Blueprint for Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

focused
on the road. It wouldn’t do them any good if he ran into a ditch or
hit something and ended up getting a flat tire too. The Ice Queen
would not like that one bit.
    He glanced in his mirror again, just in time
to see Ronnie pull the shimmery dress over her head.
    “ No peeking!” she
ordered.
    He chuckled. She was damn pleasing on the
eyes. But what a snarky personality. She was obviously used to
giving orders, and used to being obeyed. Just like she’d expected
him to drive her to her event. Worse yet, she’d given no thought to
what he might do to her. After all, he was an ex-con—even if it was
for something that wasn’t entirely his fault. But Ronnie didn’t
know that. Five years ago, he’d let his anger get the best of him.
He’d learned from it and nowadays, he took a deep breath,
regrouped, and let things slide off his back like water on a
duck.
    Ronnie glared at him as she yanked on the
side zipper of her dress.
    “ I’m not a serial killer
or anything,” he said.
    “ I didn’t say
that.”
    “ You were thinking
it.”
    “ Good thing we don’t get
in trouble for our thoughts.”
    He shook his head. “Woman, has anybody ever
told you that you’re too uptight?”
    “ Sure, but nobody that I
took seriously. Slackers who can’t live up to life’s
challenges.”
    “ Let me guess. You’re
divorced. Husband left you for a younger woman?”
    “ Widowed. Husband died
defending our country.”
    “ Sorry.”
    Now, he felt like a shit. There were rare
occasions when he put his size-twelve foot in his big mouth. This
was one of them. Vic thought he saw a fleeting look of regret cross
Ronnie’s face, but he couldn’t be sure in the dim light.
    He changed the subject, eager to lighten the
mood. “What would you have done if you’d lost the coin toss?” he
asked.
    “ I knew you would take me
anyway. You wouldn’t leave a woman stranded. You seem like a decent
guy.”
    Oh, no. He was not letting her off the hook
with that remark. “If I’m so decent, why’d you treat me like stink
on a pig in your office?”
    She shook her head. “I treat all sexists
that way. Plus, you acted like you didn’t want to shake my hand.
Was it because I’m a woman?”
    “ God, no!” He smirked at
the ridiculousness of her question. “I’m a firm believer in girl
power. In fact, I’m pro-female. I have a strong grip. I didn’t want
to hurt you.”
    “ Hah! Trust me, it would
take a lot more than a concrete handshake to hurt me. Take the next
exit,” she ordered.
    “ Can I tell you something
without you biting my head off?”
    “ I get the feeling if I
say no, you’re going to tell me anyway.”
    “ You’re too hard on
people. Or maybe you’re just too hard on men.”
    “ I’m raising a young man
myself.”
    “ I hope you’re not raising
him to be a hard ass, too.”
    She puckered her full lips. “Mr. Romano,
you’re certainly not endearing yourself to me. First, you call me
an Ice Queen. Then, you question my child rearing skills.”
    “ My apologies. I have a
bad habit of speaking my mind. Bluntness can be both a blessing and
a curse.”
    “ Just put the pedal to the
metal, buddy. I’ve got less than ten minutes to get there or I’m
going to be late.”
    “ God forbid you should
miss out on all the fun.”
    “ This is far from fun. In
fact, I consider it work.”
    “ So, what do you do for
fun? Or are you too busy working to have fun?”
    She looked insulted as he eyed her through
the rearview. “I have fun. Why does everyone think I don’t have
fun?”
    “ Okay, so I’ll repeat.
What’s your idea of fun? Probably color coordinating all the
clothes in your closet.” He snickered at his own remark.
    “ I’ll have you know, I am
very fun!” she insisted. “I do fun stuff all the time,
dammit.”
    “ Such as?”
    “ Such as…I don’t have to
explain myself to you.”
    “ So then, just as I
suspected. Ms. Jones does not have fun.”
    She let out a frustrated breath. “If