It took several seconds before their bodies stopped quivering and then, gently, Ransom withdrew and lay on the pillows beside her. He gazed at her, his breath still shallow, his hair falling wildly over his forehead, looking so sexy that Solie fingers itched to pull his face down so she could capture his lips once again.
Before she could give in to her desire he reached out and brushed the damp tendrils from her face. “Happy New Year, honey,” he said softly. “What a way to start a brand new year.” Then he gathered her in his arms, stroking her back as she laid her cheek against his chest.
Contented, Solie drew in a deep breath, inhaling the seductive scents of sex and man. And then, remembering when he'd said she'd never need the word but finding the perfect reason to call him so, she raised her lips to his ear. “And Happy new Year to you,” she whispered, “my sweet, sexy baby.”
When Ransom chuckled and kissed the top of her head Solie snuggled into him again and as she did she whispered a prayer that the coming year would bring her even closer to this man she loved so much.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“No, the black one.”
“Are you sure?” Solie held up both dresses, the black one in her right hand and the red one in her left. “I want to look really hot tonight.”
“Trust me, in that slinky little thing, you will.” Kyra dragged the black dress from Solie’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go pay for this.”
Solie groaned as she stood there watching Kyra head for the cashier. “I don’t know,” she said, her brows knitted in a frown. “I really like this one. The color red suits me.”
With a hiss of exasperation Kyra turned and marched back to Solie and ripped the second dress from her hand. “There’s an easy fix for that, Solie. Just take both of them, why don’t you? Jeez.” And Kyra would not have been Kyra if she didn’t roll her eyes for emphasis.
Ten minutes later, the dresses paid for and their arms filled with shopping bags, Kyra and Solie headed for the parking garage where they filled Kyra’s Kia Sportage with all the elements of their shopping spree. They got in and Kyra started the engine. “I’ll take you straight home,” she said. “No more stops, I promise. You need the time to get yourself all dolled up.” Then she tilted her head, her eyes full of curiosity. “So where’re you going this time?”
“Ransom’s taking me to Barton G. in Miami Beach. Have you ever been?”
Kyra chuckled. “Me? Lord, no. You’ve got to have bucks to eat at a place like that.” Then she frowned. “Speaking of which, this guy’s been taking you to some really fancy places. I thought you said he’s in construction. How is he able to afford all this?”
“I…I guess he saves his money.” Solie sounded lame and felt even lamer. Why hadn’t she thought of that?
Kyra looked at her askance. “Yeah, right. He’d have to be a darned good saver to be able to afford all this rich stuff. Are you sure this guy’s on the up and up?”
“What do you mean?” Now it was Solie who turned narrowed eyes on her friend.
“I mean,” Kyra said, pausing as if for effect, “is the guy legit? He could be running a drug ring for all you know.”
“Of course he’s not.” Solie drew back, offended on Ransom’s behalf. “That’s a terrible thing to say.”
Kyra shrugged and put the vehicle in drive. “Just reality, sweetheart. You have to be prepared for anything these days.”
“But Ransom isn’t-”
“Ransom, Ransom. Everything Ransom.” Kyra drove out of the parking garage and onto the road. She didn’t look at Solie as she spoke. “He could be the head of the Mafia.” She shook her head and sighed. “So naïve.”
“I’m not,” Solie said, her mouth rigid. “And take back what you said about Ransom. He’s nothing at all like that.”
Kyra shrugged. “I know you like him, Sol, and I don’t want to spoil it for you but you’ve known him how long? Six months? And you still can’t tell me how he’s able to afford all these fancy restaurants? Give me his last name, Solie. Let me check him out.”
Solie gave a hiss of frustration. “I told you already, from the time we started dating. His name is Ransom Kent.”
“You told me that? I must be getting old.” Then, looking like her brain was going a mile a minute she repeated the name, rolling it off her tongue. “Ransom Kent. Cool name. Sounds sort of familiar. Ransom…” Then suddenly she stopped. As she peered down I-95 she bit her lip. When she spoke again she was frowning. “Somehow that name rings a bell. Ransom Kent. And he’s in construction?”
“Yes. Why? Is something wrong with that?” Solie frowned. If Kyra was going to knock Ransom for being a blue-collar worker she’d kill her. “What do you have against-”
“Oh, my God. Oh. My. God.” Kyra was staring straight ahead, her fingers clutching the steering wheel.
Solie jerked forward. “What? What’s the matter?”
“Ransom Kent. That name.” She slapped the steering wheel with her hand. “I knew I’d heard it before. How could I have been so dumb?”
“What are you talking about?” Solie glared at her friend. Kyra could act crazy sometimes but this time she was past weird.
“You said construction and you said Ransom Kent. There’s this big shot guy who was featured in the Chamber of Commerce newsletter. He owns a billion-dollar construction business and his name, for your information, is Ransom Kent.”
Solie’s frown deepened. “Since when do you read the Chamber of Commerce newsletter?”
Kyra shook her head. “That’s beside the point. Don’t you see? The guy you’re dating is a billionaire.”
Solie could only laugh. Kyra and her insane ideas. “Please. Ransom lives next door to me in an ordinary house in an ordinary neighborhood and he drives an ordinary car. If there’s a billionaire whose name is Ransom Kent it’s not this one.”