I studied the text thinking I was a putz starting with Mo. Still, she’d be more likely to read a text about him than me. Mo started crying, so I put my phone back in my pocket and made him a bottle.
I promised Mo I wouldn’t check my phone until he was fed. It was a hard promise to keep. Had Harper read my message? Was she open to hearing my excuse for running off?
When Mo burped, I couldn’t wait any longer. I pulled my phone from my pocket, noting a text notification. My heart jumped.
I looked at the message, but it wasn’t from Harper. It was from Dax.
Can’t call. H. Erickson is here looking for Lupe. She’s asking questions about you. She hasn’t seen me. Should I drag her home? La Pireta is back and I’m on the verge of something big.
My blood went cold. Harper went to Mexico? She’s asking questions? Why? What did she hope to learn? I didn’t have answers, but I couldn’t help but feel duped.
All her words about wanting a relationship were lies. It was an excuse to continue to gather intel for her brother. And I knew it wasn’t for some stupid modeling job.
“Fuck!”
Mo startled and cried.
“I’m sorry, Little Man.” I cradled him. I was an idiot to think a woman like Harper would truly be into a man like me. I had way too much baggage. Hell, even Mo didn’t like me at times. I wasn’t a warm fuzzy guy. For a few hours, I’d forgotten that.
Finally, I texted back.
I’ll drag her home. You stay hidden.
I wasn’t sure what Lupe and her man would do if Dax connected with Harper. How did Harper even know about Lupe?
You sure?
I quickly typed back:Yes. In fact, it’s time you returned.
If you’re coming down, meet me at Cantina Azteca.
I didn’t want to meet him. I wanted to snatch Harper and get her safely back over the border, give her a piece of my mind, and then forget her. But Dax was down there because of me. I agreed to the place and time. Then I called Archer.
“I need to go out of town.”
“I thought you were already out of town.”
Archer had to think I was the oddest person he’d ever met. “I returned today, but I have to leave again. I can’t take Mo with me. Any chance you could watch him. It will be a day or two.”
“Absolutely. Emery will love practicing being a big sister.” He paused. “Is something wrong?”
“Harper went to Mexico. She’s asking questions.”
When he didn’t say anything, I got the feeling he knew something.
“Did you know about this?”
“No. But Lane said a man approached Harper at lunch about you. He told her if she wanted information to go to Mexico. When I asked if there was a chance she’d follow through, Lane told me that Harper had more important things to worry about than you.”
Ouch. And yet. She did go. But it wasn’t for me. It was about me.
“Idiot!”
“Hey, that’s my wife.”
“I’m not talking about your wife. I’m talking about me.” I ran my fingers through my hair wondering how I’d been wrong about Harper. No, not wrong. I’d been suspicious from the start, but my idiot heart did me wrong.
“What’s going on between you two?”