One More Storm (Mistletoe Matchmakers of Clearwater County #6) - Bonnie R. Paulson Page 0,2

was feet from where he stood. “Amanda, Dean?”

She leaned forward, lifting her hand in the air and staring his direction. “Here.” She stood, rearranging the strap of her purse over her shoulder and stepping his way. She glanced toward the rear of the receptionist area and looked at him quizzically. “Should we be going that way?”

Tommy swallowed, jolted off-guard as her silky voice directed his way. He waved over his shoulder with her paperwork. “Actually, my office is under construction, so we’ll use some of the conference rooms out here until everything is situated. Is that okay with you?” He strove for professional, but he wanted to lose himself in her blue eyes. He’d never seen such thickly lashed pools of sapphire before. Oh great, listen to him now. He was waxing poetic about the way one of his marks looked.

Keep it together, man. You have a job to do.

Amanda didn’t argue as she shook her head and followed him out into the larger foyer area of the office building. “No, that’s fine. I’m actually grateful I don’t have to deal with that robot up front anymore.” She laughed, the sound tinkling around Tommy and filling him with an unaccustomed warmth.

He motioned her into the first conference room he came across.

Opening the door and ushering her inside as he glanced behind them to make sure no one followed him.

From what he understood, those rooms were open for anyone to use. He dropped the blinds on the windows looking into the rest of the interior of the office space and then turned back to Amanda, a smile on his face. “Okay, so let’s get settled. You pick a place to sit and I’ll follow suit.” He wanted her to be comfortable before he started asking her questions.

Mentally, he patted his own back. This might be his best idea yet. He’d have full access to all the information he needed.

His client had hired him to get as much information from the leggy dark-haired woman as he could. According to Ms. Halliwell, Amanda had stolen a large sum of money from her and it was Tommy’s job to find out where she would have hidden it.

Not only was he supposed to find out about the money, he had a list of things he was supposed to get from places in Mistletoe. He’d been following Amanda for a couple weeks and still had no idea where to start.

He had to find the items Ms. Halliwell had asked for. The amount of money she’d promised him surpassed any debt he had. He needed to complete the assignment.

Amanda licked her lips and slowly pulled her jacket off, hanging it from the back of her chair. Her glossy curls fell down her back and shoulders, in stark contrast to the turquoise blouse she’d paired with black jeans that snugged her hips and thighs.

She sank to the chair and splayed her hands on the table. “I’m sorry. I’ve never done this before. I’m as nervous as the first time I got a massage.” She laughed, shaking her head at some joke and huffing.

Tommy stared at her, bemused as he rounded the end of the long table to take a seat across from her. Interesting, that with all of the money and privileges she supposedly had not to mention the other traits Ms. Halliwell had been determined to label Amanda with, Amanda hadn’t sat at the head of the table. She’d taken a seat near the end and away from the front. Extremely unexpected for a spoiled rich girl.

Placing the file of information on the table in front of the chair, he pulled out and then took the seat obviously for him. He smiled at Amanda and her becoming pink cheeks. “What happened the first time you got a massage?”

Amanda’s blue eyes twinkled and she leaned forward, slowly taking off her gloves. “Well, my sister set up the appointment with a masseuse named Raoul.” She laughed and shook her head, the curls bouncing just past her shoulder line.

Tommy smiled in spite of himself and waited for her to go on.

She giggled at the memory and waved her hand. “I’m led back to the room and then left in there to wait for this guy. No one said anything about changing yet or anything, so I just stood there. Then in walks this extremely handsome man. I just stared at him. It was… horrifying. But that’s not all. No, there’s more.”

Tommy leaned back in his chair, full on grinning at