Free Arranging Love by Nina Pierce Page B

through the door Peter held open. Stepping up into the breezeway and into the kitchen seemed an almost insurmountable task. At least he’d gotten the garage door to work, and she wasn’t schlepping through the freshly fallen snow.
    Another winter storm had rolled in somewhere around midnight, accumulating several inches an hour, making the forty-minute drive from Bangor a treacherous one. Thank goodness her mother had agreed to ride back to Delmont with them. Alice was tucked in safely at home, Deirdre and Ayden at the farmhouse, and Julie and Damon, because their apartment was so close to the hospital, had agreed to take the first vigil at their father’s side.
    Absently, Meghan slipped out of her winter gear and threw it over the back of a dinette chair. Slumping into the seat, she looked like every cell of her body had been drained of energy.
    “Honey, can I get you something to eat?” Peter walked across the kitchen and stuck his head in the refrigerator. “We’ve got eggs, bagels, leftover soup.”
    “It’s three o’clock in the morning, Peter. How can you think about food?” A weak laugh escaped her lips. “I’m too tired to eat, but help yourself. I’m just going to take a shower to wash off the hospital before falling into bed.” Instead of standing, she laid her forehead on the table. “I should be able to get several hours of sleep before heading over to open the shop.”
    Peter abandoned his quest and came up behind her, rubbing at the knots in her shoulders. “I think the good citizens of Delmont would understand if you didn’t open the shop this morning. I have no doubt word has already made it around town that your father’s in the hospital.”
    Turning her head to look at him, Meghan’s eyes filled with tears. “Peter…”
    “Don’t, Meggie.” Peter knelt beside her and cupped Meghan’s face in his hands, his thumb brushing a tear from her cheek. “Your dad’s a stubborn man. He’s pulled through before, he’ll do it again.”
    “I just don’t know what I’ll do if he doesn’t.” Her voice trailed off.
    Peter pulled her into the comfort of his arms, but had no idea what to say to her. Growing up in foster homes didn’t give you the luxury of a permanent family. His only memory of his mother centered around his fourth birthday, party balloons, and a bike. Shortly after that he’d been placed in state custody. His mother had never shaken her drug addiction long enough to regain permanent custody. Though he’d always believed she would come for him, her death when he was ten sealed his fate. He’d come back to Maine in search of the happy memories of his childhood and found love in Meghan.
    “Hey, where are you?” Meghan’s fingers traced the furrow of his brow.
    “Nowhere.” He stood and pulled her with him. No sense hashing over a past he couldn’t change. “Let’s get you to bed.”
    “How about you climb in the shower with me?”
    “Meghan.” The word came out on a husky breath. As exhausted as they both were, desire sparked in her eyes, and the heat went straight to his groin. How had he ever doubted that she was enough? His lips came down softly on hers, the contact gentle but filled with unspoken hunger.
    Without a word, he took her hand and led her to the master bathroom. There would be no bondage tonight, no spanking or sex toys, just sweet caresses. As he pulled the T-shirt over her head and bent to kiss the luscious curve of her breast, he marveled at the many sexual personas of his fiancée: insatiable tigress, wanton sex-slave, and alluring angel. All his—whenever he wanted; he need only ask.
    “I love you, Meghan,” he sighed the declaration into her ear. He didn’t need to say it out loud; his hands roaming her body communicated it so much better, but the emotions bursting from his heart required a voice.
    “I love you too.” Reaching behind her, she turned on the shower.
    Peter removed her bra as her fingers deftly worked the buttons of his