Free The Billionaire Next Door (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection) by Judy Angelo

confused.  “You’ve really
got a man?  And I don’t know about it?  How is that possible?”
    Solie rolled her eyes again.  “No, I don’t ‘got’ a man. 
Not really.”  She bit her lip, feeling stupid.  The fact was, she didn’t have a
man at all.  Who was she fooling?  But she had to give them something, anything
to get them off her back.  “I…don’t have anyone but there’s this guy I met…he’s
tall with dark hair and he’s got the most intense deep brown eyes you ever
saw…”
    “Woohoo, your kind of guy.  Tall, dark and mysterious.” 
Jen was practically hopping in her excitement.  “Who is he?  Do you have a
photo?  Give me your cell phone so I can see your pictures.”
    Kyra gave her a scorching look.  “Calm down, Jen.  Let
the girl speak.”
    Solie shrugged.  “That’s it.”
    “That’s it?”  Kyra looked disappointed.  “You can’t just
leave us hanging like this.  Where did you meet?  When did you start dating?”
    “We aren’t dating.”  Solie shook her head in
exasperation.  “Weren’t you listening?  I said I don’t have a man.  I just have
a…guy I sort of like.”  Then she paused and a naughty grin tickled her lips. 
“I think he…sort of likes me, too.”
    “Aaw, that's so sweet.  They’re in 'like' with each
other.”  Jen gave her an indulgent smile. 
    Instead of smiling Kyra gave her a look of concern. 
“That’s great but, come to think of it, are you sure you’re ready for this?”  
    Her words made Solie’s heart tighten.  She knew exactly
what Kyra meant.  Her friend had been there for her when she’d been devastated
by Raul’s betrayal.  She knew Kyra didn’t want to see her get hurt again.
    But why did she have to bring him up, just when she was
beginning to lose herself in the fantasy of Ransom Kent?  Kyra’s question was
all it took to bring her back to earth with a bump.
    And with her return to land came that low feeling in the
pit of her stomach, that heavy feeling of dread every time she thought of Raul. 
She knew what he was capable of and she would do everything in her power to
stay as far away from him as possible.
    Her mood changed, she just wanted to get away.  She
pulled out a pair of latex gloves and slapped them against her palm.  “I’ll
talk to you guys later,” she said, her voice cool.  “Right now I’ve got to get
back to work.”
    Before either of the ladies could argue Solie stepped
past them and headed off down the hallway.  Just for a little while she needed
to be alone.
    She needed to process the thought that had just crept
into her mind…a depressing thought because, she realized, as long as Raul was
stalking her there was no way she could bring Ransom Kent into the picture.
     
    CHAPTER NINE
     
    December nine.  Five whole days since she’d last seen
Ransom.  Solie rested her chin in her palm and stared out the bedroom window,
out into the backyard and across the hedge that separated her yard from his.
    Ay, Dios .  What
was happening to her?  Here she was, moping like a love-sick child, all because
her neighbor had gone about his business and hadn’t made it a point to get in
touch with her…as if she had any right to expect that.  How pathetic could you
get?
    As she sat there staring at the leaves of the mango tree
shaking in the evening breeze Solie knew she was in trouble.  Within a couple
of months of meeting Ransom she’d gone from ignoring him to not liking him to
resenting him, to being totally pissed with him.
    Until she got to know him better.
    Then over the last several weeks she’d been his nurse
then his bully, making sure he took his meds, then his food supplier and then,
before she realized what was happening, she’d become his friend.
    And now she was being forced to admit that what she’d
begun to feel for him was way past what you should feel for your ‘friend’.  God
help her.
    Solie put a finger to her lips then pulled it back when
she realized