Their Independent Bride Part 17

"No, baby. I hadn't told you because I had convinced myself that I wasn't going to fall in love with you. I didn't think I had the ability to love someone so different from what I was used to."

"And I wasn't conforming to your idea of a dream wife."

Janet swallowed hard around the knot forming in her throat and sinking to join her heart in her stomach. What if he woke up from feeling guilty about her getting hurt to realize he really didn't love her? What would happen then? She couldn't change who she was, and he obviously had different views on marriage than she did.

"Love doesn't know boundaries, Janet. Just because I had always gravitated toward one type of woman didn't mean that I was going to fall in love with that kind. I fell in love with you. It's you who I can't imagine spending my life without. You are the woman who's having our baby. I want to see you grow with that child and feel it kick and wake up next to you every morning for the rest of my life."

"I don't know what to say, Greg. I don't remember how I felt about you or Steven. I remember that we had our differences, but that's about it. Maybe we just need to start over as if I'm not going to remember and go from there."

"That's a real good idea." He bent over and kissed her.

His lips sipped at hers before he ran his tongue lightly along the seam. She opened her mouth, and he ate at her hungrily before settling down to stroke her tongue with his. When he pulled back, they were both struggling to breathe. She couldn't find fault with his kiss. That was for d.a.m.n sure. If he made love the same way he kissed, well then, she wouldn't mind finding out.

"What are you guys talking about?" Steven walked in, drying his hands on his jean legs.

"Have a seat. We need to talk about how we are going to work things around here." Greg had recovered and was back to business.

"First of all. Janet and I think we should start over as far as getting to know each other. She may not ever remember anything, but if she does, then she'll have that much more information about us."

"That's a good idea."

"Janet, Steven and I have decided that from now on, someone will stay with you at all times. One of us will work and the other will be here to help you. You're going to need help this spring and summer with the baby coming."

"What about the houses? You can't stop working. What about the others?"

"We're all in agreement. With both of you pregnant, we need to be able to help you first and foremost. With winter coming up, we won't be working on the houses that much anyway. In fact, we probably won't be able to leave the house for several weeks at a time from what everyone has been telling us." Greg ran a hand up and down her arm.

"You'll get tired of us by the time spring arrives," Steven added.

"I doubt that." She wasn't sure how she felt about the fact that they were going to be with her all the time now. She felt a little like a child not being trusted to play by herself.

Yeah, look what happened when I was alone, and I don't even have a child to take care of yet.

"What are you thinking, Janet? We need to be honest with each other." Greg squeezed her hand.

"I'm just thinking that I'm not sure how I feel about one of you being around all the time. I mean, I feel almost like you don't trust me."

"Baby, it's not that."

"Not at all, love."

"We trust you, but without some help, you can't handle the garden being eight and nine months pregnant."

"Even if you could do it somehow, you don't have to. We're here to help. That's why there are two of us, baby," Greg said.

"Maybe you're right. I'm just sensitive about not being allowed to do things. I shouldn't have to have anyone's permission."

Greg looked up at the ceiling then down at where his hand held hers. She watched as a barrage of expressions flew across his face.

"The thing is, you probably feel that way because I was very stern with you on your health and safety. I didn't want anything to happen to you and thought by telling you what you could and couldn't do that I could keep you safe. I was obviously wrong."

"Maybe you weren't all the way wrong. Maybe we both need to give some. I'm not single anymore. I'm married, to two men, no less. That means that I have to take into consideration your views and needs as well as mine. I'm sure the blame isn't all yours."

Greg smiled and kissed her knuckles. "Thanks, baby."

"We thought that for the first week, I'd stay here and Greg would go to work. Then the next week we would switch. How does that sound to you?"

"When do you start that?" She really hoped she would have them both with her for a couple of days. She needed to get used to them again.

"Starts on Monday. That's two days away," Steven said.

She nodded and sighed. "I'm thinking I need a nap before we eat. Do I have time, Steven?"

"You've got plenty of time. Do you want to go upstairs or just rest down here?"

"I'm going to go upstairs. I want something really comfortable for a change. That hospital bed was awful."

"I'll walk up with you, baby." Greg stood up and held out his hands toward her.

She smiled and let him gently pull her to her feet. Then she stood there for a moment to be sure of her balance before she headed toward the stairs.

"Come get us when it's ready, Steven." Greg walked next to her as they slowly climbed the stairs.

Halfway there, she began to feel light headed. She held on to the railing with both hands. Greg's arm went around her waist.

"What is it?"

"I'm getting dizzy. I think I'm moving too fast."

"I've got you, Janet. Just relax against me." He easily picked her up and carried her the rest of the way up the stairs and into the bedroom.

Once he had laid her on the bed, he crawled up beside her and pulled her into his arms so they could sleep. Janet enjoyed the feel of him surrounding her. She felt safe and cared for. Loved? She wasn't sure how she felt about him yet, but he certainly seemed to love her. Only time would tell, and she had lots of time.

Steven finished setting the table and checked the meal one more time. It was almost time to wake them for dinner. He hoped Janet was getting some rest. She needed it after the long drive and then sitting up on the couch for nearly an hour. She had only been sitting up in bed for about eight hours now. Walking and climbing stairs had to be taxing on her strength.

He was a little jealous that Greg was getting to hold her while she slept but knew that his turn was coming. They would each have quality time with her from now on. Jealousy had no room in a menage relationship. He needed to keep that under control. Besides, Greg needed the extra time with her to convince her that he had changed where she was concerned. He didn't envy him that at all.

Checking the time, he hurried up the stairs and walked into the room to find them both sound asleep. They looked so comfortable, he hesitated at waking them. Janet needed to eat, though. She was eating for two and had a lot of making up to do. It was only stew. Still, she needed to start slow, according to the doctor.

Steven walked around to the other side of the bed and eased up on the edge of the bed to wake Janet. He didn't want to wake Greg and startle her.

"Janet, love. Time to wake up." He kissed her cheek and smiled when she hummed. He tried again.

"Wake up, Janet. Dinner is ready."

Her eyes opened just as Greg opened his.

"Everything okay?"

"Dinner is ready. I was waking Janet up. She's more fun to wake up than you are."

Greg only grinned and nuzzled Janet's neck.

"I'm awake now. You said dinner is ready? I'm hungry."

"That's great, baby. I'm going to get up. Don't let me jar you." Greg rolled out of the bed and stretched.

"You ready to get up now?"

"I better if I'm going to get something to eat. I have a feeling you guys will eat it all if I don't get my share now."

Steven winked at her. "You're right about that." He held out his arm for her to use to pull herself up.

He watched as she scooted across the bed and slowly stood up. She kept one hand on the bed as she walked around it toward the bathroom.

"Do you need help?" Steven asked.

"I think I'll be fine. I'll call out if I need help, though."

A few minutes later, she walked out and smiled at the men. He and Greg had been waiting outside the door in case she needed them. She didn't seem to mind, thank goodness. They were both being overly protective of her but couldn't help themselves. They had almost lost her.

She was able to walk all the way downstairs with only a little support toward the end. She looked tired when she sat down at the table to eat. Steven hoped they weren't letting her overdo it on her first day home. They were trying so hard not to overwhelm her with demands that they might be letting her wear herself out unnecessarily.

Both he and Greg were pleased when she managed to eat the entire bowl of stew and a slice of bread with it. Steven offered her some more, but she declined saying she was almost too full.

"Maybe I will want something later. Right now, I'm stuffed."

"You did really well, baby." Greg pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes.

"It's a little chilly in here. I think I'm going to start a fire in the fireplace." Steven finished washing the dishes and left them to dry in the drainer.

"I'll get the wood, Steven. You cooked and cleaned." Greg grabbed his coat off the rack by the back door and unlocked the door to go out.

"Be careful, Greg." Janet gave him a small smile.

Steven was glad to see that she was relaxing around the other man. The fact that she slept next to Greg said that she trusted him. That meant that underneath it all, her subconscious still remembered them. Now if her conscious mind would just wake up.

Steven took Janet's hand and led her back to the living room. He settled next to her on the couch, holding her hand in his.

"I know you don't remember, but I love you, Janet. I want you to know that I haven't stopped loving you. I'm just trying to not push you too fast."

"You're not, Steven. I know I care about you, but I don't remember anything more than that. I can't believe we didn't love each other, but I can't remember." She dropped her head against the back of the couch.

"Easy, love. You'll hurt your cut. It has to be sore. You just got the st.i.tches taken out."

"You're right. It didn't feel too good to do that. I forgot about the cut on the back of my head for a minute there. I won't forget that again anytime soon."

"Let me look and be sure you didn't hurt anything."

Greg walked in with an armful of wood.

"Didn't hurt what?"

"She b.u.mped her head against the back of the couch. I'm going to be sure she didn't do any harm to the incision."

"Baby, you've got to be careful with your head. It can't take much more abuse."

"Funny, Greg."

"Looks okay back here." Steven let go of her head and kissed her nose. "Just don't do that again."

"I won't." Her face turned a cute pink as she blushed.

Steven watched her as she watched Greg build the fire. She obviously appreciated the way he was built, but she seemed to be looking at more than his physique. She seemed to be looking at how he moved as well. He couldn't help but wonder if she looked at him the same way.

"Scoot over, you two." Greg had finished building the fire and was waiting for them to give him room to join them.

Steven moved over with Janet scooting next to him. When Greg sat down, she giggled and pulled out from between them enough that she could breathe.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sit on you." Greg moved closer to the end of the couch to give her more s.p.a.ce.

"I can't believe how tired I am. I already had a couple of naps today. I shouldn't be this tired."

"Baby, you're pregnant and you've been sick. You haven't had time to get over everything, yet. Give yourself some time."

"You know, while we were in the city, I should have gotten some books on babies and pregnancy. I have the standard handouts they gave us on the shuttle over here, but I think I need more information." Janet looked from him to Greg.

"Don't worry. I got some books while you were in the doctor's office. I put them in the office until you felt like looking at them." Greg smiled at her.

Steven was glad he had been thinking. All he had been thinking about was her waking up again. It was good that Greg was such a stickler for detail. If it had been left up to him, he would have never thought about baby books.

"Oh, that's great, Greg. I want to see them tomorrow when I get back up. I think I'm too sleepy right now to concentrate. Maybe I'll just close my eyes for a few minutes."

Steven pulled her head toward his shoulder and smoothed her hair out of her eyes. Greg picked her legs up and carefully turned her so that she was lying between them. They exchanged a smile when she sighed and promptly fell asleep.

"She's really okay, right?" Steven asked.

"Yeah, she's going to be fine. She just needs rest and some TLC. We're going to give her plenty of both."

Steven watched her sleep for the next thirty minutes while he and Greg discussed the logistics of keeping her happy and safe at the same time. Then Greg stood up and took Janet upstairs while he locked everything up for the night. Climbing into bed next to her after so many nights watching her lying unconscious at the doctor's was like coming home. He didn't ever want to go through that again.

Chapter Eighteen.