“Nothing, apparently.”
“But you wanted something.”
I hated feeling like a stupid putz. “It’s not important.”
“A broken heart is always important. Listen, I was a SEAL. I knew the meaning of pain, physically and mentally, but it wasn’t until Lane that I learned emotional pain is worse.”
“I find that hard to believe considering you’re living a fucking fairy tale.”
“Have you ever read a fairy tale? There’s a lot of anguish before the happily ever after. Maybe that’s what this is for you.”
“Doubt it.” It occurred to me that leaving Mo with Archer and his family could put them in danger. “Hey, are you sure it’s okay to bring Mo? I have suspicions about Lupe too.”
“Of course.”
“I don’t want to put your family in cartel crosshairs.”
“I owe you, Noel. You were there to rescue Lane from Kerby. She and I are both in your debt. Besides, I know some security people.”
I laughed. As a former SEAL, I knew Archer could take care of protecting Mo. My only concern had been for his wife and daughter. The selfish father in me though had to concede that Archer was the best person to care for Mo because of his skills and of course, he had a team of security experts working for him.
“Thank you. I can have Mo to you in an hour. I appreciate it. I suppose I should warn you, he can get fussy.”
“No worries. It will be good practice for me.”
Once I dropped Mo off with Archer and Lane, my mind went back into mercenary mode. I’d have thought I’d be rusty, but by the time I’d arrived in Mexico, I’d found what flight Harper had taken down and what hotel and room she was in.
Not wanting to give Harper advance notice that I was there, I snatched a master key from housekeeping and entered her room. She stood on the balcony and for a moment, the vision of her with the moonlight cascading over her took my breath away. But no. I couldn’t let her addle my brain anymore.
She sighed, turning to enter the hotel room. She stopped short when she saw me.
She didn’t look afraid or even mad. “Noel. How did you know I was here? How did you get into my room?”
“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me, Harper. A lot of things you don’t want to know.” I meant my words to scare her or at the very least to recognize I wasn’t fucking around. She could play her games back in Los Angeles, but not here. Not when danger surrounded questions about me here in Mexico. God, did she know she was trying to meet with leaders of a drug cartel?
“I don’t know anything because you don’t share with me. I do want to know about you.”
Perhaps I should have told her about Lupe’s cartel connections. Maybe she wouldn’t have come. But I didn’t feel guilty. My business was my business. Harper had no right to poke around it. She said she wanted to know, but I wasn’t fooled. She only wanted to know information she could use about me or even against me.
I steeled myself against her words. “What sort of game are you playing here, Harper?” I stepped forward, gripping her arms, only then noting that it wasn’t wise to touch her when my entire body was swallowed up with yearning for her.
She stared up at me defiantly, an expression I’d once found alluring, exciting. “It’s not a game.”
“You and your stunts. They can get you killed.”
“I’m here to find out the truth about you, Noel.”
“You’re a petulant child. Not a very bright one at that.”
She flinched, her expression looking like I’d punched her in the gut. I was being an asshole, but I had to be if I was going to get her out of here with my heart intact.
“It’s hard to be bright when everyone around me, from my brother to you, keeps me in the dark.” She tried to pull away, but I couldn’t let her go.
I held on tighter. “You put yourself in danger by coming down here to play Nancy Drew Detective. And because of it, I had to find someone to watch my son, Mo, so I could fly down here and drag you back home to safety.”
She jerked again, this time freeing herself. “I’m not going with you. I finally freed myself from my brother’s controlling ways. I’ll be damned if I’ll let you take his place.”
“Fuck.” Being compared to her brother pissed me off. She probably knew that. And Jesus fuck, how could I be simultaneously pissed and want to drop to my knees to beg her to be with me. I jammed my fists on my hips, glaring at her. “I’m tired of this back and forth between us, Harper. It’s giving me fucking whiplash. I came down here for you.”