Blueprint for Love by Chanta Jefferson Rand Page A

blinded
by your beauty he can’t think logically.”
    “ And you’re not blinded by
my beauty?”
    He chuckled. “Not blinded. Just slightly
sight impaired.”
    She shook her head and laughed.
    They wandered to an empty corner on the
boat’s upper deck where they shared a plate of ribs and two glasses
of iced tea. A brilliant red sunset reflected off the ocean’s
shimmering surface. The boat remained docked, but the backdrop was
still spectacular. Vic enjoyed the way the sun highlighted Ronnie’s
reddish-brown hair.
    The woman was gorgeous. No wonder Allen was
sniffing at her skirts like a rabid dog.
    The two of them sat on one of the boat’s
built-in benches and talked business for a while. After Vic updated
her on the progress at the site, they watched the sun dip low on
the horizon and finally transform into the dark purples of
dusk.
    Ronnie drained her glass of iced tea. “I
need something stronger than this,” she announced.
    Vic wasn’t much of a drinker. Living with an
alcoholic mother who’d wrecked her marriage was a strong deterrent
against liquor. But he would get Ronnie whatever she wanted from
the open bar downstairs. “What did you have in mind?” he asked.
    Her pretty brown eyes lit up.
“Chocolate.”
    His deep chuckle mingled with her
light-hearted giggle. He stood and grabbed her hand. “That’s one
request I believe I can fulfill.”
     
     
    Ronnie wasn’t sure what it was about Vic
that pulled her like a moth to a flame. Maybe it was the unspoken
edge he had to his personality. The fact that he had the chiseled
body of a Greek god didn’t hurt either. They slipped, unnoticed,
off Gabe’s boat and walked along the pier where vendors sold
everything from tourist souvenirs to food.
    They held hands. His palm felt good against
hers.
    They looked like a couple on vacation. She,
in her blue sundress. Him, dressed in khaki cargo shorts and a navy
blue t-shirt. The tan sandals he wore cradled his long toes. He had
great calves.
    Just once, Ronnie wanted to let her hair
down and relax. Stop going through analysis paralysis with every
situation. At this moment, there was no work to worry about. No
crises to be averted. No child to take care of—Jovan was with the
babysitter.
    It was time for her to indulge in some
much-needed recreation.
    “ Look.” Vic pointed to a
brightly painted ice cream truck in the distance. “Seems like your
wish has been granted.”
    It looked as though the vendor was closing
up shop, so Vic dashed to the truck. By the time Ronnie got there,
he’d ordered a scoop of chocolate ice cream for her and two scoops
of strawberry for him.
    “ Hey, why do you get two
scoops, but I only get one?” she teased.
    Vic handed the cone to her. “’Cause I’m a
big guy,” he said. “And I doubt you’re hungrier than me.”
    She played along, licking the ice cream
seductively. “I don’t know about that,” she bantered. “I’m pretty
ravenous right now.”
    A wicked grin spread across his face. “Well,
I’ll have to make sure to satisfy all your cravings.”
    The ice cream was cold, but the warmth in
Vic’s gaze was hot enough to melt her panties.
    “ Why do I get the feeling
we’re not talking about ice cream anymore?” she asked.
    Vic’s masculine laughter filled the air.
    “ Let’s sit over there,”
Ronnie suggested, pointing to a nearby bench.
    It was a beautiful night. The dark sky was
peppered with brilliant stars. She rarely got a chance to sit and
look at the stars. She sat in companionable silence with Vic. A
hint of his cologne teased her nostrils. God, he was such an Alpha
male.
    Looked virile.
    Smelled manly.
    Talked with confidence.
    The more she hung around Vic, the more
reasons she found to like him.
    “ Umm,” Vic practically
groaned. “This is so good.”
    “ Oh, yeah,” Ronnie agreed.
“The best things in life are usually sweet and simple.”
    “ Can’t argue with
that.”
    He took a huge bite of his strawberry cone,
tackling it like a