Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
She’d gone on lots of dates in her life. This would be fun. Tiffanie refused to allow herself to worry about Phineas deciding she was too much trouble. Or at least that’s what she told herself on repeat.
Collecting the purse she hadn’t carried for weeks, Tiffanie located her car keys and headed out the front door. Ivan had driven her car off and on to keep the battery charged and the fluids moving. Sliding in behind the wheel, she adjusted the mirrors and pressed the ignition button. She exhaled a sigh of relief as the engine turned over easily before rolling her eyes at the old rock station Ivan had listened to last.
A minute later, she headed down the driveway as popular music filled the car. Tiffanie had forgotten how freeing going on a fun excursion could feel. She was in total control and couldn’t wait to see Phineas. She would be a regular person today. That felt good.
Tiffanie turned into the parking lot of the town’s diner and found a parking space easily. She checked her watch. She was ten minutes before the time they’d set to meet. Was Phineas like her? Did he always want to be early? She always hated for someone to think she was rude.
As she debated whether to sit in her car or go inside, Tiffanie spotted a blue car pulling into the space next to hers. A soft car horn beep prompted her to check out the driver. Phineas. His broad smile made her heart beat faster. He’s so handsome.
When he opened his door, she quickly grabbed her purse and got out as well. Flustered, Tiffanie lost her balance slightly and teetered.
Instantly Phineas steadied her, bracketing her waist with his hands. “Whoa. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Clumsy. Thank you.” Tiffanie struggled not to notice how strong his hands were. His heat penetrated her lightweight clothing. Quickly, she distracted herself and tried to cover her embarrassment. “Hi, Phineas.”
“Hey, Princess. Thank you for joining me for lunch,” Phineas said.
“Princess?” she repeated and laughed. She certainly wasn’t sixteen like the young teens coming to the fancy birthday party.
His smile disappeared, and worry lines appeared on his forehead. The delight in his eyes faded. “I’m sorry, Tiffanie. When I first saw you at the engagement party, that impression popped into my mind. The twinkling lights framed you from behind like a fairytale princess. I’m afraid the association stuck in my brain. I’ll use your beautiful name from now on.”
Tiffanie could have kicked herself for killing the attraction between them. Quickly, she smoothed over her words. “Oh. I thought maybe you named all your female friends princess.”
“Never. If you’ll forgive me, I’ll reward you with lunch and a princess-free conversation.”
Of course, Phineas wasn’t a player who called all women by the same pet name so he didn’t have to remember their real ones. She shouldn’t judge everyone by other guys’ lack of effort, like her uncle who flirted with all his babes. “Oh, you don’t have to do that. I reacted a bit strongly. The only person who ever gave me a nickname was my brother.”
When his mouth opened, Tiffanie guessed his next question. “No, I won’t tell you. Neither will Ivan. Mother taught him the error of his ways.”
“Ah, I love it. Sibling rivalry.”
“Exactly. Princess is a much nicer nickname. I think I could live with that. Can we start over?”
A hint of his former smile curved his lips. “Of course. Hi, Tiffanie. Thank you for meeting me for lunch.”
“I’m glad to see you.”
“Let’s get inside out of the heat,” he suggested. Phineas stepped back and placed a palm lightly on her spine to guide her up onto the sidewalk. After months of putting her love life on the back burner, that human warmth felt amazing.
When his touch disappeared immediately, she knew he was concerned about coming on too strong. Tiffanie stopped on the sidewalk, aware that the restaurant’s patrons could see them through the large plate-glass windows. She laid a hand on his forearm, enjoying the strength under her fingertips.
“May I hold onto your arm?”
The brilliance of his smile returned in full force, making her heart skip a beat. Phineas’s charm was dangerous. He leaned in to brush his mouth softly across hers. “Tiffanie, I would love for you to touch me.” Phineas lifted her hand and rested her fingers on his arm. “Shall we go find out what the special is today?”
She nodded happily. Everything was okay. She hadn’t ruined the encounter. He’d kissed her. Tiffanie wanted to dance a jig or spin in a circle with happiness. She settled on leaning against his powerful frame as they walked to the front door.
Phineas ushered her through with a flourish. A waitress waited for them with plastic-coated menus that hadn’t changed in years. Tiffanie slid into the red vinyl seats of the booth and shivered automatically as the blasting air conditioner blew over her skin.