One More Storm (Mistletoe Matchmakers of Clearwater County #6) - Bonnie R. Paulson Page 0,78

on a napkin and added that to the stack for the man. “There you go. Tell her Cari sent you. Maybe she’ll give you a deal? I don’t know.”

Cari smiled until the man took the information and his donuts and waved as he ducked from the shop.

“You just gave Tanya’s info out to a complete stranger.” Amanda’s lips parted in surprise as she stared at Cari.

Cari grinned. “Actually, he’s not a stranger. He likes maple bar twists. That’s all you need to know about a person. What kind of donut they like. He likes a traditional donut but is willing to try something new. Tanya needs someone like that. Plus, he’s really good looking. Not really my type, but he’s definitely a ranch owner. He needs a decorator, right? So, why not try to do a little matchmaking off the books?” Cari took a deep breath. “Which brings me to my next question. What’s going on with you and Tommy?”

Amanda backed up, shaking her hands in front of herself. “No. I’m not a matchmaking project. I’m not interested in anything that has to do with Tommy or Tanya or any of that other stuff. I just want… I need a few days to muddle through the mess in my head.” Amanda didn’t sob like she wanted to. She couldn’t. She had to hold onto the small amount of control she had.

“Well, it’s just over a week to Christmas and Tommy told us that Jennifer has something you want, something that is yours, but she has to be there to get it with you.” Cari shrugged and glanced at the clock. “And your time is running out, Amanda.”

“My time?” Amanda glanced at the clock. She’d gone to the bakery with the whole day scheduled to be there. It was barely lunch.

“Yep, you need to get to the bank right now. You have fifteen minutes.” Cari reached out and grabbed Amanda’s shoulders. “Listen to me. Set aside what Tommy did. So, what? He lied? Okay. We’ve all lied at some point. Don’t hold that against him. He’s doing so much to fix things for you and both families. He deserves a chance to fix it. Get to the bank and hear him out.” Cari turned Amanda around to face the door. “Get going and don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

Amanda numbly walked toward the exit, but she couldn’t help glancing back. Cari watched her with hope on her face and her arms folded over her chest. Then her eyes widened and she waved her hand in the air. “Oh, wait. I forgot.” She ducked into the back room and came back out, emerging with her hands full of two boxes of donuts. “Take these with you. I promised him a couple dozen.” She rolled her eyes and waved her hands at Amanda as she transferred the boxes to Amanda’s hands.

The numbness started to drain from Amanda’s flesh. She took a deep breath and let the anticipation warm her nerves. She couldn’t wait to see Tommy, even with as mad as she was supposed to be. She couldn’t wait. That should have been her answer. Looking for him in the people on the street, watching her phone for some kind of contact, anything, something.

All she wanted was to see him. She didn’t need anything extravagant. No apologies were necessary. Nothing like that.

But the bank? What could he possibly want with her at the bank and why did Jennifer had to be involved? That was enough to make Amanda want to run the other way.

But for the chance to see Tommy, Amanda was willing to face down her mother.

She walked the rest of the way to the bank with the snow drifting around her and sticking to her hair. Curls didn’t let anything get by her.

At the bank, Amanda slowed her pace. She stared up at the building and took a deep breath. Was it possible he was in there, waiting for her? Did she want him to be?

Did that make her desperate?

No. She just… What?

Amanda didn’t know. She turned on her heel. She had to get out of there.

“Amanda, wait.” Tommy’s voice pulled her back and she stopped, staring ahead of her before turning toward him and the bank. “Please? Just hear me out, please.”

Amanda nodded as she turned to face him, greedily studying the features she’d missed the last few days. What if he’d gone in her room while she was gone? She’d already missed out on a lot of time with him,