“What’s over there, boy? Don’t go boring through that hedge, now. Don’t get me in trouble.” He was still laughing when he heard the clang of the garden gate and heavy footsteps coming up the pathway. He wasn’t surprised. Trevor was a big guy and he wasn’t known for moving softly. “Well, that took you long enough,” he called out even before he saw his friend. “How long does it take a guy to grab a six-pack and head back? Jeez, you must have gone and brewed the damn thing yourself.”
“Nope,” he heard Trevor say even before he turned the corner into the back yard. “I went and got myself a lovely lady instead.”
Ransom couldn’t help but snort. “Yeah, right.”
He was still grinning as he turned in the direction of Trevor’s voice but his heart did a double-take when he saw that his friend had been telling the truth. Right by his side was the beauty who had been on his mind ever since she’d threatened him with an enema. And now, when he least expected it, she was here…and she was not looking happy.
God, what now?
“Ransom,” Trevor said as he came to a halt before him, “this is your neighbor, Miss Soledad Felix.”
“I know that,” Ransom growled, annoyed. What did Trevor think he was? Daft?
He cleared his frown as he turned his attention on his unexpected but certainly not unwelcome visitor. “Hello, Nurse Felix. Solie. How are you?” He knew he sounded stiff but that was his best attempt at courtesy.
She gave him a cool stare. “The question is, how are you? I heard you’ve been having headaches.”
Ransom raised his eyebrows. “You did, did you?”
“I did, and that’s not good. Have you been to your primary care physician since the accident?”
Ransom turned cool eyes on Trevor but he’d turned away and was studiously examining a hibiscus just off the end of the patio. So he’d been talking. A traitor in the midst.
Ransom turned back to Solie. “As a matter of fact, I haven’t. Not necessary.”
He almost stepped back when her glacial stare suddenly turned fiery. Her brows fell and her eyes were practically shooting poison darts at him.
“What do you mean, you haven’t? When you were discharged you were specifically instructed to do a follow-up with your doctor. Why didn’t you follow instructions?” She jammed her fists on her h*ps and was looking for all the world like his battle-axe of a first grade teacher, just without the bun and the horn-rimmed glasses.
She’d surprised him with her outburst but he wasn’t about to show it. With practiced nonchalance he shrugged. “Didn’t have time.”
“Didn’t have…” She looked just about ready to haul off and slap him. “You don’t have the time for your own health? What kind of bull is that?”
That made Ransom raise his eyebrows again. A delicate flower using a word like that? But as he stared down at Solie, an amused smile tickling his lips, he had to admit…not so delicate, after all. Not when she was bold and bristling right under his nose, her eyes flashing, her full lips formed into a tempting pout, her br**sts rising and falling with every angry breath she took. She was no hothouse flower, this one. No, she was a thorn-bearing rose and all he wanted to do right then and there was kiss her till she shed those thorns and unfolded her soft petals so he could sink deep into…
“Listen,” she said, shattering his reverie and dragging him back to reality, “you have to take your injury seriously. You can’t be shrugging this off like nothing happened. You were seriously hurt and you need to be under your doctor’s care. And,” to his surprise she reached out and clasped a soft hand around his upper arm, “you need to rest.” With that she pulled forcefully and turned him around to face the patio door. “Now, in you go.”
Ransom almost laughed. Instead, he stared down at the slender creature intent on bullying him back to health. Who did she think she was? Florence Nightingale?
“Come on. In.” She was tugging at his arm, trying to get him to step forward.
Of course, he didn’t budge. He just stood there looking down at her, waiting to see what she would do.
Not surprisingly, she glared up at him. “Move, will you?”
He gave her a slow smile. “And what if I don’t?” he asked, his voice a soft whisper.
Solie’s lips tightened and her eyes narrowed. “Don’t play with me. I know the ER doctor who saw you in the hospital. I can speak to her about having you readmitted…” her gaze turned threatening “…into my care. And you’d better avoid that at all costs…if you know what’s good for you.”
Solie released his arm and with her hands she mimicked the preparation of a syringe with pointy needle.
Ransom’s eyes narrowed as he watched her. “You wouldn’t.”
She stared boldly at him, her eyes direct and full of challenge. “Try me.”
He scowled some more but that seemed to have little effect on his tormentor. He glanced over to where Trevor stood, seeking any support he could get. Snitch that he was, the man looked away.
Ransom drew in his breath then slowly let it out. There was nothing to do but comply. He knew when he was beat. He started walking…
…but not before shooting another parting glare at his friend. Now his nosy, domineering…and sexy…neighbor was all up in his business.
What the hell had Trevor gotten him into?
CHAPTER SEVEN
Solie dried the cup and put it away in the cupboard overhead then she turned back to the island in the middle of kitchen and gathered up the boxes of tea and the sugar bowl. It had been almost a week since she’d muscled her way into Ransom Kent’s life – the health side of it, anyway – and she was getting to know her way around the house. She’d just fixed him a cup of tea and made him lie down in the den. It was November and the evenings were beginning to grow cool. He’d wanted to stay on the patio but the last thing he needed was a head cold on top of his concussion. She’d ordered him inside and he hadn’t been pleased…not that it bothered her in the least.