Meghan's Wish (Love and Danger) Read Online Free Page A

whole entire life.”
    “Wow, that’s a lot of hype. What if I don’t like it?”
    “Sorry, all items are sold as-is, no refunds or exchanges.”
    She smiled at him. “I love you.”
    “I love you, too.” He checked his watch. “I’ve got to run. Have a great day!”
    Meghan watched the door close behind him, thinking she was the luckiest woman on earth. Christmas was the hardest time of year for her, and Liam was always trying to make it better.
    No matter how hard she tried to stop it, she could feel herself retreating into her shell, so sad over missing her family during the holidays. Every year it was a little more difficult, lasting longer into the new year before she was able to find some relief.
    She didn't regret choosing Liam when she had to make the choice, but the price that she paid only compounded over time, increasing the burden on her conscience and her wellbeing. For the last two weeks, she couldn't seem to stop crying.
    She bustled around the kitchen, grabbing her own breakfast dishes and putting them in the dishwasher, keeping her face averted from her daughter to hide her tears. She didn’t want Fiona’s memories of Christmas to be affected by her own depression.
    The doorbell rang.
    “I'll get it!” Fiona yelled, bouncing out of her seat. Meghan followed her, taking time to wipe her face and eyes. She walked into the living room just as Fiona opened the door—to Ricky Powell, standing on the threshold.
    “No!” Meghan yelled, running to pull the girl back as if from the edge of a cliff. She put herself between Fiona and Ricky.
    He held up his hands. “I just want to talk to you.”
    Adrenaline surging, she snapped at him. “No. You get the hell away from me, Ricky. You stay away from my home.” Her arm flung the wooden door with all of her strength, only to watch Ricky easily stop it with his hand.
    “It’s important, Meghan. Look, I’ll stand right here. I won’t even come in.”
    She looked down at her daughter, who clung to her waist.
    “I won’t hurt you,” he said.
    Despite her anxiety, she believed that was true. Ricky had never threatened her.
    Meghan pried the girl's arms from around her waist and talked in a calm voice. “Fiona, I need to talk to this man.”
    The girl shook her head.
    “It's okay, he's an old friend of mine. I was just surprised to see him. Can you please go to your room and play for a little while?”
    Fiona glared at her mother, then at the stranger, shaking her head no.
    “Yes. Go to your room, please.”
    “I want Mommy.”
    “It's okay, Fiona. Go now.”
    The girl begrudgingly left the room, and Meghan crossed her arms over her chest, facing Ricky. “How did you find us?”
    “I followed Liam here from Largo yesterday.”
    Liam would sooner drive through hell. “That’s a lie.” She reached for the door.
    “Call his work,” said Ricky. “They'll tell you he wasn't there.  He was stopped next to me at the intersection of Washington and Church. He didn't see me, but I got a good look at him. It seemed fishy that he’d be back in town just two days after someone tried to burn down the Super Duper, so I followed him.”
    “Someone tried to burn down the grocery store?”
    He nodded. “Fortunately, they had a sprinkler system. But the damages are in the tens of thousands.”
    “I don’t see what that has to do with us.”
    He reached in his pocket, pulling out a cell phone with a large display and tapping buttons while he spoke.
    “Let’s see if you understand after you watch this.” He held up the screen to face her, a black and white video beginning to roll. “This is the surveillance tape from the parking lot of the Super Duper.  I just got it late last night.”
    She crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly nervous. The grainy image was difficult to see, particularly on the tiny screen. A figure emerged from the shadows with what appeared to be a gas can, and began dousing the walls and foundation of the building.
    “Ricky, I