Arranging Love by Nina Pierce Read Free Book Online Page B

for the Dominatrix. How stupid to be emailing Crystal and searching for her in the chat rooms from his computer at home.
    He couldn’t stand it anymore. The thought of living without her in his life was eating at his soul. The guilt of keeping it from Meghan was eating at his stomach. There was no winning this battle.
    He logged into the BDSM site and found his way to the chat room.
    He searched everywhere for her, but it seemed Crystal had fallen out of touch. Even regulars to the sites didn’t know where she’d up and gone.
    * * * *
    It was nearly noon before Meghan stepped away from the discarded clippings on the floor and rolled her shoulders to loosen the knots. As much as she loved arranging flowers, seven identical bouquets did get a tad boring.
    The bells over the door chimed.
    Meghan dried her hands and hurried from the back room. A graceful woman stood near the door, her blond hair cascading to the hem of her leather bomber jacket. Excitement trembled at the corners of her smile, and she toyed with the ring on her left hand. The doe-in-the-headlights stare completed the picture of a nervous bride-to-be shopping for a florist.
    “May I help you?” Meghan smiled at the woman.
    “I’m Sarah. I’m just checking out florists within driving distance of the Bangor area.”
    “For a special occasion or simply for floral arrangements?”
    The stiletto heels of her boots clicked over the tiles as she sauntered up to the counter. “Well, I’m sort of pre-engaged, and I’m hoping to talk him into a New Year’s Day wedding. I heard Tilling Gardens and Plants did bridal bouquets.”
    “I most certainly do.” Meghan enjoyed that her reputation had grown, and along with it, her business. “May I ask who referred you?”
    “Well, not a person, exactly … well, yes, a person, but…” Embarrassment fluttered across her high cheek bones. “What I mean is, this friend doesn’t know he referred me directly.” Her hands fisted in the pockets of her tight jeans. “He’s an old schoolmate, and I understand you may know him. Peter Maddock?”
    Meghan schooled her features, trying to keep the shock of hearing Peter’s name trip off those blood red lips. “He’s my fiancé.” Meghan flashed the marquis diamond Peter had given her last spring in Paris. Territorial didn’t even begin to describe the feeling tightening Meghan’s chest. “How did you say you knew him?” She and Peter had met his senior year at the University of Maine , and Meghan was sure she would have recalled if a woman this beautiful had been an ex-girlfriend.
    Her fingers pressed the blond waves away from her face. “Oh, Peter and I went to high school together in south Philly.”
    Her bubbly laugh raked over Meghan’s nerves like fingers on a chalkboard.
    “You have a lovely shop.” Sarah played with the ornaments decorating the small tree on the counter.
    “Thank you. It’s a family business.” Meghan looked at her watch. Maybe Dee would be good to her word and show up again. Something about this woman wasn’t sitting right. “Would you like to look at floral books and perhaps get some estimates?”
    “No, thank you. I just thought I’d stop in to have a look around. Thank you again…” She picked up one of the business cards on the counter. “Meghan Tilling.” Tucking it into the back pocket of her jeans, she walked to the door. “I’m sure I’ll be in touch.”
    * * * *
    Crystal grabbed the sunglasses from the visor and set them in place before starting her BMW. Delmont was such a quaint town, and this little shop of Meghan Tilling’s even sweeter. Unwilling to reveal her true identity or intention, Crystal had given the mouse of a woman her baptismal name. She laughed as she threw the sports car into gear and sped from the lot.
    Finding the true identity of SingleandLooking21 had been as simple as offering one of her regular clients free services in exchange for his computer hacking expertise. Men were so easy to