have events year-round. It’s great to raise a family in. There’s definite growth both in real estate and other tourist services. With so many people moving this way, there’s a lot of opportunity for businesses and development. I think your therapy practice is going to do well.” Lily sat on an upright rocking chair and waited for Tommy to sit on the settee across from her. “Plus, Amanda is here.” She arched an eyebrow at Tommy, her lips curved in a teasing smile.
She was right. Amanda was there and so was all of the lies he’d told and was continuing to tell.
The brief visit with Lily left Tommy wondering just what his goals really were. Before he’d started the case, everything had been clear. He’d go in, get the information and the items Ms. Halliwell needed and then he’d get out.
None of it would affect him or his life because he lived up in Dark Woods. That was it. In, out, and on with his life but with a million dollars in his pocket that he could use to take care of all of his and his grandmother’s problems and have some left over.
Now, though, after having met Amanda and immersing himself in her life like he had, Tommy couldn’t be more confused or more lost on where his goals were.
Goals and plans changed, right? Wasn’t there a way to make them work together? There had to be a way to make sense of his goals and plans.
Honestly, though, he had to admit he probably had damaged everything far beyond redemption at that point. He’d lied. There was nothing redeemable about what he was doing. What he was still doing.
His stomach hurt.
Maybe he needed to talk to Amanda. See if telling her the truth was the way to go.
They had set up another meeting and Tommy headed into town again. Just the chance to be by her was intoxicating. She couldn’t know how much she was coming to mean to him. He had to keep his distance.
She wouldn’t want him after she found out and there was no way to assimilate her into his life without her finding out eventually what was truth and what was lies.
He climbed the steps and pushed the door open to the offices of the Dean family. They’d agreed on two that afternoon. Tommy wasn’t late. He never was, but the conference room was empty and dark.
He stood in the doorway for a moment and then glanced down the hall at the other office doorways standing closed or partially open. The majority of them were dark except for two. One of which was closed.
Tommy strode town the hall toward the first door, pausing to look inside. An office had been left empty but with the light still on. Whoever had been in there would probably return fairly soon.
The next one had the door closed, but the light shined from under the door and through the small window in the upper left portion of the doorway.
Tommy peeked through the window and spied Amanda sitting with her back to the door in a simply decorated office.
Knocking as he opened the door, Tommy shut it behind him. “I didn’t know we were changing locations. Nice office. I’m good anywhere.” He grinned, expecting her to turn and tease him about being too eager or maybe that he might be the one that needed therapy, something.
Instead, she slowly turned on the seat, her hair swinging gently to the side and revealing red puffy eyes, cheeks, and swollen lips.
She’d been crying.
That fact punched Tommy in the stomach. He rounded the desk without thinking, stopping in front of her chair and kneeling in front of her. “Amanda, what’s wrong?” He reached up and gently wiped the pad of his thumb across her cheek to dry some of the tears from her skin.
Giving a soft hiccup, Amanda shook her head, but not hard enough to dislodge Tommy’s touch. “I was going to cancel. I forgot. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to see me like this.” She sniffed, dropping her gaze to his chest and avoiding his eyes.
“Why would you cancel with me? I’m the one you should be telling the hard stuff to.” He wanted to be her rock. The person she needed. Maybe if she needed him, she wouldn’t be too quick to kick him away.
“I don’t want anyone seeing me this way.” She sniffed again and lifted her startlingly blue eyes to his.
They were inches apart and Tommy reached