care if the baby was his biological child or not. Jewel was married to him, which meant both belonged to him. He would be the baby’s father because it was what Jewel wanted. It was what he wanted.

He hadn’t loved Eric any less even knowing that he wasn’t his biological child. He already loved his daughter, and nothing would change that. He’d ruined his chance at having a family. A wife and a daughter. All because he’d been so sure Jewel was another Joanna.

Jewel was right. He’d been waiting for her to fail, for her to give him the ammunition he needed to destroy her because it beat him being destroyed a second time. She was right about another thing, and it hadn’t taken him long to realize it. He’d destroyed something very precious.

“I love you, yineka mou,” he whispered. “I don’t deserve your love, but I can give you mine. I can try to make up for the many wrongs I have done to you. Please forgive me.”

Just saying the words he’d vowed never to give another woman freed something buried deep in his soul. He breathed deeply, as past hurts fell away, carried on the wind further out to sea. He’d allowed himself to be ruled by bitterness and anger for too long. It was time to let go and embrace his future with Jewel.

He turned and strode back to the stone steps leading up to the house. He began barking orders as soon as he stepped inside. At first he was met by cold resistance, until the staff figured out what it was he was doing. Then there was a flurry of activity as everyone stumbled over themselves to provide him what information they could.

“I called a car for her to drive her into town,” one of the maids offered.

When the driver was summoned, he said he’d driven her to the small airport and carried her single bag inside.

Frustrated, Piers took the car to the airport to question the ticket agent, but not even the Anetakis name was able to yield him any results. No one would tell him what if any flight Jewel took—or to where.

Kirk.

The name shot back through his memory. Of course. She had often gone back to Kirk’s apartment when she needed a place to stay. Surely that’s where she would go. She seemed to trust this fellow, and there was genuine affection and concern between them.

He looked down in disgust. He couldn’t go anywhere looking as he did right now. He’d likely be arrested for vagrancy.

On his way back to the house, he phoned his pilot and instructed him to be fueled and ready to depart within the hour.

He was going to find Jewel and bring her and their child back where they belonged. Home.

Nineteen

P iers stood outside the San Francisco apartment and knocked. A few moments later, the door opened, but it wasn’t Jewel who stared back at him. It was Kirk.

“Is Jewel here?” Piers asked stiffly.

Kirk’s eyes narrowed. “Why would she be here? Why isn’t she with you?”

Piers closed his eyes. “I had hoped she’d come here. Do you have any idea where else she might go?” It galled him to ask for this man’s help, but to find Jewel, he’d do anything.

“You better come in and tell me what the hell is going on,” Kirk said.

Piers followed him inside and the two sat down in the living room.

“Spill it,” Kirk said.

“I said some terrible things to her,” Piers admitted. “I wasn’t thinking straight. I was angry and I lashed out.”

“About?”

Knowing he needed this man’s help, Piers poured out the entire story from start to finish. Maybe if he seemed remorseful enough, Kirk wouldn’t think he was a total bastard and give him any information he had on Jewel.

“You are a first-class jerk, aren’t you? Jewel wouldn’t lie about something like that. Did she ever tell you about her childhood? I’m guessing not or you wouldn’t have shoveled that horse manure at her.”