Driven to Distraction (Silhouette Desire S.) Read Online Free Page A

mirrors are okay, right?”
    Just then there was a stir out in the hall. Both women glanced up expectantly. Suzy whispered, “They say Perry always makes this grand entrance, like, ‘Tah-dah, here I am, folks, in all my glory!’”
    â€œYou don’t sound too impressed. Why’d you sign up for his workshop?”
    â€œBecause it was either that or spend another summer working for Daddy in his lumberyard. He’s been trying for years to get me interested in taking over the office, but I ask you—a lumberyard?”
    â€œI know what you mean. My father sells insurance and I’m his only offspring. I’m not about to follow in his footsteps, though.” Not that he’d ever asked her to.
    â€œI guess not, when you’re already a journalist.”
    â€œA columnist,” Maggie said modestly. Her gaze strayed again to the other side of the dining room, where tall, dark and delicious was frowning. And wouldn’t you know it? The man even had a gorgeous frown. Move over, Hugh Jackman. Not for the first time, Maggie told herself that Ben Hunter could easily become a major distraction if she allowed herself to be distracted.
    Service was slow. Maggie said, “After seeing the rest of the accommodations I’m surprised we weren’t asked to serve ourselves.”
    â€œThat starts tomorrow. First night’s supposed to be special because not everyone gets here in time to pitch in. Didn’t you read the fine print in the brochure?”
    Maggie had a tendency to skim over fine print. Besides, she’d been too busy studying the picture of Perry the Silver-plated Paragon. “Only enough to know that one week cost an arm and a leg, and you have to bring your own art supplies and linens.”
    A grim-faced woman slapped two cups of coffee onto the table. Maggie had wanted iced tea, but she wasn’t about to make waves, not on the first night.
    Suzy murmured, “Judging from the stir out in the hall, I think you-know-who’s about to make his entrance. If you’ve never seen him before, don’t be taken in by his looks.”
    â€œYou’ve met him?”
    â€œHe came to our house once last spring trying to get my father to donate a prize.”
    â€œA prize for what?”
    â€œYou know—different businesses donate prize money for the advertising. The more prizes, the more entries—the more entries, the more entry fees are collected and the more our guy Perry takes home after expenses. He’s a genius when it comes to boosting sponsors.”
    Which was precisely how he had come to meet Mary Rose, Maggie reminded herself. “Sounds like you’re not exactly his biggest fan. You sure you wouldn’t rather work for your father?”
    â€œNo way. I give him two weeks every summer while his secretary goes to Myrtle Beach, but that’s it. You don’t meet guys like Texas in a lumberyard office.” She nodded toward the table where Ben Hunter was seated and smacked her lips. “I wonder what he’s doing here.”
    â€œSame thing we are. Trying to learn how to paint.”
    â€œUh-uh. I bet he’s ATF. I’ve heard there’s still some white liquor being produced around here.”
    â€œAlcohol, tobacco and firearms? How is studying art supposed to help him locate a hidden still?” Maggie sipped her coffee. It was cold and weak.
    â€œWho knows? Maybe he just needed an excuse to hang around in the area. There’s nothing much around these parts but this place, and you know what? I wouldn’t be surprised if whoever built the place back in the twenties made his fortune in moonshine whiskey.” Elbows on the table, Suzy was getting into the conspiracy thing.
    â€œMaybe, but who makes the stuff anymore when you can buy whiskey in any ABC store?”
    â€œWhite lightning, my de-ah, is an acquired taste. Once you’ve acquired it, Jack Daniel’s pales by