“Bran hasn’t come barging in demanding we protect Harper from you so either he’s not watching you or, if he is, you haven’t slept with his sister.”
Dammit. He had a point. Still, it was none of Archer’s business. “That’s out of line.”
“Is it?” He gave me a serious stare. “Look. I don’t care what you do in your private life, but I have to wonder if fatherhood is addling your brain or you’re missing your old life to think Bran and Harper would plant cameras and bugs to get you to do a photoshoot.”
“I told you that was bullshit.” Fuck. He was making me sound like I’d lost my mind.
“Or to buy your company. Bran can be a prick, but he doesn’t break the law. You know that. You saw the background check we did on him when he first hired us. He could be ruthless and conniving, but he didn’t commit any crimes. Unless of course, you and Harper—”
“Shut up about her.” I snapped. Next to me Mo flinched and then he wailed. Fuck. I picked him up. “Sorry Little Man.”
Archer stood. “I’m sorry if I stepped out of line. But something has got your boxers in a bunch, and I suspect it’s a woman. That’s not a bad thing, Noel.”
“I can’t trust her.” I managed to stand while holding Mo.
“I suspect she feels the same way about you. How much do you want to bet she thinks Bran hired you to watch over her?”
She had accused me of that initially. But then she told me she confronted Bran and now knew he’d had other motives. Was that true?
“He didn’t hire me. I told her that.”
“And maybe she’s not working with Bran to con you into whatever. If you like her, you have to build trust, man.”
I put Mo over my shoulder and patted his back. “I never said I liked her.”
“Yeah, well, you didn’t have to. If it was just sex, you wouldn’t be acting like this. I’ll show myself out.”
I was glad Mo was upset as it gave me something else to think about other than the possibility that I’d misread Harper’s phone call. I knew it was only a matter of time though. I’d probably spend all night thinking about Harper and if I’d fucked up something that could have potentially been good.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
Harper
As if my life couldn't get any worse, I woke up the next morning with some sort of stomach bug, puking my guts out. Lucky for me, I didn't have a job or life, so I just climbed back into bed.
Maybe I was sick because of how despondent I felt about Noel's treatment of me. Or maybe my illness was making me too weak to fight my feelings. Stupid emotions? Why did I like this guy when we’d never gotten along?
By late morning my stomach had settled, but I called Bran and told him I wouldn’t be by today, but I’d try to go tomorrow.
After my call, I had some toast and then I put my swimsuit on and walked down to the beach thinking a quick dip in the ocean would be refreshing. While the cold water soothed away some of the funk I was in, it didn't completely wash away the foolishness I felt at having fallen for Noel.
I loved my house and this location, but I wasn't sure if I could continue to live next door to him with this constant bickering back and forth.
Then again if he succeeded in convincing Mo's mother to join him here, there wouldn't be any more back-and-forth. But then I'd have to watch him being happy with another woman. I knew having his mother around would be good for Mo and for that I was happy, but that didn't mean I wasn’t jealous that she would get something from Noel that I couldn't.
I exited the water, not wanting to go back up to the house yet, so I lay down on my towel, soaking up the sun's rays. I don't know how long I lay there when a shadow cast over me, startling me. I sat up to find Noel with Mo strapped to his chest, sitting next to me.
My heart thundered in my chest as hope bloomed that he was here to apologize. The intelligent part of me told it to settle down. I'd been on this roller coaster ride long enough to know that even if Noel said something nice that it wouldn't be long before we were at odds again. This time when it happened, I'd make sure it didn’t happen right after having sex.
"It's not safe to swim in the ocean by yourself."
I shook my head and lay back down. "What do you care?"
"Would you care if I was swimming alone in the ocean?"
What the hell? Was he digging for something? Why? I’d told him I was interested in him yesterday. He was the one who was an ass about it.
"Yeah, Noel, I would have cared. I told you as much yesterday just before you threw me out of your house.” I shielded my eyes with my hand so I could see his reaction.