He gave her a wry smile as he pulled back on his feelings. “See? It’s like you know me already.”
“I know nothing about you, except that you like gardening, have a baby you insist isn’t yours, and live in an amazing house.”
“It is something, isn’t it?” He took pridein that place, a home he’d bought and paid for with his own money. No handouts or charity, not since he’d turned fourteen and been recruited by the Business.
“But what about you, Noel?” She toyed with her shrimp. “What makes you tick?”
He cocked a brow. “My biological clock?”
“Very funny.” She made a face and ate in small bites. So delicate, so dainty while she shot him surreptitiousglances. She was being very careful around him, and she set off his alarm bells.
“What?” he said.
“Excuse me?”
“You want to ask me something else. You might as well.”
“I’m that obvious?” She shrugged and sighed. “Fine. Not like we can keep dancing around the baby elephant in the room.”
He rolled his eyes. “The boy isn’t mine.”
“Really? He looks like you.”
“He looks like Hammer and Deacon too.”
She frowned, then her eyes widened. “Oh my gosh. You think one ofthemis the dad?” Then she gasped. “Did you all sleep with the same woman?” She gulped. “Together?”
He felt himself flushing, calling on his control as he grit his teeth. “For your information, I do not have sex in front of other people. I’m not into threesomes or foursomes,not into men, and I don’t have unprotected sex. Therefore, that baby cannot belong to me.”
She had turned beet-red after asking her question, and now she looked mortified, which satisfied him on one level while on another endeared her to him.
Christ, even embarrassed she’s beautiful.
Be cold, man. Ice.
“I am so sorry. Sometimes my mouth runs away with me. I read a lotof romance books, so I can get carried away.” She buried her head in her hands. “I cannot believe I asked you that!”
He chuckled, which brought her face up. “You’re really red right now.”
She groaned. “I know. I’m sorry. It’s really none of my business, but I figured I’d probably never have a chance to ask you anything personal again, so I’m giving it my best shot now.”
Hefrowned. “What do you mean never have a chance to ask me things again?”
“Come on, Noel. In the two years you and I have lived next door, you’ve never wanted to be social. Now you have friends—sorry, associates—at your house and a baby, and you don’t seem to want any of them there either. The only reason we’re even out on a date is because Deacon asked me first.” She studied him. “I betyou didn’t want me asking him any questions about you, did you?” She seemed depressed, all of a sudden. “As soon as they leave, you’ll soon follow, and you and I will be back to square one.”
“You have a vivid imagination, don’t you?”
“I told you, I read a lot.” She ate in the sudden quiet, and he did his best to remain emotionally distant while he took in every detail of her in thecandlelight. “I’m just sorry we can’t be more than neighbors. But I understand, and I respect your decision to have some space. Let’s finish our meals and call it a night, okay?”
Again, another out. But some masochistic part of him refused to take it. “Over a year ago, Hammer, Deacon, and I had concluded some business in Central America. We celebrated—drinking a fewcervezas—then went ourseparate ways. We’re all dark-haired. The note left with the baby was for the father—who’d had a good time in Mexico. The mother didn’t identify herself or name the father. Well, all three of us had been down there. And Iknowthat baby can’t be mine.”
The more he said it, the more he hoped he spoke the truth. He had nothing against the kid, but Noel took his responsibilities seriously.A baby would ruin his preciously scheduled life.
“Oh.” She gave him a tentative smile. “Thanks for telling me.”
“You’re welcome.” He put down his fork and knife. “Now, since I told you something about me, you tell me something about you.”
“I already told you things about me.”
