Anne and Lane exchanged another look.
“What is that about?” I snapped. “Can’t you just be happy for me?”
Our server arrived and we ordered drinks. Because my stomach was still a little uneasy, I ordered sparkling water.
“We are.” Anne put her hand on my forearm. “Really. It’s just that you had so many concerns especially since he’s so closed off. Does this mean he’s opened up?”
I opened my menu feeling annoyed at my friends’ response as well as knowing they were right. Noel had opened up about his intentions with me, but he was still tight lipped about his life and especially Mo’s mother.
“We made a start,” I grumbled. “I’m sure you still don’t know everything about your men.”
“We know the important things,” Lane said.
I glared at them. “It’s been one day.” I gave Anne a hard stare. “You were fucking my brother and agreeing to carry his child while you hated him. And you,” I turned on Lane, “You were fucking the father of your child when he had no clue he was a father.”
“Yowza.” Kate’s eyes widened.
Inwardly I groaned that I’d lost my temper. “Sorry, I just—”
“No, you’re right.” Anne gave me a sheepish smile.
“I’m sorry. There’s just so much unknown about Noel. Even Archer sometimes wonders about him. I don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all,” Lane said.
Our drinks were delivered, and I took a long sip of my water as I gathered my thoughts. Before I could say anything, a man approached the table. Despite the expensive tailored suit, there was a raw dangerous energy about him. Or maybe it was the scar and the patch that made him look so lethal.
"Excuse me for interrupting," he said. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation and wondered if you were talking about Noel St. Martin?"
What the hell? "I'm not sure this is any concern of yours.”
He held his hands up in surrender and attempted a more affable smile. "Of course. It's just that…" He stood quiet for a minute as if he was searching for the right words. "It's just that Mr. St. Martin is a man of many secrets. He’s not the man you think he is, and I would hate for a beautiful woman such as yourself to end up in danger because of him."
"What do you know about Noel?" Lane asked, concerned, lacing her eyes.
Although part of her worry was probably for me, I suspect another part of her was concerned about whether or not her husband was working with the wrong sort of man.
"We know Noel's history," I said. Maybe we didn’t know the nitty gritty details, but we knew the basics. The man had once been a mercenary, which meant he’d been involved in works that weren't always on the right side of the law.
"Mr. St. Martin is a friend of a friend. To be honest, she probably wouldn't like me butting my head into someone's business, especially about Noel. But I felt I had to warn you."
She?"Warn me about what?" Dammit, now I was curious.
He shook his head. "I'm speaking out of turn. I'm sorry. But if you truly want answers, you should talk to my friend. Everything that you would need to know can be answered by this person." He pulled the card out from his breast coat pocket and handed it to me. On it was an address in Mexico but no name.
I looked up at him. "I have to go to Mexico?
He nodded.
I worked through the tidbits of information I had. This man knew something about Noel because of a woman who presumably was in Mexico. I wondered if this man's friend was Mo's mother.
All the good feelings I'd had that morning about Noel and I embarking on a new relationship dissipated.
Was I a fool?
Noel and I talked about many things last night except his personal history. One thing was clear; a discussion of Mo's mother was clearly off-limits. What did that mean?
This man was suggesting that Noel was dangerous, but Mo's mother had given Mo to him. At least that's what Noel had said. Was it possible he'd taken Mo from her? Maybe he was using Mo as a pawn. I'd heard him tell the woman on the phone that she needed to come up here if she wanted to see him. Dammit, I didn't know what to think.
"You've given your warning." Anne glared at the man.