A Woman To Blame Read Online Free PDF Page B

planning committee, I know you'll do Pappy proud as you always do. He's told me you've worked with subcontractors and cranky clients. Considering your successful business, it's obvious you have the organizational skills. Coupled with your charm, I don't see any problems."
    Pretending to scan the paint job on the wall behind her, Rick wasn't missing a blink in Bryn's worried expression. Was she thinking of a way to stay off the committee or a way to get on it?
    "Charity committees are different, Liza. I'd be working with nonprofessionals." She shook her head. "I really don't think I ought to get involved."
    Smiling at Rick, the older woman wiggled her index finger. "Is this the same young woman who, minutes ago, was shouting something about how much she cared for Malabar Key and its people?"
    "Well, yes—" Bryn began, tugging at the strands of hair falling onto her forehead.
    "And the same young woman gasping from the image of her grandfather being transported to the hospital in the back of a pickup truck?"
    Bryn nodded.
    Liza threw up her hands. "Then I know I can count on you to do a great job heading the committee."
    "Heading the committee? Oh, Liza, I just can't see how I could handle that along with everything else."
    Rick pressed his lips together to suppress the snicker he knew was coming. Watching Bryn trying to politely sidestep the older woman's request was giving him tremendous satisfaction. But it was short-lived and hollow once he realized that he'd sized up Bryn perfectly after all. Although she was concerned about her grandfather, she was like so many other outsiders. She would stick around long enough to stir things up, then she would head on out the moment her restaurant experiment failed. The important issues, like the need for a new ambulance, paled next to her cloth party hats and new paint job. Her shallowness set his teeth on edge. Where was her Mary Sunshine demeanor now?
    "Everyone talks about helping, but when it's time to do something," Liza said, her words beginning to echo Rick's opinion of Bryn. "I don't know..." Her voice trailed off in tones of well-practiced, sympathy-provoking despair.
    Having exhausted all her reasons for not heading the committee, Bryn slid her gaze toward Rick.
    She couldn't figure out what was more upsetting, his smug I-told-you-so smile or her growing guilt about attempting to talk her way out of the committee. Damn him. It was none of Rick Parrish's concern that she was exploring the possibility of moving her business and herself to the Keys. Because of her extended visit, she was learning about the business climate there. A number of places needed design services, and there had to be dozens more she hadn't yet discovered. Since her established clients were scattered across the country, she could base her operation anywhere. And there were other incentives for moving that she couldn't ignore. Truth was, those unfinished issues between her and her grandfather kept tugging at her heart now that she was near him. But Rick Parrish didn't need to know any of that. What he needed was to wipe that supercilious expression from his face. And she wanted to be the one to do it for him. The more she looked at Rick, the more she felt challenged to immediate action.
    "Forgive me, Liza. You're right," Bryn said, nodding. "Too many people talk about how they care for their community, but when it comes to the hard work, most aren't there for it. Rick agrees with me. Passionately."
    "That's true," he said, staring hard at her. "A person could drown in the rush of soapbox sentiments flooding this place."
    "Right again... Captain," Bryn said, wrapping her voice in innocent enthusiasm. While he had been busily restating his opinion of her, she was happily sharpening her own barbed comeback. "Everything you said in the kitchen makes perfect sense. People should get involved more. I'd be honored to head the committee."
    Liza's hands went to her hips. "Now, that's simply wonderf—"
    "Under one