He hopped off the chair and reached for his leather shoulder bag. “There’s Lyn now,” he said, looking down the hallway. “Right on time.” He stepped around the receptionist counter, looking sleek and debonair as always. “I’ll shout you guys Saturday morning. Now get back to work, you slackers.”
Before Lyn had even slid into his chair he was off, leaving all three women smiling and shaking their heads.
That Saturday Dominic called bright and early as promised and Solie spent an enjoyable afternoon in the company of two people who were lots of fun. And, just like Dominic said, it lifted her spirits tremendously.
The past several days had been rough, wanting to reach out to Ransom, knowing he was probably wondering if she’d gone batty. She’d been more than cool to him the last time they’d met but what else could she have done? How could she have given in to what she really desired with the thick, dark cloud of Raul Escobar hanging over her head? No, best to lay low and fly solo. The last thing she wanted was for her stalker to get jealous and lash out.
Right now it was just too much to think about, too much to deal with. For the moment her best strategy was to just avoid conflict at all costs.
“You’re good now?” Dominic turned away from the cashier and held out two sixteen-ounce mango smoothies to Kyra and Solie.
Solie knew the question was meant for her. “Perfect,” she said and gave him a smile so bright it would leave no doubt in his mind that the movie they’d just watched had done the trick.
“Good.” With a nod he turned and grabbed his own smoothie then, all three, they strolled through the mall as they headed back to the parking garage.
At her car Solie waved goodbye. It wasn’t late, just after eight o’clock, but as fun as it had all been it had still been a bit of a strain to keep grinning when your thoughts weren’t all happy ones. She needed to make it an early night. Sometimes the best thing you could do for yourself was carve out some alone time, time when you didn’t have to fake cheerfulness just to keep your friends happy.
As she drove home, the euphoria of the movie and friendly company behind her, try as she might she could not get Raul off her mind. The man left a bitter taste in her mouth. He’d caused her so much pain and now, just when she thought a new light was…possibly…coming into her life, he’d shown up and was threatening to snuff it out.
She was still mulling over her dilemma as she drove up the driveway and put her car in park. For a while she didn’t move, she was so lost in her dismal thoughts, but then she blinked, snapping back to the present. Time to move. She couldn’t stay in the car forever.
Sliding her hand across to the passenger’s seat she reached for purse then, with her other hand, she flipped the lock open and slid out of the car. Right then all she wanted was the comfort of her bed.
“May I walk you to the door?”
A tiny shriek ripped from her lips as she whipped round to see the tall, lean form of a man in the shadows. Raul!
She gasped and took an involuntary step backward. “Leave me alone,” she said in a fierce whisper. “Stay away from me.”
The man stopped short then cocked his head to one side as if confused. It was then, when the light from the front porch hit his face that she saw who it was.
“Ransom.” She pressed her hand to her heart and gave a breathless laugh. “Oh, my God. You scared me.”
He gave her an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you like that. I thought you’d seen me walking up the driveway.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Why would you think that?”
He shrugged. “You were sitting in the car for a while. I could have sworn you glanced up into the rear-view mirror. I even waved.”
Slowly, she shook her head again. “I guess I was too preoccupied with my thoughts. I didn’t see a thing.”
Ransom slid his hands deep into his pockets and a slow smile crept across his lips. “So what thoughts were occupying your mind so you couldn’t even see me? They must have been…sweet.”
“Not…really.” Solie grimaced. If he only knew…
“So like I said,” Ransom held out his arm, “let me walk you to the door.”
His gallant gesture surprised her but Solie didn’t hesitate. She slid her hand into the crook of his arm and smiled as he rested a big warm hand on top of hers. Then, almost as if they were a couple, they walked up to the door. There Ransom turned and, his face half-hidden in the shadows, he looked down at her as he released her hand. His eyes, now dark and mysterious, gleamed as he watched her with hooded eyes. “You know what I want to do right now, don’t you?” His voice was low, so soft, so seductive.
Solie felt a tingling shiver run up her spine. His words made her heart jerk. Was she finally going to taste his lips? But what if-
Before she could finish the thought Ransom lifted an arm and planted his palm above her head, blocking her in. Then he moved in close, so close that he’d trapped her against the wall. “You know exactly what I want,” he said in a hoarse whisper, “but do you want it, too?”
“I…” Solie’s words died in her throat. Now she knew what they meant when they said the cat got your tongue. With him so close all her thoughts fled and all she could do was revel in the nearness of him, the warmth of his body leaning over her, the woodsy fragrance of his cologne and the smoldering look of passion in his eyes.
She swallowed. Where was big, bad Solie? Ransom had her heart pounding so fast she couldn’t even think straight. But she had to say something or he might not kiss her. No way was she going to let him escape now.
She lifted her face to his. “I know what you want,” she said, her voice husky with desire, “and I want it, too.”
At her words he lowered his head and, ever so gently, he pressed his lips against hers.
As his lips moved over hers Solie moaned and leaned into him, drawing pleasure from his lips but wanting more of him, much more. She wanted his arms around her, holding her tight, crushing her against his hard body. She wanted it so much she had to clench her fists at her sides to keep from reaching out and pulling him into her.