And then Noel and Mo disappeared? Had Noel gone down to retrieve her himself? Had he decided he and Mo could live in Mexico?
I swallowed and turned away as I realized that all the explanations meant Noel was gone from me. The thought of it was difficult enough, but now that I was pregnant, the realization was devastating.
I knew how Noel was with Mo, and so I had to believe he’d want to know about this baby. At the same time, if he was working things out with Mo’s mother, another woman and her child would get in the way of that.
“Honey?” Anne put her hand on my shoulder. “Are you alright?”
I nodded more by rote than actually feeling alright.
“What are you going to do?” Anne sat down next to me.
I couldn’t make any decisions without knowing what the hell was going on. That meant I had to go to Mexico. I had to find out the truth about Noel. Hell, perhaps when I went to the address of the man’s friend, I’d find Noel and Mo living happily ever after with the woman.
I closed my eyes, hating the vision of Noel with another woman. But she was the mother of his child, so it made sense they’d be together.
Our child was conceived in overwhelming passion that had nothing to do with love.
Maybe Noel had thought they were over when he hooked up with me. He’d asked her to come here, but at the time, it appeared she’d declined. But now something had changed, and I couldn’t compete with this other woman.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
Noel
Mo reverted to the constant unhappy state he was in when he first came to live with me. I haven’t been Mr. Jovial either and it wasn’t because of Mo’s fussiness. I missed Harper.
It shocked me just how much her absence was impacting me. I hadn’t felt such soul deep emotions since losing Bastion. The woman I’d tried to keep at a distance was deeply ingrained in my heart. I couldn’t explain it, but I wasn’t going to fight it. Not anymore.
Two days into our trip, I packed up Mo and my bags and headed home. It could be dangerous, but I’d hire security men and talk to Dax to see if Lupe’s man had returned. I wouldn’t confront Lupe, but I’d hunt her down and let her know that Mo was fully protected. It would either comfort her, or would warn her on the off chance she was up to no good.
We arrived home late in the afternoon and I immediately went to Harper’s house.
“Come on, Little Man. Let’s see our woman.” I knocked on her door and my heart was doing weird fluttering in anticipation of seeing her again. It was disquieting even as it was exciting. All I wanted to do was take Harper in my arms and never let her go.
I knew I’d need to be more forthcoming about my past and in particular Mo’s mother, but for once, I didn’t feel the need to withhold the information. Maybe it was silly, dangerous even, to open my heart like that.
I believed it when Harper said she wanted to see where things between us would go, but that didn’t mean she felt as intensely for me as I clearly did for her. Hell, she’d probably be pissed at me for disappearing for a day. I’d been so tired and later caught up in caring for Mo, I hadn’t reached out to let her know I’d left town.
As I practiced what I’d say, I realized the door wasn’t opening. I checked the garage. Her car was there.
Fuck. She probably was mad. “Come on, Mo. Let’s find another way and while we’re at it, I could use some of your charm.”
We returned home and I headed out back through my gate and then using skills I’d developed as a mercenary, I managed to get her gate open and entered her yard.
Mo whimpered.
“It’s okay. She won’t be mad at you.” I patted his back. He rested his head on my chest. I leaned down, kissing his head, more eager than I remembered ever being about anything to start a life with Harper.
I made it to her terrace and peered into her living area. The home was dark and quiet.
I rapped on the French door. “Harper?” A tingle of worry crept up my back. “Listen, I know you’re pissed, but answer the door so I at least know you’re alright.”
Ten minutes later, there was no sign of Harper. I returned home feeling unsettled. Had my absence put Lupe’s man’s attention on Harper? I shook my head. There was no reason for Lupe to know about Harper and if she did, she wouldn’t care, would she?
It was more likely that Harper was pissed at me and decided to pay me back by pulling the same stunt I had on her.
I pulled out my phone. I dialed her number, but it went to voicemail. If she was avoiding my call, she wouldn’t like to listen to a message. But she’d have a harder time not seeing a text.
Mo misses you. I do too. Sorry I was MIA. Let me explain. Call me.