For just a second Solie hesitated but then the tension in her shoulders relaxed and the worry on her face gave way to a half smile. “I still don’t know if I should believe you. You and Kyra probably linked up to prank me, but if what you’re saying has an ounce of truth to it, you know what the worst part is?”
Relieved she was smiling again, Ransom smiled back and shrugged. “What?”
“I’ve got to pay Kyra a hundred dollars.” And with that, Solie gave a dramatic groan.
Ransom could only laugh. Thank God she had a sense of humor.
His fingers tightened around hers. “Now that we’ve put that behind us I’d like to get back to my question.”
“Oh, yeah. Right. I cut you off, didn’t I?” She gave him an apologetic smile. “Sorry. What did you want to ask me?”
Ransom wanted to do this right. He was even contemplating going down on one knee but after the near-disaster that had just been averted the sensible plan of action might be to just get it out.
“Solie,” he said, “I want you to look me in the eyes.” When he was satisfied he had one hundred percent of her attention he began. “I think you know how important you are to me.”
“I do?” Her eyes widened, full of wonder, as she spoke in a breathless whisper.
Ransom frowned. “You should. How many times have I said…” He paused, his voice trailing off into nothingness. Dammit. He’d never said it. He’d been loving this woman all this time and never once had he come out and said so.
Time to get his act together. He’d messed up and now he had to make good. Real good.
Ransom got up and walked around the table to take Solie by the hands. Still looking bemused she got up and stood before him, her fingers trembling as she held his hand.
Ransom gave her a reassuring smile but when he spoke his voice was solemn. “Solie, I want you to know that I love you, more than you could ever know. I don’t want to live a day without you in my life.” He folded her hands in his and pressed their clasped hands to his heart. “Soledad Felix, will you be my wife?”
Solie gasped and when her eyes met his they were wide and shimmering. “I’m sorry,” she said on a hiccup. “Did you…just ask me to marry you?”
Ransom released her but only to cup her face in his hands. “I did, my sweetheart. I know this is sudden but I want you to be with me forever. I can’t be happy until I know you’re mine. I love you, Solie. Will you accept me as your husband?”
Solie bit her lip. She shook her head. She sniffed then grimaced then her lips began to tremble. And then, looking like the words were trapped in her throat, she nodded. “Yes,” she croaked. “I’ll marry you. I love you, Ransom Kent.”
“My darling.” Ransom drew her into his arms and then he kissed her and with his kiss he told her all that he hadn’t said before. He loved her with all of his heart and from here on she would have no doubt about that. When Ransom finally withdrew he found he had to turn away for a quick second. There was a sudden pricking in the corner of his left eye, forcing him to blink.
Solie took his arm, pulling on it till he turned back to face her. Her brows were knitted but there was a huge grin on her face. “Are you crying?”
“Who, me? Naah. Men aren’t sappy like that.” But then he spoiled it when he sniffed.
Accepting defeat, he reached for her and pulled her back into his arms. “You got me, kid. I’m going soft, but only for you.”
He was hugging her close when he felt the vibration in his trouser pocket. "Shoot. I thought I turned that off.”
He released Solie then dug the phone out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. An unknown number. Never one to ignore a call just in case of emergency, Ransom tapped the answer button and put the phone to his ear. “Ransom here.”
“This is Raul. Let me speak to Soledad.” It was the harsh, thickly accented voice of a man.
Shocked, Ransom didn’t even challenge the request. He handed the phone to Soledad. “It’s for you,” he said. "Raul.”
Solie gasped and her eyes grew huge in her face. Her hand that was holding the phone began to tremble. She stared at the device like it was a live grenade.
What the devil was going on?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“H…hello?” Solie’s voice shook as she spoke into the phone, her face flushed and her chest heaving in her agitation. “Raul?”
She listened for a few seconds and then her face grew an even deeper shade of red. “No, I can’t do that,” she said. “I-” She stopped abruptly like the man had cut her off.
Something was definitely wrong. Ransom put out his hand. “Give me the phone,” he said. “Let me talk to this guy. Is he harassing you?”
“No, I…” Solie looked distressed but she shook her head and actually moved away, far enough where he couldn’t hear. Her back turned to him, he could see her shake her head again and her shoulders went rigid but she obviously didn’t want him to be a part of her conversation.
A minute later she hung up then turned to him, a look of regret in her eyes. And there was something else. Was it fear?
She came back to stand in front of him. Looking nervous she lifted the phone in her hand. “I’m sorry,” she said softly then waited for him to take the phone.
Ransom stared at her for a few seconds longer before he lifted the phone from her palm. He looked at the offending device in his hand then slowly slid it back into his pocket.
When he looked back at her he was frowning. “What was that all about?” he asked. “And who the blazes is Raul?”
“He’s…um…someone I knew back in Panama.”
Solie was stuttering. He could see she was lying through her teeth. She was looking him right in the face and telling him a friggin’ lie.
Ransom felt the bile rise in his throat. What the hell was she hiding? “How did he get my number? Did you give it to him?”