The Billionaire Next Door (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection) (12 page)

How could it, when Raul was still in the picture?

As she pulled her hair up into a ponytail she grimaced. 
Best to focus on her work and forget about men and all the issues that came
with them.  The last thing she needed in her life right then was stress.

When Solie got to work that morning it was to see a
smiling Dominic at the front desk.

“How’s my girl this morning?  Doin’ good?”  He looked
like he was about to come from around the counter to hug her.  He was already
holding out his arms.

Solie held up a hand to stop him.  Did she need to be
part of a hug fest right there in the lobby?  Not today.

“Thanks, Dominic.  I’m good.  Just gearing up for a busy
day.”  She kept walking but she satisfied him with a wave.  “Talk to you later,
okay?”

If Solie had wished for a day that would make her forget
her man troubles this was definitely it.  Hectic did not begin to describe what
was going on at the hospital.  Today she was in E.R. and, like a curse, it was
as if all the kids in Fort Lauderdale decided to come down with the stomach flu
– on the same day.  And then, to her dismay, they seemed to be seeing more
traffic accident victims than usual.  She’d already had to deal with a broken
arm, a broken leg, lacerations to the face and two broken ribs.  Thank God none
of the injuries had been life threatening.  It was quite unusual and the only
conclusion she could make was that it had to do with the rain that had been
falling since the night before.  There was a tropical storm out on the ocean. 
She was sure of it.

The next day wasn’t much better where flu patients were
concerned but by her third work day things began to slow down and Solie found
herself able to catch her breath in between patients.  Next day would be even
better.  Her shift would end at three o’clock and she would have the rest of
the afternoon to do her thing.  It was about time.  And she knew exactly what
she would do, too.  She would get out of the house and get herself to The
Galleria Mall.  She hadn’t been there in a while.  With a demanding job like
hers, who had time?

She would probably do more window-shopping than actual
shopping but it didn’t matter.  At least she’d be out of the house and besides,
The Galleria had some great restaurants.  Tomorrow was one day she would most
certainly not be in the kitchen.

Wednesday came around and Solie packed up early as
planned.  What was not in the plan was for Ransom to call her as soon as she
parked her car and walked in the door.

“Perfect timing,” he said in that so familiar baritone. 
“Want to come over?”

That caught her off guard.  “Come over for what?”

He laughed.  “To see me, of course.  Or,” his voice
turned suggestive, “do you want me to come over there?”

“Neither.”  She blurted the word out as a flash of apprehension
ripped through her.  She'd already decided that this thing between her and
Ransom, it would not work.  She wanted to do nothing to encourage it, not until
she’d cleared the skeleton that had come to occupy her closet.  “I’m busy.”

“Oh.”  She could hear the disappointment in his voice. 
“I thought you were done work for the day.”

“I…am.  But I’ve got other things to do.”

“Oh.”

There was that ‘oh’ again, a mixture of disappointment
and…was that annoyance?  She’d better be hearing wrong because what right did
he have to be annoyed?

“I’m sorry,” he said, immediately dousing her spark of
anger.  “I guess I was looking forward to seeing you again, just a little bit
too much.  If you’re busy, you’re busy.  We’ll connect another time.”  There
was a pause and then he said, “Enjoy the rest of your afternoon.”

That was his way of saying goodbye.  He would be hanging
up the phone in another second.  She had to stop him before he cut off the
call.  “Wait.”  She couldn’t say why but she just knew she didn’t want the
conversation to end like that.

Damn.  Why was she so wishy-washy?  She knew it was
better that she let him go but she couldn’t.  “I was…planning to go to The
Galleria but it can wait till later.”  There.  She’d done it.  She’d gone and
complicated things just when she’d successfully avoided him for almost four
days.

“I’ve got a better idea,” he said, his voice turning
cheerful.  “Why don’t I take you to the mall?  I took the day off so if you
want me, I’m all yours.”

Solie’s heart did a hop, skip and, as if that weren’t
enough, a little jump, too.  A man, and not just any man, Ransom Kent, offering
to take her shopping, the bane of men across America?  He must be the one man
in a million who would do that.

And then to say, I’m all yours?

“Yes,” she said before she had time to think.  “I’d like
that.  I can be ready in an hour.  Is that good?”

“Perfect. Just make sure you don’t eat anything.  I’ll
take you to The Capital Grille when we get there.”

Solie knew this was probably not the wisest decision
she’d ever made but as she slid into her skinny jeans and threw on her
embroidered peasant blouse she was feeling bubbly, which was not a word anyone
would normally use to describe her. When she heard the doorbell chime she was
smiling and she was ready.

She was halfway to the door when her pace slowed and her
smile dissolved.  God forbid but what if, when she opened the door, it was
Raul.  It wasn’t as if something like that hadn’t happened before.  Stealthily
she crept up, shifted the curtain ever so slightly and peered through the
window.

She released her breath when she saw Ransom standing on
the porch.  She grabbed her purse from the hallway table and opened the door to
him.  “I love a man who doesn’t keep me waiting.”  She gave him a mischievous
grin, pulled the door shut behind her and sauntered ahead of him to the
low-lying Mustang parked behind her Honda.

When Solie glanced back Ransom still stood there
watching her then, smiling, he shook his head and followed her to the car. 

That afternoon at the Galleria Solie had more fun than
she’d had in a long time.  It was a different kind of fun than going to the
movies with a couple of friends.  This time she was in the company of a man who
made her body tingle every time he touched her.  And the way he looked at her
made her temperature rise…in a good way.

The more time she spent with him the more she saw of his
complex personality.  When they’d first met she’d classified him as nothing but
a bully.  Then she’d seen he could have weaknesses then she’d learned that he
could be a friend.  Now she was seeing a whole new side of him.  They’d walked
the mall together and the whole time he’d been more than solicitous. The man
had even sat patiently outside the changing room in Banana Republic while she
tried on boot-cut jeans and tops.  What better sign did anyone need that this
man was a keeper?

And then, to her surprise, he’d offered to pay for the
stuff. 

“No, thank you,” she said firmly and pushed his hand
away as he reached for the outfits.  “You’ve done enough.  All that food I ate
in The Capital Grille must have left a serious dent in your wallet.”  She gave
him a smile to soften her rejection.  “But thank you.  You’re very kind.”

Her smile widened as she turned away and headed for the
cashier.  It was just too funny, listening to him grumble about ‘independent
women’.

Later, after grabbing some sweet treats from Godiva
Chocolatier, they made their leisurely way home.  By that time it was way past
dusk and the stars were out and blinking like tiny fireflies in the heavens. 

When Ransom pulled into her driveway Solie gave a soft,
satisfied sigh.  “I had a wonderful time,” she said as she turned to look at
him.  “Thank you.”

“No," he said.  “Thank you.”  Then he jerked his
head toward the bags in the back seat.  “You’ve got quite a bit of stuff back
there.  Let me help you with them.”

He didn’t let her carry a single one.  As they walked to
her door all she had was the handbag hanging from her shoulder.

When they got to the porch Solie turned to Ransom.  It
was time to say goodbye.  But how could she?  She didn’t want this relaxed,
beautiful time with Ransom to end.

Drawing in a deep breath she let it out slowly.  She had
to make a decision, and fast.  She could either be a wimp and scurry away into
the safety of the house or she could be strong and just go for what she
wanted.  In the end the decision wasn’t that hard.  “Would you like to come in
for a drink,” she asked.  “Or coffee, if you prefer?”

Ransom cocked an eyebrow then he gave her a crooked
smile.  “Are you sure?”

“Why?” she asked, her tone full of challenge.  “Should I
be scared?”

His smile deepened, making a dimple form in his left
cheek.  Why hadn’t she noticed that before now?  “Maybe,” he said as he gave
her a wicked grin.  “You can’t be too careful.”

Solie only shook her head and turned to open the door. 
“At least get rid of those bags.  You’ve been lugging them around all day for
me.”  She pushed the door open, flipped on the hallway light and held it wide
so Ransom and her assortment of bags could get through the front entrance.

“Come on in,” she said.  “Don’t be shy.”  She was all
bravado, showing an easy smile and relaxed stance when inside she was coiled as
tight as a spring…but Ransom didn’t have to know that.  All he would see was a
super-confident woman who had not a fear in the world.

And the fact that, as he passed by her heart did a
double-take, was absolutely none of his business. 

***

At Solie’s invitation Ransom stepped inside, bags in
hand.  When she stood there, still clutching the doorknob, he gave her a
quizzical look.  She’d sounded totally at ease when she invited him in but now
she was just standing there, watching him, a tiny smile on her lips and an uncertain
look – half welcoming, half worried – in her eyes.

“What should I do with these?” he asked, lifting the
bags.

“I’ll…take them,” she said and cleared her throat.  She
held out both hands for the bags then she smiled.  “I’ll get rid of them.  Just
make yourself comfortable in the living room.”

As she disappeared down the hallway, bags in hand,
Ransom watched her with lazy eyes then sauntered into the living room where he
did what she’d instructed.  He made himself comfortable on the chenille sofa,
leaning against the cushiony back, his legs thrust out before him.  It had been
a heck of a rough day.

Ransom grinned to himself as he thought about it.  He
was a real sucker for punishment.  If he’d been smart he would have kept his
big mouth shut.  But no, he had to go and offer to take her shopping, at the
mall, no less – the place where you’d find almost a hundred stores under one
roof.  The ultimate male nightmare.

But he’d wanted to impress her.  He’d wanted to seem like
he was above that common male phobia.  More than that, he’d wanted to spend
time with her. 

So he was going soft on his neighbor.  It looked like he
wasn’t going to be able to help that.  Not that he wanted to.  She was growing
on him with each passing day.  She’d gone from cantankerous busybody to friend
to way more than that within a matter of months.

And now, with what he was feeling for her, he wanted it
to go even further.  She’d let him kiss her once.  Tonight he wanted more of
the same.

Within minutes Solie was back and offering him a drink.

“I’ll take the wine cooler,” he said and felt a tickle
of amusement when she lifted her brows.  Obviously, she’d expected him to go
for beer but tonight he wanted no distractions.

When she got back, the chilled bottles and glasses on a
tray, Solie headed for the armchair across from Ransom but he was having none
of that.  She’d already demonstrated that she was not the shy type and he was
more than willing to hold her to that standard.

And he knew exactly what would work to get her right
where he wanted her.

“I have a dare for you.”  He was watching her closely as
she rested the tray on the coffee table and picked up a bottle.  She looked
like she was about to pour but she stopped, his statement drawing the expected
reaction.  Surprise.

“A dare?  To do what?”  She tilted her head, giving him
a look of suspicion. 

“Don’t worry,” he said, his expression bland and his
voice mild.  “It won’t be illegal but it might be…dangerous.”

That got her attention, big time.  Her brows flew up and
the hand with the bottle she was holding trembled…just a little, but enough so
he could see he’d made quite the impact.

“Dangerous,” she said softly.  “How dangerous?”

Ransom didn’t answer.  Instead, he took the bottle from
her hand, making sure to brush the tips of his fingers against her palm.  Ignoring
the glass he put the bottle to his lips and took a swig, his eyes never leaving
hers.

Then, when he was sure he’d made her wait long enough,
stoking the embers of her curiosity, he traced his tongue over his bottom lip,
catching a stray drop of the peach-flavored liquid.  “Very dangerous,” he
whispered and reached out to rest the bottle back on the tray.