The Billionaire Next Door (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection) (20 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY

"Talk about a man crying like a baby.  That's how it
usually goes with bullies.  All bravado and no backbone."  Solie was
cracking up as she described the blubbering mess that was Raul when the police
took him in for questioning.

“So how’d you get him to come back?”  Kyra asked, in between
guffaws.

“Oh, he was more than willing to come to my house.  I
just promised him I’d have a surprise for him.”  She chuckled.  “This was after
I told him his kiss stole my breath away.”

Dominic frowned.  “But why invite him back to your
place?  I thought you wanted to avoid the man.”

“Weren’t you listening?”  Kyra scowled at him.

“Shh.  Leave him alone.”  Solie gave Dominic a patient
smile.  “It was the police who came up with that plan.  They knew it would be hard
to track Raul down so they decided to make things a whole lot easier by
bringing him to us.”

Dominic cocked an eyebrow.  “Makes sense.”

“Of course it did.  What did you expect?”  The look Kyra
gave him said he was way too slow. 

Solie smiled and shook her head.  Poor Dominic.  "Anyway,
guys, I’ve got to go.  Ransom’s picking me up in an hour.  He’s taking me to
pick out my engagement ring.”

“Woohoo.  You go, girl.”  Kyra put her hand up for a
high five and Dominic, not to be outdone, hopped up from his chair and leaned
over the reception counter to do the same.

Solie was in high spirits when Ransom pulled into her
driveway.  She hopped into his car and leaned over to kiss him on the lips.

“You look delicious today.”  He smiled as his eyes
roamed over her, taking in the frilly white blouse that fell off one shoulder
and the hip-hugging navy blue skirt with the cute slit just above her knee.

“Aah,” she said, dropping her gaze and playing bashful,
“I bet you say that to all the girls.”

He laughed then put the car in drive and headed out for
downtown Miami.  A half hour later they were in Freddy’s Jewelry and Solie was
gazing, wide-eyed, at diamond rings in a variety of shapes and sizes.

“They’re so beautiful,” she whispered reverently.  “I’ve
never owned a real diamond before.”

Ransom laughed.  “I’m only too happy to remedy that. 
Which one do you like?”

She drew in her breath and let it out in a frustrated
sigh.  “I don’t know.  They’re all so…sparkly.  You choose.”

            Ransom
gave her an indulgent smile.  “What about this heart-shaped one?”  Then he
shook his head.  “Too big for your slender finger.”  Then he pointed to a
marquise one glittering on its bed of black velvet.  “Perfect.”     
            “Excellent choice,” the associate said as he drew the ring from its
secure chamber so Solie could try it on.  Of course he would say that.  She
could imagine the hefty commission he’d be collecting since the ring Ransom had
selected looked like it was the most expensive one in the store.

And it was indeed perfect.  When Ransom slid it onto her
finger it fit so perfectly that she wondered if he’d had it custom-made.  She
gave him a suspicious glance.  She would not put it past him.  He could be
devious sometimes but always in a good way.

Solie smiled, her eyes filling with sudden tears.  It
was really happening.  She was one step closer to marrying Ransom Kent.

And then, as if it wasn’t bad enough that she was having
a sudden attack of emotion, Ransom went and did the unexpected.

Right there in front of the store manager, the
associates and all the shoppers milling around Ransom went down on one knee,
took her hand then gazed up into her eyes.

“Now that there’s nothing hanging over your head I want
to ask you one more time, Solie Felix.”  He lifted the hand that now wore his
engagement ring and kissed it before looking back at her.  “Will you marry me?”

Okay, so he was determined to reduce her to a blubbering
mess.  Her face crumpled as she stared down at him.  “Yes,” she said, her voice
breaking as she began to cry.  “Ask me a million times and my answer will
always be yes.”

And as their spectators burst into wild applause Ransom
rose to his feet, pulled Solie into his arms and gave her a kiss that sealed
her fate forever.

From this day forward she would be none other’s but
Ransom Kent’s. 

EPILOGUE

“Gimme an R.”

“R.”

“Gimme an A.”

“A.”

Solie grinned as Trevor hopped back and forth, leading
the cheer for Ransom.  He’d already done Solie’s name so this was the second
round.

“Gimme an N.”

“
Ay, nina
, you have made me a proud
madre
.” 
Ignoring the cheers, Niurka pulled her daughter over to the rose bushes a
little distance away from the celebration.  “I knew that one day you would find
a good man.”

“
Gracias, Mamita
.”  Solie squeezed her mother’s
hand.  “He is good.  And the rest of his family, they’re really nice.  They all
welcomed me.”  Solie smiled as her gaze drifted over to where Ransom’s brothers
Rafe, Ridge and Ryder stood around him, laughing and shouting just as loud as
anyone else.

“I was talking with the mother and she’s a wonderful
woman.  No airs, no nothing.  When she saw me she gave me a big hug.”  Niurka’s
eyes were wide like she was still in shock that she’d been so warmly received.

“That’s how they all are,” Solie said, happy that her
mother was happy.  “Now let’s get back to the party before they hunt us down.” 
She shooed her mother back to where her sisters lounged in wicker chairs on the
back patio.

It was a lovely spring evening, perfect for the
engagement party Ransom had organized in his own backyard.  Just like they’d
done for New Year's Eve they kept it simple, ignoring all suggestions for a
grand affair.  Instead, they invited family and close friends to a gathering in
the back yard.

“I’ve got the gazebo,” Ransom said.  “Why not make full
use of it?”

And so they did.  And, as far as Solie was concerned, it
was the best engagement party a girl could ever have.

“Where’s my wife-to-be?”

Solie snapped out of her reverie when Ransom’s voice
boomed over the whoops and calls.

“I’m right here.”  She waved her hand then ran over to
stand by his side.

“Two of Solie’s good friends just told me they have a
special surprise for her.”

At Ransom’s words Solie gave him a quizzical look then
her gaze flew to where Kyra and Dominic stood by the backyard pond, grinning
and waving.

Solie frowned.  The fact that those two were involved
was more than enough cause for worry.

She turned back to Ransom.  “What surprise?”

“Your friends wanted to take the occasion to tell you that
you've become their inspiration.  They have an announcement to make."

Solie whipped back round to glare at Kyra and Dominic
who were walking toward her.  What kind of announcement were they going to make
now?  If they were planning to reveal any of her embarrassing moments from work
she would kill them.

In three seconds they were standing in front of her and
that was when she saw that Kyra had tears in her eyes.

"Solie, thank you for being so brave and fighting
for the love of your life.  I will always be grateful to you for showing me
what a difference love can make."  Kyra reached out and took Solie's
hand.  "All this time I've had someone trying to get close and all this
time I've put up a fight.  But not anymore."

She reached out with her other hand and clasped
Dominic's hand with her own, her lips curling in a tremulous smile as she
turned to gaze up at him.  "It's time we tell her, don't you think,
honey?"  Then she turned her happy face back to Solie.  "Dominic
asked me to marry him and I said yes."

Solie gasped, her eyes wide, as she stared open-mouthed
at one then the other.  "Are you serious?  Is this a joke?"  She
wouldn't put anything past these two trouble-makers, especially Kyra.

Dominic laughed.  "No, Solie, it's all true.  I've
been pursuing this girl for ages and she's finally made me the happiest man in
the world.   And it's all because of you.  Thank you."  And then he leaned
forward and on her forehead he gave her a gentle kiss of gratitude.

And that was when the back yard erupted in whoops and
cheers...and if there was a grumpy neighbor who couldn't deal with a whole lot
of noise coming from next door, Ransom would soon have a bulldog jumping onto a
rock, peering over the hedge and shouting to him to keep it down.

Luckily, that neighbor was already in his back yard and was
even a part of the commotion.  There would be no complaints today.

THE
END

Thank you for reading
‘The Billionaire Next Door’.  I sincerely appreciate your support and hope you
enjoyed the read.  If you liked this story I would appreciate your leaving a
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BAD
BOY BILLIONAIRES

Judy
Angelo

Volume
1 -
Tamed
by the Billionaire

Volume
2 -
Maid
in the USA

Volume
3 -
Billionaire's
Island Bride

Volume
4 -
Dangerous
Deception

Volume
5 -
To
Tame a Tycoon

Volume
6 -
Sweet
Seduction

Volume
7 -
Daddy
by December

Volume
8 -
To
Catch a Man (in 30 Days or Less)

Volume 9 –
Bedding Her Billionaire Boss

Volume 10 -
Her Indecent Proposal

Volume 11 -
So Much Trouble When She Walked In

Volume 12 –
Married by Midnight

Volume 13 -
The Billionaire Next Door

BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Coll. I - Vols. 1 - 4

BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Coll. II - Vols. 5 - 8

BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Double Coll. - Vols. 1 - 8

BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Coll. III - Vols. 9 - 12

The
NAUGHTY AND NICE Series

Volume
1
-
Naughty
by Nature

COMING SOON

Volume
14 – Billionaire’s Blackmail Wife

Volume
15 - Rome for Always

MEET
THE BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES

FROM
VOLS. 1 - 8 (Double Collection)

TAMED BY THE BILLIONAIRE - Vol. 1

Roman Steele
- The business tycoon who has the daunting task of taming the spoiled princess.

MAID IN THE U.S.A. -Vol. 2

Pierce D'Amato
- The software billionaire who thinks he's in control but instead
finds himself at the mercy of an angelic four year old and a dark-eyed French
beauty who steals his heart.

BILLIONAIRE'S ISLAND BRIDE - Vol. 3

Dare DeSouza
- The owner of a line of Caribbean resorts who tries to teach our beloved
heroine a lesson she'll never forget...but then ends up learning the greatest
lesson of his life.

DANGEROUS DECEPTION - Vol. 4

Storm Hunter
- He loves motorcycles, fast cars and now he's got to add one more item to his
list of loves: Danielle Swift.  Dani has a charm he tries to resist but this
committed bachelor is no match for this bold and independent woman who's like
none he's met before.

TO TAME A TYCOON - Vol. 5

Enrico Megalos
- A shipping tycoon with a big problem but one which 'lion tamer',
Asia Miller, is determined to fix.