A Woman To Blame Read Online Free Page A

brings prosperity—"
    "That remark just goes to show how little you know about this community. If people were interested in that kind of prosperity, they'd have sold their land to developers long before now."
    "What is it specifically that bothers you about my changes?"
    Rick shook his head. "Can't you see? You're setting up a situation here that Pappy won't be able to handle. He's an old man. He and his staff can boil crabs, tap a keg, and shoot the breeze. And that's about it, Bryn. Don't you care that you're going to set up this place, then leave him with more than he can handle?"
    He'd sneered at her plans. He'd insulted her common sense. He'd even managed to steer her thoughts close to libidinous mutiny. But he wasn't going to get away with questioning her love for her grandfather.
    "I would never do that to that dear man. I love him too much to ever allow such a catastrophe to happen."
    "I'm not saying you don't love Pappy. You're simply not thinking this through from his angle." Pointing at her, he said, "And don't tell me you care about Malabar Key or its people, because you've already proved to me that you know nothing about them. There's a way of life here worth maintaining, Bryn. What you've got in mind will only disrupt it, and your venture will fail."
    "Rick, we're only talking about a restaurant."
    "No," he said, turning in frustration to slam his palm on the wall. "You're talking about a restaurant; I'm talking about a community institution. Pappy's Crab Shack is... is..." His words trailed off as he plowed his fingers through his hair, then reached for the edge of the block again.
    He glared at her and failed to contain a low growl. And she glared back, certain that her eyelashes must be on fire. Rick Parrish was the most stubborn, most guarded, and most gorgeous man she'd ever met. And for any and all of those reasons, she wasn't giving in or giving up. Not now. Not later.
    Tapping her nails on the wood surface, she slowly shook her head. "I still think there's something else you're not telling me. Besides your concern for Pappy and your devotion to the people of Malabar Key, what really bothers you about this?"
    "What are you talking about?" he asked, eyeing her closely.
    She started to circle him. As he turned his head to follow her with his eyes, Bryn watched his light brown hair play against his collar. When she was behind him, he gave up trying to look at her and took a deep breath instead. She was surprised that he held it so long. She sensed Rick Parrish wasn't the type to turn his back on many people. He most likely took things head on, yet she had managed to provoke him to a tense silence.
    He continued holding his rigid posture, keeping the fabric of his shirt taut over his shoulder blades. The message he wanted to convey was lost in the truth she saw before her: Rick Parrish needed touching. The knowledge streaked through her like a tiny lightning bolt. But she wasn't going to touch him. She wasn't going to run her hands over the masculine delta of his back or trace the contours of his spine with her fingertips. Or her mouth. She felt for the back of her earring, pinching it hard enough to make an indentation on her thumb. Rubbing the mark, she silently applauded herself for removing the treacherous idea. She'd spent too many years building her professional reputation to commit such a rash act with a stranger. Walking around to the other side of him, she stayed close enough to see the muscles begin twitching in his jaw again.
    "Rick, are there personal reasons—" She left off in midsentence when he jerked his head in her direction. Suddenly he was in charge of the moment, holding her in his dead-on gaze.
    If he kept on staring like that, she would most definitely have to touch him to prevent herself from keeling against him. All five feet seven inches of her vibrating female form against his six-feet-plus wall of stubborn masculinity. And he would have to catch her in his arms, but he couldn't do